Walter J. Husak (May 27, 1942 – December 15, 2022) was an American businessman who was the owner of the HK Aerospace[2] manufacturing company in Burbank, California. Aside from ventures in the aerospace industry, Husak was also an avid collector of rare coins. On February 15, 2008, Heritage Auctions sold his collection of 301 rare cents in Long Beach, California.[3] Two of the cents went for $632,500 a piece.[4] The entire collection sold for approximately $10.7 million.[5]

Walter J. Husak
Born(1942-05-27)May 27, 1942[1]
DiedDecember 15, 2022(2022-12-15) (aged 80)
Occupations
  • Philanthropist
  • Coin Collector
RelativesMarissa Yardley Clifford (granddaughter)

Walter Husak began collecting coins in 1955 at the age of 13[6] when he was spending a summer in Iowa at his grandparents’ farm.[7] Mr. Husak purchased his first large cent in June, 1980 - an 1804 large cent. In 1986, he purchased his first Sheldon-13. At the end of 1994, he decided to try to collect all of the Sheldon varieties, and over the next decade built one of the most important Sheldon collections in the world.[8] He appeared as guest on the History Channel's Pawn Stars[9] and Coinweek.[10] His collection also includes a Half Disme coin and a Libertas Americana Medal.[11] He also founded the Liberty Cap Foundation in 2009 to further research and education regarding American coin history.[12]

On December 15, 2022, at the age of 80, Husak died at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, California, from heart related complications.[13]

References edit

  1. ^ HNAI the Walter J. Husak Collection Auction Catalog #460. Heritage Capital Corporation. 2008.
  2. ^ "HK Aerospace Kirkhill Aircraft Parts Co - Company Profile and News". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  3. ^ "301 pennies auctioned off for USD 10.7 million". The Economic Times. 2008-02-17. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  4. ^ "The Numismatic Bibliomania Society E-Sylum: Volume 25, Number 51, December 18, 2022". www.coinbooks.org. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  5. ^ Rosenblatt, Susannah; Rubin, Joel (17 February 2008). "Collection of rare cents fetches $10.7 million". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  6. ^ "LA TIMES - Collection of rare pennies fetches $10.7 million". Los Angeles Times. 2008-02-17. Retrieved 2022-12-21.
  7. ^ "About the Author". www.1794largecents.com. Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  8. ^ Pawn Stars: Half Disme Coin and Libertas Americana Medal (Season 15) | History, retrieved 2020-04-14
  9. ^ Walter Husak Talks About the Large Cent Market and Sheldon 37. VIDEO: 2:27., archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2020-04-14
  10. ^ Pawn Stars: Half Disme Coin and Libertas Americana Medal (Season 15) | History, retrieved 2020-04-14
  11. ^ PCGS; PCGS (2021-10-22). "The Walter J. Husak Collection of Large Cents, 1793-1814". CoinWeek. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  12. ^ Gilkes, Paul (28 December 2022). "Large cent expert Walter Husak dies at age 80". Coin World. Retrieved 28 December 2022.