Garden State Numismatic Association

The first edition of the New Jersey Numismatic Journal was published in the winter of 1975. On the front cover is a story on Valentine "Val" Pasvolsky, "a man who has served numismatics with distinction in all 50 states and many foreign lands, is one prophet who is honored at home as well."

A dinner held February 8, 1976 in Hazlet, New Jersey, to honor Val Pasvolsky, was also the first official function of the newly founded Garden State Numismatic Association (GSNA).

One of the founding purposes of the GSNA was to act as a uniting force within the numismatic community in New Jersey, specifically to work among the coin clubs and to provide both resources and "an active force for the betterment of the hobby". The GSNA founding fathers hoped to accomplish these purposes through periodic seminars, setting up a statewide speakers bureau, helping local clubs arrange special programs, and establishing rapport among clubs and collectors.

The fact that now, over 25 years later, the GSNA sponsors the largest coin show in the state, has a speaker's bureau and loaning library, has nearly two dozen member clubs, and over 400 individual members, has continuously published the NJNJ, and continues to provide many valuable functions as hoped by the founders -- is a testament that the GSNA has and is fulfilling it's mission.

The first president of the GSNA was William Horton of Cliffwood, then president of the Monmouth Coin Club. The original editor of the NJNJ was Ed Reiter of Asbury Park. Charles E. Fifield is credited with planting the seeds for the founding of the GSNA. He was the first president of the Ocean County Coin Club. But he moved to Alaska before he could see his vision come to fruition. Charles N. Morrison, his successor as president of the Ocean County Club, along with William H. Horton, were the two that set the wheels in motion. They were joined by Ed Reiter, then columnist for the Asbury Park Press, and worked toward the creation of the GSNA with the Valentine Pasvolksy testimonial dinner, as the key initial public event.

Some of the individuals spotlighted in the first NJNJ include: Gilroy Roberts, sculptor of the JFK Half Dollar and resident (at the time) of Barnegat Bay; Publisher Malcolm Forbes or Far Hills, who had irreverently condemned numismatics in his Forbes Magazine; the numismatist Val Pasvolsky, mentioned above; Charles N. Morrison, co-founder of the GSNA; John H. Harris, a then New Jersey representative for the American Numismatic Association; Woodrow Wilson, the only New Jersey Resident ever elected president, and who appeared on the $100,000 gold certificate.

Ads in the first NJNJ include: East Coast Coin Investments of Eastontown (Donald J. Muniz); The Franklin Mint of Franklin Center, PA; Stone House Coin Shop of Scotch Plains; Monmouth Stamp and Coin Shop of Red Bank (Wesley A. Crozier and Irving Carol); Francis G Sanders, World Coins; Collectors Den (William H. Randel); Perth Amboy Coin Exchange (John Stepniak); Don Russo or Belmar; The Piggy Bank of Ogdensburg (William C. Muth); Coin Shop of Toms River; and Jersey Coin and Stamp of Hazlet.

Each year the GSNA presents the GSNA Numismatist of the Year Award. Below are recent recipients of this award:

2003 - Robert Beels, Jr.
2002 - Larry Gentile
2001 - Frank Dolan
2000 - Arno Safran
1999 - Steve Middleton
1998 - Kari Brower
1997 - Dave Wilson

Each year the GSNA awards and outstanding member club the GSNA Club of the Year Award. Below are recent recipients of this award:

2003 - Ocean County Coin Club
2002 - Roxbury Coin Club
2001 - Ocean County Coin Club
2000 - Roxbury Coin Club
1999 - Ocean County Coin Club
1998 - Watchung Hills Coin Club
1997 - Ocean County Coin Club

If you have any historical information (including articles and photos) that you would like to contribute to this page, please email webmaster@gsna.org.