Here's another numismatic connection to Pittsburgh. Robert Jesinger wonders about a connection between Farran Zerbe and the Heeren Brothers firm.
-Editor
I used to live in Pittsburgh PA and am interested in researching the Heeren Bros Company of Pittsburgh PA. I've read a TAMS Journal article from 1982 and a Numismatist article from 2004 and have seen an ANA video on the subject from when the ANA was in the 'burgh in 2011.
I was wondering if you kept up with any of the latest info on that jeweler/medal producer? I saw that an auction lots sold by Dr. Fanning containing Heeren Bros items in the last decade.
Part of my interest is the fact that I collect so-called dollars, and I am trying to figure out if there is a connection between Zerbe, Heeren Bros, and the 1904-05 small gold dollars that he sold. Zerbe lived near Pittsburgh PA around the turn of the century (1890s-1900s) when Heeren was quite active.
I already know of one connection. I purchased the attached medal (Zerbe store card) in a recent Heritage auction which is an unlisted possibly unique silver-plated lead trial for Zerbe as well as being a Bryan piece, not listed in Schornstein. The reverse of the medal is clearly a Heeren Brothers design, not recognized as such in the original lot description (also attached). The reverse design is similar to R-PIT-4A. So, it really makes me wonder what other connections exist...
I would appreciate any ideas or directions for research in this area.
I'm afraid I haven't done any Heeren Brothers research beyond my 2004 Numismatist article. Can any of our readers help? I do sometimes field queries from web site visitor who encounter our earlier E-Sylum articles mention the Heerens, particularly their Columbia Shield.
For more on that topic, see the next article in this issue.
-Editor
Wayne Homren, Editor
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