The initial release of ansmagazine.com featuring the Spring 2007 issue of the American Numismatic Society Magazine is now available online. Previous issues are also available online,  including the Spring 2002 through Winter 2006 issues.

The ANS has a long history of  numismatic publishing  including a variety of book series, prominent among  the annual  “American Journal of Numismatics” .   In 2002 the ANS launched The American Numismatic Magazine which 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 three times a year.

With the launching of the ANS magazine website ansmagazine.com, both members and non-members will now have access to some of the finest numismatic articles  currently being written, many on subjects that are little known and generally not covered by the major numismatic news publications.

The Lead  article from the Spring 2007 issue currently online is “The Coinage of the Mangit Dynasty of Bukhara” By Peter Donovan. Admittedly an esoteric topic, the article is a good read and in some ways symbolizes the the ANS focus on presenting educational information on numismatics from around the world. (more…)

A new hour-long feature documentary, Augustus Saint-Gaudens: Master of American Sculpture, is being produced by the Trustees of the Saint-Gaudens Memorial with assistance from the Saint-Gaudens National Historic Site. Paul Sanderson, of Our Town Films, Inc. is the film’s producer and director.

Although millions today see Saint-Gaudens’ work in museums and public places, few know the man behind the art. The film will introduce new audiences to this artist and his work and show how he influenced American cultural life through the art of sculpture and as teacher and supporter of the arts. The documentary will cover Saint-Gaudens life, from his birth in Dublin, Ireland and childhood in New York City, though his rise to prominence in the art world both in Europe and the United States, and his continued legacy as one of the country’s greatest artists.

The film had its first advanced screening on Friday, July 13, 2007, at Dartmouth College, Hanover, N.H. Additional advanced screenings and symposia are scheduled at the Smithsonian Institution (September 7), the Metropolitan Museum of Art (September 23), the Philadelphia Museum of Art (September 30), the Art Institute of Chicago (March 8, 2008), and with other locations anticipated. The film will air on New Hampshire Public Television during Spring 2008. (more…)

(Santa Clara, CA) – The tiny, early American silver coin personally authorized by President George Washington 215 years ago, and purchased for a headline-generating record $1.5 million this past summer by a Sunnyvale educational foundation, will make its first Northern California public appearance. It will be exhibited during the first thee days of the Santa Clara Coin, Stamp & Collectibles Expo in the Santa Clara Convention Center, November 1 – 4, 2007.

Slightly smaller than a modern dime and weighing half as much, it’s the finest surviving 1792-dated half disme (pronounced, “deem”), an early spelling of the word, dime.

“It’s one of the most important coins in early American history. It was purchased in July by the Cardinal Collection Educational Foundation of Sunnyvale for a record price, $1.5 million. This will be its first-ever public appearance in Northern California,” said Ronald J. Gillio, Santa Clara Expo General Chairman.

The foundation supports research about early American money. The historic coin will be jointly displayed by the foundation and the seller, Rare Coin Wholesalers of Dana Point, California.

In addition to seeing the debut exhibit at the collectibles show, the public can attend educational seminars by eBay, “Buying and Selling on eBay,” at Noon on both Friday and Saturday, November 2nd and 3rd. (more…)

Manhattan, New York – Everyone at R.M. Smythe & Co., Inc., (http://www.smytheonline.com) is going to have a very busy week starting October 29th 2007 in what can only be described as a frenzied whirlwind of auctions. They will offer a exciting suite of four consecutive sales to include; coins and artifacts from the 1784 shipwreck of the El Cazador on Oct. 30th; paper money & stock certificate on Oct. 31st at 11AM EDT; obsolete notes from the Schingoethe collection on Oct. 31st at 6pm EDT and a mail-bid / live Internet auction of paper and ephemera on November 1st at 11AM EDT. All of the auctions will be held at the R. M. Smythe auction gallery in Manhattan.

The one week, four auction, whirlwind of over 5500 lots includes a historically fascinating mix of items. Among the more noteworthy offerings are artifacts and rare coins recovered from the ship El Cazador (The Hunter). On January 11, 1784 El Cazador left from Vera Cruz for New Orleans, and the then Spanish Louisiana with 450,000 freshly minted coins in its hold. The task was to shore up the local economy by retiring discredited Spanish currency, issued some 20 years earlier. The Ship, her crew, and the treasure she was carrying disappeared without a trace. Smythe & Co. is offering 43 lots recovered from the wreck of the El Cazador in their Oct. 30th auction. Some of the more interesting items include:

Lot# 1616 - 18th Century Spanish Bronze Breech Loaded Cannon. Typical form, 39 1/2” in length. Bourbon arms of Charles III on top of barrel. Breach fired cannon with breech block present. Minor damage to pindle. Nice surfaces with only traces of verdigris. One of only 40 cannons that were reported on the El Cazador. The fact that the breech block is present is simply amazing. Cannon weighs 200+ pounds. (more…)