GORDON WELLS BERG (1936-2024)

This week I attempted to write a biography of Gordon Berg. I found there was a remarkable shortage of information. His name appears in the Newman Numismatic Portal about 960 times.

There are hundreds of references to the Baltimore show but there is little personal information. I did business with him and always enjoyed talking with him at shows in the 1980's. I bought a large copper medallion from him that was featured in one of my exhibits.

Gordon was born on February 24, 1936. Census records show a Gordon W. Berg born in Ohio in 1936, the son of Rolland (1901-1947) and Sophia Berg. However, their connection to the coin dealer is unconfirmed.

Gordon was married to Marilyn Sacks Berg with a daughter. I frequently saw her sitting at his table at coin shows. I did not find an announcement of their engagement or wedding date.

A small amount of personal information was included in a 1999 article in Numismatic News. He started pulling coins out of circulation at age 12. While he was in college and graduate school. he had two part-time jobs and did a little coin dealing on the side. His story might be shared with many coin dealers.

He received a master's degree in business administration and got a job with the government. On weekends he set up at local coin shows. The article did not name the school or his employer.

Gordon W. Berg joined the ANA and started attending the ANA shows in 1964. He converted to life membership in 1976 as LM-1965. The Numismatist records a long series of small contributions to the ANA. These were likely needed to earn points for table placement at ANA conventions.

In 1971, Berg was the bourse chairman for a local coin show. He wanted to promote education and community involvement and thought he could produce a better show. He formed a partnership with Don Greenberg and they invited Ed Kuszmar to join them in producing the shows. At times they offered free tables and meeting rooms for coin clubs.

There is more information on the Baltimore show than on its promoter. The show changed its name and location several times. Some articles referred to it just as the Gordon Berg Coin Show.

The Suburban Washington D.C. Coin Show was at the Ramada Inn, in Lanham, Maryland, for two years 1973-1974 with about 60 tables.

The 3rd through 15th Suburban Washington D.C. Coin Show also known as The Suburban Washington D.C. Coin Convention was at the Sheraton Inn in Lanham, Maryland, in 1975-1987 with 140 tables.

The 16th to 29th Suburban Washington / Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention was at the Baltimore Convention Center 1988 to 2001 with 295 tables. The Suburban name continued to be mentioned for several years after the name was changed.

Gordon Berg and Ed Kuszmar were both presented with an ANA Presidential Award in 1998.

The Baltimore Coin & Currency (Expo, Show) Convention was at the Baltimore Convention Center in March, July and November with Gordon Wells Berg as Bourse Chairman and Ed Kuszmar as Publicity Chairman in 2002-2006. In 2005 they advertised their future show dates through 2010.

I attended two Baltimore shows in 2005. I recall dealing with Ed Kuszmar on bourse issues. If Gordon Berg was there, I don't recall seeing him.

In 2006, the Baltimore show was sold to Whitman Publishing and it became the Whitman Baltimore Show, also known as the Whitman Baltimore Coin & Currency Convention, held three times a year.

Gordon Berg died on January 20, 2024. His obituary mentioned his wife and daughter but offered no recap of his life or career.

Edward Kuszmar died on November 7, 2022, and got an obituary in The Numismatist. Gordon Berg got his name listed without an obituary. I thought he deserved better.

Julian Leidman writes:

 

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web