Publishing History
The ANS has always valued excellence in publishing, a standard that has resulted in a rich heritage, one that is almost as old as the ANS itself. The ANS began its publications program in 1866, when Joseph N. T. Levick proposed that the ANS establish a journal of “numismatic and archaeological intelligence.” His proposal was adopted, and by July 1866 the ANS had launched the American Journal of Numismatics, the first numismatic journal published in the United States.
Monograph Series
Ancient Coins in North American Collections, 1969–present
Originally published as Greek Coins in North American Collections, Ancient Coins in North American Collections (ACNAC) systematically describes and illustrates ancient coins in significant private and institutional collections and is intended to record collections of numismatic significance which are not readily accessible or are likely to be dispersed.This series conforms to the general format of the Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum fascicules in placing emphasis on the reproduction of the coins and limiting the text to basic numismatic data.
Coinage of the Americas Conference Proceedings, 1984–present
The Proceedings of the Coinage of the Americas Conferences (COAC) consist of formal published versions of the papers presented in the Society’s COAC meetings. COAC was initiated by Harry W. Bass, Jr., (ANS President, 1978–1984) as a means of increasing the Society’s involvement with Western hemisphere coinage, currency, and medals.
Hispanic Numismatic Series, 1950–1954
The Hispanic Numismatic Series consisted of publications devoted to the coinage of the Iberian Peninsula and of related countries, and was based on the numismatic collection of the Hispanic Society of America. It was funded and published jointly by the American Numismatic Society and the Hispanic Society. This series resulted from the decision of Archer M. Huntington—then president of the Hispanic Society—to transfer his great personal collection of Spanish coins stored in the Hispanic Society to the custody of the neighboring American Numismatic Society. It ceased publication after Huntington’s death in 1955.
Numismatic Notes and Monographs, 1921–present
Numismatic Notes and Monographs consists of original scholarly monographs in numismatics. The series was sponsored by Archer M. Huntington, who suggested the original small format of 4-1/2 × 6-1/2 inch paperback. In 1947, when the Society introduced Numismatic Literature in a larger 6 × 9 inch format, it was decided to publish NNM in this size also, facilitating publication of moderate-sized book-length monographs, starting with No. 110, The Oak Tree Coinage of Massachusetts by Sydney Noe.
Numismatic Studies, 1938–present
Numismatic Studies was established in 1938 as a series of original scholarly books in numismatics where the length of the work or the number and size of its illustrations requires a larger format than that used for Numismatic Notes and Monographs.
Studies in Medallic Art, 2010–present
Studies in Medallic Art, the Society’s newest monograph series, was launched in 2010.
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum: The Collection of the American Numismatic Society, 1969–1998
The Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum: The Collection of the American Numismatic Society (SNG ) was an irregular issue, which the ANS published to systematically describe and illustrate coins in the Society’s Greek collection. The Society’s participation in the SNG began in 1961 with the publication of the Burton Y. Berry collection, most of which eventually came to the Society through annual donations; the last part (principally coins of Lycia and Cilicia) was withdrawn after Berry’s death, and the SNG volumes stand as a record of his collecting in this area. In 1969, the ANS published the first SNG fascicule of its collection, beginning with coins of Italy. This series has been superseded by online projects publishing the Society’s Greek collection.
Periodicals
American Journal of Numismatics, First Series, 1866–1924
The American Journal of Numismatics, established in 1866, was the first periodical of the American Numismatic Society. The first AJN published notices and minutes from meetings of the Society and included papers delivered at these gatherings; however, at this early stage the content of the journal was directed more towards coin collectors than scholars. The first series was published by the ANS monthly from May 1866 to April 1870. It was then published quarterly, first by the Boston Numismatic Society and then by T. R. Marvin & Son, from July 1870 to April 1907. In 1907 it was re-acquired by the ANS, which published it quarterly from July 1907 to October 1912, and then annually from 1913 to 1918. After a final volume published in three parts from 1919 to 1924, it was discontinued in 1924.
American Journal of Numismatics, Second Series, 1989–present
The second series of the American Journal of Numismatics is the successor to Museum Notes. This publication continues as a peer-reviewed journal containing original scholarly articles on all fields of numismatics. The second series of the AJN has been published annually from 1989–1990, bi-annually from 1991–1996, and annually from 1997–present.
Colonial Newsletter (1997–2017) and Journal of Early American Numismatics (2018–present)
The Colonial Newsletter (CNL) was a research journal dedicated to the study of early American numismatics. Founded in 1960, the CNL was originally published by the Colonial Newsletter Foundation; the ANS assumed publication responsibilities in 1997. CNL focused on the study of the coinages produced by the states during the Confederation period and was published three times a year. In June 2018 the Journal of Early American Numismatics (JEAN) launched as CNL‘s replacement, publishing scholarship on early numismatics of all the Americas.
Museum Notes, 1945–1988
In 1945, the Society established Museum Notes as the journal of the Society. Originally conceived as a way for ANS curators to publish short notes on the Society’s holdings and acquisitions, it quickly became a substantial journal in which researchers published original scholarship in all fields of numismatics. The journal was published in 33 volumes. In 1989, Museum Notes was replaced by the second series of the American Journal of Numismatics. Museum Notes was published: annually from 1946–1948, bi-annually from 1950–1966, and annually from 1967–1988.
Numismatic Literature, 1947–2013
This series contained, under broad subject headings, a listing of recent articles and books relating to numismatics. Until the late 1960s this was compiled by the ANS librarians and based largely on ANS library acquisitions. In 1967 the International Numismatic Commission assumed patronage of the publication and formalized a system of international editors. The titles and abstracts were submitted either by the authors themselves or by one of nearly 40 international editors who were themselves well-known numismatists. Each volume contains an author and a subject index, cross-references, a listing of the sources for book reviews, and an obituary section. Numismatic Literature was published quarterly from 1947–1967, semi-annually from 1968–1999, and annually from 2000–2013.
Membership News & Information
Proceedings and Annual Reports, 1878–present
The ANS has published annual reports of its activities in various forms since 1878. From 1878–1962, these reports consisted of printing the proceedings of the Society’s annual meetings, in various forms depending on availability of funding. Between 1963 and 1998, the ANS published formal annual reports. Beginning in 1999, the ANS provided online access to its annual balance sheets and reported its activities through its newsletter and magazine, with the exception of a printed annual report produced for 2005. Publication of annual reports, now mainly online with some limited printing, has resumed since 2019.
ANS Newsletter, 1979–2001
The ANS began publishing a quarterly ANS Newsletter in 1979 as a means of notifying members of recent and upcoming events. The final issue of the Newsletter was published in the winter of 2001. It was succeeded by the ANS Magazine in the spring of 2002.
ANS Magazine, 2002–present
The ANS Magazine presents regular columns from the Society’s various departments, including contributions from individual curators, feature-length articles on numismatic or related topics, announcements about upcoming events, and highlights from conferences and functions. This full-color publication is issued four times a year in both print and digital editions. It is the successor to the ANS Newsletter.