Walter Breen
Mark Borckardt, senior numismatist for Bowers and Merena Gaileries, was born October 13, 1957, in St. Paul, Minnesota. His introduction to numismatics came at the age of six, when he was given a 1964 Guide Book. His early years were spent searching pocket change for Lincoln "pennies," especially the elusive issues from the San Francisco Mint.
Several years later, around 1970, in Findlay, Ohio, Borckardt began attending local coin club meetings where he met Roger Zorn, a coin dealer who was willing to share his time and knowledge. About this same time, Mark and his father, Jack, had already started attending area coin shows and soon began taking bourse tables.
In 1973, at a coin show in Fort Wayne, Indiana, both Borckardts met John Wright, Rod Burress, and other prominent Early American Coppers club members. John Wright's infectious enthusiasm for the early coppers took hold, and Mark joined EAC that same weekend, becoming the youngest member ever to join that organization up to that time.
After several years attending coin shows with his father, along with brief stints working for other coin dealers, attending college (graduating with a mathematics degree), and even selling baseball cards, Borckardt accepted his current position with Bowers and Merena in June 1989.
In his spare time, Borckardt is an avid bowler with three perfect (300) games, the first occurring on January 16, 1993. Mark and his wife, Mary, have three children, Mathew, Michelle, and Melissa.