Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society Announces First Newman Grants

The Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society (EPNNES) today announced on May 25 its first set of Newman Grants, created to financially assist numismatic authors and organizations pursuing original research…

The Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society (EPNNES) today announced on May 25 its first set of Newman Grants, created to financially assist numismatic authors and organizations pursuing original research in American numismatics.

Newman Grants will be awarded annually and are intended to assist with direct costs of numismatic research including, but not limited to travel, photography, and graphic arts services.

Eight awards are being made this year, to promote research in several areas, including colonial numismatics, U.S. federal coinage, paper money, medals, and counterfeit detection. The 2019 Newman Grant awardees are:

Steve Herrman, for photography of the Steve Crain Liberty Seated half dime die variety reference collection. The Crain collection includes nearly a thousand examples and is the most comprehensive such group ever assembled.

Malcolm Mathias, who will be creating a census of Harvey Maranville coin testers, a 19th century coin counterfeit detection device. Mathias will travel extensively to view these rare pieces and create a photographic record.

Chris McDowell, for the creation of a census of American Pitt tokens, including photography of all known examples. McDowell will travel to view important collections, and rework existing provenance data.

Johsua Smith, who is studying the California depression-era scrip known as California clam money and will be devising methods to distinguish modern recreations from originally issued scrip.

Chris Steenerson, for creation of a database of certified plate proofs in the U.S. currency series, including legal tender U.S. notes, gold and silver certificates, Indian Territory bank notes, and others.

Harry Waterson, who will be writing a catalog of the work of the medal engraver Julio Kilenyi, an early 20th century artist and one of America’s most prolific medallists of the era.

Two of the eight Newman Grant awards, while not directly involving numismatic objects, are aimed at increasing the discoverability of existing research resources and are awarded as follows:

David Fanning, who will be preparing a census of ancient coins in early American auction sale catalogs with photographic plates. Fanning has previously published on numismatic literature and is a recognized authority in this area.

Tim Welo, for preparation of a database of scripophily (bonds, shares, and stock certificates) auction sale catalogs.

It is the hope of EPNNES that this program will continue the legacy of Eric P. Newman in a way that would reflect his high standards for numismatic research.

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