ANS Newsletter Spring 1992

14 Pages·1992·1.3 MB·English

by  American Numismatic Society

ANS
THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY
Broadway at 155th Street, New York, NY 10032 [phone] FAX [phone] Spring 1992
HAVE YOU CONTRIBUTED
TO ANNUAL GIVING?
Allen F. Lovejoy and Joseph R. Lasser,
co-chairmen of Annual Giving, report a
strong response of $72,000 so far, but
remind us that our goal this year is higher
than last year’s. We still need to raise
$38,000 by September 30 in order to meet
the budget. They ask for every member’s
help. In his Annual Giving appeal letter
sent to each ANS member in December,
President Norweb outlined the challenging
ANS Long Range Planning Report. He
linked the success of the Long Range Plan
to strong Annual Giving. Council and staff
have already begun to implement the Plan.
Outreach to wider audiences is underway.
Funding for Programs in Other Cities
The extremely successful Conference on
Mexican Coinage and Finance, held in
San Antonio in January, encourages the
ANS staff to consider that more such
events should be held in other cities.
Planning for an exciting conference to be
[Continued on page 2]
Peter Franke receives Huntington Medal from Mark Salton
Peter Robert Franke, 1992 Huntington Medalist
On March 21, 1992, the Archer M. “The name of Peter Robert Franke is “Peter Franke’s scholarly output is
Huntington Medal was presented to Peter well known to all of us, but particularly to impressive, and his publications, several of
Robert Franke, Professor of Ancient those interested in Greek and Roman which are important standard works, have
History at the Universitat des Saarlandes, numismatics. Until his recent retirement become essential tools of study. To name
Saarbrvicken. The medal was presented by he was professor at the Universitat des just a few, Literaturiiberblicke zur griechischen
Mark M. Salton, Chairman of the Hunt¬ Saarlandes, where his Institut fur Alte Numismatik, Epirus and Mace don, 1956; Die
ington Medal Committee, who read the Geschichte has trained many young antiken Alunzen von Epirus, 1961; Kletnasien
following citation. numismatists who greatly benefited from zur Romerzeit, 1968; Die antiken Miinzen der
“During recent decades the study of his generous sharing of knowledge. He also Sammlung Heynen, 1976; Cohen-RIC
ancient coinage and its methodology have disseminated the joy of classical learning Konkordanz (with Alfoldi, Kiithmann and
made great strides, thanks to profound as Guarino of Verona did 500 years ago, others). He has catalogued and criticallv
efforts by dedicated scholars. We are here and we may well say that he represents a analyzed many coin hoards, thus making
today to honor one of those distinguished modern personification of the Renaissance the evidence available to other scholars—
numismatists, one whose work has been a spirit. As a Corresponding Member of our including a stray find, made in 1976, ol a
driving force in that development and who Society since 1976, he has developed anti Renaissance medal of Attila! In addition
has shown the way for such progress to maintained a close relationship between from his never-tiring pen flowed the
continue. numismatists spanning the Atlantic. [Continued on page 11[
2
/AWL'AL Gil ING, continued from pat>e 1] BRONZE, SILVER, AND GOLD CIRCLES
held in Washington, DC, later this year is
underway. Your support for these
Many ANS members have been res¬ Herbert L. Kreindler, Joseph A Lamonte
programs will permit more of them to be
ponding enthusiastically to the new tiered III, Ross W. Larson, Jr., Brooks Emmons
planned in yet other areas of the country,
dues structure. A sizable number of our Levy, Milton O. Lynn, Mehdi Malek, and
including the far west.
members have chosen to renew their dues Thomas R. Martin
at an increased level, in order to gain Also Baldwin Maull, Andrew E.
Coin Atlas Still Available
benefits and to show their support for the Michyeta III, Herman Miller, Athos
Society’s work. The Society is pleased to Moretti, William B. Murray, Frank J.
As a special incentive to encourage
list the following members of the Bronze, Novak, William S. Panitch, Ira Rezak,
contributions to 1991/2 Annual Giving,
Silver, and Gold Circles and recognizes Carol F. Ross, Isaac Rudman, Arnold R.
Councillor Joseph Lasser has donated
their valued commitment to our institu¬ Saslow, Robert Schonwalter, James H.
copies of The Coin Atlas, by Cribb, Cook,
tion’s goals. The ANSNewsletter will Schwartz, William F. Spengler, Frederic
and Carradice. There are still some copies
continue to list additional members of the G. Withington, Richard B. Witschonke,
left. You are entitled to receive this
Bronze, Silver, and Gold Circles as they and G. Michael Woloch.
remarkable book for gift of at least $250
join.
to Annual Giving. Donors of $125 are
Silver ($250)
entitled to a box of 20 ANS notecards,
Bronze ($100)
depicting a variety of beautiful coins.
There are nine Silver Circle members:
Enclosed is an Annual Giving response
Already, there are 47 Bronze Circle Alfred Buonaguro, Mike Dunigan,
form. Please print your name and address
members: John W. Adams, Lawrence A. Stephen D. Marr, David Menchell,
on the form and enclose your gift to receive
Adams, Dorothy Budd Bartle, Leslie Beer- Robert A. Robinson, Jonathan P. Rosen,
the appropriate acknowlegment.
Tobey, Joseph E. Boling, James R. Briggs, Stephen K. Scher, Louis Clifford
Blanche R. Brown, Patrick Bruun, Schroeder, and Landon Thomas.
