CHARLIE BROWNE HAS PASSED AWAY

specialist · May 19, 2018 1:09PM

A very heartbreaking thing to hear. Charlie was one of the very few universaly beloved (not just liked) dealers ever.

He battled very serious illnesses for many years. All through those battles he was upbeat and was able to still do what he loved-coins. This year he went down hill. I called him "fluffy" because he was always upbeat will carrying on with his illnesses.

I think he was an early grader at PCGS. Maybe an ANA instructor too. He recently started working for John Brush at DLRC. I know JB was so happy to have him. Unquestionably he knew his coins.

My heart goes out to DLRC and Charlies family. I can only pray he rests in peace. I will miss him

Justacommeman · May 19, 2018 1:12PM

A true Legend and nice man. RIP Mr Browne

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CuKevin · May 19, 2018 1:15PM

A good friend and a fantastic person. He will be missed greatly. RIP Charlie Browne.

USMarine6 · May 19, 2018 1:23PM

Oh wow that sucks. Yes he was an early graded and finalizer at pcgs. Certainly a great guy and numismatist. Prayers goes out to his family.

ColonelJessup · May 19, 2018 1:47PM

Technical skills aside (he was superb), I have some good stories to cry through when I share one or two with his family.
Charlie would crack up if he heard I was at a loss for words

Boosibri · May 19, 2018 1:55PM

RIP

CoinRaritiesOnline · May 19, 2018 1:58PM

Oh no - I'm so sorry to hear this news.

JBatDavidLawrence · May 19, 2018 1:59PM

I just passed this along to the dealer community:

Everyone,

I wanted to pass along the sad news that Charlie Browne passed away last night at Norfolk General hospital last night.

Charlie took a rough turn in the last week and declined rapidly. He was admitted to the hospital on Tuesday, but thankfully he was not in any pain at the time.

We do not have any further information on any arrangements, but we are in communication with his children and sister. If you would like to pass along any messages, please feel free to send them to me at john@davidlawrence.com and we will be sure that these get passed along. Please keep his friends and family in your thoughts and prayers. Charlie was a rare true “gentleman” in our business will be missed your all of those that knew him.

Sincerely,
John Brush

specialist · May 19, 2018 2:02PM

Damn JB, this is so sad. Hang in there. May Charlie rest in peace.

Glad to know he was not in pain.

FinallyHere · May 19, 2018 2:04PM

One of the finest gentlemen in our industry and always a kind, gentle soul. This truly breaks my heart...he was a warrior that never complained and was always concerned about you if you asked about him. So very sad.

breakdown · May 19, 2018 2:21PM

I met him years ago through Bill Shamhart and Charlie was more than willing to share a lot of experience stories and advice with a novice like me. I believe he was still doing some grading part-time then. Very upbeat guy in a field with its share of grumpy types.
I certainly did not know him well but very sad to hear this.

BlindedByEgo · May 19, 2018 2:25PM

Very sorry to read this. Prayers for his family and close friends.

EastonCollection · May 19, 2018 2:29PM

Charlie was a true friend and always very helpful. Enjoyed our conversations and stories. I will miss him.

sparky64 · May 19, 2018 2:38PM

I never met him but I wish I had based on these wonderful sentiments.

My condolences to his family and friends.

CascadeChris · May 19, 2018 3:08PM

Charlie was a great guy. This is such sad news..

EagleEye · May 19, 2018 4:23PM

So sad to hear this.

TomB · May 19, 2018 4:43PM

Awwwwww...man! I hate reading threads like this and Charlie was one of the best. My history with him goes back over two decades and I never had even a single bad experience with him in all that time. RIP Charlie.

SethChandler · May 19, 2018 4:48PM

That just stinks, in the two or three years that I have known him, he was always so nice to me. I will miss him.

WHPRATT · May 19, 2018 4:49PM

Very sorry to hear. He was one of the 'good' ones. He'll be missed.

MrEureka · May 19, 2018 5:28PM

Really sad news.

I'll post a Somers Island Sixpence, since he collected coins from islands for a while.

logger7 · May 19, 2018 5:45PM

A true giant in numismatics from what I have heard and the companies he worked at. I'm very sorry to read about this.

divecchia · May 19, 2018 5:55PM

I never met Mr. Browne, but I would like to send my condolences to his family and friends.

RIP.

Donato

astrorat · May 19, 2018 5:56PM

Very sad news. I had the honor to help teach a class at the ANA when Charlie was one of the instructors. He was a joy.

garrynot · May 19, 2018 6:02PM

Very sad to lose a numismatist. RIP

ColoradoCoinGuy · May 19, 2018 7:35PM

So sad to hear this. I first met Charlie when he was one of my grading instructors as SS. I looked forward to seeing and talking with him each year at SS. He was always so nice to me. I and the Numismatic community will miss him.
RIP

ElmerFusterpuck · May 19, 2018 7:36PM

RIP. I am familiar with the name, but never met him. Didn't he also run coin ads in the publications in the 70's and 80's? That where I seem to remember him from.

bsshog40 · May 19, 2018 7:38PM

Condolences to his family!

ricko · May 20, 2018 7:06AM

My condolences to his family and friends.... RickO

Jimnight · May 20, 2018 7:11AM

RIP

BustDMs · May 20, 2018 7:25AM

Always a smile and a kind word. He will be missed.

DaveWcoins · May 20, 2018 7:28AM

Charlie was the definition of a Class Act. I never saw him speak ill of anyone. Ever.

