The Vermont Numismatic Society was officially chartered on November 23, 1878, when the Vermont State Legislature passed article No. 186, entitled "An Act Incorporating the Vermont Numismatic Society."
Marcus Davis Gilman, A. B. Halbert, A. C. Spalding, C. P. Thayer, C.B. Palmer appear to have been the founding members. They, together with their associates and successors were officially charged with
"collecting and preserving medals and coins,
and publishing accounts of the same, also with collecting a numismatic library, elucidating
the history of ancient and modern medals and coins..."
They also appear to have been in charge of the state's commemorative medal
program. There is a record of C. P. Thayer presenting models of the Battle of
Bennington medal(s) to the Boston Numismatic Society.
The Society held its first annual meeting in Burlington on June 5, 1877.