Special Collections
Barry Greenaway
Barry Michael Greenaway, who died on 11 December 2002, was born on 15 August 1941 to a military family in Gloucester; both brothers and his Father were in the Royal Artillery.
His first collection of coins was obtained by a primary school playground swap of his brother's marbles!
During his time at Bristol University he discovered coins properly, becoming a junior member of the Bristol Numismatic Society. In later years he would join numerous others, including Cheltenham, Southampton, Waterlooville, Ramsey, Reading, Wiltshire and, at the time of his death, he was president of the Swindon group. He had been elected a Fellow of the Royal Numismatic Society in 1975 and a member of the British Numismatic Society in 1995.
After careers as a chartered accountant and a college lecturer in Portsmouth and Swindon, at the age of 52 he took early retirement to become a full time dealer.
On Radio Bristol Barry compered a regular monthly coin phone-in, cleverly asking leading questions. He gave such comprehensive replies that, on the few occasions when he was baffled, Susan Osman or Chris Searle would cheer "We have beaten him for once!" Radio Bristol broadcast a tribute programme after his death.
He belonged to the Token Corresponding Society, who meet once a year for an annual conference. In October 2002 Barry ran the conference in Cheltenham. It was the 21st of its kind and had 99 delegates, the highest to that time. Judging from the appreciative feedback, it was as good as any of the preceding conferences. He loved that weekend and did an excellent job.
Besides being a dealer, Barry was a collector who enjoyed the research element of his hobby. His knowledge of tokens, medals and paranumismatica was extensive, particularly of his native Gloucestershire.
He attended coin fairs in London and bought and sold through lists, but would delight in spending as much time with a girl guide or boy scout doing a collectors' badge as he would with a high value sale. He was well liked by his fellow dealers, especially as he so obviously enjoyed what he was doing. This auction of pieces from his private collection will enable many others to share that enjoyment.
Barry's skill and knowledge was also used when he started to get involved with charity work-the major financial venture was turning foreign currency into sterling for Macmillan Cancer Fund, The Prospect Foundation Hospice in Swindon and St Peter's Hospice in Bristol. Between £50,000-£60,000 has been raised by Barry and the team of village people who helped. He felt it was his Christian faith in action and he took no profit from this venture. He delighted in finding a rare or sometimes gold coin in a batch and informing the organisations of their extra good fortune.
Barry is survived by his wife Diane, son Richard and daughter-in-law Jenny.
Gavin Scott
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