A small group of area coin dealers/collectors met in the Fall of 1959 at the GAR Hall, located at the corner of Park Place and Locust St in downtown Johnstown to discuss the possibility of forming a coin club. Those present included Salony, Kurt Finnell, Kramer Gipe, George A. and Patrik J. Greenwood, Harold C. Jenkins, Frank Lamison, Charles McConnell, Robert J. Matula, A.F. Niessner, Thomas J. Shook, Al Stefanic, and Eugene B. Wagner.

A lively discussion ensued - and some coins were actually traded - concerning a name for the club, a constitution, a meeting place, the frequency of meetings, newsletters, etc. After about two hours, the meeting concluded with a unanimous decision to form a coin club. The next meeting was scheduled after the holidays to work out the details and formally establish the club.

Several informal meetings were held in early 1960 to work out most of the details; and on Tuesday April 5, 1960 in the GAR Hall the "so-far nameless" coin club had thirty-six paid up charter members. Names submitted for consideration ranged from Johnstown Flying Eagles to Flood City Coin Collectors. Officers were nominated, a newsletter was established where members could list coins they had available for sale, exchange or needed to complete their collection. Members were asked to consider what would be included in a calendar of events and whether to have regular auctions and door prizes.

The next meeting was held Tuesday May 3rd. Officers of the Greater Johnstown Coin Club were elected including Charles McConnell - President, Patrick Greenwood - Vice President, Frank Swarney - Treasurer, and Robert Matula - Secretary. Membership cards printed by Kramer Gipe were distributed.

The July 11th meeting took place at the Ferndale Boro Building. Fifty two members were present. The Constitution and By-Laws committee, chaired by Harold Jenkins, presented the final document which was unanimously accepted. The club's first "Public" Coin Show was scheduled for September at the Rehab Center.

The monthly club meeting became quite the social event with whole families turning out for the coffee and doughnuts, the auctions, the educational programs, the special programs for junior members, and of course the selling, buying and trading of and just talking about coins.

Over 115 people attended the November meeting, including 38 non-members. The present paid membership was 98 - a rather rapid growth in the first year of the club's existence. A Christmas party was held at the club's December 12th meeting. The Treasurer was still accepting orders for Proof and Mint sets that would be purchased in a block order from the mint. The silver Proof sets were $2.10 each. An anonymous gift was received in an offer to incorporate the club. After the business meeting, members were invited to display their collection for trading and selling.

Over the years, the Greater Johnstown Coin Club grew and prospered. A Board of Directors was established. The offices of Sargent0at-Arms (George R. Kulback) and Librarian (Eugene B. Wagner) were established. And numerous active committees, including Auctions, Door Prizes, Ethics, By-Laws, Constitution, Nominations, Finance, Membership, Advertising-Publicity, Program and Educational were established.

Throughout the years, the club remained active with regular interesting club meetings, picnics, parties and for many years a Spring and a Fall Coin Show. Special Club trips were scheduled like a visit to the big ANA Coin Show in Washington D.C., a tour of the Philadelphia Mint, and visits to other coin clubs. The Club issued two medals commemoration the 1889 Johnstown Flood. The first medal, issued in 1964, featured the Inclined Plane on the obverse and the "unknown plot" in Grandview Cemetery on the reverse. Only 350 Silver medals were issued. Over 12,000 medals in Bronze and a small number in Gold were also issued. In 1970, the second medal was issued in silver and bronze and featured the South Fork Dam and the Pennsylvania Stone Bridge.

While many other coin clubs have faded from the scene, the Greater Johnstown Coin Club endures with a membership of over 70, including a strong contingent of junior members. The current officers are President - Charles Kist, Vice President - Rod Smay, Treasurer - Dave Peterson and Secretary Kevin Balug. The club meets the first Monday of the month at 7:00 pm at the Riverside Fire hall. All are invited to the meetings to "check out" the Club, have their coin questions answered and their coins evaluated. Membership is open to all; families are invited and junior membership is encouraged.

The annual Johnstown Coin Show is scheduled for Sunday, August 18 at the Richland Fire Hall from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. Twenty+ dealers will be set up ready to buy, sell, trade and give free appraisals of coins, paper money, medals and tokens - both U.S. and foreign. There will be hourly door prizes and a raffle featuring one of the silver flood medals mentioned above, a gold coin, and several silver dollars. Plan on being at the sow with the family to have a great historical outing. Membership applications will be available. For further information, contact Craig Bittner, Coin Show Chairman at 814 443 4755.