Our Sponsors Our SponsorsNews DEPARTMENTS FEATURES 9 From the Executive Director Ute Wartenberg Kagan 30 Ancient Coins and the Cultural Property Debate Rick Witschonke Sebastian Heath On the cover: Eric P. Newman 20 3 From the Collections Manager Coins of the Holy Land: Recent Aquisitions The Collection of Abraham D. Elena Stolyarik and Marian Scheuer Sofaer David Hendin 44 Library News Elizabeth Hahn 8 Current Cabinet Activites Robert Hoge 10 Numismatic Publications of 6 News Eric P. Newman: A Salute to a Centenarian 9 Obituaries Robert Wilson Hoge 61 ANS Bookshelf Andrew Meadows 62 Book Reviews 66 Development Megan Fenselau Contents 6 Contents ANS MAGAZINE Volume 10, Issue 2 From the Executive Director 2011 Ute Wartenberg Kagan Editor The American Numismatic Society Magazine is published Dear Members and Friends, Ute Wartenberg Kagan four times a year by the American Numismatic Society. Annual subscription rate is $72. Copies are mailed to all On 25 May 2011, Eric P. Newman, America’s foremost Managing Editor members of the ANS. Single copy is $18. Overseas airmail numismatist, collector, and scholar is celebrating his Megan Fenselau is an additional cost. A membership in the ANS includes a 100th birthday. This issue of the ANS Magazine is subscription to the magazine. To inquire about a subscription dedicated to Eric, whose extraordinary achievements Advertising Editor please contact: ANS Magazine Subscription Dept. as a numismatist and philanthropist are discussed in an Joanne D. Isaac (212) 571-4470 ext 117, [email protected]. All rights article by our curator Robert Hoge. Our photographer reserved. No part of this magazine or its cover may be repro- Alan Roche has created a special image for the cover, Art Director duced without written consent of the copyright proprietor. which is based on a photo from 1966. To this day, Eric Lynn Cole Opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those is in frequent contact with ANS staff on various issues of the ANS. Printed in Mexico. that he is researching. He is always happy to share his Design Rocco Piscatello The American Numismatic Society, organized in 1858 wide knowledge or assist with all sorts of questions. Piscatello Design Centre and incorporated in 1865 in New York State, operates as a It is this part of his character which has made him one research museum under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code and of the most beloved figures in our field. It is of course Photographer is recognized as a publicly supported organization under very well known how influential Eric Newman’s Alan Roche section 170(b)(1)(A)(vi) as confirmed on November 1, 1970. research in the field of American numismatics has been. The original objectives of the ANS, “the collection and It was therefore of interest that no full listing of Eric Contributing Staff preservation of coins and medals, the investigation of Newman’s published works existed. Robert Hoge, Belgium, turned 101 last November and is probably our Julian Biber matters connected therewith, and the popularization of assisted by Kenneth Bressett, put together the listing oldest member. Dr. Lacroix is a well-known scholar of Gilles Bransbourg the science of Numismatics,” have evolved into the mission in this magazine. Few people know how much Eric ancient Greek coins, whose work on statues on ancient Barry Bridgewater approved by the Society’s governing Council in 1993. Newman has furthered numismatic scholarship and Greek coins is still a standard work. Anna Chang teaching of all fields. The ANS summer graduate Peter Donovan program is now in its 57th year and nowadays it would What makes the ANS different from all other coin Megan Fenselau not be possible without Eric Newman’s generous cabinets is the fact that we are also a society. I have daily Elizabeth Hahn endowment gift. Another area of considerable impact contacts with our members, who telephone, email or Anouska Hamlin American Numismatic Society on Eric’s part is the Islamic area: in the early 1970s Eric write with ideas and comments. Without members our Sebastian Heath 75 Varick Street Floor 11 purchased Robert W. Morris collection for the cabinet, Society would still have a great collection and library, David Hendin New York, NY 10013 which contained over 3,400 coins. but it would not be as lively or indeed as well supported. David Hill It is therefore a great pleasure to be able to congratulate Robert Hoge Telephone In recognition of his numerous achievements, the Eric Newman, Trustee Emeritus, Benefactor, scholar, Oliver D. Hoover 212 571 4470 American Numismatic Society has decided to issue a member and friend on his 100th birthday. Joanne D. Isaac medal in honor of Eric’s 100th birthday. At a ceremony