ANS E-News

ANS E-NEWS February 2005

The ANS announces with regret that former guard Willie Harley passed away
on January 17, 2005. He worked as a guard for the ANS from 1995 to 2003.
He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

MEMBERSHIP
Calling all Members!
* It is time to renew your ANS membership, which you may conveniently do
online. Dues remain the same as last year: $30 Student Associate, $40 Basic
Associate, $60 Full Associate and Fellows, $100 Library Associate and $500
Corporate Associate; or you can consider becoming a Life Member for $2000.
You will be receiving your notice by mail within the next two weeks, or
you can renew online at http://www.store.yahoo.com/amnumsoc/joinorrenmem.html.

Also, we would welcome your support as a Circle Contributor, which can also
be done online at http://www.store.yahoo.com/amnumsoc/joinorrenmem.html.

Your subscription to the Colonial Newsletter ($35 per year for 3 issues) can
also be purchased online http://www.store.yahoo.com/amnumsoc/itforpur.html

For further information or questions regarding membership, please
contact Juliette Pelletier at pelletier@numismatics.org (212) 571-4470
ext.1311


PUBLICATIONS
* You can now order "The Remarkable Huntingtons: Chronicle of a Marriage" -
by Mary Mitchell and Albert S. Goodrich Budd Drive Press ISBN 0-9749644-0-9

Price: US$23.00 plus shipping. To order this book contact Joanne Isaac, 212-571-4470 x1306,

isaac@numismatics.org or to print an order form visit our website at
http://www.amnumsoc.org/store/davidbrown.html

The Remarkable Huntingtons, is a chronicle of the marriage of Archer and
Anna who wed in 1923 when he was 57 years old and she was 47. At the time
of their marriage both had achieved individual fame, he for his riches and
philanthropy, and she for her work as a sculptor. A lifelong collector,
Archer had amassed over of 30,000 coins by the time he retired in 1946. Using
a number of sources, including Anna's voluminous diaries, the authors
illustrate the lives of this extraordinary couple and their many achievements.

* Sebastian Heath reports that Numismatic Literature No. 145 (2003) has
gone to press. Numismatic Literature lists recent books, articles, and
other titles of numismatic interest, with accompanying abstracts for
many entries. Oliver Hoover, NumLit's International Editor, oversees
the collection of titles, and he can be reached at numlit@numismatics.org.

While recent additions to NumLit are available
at http://www.amnumsoc.org/numlit/ , the appearance of no. 145 will
continue the production of printed volumes. These, and other ANS
publications, can be purchased through the David Brown Book Company at
http://www.oxbowbooks.com/ . Those members who subscribed to the volume
will receive it in the mail. Volume 146 will come out later this spring,
and volume 147 is in preparation.


EXHIBITIONS
* ANS Curator of North American Coins and Currency Robert Hoge provided an
orientation/introduction program for Federal Reserve Bank of New York employees
who conduct tours in the recently reopened ANS exhibit "Drachmas Doubloons
and Dollars." The exhibition is now being included as a regular part of all
the Bank's public tours instead of being featured as a separate supplement.
For opening hours and other information see http://www.amnumsoc.org/frbny.html


ACQUISITIONS
* The Greek Department acquired several interesting donations of historical
importance from Dr. Arnold-Peter C. Weiss, David Vagi and Dr. Martin Huth.
Trustee Dr. Weiss gave the ANS an early hoard of Greek hacksilver, which
contains the largest silver ingot known to scholars. During the last month
the ANS purchased from B.H. Kreindler a beautiful ancient box-mirror, made
from a medallion of Hadrian's lover Antinoous. The ANS also obtained from
ANS Fellow David Hendin two unusual Athenian imitations, one of the areas
of specialization of Ancient Greek curator Peter van Alfen. The Islamic
department acquired 7 Abbassid dirhams from Alan S. DeShazo and 4 false
Umayyad dirhams from Stephen Album.

* The ANS collection has received two outstanding donations of recent United
States currency from Dr. David Menchell. The gifts include superb district
sets of Federal Reserve Notes as well as other pristine notes, an uncut
sheet and an original wrapper from a "brick" of notes, along with the first
and last notes of the brick. Altogether, there are 144 notes and related
currency items in Dr. Menchell's gifts, which were also accompanied by 24
U.S. Mint medals in their original packaging. The ANS is still looking to
complete its holdings of recent U.S. Paper currency (particularly the $100
denominations and 1988 series bills). More details on the Menchell donation
will be included in the next edition of the ANS Magazine. For further
information, contact Curator Robert W. Hoge, at hoge@numismatics.org.


ARCHIVIST NEWS
* February 1864: After almost becoming a victim to the US Civil War, the
ANS is revived as the American Numismatic & Archeological Society and begins
to assemble both numismatic and archeological collections. To learn more
about this pivotal moment in the Society's history, click on:
http://www.amnumsoc.org/archives/ANSMoment.htm

* In 1941, the ANS was plunged into a crisis when long-time president
Edward Newell died unexpectedly. The Society's constitution did not provide
for presidential succession, there were no vice-presidents, nor an executive
director. To fill this leadership gap, the ANS turned to Stephen H.P. Pell,
a long-time Councilor and collector of Colonial coins who had "an enthusiasm
for anything having to do with Revolutionary relics." Learn more about
this intriguing figure by visiting: http://www.amnumsoc.org/archives/pellbio.htm


LIBRARY LACUNAE : YOUR CHANCE TO CHANGE HOLES INTO WHOLES
* Although most libraries strive to create collections that are complete,
it is virtually a given that there will always be certain items, old or
new, that are lacking on their shelves. The ANS Library is no exception
so, perhaps you can assist in helping us find the listed items for our
shelves. Thanks to enthusiastic response to our last "Newsletter," we have filled
the gaps in our holdings of "Coinage Magazine."
This week's list contains a holdover from the last list and one new item:

"The Asylum," Vol. 2, No. 4 (1984).

"The Essay-Proof Journal." vol. 2, nos. 1,2 ; vol. 3, nos. 1,2 ; vol. 7,
no. 3 ; vol. 10, n. 2 ; v. 42, n. 3.
(The last issue received by the ANS Library was vol. 49, n.2 (1992).
Whole No. 194)