Charles S. Campbell, Alan B. Coleman,
CONFERENCES ON MEDALS
Joseph M. DeMeo, Arthur J. Frank, Peter Gold ($1,000)
P. Gaspar, Mark Elliott Goldberg, Adon
The American Medallic Sculpture A. Gordus, Robert M. Harlick, and David The seven Gold Circle members are
Association is holding a workshop and Hendin. Harry W. Fowler, Jonathan K. Kern,
conference on medallic art in July at the Also, Thomas E. Higel, Robert P. Hilt, Joseph R. Lasser, Allen F. Lovejoy, Eric
University of Hartford. The workshop, Roger Hornsby, Georges Husni, Charles P. Newman, R. Henry Norweb, Jr., and
July 6-10, will be an intensive practicum Paul Karukstis, Frank L. Kovacs III, Donald G. Partrick.
in the art and technique of medal making,
taught by a team of medalists including
Eugene Daub, winner of the 1991 ANS
Saltus Award, and Elizabeth Jones, former
METCALF TO OXFORD
TWO TALKS BY STAHL
Chief Sculptor-Engraver of the U.S. Mint.
On July 10-12 there will be a conference
William E. Metcalf, the Society’s Chief On Friday March 13 Alan Stahl,
on medallic art, historical and contem¬
Curator, has been named the Robinson Curator of Medieval Coins and of Medals,
porary, accompanied by an exhibit of
Fellow at the Ashmolean Museum for spoke to the Flushing Coin Club. He gave
medals by AMSA members and a bourse
1992. Metcalf will also hold the Kraay
a general introduction to Venetian
with medals available for purchase.
Visitorship at Wolfson College, where he coinage, illustrating with slides the history
Information on the workshop and the
will reside for the period July 30-
of the issues of medieval Venice and
conference can be obtained from Professor
September 5. The Robinson Fellowship,
discussing the practicalities of collecting
Lloyd Glasson, Hartford Art School,
which supports research at the Ashmolean,
such a series. The lecture, arranged by
University of Hartford, West Hartford,
is named for the distinguished British
Society member David Menchell who is
CT, 06117.
numismatist E. S. G. (later Sir Edward)
president of the club, was attended by
Robinson and the Kraay Visitorship for
about 50 people and was followed by lively
FIDEM 23
Colin M. Kraay, late Keeper of the discussion.
Heberden Coin Room. On April 16, Stahl spoke to an under¬
The 23rd Congress of the Federation
Metcalf hopes to make further progress graduate seminar on medieval history at
Internationale de la Medaille, FIDEM,
toward the completion of his book on early Priceton University. The course is taught
will be held September 16-19 at the British
imperial coinage, and to renew contacts by Graduate Seminar alumnus Karl F.
Museum, London. Among the presenta¬
with British colleagues in Oxford, London, Morrison and examines the variety of
tions will be a talk on Pisanello by Stephen
and Cambridge. sources which can be used for the history
K. Scher, Chairman of the Society’s
of medieval Europe. Stahl gave an over¬
Committee on Medieval Coins and
view of medieval coinage, illustrated w ith
member of the Committee on Medals.
slides and coins from the Society’s collec¬
Other Americans giving papers are Cory
tion. Also at the presentation were another
Cillilland of the National Numismatic
Society alumna, Curator of the Numisma¬
Collections, Smithsonian Institution, Medieval Coins and of Medals. Inlorrna-
tic Collection of the Firestone Library,
Joseph Veach Noble, Beverly Mazze, and tion on registration for the the Congress
Princeton, Brooks Emmons Levy, and the
sculptor Leonda Finke. The exhibition of is available from Stahl, who is the U.S.A.
Curator of Manuscripts of the Princeton
contemporary American medallic art is delegate to FIDEM and a member of its
University Library, Don C. Skemer
curated by Alan Stahl, Society Curator of Executive Committee.
Public Educational Seminars
The American Numismatic Society is planning a series of public seminars for members of the Society.
The seminars will be educational, explaining basic numismatic knowledge and methodology. There will
be a fee payable in advance and admission will be limited to about 15-20 persons per session.
Since these seminars are for our members, we’d like to know what our members would prefer. Please
take a few minutes to tell us what your preferences are.
I would be interested in attending a seminar at: _the Society’s Museum; _elsewhere in metropolitan
New York; _elsewhere in the U.S.
The best day of the week would be: _Mon.; _Tues.; _Wed.; _Thurs.; _ Fri.; _Sat.; _Sun.
I would prefer:_one-day sessions;_two, three, or four consecutive days;_weekly sessions on the same
day for two, three, or four weeks.
The best time of the year would be: _ autumn; _winter; _ spring.
I would definitely think about attending a numismatic seminar on the following topics:_ancient Greece;
_special topics in ancient Greece; _ancient Rome; _special topics in ancient Rome; _the Islamic
world;_special topics in the Islamic world;_the medieval world;_special topics in the medieval world;
_the modern world;_special topics in the modern world;_U.S.;_special topics in U.S.;_Latin
America; _special topics in Latin America; _Great Britain; _ special topics in Great Britain.
Other numismatic seminar topics in which I would be interested include: _coin hoards; _coins and
archaeology;_writing scholarly articles;_die studies;_cleaning and conserving coins;_photography;
_style on ancient coins; _pre-industrial minting; _coins and economic history.
Other numismatic seminar topics in which I would be interested are _
For each one-day session, I would be willing to pay: _ $25; _ $50; _ $75; _ $100.
