James C. Risk was an authority on orders and decorations. He was a long-time manager and cataloguer for Stack's Coin Galleries and editor of their Numismatic Review.

Risk was born on May 5, 1913, at Forrest Hills, New York. His parents were Frederick J. Risk(1883-1943) and Katherine W. Grasmuk (1886-1953). Frederick was a representative for theMount Airy Knitting Company.

Risk graduated cum laude from Dartmouth in 1936. He went to graduate school at Harvardbefore becoming a teacher at MIT. War interrupted his career and he joined the Navy in 1940 asan ensign. He served as a lieutenant on escort ships Dahlgren and Jeffers crossing the Atlantic.He was there at Sicily for that invasion.

He wrote Administrative History of the US Navy in the Mediterranean which led to anappointment to the Allied Commission on the Democratization Of Italy. While in the diplomaticservice, he became friends with Pope Pius XII, King Umberto and the Duke of Wellington.

Risk joined the American Numismatic Society on June 1, 1939, and was a member and LifeFellow for 66 years. After the war, the American Numismatic Society published his BritishOrders and Decorations in 1945.

Risk had studied orders and decorations. Following the war, Queen Elizabeth asked him tocatalog and organize England's Royal orders and decorations. Many had been hidden in variouslocations during the war.

He cleaned and repaired items in the collection and replaced missing ribbons. Queen Elizabethwas impressed with his efforts and honored him with the Royal Victorian Order. He was the firstAmerican to receive that honor.

Risk himself received a few decorations. King Umberto granted him the title of Knight of theOrder of Saints Maurice and Lazarus and Commander of the Order of the Crown of Italy. Laterhe was created a Knight of Grace of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George andCommander of the Order of Malta With Swords.

Risk left the Navy with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He joined the Ministry of ForeignAffairs with postings to Vladivostok and Saigon. He left foreign service to take a job with CoinGalleries in New York,

His application for membership in the ANA was published in September 1952. He was assignednumber 20277. His address was c/o The American Numismatic Society in New York.

Coin Galleries was the world coin division of Stack's. As manager, Risk frequently travelled toEurope on business and was known to the major European dealers. Back in America, he was afrequent lecturer and award-winning exhibitor.

The full name of the periodical was The Numismatic Review and Coin Galleries Fixed Price List.It was a marketing tool for the company and much more. The articles were scholarly andinformative. Risk's editorials were not the all too familiar promotional hype. They offeredcommentary on the hobby and on the market. Risk attempted to call attention to the lack ofeducation of some collectors and flaws in other publications.

The November 1962 issue of The Numismatist included an article, by D. F. Spink and J. C. Risk. David F. Spink was with the British firm of Spink& Son, Ltd. Of London. James C. Risk was with Coin Galleries in New York. The articlefollowed papers presented at the American Numismatic Association Convention on August 16,1962. For this the authors received a silver Heath Literary Award from the ANA.

The ANA presentation revealed the existence of the Class I 1804 dollar, Therevelation caused Eric P. Newman and Kenneth E. Bressett to pull their book, The Fantastic1804 Dollar from publication so the story could be added to their book.

Spink had acquired the set some years earlier and obviously knew what it was.Risk was co-author of the article and given partial credit for the discovery. It is likely he wasmore responsible for doing research for the article rather than making the discovery.

As editor for Numismatic Review, he signed his name as There were manyindividual articles credited to James C. Risk. I wonder how he felt about his job as editor.

One editorial stated,

For the first issue of Numismatic Review in 1970, James C. Risk published In the nine-page article, Risk is generallycomplimentary of the efforts by Eric P. Newman. Risk, however, took issue with the opinion ofNewman that all 1804 dollars were produced illegally. Risk explained at great length that theofficers and workers at the Mint were responding to a legitimate request from the president. AsRisk wrote,

He wrote The History of the Order of Bath and Its Insignia published by Spink in 1972.Stack's published The Yale University Brasher Doubloon in 1981. This was an 18-page bookletwritten by Risk to promote the company sale of the coin.

James C. Risk died in New York City on October 24, 2005. He had been a Fellow of the Societyof Antiquarians of London (FSA), a Knight of Justice of the Order of the Hospital of Saint Johnof Jerusalem. He belonged to the Naval and Military Club, the Royal Overseas League, and TheHarvard Club in New York City. He had served as Chairman of the American Foundation ofSavoy Orders and served on the executive committee of the Saint George Society of New York.

This picture shows Orders awarded to James C. Risk. The ones with the green ribbons relate tothe Order of Saints Maurice and Lazares. The ones on the blue pad are related to the SacredMilitary Constantinian Order of Saint George. Who is the expert who can identify the rest?

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
HARVEY STACK'S NUMISMATIC FAMILY, PART 36(https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n04a19.html)
MORE ON JAMES C. RISK(https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n05a14.html)
MORE ON JAMES C. RISK(https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n06a06.html)