James Charles Risk 1913-2005 “A friend of the Queen”

[manayunkman]

James Charles Risk aka Jim Risk grew up in Forest Hills, New York. 
 

In 1936 he graduated from Dartmouth and after graduate school at Harvard he taught at MIT.

 

All during this time he studied and became an authority on Royal Orders and Decorations.

 

He joined the Navy in 1940 and was soon serving in the North Atlantic on escort duty followed with participation in the invasion of Sicily. 
 

While serving he wrote his book and published it in 1943 on British Royal Orders.

 

As the next chapter in his Navy career opens he writes the administrative  history of Mediterranean Naval Operations which in turn leads to his appointment to the Allied Commission On The Democratization Of Italy and Naval protocol officer between the Vatican and Quirinal palace.

 

He developed a warm friendships with Pope Pious XII, King Umberto and the Duke of Wellington who would sit in the front row with him for the Garter service at Windsor.

 

He served in Vietnam before the war and went on a hunting party with Emperor Bao Dai who publicly disrobed in front of his guests at a sumptuous dinner out in the jungle.

 

After the war Queen Elizabeth enlisted his services to catalogue and put the nations Royal orders and decorations  back in order.

 

They had to be found first because they had been hidden during the war in several locations.

 

He was able to identify the orders and he knew who their recipients were.

 

He cleaned, repaired, replaced ribbons and placed them back in order.

 

The Queen was so impressed by his work and attention to detail that she would often visit him even giving him a nick name.

 

She bestowed on him the Royal Victorian Order making him the first American recipient at the time.

 

After the war his numismatic abilities led to a 35 year career with Stacks Coin in New York City and during this time he discovered the lost Proof set of coins given to the King Of Siam by President Jackson in 1834 and wrote many books and articles about coins and medals.

 

A man who had a very interesting life.

 

These are his medals 

[USMCR79]

And a Life Member of the Orders and Medals Society of America and remembered by some older OMSA members that are on the USMF

 

Nice presentation 

 

Bill

[themick]

That is VERY impressive!!   Thanks  for sharing  Talk about unique.

Steve

[manayunkman]

8 minutes ago, USMCR79 said:

And a Life Member of the Orders and Medals Society of America and remembered by some older OMSA members that are on the USMF

 

Nice presentation 

 

Bill

Thank you Bill for this additional information that I neglected to mention.

 

I certainly hope that the members who knew him are willing to share their recollections.

 

That would be outstanding!

[manayunkman]

11 minutes ago, themick said:

That is VERY impressive!!   Thanks  for sharing  Talk about unique.

Steve

Thank you Mick, very glad you enjoyed seeing this.

 

Keep an eye on this post as we aren’t done yet.

[manayunkman]

These medals originated at an estate sale, they exchanged hands several times and certain medals were sold off separately until I found these.

 

If anyone has recently purchased any orders from this collection I would be very interested in getting them back together with the group. 

[manayunkman]

The Italian Oder of St Maurice St Lazarus most likely bestowed on him by the King.

 

[manayunkman]

There are several levels of the Sacred Military Order of Constantinien Order of St George and the Italian Order of the Crown.

[manayunkman]

*The Sacred Military Constantinien Order of St George.

[manayunkman]

The medal bar of Lt. Commander Risk in a Spink & Son box.

 

No expense was spared on this exquisite bar with each medal draped in the British fashion with the ribbons and medals tacked down.

 

Interesting how on the one side there are six US medals that were earned by millions of men and women but on the other end there are high Italian accolades for service to which the King and Pope were grateful.

 

Kind of looks lopsided.

 

 

[manayunkman]

But what really makes this medal bar go over the top is that all the American medals are hand engraved on their rims.

[manayunkman]

Last but not least are some awards from the New York Numismatic Club.

 

[manayunkman]

If anyone knew Jim Risk please leave an anecdotal response.

[manayunkman]

Here is a picture showing the back of this bar and how the backing is tacked down to the ribbons.
 

Does anyone know if Spink & Son made this bar because the box is earlier than the medals?

[USMCR79]

On 5/10/2022 at 11:29 AM, manayunkman said:

If anyone knew Jim Risk please leave an anecdotal response.

You could check with Jeff Floyd - He has been with OMSA over 50 years

 

I met him at the 1992 OMSA Convention in Orlando but it recall it was a brief conversation since I was not as knowledgeable back in those days

 

Bill

[manayunkman]

1 hour ago, USMCR79 said:

You could check with Jeff Floyd - He has been with OMSA over 50 years

 

I met him at the 1992 OMSA Convention in Orlando but it recall it was a brief conversation since I was not as knowledgeable back in those days

 

Bill

Is he on the forum?

 

 

[USMCR79]

32 minutes ago, manayunkman said:

Is he on the forum?

 

 

Yes he is

[manayunkman]

Some more items on there way.

[manayunkman]

And two ribbon bars

[LYONSJ9]

Wow! one of the finest groups I've seen!

 

-Jimmy

[manayunkman]

On 6/25/2022 at 8:35 PM, LYONSJ9 said:

Wow! one of the finest groups I've seen!

 

-Jimmy

Thank you Jimmy it’s a miracle that I found it.

[pathfinder11]

Wowsers!

[manayunkman]

21 hours ago, pathfinder11 said:

Wowsers!

Glad you like it.

 

Hey everyone Im still trying to reunite Risk’s medals and anything else of his that is floating around out there.

[jmpmstr]

Is this the same James C Risk of NYC coin broker fame in encyclopedias? I recall the amazing photos in my parents’ encyclopedia set in the orders and medals section. 

[Jim T]

 

1 hour ago, jmpmstr said:

Is this the same James C Risk of NYC coin broker fame in encyclopedias? I recall the amazing photos in my parents’ encyclopedia set in the orders and medals section. 

 

Yup:

 

 

( credit: OMSA )

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