Name _ Day time phone
Address _
Please return this form to:
The American Numismatic Society
Broadway at 155th Street
New York NY 10032
[phone]
Fax [phone]

3
SALTUS TO KAUFMAN
studied with Calori, and in Florence. In
a sculptor and doomed to remain one,
addition to many commissioned medals, he
most other decisions become peripheral.
The J. Sanford Saltus Award for signal has sculpted major monumental works,
“As an emigre, I have toiled in many
achievement in the art of the medal was including a large Homage to Women for
fields where what passed for sculpture had
given to Mico Kaufman at a meeting on Lowell, MA, and monumental statues of
a market and, along the way, became
February 15. Curator of Medieval Coins Helen Keller and Ann Sullivan.
acquainted with aspects of the art that a
and of Medals, Alan M. Stahl, read the “In recent years much of his medallic
more financially secure sculptor would
citation. work has become abstract and personal.
have just as soon passed up. Still, it was
“Presidential inaugural medals are the His medal for the 1987 FIDEM Congress
good experience. The advent of that
most widely recognized and publicized in Colorado Springs features a very
historic and highly marketable U.S.A.
medals produced in America today, sculptural obverse of human figures
Bicentennial, around the time when I was
though they are in fact private rather than creating a mountainous group, while the
busy providing for a growing family, to me
U S. Mint issues. They do, however, carry mountains themselves on the reverse are
was ‘manna from heaven.’ Here was art
an aspect of public importance which is a broken down into their constituent rocks.
that did not require much space to
challenge to an artist who sees portraiture His cast medals in the 1990 FIDEM
produce, that did not call for a traveling
as the depiction of an individual rather exhibit in Helsinki, including a humorous
committee to view, and the sculptor could
than a symbol or office. It is Mico but telling self-portrait, were among the
simply mail. I knew bas-relief quite well,
Kaufman’s great achievement that he has most personal and expressive works in the
but not much about the medal, and
made the inaugural portraits of every American section.
certainly confessing to that was no way to
president since Gerald Ford into telling “It is for his great ability to humanize
secure commissions. I had no books on the
character studies of the men who have led the official and to universalize the personal
subject either.
our country for the past two decades. that the American Numismatic Society has
“I improvised, learned, and managed
“In less official medals, Kaufman shows selected Mico Kaufman as the 1992
to hold my own. More significantly, I had
a depth of feeling and strength of recipient of the J. Sanford Saltus Award
a whole new awareness of the endless
composition matched by few other for Signal Achievement in the Art of the
opportunities and challenge to one’s
American medalists. His 1973 creation for Medal.” creativity that the medal provided, within
the Society of Medalists is eloquent in its
the secure confines of a circle, of dimen¬
contrast of an innocent youth playing a Kaufman’s Response sions imposed by practical considerations.
guitar with the anonymous corpse of an
“Sadly, what provided the impetus also
American soldier in Vietnam. The Present for the ceremony, Mico
helped trivialize, and the confused public
inspiration for this piece may well be from Kaufman responded to the citation.
never learned to appreciate the finer
the artist’s own biography—an early career “Just being a sculptor can be a luxury:
aspects in the art of the medal. Conse¬
as a violinist was cut short by three years’ the investment of time, the production
quently, what could be equal to any art is
internment in a concentration camp in his costs, and often selling the art to those who
still seen as ‘things presenting something.’
native Romania. After the war, Kaufman appreciate it, but can’t quite afford it.
Perhaps we can all share in the respon¬
studied sculpture in Rome, where he When it dawns on you that you were born sibility for it, and it is up to us to change
that perception. By consistently seeing the
art of the medal from the viewpoint of the
artist, the American Numismatic Society
Mico Kaufman holding Saltus Medal with ANS Curator Alan Stahl and guest speaker Barbara Baxter
leads in that effort.
“With that, I am proud and honored to
receive the J. Sanford Saltus Award in
recognition of my perceived contribution
to sculpture in the medallic art.”
Baxter Addresses Attendees
Following Kaufman’s acceptance,
Barbara A. Baxter delivered an address
entitled “The Coins and Medals of the
World’s Columbian Exposition.” Baxter,
a Graduate Seminar alumna, was the guest
curator for an exhibit which opened at the
Society in September of 1988. The exhibit
had the same title as the catalogue she
prepared and published through the ANS,
The Beaux-Arts Medal in America.
A reception was held after the address
and an exhibit of Kaufman’s medallic
works was on view as well as an exhibit of
medallic works relating to Columbus.
Afterward, a subscription dinner took
place at the Cedar Tavern with nearly 50
people in attendance.
4
THREE CORRESPONDING
celebrating his 50th birthday). In addition professor at the University of Seville and
MEMBERS ELECTED
to his scholarly output which includes member of the Centro Superior de
numerous articles as well as four books Estudios Historicos of the Consejo
The Society’s Council elected three new
(most recently, Monetazione aurea ed argentea Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas,
Corresponding Members at its April 1 1 dei Brettn in 1989) in his principal area of Madrid. She is the author of numerous
meeting, bringing to 69 the number of research, late Roman and early medieval contributions on ancient Iberian coinage,
foreign scholars associated with the ANS coinage, Arslan has been a driving force both native and Roman, in Ampunas,
in this honorary class of membership. in numismatics in northwestern Italy, Numisma, Numismatic Chronicle, and recently
Ermann Arslan is the director of the sponsoring publications and conferences in in the Society’s AJN 1 (1990), as well as
Archaeological and Numismatic Collec¬ furtherance of the discipline. He was a recent book, El tesoro de Mogentey su entomo
tions of the Archaeological Museum of recently elected vice-president of the monetal (1990). Among Professor Garcia-
Milan and also holds a professorship at the International Numismatic Commission. Bellido’s current projects is publication, in
University of Milan (where he was recently Maria Paz Garcia-Bellido, an Associate collaboration with William E. Metcalf, of
honored with a three volume festschrift Member of the ANS since 1986, is a the collection of Rafael Cervera, which was
acquired by Archer M. Huntington and
donated to the Hispanic Society of
America; the collection is now on deposit
Bass Research Foundation Established
at the ANS.
