SMITH & SON

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V21 2018 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 21, Number 28, July 15, 2018, Article 17

John Lupia submitted the following information from the online draft of his book of numismatic biographies for this week's installment of his series. Thanks! As always, this is an excerpt with the full article and bibliography available online. This week's subject is the numismatic firm Smith & Son. -Editor

Smith & Son, a numismatic firm originating in 1938, at 2267-69 Clybourn Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, formerly a furniture manufacturing factory owned by the firm's senior principal. In May 1946, the firm moved to Wheaton, Illinois. In 1953, the firm relocated to Tucson, Pima County, Arizona, known then as Smith & Son's. No notices regarding the firm or the principals are found after 1964.

The firm specialized in gold coins and paper money as a business venture following the U. S. paper money being taken off the gold standard on March 6, 1933.

Frank S. Smith (1891-1951), was born on December 16, 1891, at Edoraisce, Lithuania. According to his WWII draft card he was 5'-10" tall weighing 215 pounds. In 1911, he came to America as a young man of nineteen and lived for three years in Wisconsin. In 1914, he moved with his wife to Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Shortly afterwards Frank Jr., was born.

On June 29, 1940, the firm held its only known coin auction sale, a mail bid of the collection of Chicagoan Dr. August J. Lorenz (1881-1951).

Frank J. Smith (1914-1967?), was born in August, 1914, in Illinois, son of Frank S. Smith and Ana Smith. He graduated Garfield School, Chicago, in June 1920. At the time he was nearly 6' tall.

In 1950, Frank J. Smith published a detailed article on Oregon Territorial Gold in Hobbies Magazine, "1849 Oregon Territory," Hobbies, May (1950) : 119

Frank J. Smith applied for membership to the American Numismatic Association in March 1938. He became ANA Member #6789 in April, 1938.

In 1948, Smith & Son published a broadside circular "Coins and Coiners of Colorado" with photographs of Milton E. and Austin M. Clark as well as Emmanuel Henry Gruber.

In November 1949, Frank Smith ran an ad in The Numismatist under the name Frank's.

Late 1950, before Thanksgiving, Frank S. Smith joined the Chicago Coin Club and became member R-541.

On January 26, 1951, Frank S. Smith died of congestive heart failure, days after the death of Dr. August J. Lorenz.

The Brasher Doubloon in the Smithsonian Institution was once owned by Frank Smith.

To read the complete article, see:
SMITH & SON (https://sites.google.com/a/numismaticmall.com/www/numismaticmall-com/smith-son)

The entire inventory of the Lupia Numismatic Library is for sale. Individual items will be available before the remaining archives are broken up into parcels sold at philatelic auctions in the U. S. and Hong Kong. Check NumismaticMall.com frequently as dozens of new items with estimates will be posted daily until everything is sold.

All inquiries will be given prompt and courteous attention. Write to: john@numismaticmall.com .