Remembering Geoffrey Bell

Longtime dealer, collector was a pillar of Canada’s numismatic community

By Mike Walsh

For his many friends, colleagues and fellow collectors, Geoffrey Bell’s legacy is defined by his unwavering passion, dedication, and infectious enthusiasm for making numismatics in Canada an engaging and exhilarating hobby for enthusiasts of all ages and interest levels.

The esteemed numismatist, respected dealer, and longtime professional educator passed away on July 24 at the age of 82. (See related story on Page 6)

“Geoff’s interests encompassed everything,” says Graham Esler, whose friendship with Geoff dates back to 1970, when they first met at the Halifax convention of the Canadian Numismatic Association (CNA), now known as the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (RCNA). “What really impressed me was his enthusiasm for the hobby and how he delved into various aspects. He had a far-ranging mind and was eager to share and learn from others. He was an omnivorous researcher, always interested in the pieces in his collection and those of others, rather than just possessing them. He published and talked to people, always sharing his findings.”

Sandy Campbell, owner of Proof Positive Coins Ltd., recalls first meeting Geoff at the 1983 Moncton CNA convention.

“Geoff was one of those guys who never changed,” says Campbell. “He was soft-spoken, easy to talk to, just like everybody’s uncle. He could talk to anyone, whether they collected rare coins or common nickels, and he was always approachable regardless of the value of your collection.”

Another longtime friend, Chris Faulkner, will always remember Geoff for his “perpetual good spirits.”

“Whether on the phone or in person, he always had a laugh about something or other. Definitely a glass half-full guy. I won’t rehearse his enormous contributions to Canadian numismatics. That’s well known and will be memorialized elsewhere. Suffice to say, he stood up when called upon, which was often. I will underline his passion for medals and his numerous articles on the subject in both Canadian and American publications. What I will remember most about Geoff was his cheerful disposition at so many CNA/RCNA conventions over the years, Torex shows and auctions in the ’90s and 2000s, at his own auctions at Toronto Coin Expo in more recent years, or when I stopped over in Shediac, N.B. on a research trip to P.E.I. in about 2009 and Geoff and Sylvia were wonderfully hospitable. It’s all those social occasions that will be important in my memories of Geoff. That’s what numismatics can do. He will be missed. But he will be remembered. That’s all one can ask for.”

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