Some collectors also sought American coins. These pieces, known today as “Conder” tokens (after author James Conder, who cataloged them in 1798), featured many subjects, ranging from political figures and ruins of ancient abbeys to exotic animals, such as crocodiles and elephants. ![]() In 1780s and ’90s England, many collectors searched for copper halfpenny-size tokens that circulated in commerce and sometimes were minted for sale to hobbyists. In Europe, numismatics was pursued by thousands of enthusiasts. Those who did pursue numismatics were mainly interested in ancient Greek and Roman issues, European coins and medals, and, to a more limited extent, Early American coins. When the first federally minted coins-the 1792 silver half dismes-were placed in circulation, followed by copper half cents and cents in 1793, no known collectors actively sought them. For decades he displayed a cabinet of coins and medals until the specimens were sold to P.T. Samuel Curwen (1715-1802) was a merchant in Salem, while James Winthrop (1752-1821) was a librarian, journalist and coin collector in Cambridge.Īrtist and naturalist Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827) established the Philadelphia Museum (also known as Peale’s Museum or the American Museum) in 1784. A Specimen is to be seen of all the modern coinage in this collection. Among the modern is to be found a MARYLAND coin, Cecilius C Lord Baltimore. There are also a considerable number of copper and Mantuans, which the connoisseurs must distinguish. The real antiques in silver, are an Athenian City, a Greek City, a Consul, Scipio, Juba, Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Claudius, Hadrian, Marcus Antoninus. This is the largest that I have ever seen. Such collections are rare in this country and in some parts utterly unknown. To remember all the coin which passes through my hands, I note down a few coppers of foreign coins, Swedish coin, shield, three bars, lion, etc., 1763, measures one inch and 3-10 another 1747, similar Russian, a warrior on horseback with a spear piercing a dragon, on the reverse a wreath infolding a cypher.īentley’s diary entry on October 23, 1795, described his work with an important cabinet formed by another Salem collector:īusied myself to provide catalogue of coins for Mr. It may be noted that the New York and Connecticut coin face opposite ways. The Connecticut copper has a face of general form resembling the Georges, but with this inscription.…A mint is said preparing for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Beside these were the coppers bearing the authority of the states of Vermont, Connecticut and New York, etc., but no accounts how issued, regularly transmitted. Those of George III, being well executed, were of uncommon thinness, and those stamped from the face of other coppers in sand, commonly called “Bir mingham,” were very badly executed. He included the following in his notes for September 2:Ībout this time there was a great difficulty respecting the circulation of small copper coin. (1759-1819) of Salem, Massachusetts, entered in his diary some observations about coins in cir culation, creating one of the earliest such records known. ![]() Joel Orosz has researched Simitière and presented his findings in a study entitled The Eagle That Is Forgotten.) ![]() Naturalist and American patriot Pierre Eugène du Simitière (1737-84) was active in the pursuit in the late 18th century. The identity of the first serious numismatist in America is not known. This month, I offer a prologue- the pursuit of the hobby in America in the early days leading up to the debut of The Numismatist in 1888 and the foundation of the Association three years later. With this issue, I begin a series of monthly features about the history of the ANA, summarizing its progress and, along the way, its problems, potential and pleasures. Today, the ANA’s activities, educational programs and services are extensive and varied, including a museum and library, as well as conventions, seminars, online offerings and, of course, The Numismatist, which remains members’ primary benefit and source of Association news. Founded in Chicago in October 1891, the ANA has grown to include nearly 25,000 members and has become the world’s largest organization devoted to the history, lore and lure of coins, tokens, medals and paper money. This year marks the 125th anniversary of the American Numismatic Association, of which you and I are proud members.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |