The Boston Numismatic Society

On February 11, 1860, eight gentlemen met at the New England Historic Genealogical Society to create a numismatic organization not unlike those formed in Philadelphia and New York in 1858. Dr. Winslow Lewis was elected its first president, and William Sumner Appleton Sr., already internationally recognized for the breadth and quality of his collection, its secretary. The latter's presence would dominate the Boston Numismatic Society (BNS) for the next 43 years.

Over the decades, growing respect for the BNS brought it active "correspondent" members, among them Lea Ahlborn, Charles Anthon, Oscar Dodson, W. E. Dubois, Henri Hoffmann, Abe Kosoff, Harold Mattingly, Joseph Mickley, M. Vernon Sheldon, George Tilden, and Moritz and Charles Wormser. In March 1870, the BNS was incorporated by the Massachusetts Legislature, and its library and cabinet of coins and medals grew to include more than 1,000 significant rarities, which were available for use and study by its members. From the late 1880s, the BNS contributed funds annually to support the learned and respected, but languishing, American Journal of Numismatics, which later became an arm of the American Numismatic Society (ANS) in New York.

Monthly meetings were held of late afternoons in the comfortable surroundings of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, where BNS members exhibited and discussed such treasures as gold staters, early pattern coins and even an 1804 dollar. Joining Appleton in this pleasant exchange in later years would be Jeremiah Colburn, Henry Davenport, Joseph Finotti, Reverend Edmund Slafter, William T.R. Marvin and Sylvester Sage Crosby (BNS treasurer for 24 years).

In 1873 Isaac Wood of New York struck the first BNS medals, in conjunction with the New England Historic Genealogical Society. A ready contributor of medals to the cabinet, Wood became a BNS member and donated the canceled die for the medal.

In the late 1880s, membership in the BNS lagged, due in part to the aging of its members. Meetings became less frequent and, in the latter part of the century, the society donated $300 and its impressive cabinet of numismatic items to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and another $300 and its library to the Boston Public Library. Appleton's death in 1903 left the BNS with but four of its original members.

In 1906 William T.R. Marvin, the society's new secretary, promoted the membership applications of Horace L. Wheeler, James B. Chase Jr., Malcolm N. Jackson, Dr. Malcolm Storer and Howland Wood. New blood, revitalized intellectual exchanges and renewed enthusiasm—much encouraged by Wheeler's stimulating and inspiring presence over the next 30 years— all effected a renaissance of the Boston Numismatic Society.

The BNS neglected to recognize its 50th anniversary in 1910, a curious omission given that the ANS had been congratulated in 1908. In 1913 a dinner meeting was held, made more significant by the announcement that Howland Wood was to depart for New York, where he would assume the prestigious post of curator of the ANS.

With the onset of World War came a wilting of enthusiasm among BNS members; several left to serve nobly in the conflict. But Dr. Malcolm Storer's leadership was masterful: meetings were moved to the evening and regularly were preceded by conversation and dinner. The society soon regained its traditional vitality.

Storer, an inveterate collector and researcher, became curator of the Boston Medical Library, an honorary keeper of the Museum of Fine Arts and curator of the Massachusetts Historical Society, whose collection he cataloged and published. This volume, Numismatics of Massachusetts, has been called a "flawed gem," though Storer described himself as the "Poo-bah" of numismatics in Boston.

In 1912 Howland Wood noted that the American Numismatic Association, founded in 1891, would accept organizations such as the society as members. The ANA described them as "branch" members, against which there was raised such a loud protestationBy the society and others that the name ultimately was changed to "corporate" members.

In 1919 the BNS was designated to host the 1921 ANA convention in Boston. The time was right to issue a medal celebrating the society’s 60th anniversary, as well as the tercentenary of the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth. Esteemed American sculptor Julio Kilenyi designed and modeled the medal, which bore a Pilgrim on the obverse and the society's seal on the reverse. However, technical and striking difficulties delayed the medal's production until late 1921, by which time the piece was so late that its anticipated sales were not realized. It would be years before the society paid off the incurred expenses.

Held at the Boston Public Library and the Copley Plaza Hotel, the convention was a great success. The event included not only the presentation of learned papers, but also a historic motor trip to Concord and a boat excursion to Plymouth.

In 1924 Shepard Pond assumed the duties of BNS secretary and soon progressed "through the chairs." Among his numerous accomplishments were his fellowships in both the ANS and the Royal Numismatic Society, and in 1941 he was elected an ANA governor. He succeeded Storer as curator of the Massachusetts Historical Society, whose numismatic treasures descended from John Quincy Adams and included the W.S. Appleton collection.

Despite the erosion of hobby interest brought on by the Great Depression, the BNS recognized its 75th anniversary in 1935, striking sterling silver medals, each hand-engraved with the name of the institution or BNS member to whom it was presented.

With Pond as president from 1938, ably seconded by Arthur Dewing, curator of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, presentations by speakers from around the nation became the norm. In 1941 Pond promoted a New England numismatic conference in which ladies could participate!

Pond's death in 1945 prompted the society's fourth medal, which served as a memorial to Pond and recognized the society’s 85th anniversary. His legacy included the formation of the New England Numismatic Association (NENA), the ANA's return to Boston in 1948, and the first election of women— his widow, June Thornton Pond, among them—to BNS membership. NENA continues today, the 1948 convention was a significant success, and June Pond not only presided over the BNS, but also was the first woman elected to the ANA Board of Governors and accorded its Farran Zerbe Memorial Award. Her remarkable contributions to numismatics ended only with her death in 1979.

The year 1950 saw the fifth BNS medal, which celebrated 90 years and also was dedicated to Shepard Pond. With 1960 came another ANA convention and collaborative medals of bronze, silver and gold celebrated the society's centennial. The BNS co-hosted the 1973 ANA convention, and marked the bicentennial of the Boston Tea Party with great success in terms of size and attendance; and 1982 witnessed still another ANA convention in Boston. Not until 1985,The society's 125th year, would the BNS strike another medal, this time to memorialize Earl Victor Tuttle, a devoted member, officer and mentor for more than 30 years. To celebrate its 150th anniversary, the society engaged acclaimed medalist Alex Shagin to sculpt and produce a unique design featuring the BNS seal and a Revolutionary-era patriot.

The Boston Numismatic Society has contributed significantly to the promotion and advancement of numismatics locally and nationally, and its membership in the ANA has been long and productive. In the 1940s, the BNS and its members regularly won club and individual awards—including those presented to Maurice M. Gould, who later was elected an ANA governor. James F. Clapp Jr. designed ANA convention medals and chaired the 1960 gathering, and George T. Fuld and Thomas P. Rockwell received ANA Heath Literary Awards for their contributions to numismatic research.

Following the 1973 convention, Arthur M. Fitts III joined the staff at ANA headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He later returned to Massachusetts, where he continued to serve on numerous national committees, as well as instruct at the Association’s annual Summer Seminar. He also served two terms on the ANA Board of Governors. His wife, Prue Morgan Fitts, also was an ANA governor and a Summer Seminar instructor, and was general chairman of the 2010 convention here in Boston.

Sourced with minor changes from the 2010 Convention Program, authored by Arthur M. Fitts III.