In her Editor's Note, Ursula Kampmann wrote:

In Paris in the 1970s there was a little joke circulating. Yes, there was a numismatic heaven,ruled by God the Father, God the Son and the Holy Spirit. God the Father - and this is hardly asurprise - was identified with great Jean Vinchon, 'veteran' of the Parisian coin trade since 1945.The Holy Spirit was Emile Bourgey. Finally, God the Son - that could have been no one else thanBernard Poindessault, zealous prophet and herald of the numismatic message who became very talentedin getting laypeople enthusiastic about numismatics. Not only the family grieves for BernardPoindessault, the numismatic world has lost one of its leading figures. He died on 12 July,2014.

Bernard Poindessault was born as the child of two lawyers on 13 July 1935. Unsurprisingly, hechose to study law after finishing school. Between 1958 and 1961, however, he had to serve in thearmy, and that gave his life a new direction. At the very beginning of his military career he wassent to Algeria, in order to help setting up a training center at Khenchela. During his stay therethe young enthusiastic man witnessed the thermae of ancient city of Mascula being archaeologicallyexcavated. Amongst the material unearthed were numerous coin finds. Bernard Poindessault wasthrilled. Being a child he used to binge-read the novels written by Alexandre Dumas with theirhistorical backdrop and he owned his own collection of Roman sestertii. And there he was,experiencing an excavation first-hand, even unburying a few items himself that are on display todayin the showcases of the museum of Constantine.

When he returned to Paris, Bernard Poindessault worked at an insurance company. All of hisleisure time, on the other hand, he spent on numismatics. He collected Roman coins. In addition, hefelt the profound need to share his passion for numismatics. That was the reason for him to becomea foundation member of Société d'Etudes Numismatique et Archéologie whose presidency he was toassume later. He created the journal Les Cahiers numismatiques and served as its editor. In 1965,his finest hour had come. The television broadcast "Avis aux Amateurs", produced by T.F. 1 hadinvited him to speak about his hobby. Today, this is no big deal, but back then it was something ofa sensation: T.F. 1 was the only television channel available in France. And so everybody watchedBernard Poindessault. But even the television experts did not see this incredible feedback coming:more than 1,200 letters arrived at the station - an unparalleled number. It took BernardPoindessault 15 months to answer them all, and during that time he decided to switch careers. Heterminated his assurance business and became a coin dealer.

Just two years later, the business premises in the Rue Montpensier already proved too small. In1969, he moved to the coin dealers' street, to Rue de Richelieu # 38 where the Centre Numismatiquedu Palais Royal is located until the present day, run by his wife Josiane.

Apart from his daily routine as a coin dealer - as an expert, he conducted several auction salesat Hotel Drouot Paris, but he also organized auctions at Lyon, Marseille, Lille, Roubaix, Bordeauxand Poitiers - Bernard Poindessault always had the desire to actively promote numismatics. Hepublished three monographs, two of which became standard works of reference to many collectors:Repertoire de la Numismatique Française Contemporaine as well as Repertoire des MonnaiesNapoleonides. He initiated the journal Archeonumis and, in his function as secretary general,vice-president and president, played an active part in the French association of coin dealerscalled Syndicat National des Experts Numismates et Numismates Professionnels whose honorarypresident he was.

In addition, Bernard Poindessault often was called in as an expert both by Tribunal de Commercede Paris and Cour d'Appel in Paris. His most important 'case' was connected with the great heist atthe Naples museum. Back then, it was his task to examine 3,500 confiscated ancient coins in orderto identify the specimens that had been stolen from the museum at Naples.

Bernard Poindessault was always open to the new media. His numismatic career having started witha television appearance, the end was marked by a new website www.infomonnaies.com that is currentlyhosted by the French journal Numismatique et Change.

With Bernard Poindessault the numismatic world is losing a dedicated representative whosuccessfully managed to likewise fill outsiders and non-collectors with enthusiasm. I have lost acolleague and a friend whom I have been close to through numismatics. My sympathy goes to hiswidow, Josiane Vedrines-Poindessault, and his entire family.

George Kolbe writes:

To read the complete article, see:
Bernard Poindessault (1935-2014)(www.coinsweekly.com/en/page/4?&id=3050)