Preface

Every worthwhile project begins with someone's good idea. Harry W. Bass, Jr., President of the American Numismatic Society from 1978 until 1984, outlined his concept of an ongoing conference series on specialized topics in American numismatics at the Society's 125th anniversary celebration in the fall of 1983. One year later, the first Coinage of the Americas Conference became a reality.

The purpose of these conferences is to facilitate the exchange of information. Toward this end, experts in the field are invited to present papers, collectors are invited to exhibit, and notice of the conference is circulated widely to encourage attendance by all interested in the topic. The Society also mounts an exhibition from its holdings and invites registrants to come to know the Society's collections and library better during the days of the conference. This invitation was best expressed by Society President Harry W. Fowler in his opening remarks to the 1984 Conference. "Our hope and our expectation is that the interchange of ideas this weekend will give impetus to a wider use of the great resources here at the Society and to a greater cooperation among all of us in the study and elucidation of these coinages."