History of the     American Numismatic Society

Beginning in the early 1980s, the ANS has greatly increased the public programs offered - conferences, lectures, exhibitions, and most recently, a Speakers Bureau, through which schools, libraries, coin clubs and other organizations may request presentations by ANS staff members from a catalogue of topics offered. The "Coinage of the Americas Conference," held annually since 1984, has proven a valuable contribution to the study of Western Hemisphere numismatics and the resultant Proceedings volumes rapidly take their place among the cited literature. More recently the Society has begun a series of cosponsored conferences (the first a joint venture with the Smithsonian Institution in 1992), to be held at cities distant from the Society's headquarters and designed to engage a broad audience on the contributions of numismatics to the humanities. As the ANS moves toward the 21st century, its Long-Range Planning Committee has recognized the need for complete computerization to maximize all institutional functions - administrative, curatorial, educational. An increased knowledge of and utilization of computer based tools is essential to the Society's ability to provide meaningful services to an enlarging audience within the constraints of existing resources and staff.

In 1993, the governing Council of the ANS adopted a re-cast Mission Statement that challenges the organization to provide leadership for the discipline. As a matter of record:

"The mission of The American Numismatic Society is to be the preeminent national institution advancing the study and appreciation of coins, medals and related objects of all cultures as historical and artistic documents, by maintaining the foremost numismatic collection and library, by supporting scholarly research and publications, and by sponsoring educational and interpretive programs for diverse audiences."

 

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