Michael Sharp

[numismatist]

Very sad to see Michael died on 9th August . All those who collect

Charles 1st Coins will greatly miss all his input on the subject.

[Rob]

Sad news but inevitable. I was told he asked to be discharged from hospital in Feb after a 3 week stay as there wasn't anything more that could be done.

Edited August 28, 2012 by Rob

[TomGoodheart]

Yes. I never got to meet him, although he was kind enough to send me a copy of his paper. I'm sure he'll be missed by many.

[Coinery]

Respectful Post!

I would've left a blank acknowledgement if the forum system permitted it, and would've preferred to! There was always a '.' I guess!

I remember getting excited about Krishnamurti about 4 years after he passed, I'm getting closer!

Thoughts with his family!

[Cerbera100]

I had the pleasure of working with Michael at DNW for about 6-months as a sort of apprenticeship - I met him at CoinEx 2006 where we got chatting. He mentioned an opening at DNW for a post room boy, and I bit his hand off! He also hinted that he might be retiring, and as such they would be in need of a cataloguer... I figured that if I had my foot in the door (well, basement at least!), I might be in with a shot! Needless to say, he didn't retire (nor showed any signs that this was even a consideration) and the 10-12hours days (plus 90min each-way commute) seemed slightly pointless without that particular carrot to drag me out of bed in the morning. Handling and packaging the coins and medals was one (albeit fantastic) thing, but it was the attraction of the possible progression that drew me in! I sometimes regret not continuing there, but I don't think I'd have the life I have now if I hadn't.

I particularly enjoyed many a chat with Michael about this, that and the other, discussing the Gooners latest performance and Michael regaling me with numerous tails of his myriad of experiences. Whether it was a lunchtime trip to various Mayfair pubs, sitting in the Viewing Room or courtyard at 16 Bolton Street with a coffee, slice of toast and lime marmalade and a fag (for Michael - one of those black things he used to enjoy so much!), conversation was always easy and enlightening, and despite my numerous ill-informed comments or dumb questions, he always took the time to explain things to me in a way that was straightforward and in no way condescending or patronising.

I very much enjoyed those brief few months, and learnt more in that time than in all the rest of my years as a collector!

Rest in peace Michael, you will not be forgotten.

[Peckris]

I had the pleasure of working with Michael at DNW for about 6-months as a sort of apprenticeship - I met him at CoinEx 2006 where we got chatting. He mentioned an opening at DNW for a post room boy, and I bit his hand off! He also hinted that he might be retiring, and as such they would be in need of a cataloguer... I figured that if I had my foot in the door (well, basement at least!), I might be in with a shot! Needless to say, he didn't retire (nor showed any signs that this was even a consideration) and the 10-12hours days (plus 90min each-way commute) seemed slightly pointless without that particular carrot to drag me out of bed in the morning. Handling and packaging the coins and medals was one (albeit fantastic) thing, but it was the attraction of the possible progression that drew me in! I sometimes regret not continuing there, but I don't think I'd have the life I have now if I hadn't.

I particularly enjoyed many a chat with Michael about this, that and the other, discussing the Gooners latest performance and Michael regaling me with numerous tails of his myriad of experiences. Whether it was a lunchtime trip to various Mayfair pubs, sitting in the Viewing Room or courtyard at 16 Bolton Street with a coffee, slice of toast and lime marmalade and a fag (for Michael - one of those black things he used to enjoy so much!), conversation was always easy and enlightening, and despite my numerous ill-informed comments or dumb questions, he always took the time to explain things to me in a way that was straightforward and in no way condescending or patronising.

I very much enjoyed those brief few months, and learnt more in that time than in all the rest of my years as a collector!

Rest in peace Michael, you will not be forgotten.

Who was your favourite? Mine was always Eccles, but Neddy Seagoon and Bluebottle were high on the list also.

Edited September 5, 2012 by Peckris

[coin watch]

I see him at fairs on a couple of occasions but sadly never did speak to him face to face.

When I seriously got into the Charles Tower issues as my main hobby collection I had many email exchanges with him and once also received a hand written letter from him, I had many questions which he always had time for........RIP.

