1998 Groves Forum Features Mossman

The inaugural Groves Forum in American Numismatics took place at the ANS on April 18 before a full house of interested and attentive members and the public. The featured speaker was Dr. Philip L. Mossman, talking on "The Stepney Hoard of Connecticut Coppers, 48 Years after the Fact(?)" Mossman laid out the evidence for and against considering the collection of coppers found in an iron pot to be a historical numismatic deposit of the late 1780s as opposed to a mid-nineteenth century marketing ploy. He agreed that Walter Breen was correct in concluding from his initial analysis that this is a legitimate hoard.
The meeting was chaired by ANS President Arthur Houghton, who welcomed the gathering and requested the audience to join him in remembering Harry W. Bass Jr., whose death on April 4 so shocked the entire numismatic community. Mr. Bass served as Society President from 1978 through 1984.

CNL Editors are ANS Guests

Mr. Houghton then introduced the Society's special guests for the weekend. He noted that, as of 1997, the CNL Foundation donated to the ANS its prestigious journal, The Colonial Newsletter, which appears in three issues each year. "In large measure," Mr. Houghton stated, "we took on this exciting responsibility because Dr. Philip L. Mossman volunteered to become its Editor and Gary Trudgen agreed to act as Associate Editor and also to physically produce the journal and see it through the press. They are assisted by Michael Hodder, an Associate Editor, and James C. Spilman, the President of the CNL Foundation who is now Editor Emeritus. Phil, Gary, and their wives are with us this weekend, and I know you will all want to join me in thanking them for their work on our behalf." The audience responded with appreciative applause.
Mr. Houghton continued, saying that "This meeting marks the inauguration of the Groves Forum in American Numismatics, through which the ANS will endeavor to present speakers or panels on topics relating to North American coins, currency, and related artifacts. The Society is pleased to have this opportunity and proud that Dr. Mossman has agreed to inaugurate this new series of ANS public programs."
Dr. Mossman was introduced by ANS Executive Director Leslie A. Elam who spoke as follows:
"It is a distinct pleasure for me to present today's speaker. I have known Dr. Philip L. Mossman for just over a decade, since it was 1987 when we first discussed the possibility of the ANS publishing his book which had appeared in draft form in September of 1986 as a special issue of CNL. In the period since our initial contact, Phil has cooperated with the ANS in a succession of events which have greatly enhanced our understanding of American colonial numismatics.
"Trained as a medical doctor with a degree from Harvard Medical School in 1958, he spent the greater part of his career in rehabilitative medicine, wrote the textbook on stroke rehabilitation and, at his retirement last year, was Director of Rehabilitation at the Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. Avocationally, Phil has long had a deep interest in European and American history, centered on colonial North America, the precocious offspring of European social and political ideas.
"The circulation of money is central to such an interest and has focused both his collecting and research activities. In 1990, he delivered the Bullowa Memorial Lecture here at the ANS, speaking on "The Coppers Panic of 1787," an analysis which later formed an important chapter in his award-winning book, Money of the American Colonies and Confederation, published by the ANS in 1993 as Numismatic Studies 20. Later that year he produced a major exhibition based on the book for the 1993 New York International Convention. Phil has also been an active contributor to the Society's annual Coinage of the Americas Conference. In 1991 he spoke on Abel Buell's Connecticut coppers and in 1995 returned to Chair the conference, deliver the overview lecture, and edit the proceedings volume on Coinage of the American Confederation Period.
"That abuse of his good-will led naturally to our saddling him with the Editorship of CNL, a project which now occupies the greater part of his waking hours. The topic of his talk today, "The Stepney Hoard of Connecticut Coppers, 48 Years after the Fact(?)" is slated for publication in CNL later this year and I am sure your comments are welcome toward that end.
"I am honored to present the 1998 Groves Forum speaker, Dr. Philip L. Mossman."
A lively discussion followed the illustrated address. It continued through the public reception at the Society and, for those who assembled at a fine restaurant on the West Side, well into the evening.