JOHN BURNS ESTATE UPDATE: APRIL 20, 2014

Work continues apace on the estate of the late numismatic literature dealer John Burns. Executor Pat McBride reports that John's townhouse has finally been completely emptied and the keys will soon be returned to the landlord.

His personal and business stock numismatic literature has been assembled in his nearby storage units for sale by auction on May 9th. Some of John's coins, tokens and medals will be displayed at the PAN Show in Monroeville PA May 8-10, 2014, but no plans for their disposal have been made yet.

A memorial service/dinner/wake will be held for John at a restaurant in Monroeville PA Friday evening, May 9, 2014. To RSVP, contact Pat McBride at pancoins@gmail.com .

Following an earlier report on John's estate we heard from dealer Allen Berman who wondered if anyone had found among John's possessions a ceremonial axe, given to him in his position as "Royal Executioner and Lord High Character Assassin" in the Bermanian Guild of Numismatists.

Started on a lark by Berman (King Alanus I of Bermania), the little-known numismatic society hosts lighthearted gatherings of friends and associates united by their citizenship in the imaginary Kingdom of Bermania. Everyone has bestowed upon them a title and position, and John was delighted to play his role.

Luckily, John's axe and certificate were found and Pat McBride shipped them to Berman at the Chicago International Coin Fair. In this CoinWeek video by David Lisot of a Bermanian gathering at the show, Berman recounts the tale of John's introduction to the group.

Noting that a moment of silence would not be John's way, he leads his subjects in a rousing "moment of boisterousness", waving the axe to shouts of Burns! Burns! Burns!

Nicely done - be sure to view the video online.

To view the complete video on CoinWeek, see: Bermanian Numismatic Tribute to John Burns. VIDEO: 4:57 (www.coinweek.com/video-news/new-videos/bermanian-numismatic-tribute-john-burns-video-457/)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: UPDATE ON THE JOHN BURNS ESTATE (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v17n10a08.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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