COLLECTOR SPOTLIGHT - Remembering Stewart Blay & Walter J. Husak

By Joshua McMorrow-Hernandez

We at PCGS are sad to share the news that two of the hobby’s most accomplished collectors, Stewart Blay and Walter J. Husak, died during the last weeks of 2022. Blay, 71, passed away on November 25, 2022, and Husak, 80, left this earth on December 15, 2022. Both were highly successful outside their field of numismatics, with Blay building a career as a sculptor and Husak as an entrepreneurial businessperson. Their numismatic passions graced the website pages of the PCGS Set Registry and were displayed at the PCGS booths at various coin shows spanning the United States. Blay was a consummate collector of small cents, and his collections of Flying Eagle, Indian, Lincoln, and Canadian Cents were unequaled. Husak, a masterful collector of early United

States large cents, had become one of the nation’s foremost experts on his topic and was a prominent member of the Early American Coppers club.

Both were congenial individuals who loved talking about their hobby with collectors of all ages and skill levels and were always willing to share their knowledge with others. They will be greatly missed.

“I met Stewart at the first Indian Cent Showdown at the Long Beach Expo 20+ years ago, and he was larger than life,” recalls collector Doug Wright. “He had a story for every coin. He had a photographic memory of every coin he ever saw, and it was amazing. I would meet him at shows, and we would go through the viewing rooms and look at every small cent together. I got an education every time. He was very generous with me through the years passing along his knowledge.”

Collector Doug Wright (left) stands beside Stewart Blay (right) at the Florida United Numismatists Show in January 2020 when they collaboratively exhibited their collections of Flying Eagle and Indian Cents. Courtesy of Rebecca Tran.

Small cent dealer Andy Skrabalak first met Blay more than 25 years ago. “We had many conversations about our mutual love for Indian and Lincoln Cents,” Skrabalak says. “We also had many auction battles over the same coins, as we were buying for our customers, and he was buying for himself! This led to many high prices being paid for these special ‘Stewartworthy’ coins. In October 2021, [I] had the pleasure of spending a few days with him looking at his entire small cent collection in person and hearing his comments about each one! That was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and a definite highlight.”

Colonel Steven K. Ellsworth recalls Husak as, “a friend to all who had the great fortune to meet and talk with him.” Ellsworth continues, “His passion for collecting and especially early copper cents was contagious. He was a special friend to me, and for many years we shared the ‘copper bug.’ During his magnificent sale in 2008, I was fortunate to be the high bidder of 10% of his collection. Shortly after his sale, Walt began to rebuild another collection. Walt and I continued selling and trading coins to each other as recently as September 2022. Many times, the difference in haggling was settled by a flip of the coin to determine the price or trade. I do not think that I ever won a coin toss with Walt in over 20 years.”

Adds Ellsworth, “Godspeed, my friend.”

Walter Husak (left) enjoys sharing the booth with fellow large cent enthusiast Col. Steven K. Ellsworth (right) at the 2022 Central States Numismatic Society Show. Courtesy of Rebecca Tran.

Husak is remembered by early copper collector and dealer Greg Hannigan as a “student of the hobby” who was a fixture at Early American Copper conventions, the Long Beach Expo, and other numismatic events. “Everyone really enjoyed his wonderful smile and unbelievable knowledge. His passion for our hobby, especially 1794 and other early large cents,” remembers Hannigan. “Walter was one of the nicest persons you could ever meet in the hobby, always willing to talk and discuss numismatics, collections, travel, cars, and cool stuff. I will always cherish my memories with Walter.”

has won multiple awards from the NLG and ANA for his work as a numismatic journalist and editor. He has been a coin collector since 1992 and enjoys all areas of United States coinage and U.S. minting history.