Question about Harry Laibstain

franklin200

I used to do a lot of business with him and he always seemed to have a wide variety of commems in stock. It seems that recently he seems to be specializing more in early type coinage and more high end material in general. I remember he used to stock maybe 50-100 different of the classic commemoratives at one time, his selection really seems very limited now.

I also noticed that John Noonan who I enjoyed talking with on occasion no longer seems to work there. Has he moved in another direction? This is just something that I had been wondering about for a while now.

franklin200

Nobody has any idea???

Coin Finder

I have many deals with him over the years. He has nice stuff and it is always a bit pricey, but I step up becasue I know it is good. Oddly enough what attracted me to his coins was the large inventory of early type and large cents. The first coin I bought from him I received the book he wrote on early comms. I still have it. I think the margins are better in bigger dollar coins in this market. I was awhare Mr. Noonan left which was a loss, but Joy is still there. I really do not have an answer for you, but I beleive your observations are correct. As the market slows, he may return to his first love...commes.

Tbig

franklin200

Thanks, you may be right the margins are probably better on higher $$ coins. I always was very pleased with the coins I bought from them, unfortunately most of the stuff in his inventory is now priced beyond my means. I remember he used to be the first place I would look if I needed a commem for my set.

coinguy1

John is no longer with Harry, and, to my knowledge, is out of the coin business. Franklin200, why not ask Harry your questions directly?

michael

john left harry well over a year 2 years ago

i talked to harry directly at the pittsburgh ana show last august 2004 and asked him why he stopped carrying/specializing in early commems as i saw this change around starting in late 2003

and he said he mostly got out of early commems and into more classic material pre 1915 aND also big in pre 1835 items

which he said both had high demand and excellent market value

franklin200

I last purchased from them over a year ago, it must have been shortly before they stopped selling commems. I'm not able to make it out to many of the big shows so unfortunately I haven't had the opportunity to talk to Harry in person in a long while. I didn't have any reason to call the office, so I guess I just lost track of him. Michael, I appreciate the info, it's too bad he decided to get out of commems, he really had a good eye for quality in the series.

michael

yes harry was one of the movers and shakers in early commems in the late 1980's 1990's