[InforaPenny]

I first got to know Michael Sharp at Baldwin’s on a rainy day in late June 1997, after stopping over in London for a few days. Baldwin’s was an amazing place in those days, especially if you had the right numismatic introductions. After we talked numismatics for a while and of my interest in bun penny varieties, with nothing of interest to me in the trays up front, Michael asked me if I would mind waiting while he took a look in the back. I was offered a cup of tea, and after what seemed to be a long wait, he emerged with another tray, clearly now containing some coins from Baldwin’s famous safe. Among these were an 1860 proof penny, and other high grade rare penny varieties listed by Peck number. I bought all I could afford, including the proof at 200 GBP (the ticket showing it had sold in 1940 for 1 pound). Others included F-17, F-79 and F-96. While I would always stop in to see Michael and talk numismatics during future trips to London, including at DNW after his move there, my 1997 visit to Baldwin’s was certainly the most memorable. He will be missed.

Best Regards,

InforaPenny

[Accumulator]

I first got to know Michael Sharp at Baldwin’s on a rainy day in late June 1997, after stopping over in London for a few days. Baldwin’s was an amazing place in those days, especially if you had the right numismatic introductions. After we talked numismatics for a while and of my interest in bun penny varieties, with nothing of interest to me in the trays up front, Michael asked me if I would mind waiting while he took a look in the back. I was offered a cup of tea, and after what seemed to be a long wait, he emerged with another tray, clearly now containing some coins from Baldwin’s famous safe. Among these were an 1860 proof penny, and other high grade rare penny varieties listed by Peck number. I bought all I could afford, including the proof at 200 GBP (the ticket showing it had sold in 1940 for 1 pound). Others included F-17, F-79 and F-96. While I would always stop in to see Michael and talk numismatics during future trips to London, including at DNW after his move there, my 1997 visit to Baldwin’s was certainly the most memorable. He will be missed.

Best Regards,

InforaPenny

A lovely story. Those rarities are just so hard to locate these days and it's almost impossible to find anyone with such stock (even in their basement safes)!

Edited September 9, 2012 by Accumulator

[numismatist]

By 1997 Michael had completed 25 years at Baldwins, as according to his obituary

he had joined Baldwins 1st March 1972 . I first met him soon after he had joined

them . At that time I had been " allowed in " to sit at the tables , but before

that you stood at an hatch and was allowed just see the odd things. Once allowed

in to the inner sanctum it was trays of Five Guinea pieces at £300 to £600

(for mint ones) Byzantine Gold by the hundreds at £30 to £50 at time. Cabinets full

of Anglo Saxon and Norman pennies which I didnt know what I was looking at !!

Then by about the mid 1970's after always spending every penny I could,and visiting

every week, I was allowed "take aways". Handfulls of superb hammered rarities and

every time I could, I would walk across London from Adelphi Terrace to Spinks in

King Street and offer them the Patrick Finn who used to get a bit worried were they

were all coming from. Mostly Patrick would buy a good handful and I would return to

Baldwins with the unsold ones and the monies due. They were the glory days indeed,

and Michael was always so helpful and kind , and normally a good discount was on

hand. He will certainly never be forgotten by those who had the fortune to meet him.

[Peter]

By 1997 Michael had completed 25 years at Baldwins, as according to his obituary

he had joined Baldwins 1st March 1972 . I first met him soon after he had joined

them . At that time I had been " allowed in " to sit at the tables , but before

that you stood at an hatch and was allowed just see the odd things. Once allowed

in to the inner sanctum it was trays of Five Guinea pieces at £300 to £600

(for mint ones) Byzantine Gold by the hundreds at £30 to £50 at time. Cabinets full

of Anglo Saxon and Norman pennies which I didnt know what I was looking at !!

