In addition to the full program of papers, three exhibits of modern medals will open on Saturday afternoon, November 8 and continue on view at the ANS through January 10, 1998. A retrospective exhibit of the work of Gilroy Roberts, Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint, will include his medals for the Franklin Mint, as well as his U.S. Mint pieces, including the Kennedy half dollar. Of special interest are the preparatory drawings and models for his work, which illustrate the entire creative and technical process behind the modern medal. The American Medallic Sculpture Association and the British Art Medal Society were both founded in 1983 to promote the art of the medal in their respective regions. The organizations will celebrate their fifteenth anniversaries with a joint exhibit of contemporary work by members and students, featuring many pieces never on public display before. This joint exhibit will be accompanied by an illustrated catalogue produced specially for the event.
Grant Supports Exhibition, Education Program
The exhibition and related education programs have been underwritten by a generous grant from the Gilroy and Lillian T. Roberts Charitable Trusts. The ANS is particularly grateful to Stanley Merves, Chairman of the Trust, for his encouragement and cooperation in arranging this exciting exhibition opportunity. For the run of the exhibition through January 10, 1998, the ANS will offer free group visits to these special exhibits. Programs will include an orientation and introduction to the exhibitions, a showing of the video, "Creating an Art Medal," and a demonstration of the Society's nineteenth century coin press. To schedule an appointment, please call Connie Wiesman at the ANS, 212/234-3130, extension 217.
Sunday Workshop
On Sunday, November 9, there will be a four-hour workshop on die engraving and die striking. Though this is intended to tie into the theme of "The Medal in America," it should be of interest to anyone with an interest in how coins and medals are made and have been made in the past. Virginia Janssen will demonstrate the various methods of die preparation, especially direct engraving into the die face using traditional tools. Janssen is a graduate of the Roman School of the Mint, the only institution in the world with a formal program in the craft. Ron Landis, the Director of the Gallery Mint Museum, will demonstrate other methods of die preparation, especially the use of prepared punches. He will also use his "Traveling Mint" to produce medals from the dies that he and Janssen prepare. This equipment includes a screw press built along historical lines, and a Castaing machine for edge lettering. There will be a television monitor to help those in attendance view the small-scale operations, and participants will be able to strike their own copy of the souvenir medal produced at the event.
While registrants may elect to attend only the Saturday program or only the Sunday workshop, the registration fee of $25 covers the events of both days as well as lunch on Saturday, and coffee and refreshments both days. Pre-registration forms are enclosed in this newsletter or can be obtained from the ANS at (212) 234-3130; for further information, speak to Alan Stahl at extension 224 of this number.
Following a tour of the Society's museum, guests visited with ANS staff members in the library and coin rooms, enjoyed a buffet lunch arranged for their benefit, and were treated to a special preview of two new electronic innovations in the Society's efforts to bring its collections and knowledge to a larger public.
Also on view at the ANS during ANA Day was "Coins of the Roman World," an interactive CD-ROM produced under license for the ANS, with text and expert advice provided by Dr. Metcalf, ANS Curator of Roman and Byzantine Coins. The CD, containing full color images of 250 coins from the collection, is being marketed by Comfortable Computing and will be available in September at $79.95.
ANS Presence at ANA
Visitors to the Society's Information Booth at the ANA Convention got a special treat on August 1 and 2. Not only were they able to view the new CD- ROM and ANS Web Site via the ANS computer brought to the show for the purpose; also on view were the Society's examples of the 1804 dollar and the Brasher Doubloon! These great treasures from the ANS American cabinet were displayed as our way of welcoming the ANA to NYC, the "coin capital of the world."
A test group (2,200 records) of library catalogue records has been mounted on the Society's web site (i.e., http://www.amnumsoc.org) where they can be searched by keyword. Following experimentation with this test group, it is our hope to develop a plan to have all library catalogue records available on the web site.
Gifts of auction catalogues and periodicals have been received from Catherine Bullowa, Philadelphia, and Fred Jacobs, Bronx, New York. Randolph Zander, Alexandria, VA, has made a most generous donation of volumes related to Russian numismatics, and Jyoti Rai, Bellmore, NY, has donated a number of volumes on Indian numismatics which the library lacked. Several important antiquarian volumes were also donated by Frank Kovacs, San Mateo, CA.
