DAVID JOHN MACDONALD (1943–2025)

Numismatics lost a close friend and mentor earlier this year with the passing of David John MacDonald of Carlock, Illinois, on March 29, 2025, from an undiagnosed illness that culminated in a fatal case of pneumonia. He was born in Denham, Massachusetts, on June 26, 1943, to Charles MacDonald, a businessman, and his wife Virginia. Still with us are his wife Sharon, younger sister Laurie Dungan (born 1949) of Virginia, and sister-in-law Sheridan Sellers and grandnephew Jonathan Sweet of New York.

Many readers in classical numismatic or colonial history circles probably have at least crossed paths with some of Mac's work over the course of his voluminous writing career, stretching from 1969 to books and articles that have yet to be published, whether it be on Roman provincial coinage, Illyrian coins, Greek overstrikes, the Kingdom of the Bosporus, or French Illinois history, to name just a few.

For those who got to know him personally, a lasting friendship was often the result, filled with just as many chuckles as his vast research interests. He could perform the most extraordinarily thick Scottish accent this writer has ever heard, bordering on a different language. Many knew firsthand his tireless efforts to assist other scholars with their research, be available to share his wisdom on most any topic, or just simply listen. This was especially true for Dr. Daniel Wolf of Ptolemaic coinage fame who has already written a touching tribute to Mac on The PtolemyAE Project Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/PtolemyBronze). (The photo of David presented here was the result of Daniel's quick thinking during a visit with Mac at an Illinois diner in 2012.) Another close friend, Dr. Nicholas Molinari, a scholar on the Greek river god Acheloos and the founder and first general editor of the numismatic journal KOINON stressed, When I say none of my scholarly work would exist without his guidance I am not exaggerating at all. At the same time, Mac was never afraid of confessing his ignorance when he did not have all the answers. That was because, like a true teacher, he was also a perpetual student, willing to learn from others with childlike wonder and fascination.

Mac was beloved by his students at Illinois State University where, in the history department, he taught as a professor for thirty-four years until his retirement in 2005. Since then, he cultivated an interest in French Illinois, Missouri, and the colonial history of the Americas.

Universities were in fact a very large part of his life. At California State University Fresno, where he received his first degree in history (BA) in 1965, he met his future wife Sharon, who he sat beside in the front row of Prof. John Bohnstedt's classroom. Sharon would later become an accomplished historian in her own right, specializing in medieval and U.S. Civil War history.

It took many years for this dense writer to fully realize the scope of Mac's accomplishments. That was partly because they were commonly hidden behind the blinds of his often-humorous sense of humility. Putting out offerings, for instance, was how he liked to explain his knowledge of computers, and yet, he was keen enough to recognize the research value of a hard drive from a notorious, bygone auction house that someone had carelessly thrown in the trash. Even more illustrative of the point was when Mac won the coveted 2017 Member of the Year award on the online discussion boards of FORVM Ancient Coins, of which he was an early member. Roughly a year after the award, he posted, I just discovered this. I am both amazed and a bit embarrassed. I do not even consider myself to belong in this category at all!

On a more serious note, the eminent Belgian numismatist, Prof. François de Callatay, soon after learning of Mac's passing, shared with Sharon that one of his regrets was not to meet his longtime friend in person, adding that Mac was unable to come to Brussels for the conference we had organized for him about ten years ago. Mac had been instrumental in helping de Callatay create the Greek Overstrikes Database (https://silver.kbr.be/Greek_Overstrikes_Database), a research tool still in progress from its founding in 2010. The reasons for declining the conference are a bit uncertain, but Sharon noted to this writer that he was badly affected by the summer heat in 2015 and took a long time to recover. She further reflected, What a shame if that prevented him from going to Europe. But he never mentioned it to me (he was probably worried I would have put him on the plane one way or another).

The author's ancient Greek bronze (14.4mm, 2.737 g., 12h) of the Lydian city of Magnesia ad Sipylum in Asia Minor, kindly given to him by Mac. Combined photo courtesy of FORVM Ancient Coins.

Mac's extensive ancient and modern coin collections, built over the course of many decades, fueled his various research projects, but many coins were also clear mirrors of his impulsive side to coin collecting. One such piece was an unattributed Greek bronze with a right facing profile of Zeus on the obverse and a serpent entwined omphalos on the reverse. It was offered in a members-only FORVM auction which he obtained unchallenged for $12 in November 2022. The problem is, he later wrote to me, I have no idea what I just bought! Any ideas? I think it will clean up better after a vigorous brushing! My answer to him was a rare issue of Magnesia ad Sipylum in Asia Minor (a type cataloged in Dane Kurth's magnum opus on Lydian coinage as GRPC Lydia 38) and his grateful response was to give it to me.

David MacDonald's book and inscription to Mark Fox

All of Mac's coins (or those that have been located to date)—including his enormous numismatic library—were transferred after his death to the numismatic firm of Harlan J. Berk in Chicago where the majority of the material will be auctioned in multiple public sales. A tiny tip (75 coins) of this very large iceberg is currently being offered (as of this writing) in their 232nd Buy or Bid Sale, first launched on June 5. One exception to Mr. Berk's long-term auction plans is Mac's collection of overstruck Greek coins, which served as the basis for the latter's highly acclaimed book on the subject, Overstruck Greek Coins: Studies in Greek Chronology and Monetary Theory (2009), published by Whitman Publishing. These coins, and those apparently intended for an unpublished supplement were sold privately as an intact collection to an institution or individual to preserve their scientific value.

A celebration of life was held locally for David on June 17, attended by several close friends, although some, including this writer, were sadly a little too far away to make the trip to southern Illinois.

The present tribute and recollection of one of the hidden titans of numismatics falls seriously short in many areas (e.g. his participation in archaeological excavations in Europe and Turkey), but it was never meant to be exhaustive. That is because a more thorough treatment on the life of David MacDonald is being readied for this year's volume (VIII) of KOINON, in which a detailed curriculum vitae for Mac will be provided. Would any E-Sylum readers who knew Mac like to contribute content to this project? A coin, a picture, a story, or even one of Macs's cynically droll jokes? All potential contributions, which will be appropriately credited, can be posted on E-Sylum or sent to marktfoxvdb@yahoo.com (because of current space limitations connected with my Gmail account) no later than early August since KOINON VIII goes to the printers on September 1.

Many thanks in advance for all interest shown. Mac would undoubtedly think all of this recognition was a bit too much, but that is too bad. Whether he wished to know it or not, he is worth it. We all miss you very much, Mac.

It was easy for Mac to bridge numismatics with his later love of French colonial history in Illinois and elsewhere. Seen here is a worn 1739-A Sou Marque (Vlack 17), graciously given to Mark Fox by Alan Anthony to forward on to Mac for his 69th birthday. Photo by Mark Fox.

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