Then by about the mid 1970's after always spending every penny I could,and visiting

every week, I was allowed "take aways". Handfulls of superb hammered rarities and

every time I could, I would walk across London from Adelphi Terrace to Spinks in

King Street and offer them the Patrick Finn who used to get a bit worried were they

were all coming from. Mostly Patrick would buy a good handful and I would return to

Baldwins with the unsold ones and the monies due. They were the glory days indeed,

and Michael was always so helpful and kind , and normally a good discount was on

hand. He will certainly never be forgotten by those who had the fortune to meet him.

I love the trust once you are known.I simply wouldn't consider abusing trust.There is nothing worse than a dealer acting like a hawk as you look at some trays.

Baldwin's sounded like heaven on earth.

[numismatist]

It was " Heaven on Earth " The thing with Baldwins was they were "very" old school and

it was really hard to gain acceptance with them, so most dealers of the time never went

back after the first encounter , so never knew what Baldwins had. Seabys and Spink were

differant. Seabys were being cleaned out of stock and could not replace it and more was

being stolen than anyone ever knew , so were brought to their knees and later faded away.

Spink were more pro-active selling and buying , and would pay the latest prices to keep

up a good stock, whilst Seabys were hoping to replace their rapidly depleted stock at

what they had been used to paying in the past and they just could not do it in the new

coin collecting climate with the massive increases in prices that happened in weeks if

not in less time. I think Baldwins must have have vast reserves of stock and being far

less known that the other old time dealers and they always seemed to have an incredible

selection of coins still on tap. Of course London then was flooded with coin dealers in

every street it seemed. You needed days to get round them all, but now its very hard to

find enough dealers to make it worthwhile travelling to London. Michael Sharp certainly

lived through the best days of coin collecting and must have met all the respected and

knowledgable collectors of the day who were building up their vast collections in the

days of plenty and who were lucky enough to have the money to do it.

[Peckris]

It was " Heaven on Earth " The thing with Baldwins was they were "very" old school and

it was really hard to gain acceptance with them, so most dealers of the time never went

back after the first encounter , so never knew what Baldwins had. Seabys and Spink were

differant. Seabys were being cleaned out of stock and could not replace it and more was

being stolen than anyone ever knew , so were brought to their knees and later faded away.

Spink were more pro-active selling and buying , and would pay the latest prices to keep

up a good stock, whilst Seabys were hoping to replace their rapidly depleted stock at

what they had been used to paying in the past and they just could not do it in the new

coin collecting climate with the massive increases in prices that happened in weeks if

not in less time. I think Baldwins must have have vast reserves of stock and being far

less known that the other old time dealers and they always seemed to have an incredible

selection of coins still on tap. Of course London then was flooded with coin dealers in

every street it seemed. You needed days to get round them all, but now its very hard to

find enough dealers to make it worthwhile travelling to London. Michael Sharp certainly

lived through the best days of coin collecting and must have met all the respected and

knowledgable collectors of the day who were building up their vast collections in the

days of plenty and who were lucky enough to have the money to do it.

Actually, there are / were more than one dealer who - once you got to know them and were shown the better items from the "inner sanctum" - were charm and helpfulness personified. I would place Gary and his partner at Format Coins in Birmingham in that "old school" category. Their current struggles vis à via UK coins are nothing to do with eBay, but with the proliferation of Chinese forgeries. And that is the tragedy and the shame of where our hobby is headed. I hope all our cherished memories regarding these wonderful dealers don't become only nostalgia, but I do worry...

[Peter]

I was always astounded when I would receive a hand written letter with my £20 order from the farthing specialist when I was a young lad.It somehow made me respect the coin fraternity.Several dealers at the Midland let me have free range to their trays.There are a few idiots on Ebay but they are not usually full time coin dealers.

[Accumulator]

Thankfully, there are still a few dealers who will leave you alone in a room for an hour with £25k + of coins and trust you implicitly. And there are still those who will send you £2k+ of coins in the post to see if you like them. I would rather buy from these gentlemen if I can.

[TomGoodheart]

I felt I had to post this photo of Michael which I found on Charles Riley's site. It was taken by CR at his leaving do. From what I've heard, I believe it to be quite a good likeness!

.

[Cerbera100]

Gunners tie? Check...

Pint of real ale? Check...

Fag? Check...

Yep, that's Michael!