Remember When: The James A. Stack Collection, Part 2

By Harvey G. Stack, Senior Numismatic Consultant

In the quarter series he owned outstanding early dates such as 1796, an 1804 in Mint State, together with the early dates before 1807, the Capped Bust series from 1818 to 1825 in Mint State. In Proof he had 1827 and 1842 Small Date. He had virtually all the Liberty Seated quarters in Mint State including 1871-CC. 1873-CC No Arrows, 1878-S and 1891-O to mention a few. He also had a full set of Barber coinage in Mint State and /or Proof, as well as the Standing Liberty coins. It was a super collection to have.

In the half dollar series he had numerous early Bust types starting with 1794 and highlighted by the 1796 15 Star half dollar Proof from the H.R. Lee Collection. He also had most dates and varieties from 1807-1836, primarily in Mint State, in the Capped Bust Reeded Edge series in Mint State, including the W.W. Neil 1838-O Proof. The Liberty Seated series was virtually complete with early Proofs and Mint State examples highlighted by the 1861-O in Proof, the rare Carson City issues in Mint State, a 1878-S in Superb Mint State, prooflike,

All the Barber series half-dollars were Mint State or Proof, including the famous Atwater specimen of the 1892-O' Microscopic O in Gem Mint State. To round out the half dollar series Mr. Stack had a sharply struck set of Liberty Walking half dollars.

The James A. Stack Collection coins of these two series, U.S. quarters and half dollars, presently are housed in collections nationwide, and carry the pedigree of this great collector. They are testaments to the skill, knowledge, luck and timing that allowed James A. Stack to assemble such a holding from so many great collections before him. This pedigree will live on forever.

I was one of the lucky dealers who knew Jim personally, since I was around the Stack's shop during his very spirited collecting days. I also met his son, James, who took over the collection his father formed, and for years consigned sections to our family for sale. The tradition carried forward and I am surely proud to have known the entire family for so many decades.