About Heritage Auctions - Coins: World and Ancient Coins

Cristiano Bierrenbach received a degree in management from Bucknell University in Pennsylvania in 1996. In 1997, Cristiano founded Bier Numismatica in Sao Paulo, Brazil and within a few years had become one of the largest numismatic dealers in Latin America.

In early 2008, Cristiano was hired as a Director of World Coins and in 2011, he become an EVP and partner of Heritage Auctions. During his tenure in world coins, Cristiano was instrumental in putting together some of Heritage's most memrable world coin auctions including Canadiana, Jacobs, Shoshana, RLM, Isaac Rudman and many others.

Currently, in addition to overseeing the operations and growth in world and ancient numismatics, Cristiano overseas our operations in Europe (Amsterdam) and Hong Kong. He is a life member of the ANA and FUN, the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG) and several other numismatic clubs and organizations around the world.

David S. Michaels has been active in the field of classical numismatics for more than 24 years.  A specialist in Roman Imperial coinage, he has an extensive background in Greek, Byzantine, Dark Age, and Medieval coins as well. He is also well known as an author and lecturer. Michaels was born in Los Angeles, California in 1957. An early viewing of the movie “Cleopatra” when he was seven years old kindled a lifelong fascination with the ancient world.  While touring Italy in the mid 1980s, he purchased a battered Roman bronze coin, launching a new hobby and career path.  An interview with the renowned numismatist and author David R. Sear in 1988 convinced him that ancient coins could be more than a sideline. Two years later, he made numismatics his full time vocation. Michaels’ profile in the world of ancient coins rose steadily. In 1998, he became sales director of Classical Numismatic Group. Two years later, he joined Freeman & Sear, where he remained until 2010. Michaels has published several articles on aspects of ancient coinage and has given talks on the subject across the country.

After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Marc joined one of the two firms that later merged in late 1982 to form Heritage. He is has been with the company without interruption since joining in August, 1975. He founded and oversees the operations of the Heritage Overseas offices, which are now in France (since 1979), Germany (since 1979), Switzerland (since 1984), and the Netherlands (since 1990). The Heritage offices in France, Switzerland and the Netherlands are all run by natives of those countries, coordinating in their own languages through Marc at the German office with the Heritage world headquarters in Dallas. The European offices, under Marc's supervision, in turn offer Heritage services to collectors, consignors and estate executors in their own countries and in their own languages, as well as to banks and Central Banks around Europe and the world.

In 1991 Todd co-founded Pinnacle Rarities, a firm specialized in servicing the most advanced and  preeminent collectors in numismatics. At only 25, he was accepted into the Professional Numismatists Guild, and currently serves on its Consumer Protection Committee and its Legislation/Taxation Issues Committee. In 1992, he was invited to join the Board of Directors for the Industry Council for Tangible Assets, later serving as its Chairman (2002-2005).  As a partner at Heritage, he assists Consignment Directors across multiple categories and oversees services for the Legacy client group.  Todd also handles most of our more complex consignments and advises many of the firm’s largest and most active clients. 

Matt has been a collector for essentially his entire life, from rocks and sports cards as an adolescent to coins which would blossom into a career during his teenage years.  Always having “business” as a focus as well, Matt quickly learned that many areas of introductory collectibles didn’t hold their value well and that if he was going to put his money into something, his hope was to get most or more of it out when the time to sell came.  This revelation coincided with the early days of Ebay, and soon, Matt found that he could make a little extra money in the hobby. 

Matt went to Trinity University in San Antonio for college and during the summer of 2003, decided to contact Heritage to see if employment opportunities existed – they did, and he wound end up working with the U.S. cataloging staff until graduation.  In 2005, Matt graduated with a BS in Finance and Marketing and immediately joined Heritage as a Consignment Director, a position he held for two years.

After two years with Heritage, Matt decided it was time to explore other industries and see what his degree could offer him.  For one year, Matt worked at New York Life Insurance Company in their Variable Products division.  Towards the end of that year, Matt was again lured back into the auction industry.  He joined Spink Smythe, a U.S.-based division of the London firm, as Vice President of Auctions where he coordinated auction sales for nearly 5 years.  It is during this period that Matt refined and broadened his expertise into the field of World numismatics.

Matt chose to re-join Heritage in their World Coin department as a Consignment Director in February of 2013. Playing off his prior experiences, Matt’s roles currently include cataloging for auctions, preparing marketing materials, and of course, using his broad base of numismatic knowledge to help people sell at auction.

While Matt does maintain and occasionally add to his coin collection, he currently finds himself pursuing numismatic medals more than anything else.  His collection of George Washington medals has been a long-time passion, and within his 1800-1830s focus, is fairly well-accomplished.  Additionally, Matt collects medals of Mexico made during the reigns of Carlos III (1759-1788) and Carlos IV (1788-1808).

Michael Peplinski has been involved with coins for more than 25 years.  He graduated from the University of Akron with a degree in classical guitar performance and his background as both a classical musician and ongoing career as a USAF officer brings an extraordinary diversity of experience to the Heritage team.  His specialty is Medieval coinage but his background includes ancient and modern coins from all over the world.  In addition to the running of the Weekly World and Ancient Coin Auction, Michael also catalogs coins for the major sales and assists clients with consignments.  He is a member of the ANA and the ANS.

Jacco is conversant in English, French, Dutch/Flemish and German.