MORE ON MICHAEL G. BEAN

In addition to Mike's intaglio printing for Mark Tomasko's book The Feel of Steel, there is another project that he undertook in 2013 for which he deserves our respectful attention.

In the early years of this century, some original copper plates engraved for banks to print their circulating notes came on the numismatic market. I acquired five of them used by early New Jersey banks, circa 1805 to 1836, and showed them to Mike. He thought that there was enough life left in them to print 25 sets of reproduction proofs. The plates had not been defaced, although they had minor nicks and scratches. So Mike took on the project. He had a home workshop that included not only the spider press but tools, sketches, samples and technical books. For the project he chose heavy absorbent paper and sepia ink so that the reprints could not be confused with originals. The results were spectacular.

We donated some sets to institutions, including the American Numismatic Society, Rutgers University Special Collections and Princeton University (the latter collection curated by the recently retired Dr. Alan Stahl). Some were given to appreciative collectors, including Tomasko, Q. David Bowers, Roger Siboni and Tom O'Mara. I kept a set of printer's proofs (Mike kept two) and the 25th set, as the "first and last" of the group – you can't tell the difference, the quality is the same from start to finish. In several cases the repros brought back to life some bank notes that no longer exist, or that are only represented by counterfeits. A few of the fake notes are so good that catalogers had thought them to be originals, but we know better now.

Mike's fee for his fine work was very modest. To make it up to him, I made a small donation to his library – a book of intaglio engravings of portraits and vignettes done up by workers at the National Bank Note Company. Mike's printing rivals that of NBNCo.

"I was very sorry to hear of Mike Bean's passing. He was an outstanding plate printer whom I was privileged to call a friend for more than 30 years. I met Mike on a visit to the Bureau's Engraving Division in the mid-1990s, when he was the prover for that department. He was a friend ever since. Mike and the late Milt Teichman are the two people who taught me intaglio printing. I am reminded of Mike every time I give someone my calling card, which is his work, and for several years I used his Christmas cards.

"But most importantly, my best book, the fine printing (Bird & Bull Press, 2009) edition of The Feel of Steel, would not have been possible without Mike. The frontispiece and suite of engravings at the back of the book were Mike's work. I had the privilege and pleasure of visiting Mike in Maryland to print many of the dies for the engravings on a hand-fed die stamping press, for which I served as Mike's assistant. One of the large dies and two plates were printed by Mike on a spider press. The whole project of producing the prints was a fascinating experience and a large job. I was extremely fortunate that Mike was willing and enthusiastic about doing it. I think it was the finest work of his career. Mike also printed the engraved frontispiece for the second, or trade edition of The Feel of Steel published by the American Numismatic Society in 2012."

Michael "Mike" George Bean, 79, of Frederick, MD, passed away on May 16, 2026 surrounded by family.

Mike was born in Bethesda, MD. He graduated from Wheaton High School in 1965 and joined the United States Army. He was honorably discharged and later served in the United States Army Reserves. After briefly working with the United States Postal Service, Mike began his career at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in 1971, retiring in 2005.

Mike's work was his life's passion. A plate printer by trade, he enjoyed teaching others about the Intaglio printing process even after retirement, travelling to conventions nationwide. A true patriot, he dedicated much of his time to The American Legion, serving in multiple elected and appointed positions.

To read the complete article, see:
Michael "Mike" George Bean (https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/silver-spring-md/michael-bean-12890988)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
MICHAEL G. BEAN, PLATE PRINTER (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n20a06.html)