Tuukka Talvio is Curator of the Coin
Research on American coins and known to encompass the entire period of Cabinet at the National Museum in
currency has gained an extremely issue, from the inception of federal gold at Helsinki, Finland. Considered by many as
important asset with the creation in late the U.S. Mint in 1795 through 1933, in the one-man numismatic society of
1991 of the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Research proof as well as production states. The Finland, he is a prolific scholar, publishing
Foundation. Located in Dallas, TX, this collection enjoys great depth in die on ancient, medieval, and modern
new foundation is to receive over time the varieties, die states and die mulings, coinage, paper money and medals—in
substantial numismatic holdings of Harry unduplicated elsewhere, and of immea¬ several languages and all well received.
W. Bass, Jr., a past president of the ANS. surable importance in establishing an exact Among his contributions are volumes of
To date the Bass Research Foundation history of production at the Mint. the Sylloge of Coins of the British Isles, vol. 25,
has already received Bass’s collection of cataloguing various collections in Finland,
U.S. large size currency, numbering over Gold Exhibited at ANS and vol. 40, devoted to the holdings of the
250 notes, covering the span from the Royal Coin Cabinet in Stockholm. Talvio
introduction of “greenbacks” to their The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Reference is also the Contributing Editor to NumLit
for Finland.
replacement by the more efficient small Collection of U.S. Federal Gold Coinage
size notes in the late 1920s. The is well known to those in attendance at the
opportunity to study a collection of this Society’s 1989 Coinage of the Americas 101st ANNIVERSARY OF ANA
breadth should open new avenues of Conference where a major portion of his
investigation in such areas as nineteenth collection was on display. As was reported The American Numismatic Association
century engraving techniques and selection by Conference Chairman William E. Met¬ is holding its 101st Anniversary Conven¬
of vignette subjects, among other topics. calf in the preface to the Proceedings tion, August 12-16, in Orlando, FL, at the
Also included in the initial gift to the volume, “Those who were present are Orange County Convention Center. ANS
Foundation was the Harry Bass collection unlikely to forget the excitement sur¬ Associate Curator of Modern Coins and
of over 500 U.S. pattern, experimental, rounding the display of over 600 pieces Currency, John M. Kleeberg, will be
and trial pieces. The design of coinage, as from the Bass collection. Specialists had representing the Society at the Conven¬
issued, is the end result of a complex available an array of die varieties so tion. He looks forward to meeting many
process documented in large part by the unprecedented that the revelation of the of our members there and encourages you
run of essays created by Mint employees current ownership of the unique 1870-S $3 to contact him either before or during the
and independent artists. Study of this gold piece seemed almost an anticlimax, Convention.
documentation is essential to our under¬ and amateurs were dazzled by the sheer
standing of the history of U.S. coinage; mass of his material gathered in so small Call for Volunteers
researchers will welcome the availability of a compass.”
such a large body of hitherto privately held The Society will be maintaining an ANS
material, assembled by Bass over a period Foundation Supports Serious Research information booth in the Club Midway
of some 26 years. area to serve ANS members and display
The purpose of the Harry W. Bass, Jr. ANS publications, as well as to attract new
Further Gifts Scheduled Research Foundation is to keep intact in members. We would be most grateful for
perpetuity these rare and very significant ANS members to volunteer an hour or two
The Bass Research Foundation anti¬ collections of U.S. numismatic items and to help at the booth. It is a wonderful
cipates receiving the remaining portions of to make them available to serious numis¬ opportunity to meet and talk with ANS
Bass’s personal collection over the coming matists for purposes of education and stall, Councillors, and other members from
years, in particular his holdings of U.S. research. Persons interested in examining around the country. You might also like
gold coinage and California fractional portions of the collections now held by the to rest your feet after taking in all the
gold. The U.S. gold portion is destined to Foundation should contact the Foundation excitement of the convention. Please write
be the principal resource of the Foundation offices at 8333 Douglas Avenue, Suite or phone Roxanne Greenstein at the ANS.
since this is by far the best assemblage of 1400, Dallas, TX, 75225, outlining the [phone], if you wish to offer vour
American gold coinage. The collection is nature of the research contemplated. assistance at the booth
5
SCHWARTZ FELLOWSHIP TO SPRING MEMBERSHIP striking new membership brochure that
A L WOOD OUTREACH CAMPAIGN outlines the Society’s programs and
activities, as well as the benefits of
membership. Each member will soon
The Frances M. Schwartz Fellowship Society President R. Henry Norweb,
receive two copies of this handsome
for 1992/3 has been awarded to Thomas Jr., has announced that the ANS
brochure, along with ANS sponsor cards
C. Alwood of Columbia University. Membership Outreach Campaign will
and business reply envelopes. Please
Alwood, who is in the university’s doctoral begin in May. ANS membership is as
participate in the Membership Campaign
program in history, was a student in the strong as it ever has been. However, to
by sending a brochure, sponsor card, and
accomplish our mission of expanding the
1990 Graduate Seminar and later he
envelope to two colleagues. You will be
knowledge of history and culture through
attended William E. Metcalfs Columbia
serving the ANS and doing your
seminar on Roman numisimatics, which is the study of numismatics, we must
candidates a favor.
sponsored by the Department of Art continue to reach out to an ever growing
The new ANS membership brochure
History and Archaeology. Alwood expects circle of interested individuals. The
was designed at no cost to the Society by
to submit his dissertation proposal during Society’s resources are so rich that we have
an advanced student from the Center for
the forthcoming academic year. a responsibility to bring more people into
Design and Typography at Cooper Union
The fellowship was created in 1985 in contact with the outstanding collections,
for the Advancement of Science and Art.
memory of Frances M. Schwartz who research library, publications, and staff.
