Copyright 2011-2017 John N. Lupia,III
Daniel Reck (1834-1921), coin dealer at Dayton, Ohio. He served in the U. S. Army during the Civil War from 1861 to 1865 with the rank of Corporal. In 1880 he lived at 7 Bimm's Park, Dayton, Ohio, where he worked as a Pension Claim Agent. In 1881 he is listed as an attorney. In the City Directory of 1882 he is listed as a "Detective" and in 1884 he was living at 521 South Main Street, Dayton. in 1895 he began corresponding with the Chapman Brothers. There are over sixty pieces of correspondence to the Chapmans in the Lupia Numismatic Library, Special Collection, The Chapman Family Correspondence Archive. Several pieces show he sold U. S. gold coins. Some of the mail is annotated with shorthand letters inscribed on them by the Chapmans. He never seems to have joined a numismatic association, society or club, but rather, collected and dealt independently. In the 1897, City Directory he is listed as a "Collector of rare coins" living at 729 West 5th Street, Dayton, Ohio, with his wife Sarah A. Tonney Reck (1834-1922). His dealings with the Chapman Brothers were typical of dealers who sent queries soliciting either to buy specific coins for their clientele or sell what inventory they had on hand. Below is a typical example of a solicitation to sell.
Fig. Daniel Reck postal card sent to the Chapman Brothers postmarked Dayton, Ohio, July 27, 2 P.M. 1899. "What will you pay for 1833 U. S. $5.00 gold piece letters in good or fine condition. Resp'ly, D. Reck, 729 West 5th St." Courtesy Lupia Numismatic Library, Special Collection, The Chapman Family Correspondence Archive. From 1900 on he is variously cited in the City Directory as either a "Coin Dealer" or "Numismatist."
Fig. 2. Daniel Reck postal card sent to the Chapman Brothers postmarked Dayton, Ohio, June 11, 8:30 P.M. 1905. "Gentlemen, Your card of the 9. inst. received. Would not sell the 5 gold dollars separate at less than $2.00 each. Postage extra. In fact don't care to sell them separately at all, as they are goods that will increase very fast and I am not in need of money and can hold and add more to them am trying to buy a few more. Don't know whether I will succeed or not. The 5 I have are free from scratches. Otherwise I would not quoted them as I did fine and about fine. Resp'y, Daniel Reck" Courtesy Lupia Numismatic Library, Special Collection, The Chapman Family Correspondence Archive.
In 1912 he is listed living at 1815 South Wayne Avenue, Dayton. He died on January 16, 1921. He is buried at the Woodland Cemetery Arboretum, Dayton, Ohio. After the death of her husband Sara A Reck moved to South Bend, Indiana. She died in April 1922 and is buried with her husband.
Bibliography : Dayton City Directory of 1880, 356 Dayton City Directory of 1881, 354 Dayton City Directory of 1882, 390 Dayton City Directory of 1884, 430 Dayton City Directory of 1888, 501 Veteran's Schedule, 1890 Dayton City Directory of 1897, 1140 Dayton City Directory of 1899, 871 Dayton City Directory of 1903, 1064 Dayton City Directory of 1905, 1102 Dayton City Directory of 1906, 1184
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