He shared his (extensive) knowledge freely.

This can be a very tough business, but Charlie always kept his composure.

I will miss you greatly, my friend.

Atlascoin · May 20, 2018 1:08PM

Very sad news. Charlie was such a kind, generous person.

RogerB · May 20, 2018 3:31PM

Very sad. It's so difficult to hold on to the good ones....

Rich49 · May 20, 2018 3:36PM

R.I.P.

cnncoins · May 20, 2018 4:33PM

Dave Wnuck was spot on with his comments on Charlie. He was a wonderful person first, and a great numismatist second.
We will all miss him...

JohnF · May 20, 2018 4:35PM

Charlie was a gem of a human being. In this contentious coin business, I never heard a single (not once!) disparaging word about him. Charlie always has a smile on his face, as well, and had a true love of coins. JB invited me to lunch with Charlie a few months ago and I will fondly remember this last meal with him. Rest in peace, my friend.

Walkerfan · May 20, 2018 5:19PM

Sad to hear this. Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends. By all accounts a true gentleman.

PCGSPhoto · May 20, 2018 5:57PM

Very sad news. I spent some time with him in Paris a couple of times a few years ago. He dared me to eat frog legs.

He once shared a remarkable story on his health journey: He received a life-saving transplant from one of the victims of the Station Nightclub Fire. I think of that whenever it’s time to renew my license and to elect to being an organ donor.

I’m glad to have known him. May he rest in peace.

JBatDavidLawrence · May 20, 2018 8:22PM

All of these comments about Charlie were correct. He was a great numismatist, but he was an even better person. He dealt with many illnesses, but never complained a single day at the office. He didn't have the energy to get up the stairs sometimes, but he loved coins and people so much, he would will himself into the office, even when we told him not to! He loved sitting around looking at coins and telling stories about his various experiences in the coin business.

I'm thankful for the few months that we had with him at DLRC and will certainly miss his personality.
Charlie was a wonderful teacher, person, and a true gentleman.

ColonelJessup · May 20, 2018 8:30PM

JB - Having firsthand knowledge of his situation, I can speak for a lot of his friends in thanking you and your crew for taking such loving care of him.

JBatDavidLawrence · May 20, 2018 8:52PM

@ColonelJessup said:
JB - Having firsthand knowledge of his situation, I can speak for a lot of his friends in thanking you and your crew for taking such loving care of him.

Thanks, Rick. It was an honor to work with him. He really enjoyed being in Virginia Beach, and everyone in our office really enjoyed having him there as a resource for us. He was "Gem BU" as Steve Deeds would have said...

coinlieutenant · May 20, 2018 9:38PM

Very sorry to hear this. Life is so very short.

jdmern · May 21, 2018 4:22AM

So sorry to hear this news. Charlie was a great guy to chat with, and extraordinarily open with his knowledge. I will certainly miss the conversations we've had over the years at the shows around the Northeast.

johnny9434 · May 21, 2018 10:56AM

my condolences to his family. rip mr brown

RBRC · May 21, 2018 10:59AM

I learned this morning from Laura Sperber's latest "Market Report" that Charlie Browne has passed away.

I am heartbroken.

I had the honor and privilege of being a student of Charlie's (as well as a student of Bill Shamhart, Don Ketterling, and Ken Park) at the A. N. A.'s "Summer Seminar" for three summers.

As a numismatic instructor, Charlie was the consummate educator--infinitely patient, incredibly knowledgeable, and able to clearly clarify and explain his wide-ranging numismatic knowledge. Charlie was an absolutely great numismatist and teacher, but an even better human being, who touched and enriched the lives of all with whom he came into contact.

I'll never forget him.

My sincere condolences to all at DLRC and to Charlie's many friends and his family.

photog · May 21, 2018 11:16AM

I met Charlie probably 20 years ago, my dad first introduced us, and over the years had countless conversations with him. I'd see him regularly at lot viewing, and he was warm and kind to everyone in our office, from the bottom rung to the top. We always enjoyed his visits to the office, and lunches with him. I remember one time I was flying one place, he another, and we wound up walking past each other in the Baltimore airport, stunned to recognize someone randomly several hundred miles from home (we were both still in NH at the time), and we sat and shot the breeze until it was time for our connections. It cannot be said enough, but he never had an unkind word for anyone. He was as good, genuine, and friendly as they come. It was a sad weekend, hearing the news. He is going to be sorely missed.

ColonelJessup · May 23, 2018 1:38PM

@JBatDavidLawrence
I just googled for Charli'se obituary and came up empty.
Can you hook us up with the appropriate funeral and family info?,

ColonelJessup · May 23, 2018 1:39PM

duplicate post

EagleEye · May 25, 2018 9:14AM

Regulated · May 25, 2018 10:40AM

I'm sure that Charlie will be missed by many, many people. He was an incredibly talented numismatist, and was always willing to take time to help other people. He mentored me early on in my career, and was one of those people that I really looked at as an example of how to be in this business.

I'll really miss seeing him at shows - his sincerity and ready smile were a welcome part of the business.

TONEDDOLLARS · May 25, 2018 5:44PM

Rest in piece my good friend. You will be missed. My best memory of Charles is when he asked me to come to his new old farm house in New Hampshire to do some electrical work for him. He wanted to be my apprentice, let’s just say he was a way better numismatist than helper. Till we meet again buddy.

CHARLIE BROWNE HAS PASSED AWAY

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