Samuel Gelberd

Samuel “Sam” Gelberd was appointed to the CCAC in 2024 and holds the position specially qualified in numismatics. Sam is an independent numismatic educator and content creator. He has collected since the age of nine and was a middle school Social Studies teacher and athletics coach in South Florida for over a decade. He has presented lectures and classes to people ages 4–94 about topics including hobby basics, coin grading, counterfeit detection, the modern coin minting process, as well as counseling Wolf Scouts and Scouts BSA workshops.

He assisted with editorial updates to the Cherrypickers’ Guide to Rare Die Varieties of United States Coins (6th Edition; Whitman Publishing) and enjoys studying and sharing information about numismatic oddities as well as world coins.

Since 2007, he has been a member of Florida United Numismatists and volunteers at their semi-annual conventions, assisting with certain educational activities and helping wherever needed. He won FUN’s Best of Show Award (2017) for his exhibit Great Beards on Coins, earned the organization’s Polly Abbott Service Award (2021), and was honored as a Numismatic Ambassador (2023).

Sam worked as a Numismatic Instructor, Numismatic Educator, and Numismatic Education Manager at the American Numismatic Association for over 10 years. He authored a website feature as well as the column Treasures In Your Pocket for the ANA’s monthly publication, “The Numismatist” and is a Life Member of the organization. He also holds membership in the Combined Organization of Numismatic Error Collectors of America (CONECA), Colorado Springs Coin Club, Colorado Springs Numismatic Society, and the Society of Bearded Numismatists.

Sam earned a B.A. degree in Sociology from Florida Atlantic University. Originally from California, he grew up in the Chicagoland area of Illinois and has also lived in Florida, Massachusetts, and Tennessee. He currently resides in Colorado Springs, Colorado with his wife and two dogs.