Sylvia Karges Telefax in New York, ANS Chairman Kenneth Edlow will be In closing, I would like to let you know that I shall be Rhonda Yen Kauffman 212 571 4479 presenting a framed portrait plaque (seen here) to the going on leave as of 1 July for six months to work on a Andrew Meadows Elena Stolyarik Internet centenarian. This square relief by the artist Amy Kann book on Thessalian coinage, which I began very many Peter van Alfen www.numismatics.org is part of a project which the ANS has been planning years ago as a PhD thesis in Germany. I am going to Rick Witschonke for some time to mark the occasion of Eric Newman’s spend some time in Berlin at the coin cabinet, and I birthday. It will reflect Eric’s many interest and pas- hope to return with new energy. sions. A limited edition of cast bronze medals will be available later this year. Yours truly, When I began writing this letter, I was convinced that Eric was by now our oldest member. But I was proven wrong. Thanks are due to our Huntington Medalist François de Callataÿ for uncovering the ANS’s oldest Ute Wartenberg Kagan member: Leon Lacroix, a Corresponding Member from Executive Director, ANS Indicia 8 9 From the Executive Director Facing page: Eric P. Newman surrounded by a sampling of his prolific publications NUMISMATIC PUBLICATIONS of ERIC P. NEWMAN: A Salute to a Centenarian Robert Wilson Hoge Eric Pfeiffer Newman is so well known in the field of named Honorary Trustee. He received the Society’s Numismatic Americana that, for a review of his publi- highest honor, the Huntington medal, in 1978. From cations and achievements, there is scarcely any need to the early 1990s, when the sad details were uncovered, introduce him. As he completes the lofty milestone of he has been in charge of reclaiming the dozens of rare one hundred years, a tribute to Eric through a survey U.S. large cent pieces stolen by Dr. William Sheldon, of his work seems a fitting salute. He was 92 when I circa 1949; he has been successfully instrumental in ob- wrote “A Collector Profile” (in which I discussed Eric’s taining the return of most of these. Until 2008, Eric also background, education and professional achievements served on the ANS Huntington Medal Award Commit- as well as salient features of his career in numismatics) tee. Always a leading proponent of education, for nearly about him for the ANS Magazine in 2003, and he was every year between 1969 and 1999, Eric participated as a already in his seventies when I first had the pleasure lecturer in the ANS’s summer seminar. In 1981, he also of getting to know him. He was in fact already a very took responsibility for supporting the program finan- prominent and respected numismatic authority when cially, providing a yearly grant of $10,000; in 1996-99, I was born! It is fair to say that I have admired Eric im- he fully endowed it. Without his generous support, the mensely for as long as I have known of him. seminar’s survival would have been problematic. Fit- tingly, the program has been named in his honor: the Eric and his wife Evelyn are humanitarians dedicated to Eric P. Newman Graduate Summer Seminar. the betterment of the world, promoting medical research, wildlife conservation and international understanding. Very few people realize that Eric is one of the single Accomplished world travelers (Eric is a member of the greatest benefactors of the ANS’s marvelous Islamic Explorers Club), they are benevolent and industrious coins cabinet. With the intention of donating it to the workers for these causes as well as the field of numismat- Society, he purchased the extensive collections of the ics. Eric’s intellectual curiosity extends well beyond coins micro-palaeontologist Robert W. Morris, who for over and currency alone, which may explain and underscore twenty years was employed in the Middle East by the his quest for historical truths. He has always been a Arabian-American Oil Company (Aramco). Knowl- devoted family man, and his heart is so large that he has edgeably seeking Medieval Islamic coins wherever he essentially “adopted” the numismatic confraternity. went in his wide-ranging travels for the petroleum industry, Morris amassed a wonderful run of early gold The American Numismatic Society has been a major dinars, silver dirhams and other pieces. Even though he beneficiary of Eric’s great generosity. Joining the Society needed money, Morris wanted to find the ideal home for in 1944, Eric was named a fellow in 1950; he became a his treasures and offered them to the Society essentially Life Associate member in 1964, and was named Honor- at cost. This was at a time (1970-71), however, when ary Life Fellow in 1994. Eric served on the ANS Council there were scarcely any ANS purchase funds available.