A NEW HOME AND A NEW VISION
ANS Acquires 140 William Street as Future Headquarters
The American Numismatic Society will relocate its headquarters, museum, and library to 140 William Street in lower Manhattan's historic, cultural, and financial center.
The acquisition of this beautiful seven story federal style building, originally built as a bank, brings to a successful conclusion a long search for a new home that will enable the ANS to perform its mission better, improve its service to the public, and provide better access for the numismatic community as a whole. This elegant building and its superb location will present the perfect venue for a state of the art money museum.
The Audubon Terrace site has been home to the ANS since 1907. Along with the growth of the Society's collections, library, and stature as a research facility, our mission has evolved. The resources of the Society include over 750,000 numismatic objects, dating from the inception of coinage in the seventh century B.C. to the present day, emanating from all corners of the globe. The ANS library, with over 100,000 items is the best of its kind in the world. The ANS has long been known for its active collections and publications programs. The Society is famous for its Graduate Seminar with emphasis on numismatic methodology and its practical application. It is the only program of its kind in the world, bringing 12 students or more, mainly from the U.S., to the ANS each summer for this advanced education. During the past two decades, the ANS has greatly increased its scholarly and public programs, including conferences, lectures, exhibitions, and programs for both school age and adult audiences.
Conveniently Located
The new location is over the Fulton Street station, a major convergence point of the New York City subway system. It is close to the financial area and to the World Trade Center. The 37,500 square feet of space afforded by 140 William Street will serve the growing collections and library, improve and expand the educational and academic programs, and establish a new department of United States coins and currency.
The permanent museum galleries and revolving exhibits will bring numismatists, collectors, tourists, and people working in the area to the Society to look and learn. The ANS will soon become one of the major attractions in the downtown area.
A Mission and A Vision
The Society's new home, with its excellent location and greatly expanded space, will enable the ANS to realize its ambitious mission, adopted by the Council in 1993 and a precipitating factor in the quest for a new home: "The mission of the American Numismatic Society is to be the preeminent national institution advancing the study and public 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."
In keeping with this mission, the Society is developing a series of strategic goals for the next five years. Among them is to develop a permanent exhibition that will clearly and energetically inform the public about the role and function of money in our own society and historically. Concurrently, special short-term exhibits on a variety of topics will further illuminate the beauty and lore of numismatics.
Another goal is to strengthen the Society's commitment to public education in numismatics, reaching all age groups and all segments of our audience. At present, the Society schedules at least one major conference or public lecture each month. We anticipate expanding this commitment to include noontime talks, early evening presentations, and other attractive gatherings that will identify the ANS as a cultural magnet in downtown New York.
Newly designed study areas will offer visitors to the library and collections a welcome environment in which to access the Society's great treasures to best advantage. The ANS is committed to facilitating the research use of its collections and library, monitored and aided by our professional staff and knowledgeable volunteers recruited for this purpose.
The new location also permits realization of a longstanding ambition for a numismatically specific museum shop and bookstore. Over time, we believe the ANS, at 140 William Street, will house the definitive collection of numismatic books for sale to collectors and scholars, while also providing an entry point for our public audience to appreciate this fascinating subject.
Other goals will be added as the ANS expands its vision statement in keeping with the new mission. The Society's present home in northern Manhattan has served us well for almost the entire twentieth century. It is a happy coincidence that we may usher in the new millennium with a new home and profoundly expanded mission.