I learned some Sad news today. Charles Cataldo, of Alabama Coin and Silver passed away last week
amwldcoin
Posts: 11,269 ✭✭✭✭✭
I'll start by saying the biggest thing that sucks about growing old is losing friends.
I learned today Charles passed away last week at our local coin show today. I don't know how many members here knew him, but I'm sure many down here in the SE did. I hadn't seen Charles since all this Covid crap started.
I've known Charles for at least 25 years. Of all the people I've personally known in coins he had to be the most knowledgeable. Charles grew up living coins working with his father from a young age in his father's coin shop. Charles eventually took over the reins. Charles was consulted by grading services for his expertise, and known for many discoveries. The 1 that sticks in my mind was the Type 3 reverse Eisenhower Dollar??? Someone correct me if I'm wrong as I'm not a variety guy.
We had many good times together over the years at coins shows, shared a room a few times, and went out for dinner many times. I could go on and on. I think one of biggest surprises for me was when my new wife and I were doing the coin show in Huntsville. Charles and Becky took us out to the fanciest restaurant in Huntsville as a wedding gift! That blind sided me and was never able to return in kind.
Rest in Piece my friend, you will be terribly missed.
Comments
Indeed it is - actually you might mean "Outliving" your friends and actually having nobody to relate to anymore
"When they can't find anything wrong with you, they create it!"
Frankly I don't give a sh*t about syntax right now.
Condolences to family and friends. RickO
I bought several coins from Charles Cataldo and he was a great dealer and a good man. My condolences to his family and friends, he will be missed.
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
Sounds like Charles was a good person to know, and a decent individual in all respects.
Rest in Peace, Charles.
Pete
I didn't know Mr. Cataldo, but I'm always sad to hear that we've lost someone in the numismatic community. My condolences to family, friends and all who knew him.
That is sad news. As a kid back in the 70's I would ride my bike to his shop to look at coins and buy a few when I could. I still have and off-center 1974 cent that I bought from that shop during that time frame. I spent a year back in Huntsville in the early 90's when I got out of the Navy. During that time, I would stop by his shop to look for MS Franklins. Picked up a few and also some early MS Jeffersons. Over the years when I visited Huntsville, I would try to stop by the shop when I could. I haven't been there since before COVID. RIP, Charles.
That is sad news. Rest in Peace, Charles.
Disclaimer: I'm not a dealer, trader, grader, investor or professional numismatist. I'm just a hobbyist. (To protect me but mostly you! 🤣 )
My condolences to his family and friends. RIP, Charles.
Here's Charles's Obituary:
https://obits.al.com/us/obituaries/huntsville/name/charles-cataldo-obituary?id=35191158
I remember seeing him at a lot of the shows in the Southeast. I can only remember a couple of transactions with him. Rest in Peace.
Charles was the dealer I went to to send raw coins to PCGS for me. A very personable guy. About the third time there he saw my main interest was in early US coinage and brought out a thick book of jaw dropping cherry picks of Early coinage he had accumulated. I was very impressed to say the least. RIP
I have not seen him in years, but when i worked for HUD, I had a lot of manufactured housing plants in Northern Alabama to inspect. I used to always make a point to stop in when I was in the area. I usually stayed in huntsville, even though most of the plants were farther south in albertville, boaz, etc. That way I could get finish the day and stop at his shop on way back to hotel. I used to enjoy stopping in all the time, very nice guy and always had the time to answer questions. I was in my early 30's then, so didnt have much money, but did buy a few things over the years. i saw him about 10 years ago at a show , maybe fun or something and said hello, and asked him if he remembered who I was and he did.
I might add, his shop always had some cool stuff (not just coins) on display
I am sad to hear that. I never met him in person, but we corresponded via email a number of times.