Remember When: Superb Colonial Coins to Highlight Stack’s Bowers Galleries’ November Baltimore Auction

By Harvey G. Stack, Senior Numismatic Consultant

We are happy to announce that our upcoming official auction of the Whitman Coin and Collectibles Baltimore Expo, November 13-17, 2012, will feature an outstanding offering of United States colonial coins, from the cabinets formed by John (Jack) Royse of Indiana and Theo (Ted) Craige of New York.

The Jack Royse Collection is a type collection of colonial coins of America, formed over a period of some 60 years and contains many important pedigree specimens. Jack Royse is a retired professional golfer, having appeared in numerous state and national tournaments and is know as a fabulous teacher of the sport. As he approached 86 years, he felt he would like to have his collection offered for sale, to make it available to the collectors of today to help them with research and the building of fine collections. Jack is an old friend of the Stack family, having had Stack’s as a guide in assembling his collection and having bought some of his early coins from Stack's auctions in the 1960s and 1970s. He also dealt with Richard Picker, John J. Ford, William Anton, Jr., and Ted Craig, to mention but a few of the old timers he kept in contact with. When his schedule permitted, he attended many auctions, shows and conventions through the decades, and he cherishes his personal contact with Eric Newman. Mr. Royse’s collection was carefully assembled, and should attract many collectors to the auction to try to acquire some of the Gems. More details on this collection are forthcoming.

The Theo (Ted) Craige Collection is one of the most expansive offerings of colonial coins to be offered since the famous Ford Collection was sold. It has everything a specialist would look for with varieties and finest knowns galore. Part one of the Craige Collection will include the Voce Populi series, St. Patrick series, Plantation tokens, Louis d'or coinage (used in the Americas), Machin Mills, Nova Eborac, Bar Cent and 1721-22 Deniers, to mention but a few of the lots being sold in November. The name of Ted Craige is legendary in the annals of 20th century collectors, and though he died at the young age of 51 in 1971, his writings, knowledge and accomplishments were honored by the collectors and dealers who knew him.

Both Ted Craige and Jack Royse were close friends and good clients of the Stack family, They each insisted, as long as Larry and Harvey were active, that they be the ones to "caretake" their collections when they were readied for sale.

We are indeed happy that this year’s Colonial Coin Collectors Club (C4) meeting will take place during this extensive offering of colonial items.

As I have said in the past, “It is nice to be remembered.”