Michael John Anderson, Dec 1, 1938 - Apr 9, 2021

Michael was interested in coins from a very early age and studied themintensively for virtually his entire life. He was a member of manynumismatic organizations and was also a life member of the EssexNumismatic Society. During his lifetime he served on the Council of theBritish Numismatic Society, as Secretary and President of the LondonNumismatic Club and as Treasurer of the British Association ofNumismatic Societies.

He contributed dozens of articles to the numismatic press; from "The Coins of the Grand Princes of Kiev" in Seaby's Coin and Medal Bulletin in 1963 to his article "Aristobulos of Chalcis and Salome" in Coins & Antiquities in 1999 the final year that periodical was published. After that his writing was curtailed due to failing vision and other health problems but he still managed to finish one major work and several articles in Caesaromagus.

His final article was not published prior to hisdeath but I believe it will appear posthumously in Caesaromagus theofficial publication of the Essex Numismatic Society. He had alsocontinued to work on the update of the Standard Catalog of EcuadorianCoins until his death. Due to his death a new edition may not be published.

Michael was a meticulous researcher of historical and numismatic subjects.He held a Bachelor's degree in Languages, specializing in Russian, Spanish,German and French and also held a Master's degree from Cambridge.Those studies naturally pointed him to a career where his multi-lingualabilities would be of use.

He joined the Foreign and Colonial Office in 1958 and served as BritishVice-Consul in Ecuador from 1965 to 1968, whence his interest in thecoinage of Ecuador. His principal work, A Numismatic History ofEcuador, was a detailed, scholarly masterpiece with 394 pages thatincluded dozens of official Ecuadorian documents translated into English.Previously he had co-authored the second edition of "The Coins ofEcuador";, published by Almanzar's Coins of the World in 1973. His own extensive collection of Ecuadorian coins, sold by Glendenning's inFebruary of 1977 is generally recognized as one of the more importantreference works for the serious collector of Ecuadorian coins.

As mentioned above his first major posting at the FCO was to Quito as theBritish Vice-Consul which was followed by similar postings to Beirut andAthens. Subsequently he was posted as the British Consul to the Philippinesand later to Spain and also served as Relieving Consul in Zimbabwe,Venezuela and France at various times. Throughout his decades of servicehe also spent time in various positions at the FCO in London.

His step siblings, Keith and Shirley, knew Michael all their lives as thefamilies were neighbors and close friends. After the sibling's father diedfollowed by the death of Michael's mother, the surviving parentseventually married. Michael enjoyed having a new combined family.

He visited his step brother Keith in Australia on several occasions and histravels took him to various countries visiting relatives and friends where he was much welcomed and respected. In Australia Michael accompaniedKeith and other family to various places including New South Wales and theGreat Dividing Range, Queensland and the Great Barrier Reef. He alsorevisited Ecuador on several occasions including at least one trip to theGalapagos Islands where he took great pleasure in visiting with MargretWittmer the author of Floreana: A Woman's Pilgrimage to the Galapagos.

After his foreign service Michael lived in Westminster for many yearsand enjoyed the advantages of living in London. After his retirement,when his health became a problem, he moved from his flat inWestminster to The Hawthorns Residential Home in Eastbourne, EastSussex. Due to various infirmities his ability to travel was greatlyreduced but he continued to meet family and friends in Eastbourne aswell as in London when his health permitted.

He lived at The Hawthorns for several years until he died, keeping busywith various societies, including the Anglo-Ecuadorian Society, as well asseveral Numismatic and Philatelic Societies.

Michael is sorely missed by his many friends and correspondents as wellas by the residents and management of The Hawthorns in Eastbourne.