Did
you know Stack’s Bowers Galleries Co-Founder Harvey G. Stack received a special
framed Proclamation from the New York City Council honoring his 90th
birthday and recognizing his dedication and work in numismatics for over seven
decades? The Proclamation was presented
to Harvey by New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson during Harvey’s
birthday celebration on June 3, 2018. In
attendance were Harvey’s wife, Harriet, his son Larry, daughter, Susan, his
four grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, as well as other family members and
honored guests. Congratulations Harvey, and Happy Birthday. Your Stack’s Bowers
family is very proud of you! Click here to read the proclamation.
The New York
City Council is proud to honor Harvey G. Stack in celebration of his 90th
birthday and his extraordinary contributions to the numismatic arena around the
world; and
WHEREAS: Born
on June 3, 1928, Harvey G. Stack is the son of Morton M. Stack and Muriel
Stack. In 1933, his father teamed up with his uncle, Joseph B. Stack, to launch
Stack’s rare coin business. Harvey Stack joined the family business at the age
of 19, in 1947, following his cousins Norman and Benjamin Stack. Over the next
62 years, Harvey honed his expertise working fulltime as Chief Manager of
Business Affairs. During this tenure, Stack’s continued to grow yet remained a
true family affair with the addition of his wife, Harriet, his son, Lawrence,
in 1973 and his daughter, Susan, in 1976; and
WHEREAS:
Although Harvey Stack retired in 2009, he returned to work in 2011 as a senior
consultant for Stack’s Bowers Galleries, along with his son, Lawrence. Both
father and son were raised in numismatics, learned from the masters of the
field and are legends in the industry today; and Harvey Stack is a Past
President of Professional Numismatics Guild, the recipient of its Founder’s
Award, and the American Numismatic Association’s Numismatist of the Year and a
member of the ANA Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS: Over
the course of his remarkable career, Harvey Stack personally conducted more
auction sales than anyone in the numismatic industry, appraised and cataloged
countless numismatic rarities, and was responsible for the sale of some of the
most spectacular collections in history, including the Anderson-Dupont
Collection, the Davis-Graves Collection, and the Harold S. Bareford Collection;
and
WHEREAS:
After the death of Josiah K. Lilly, whom Harvey Stack and his cousins had
helped to assemble a collection of 6,150 gold coins of the world over a period
of years, the Lilly Collection did not go to the auction block, and through the
efforts of Harvey Stack and his family instead became the property of America’s
citizens, after the Smithsonian approached Congress and secured passage of
legislation that brought the Lilly Collection into the National Numismatic
Collection; and
WHEREAS:
Harvey Stack and his family have also distinguished themselves in numismatics
through their many philanthropic efforts. In 1992, the Stacks donated extensive
correspondence from Charles E. Barber, Mint engraver (from the period 1880 to
1917). The following year, he contributed a 1792 Birch cent. In 1994, Harvey
and Lawrence Stack donated two Proof 1879 Quintuple Stellas, one in gold and
one in copper-gilt, to the National Numismatic Collection. Harvey Stack has
also overseen the sale of countless numismatic rarities both privately and at
auction, including 1804 Draped Bust dollars and 1913 Liberty Head 5-cent coins.
He was also instrumental in sale in 24 auctions of the renowned collection
amassed by John J. Ford, Jr.; and the auction sale of the only 1933 St.-Gaudens
$20 gold double eagle declared by the federal government as legal to own; and
WHEREAS: Mr.
Stack’s passion has been both highly influential and highly contagious. In
1972, Harvey Stack testified before a congressional subcommittee leading up to
the passage the following year of the original Hobby Protection Act (which has
been updated since). In 1996, he testified again before the U.S. House Banking
Committee to propose the State Commemorative Quarters series. When the program
ended in 2008, the U.S. Mint estimated that 147 million people were collecting
State quarters; and
WHEREAS: Now
at the age of 90, Mr. Stack continues to distinguish himself not merely for the
length of his life but for the incredibly positive impact he has in so many
lives. Today, he continues to share his adventures, insights and experiences as
a professional numismatist both in person and on the Stack’s Bowers website for
readers everywhere. He has truly excelled throughout his career and has earned
the esteem of all New Yorkers; now, therefore
BE IT KNOWN:
That the New York City Council gratefully honors
Harvey G. Stack
and wishes him the best in celebration of his
90TH BIRTHDAY
Signed this
3rd day of June in the year Twenty Eighteen.
s/________________
COREY
JOHNSON
Speaker
For the Entire Council