Cooper Union, located in New York City,
served as a volunteer in the classical coin
is a tuition-free institution of higher
rooms for many years prior to her death New Membership Brochure
learning, which was founded and endowed
in 1984. It is intended to provide
in 1859 by Peter Cooper, the inventor,
background in museum work to the President Norweb asks each ANS
industrialist, and philanthropist.
student and assistance to the curators in member to invite one or two friends to join
the Greek and Roman departments. the Society. He notes that sponsoring
Applications are welcome from all students colleagues is the most effective way to reach
who will have received the B.A. prior to prospective members who will benefit from
DELIGHTFUL ENCORE
association with the ANS. We have a
the term of appointment.
The Society raised $5,150 on March 20
from its second successful Theater Party.
Hosted by ANS Councillor, Donald
STAHL ON COLUMBUS SITE
Partrick, a convivial group dined before¬
Stahl, “this was a rare opportunity to
hand at Barbetta, a superb northern Italian
In March, Alan Stahl, Curator of examine medieval coins in an American
restaurant near the theater. A short walk
Medieval Coins and of Medals, spent a context.” The site is on the northern coast led us to the Broadhurst Theater on West
week in the Dominican Republic as site of the Dominican Republic, west of Puerto
44th Street, where Joan Collins and an
numismatist for the excavation of La Plata, with no electricity, no running excellent cast entertained us in Noel
Isabela, a settlement founded by water, and no paved roads. Coward’s classic romantic comedy, Private
Christopher Columbus. The site has been The great majority of coins found were Lives. The Society thanks everyone who
excavated by the National Park Service of billon blancas of Henry IV of Castille participated in and supported this fund
the Dominican Republic since 1987, which (1454-74). With careful cleaning the mint raising event, most especially our host,
was joined in 1989 by an archaeological marks could be read on most of them. In Donald Partrick.
team from the University of Florida. addition there were six Portuguese ceitils
The settlement of La Isabela was and a handful of coins of other issuers. Of
founded by Columbus in 1494 on his great interest were the four silver coins: one
Second Voyage. It was abandoned within 2-real and two half-reales of Henry IV, and
five years in favor of the site which became a real of Ferdinand and Isabella, found
Santo Domingo. At its height, La Isabela only a few weeks before Stahl’s arrival. “It
had about 1,000 European residents, as surprised me that so many coins of any
well as adjoining Taino settlements. Stone type would be found on a site with such
foundations remain from three buildings: short occupational history,” he remarked,
a church, the fortified house of Columbus, “but the presence of four silver coins was
and a large storehouse known as the really extraordinary.”
“almacen.” In addition, many postholes Stahl will publish the catalogue of the
have been found indicating the placement coins in a future issue of the AJN, along
of huts used for housing. In a nearby with a commentary on their significance.
agricultural settlement, the excavators Among the issues he expects to address in
have found the ruins of a kiln, the earliest his research are the mint distribution of the
European manufacturing site in the New coins of Henry IV, the significance of the
presence of the single silver coin of
World.
Among the more than half a million Ferdinand and Isabella, and the presence
artifacts recovered and catalogued are 76 of the non-Castillian pieces. Other
coins. Since these had to remain in the questions include the use of coinage at all
Dominican Republic, the excavators in this settlement (which was supposed to
invited Stahl to examine and photograph have functioned on a non-monetary basis)
them on the site. “Though the living and the distribution of the find spots ol the
conditions were somewhat basic,’’ noted coins on the excavated site.
6
FELLOWS ELECTED A NEW TRADITION: THE MILLENNIUM CLUB
As the American Numismatic Society wishes to make the Society the beneficiary
At its April 11 meeting the Council of
approaches its 135th Anniversary in 1993, of a life insurance policy.
the A NS elected ten new Fellows bringing
tradition and history are very much in Regardless of the amount of the gift, all
the number of voting members of the
evidence. As the oldest numismatic members of the Millennium Club have
Society to 183.
institution in the country and one of the expressed a commitment to the ANS and
Martha Carter, a resident of Madison,
great numismatic institutions world-wide, its future that extends beyond their
Wl, received her Ph.D. from Case
the ANS has much to look back on with personal involvement with the Society’s
Western Reserve in 1970. She is currently
pride. collections, programs, and publications.
president of the Madison Civic Center
The long and distinguished history of Such a commitment is truly a selfless act,
Foundation and associate editor of the
the Society accentuates the importance of one that acknowledges that we all have
Bulletin of the Asia Institute. An Associate of
planning for the future. An educational benefitted from someone else’s generosity.
the ANS since 1983, she is the author of
institution like the ANS does not thrive From the Society’s founding in 1858, it has
over 20 articles and books including “A
without a good deal of foresight at many been endowed with major gifts to build its
Numismatic Reconstruction of Kushano-
points along the way. New ideas become unsurpassed collections and to provide for
Sasanian History,” in ANSMN 30 (1985).
traditions over time. its educational mission.
