JAMES RICHARD BARRY (1936-2024)

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V27 2024 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 27, Number 45, November 10, 2024, Article 5

James R. Barry of Evans, GA. passed away Tuesday, October 29, 2024. He was born in Hartford, Ct., March 15, 1936. His parents, Thomas H. Barry IV and Laura Miller Barry and brother, Thomas H. Barry V, have predeceased him. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Helen Rose Barry of Evans, Ga, sister, Patricia Barry Harrison, Huntley, Illinois and many nephews and nieces.

Jim received his BA in Sociology from Duke University in 1958, Masters in History Education 1958-59 from University of Hartford. From 1959-1991 Jim taught Social Studies at East Hampton Union Free School District, East Hampton, N.Y. including Social Studies Coordinator from 1980-1991. He brought creativity to the classroom. Through his work he had traveled to China, Japan, Thailand, West Africa, Egypt and South America.

Jim was instrumental in starting a student exchange program between E.H. High School and Asahikawa Daigaku High School, Asahikawa, Japan. He presented workshops on Asia to the NYS Council of Social Studies and NY Asia Conference through the 1980's. He was a board member of the NY Asia Conference, past president of American Field Service- East Hampton Chapter and Past President of East Hampton Teacher's Association

Upon retirement, with his interest in history, he collected ancient Greek and Roman coins and studied numismatics at the ANA at Colorado College, Colorado Springs. Jim and his wife were charter and founding members of the Stephen James CSRA Coin Club, he was a life member of the American Numismatic Assoc., member of the Augusta Coin Club, Board Member and Past President of the South Carolina Numismatic Association and a member of various other numismatic clubs. Jim taught numismatic courses and received many awards in recognition of his hobby and written articles for several national numismatic magazines. He is also a retired Coast Guard Auxiliary member. Since retirement Jim and Helen have traveled to New Zealand, Australia, Alaska, Panama Canal and the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

"When Jim started to collect he first collected U.S. coins then due to his interest in history, grew to Greek & Roman coins. (Lucky for me, he sold them about 4 years ago!). He also developed an interest in paper money the last few years - mostly USA.

"We helped start the Stephen James Central Savannah River Area Coin Club. He was VP in charge of programs for 9 years and I was secretary for 9 years. We both also were bourse chairs for several years. In 2016 he and I were given Honorary Membership."

The September 2016 issue of the club's newsletter described his recent presentation on American colonial coins. Another time Jim presented a program on the "Ship of Gold", the SS Central America. -Editor

The club's September program was a presentation on Coins of the American Confederation by Jim Barry. Jim introduced us to the coins made by the various state governments after the formation of the United States and prior to the establishment of the U.S. Mint. Jim also shared very nice examples of the coins produced by Vermont, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New York, and Virginia, as well as a Fugio cent. Jim cautioned anyone interested in collecting these coins to beware of any grades assigned to particular coins, since there is no practical way to develop a thorough grading system for coins where there are no true uncirculated examples. He also recommended finding coins made from sound planchets, and avoiding those that had high porosity or corrosion which was a wide-spread problem for copper coins from this era.

To read the complete obituary, see:
James "Jim" Richard Barry (https://www.thomaspoteet.com/obituaries/james-jim-barry)