Special Auction - Select Specimens from the Collection of Dave Bergman

This week we have a special SATURDAY auction featuring select specimens from the collection of Dave Bergman.  Dave worked for decades in various mines underground in Colorado, as a miner, mechanic, engineer, shift boss and head of mining.  His biggest claim to fame is that he was the foreman and the primary person in charge of mining and specimen recovery at the Sweet Home Mine in Colorado in the 1970s alongside his son-in-law, Rich Kosnar.  This project what was the FIRST ever operation for specimen recovery at this historic locality.  A full-page photograph of Dave can be seen mining underground at the Sweet Home in on page 58 of Peter Bancroft's book "Gem and Crystal Treasures".    Dave was not only a skilled miner, but he was an expert at removing specimens from the pockets in superb condition, as he was meticulous in preserving specimens without damage or repairs.  Along with underground hard rock mining, Dave did a lot of field collecting around Colorado and other parts of the Western United States. He was a staple at both the Tucson and Denver Mineral Shows starting in the 1980s strictly as a collector, and he would always purchase several specimens for his personal collection every year.  He mostly focused on minerals from Colorado, and various US localities, along with classics from Mexico, South America and Europe.

Dave is now retired and spends his time between Colorado and Arizona.  He recently decided to sell his collection, and you probably have seen his pieces featured in the auctions over the last couple years.  We are thrilled to present this special set focusing on some highlights from his collection, including several pieces that he personally collected in Colorado, with a handful of pieces from the Sweet Home.