The American Numismatic Society (ANS) curators and Fellows are pleased to announce a new lecture series, “Money Talks: Numismatic Conversations”, that begins in January 2017. In this monthly interactive lecture series, meant to introduce topics of general numismatic interest to members and the general public, attendees will have the opportunity to listen to ANS curators and members and learn by handling relevant objects from the collection and library of the American Numismatic Society. Light meals will be served, and Q&A sessions will follow. To ensure these events are as accessible as possible to all, most will take place on Saturdays at the ANS headquarters in New York City. On a few occasions, these “Numismatic Conversations” will take place at other venues.
During Saturday “Numismatic Conversations” at the ANS, the Society will be open from 12:00 noon to 4:00 PM. If you are interested in viewing specific items in our collections or library, please be sure to schedule an appointment with a curator two weeks in advance.
Friday, January 27
“Art of Devastation: Medallic Art of the Great War” is the first lecture, taking place at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, NY on Saturday, January 27. Co-curated by Drs. Peter van Alfen (ANS) and Patricia Phagan (Vassar), it is offered in conjunction with the new exhibit “Art of Devastation: Medals and Posters of the Great War” at the Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College. Reception begins at 5:30 PM with the lecture to follow.
Saturday, February 11
The February lecture, “The Origins of Money,” will feature Dr. van Alfen, Dr. Gilles Bransbourg, and Dr. Ute Wartenberg, and will focus on the beginnings of money and its various guises, including cut silver in the ancient Near East, early electrum coinage of Asia Minor, early bronze objects, bars and heavy coins in Italy and the spread of cowries in the Indian Ocean area, Eastern Africa and South Asia, including China. “The Origins of Money” will take place at the ANS headquarters at 2:00 PM, preceded by a light lunch at 1:00 PM and followed by a Q&A session.
Saturday, March 11
“The Beginnings of Islamic Coinage” will introduce members to the beginnings of Islamic coinage in the seventh century and its vast trajectories within the Arab lands and beyond. It begins with an in-depth survey of its Byzantine and Sasanian precedents and provides a basic outline of “Arab-Sasanian” and “Arab-Byzantine” types. Members will also learn about the styles of Arabic calligraphy that were used on early Islamic coins. Members will be able to view and handle fine examples of the ANS’s Islamic holdings with Assistant Curator, Vivek Gupta. “The Beginnings of Islamic Coinage” will take place at the ANS headquarters at 2:00 PM, preceded by a light lunch at 1:00 PM and followed by a Q&A session.
Additional lecture topics scheduled throughout the year include “Coin Counterfeit Recognition,” “Signs of Inflation,” “The Art of Photographing Coins,” “Representations on US Banknotes,” “Wine and Money,” “Jewish Ancient Coinage,” and “Book Collecting.”
When taking place at the ANS, the fee for ANS members is $20, $50 for non-members.
Pricing for lectures at other venues will be determined. Further information on upcoming lectures will be coming soon.
For further information or to RSVP, contact Catherine DiTuri at (212) 571-4470, ext. 117 or [email protected]. Or contact Dr. Gilles Bransbourg at (212) 571-4470, ext. 156 or [email protected].