Among the publications generously donated by authors and publishers are Michel Amandry and Bernard Remy, Les monnaies de fouilles du sanctuaire de Viuz-Faverges (Faverges, 1997); Fernando Baptista Gumucio, Las monedas de la independencia, 1808-1827 (La Paz, 1995); J.D. Bateson, Coinage in Scotland (London, 1997); Richard Boudet and Georges Depeyrot, Monnaies gauloises à la croix (Wetteren, 1997); Q. David Bowers, American coin treasures and hoards and caches of other American numismatic items. With Michael Hodder, Research Associate. Foreword by Kenneth E. Bressett (Wolfeboro, NH, 1997); Colin R. Bruce, and George S. Cuhaj, Standard catalog of world paper money: Volume III, Modern issues, 1961-1997. 3rd ed. (Iola, WI, 1997); Georges Depeyrot, Les émissions monétaires d'Arles (Quatrième - Cinquième siècles) (Wetteren, 1996); Georges Depeyrot, Imprimés monétaires royaux (Wetteren, 1997); Horace P. Flatt, The coins of independent Peru, Volume V: The Cuzco mint (Terrell, TX, 1997); Liane Houghtalin and John MacIsaac, A subject index to Numismatic Literature, Nos. 118-137 (Sep. 1987-Mar. 1997): The ancient literature (Fredericksburg, VA, 1997); Clyde Hubbard and David O'Harrow, Hookneck: El aguila de perfil. (Federal Way, WA, 1997); Chester L. Krause and Clifford Mishler, Standard catalog of world coins, 1901-present. 25th edition (Iola, WI, 1997); Anton C. Masin, Numismatica Americana: Catalog of the Robert H. Gore, Jr. Collection of American Numismatics (Notre Dame, IN, 1990); al-Mazandarani, Musa al-Husayni, Ta'rikh al-nuqud al-islamiyya (Beirut, 1988); Leon G. Morel, Medallic commemoratives of New Zealand, 1865-1940: A detailed listing of all known official and private issue of numismatic pieces covering historical and commemorative events in New Zealand, 1865-1940 (Christchurch, NZ, 1996); Mando Oikonomides, Ellenike techni: Archaia nomismata (Athens, 1996); Russell Rulau, Standard catalog of United States tokens, 1700-1900. 2nd ed (Iola, WI, 1997); N.K. Rutter, The Greek coinages of southern Italy and Sicily (London, 1997); Wayne Sayles, Ancient coin collecting II: Numismatic art of the Greek world (Iola, WI, 1997); S. Suresh, Roman antiquities in Tamilnadu (Madras, 1992); A.P. Tzamalis, ed., Martin Jessop Price (Athens, 1996); Douglas Winter, Gold coins of the Dahlonega Mint, 1838-1861: A numismatic history and analysis (Dallas, 1997). Readers who wish further details concerning the above publications should address their inquiries to the Librarian.
Eight Society coins will be included in a forthcoming exhibition at the Mariners' Museum, Newport News, VA. ANS "pieces of eight" have been lent for exhibition in "Under the Black Flag: Life Among the Pirates," which opens August 30, 1997 and runs through January 3, 1998.
Joann McCool, ANS Membership Secretary for the past 21 years, retired at the end of June. Among her many responsibilities at the ANS were maintenance of the membership and gift records, bookkeeping, personnel records, and acting as the Society's purchasing agent, both directly with vendors and through the Joint Purchasing Corp. of which the ANS is a participating member for several negotiated purchase contracts. At a luncheon party in her honor, Joann insisted that she was not really retiring; only returning home to the midwest to be nearer her family. She did admit tat one of her final acts at her computer terminal was to add her name to the list of recipients of the Society's holiday staff photo card!
Dale Martin Named to Position
Dale Martin, who joined the staff as an office assistant two years ago, has been promoted to the position of Membership Secretary. New to the staff is Tarnisha Smart who joined us in July as office assistant. Members contacting the ANS by phone or e-mail are encouraged to say hi to the office staff who are here to serve you in all aspects of ANS membership.
