From the Stacks Video Archive
This series dives into the world’s largest numismatic lending library! ANA members can access its more than 128,000 books, auction catalogs, periodicals and DVDs online. The library features a wide range of resources on numismatic topics, including coins, paper money, tokens, medals, military orders and decorations, stocks and bonds, and more. To explore these resources, search the library catalog. Digital versions of many documents are viewable in our Internet Archive collection as well.
The ANA Dwight N. Manley Numismatic Library contains many old and rare books on a variety of subjects. From the Stacks is a series of short videos that provides information about noncirculating books in the library’s holdings. Covering many great numismatic literary rarities, you will learn the origins of these publications, why they are significant in the study of numismatics, and details about the ANA library’s copies. Join us each month for a new video!
The Numismatist, Volumes 1-6
Presenter: Akio Lis
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The Numismatist has grown into a magazine with a circulation in the tens of thousands and has recently expanded to include the digital publication The Reading Room. Copies of the first 6 volumes of The Numismatist are exceedingly rare – the ANA Library has only one complete copy and several incomplete, bound copies. The facsimile reprint by Olympic Press, published in 1963, remains collectible, and the printing press used to produce these issues is on display in the ANA Library. All of these issues are available from The Numismatist Digital Archives, a resource representing the continued interest in this publication.
The Amazing Morgan ’78 by Victor J. Michonski
Presenter: Akio Lis
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The ANA Library holds manuscripts that began as passion projects, such as The Amazing Morgan ’78 by Victor J. Michonski. Michonski became an American Numismatic Association member in 1974, focusing his collecting on Morgan dollars and their die varieties—an area that saw growing interest among U.S. collectors at the time. Written in the early 1970s (based on quoted prices), this book examines 1878 Morgan dollar die varieties and attempts to organize major varieties chronologically, using examples from the author’s collection. Michonski’s research predates Leroy Van Allen and A. George Mallis’ Guide to Morgan and Peace Dollars, though the manuscript cites their work as a significant resource.
This book is unusual within ANA holdings because it includes a letter from donor Robert Michonski, Victor’s son, granting copyright permissions to the ANA. Today, obtaining such documentation is standard practice when possible, allowing the ANA Library to share manuscript and archival images with researchers and support further numismatic study. As a result, the Library can present this manuscript in full on Internet Archive:(https://archive.org/details/man.-0057…, accessible through links in the Library catalog.
ANA members can access the world’s largest numismatic lending library and its more than 128,000 books, auction catalogs, periodicals and DVDs online at: www.money.org/library
The Medallic History of the United States of America, 1776-1876
Author: Joseph Florimond Loubat
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Medals of all nations commemorate significant individuals or events in the history of that country. The United States, from its formation, is no different. From the time of its independence from England, the U.S. has authorized and released medals celebrating victories in battles and those who led the battle charges, as well as significant individuals in the civilian realm. Joseph Florimond Loubat’s The Medallic History of the United States of America, 1776-1876 recounts the history behind the medals produced by the U.S. during its first century of history.
For each of 86 medals, Loubat explores the background behind the events and people celebrated. He includes short biographies of each celebrated individual, followed by first-hand accounts related to the medal. These include letters related to the events commemorated, congressional resolutions authorizing the medal, and descriptions of related battles, often written by a commanding officer. Each medal is pictured in an engraved plate, including two in the case of medal number 18, the “Washington Indian Peace Medal.” The engravings were produced by Jules Jacquemart.
Using “The Diplomatic Medal” as an example, Loubat includes the basic information of the date the medal was first authorized (April 30, 1790), a text description of the obverse and reverse designs, and short biographies of those to whom this medal was awarded (César Anne de la Luzerne and Éléonore François Élie, Marquis de Moustier). Loubat follows this with excerpts from several correspondence describing the award of the medals, the design and production process, and the cost of the medals. The cited correspondence includes communications involving: Thomas Jefferson, then United States Secretary of State; William Short, who helped broker the medal’s production; and Augustin Dupré, who engraved this medal. The correspondence gives insights into the formal language used, as well as the problems faced in the production of this medal, including broken dies. Joseph Florimond Loubat (1831-1927) was a historian and philanthropist who studied at Heidelberg University, the University of Paris, and the University of Jena, from the last of which he received his doctorate in law. He was a
Civil War Tokens and Tradesmen’s Cards
Authors: Hetrich & Guttag
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Tokens used during the United States Civil War and produced by a number of private manufacturers circulated in place of federally produced small change, replacing the otherwise hoarded coins. These tokens included advertising information about local merchants and a variety of patriotic images and slogans.
