A FEW REMEMBRANCES OF CHARLES MCSORLEY

I was saddened to learn of Charles H. McSorley's death this week. He was a medal dealer of rare knowledge. His specialty was American political and campaign medals of which he built an extensive collection. The collection was sold at auction by Joseph Levine in two Presidential Coin & Antique sales, November 15, 1997 and July 10, 1998.

Isn't it is interesting to note that medal dealers -- who should be intense competitors -- often become great good friends. Charley was a good friend to all medal dealers, myself included.

Charley became so familiar with the artists of political medals he could often identify the engraver of unsigned pieces. For example, he attributed nine such pieces to engraver James Bale (active 1824-1851). Q. David Bowers assigned two others to this same artist. These were all typographic pieces (without pictorial devices). These attributions were later verified by Wesley Cox, who made a study of diesinkers' letter punches and their diagnostic shapes (and reported by Russell Rulau).

Charley did all the coin shows in the New York City area and one in Pennsylvania where a relative lived. But the number he attended dwindled in the early 1990s as his health declined.

He would occasionally give a talk on political tokens and medals at coin clubs, but never published anything on them. However, in 1985 he had completed a manuscript on all the engravers of political medals that he shared with me. It was so insightful on these engravers, their work, and his opinion of their ability that I cited many of his statements in biographies of these artists in my Databank of American Artists. I was privileged he shared his analysis and comments with me.

I remember one New York City coin show that was so boring we left it one evening to attend a movie together. All my memories of Charlie McSorley are pleasant. I will long remember his smiling presence at coin shows and his willingness to share his rare knowledge of his favorite topic of political medals..

Wayne Homren, Editor

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