Henry C. Chitwood of Old Greenwich,
As part of the current, on-going effort
CT, has been an Associate Member since
to plan for the future, the Society has Charter Members
1960. A retired chemist, he counts his
launched a program to encourage mem¬
major numismatic interests as Parthian,
bers who understand the importance of All donors who notify us that they have
late Roman, and Seljuk coinage. In 1985,
numismatics for an understanding of included the Society in their will or have
he donated to the Society an extraordinary
human culture and history to include made another type of deferred gift by
collection of American coal mine scrip and
bequests and other deferred gift September 30, 1992, which is the end of
tokens, key documents in U.S. social
arrangements in their estate planning. our fiscal year, will be considered charter
history. He has subsequently presented the
The Millennium Club of the American members of the Millennium Club. For
ANS with other interesting items,
Numismatic Society recognizes and honors more information, please contact the
including Chinese and German medieval
those thoughtful individuals who make Society’s Development Officer, Roxanne
coins.
such commitments to the future of the Greenstein, at [phone].
An Associate since 1987, William S.
Society. This first announcement of the Our deepest gratitude goes to the
Kable of New York City has, since 1991,
Millennium Club recognizes nine charter following charter members:
been a curatorial volunteer, helping in the
members of the Millennium Club. These Irwin F. Brotman
computerization of the Society’s collection
friends have informed us that they have Kenneth L. Edlow
in his areas of expertise. He is also a
included a gift to the ANS in their wills. Harry W. Fowler
member of the ANS Library Committee.
Membership in the Millennium Club is David L. Ganz
Kable, who received his Ph.D. from the
also offered for arranging a trust or annuity Roger A. Hornsby
University of Virginia in 1966 and a J.D.
agreement with the Society, which offers John F. Lhotka, Jr.
from Duke University Law School in 1975,
the donor lifetime income before the gift Allen F. Lovejoy
was recently profiled in the fall 1991 issue
comes to the ANS. The Society also William E. Metcalf
of the ANSNewsletter.
welcomes and recognizes the donor who Eric P. Newman
Paul L. Koppenhaver, an Associate
since 1985, is a coin dealer from Van
Nuys, CA, who is best known for his
service as the executive director of the
Professional Numismatists Guild, a Springs, CO, an Associate since 1962, and over 100 articles on computers. He
position in which he has served since 1977. retired as executive director of the ANA now devotes considerable time to the ANS
He was awarded the PNG’s Abe Kosoff in 1986, was elected to its governing board Greek department, volunteering in the
Award in 1983 and the ANA Medal of in 1987, and in 1991 was elected its effort to record the Society’s collection. He
Merit in 1989. president. Earlier in his career he worked was profiled in the spring 1991
Norman W. Neubauer of Somerville, as a journalist and continues to write a A NSNewsletter.
NJ,h as been an Associate Member since regular coin column initiated some 30 Erich Wronker lives in Jamaica, NY,
1986. He is a vice-president at Morgan years ago. and has been a member of the ANS since
Guaranty of New York. In this capacity he Anthony Terranova of New York City 1975. Until his retirement, he served as
worked closely with the Society’s Librarian is a well-respected coin dealer specializing director of the United Nations Publications
in arranging the transfer to the ANS of the in American colonial and early U.S. issues. Department. He and his wife continue to
magnificent Brand archives. An ardent supporter of the Society’s provide calligraphy and fine printing to
New Canaan, CT, resident Robert A. annual COAC, he often exhibits there enhance certain of the Society’s mailings.
Robinson has been an Associate of the from his magnificent personal collection. He has served as a member of the Society’s
ANS since 1975. A career banker, he He has been a member of the ANS since Medals Committee since 1982 and has
recently retired as president of The Church 1976. been a regular volunteer for some years
Pension Fund and affiliated companies. He Frederic G. Withington, an Associate doing data entry on German medals. He
continues to serve on various corporate and since 1989, recently retired from Arthur D. is also a member of the ANS Library
foundation boards and to collect in the Little, Inc. as a management consultant Committee, reflecting his main collecting
fields of U.S. and English gold coins. and vice-president for Information interests—old books relating to numis¬
Edward C. Rochette of Colorado Systems. He is the author of four books matics and medals relating to printing.
7
MARGARET THOMPSON, 1911 -1992
Margaret Thompson, who was asso¬ Corinth, still bears her name.
ciated with the ANS for over 40 years A more enduring legacy of her
including 10 as its Chief Curator, died on involvement with Athens was her interest
February 29 at her home in Haverford, in the city’s hellenistic silver coinage. A
PA. She was 82. For a younger generation whole generation of her graduate seminar
of numismatists, she was a symbol of an students heard the story, probably
older one that included names like Newell, apocryphal, of a colleague who presented
Noe, and Bellinger; but she was also a her with a New Style tetradrachm and
mentor and model to the new generation asked its date; she cheerfully responded,
and was instrumental in influencing the “somewhere between 229 B.C. and the
academic direction the Society would take time of Augustus.” The situation was not
from the 1970s on. quite so bad, but none of the literature
Miss Thompson was as closely identified available on the problem up to ca. 1950
as anyone has ever been with the ANS, and would stand examination today.
it is easy to forget that she did not become
part of it until her life was nearly half over. The Controversy
Much of what she would become is foretold
in her early career. She received her B.A. Things would never be the same again.
from Radcliffe in 1931, but in the midst Margaret’s massive study The New Style which she was elected President in 1964.