While the guide books by George and Melvin Fuld are the most commonly used guides for these items, the book by George Hetrich and Julius Guttag was the first to catalog the tokens in the divisions as they are currently described.
The authors come from two major numismatic backgrounds – that of collector and dealer. George Hetrich was an early collector of Civil War Tokens, in addition to United States federal issue coins, including proof sets. Julius Guttag was the numismatic half of the Guttag Brothers company in New York, which published many books covering individual United States coin series in addition to the sale of numismatic materials.
Illustrium Imagines
Authors: Andrea Fulvio
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Andrea Fulvio’s Illustrium Imagines (1517) is a cornerstone of the Dwight N. Manley numismatic library, featuring the first illustrated depictions of Roman emperors, empresses, and other notable figures in history. Until the 20th century, numismatic books with detailed images of coins and medals were rare luxuries, but advances in printing eventually made them accessible to collectors. These illustrated works remain essential for studying the history, people, and technology of their times.
Andrea Fulvio (c.1470-1527) was a scholar and historian of the humanist school, focusing research on ancient texts. He was influenced by his friend Pomponio Leto and collaborated with the publisher Mazzocchi on Illustrium Imagines and other works. Where scholars of the Renaissance focused research on ancient texts, Fulvio used information gained from images and inscriptions on ancient Roman coins as his primary sources. Many large collections from this period are known due to ledgers describing the collections, including coins owned by Pietro Barbo and Lorenzo de’Medici among others.
This book describes significant figures in the history of Rome from its founding, represented in the god Janus, through Holy Roman Emperor Henry III (b.1016-d.1056). Entries include a brief biography of the individual and an illustration, and are organized chronologically and by familial relationship. Illustrations are woodcuts based on coins and medals available to Fulvio at the time of his research and are composite or representative images. Nevertheless, this book remains significant in the use of objects in historical research and to illustrate historical figures. The woodcuts are attributed to Giovanni Battista Palumba, a contemporary of Michelangelo.
Ch’ing Cash
Author: Werner Burger
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Andrea Fulvio’s Illustrium Imagines (1517) is a cornerstone of the Dwight N. Manley numismatic library, featuring the first illustrated depictions of Roman emperors, empresses, and other notable figures in history. Until the 20th century, numismatic books with detailed images of coins and medals were rare luxuries, but advances in printing eventually made them accessible to collectors. These illustrated works remain essential for studying the history, people, and technology of their times.
Andrea Fulvio (c.1470-1527) was a scholar and historian of the humanist school, focusing research on ancient texts. He was influenced by his friend Pomponio Leto and collaborated with the publisher Mazzocchi on Illustrium Imagines and other works. Where scholars of the Renaissance focused research on ancient texts, Fulvio used information gained from images and inscriptions on ancient Roman coins as his primary sources. Many large collections from this period are known due to ledgers describing the collections, including coins owned by Pietro Barbo and Lorenzo de’Medici among others.
This book describes significant figures in the history of Rome from its founding, represented in the god Janus, through Holy Roman Emperor Henry III (b.1016-d.1056). Entries include a brief biography of the individual and an illustration, and are organized chronologically and by familial relationship. Illustrations are woodcuts based on coins and medals available to Fulvio at the time of his research and are composite or representative images. Nevertheless, this book remains significant in the use of objects in historical research and to illustrate historical figures. The woodcuts are attributed to Giovanni Battista Palumba, a contemporary of Michelangelo.
American Bank Note Company Archives: Monetary History and a Rich Research Opportunity
Instructor: Akio Lis
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The American Bank Note Company international archives holds a wealth of information about bank note production around the world.
Held by the ANA Dwight N. Manley Numismatic Library, this collection includes information about paper money design, production, and shipment as well as internal correspondence by ABNCo staff.
Some of this correspondence gives insight into the economic and political situations in countries that have achieved independence from former colonial powers. This presentation will include information about the types of documents, research opportunities, and points of access that are available as the ANA library staff and volunteers catalog and digitize these files.
ANA Dwight N. Manley Numismatic Library
Instructor: Akio Lis
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The ANA Dwight N. Manley Library provides access for ANA members to numismatic books, auction catalogs, periodicals, and video presentations. This presentation will outline current work to expand Library holding, present information through the online catalog and other online media, and increase accessibility of the ANA Archive collections.