A Dedicated longtime dealer/ collector has passed
numis1652
Posts: 42 ✭✭✭
Paul Zebiak, a longtime friend of Richard “ Babe “ Binette has advised me Babe passed away in September.
“ Babe “ as he was known & had bourse tables under that name, was from Maine and a very knowledgable dealer / collector of classic American coins & exonumia. He was in his mid 80’s, short ( maybe 5’4” ) with a prominent “ beer belly “ for the decades I’d known and dealt with him… very friendly, he usually set up at the Baltimore show but was absent for the past two yrs due to increasing health problems. At the time of his death, he owned an ExFine ( EAC standards ) huge planchet 1793 Chain cent and many multiple gold & silver Maine State Agricultural Society award medals awarded the same recipient, which I’d been trying to acquire from him.
Babe was one of the oldtime dealers who disliked slabbing and will by missed by the hobby.
Comments
sad to hear
My first show at Baltimore I set up with Babe Binette and Bob Kevorkian. Babe and Bob gave me a lot of tips on how to run my show table successfully and I will always remember and appreciate that. I bought several coins from Babe and was always satisfied with those transactions. My sincere condolences to his family and many friends.
An authorized PCGS dealer, and a contributor to the Red Book.
Condolences to his family and friends.
Paul Zebiak is a long time friend of mine so over the years I got to know Babe by osmosis. He always had a medal or badge of interest in his case and knew a lot more about exonumia then he let on. Some years back he had purchased one portion of the Scovill Manufacturing Co. remainders that came out and I was fortunate enough to acquire the lot from him - 19th Century horsecar tokens, Central and South American merchant and plantation tokens, early political tokens all in off-the-press uncirculated. We discussed that accumulation for years -- I will miss the conversations and will miss Babe. RIP.
Oh, I'm so very sorry to hear this.
Those of us here in Maine are a small, close fraternity, and Babe will be missed.
I've not been as active the last few years, but I recall fondly when I was doing shows more frequently - and I'd pick up something choice - that the first thing I'd hear from many fellow dealers would often be "Have you shown that to Babe?" Everybody knew what he liked, and knew that he would make a market if the coins were all there.
I remember well one year when I was getting ready to do the Bay State show, and Babe had a conflict, that he sent some of his coins along on memo for me to sell on his behalf. I was quite proud to have them in my case. Knowing he trusted me with his inventory meant a great deal.
Babe was one of the good ones. I'll miss him.
I was thinking of him today. He was very generous with support and information on the educational side. I wish I could have ended up with one of his coins, but so it goes. He was a wonderful person to spend time with at the shows. I am very sorry to hear of his passing.
I'm sorry to hear that! I had wondered about him in recent years. I looked for him the last couple times I went to the Manchester, NH show but didn't see him. I used to admire that chain cent of his on that little cushion in his case whenever I could!
so sorry to hear
I'm so sorry to hear this. Babe was a legend of New England numismatics.
Coin Rarities Online
Condolences and best wishes 🙏