of the Depression her degree was no Silver Coinage of Athens appeared in 1961. It Like the ANS, the AIA faced chronic
guarantee of employment; so she acquired is a model of thoroughness and clarity of money problems, and Margaret met the
the necessary credentials and spent five style, and it remains her monumentum aere challenge head-on. She devoted one day a
years teaching junior high school English. perennius. The relative arrangement of the week, taken from her weekend, to the AIA
There were signs of things to come: she coinage was compelling, but the book was for four years and launched a highly
loved the bright students, but couldn’t almost immediately controversial for its successful endowment drive to put the
stand the duller ones, and when an chronology, which connected the begin¬ Institute on a sounder financial footing. At
acquaintance mentioned that T. Leslie ning of the coinage with Flamininus’s her retirement from the presidency the
Shear, director of the excavations at the liberation of Greece and proposed that it Institute’s general secretary remarked,
Athenian Agora, was looking for a was struck annually thereafter right down “Her friendly patience, courage, and good
secretary, she again prepared to switch to the Sullan sack. judgment.. .transformed concern into
careers by taking a business course. Her The exchange between David Lewis and success.”
secretarial career was short-lived, for Thompson in the 1962 Numismatic Chronicle At the same time she began an
shortly after arrival in Athens she was is a model of civilized discussion that set association with Columbia University,
assigned to the Director’s wife, who was the parameters for two decades of contro¬ teaching Greek numismatics in the
in charge of the numismatic finds. During versy. Arguing mainly from the later Department of Art History and
two terms at the Agora (1937-40, 1948) hoards, Lewis proposed to down-date the Archaeology. Among her students were
interrupted by the war and service as Field introduction of the coinage by about 30 Fred Kleiner, Hyla Troxell, Nancy
and Publicity Director for the Greek War years; Thompson argued from the earlier Waggoner, and Orestes Zervos, all of
Relief Association of New York (1942-48), hoards and from a late overstrike on a whom have become productive scholars
Margaret cleaned, sorted, and attributed Macedonian tetradrachm of the Roman and who have continued their association
coins. With the death of Shear she became quaestor Aesillas. The problem was a with the ANS.
responsible for their publication. methodological one. There seemed no real
middle ground, and there was no International Numismatic Congress
Assistant Curator substantive advance until Otto Mork-
holm’s posthumously published discussion In 1967 she received the gold medal of
During the late 30s and 40s she (“The Chronology of the New Style the Royal Numismatic Society and was
published a number of small articles, Coinage of Athens,” ANSMN 29 [1984], elected to the International Numismatic
mainly drawing upon finds from the pp. 29-42). The Thompson arrangement Commission, of which she would serve as
Agora. Her work came to the attention of is vindicated entirely, even as her Vice President from 1973-79. With the
Sydney P. Noe, and in 1949 she was chronology is modified to extend the series end of her AIA Presidency in sight,
named assistant curator of Greek Coins at over the period ca. 185/80-45/40 B.C. Margaret undertook to act as principal
the ANS. Her first project was to bring to Margaret herself was glad to see an end to organizer of the first International
completion the catalogue of Agora finds the controversy, and she produced a Numismatic Congress held outside
from the Roman through the Venetian frontnote acknowledging that “The Europe and to collaborate with her friends
periods, which numbered some 37,000 author’s conclusions seem to me so valid Colin Kraay of Oxford and Otto Mork-
holm of Copenhagen on a replacement for
identifiable coins. The book illustrates the that I hope the controversy can now be
the badly outdated Bibliography of Greek Coin
breadth of her talent as much as her later considered at an end.”
works displayed its depth. Though she The Archer M. Huntington Medal was Hoards published by her predecessor
never wrote another word about Byzantine awarded her immediately after the Sydney P. Noe.
coins, the standard classification of the appearance of New Style. An ensuing hiatus The Inventory of Greek Coin Hoards was
anonymous folles of the tenth and eleventh in her bibliography reflects her increasing made available at the opening of the 1973
New York/Washington Congress; it is now
centuries, which refined that educed by involvement with the management ol the
Alfred Bellinger from the coins found at Archaeological Institute of America, of /Continued on page 10]
8
Library Notes
COAC 1992, NOVEMBER 7th
and the correspondence just acquired
indicates that many came from Thomas
The Society’s 1992 Coinage of the
Among those who have visited the Elder. Letters from B. Max Mehl and Ira
Americas Conference has been rescheduled
library’s reading rooms in recent months Reed show that Holland was also a client
for Saturday, November 7. The theme of
are Nizihi Aykut of Istanbul University, of these dealers. The Holland collection
this year’s COAC is “Canada’s Money”
who is presently teaching a course in was sold by Pennypacker Auctions on May
in honor of the 125th anniversary of the
Ottoman History at Columbia University. 8, 1959. The sale was not well publicized
establishment of Canada. Topics for pre¬
Aykut has been a regular visitor to the east and the catalogue was not widely
sentation and exhibition may include
library where he has carried out research distributed. This appears to be the reason
coins, medals, tokens, and paper money.
for a work on the coinage of the Seljuks of for its absence from the library’s auction
Proposals for papers and exhibits are still
Rum. Jere Bacharach, Chairman, files. However, together with the
solicited. Suggestions may be sent to ANS
Department of History, Washington correspondence acquired, we have also
Associate Curator John M. Kleeberg.
University, has also used our resources in obtained a named and priced copy of the
his study of the Mamluk dinar and the catalogue and a typewritten card inventory
COAC Steering Committee Appointed
Venetian ducat. Theodore Buttrey of the of the Holland collection.
