IRVINE, Calif., (February 24, 2012) – Stack’s Bowers Galleries announced today that John Kraljevich, an independent numismatist and researcher, has signed an exclusive contract for numismatic cataloging services with the firm. Kraljevich, a resident of New York City, cataloged for predecessor firms Bowers and Merena Galleries (2000-2003), American Numismatic Rarities (2003-2006), and Stack’s (2006-2007), before opening his own firm in August 2007.
“We’re excited to have John aboard, officially part of the Stacks Bowers family again,” said Chris Napolitano, president of Stack’s Bowers Galleries. “He has cataloged some of the best known properties to be sold by Bowers and Merena, ANR, and Stack’s over the last decade, and has continued to assist us on a part-time basis since going out on his own. With this agreement, Stacks Bowers consignors will have access to John’s research and writing skills, talents that no other auction house can offer. Better cataloging means better prices for our consignors and more exciting opportunities for our bidders.”
Kraljevich has long specialized in early American numismatic items and exonumia, including colonial coins, Betts medals, American tokens, U.S. Mint medals, and other similar specialties. He began his cataloging career while still in high school for McCawley-Grellman Auctions. Upon joining Bowers and Merena in September 2000, Kraljevich cataloged a portion of the Harry W. Bass, Jr., collection of U.S. gold coins before tackling the Lucien LaRiviere collection of Betts and Indian Peace medals, writing two catalogs that became classics in the field. Working with Q. David Bowers, Kraljevich brought historical insight, pedigree research, and numismatic analysis to collections like the Cardinal Collection of early dollars, the Oliver Jung type collection, and many other properties. His efforts in bringing the famed world gold coin collection of Louis Eliasberg to auction resulted in honors from the NLG, worldwide press coverage, and record prices. While serving as the director of numismatic research for American Numismatic Rarities, Kraljevich catalogued world record setting offerings of the finest known 1793 Strawberry Leaf cent, the “Gentleman’s Collection” of early U.S. gold coins, and the Norweb Collection of Washingtoniana, along with individual world record setters among such diverse specialties as early date large cents, Charleston slave tags, Indian Peace medals, and territorial gold.
“Stacks Bowers Galleries has been at the forefront of offerings of numismatic Americana as long as I’ve been in the business,” Kraljevich said. “Their staff is like family to me. It will be an honor to make Stacks Bowers the unquestioned leader in historic American numismatic items again.” Kraljevich will continue to operate his own business, John Kraljevich Americana, and buy and sell independently.
Kraljevich is a 1999 graduate of the University of Virginia and a native of Chester County, Pa. He has been a popular instructor at the annual ANA Summer Seminar since 2000 and has been awarded the ANA’S Young Numismatist of the Year award (1993), Heath Literary Award (2003), and Glenn Smedley Memorial Award (2011). He is a fellow of the American Numismatic Society, a columnist in Coin World and The Numismatist, and a member of The Rittenhouse Society, along with several other specialty organizations.
“I am delighted to see John rejoin what I like to call the Dream Team of Numismatics, combining marketing skills with scholarship and an unequalled record of auction success,” noted Dave Bowers, chairman emeritus of the firm. “I’ve known John ever since he entered the field and have considered him a poster example of a talented numismatist.”
About Stack’s Bowers Galleries
Stack’s Bowers Galleries, a division of Fortune 500 Company Spectrum Group International Inc., was launched in January 2011, combining the extraordinary histories of Stack’s, the oldest rare coin auction and retail company in America, with Bowers and Merena Auctions, one of the world’s pre-eminent auctioneers of rare coins and paper money. The two companies unite to share a combined legacy that spans more than 100 years, and includes the cataloging and sale of many of the most valuable collections to ever cross an auction block – the John. J. Ford, Jr. and Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr., collections, the Garrett Collection for The Johns Hopkins University, the Harry W. Bass, Jr., Collection, and the Norweb Collection, to name just a few. Topping off this amazing numismatic history is the inclusion of the world record for the highest price ever realized at auction for a rare coin, the legendary 1933 Saint-Gaudens double eagle that realized an astounding $7.59 million (sold in partnership with Sotheby’s). The company is headquartered in Irvine, California, with offices in New York, New Hampshire and Hong Kong. Stack’s Bowers Galleries is the Official Auctioneer for several important numismatic conventions, including the ANA World’s Fair of Money and ANA/PNG Pre-Show, and the Whitman Coin and Collectibles Expos in Baltimore, three times yearly, and Philadelphia.
