On the Death of Patrick McBride
Reenactment has now become a part of mainstream society. Every castle and every town has several guides who don (more or less authentic) historical costumes and tell (more or less true) stories. The quality varies greatly. While some gifted actors make people laugh and cry with stories that never happened and could never have happened, scholars sweat in period costumes while their lectures remain dry as dust. Only rarely are there people who combine both: profound knowledge and the natural talent to slip into the role of a historical figure.
Patrick E. McBride
One of them was Patrick McBride (1952–2026), whom one encountered at every World’s Fair of Money since 2018 and at many other American coin shows. Most people didn’t even know his name. To them, he was Benjamin Franklin. Who cared that the person in the Franklin costume was an enthusiastic numismatist?
People like Patrick were and are the foundation of every coin club. People like him are rare these days. He invested countless hours in volunteer work for various numismatic associations and was repeatedly honored for it.
The idea to become the embodiment of Benjamin Franklin came from a friend, Dennis Boggs, who himself has been portraying Abraham Lincoln for many years. Patrick, whose facial features and build were naturally not unlike Franklin’s, let his sparse white hair grow long, put on a tricorn hat, slipped into period shoes, and donned a long coat. Many coin show visitors knew him in this costume.
They were thrilled when he began to tell stories from “his” life. Patrick had read everything he could get his hands on about Franklin. He was knowledgeable and, of course, knew everything about the coins in circulation during Franklin’s time.
Whether he was talking to little boys, security experts, or media representatives like me: he always had something to say and struck exactly the right tone for his audience.
Now Patrick will no longer be sitting at his desk waiting for visitors. He passed away on June 2, 2026, after a long battle with cancer. We will miss him, because people like him are rare.
Far too rare. But perhaps his example could inspire others to carry on his way of sharing knowledge.
A meaningful way to share knowledge
Why don’t we also use reenactment at European coin fairs? It fits our times. No newbie is interested in dry lectures anymore. Medieval markets, on the other hand, are practically overflowing with visitors.
And they even spend money on dubious “gold talers.” Why don’t we take a cue from them? Let’s step out of our comfort zone and leave our dignified demeanor at home in the closet!
It would be so fine if other countries could also find men and women like Patrick McBride, who passionately slip into the roles of Frederick the Great or Maria Theresa. Let’s give everyone who shows up in historical costume a vendor pass that grants them admission at any time—as a little encouragement. I’m sure that would significantly boost the fun factor at coin shows.
Text and images: Ursula Kampmann
