Development

ANS programs are regularly listed in the various New York City publications including the New York Times, Museums New York, and Time Out.

At the New York International Coin Convention in December 1997 the Society sponsored a major exhibit, "Masterpieces in Miniature: The John D. Leggett Collection of Coins of Greek Sicily," curated by Carmen ArnoldBiucchi with the assistance of Elena Stolyarik. This was an extraordinary exhibit bringing many visitors to the ANS booth. A catalogue of this exhibit is in production.

The Etruscan Foundation held its fifth annual meeting at the Society in February. As in the past, there were over 50 guests. The lecture "Buried Matriarchies: Women's Tombs in Etruria" was very interesting and the audience enjoyed the special collection of Etruscan coins and an exhibit of rare books.

"Ragtime," our April 17 theater benefit, was a huge success. Special thanks go to our Council Member Donald Partrick and his wife Virginia who were the hosts for the evening. Our guests made for great dinner conversation, and we thank them all—Mr. and Mrs. Eric Newman, Linda Schapiro, Cathy Bullowa-Moore and her daughter-in-law, Joy Moore, Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Elam, Dr. William E. Metcalf and his wife Jane, Dr. Philip Mossman and his wife Mary, Mr. Gary Trudgen and his wife Nancy, Dr. Arnold-Peter Weiss and his wife Yvonne, Mr. Clifford Michler, Dr. David Menchell and his wife Dianne, Mr. Anthony Terranova and his wife, Mary Ann, Mr. Jack Kroll and his guest Dorothy Seigal. We also thank those who could not attend but made a contribution—Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Edlow, Roger Hornsby, Jonathan Kagan, Thomas R. Martin, and Mrs. Henry Norweb, Jr. The setting for dinner was the promenade of the Marriott Marquis and it was spectacular. The play held at the new Ford Center met all the publicity about it. The staging, the singing, the adherence to the book created an evening that put 42nd Street back where it belongs in the new and improved Times Square.

The inaugural Groves Forum in American Numismatics took place at the Society on April 18. The featured speaker was Dr. Philip L. Mossman, speaking on "The Stepney Hoard of Connecticut Coppers, 48 Years after the Fact(?)" before a full house. This new forum will be repeated each year with a topic of special interest to collectors of American coinage.

July 18 was Members Appreciation Day at the ANS with recognition paid to long term staff members and volunteers. This year the Society's Distinguished Volunteer Award for 1998 was presented to the Harry Bass Research Foundation. Mrs. Harry W Bass, Jr. was present to receive the citation and silver medal during ceremonies that focused on the many and generous contributions Harry Bass and the HBRF have made to the Society.

Three staff members were surprised when Arthur Houghton presented them with engraved silver medals—Ed Owens who joined the staff in 1969, Michael Bates, Curator of Islamic Coins, who came to us from the University of Chicago in 1970, and William Metcalf who joined us 25 years ago.

We also honored our volunteers including Dr. Philip Mossman who is now in his second year as the volunteer editor of The Colonial Newsletter, Hyla A. Troxell and Ted Withington for their services to the Greek Department, Kenneth L. MacKenzie for his service to the Islamic Dept, David Jen for his service in the East Asian area; Normand Pepin for his service to the library, David Feinstein for his work in the Roman Department, and Jyoti Rai who became a member in 1992 and immediately recognized the need for help in the South Asian Department so began working as a volunteer on her first visit. The featured speaker for the afternoon was T. R. Fehrenbach from Texas who became a 50-year member in 1997. TR has broad collecting interests and is well known as a prolific writer on Texas and military history. This memorable day extended into evening as our speaker, the volunteers, Doris Bass, and the long-standing staff members joined the Council for dinner at Butler Terrace overlooking Manhattan.

The Society participated in the 107th Annual ANA Convention held in Portland, OR from August 5 through 9. For this occasion the Society set up an exhibit on "Classical American Coinage" in which the origins of American coinage design are traced to their classical motifs. The display was beautifully illustrated and attracted hundreds of visitors to our table to study these amazing American and ancient coins. The curator for this exhi.bit was the Society's Assistant Director, Ute Wartenberg, who also presented a talk on Athenian Coinage in the educational program. As usual, our volunteers helped make the day. We were fortunate to have Michael R. Zagorin, Robert Julian, Joseph E. Boling, William Warden, Robert D. Leonard, Frederick Lauritsen, and Philip Carrigan take turns as hosts at our table.

On September 26, the Society inaugurated the Harry W Fowler Memorial Lecture with Professor Frank Holt speaking on "Every Coin a Mystery: The Quest for Bactria." The accompanying exhibit of Bactrian and Indo-Greek coins, all from the Fowler bequest, was organized and curated by our Curator of Greek Coins, Dr. Carmen Arnold-Biucchi. The lecture was of great interest to everyone and suited the layman as well as the expert. There was a fine audience for the lecture and the following reception was lively. Later, there was a beautiful dinner at Butler Terrace and we were fortunate to have Harry Fowler's widow Emily and his children Angela, Cecily and Lucius with us for the day. We were also honored with the presence of the following guests: Judi and Leslie Elam, Linda and Arthur Houghton, Stephen Lash, Mr. and Mrs. Carll Tucker, Carmen Arnold Biucchi, Victor England, Linda and Frank Holt, Jonathan Kagan, Ute Wartenberg, Rosa and Frank Campbell, Cecily and Gordon Grand, William Metcalf, Donald Partrick, Linda and Donald Schapiro, William Bishoff, Cathy Bullowa-Moore, Tammy Fultz, Ann and David Feinstein, and Alan Stahl.

The most exciting news for the year is the fact that the American Numismatic Society has acquired a new home after a five-year search. The Society will relocate its headquarters, museum and library to 140 William Street in lower Manhattan's historic cultural and financial center. The society will be in close proximity to Federal Hall, Trinity Church, the Custom House, the Smithsonian's Indian Museum, the Battery, City Hall, Fraunces Tavern, the Seamen's Institute, South Street Seaport, the Federal Reserve Bank, and many of the major banking institutions of the city. The new location is over the Fulton Street subway station, a major convergence point. The 40,000 square feet of space afforded by 140 William Street will serve the growing collections and library, improve and expand the educational and exhibit programs, and establish a new department of United States coins and currency. This elegant seven story federal style building and its superb location will present the perfect venue for a state of the art money museum. The Society hopes that it will be in its new location sometime in the year 2000. The new millennium will indeed usher in a new and invigorated American Numismatic Society.