May 2021 eNews
Upcoming Events & Announcements
Money Talks | The Brenner 150 Exhibition: 150 Years of V.D.B.
Join Assistant Curator of American Numismatics Jesse Kraft, ANS Fellow Scott H. Miller, and MFA Boston Director of Exhibitions Patrick McMahon on June 12, 2021 for the official launch of the Brenner 150 Exhibition. This exhibit celebrates acclaimed sculptor Victor David Brenner and digitally recreates the famous 1912 Hahlo Exhibition.More…
New Episode of Greatest Coins: The Franc
In this episode of Greatest Coins, Executive Director Gilles Bransbourg presents one of the oldest and most widespread currency units in the world: the franc. From the 1365 gold “Franc à cheval” to the fiduciary banknotes and coins circulating today around the world, the franc’s venerable history tells the stories of regime changes, wars, revolutions, economic collapse and recovery, and major currency reforms.
The Planchet: A Conversation with David Hendin
Season 2, Episode 3 features an interview with David Hendin, ANS Vice President and Adjunct Curator, scholar, and collector. The 6th edition of his book, A Guide to Biblical Coins, will be published by the American Numismatic Society in the summer of 2021. In this episode, Hendin recalls how he began collecting and studying coins, offers some advice on cleaning (and not cleaning) ancient coins, shares some stories of his encounters with dealers in Jerusalem, and talks about what’s new in the latest edition of his Guide. Listen and Subscribe.
COAC 2021: Call for papers
The ANS is proud to announce the reintroduction of the Coinage of the Americas Conference (COAC). The conference, set for September 2021, will feature presentations and papers related to famed sculptor Victor David Brenner for the 150th anniversary of his birth. Submit paper proposals to Assistant Curator of American Numismatics Jesse Kraft at jkraft@numismatics.org by July 1. More…
June Long Tables
Join us each Friday at 1PM ET for our weekly Long Table discussion. Next week, ANS Director of Publications Andrew Reinhard will explain the peer review process. Then, we will host representatives from the North Carolina Collection at the University of North Carolina, Bob Schreiner and Keeper Linda Jacobson. Next, ANS Fellow Ira Rezak will discuss the medallic mysteries from his own collection of medical, Jewish, and Russian materials. Finally, numismatic designer Heidi Wastweet will take us step-by-step through the process of designing a medal. Links will be sent to active members in advance.
May in Review
May Money Talks: The Bar Kokhba Revolts
On May 22, ANS Vice President and Adjunct Curator David Hendin discussed Bar Kokhba coins in context as the last ancient Judean coins. He explained how they differed from previous Judean coins, particularly in their depiction of the Jerusalem Temple, which had been destroyed in 70 CE, and other elements of Jewish worship.
David Yoon at the International Congress on Medieval Studies
On May 13, Associate Curator David Yoon presented a paper at the (online) International Congress on Medieval Studies. Titled “How Fiduciary Were Aragonese Florins?”, the paper discussed the debasement of gold florins in the Crown of Aragon in relation to exchange rates and money of account.
ANS Lyceum on the Coins of Rome begins
The first ANS Lyceum course—Coins from the Archaic to Hellenisitic Periods with Chief Curator Peter van Alfen—wrapped up on May 5. Coins of Rome, led by Executive Director Gilles Bransbourg and Assistant Curator of Roman Coins Lucia Carbonebegan on May 19 with another full-capacity class. More…
New on YouTube
Our April Money Talks is now available on the ANS YouTube channel. Chief Curator Peter van Alfen explores the origins of the Columbian Exposition, Columbus’ popularity in 19th century America (and subsequent downfall in the 20th), the ANS’s vast holdings of coins, medals, and tokens from the fair, and the disputes between artists and officials over the production of some items.
May Long Tables
The ANS hosted two curators from outside collections in May—Curator of the John Max Wulfing Collection of Ancient Coins and Related Objects at Washington University in St. Louis, Prof. William S. Bubelis, and Assistant Curator of Greek and Roman Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Dr. Laure Marest. Later in the month, Saltus Award Winner Mashiko presented her commemorative works in medals and other media. Lastly, ANS Director of Data Science Ethan Gruber, Dr. Courtney Nimura, and Dr. John Talbot led a discussion on their newly-launched Nomisma database, Iron Age Coins in Britain.
