A NUMISMATIC CONNECTION TO MOE BERG

The article on Moe Berg, baseball player and spy, in last week's E-Sylum reminds me of his association will Bill Klein, a New York City numismatist. Bill was an accountant with the NYC office of the IRS – yes, there are good guys who work for the IRS.

Moe Berg met Bill in the IRS office when he had solved one of Moe’s income tax problems. The two hit it off. They became friends, really close since they both shared an intense common interest – books. Together the two shopped all the New York City’s bookstores, attended book auctions and occasionally hit bookstores travelling to New Jersey environs where Moe lived with his sister.

Bill built a library, more accurately described as a vast accumulation of books. His interests were extensive and his book buying reflected this. Moe’s book purchases were somewhat more centered but frequently they tried to outdo each other in their literary acquisitions. However, they shared the burning pleasure of owning a book.

The two were opposites in their personalities, perhaps it’s true what they say that opposites attract. Bill was sociable, Moe somewhat more reserved. Bill was married, Moe was a bachelor. Bill had no religion, Moe was Jewish, Bill was more sedate, Moe was athletic. The attraction was strongly intellectual, however, as both were well versed in knowledge of many subjects.

Bill collected coins and later found an interest in medallic art. It was this interest in medals that brought us together. He attended NYC coin shows were I sold him medals. He even purchased a silver Catskill Aqueduct Medal, not an insignificant purchase.

After his death his widow contacted me. Bill had instructed her to do so, apparently he liked my fairness in such transactions. She wanted me to sell Bill’s library. I said I was a medal dealer, not a book dealer, but she insisted. After three calls I relented to come inspect the library.

What I found was astonishing. It filled every room of an apartment in a building on New York City’s West Side. The quantity of books forced them to acquire a second nearby apartment to live in. At that time I was doing flea markets on weekends. Fortunately one was in a building with permanent booths, you could leave it set up every week. It also had a huge basement for storage.

In all I carted 1,600 boxes out of that apartment. I estimate there were more than 12,000 books Bill had amassed. Only a few were numismatic. These sold quickly to my friends. I kept several for myself, an autographed copy of Joseph F. Loubat on U.S. Mint medals and a biography of Hetty Green, called “Witch of Wall Street” for her savvy investing, mother of famed collector of the 1930s, Colonel Edward Green. The son inherited his mother’s estate of $100 million. It is said he poured most of that into coins and paper money.

The book is not even mentioned in her Wikipedia article. Somehow Bill found a copy and recognized its connection to numismatics.

I also kept two Moe Berg items. One was a signed Christmas card to Bill from Berg, another an inscribed book to Bill. While not a numismatist, Moe Berg was exposed to it from long-time friend, Bill Klein.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
MOE BERG'S PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v19n35a33.html)

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