Biografia

• Born at Warsaw, Wyoming County, New York. Worked as a clerk in his uncle's pharmacy in Poultney, Vermont until 1870. Postal worker and Postmaster in Warrensburg, Missouri until 1875. Married Lucy May Rayhill December 25, 1876. She died July 15, 1895. Two children died in infancy; a son and daughter survived. George married Edith Berns Schliska on August 18, 1897. They had one daughter.

  Served as alderman in Warrensburg 1876 to 1879. Elected Mayor of Monroe, Michigan in 1890-1891, 1896-1898 and 1906-1907.

  Graduated from the University of Michigan in 1881. On graduation he was elected to the State Board of Regents of the University. In June 1884 he began the practice of medicine in Monroe, Michigan.

  Heath began to collect coins in 1863. He also collected stamps, autographs, minerals, Indian relics, and had a library of over a thousand volumes. He was a small dealer in stamps from 1865 to 1875.

  Heath published The American Numismatist. Volume 1, No. 1 was dated September-October 1888. For No. 2 the title was shortened to The Numismatist. For Volume III in 1891 the name was changed to The Numismatist and Year Book.

  The first issues were printed on a small printing press in the back room of Heath's office. Heath received the press in trade from William Fratcher for a group of stamps. It is believed that about 100 copies of the first issues were published.

  In February 1891 Heath suggested the formation of an American Numismatic Association. In October 1891 a meeting was held in Chicago and the ANA was organized. Heath had ANA membership number 1. He was elected 2nd ANA President of the ANA and served from October 5, 1892, until August 21, 1894. He was treasurer of the ANA for many years. In 1898 the membership elected him president again but he declined the position.

    It was Heath's intention to continue publication of The Numismatist until it was 25 years old. Heath died when he was 58 years old and his publication was 20 years old. His collection was cataloged by Howland Wood and sold at auction through The Numismatist in 1909. Parts of his collection were sold at auction by Ben Green in 1909. A memorial medal for Heath was issued by the ANA in 1911. In 1969 he was elected to the ANA Numismatic Hall of Fame.

  Heath appears with Hooper and Jerrems on a medal produced for the diamond anniversary of the ANA. The 3 inch bronze medal was designed by Frank Gasparro and struck at the Philadelphia mint.

  bio: NUM 3 Jul 1891 page 109(drawing); photo NUM 9 Mar 1898 facing 59; NUM 74 Feb 1961 pages 167-169

  obit: AJN 42 page 154; NUM 21 Jul 1908 page 200; photo page 199

Data de nascimento

• 1850-09-20

Local de nascimento

• Warsaw, Wyoming County, New York

Data da morte

• 1908-06-16

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