Gorleston man turns medal collecting hobby into a full time career

Gary Brown has turned his hobby of collecting coins and medals in his business. Archant

Being made redundant can feel like the rug has been pulled out from under you.

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Gary Brown has turned his hobby of collecting coins and medals in his business. Gary Brown has turned his hobby of collecting coins and medals in his business.

For Gary Brown, who lost his job as general manager with a local car parts company after 33 years, it forced him to change direction in life - and turn what was a hobby into a new career.

Making the most of his life-long interest in coins and medals, Gary is now a memorabilia dealer.

He sells old coins and military medals, and acts as an agent for sellers looking for an auction house. This year, to coincide with the centenary of the First World War, he set up his own trade website.

The site, www.garybrownmedals.com, shows some of the collection from campaign medals dating back to 1815 to gallantry medals and casualty plaques.

Gary Brown has turned his hobby of collecting coins and medals in his business. Gary Brown has turned his hobby of collecting coins and medals in his business.

Gary, of Addison Road, Gorleston, said his job is often a talking point - and he’s come across from rare gems.

“The oldest coin I have in stock is a Silver Stater from Aspendus in Ancient Greece,” he said. “It depicts two wrestlers and dates from 385-370BC.

“And one of my most interesting finds was a Gold Angel of Edward V of which very few are known. I became agent for this and with the agreement of the vendor it was placed in an auction, and today still holds the record for a single coin sold by them.”

As well as offering free valuations, Gary said he is always willing to offer advice on coins and medals to people who may have inherited them through the years.

“I absolutely love what I do, and must admit it doesn’t seem like work,” he said.

“I worked for a Humphrey Burrell coin and medal shop in Great Yarmouth the 1970s but left when the shop started to concentrate on jewellery.

“Roman Coins were the first coins I collected seriously but these were sold when I got married.

“I’ve also been interested in medals from an early age and I had built up quite a collection, but only got the opportunity to sell them at specialist fairs. I’d been intending to set-up a website devoted to military medals for some time, and decided that the 100th anniversary of the First World War would be a good time to launch.”

Gary also collects life-saving medals and has some from Gorleston lifeboat’s rescue of SS Hopelyn. The merchant vessel, from Newcastle, became stranded and wrecked on Scroby Sands on October 17, 1922. Gorleston’s oar-powered Kentwell lifeboat took part in a 30 hour-long rescue mission, saving the lives of all 23 crewman, the captain and the ship’s cat.

“I also have the First Queens Gallantry Medal awarded to a woman,” said Gary.

For information on free valuations, contact Gary online at www.garybrownmedals.com.