Stephen L. Davis of Lansing Michigan is celebrating his 50th numismatic auction next week under the banner of Numismatic Auctions LLC.

The firm grew from two co-workers at the auction firm headed by Joseph Lepczyk in the mid 1970s. For a brief time, that auction firm was owned by Downies of Australia. Later, in 1980, the pair, Craig A. Whitford. and Steve Davis, formed their own firm, auctioning numismatic items of all kinds.

Without specializing the firm flourished. They were just as comfortable offering ancient coins as U.S. commemoratives. Unfortunately Craig Whitford was in an auto accident in 2008, where a driver ran a red light and hit the auto Craig was driving, followed by a second similar accident. Craig had to reduce his activity and Steve took full control of Numismatic Auctions.

Craig went on to do postal history and Americana auctions after recovering. The pair not only remained friends they do cataloging for each other's auctions!

Steve's 50th sale features the Dr. John Abner Snell collection of Chinese coins. A missionary and medical doctor in China early in the century, the good doctor formed a collection of Oriental coins that had been stored away in a steamer trunk since 1936, on the death of the doctor in March 1936.

"It was a treat to open that trunk,' said Steve this week. Examining all those coins which hadn't been seen for 75 years was a real treat for this numismatist. They go on sale December 2nd.

As if conducting a mammoth 1120-lot auction was not activity enough next week, Steve is opening a second office, in Stockbridge, Michigan, one hour from Dearborn. I am hoping attendees of next week's Thanksgiving weekend convention will stop by for an open house, he said.

The firm's web site is: www.numismaticauctionsllc.com

The catalog listings are at: www.numismaticauctionsllc.com/Online_Catalog_Listings_PZ2.html