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Rest in Peace, John Burns
Dentuck
Posts: 3,812 ✭✭✭
I just received some sad news from a reliable source at the
FUN show: numismatic literature dealer John Burns passed
away in his hotel room last night.
John was one of the most knowledgeable numismatists
of our generation, a great enthusiast for the hobby, a
longtime contributor to the Red Book, and advisor to
Whitman Publishing. In order to represent the books he
sold, and to best assist his customers, he read every
single volume and studied them carefully, making him
one of the most well-read people in the field. Always
a gentleman, with interesting insights, unique perspective,
and friendly concern for others, John was a credit to
the hobby community. I always enjoyed our conversations
and looked forward to catching up with him in person at shows.
John Burns will be sorely missed.
FUN show: numismatic literature dealer John Burns passed
away in his hotel room last night.
John was one of the most knowledgeable numismatists
of our generation, a great enthusiast for the hobby, a
longtime contributor to the Red Book, and advisor to
Whitman Publishing. In order to represent the books he
sold, and to best assist his customers, he read every
single volume and studied them carefully, making him
one of the most well-read people in the field. Always
a gentleman, with interesting insights, unique perspective,
and friendly concern for others, John was a credit to
the hobby community. I always enjoyed our conversations
and looked forward to catching up with him in person at shows.
John Burns will be sorely missed.
0
Comments
Thanks for letting us know.
See http://www.doubledimes.com for a free online reference for US twenty-cent pieces
RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'
CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
Very sad to hear this news, very sad.
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
I will be trying to work with my contacts to get ALL the loose ends taken care of.
And there are many.
I will talk with an attorney tomorrow to get some guidance, and work with some folks.
His mother passed away less than a year ago to boot.
This news has put a dampener on an otherwise good show.
He will be missed.
John was one of the nicest, most considerate, most intelligent, most articulate people I've ever met, and as noted previously a true credit to the hobby.
I'm really going to miss him.
RIP John.
Coin Rarities Online
Lance.
www.brunkauctions.com
I used to see John at the Michigan State show. He was always very friendly and helpful.
The last time I saw him at the show was about two years ago. I recall that he did not appear well.
He will be missed.
Tom
njcc
EVP
How does one get a hater to stop hating?
I can be reached at evillageprowler@gmail.com
Spring National Battlefield Coin Show is September 5-7, 2024 at the Eisenhower Hotel in Gettysburg, PA. WWW.AmericasCoinShows.com
<< <i>RIP buddy...
njcc >>
He always spoke highly of you, njcc.
New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.
"Look up, old boy, and see what you get." -William Bonney.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars
Enjoyed numismatic conversations with Eric P. Newman, Dave Akers, Jules Reiver, David Davis, Russ Logan, John McCloskey, Kirk Gorman, W. David Perkins...
Joseph J. Singleton - First Superintendent of the U.S. Branch Mint in Dahlonega Georgia
Findley Ridge Collection
About Findley Ridge
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
John used to set up at the GSNA Show (New Jersey) and several of us used to help him pack the van for the trip home. The show won't be the same without him.
I'll miss his wit and often acerbic humor.
RIP Big John.
RIP John.
Dennis
Like VOC Numismatics on facebook
I had a similar event happen with a friend 15 years ago.
Woof!
Godspeed, John...
John was definitely an interesting guy. We had an excellent rapport with each other, and would chat a lot about poker (he was the one to always ask me questions), and we often commiserated about the same kinds of BS that occurred in the numismatic hobby. I also used to bust him a bit about being cheap, especially when it came to the GSNA show. Since I only live eight miles away from the show, and my wife works in the high school in the same town we live in, we had access to lots of big, strong kids who for a letter of recommendation for helping and a couple of bucks plus a meal would have been more than happy to lug all of this stuff into his van and back. The last time I saw him was at the ANA this summer. I bought a Will Neil catalog from him, and he said "I should have taken you up on that offer at GSNA!"
He deeply cared for and adored my wife and two daughters, and was always interested in hearing about our autistic son's progress. He would often joke that if I wanted to purchase any books, have (my wife) Lisa buy them, because he would give her a better price! The late Steve Tannenbaum did the same with her when she was buying Hard Times Tokens as well.
He also made a comment regarding my then 14-year-old daughter, joking with her saying that it would not be advisable if any boy tried anything sly with you - because they might have their chances at having a family in jeopardy down the road! Steffi is quite the feisty one.
At another GSNA show, my older daughter Rosalind helped John lift a crate of books that was quite heavy with ease. You need to understand that Rosalind was only about 4'9" at the time (she is only 4'11"), now), and said "Damn girl, they should call you 'Pocket Hercules!'" I call her that often to this day, and she finds it quite amusing.
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I have included a wonderful picture of John at the ANA's World Series of Numismatics with another, well-known numismatist.
Greg Heim
--David Fanning, Kolbe & Fanning Numismatic Booksellers
dfanredsfan
<< <i>John was a colleague and a friend and will be missed. For those involved in making the necessary arrangements, we would be happy to contribute our assistance: just let me know. >>
From what I heard, he has no other family, so I'm not sure who'd let you know. If you want to get involved with arrangements, contact whatever business partners he had or perhaps the Orange County Coroner.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars
Coin World. Contact him to be involved.
John Burns passed away during a large and bustling coin show, so we
might say he died doing what he loves, if there's any consolation in that
fact.