I was very sad to learn of the recent passing of collector Rich Jewell. Born on February 14th (Valentine's Day), he was a lovable figure with the Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists, continuing his work as Editor of their journal The Clarion even while spending much of his retirement far from his home base near Pittsburgh. -Editor

I hadn't met him in person yet, when as Chairman of the 2004 Pittsburgh ANA I got a phone call from him one evening asking if he could exhibit at the show. His collection? A high-grade set of U.S. three-dollar gold pieces. He indeed displayed the collection and later sold it through American Numismatic Rarities in May 2005. He also worked to acquire U.S. commemorative coins, plus medals and especially coin and medal artwork including plaster models and galvanos. He was a true connoisseur who appreciated great art and the beauty of high condition coins and medals.

As Clarion Editor he worked with researcher Harry Waterson to publish countless original articles on American medals and medallists, making the back issues of the publication invaluable for other medal collectors. We've published excerpts of several of these articles here in The E-Sylum. Rich made a difference, and he will be missed. -Editor

"Rich was a good friend for many people in PAN. He was always willing to help in any way he could. When my grandson Josh and I were in charge of the PAN KidZone, he showed up every Saturday we worked there to give us a hand."

"Richard and I talked all the time and I would go up for lunch or dinner at least once a week or every other week. Once I invited him to a Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) meeting. This is when Kareem was on the committee. Here's a funny photo. We look like Russian stacking dolls! He always enjoyed this one."

From left: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Rich Jewell, Tom Uram -Editor

"I spoke with him several times about articles I wrote for The Clarion. And when I made my first appearance at the Wilmington NC coin club he was sitting right there and he gave me a very flattering introduction to the club."

There was a wise man named Richard C. Jewell
Who knew his medallions and plaques as a rule.
With Fran at his back
To keep him on track,
He was a numismatist with her kind approval.

"I'm guessing every second numismatist in Pennsylvania knew Rich and is feeling this loss personally.

"Rich was one of my best customers, and certainly one of my favorites. After he started buying medals from me, I stumbled on an old Dave Bowers auction catalog of the Richard Jewell collection, featuring his $3 gold collection. Like not a few others, Rich turned to collecting medals, after cashing in his coins.

"Rich had very good taste and a budget to match, so he often had first crack at some of the best USA art medals I ever acquired -- notably my V.D. Brenners. Around 2020, Stack's-Bowers sold the collection. Regrettably, for me, S-B did not describe any of the medals as ex-Paul Bosco. I would have liked my name to be linked to Rich's, in numismatic perpetuity.

"I also sold Rich a veritable pile of medals by the Austrian medalist Anton Scharff, who rivaled Brenner as the best portrait medalist. Stack-Bowers auctioned these in August 2021. If interested, one can go to the Stack's-Bowers online archive and search for "Richard Jewell", to see most of his rare and generally beautiful medals.

"I love the picture of Rich, who was fairly tall, with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (also tall). I remember when Rich e-Mailed a notable photograph to friends, showing a row of passengers standing on an airplane wing, their feet just above the Hudson River, courtesy of "Captain Sully". Apparently this stretch of the Hudson was Rich's back yard, when he worked for UPS on Manhattan's west side.

"It's hard to believe this kind and generous soul is gone at only 79, an age at which some men are still running for President. I'm glad that he leaves a legacy thru his editorial work."