(PHOTO)
DON PABLO GERBER SENIOR, 1909-1974
Born in Switzerland in 1909, by the 1930's Don Pablo Gerber Senior was a successful business man in Mexico. Following fifteen years with Nestle he left the company to pursue private business ventures with great success. In 1965, at the age of fifty-six, happily married with four children and financially secure, he fell in love with the coinage of his adopted coiuntry and that of the United States. Never a man to do things by halves, he put his business affairs in the hands of trusted advisors and set out to create the greastest private colleciton of Mexican and United States coins ever formed. By the time of his tragic death in an aircraft accident nine years later he had amassed approximately 10,000 pieces covering every period of both countries' history and including many of the famous rarities in each series.
Though I am too young to remember Pablo Gerber in action as a collector, as I have met the collecting companions of his most active years, it has become clear to me that he was a remarkable individual. Firstly must be mentioned the vast scope of his collecting goal and the tenacity with which he pursued it. Every date of every denomination from every period of history was his goal; between 1965 and 1974 he acquired coins at the rate of over eighteen a week. Often, hearing a desired piece was available in some distant province of Mexico, or in the United States, Don Pablo would call a friend and head off to the airport where he kept his private aircraft. He and his fortunate companion would fly off on a numismatic advanture to return, always triumphant, several days later. Second, it has struck me deeply that every collector who remembers Don Pablo speaks of his generosity before they speak of his extraordinary collection. He was the quiet sponsor of much Mexican numismatic activity during his active period; from club meetings and journals to social gatherings in his own home. He clearly valued the company of his fellow collectors as highly as the coins themselves.
James Lamb
President
Spink America
Spink America wishes to thank Professor Ted Buttrey for his invaluable participation in this project.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 4
CHRISTIE'S PARK AVENUE
AT 3:00 P.M.
LOTS 1500-1748
CENTS
1793, wreath type, vine and bars edge, light obverse pitting and a dig at the top of the wreath ties, but an attractive fine with a pleasant light brown color
细节
1793, wreath type, vine and bars edge, light obverse pitting and a dig at the top of the wreath ties, but an attractive fine with a pleasant light brown color