Numismatics in 1858 Produces Heavy Silver Coinages
While not all that well known to collectors at the present time, the year 1858 deserves all the attention it can muster. There were a number of events that came during this time that would affect numismatics for decades to come and, in some cases, until the present day.
In one of the events still with us, the American Numismatic Society was founded in the late winter of 1857–1858. There is some controversy as to the precise dates of the early organizational meetings but the first one on record was held in the New York home of Augustus Sage, a prominent early numismatist, on March 15, 1858. Several knowledgeable collectors were in attendance and they formed a committee which led to the first regular meeting on April 6.
Since 1858 the ANS has seen much growth and today is a strong force in the numismatic arena; its collections are world famous and have long been used by researchers for important studies of United States and foreign coins. Located for many years in upper Manhattan, today it is situated towards the southern end of the island.
The impetus for the formation of the American Numismatic Society can easily be traced to
