Bjarne Ahlström 1938-2017
Bjarne Ahlström was born in Stockholm, 30th of November 1938. He passed away the 12th of September 2017 in his apartment on Narvavägen, Stockholm.
Bjarne Ahlström´s father John was a very important stamp-collector (philatelist). Thus Ahlström had the understanding for collecting, but his career was supposed to be as a Diplomat.
In 1954 Bjarnes Ahlström´s brother, Bernth Ahlström, started the company B. Ahlström Mynthandel AB. In the late 1950´s, Bjarne took over the company. In 1972 B. Ahlström Mynthandel held their first auction. Through the years 1972-2004 the company held 71 auctions. From the very beginning Ahlström´s auction catalogues were highly well-produced, regarding both numismatic information as well as layout and presentation of the marketed items.
Bjarne Ahlström had the privilege to sell several fine collections during his time as an auctioneer. The most remarkable may be The Gunnar Ekström collection. Bjarne decided along with Wera Ekström, the widow of Gunnar Ekström, to start a foundation for numismatic research in the name of Gunnar Ekström, Gunnar Ekströms stiftelse för numismatisk forskning.
In 1967 the first edition of Sveriges besittningsmynt (translated “Coins of the Swedish Possessions”) was released – which was a modern and groundbreaking publication. The second edition was published the year 1980 and it is still the main reference book regarding these coins. The modern Swedish coins got its reference book in 1976 – Sveriges mynt 1521-1977 (translated “Coins of Sweden 1521-1977”). The same year he also published Norges mynter (translated “The Coinage of Norway”).
Late in 2004 Bjarne Ahlström sold his auction company to Thomas Høiland (from Denmark). Unfortunately for Ahlström, Høiland liquidated the company only three years later.
When Bjarne wasn’t at work, he preferred to stay at his beloved country mansion Siggenäs – a much needed contrast to the business life´s hectic speed and seriousness.
He had been elected member of the IAPN in 1969 and had organized the General Assembly in Stockholm in 1992.