American Numismatic Society

American Numismatic Society

USA

75 Varick Street, 11th Floor

New York, 10013

Tel.: 212 571 4470

Fax: 212 571 4479

Website: http://numismatics.org/

Admission: free.

American Numismatic Society is a museum and a research institute that studies the coins of all periods and cultures.

Foundation, Charter, Mission

Building of the American Numismatic Society

American Numismatic Society was organized in 1858. The original objectives of the ANS are: the collection and preservation of coins and medals, the investigation of matters connected therewith, and the popularization of the science of Numismatics. That was approved by the Society‘s governing Council: «The object and mission of the Society shall be the creation and maintenance of the preeminent national institution advancing the study and public appreciation of coins, currency, medals, orders and decorations, and related objects of all cultures as historical and artistic documents and artifacts; by maintaining the foremost numismatic collection, museum, and library; by supporting scholarly research and publications; and by sponsoring educational and interpretive programs for diverse audiences.”

Location

On October 23, 2008, The American Numismatic Society officially opened its new headquarters at 75 Varick Street (and the corner of Canal Street) in lower Manhattan.

There are educational and research facilities now available to international scholars, students and the general public who are interested in studying coins, medals and other treasures in the Society‘s superb collection. The new premises also encompass the world‘s best numismatic library.

Membership and Organization

American Numismatic Society. Token.

The membership of the ANS comprises, in the main, academics, serious collectors and professional numismatists, concentrated in the United States but with a substantial international component. Applicants for membership are proposed for election by the Society‘s Board of Trustees at its regular meetings. Membership classes and numbers include: Associates  — 1875 individual, 112 institutional; Fellows and Honorary Fellows (limited in number to 225 and empowered to vote on Society business) — 198 individual; Corresponding Members (open to foreign scholars of distinction) — 54 individual.

The governing body of the ANS is its Board of Trustees, which currently numbers 24 Fellows or Associate Members, elected to three-year terms, and headed by a President, Roger Siboni. Other officer positions include: First Vice-President; Second Vice-President; Treasurer; and Secretary, all elected annually.

Departments

The work of the Society is divided among seven departments: Curatorial; Library; Editorial; Archives; Photography; Development; and Administrative.

Collection

Coins from the collection of the American Numismatic Society

The numismatic collection, estimated at approximately 800,000 coins and related objects, is of international caliber, rivaled only by the largest state collections of Europe. Abounding in both large study collections and great rarities, the Society‘s cabinets are particularly strong in Ancient Greek coinage, where the Hellenistic section is particularly notable; Roman Republican period issues; Islamic, of exceptional breadth and depth; Far Eastern, particularly the Chinese material; Latin American, developed over the past 40 years; and United States, both the Colonial series and Federal issues, as well as private coinages.

The library houses more than 100,000 items, comprising bound volumes, pamphlets, manuscripts, auction catalogues, and microforms connected to the numismatics of different periods.

The ANS has a major exhibit of “ Drachmas Doubloons and Dollars: The History of Money” which includes over 800 examples of the Society‘s noted collection including the Brasher doubloon, the 1804 dollar, the Confederate States half-dollar, and the world’s most valuable coin — the 1933 Double Eagle.

The exhibition and the ANS premises welcome over 45,000 visitors per year.

Educational programs

The Society‘s Graduate Seminar in Numismatics, conducted each summer since 1952, enjoys a reputation as the foremost training program in the discipline. In addition, the ANS administers museum, library, and archival internships and organizes public lectures, conferences, including the Coinage of the Americas Conference with a focus on the Western Hemisphere, and jointly sponsored symposia across the United States.

Publications Program

The ANS publishes in a variety of series, prominent among which are two journals, the American Journal of Numismatics and the Colonial Newsletter, the annual bibliography of the profession, Numismatic Literature, two monographic series, as well as special series such as exhibit catalogues and conference proceedings volumes. In 2002 the ANS launched The American Numismatic Society Magazine which presents regular columns from the Society‘s various departments, including contributions from individual curators, feature length articles on numismatic or related topics, announcements about upcoming events, and highlights from conferences and functions. This full-color publication is issued three times a year.

Affiliations

The ANS is a constituent member of the American Council of Learned Societies, the International Numismatic Commission, the American Association of Museums, as well as a supporting member of the American Academy in Rome and the American School of Classical Studies at Athens.