Fitzwilliam Museum consulted our auction A number of current works on Russian
ANS President R. Henry Norweb, Jr.
holdings during his recent visit to the numismatics have been donated to the
has appointed a standing ANS Steering
Society and Frances Van Keuren of the library by Randolph Zander of
Committee to oversee the organization and
University of Georgia continued her work Alexandria, VA. Zander, a member of the
presentation of these annual conferences on
on the late staters of Heraclea Lucaniae. library’s standing committee, is also editor
western hemisphere numismatics. This
Margaret Gray, a freelance researcher, has of the Journal of the Russian Numismatic
continuity of leadership and planning will
also made use of our auction holdings in Society. The publisher, Arkeologji ve Sanat
result in broad and on-going consideration
gathering information for Q.. David of Istanbul, Turkey has sent a copy of
of suitable themes and participants.
Bowers, who will soon be publishing a Treasure of Incilipinar, in which a hoard of
Appointed to the new committee are:
major work on United States silver dollars. 202 Roman coins of the late third and early
David L. Ganz, Howard W. Herz, Joseph
On the occasion of the Huntington Award fourth centuries found in 1983, is
R. Lasser, Allen F. Lovejoy, Eric P.
presentation, Peter Robert Franke, 1991 catalogued by Yucel Akat. Verlagsanstalt
Newman, Donald G. Partrick, Chairman,
recipient of the Award, expressed his Athesia of Bozen, Italy, has presented vol.
Anthony J. Terranova, together with
pleasure with the exhibition of his works 1 of Muenzgeschichte des alttirolischen Raumes
Leslie A. Elam, ANS Director who serves
mounted by Associate Librarian, Kay im Mittelalter, by Helmut Rizzoli. The
as Conference Coordinator, and John M.
Brooks. author examines the issues of the mints of
Kleeberg, ANS Associate Curator of
Robert H. Lloyd of North Tonawanda, Brixen/Innsbruck, Trient, Lienz, and
Modern Coins, the Conference Chairman.
NY, has donated a collection of clippings Meran, and draws upon new source
of Stuart Mosher’s newspaper column materials in developing an overall picture
entitled “Curiosities of Currency,” which of the economic system of this region prior
appeared in the Buffalo Courier Express, to its passing to the Hapsburgs in 1363. United States Municipal Trade Currency.
1931-36. Mosher settled in Buffalo in 1926 The Central Bank of Oman has just Charlton Press sends the forty-sixth edition
and became an Associate in Numismatics published the beautifully illustrated History of Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian
at the Buffalo Museum of Science. In of Currency in the Sultanate of Oman, with text Coins, the fifth edition of Charlton Standard
addition to his regular newspaper column, by Robert Darley-Doran. The currency Catalogue of Canadian Government Paper Money
he wrote The Story of Money as Told by the which circulated in Oman from the and the first edition of The Charlton Standard
Knox Collection. This collection, which dirhams struck by the Umayyad Caliph Catalogue of Canadian Communion Tokens. A
contained primitive forms of money, was ‘ Abd al-Malik bin Marwan to the coinage copy of Hake’s Guide to Presidential Campaign
exhibited at the Buffalo Museum of and banknotes issued under the present Collectibles, including a number of medals
Science and provided much of the source Sultan Qaboos bin Said is discussed and and medalets, has been received from
material for Mosher’s column. In 1935, he described in parallel texts of English and Wallace-Homestead Book Company of
relocated to New York where, for a time, Arabic. Tomas Stohr has published the Radnor, PA. Highfill Press of Broken
he co-edited the Coin Collector’s Journal with results of many years’ research in his Arrow, OK, presented the library with a
Wayte Raymond and later joined the staff Macuquinas de Venezuela, a thorough study deluxe edition of The Comprehensive U.S.
of the New Netherlands Coin Company. of Venezuela’s cob coinage. Some 2,408 Silver Dollar Encyclopedia, by John W.
He was the editor of The Numismatist from coins and medals are catalogued by Willy Highfill and Krause Publications provided
1945 to 1954 and was Acting Curator of Fuchs in 250 Years of Platinum Coinage; library copies of Unusual World Coins, third
Numismatics at the Smithsonian World Coins and Medals in Platinum and edition, by Colin R. Bruce, Striking
Institution from 1948 until his death in Palladium from 1740 to 1990, published by Impressions, by Robert R. Van Ryzin, and
1956. The approximately 100 clippings Verlag MDM Munzhandelsgesellschaft 1992 North American Coins and Prices, edited
acquired provide an interesting look at a Deutsche Miinze. Alain Mercier of the by Arlyn G. Sieber. Two useful reprints
little known area of Mosher’s early Musee National des Techniques of Paris, have also been received from Joel
numismatic activity. has donated a copy of his fine exhibition Anderson of Merced, CA: Robert Morris s
The library has also acquired some 150 catalogue L ’argent des revolutionnaires. From Coins of the Grand Masters of the Order of Malta
letters, most of them from Thomas Elder Victor Gadoury, we have received the and John Novak’s A Working Aid for
to Leonard Holland of Reading, PA. tenth edition of Monnaies francaises, Collectors of Annamese Coins.
Holland assembled a superb collection of 1789-1991 and the publisher Micro-Art ol Readers wishing further information on
early coppers, which contained many Toronto has provided the most recent any of the publications mentioned above
condition census coins. A number of these editions of The CTD Pocket Guide; Canadian should address their inquiries to the
were obtained during the 1930s and 1940s Trade Dollars 1992 and The Handbook of attention of the Librarian