2016-04-08 Fri

Augustus G. Sage and his friends formed the American Numismatic Society on 15th March, 1858. Many meetings were held until a time-out was called for the hot summer.

In spring 1859, Sage resigned as a teacher in School No. 12 in the Seventh Ward, and decided to become a full-time numismatist and book dealer.

The first ANS meeting of the autumn was held at Sage’s office on Oct. 13. On Oct. 20, 1859, a new room was utilized at a meeting that included Dr. Mark W. Collet, of Philadelphia, as a guest. Since the room was a temporary arrangement, ANS could no longer meet there.

What happened next is not known with certainty. The spark was gone and no more meetings were held by the ANS from 1859 to 1863.

Augustus B. Sage even issued a store card in 1860, following his illustrious series of This and That, Historical Series, and Numismatic Gallery tokens of 1858 and 1859. Then he probably closed his shop.

One would still wonder how the American Numismatic Society today has such a dynamic presence with its headquarters on Varick Street in New York City.