Preface

Money of the American Confederation Period was the subject of the eleventh Coinage of the Americas Conference, sponsored annually by the American Numismatic Society. Since its inception, this program has enjoyed the enthusiastic support of the Society's governing Council as a forum for the dissemination of emerging research in the coinage and currency of North and South America.

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 who have an interest in the topic. The Society also mounts an exhibition from its holdings and invites registrants travelling to the New York area to come to know the Society's collections and library better during the days surrounding the conference.

A number of special exhibits were mounted on the theme of COAC 1995 and remained on view at the Society for several months. Two exhibits featured material from the Society's collection: a survey of U.S. made counterfeit halfpence and a special display of medals of the Confederation period. Individual exhibitors included Daniel Freidus (Vermonts) and Mike Ringo (counterfeits of the period); on display also were important items from the Donald Groves Collection.