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BALDWIN (2012-2025)This spot in our newsletter is where we typically feature obituaries. When we have more than one, we usually order them chronologically, oldest subject first. But I've never had to reach for a dog-year calculator. Depending on the formula chosen, Baldwin was about tied or older in human years, so here goes. Sorry to hear this news from "The Blind Numismatist" Tom Babinszki that his faithful companion Baldwin has passed. Here's Tom's complete blog post. -Editor
On October 20th, at the age of 13, he died. While it is not a blog about my guide dog, I still felt appropriate to post this, since many of you who read the blog or the newsletter met him in person. Also, without his passionate work, I don't think I would have been able to visit all the places we have been to. Though I don't have any evidence, but I think I can claim that Baldwin was the dog who visited the most coin and money museums. Since I wrote about all of my numismatic travels, you can read about our trips, here is the list of museums we have been together, mostly in chronological order from 2016 until 2022.
And the only reason why he didn't come with me to Cambridge was because his paperwork was late and he couldn't travel with me. He also missed a few things in Brazil, India and in Mexico because the paperwork was so demanding and I wasn't sure if I will be able to safely bring him home. But these are just the places and numbers, but he actually started his numismatic journey in 2015, when we went to the World's Fair of Money in Chicago, and also in 2019 which was our last trip before we got grounded for three years. But we also went to at least three coin clubs to speak, and to countless money shows. I think he really enjoyed these events, when we went to money shows he tried to take me in the direction where he heard the noise of coins. And it is actually not surprising, simply because a dog does everything to please his owner, and he knew it well that I really enjoyed being around the coin tables, checking the coins and talking with the people. And generally he was quick to catch on to what I like or what I need, in hotels for example he took me to the elevator from the front entrance or the breakfast room after I took him out first thing in the morning. We sure were a team, for almost nine years I was only away from him when I was in the restroom, and a few trips I couldn't take him with me. Once I wrote a post about his life as a guide dog from his perspective, because probably he could better explain what it was like. 
Baldwin and Tom at the Ottawa Mint But on this blog I only wrote about our numismatic travels, we did much more together. Baldwin has been to 13 countries, and I can't even count the cities we visited. But we also just stayed at home at times and took long walks around the development, I was certainly in a better shape when we worked together. The first time I didn't take him with me for an out of town trip was a couple years ago when I went to Boston. At that time he was slowing down, and he could still guide me around the development, but he was almost 11 and it was just too much for him. A few weeks later I completely retired him, and while I could I walked him on a leash using my cane. Even then he was trying to guide but at that point it wasn't his responsibility. This year, arthritis really started to impact his life and we couldn't go out for a walk, though a couple of times he enjoyed swimming in a life jacket. He had a nice and happy retirement, given his age in the last couple of years I took every day as a gift to have him with me. Almost until his last day he came upstairs to my office just to be with me while as working, and I was so worried that he will hurt himself on the stairs. See the complete blog post for more adventures (including meeting Stevie Wonder!) and links to earlier articles. -Editor Tom adds: From 2014 until his retirement in 2022, Baldwin was a passionate and devoted partner whose work enabled me to visit places I wouldn't have been able to otherwise. He holds the likely title of the guide dog who visited the most coin and money museums, having traveled with me to 12 coin and money museums across 6 countries and 11 cities, including The Smithsonian, the National Museum of Ireland, the Hungarian National Museum, and the Bank of Canada Museum. We even visited the Cleveland Money Museum with Howard Berlin, the Numismatourist. He was always quick to walk to any place where he heard the sound of coins he knew would make me happy. Baldwin has been to 13 countries and countless cities. He was born in the United States, but also had an Irish chip and a Hungarian passport. His numismatic travel started at the 2015 World Fair of Money in Chicago which he also visited in 2019, and has been to countless coin shows and numismatic club events. After retiring in 2022, he had been a companion while I was sorting coins or getting work done in my office. He was happily retired at our home. The clink of coins will forever bring back the sound of his paws beside me."
To read the complete article, see:
Tom and Baldwin joined us for the NBS General Meeting at the 2019 ANA. Here's a photo of Kellen Hoard speaking with Tom, with Baldwin at his feet, hidden by the chairs. Rest in peace, dear friend. -Editor 
To read earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
Wayne Homren, Editor The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org. To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com To subscribe go to: Subscribe All Rights Reserved. NBS Home Page Contact the NBS webmaster 
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