Harlan White

Harlan White first became interested in numismatics in 1963. He owned a tire shop and would take walks every day at lunchtime. One day, he walked into a coin shop, where he overheard a dealer asking $100 for a 1909-S V.D.B. Lincoln cent.

Harlan, not knowing anything about the value of rare coins, thought it was absurd that a penny could be worth $100. That night he told his wife, "I'm in the wrong business!" He immediately opened a part-time coin shop while still running his tire store. He would often go to the bank and buy bags of pennies and have his kids sort them by date.

In 1968, Harlan attempted to buy quantities of 1968 Proof sets, and successfully accumulated a massive amount in just two months. While on vacation in Alaska with his family, market demand for 1968 Proof sets skyrocketed, and when he returned home, he was able to sell his inventory at nearly threefold the cost. This was Harlan's first big return, which catapulted him into the coin business full time. Harlan also had a passion for roses, hunting and fishing, as well as big-ticket coins and currency.

Mr. Holecek Remembers Harlan White

I remembered reading about a well-known coin and currency dealer that was located in San Diego. So, I called the Old Coin Shop and talked to Harlan White. I told him I collected coins as a child, and that I now had an interest in high denomination US currency. I asked him if he had any "big bills" for sale, and if so did he have a lot of them to show me. He acknowledged that he had some in stock but was very hesitant to disclose just how many he had and what types. I apologized for being so invasive of his privacy, but I was going to be in town for only a few days at a tennis clinic and didn't want to waste my time coming to see him if he only had a few big bills to show me. He reassured me that I would not be wasting my time.

DAY #1: I went in and was introduced to Harlan White. He welcomed me with a firm handshake, a warm smile and a slight twinkle in his eye. He reminded me of Santa Claus and I liked him from the very start. We walked back to his desk area near the back of the shop, sat down, and he began telling me about the wonderful world of high denomination U.S. currency - "big bills" in my layman's terms. He quickly determined that I knew nothing about big bills. I had never physically seen one (only in pictures), I was not a dealer or collector that was trying to buy low and sell high, but rather I was just an amateur coin collector that was looking for something new, something different, something exciting. He sized me up correctly!

Harlan pulled out a $500 bill and handed it over to me to examine. WOW ... a FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR BILL! I had never seen one before, let alone handled one, and I was fascinated. President McKinley's portrait, series 1928, a low serial number, and the words "WILL PAY TO THE BEARER ON DEMAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS" - I was impressed! en I turned the bill over and looked at the less than impressive reverse, which reminded me of play money. Where are the battleships, monuments, and inspiring portraits that adorn much lesser bills? Harlan told me to ignore the reverse side, and said, "It's the front side that counts - that's where the money is!"

DAY #2: Sure enough, Harlan delivered upon his promise. He started out by saying, "If you thought the $500 bills were great, now meet President Cleveland!" He began by showing me one and then several more $1,000 bills in various conditions, series and Federal Reserve districts. ey all had President Cleveland's portrait and they all said ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS. Now we were starting to talk about some serious money!

DAY #3 (New Year's Day 1992): And that he did! We started by reviewing the $500 and $1,000 big bills he had already showed me. Piles of big bills covered the table and I just couldn't believe the quantity and value of all these fantastic bills. But now onto the really good stuff ...

Harlan retrieved from his safe a full pack of 100 numerical sequence serial numbered Series 1928 $500 bills ... an original full pack of gorgeous bills that had been preserved and saved for over 60 years. Wow, I couldn't believe what I was looking at! Harlan told me the story behind this unique treasure. He received a call from a lawyer in St. Louis who was probating and settling up the estate of a client that had recently died. In her safe deposit box the lawyer found personal documents, jewelry, gold coins and a brand new original pack of $500 bills.

Just when I thought it couldn't get any better than this, Harlan told me he had been saving the "big boys" for last. He reached into his safe one last time and pulled out two bills. He said, "Meet President Madison and Mr. Chase." WOW! A $5,000 bill and a $10,000 bill - now we were really talking BIG BILLS!! I couldn't believe what I was holding in my hands. I didn't even know that bills of this super high denomination had ever been printed. They were magnificent and I was totally blown away.

Yes, Harlan really did save the best for the last, and this fireworks finale left me breathless. As the "smoke cleared" I saw 358 $500 bills, 35 $1,000 bills, 1 $5,000, and 1 $10,000 big bills scattered around the table in front of me. I was overwhelmed and remembered how Harlan had told me I would not be wasting my time to come see what he had to show me. Was he ever right! But again, lunch break was over, and I had to get back to the tennis clinic.

And that is when Harlan leaned over and asked "So, which one do you want?" to which I excitedly replied, "I will take them ALL!" Harlan choked and just about fell off his chair onto the floor.

To read the complete article, see the online catalog:
http://media.stacksbowers.com/VirtualCatalogs/2015/Stacks-Bowers-Galleries/Mar2015-Baltimore/SBG_Mar2015_BaltCurr_Catalog_LR.pdf