Many people have the idea that the "Numismatic Fraternity" is vast. Howevetr, in my 36 years of membership in the American Numismatic Association, and 31 years involvelemnt in the American Numismatic Society and a mear 29 as a dues paying member of the New York Numismatic Club, I can observe with humor that it is a very close knit, and at times inbred group.

In the first three decades of the last century, numismatics was very much a "gentleman's" diversion. The men who had the time to be collectors were industrial tycoons or at the very least men of leasure.

The young American Numismatic Association was starting to expand its base from just a monthy publication to holding annual conventions.

The philantropist Archer M. Huntington built the ANS a building in NYC within his expanding 155th St. Terrace complex. It concentrated the numismatic likes of Edward T. Newell, J. Sanford Saltus, Howland Wood and Albert Frey.

In a huff over some ANA politics, in 1908 the New York Numismatic Club was formed.

That began monthy meetings in December of 1908 which continue uninterpted to this day. They also have a tradition of honoroing their presidents with a portrait medal.

The sculptor of the first group of medals as well as the seal was Victor D. Brenner. The second club sculptor was Johnathan Swanson, and as he was also a president, his medal is at left. In the 1950-1970s the club used Karl Gruppe, then a brief appearance of Joseph DeLorenzo, Eugene Daub has been the sculptor since 1994.

The ANS Assocaiton continued with Curators Henry Grunthal, Alan Stahl and Jerimiah  Brady, and ANS editor Marie Martin all serving two year stints as NYNC presidents. Stack's has been represented with the recent presidency of cataloger David T. Alexander. New York numismatics is a small world of very big numismatic names.

The September 10th, 2008 Coin Galleries sale will be offering about 15 lots of NYNC presidential medals, including those which are in this posting.

December 2008 will see the club members of today gather in the same resturant in NYC at which the club was founded. It should be a nice event. In addition the ANS will be hosting the first exhibition in their new space on Varrick Street, an exhibition of selected items from NYNC member's collections as a tribute to the close ties between the ANS and NYNC members.

George

One of the main ANA missions is education.

At the national conventions the opportunites for clubs to meet, for participation in over 25 numismatic theater presentations and having space for educational exhibits.

Exhibiting is a fun way to share your collection in an educational way. Telling a story ( and a bit of braging about what you have) for the enjoyment of others. Hey, I've even started to collect ofther stuff because I saw it presented in an interesting display.

This year the Best-in-Show exhibit was a presentation on Civil War era Currency of Georgia. It was wonderful. The exhibit I presented was in the local interest / convention theme category and it was on medals of Cardinal Gibbons, the long serving Archbishop of Baltimore. It was judged to be a first place award.

If you seem interested in participating at future Early Spring or Summer convention of the ANA with an exhibit, the exhibting rules, categories and judging sheet samples can be found at the ANA website under the conventions link at www.money.org.

George

Car show week in Iola is the time of year when my Mom likes to visit. Usually it is part of a month rest for her from the Astoria NY neighborhood where she grew up, however this year, she is only visiting for two weeks, and tomorrow it is up, and she flies back to NYC.

However, as this is year 13 of such visits, she has gained a wide circle of friends who want to spend time with her, so it ment squashing four weeks of dinners, breakfests and a four day trip into Michigan (via the Lake Michigan Car Ferry) to visit sculptor friends.

This past weekend was that visit, and it was quite relaxing for us. I got to share some ideas with a fellow artisit, and he got to unload from his studio a table-top kilm and a large box of enameling colors.

So expect some expansion to the art portfolio in the future. The above drawing was done by sculptor friend Eugene Daub for mom's 75th birthday.

George