The E-Sylum:  Volume 9, Number 24, June 11, 2006, Article 23

THE NUMISMATIC PILOT

Regarding Edith Willey's query about The Numismatic Pilot, Bill
Malkmus writes:  In the Winter 2004 issue of The Asylum (Vol. XXII,
No. 1, pp. 2-35), Ken Lowe, in "American Numismatic Periodicals from
1860 to 1960," devotes a paragraph to The Numismatic Pilot:

"Another periodical of note was The Numismatic Pilot, subtitled
To Ancient Coins and Their Uses, produced by Robert Morris, in
LaGrange, Kentucky, in November 1876. This newspaper-like periodical
apparently was the first in the United States to be devoted exclusively
to the study of ancient coinage. However, it seems to have only run for
four issues ending in June 1877. Additionally, in the first issue, Morris
noted that The Numismatic Pilot was to be published monthly as the organ
of The American Association of Numismatists, in what must have been
another early attempt, in name if not in fact, at creating a national
numismatic organization."

Joel Orosz writes: "Robert Morris, born August 31, 1818, lived in
LaGrange, Kentucky, and was a noted collector of Greek and Roman coins
in his day.  He was very active in the masonic order, and composed the
poem "The Level and the Square" that is still memorized by Masons today.

A biography and portrait of Morris are found in Mason's Coin Collector's
Magazine, Vol 1, No. 4, August, 1884.

I have in my library two periodicals published by the American Association
of Numismatists, of which Morris was Secretary.  One is undated, while the
other is dated January 1875.  The latter says that the AAN was founded in
1871 as a branch of the American Holy Land Exploration, and the purpose of
the AAN was to introduce the science of numismatics into the curriculum of
schools and colleges.

I don't know when Mr. Morris--and the AAN--died, but neither is still of
this world."

Remy Bourne writes: "It was offered free and scheduled on a frequency
of 6 times. Printed on newsprint in a 12"x18" format.
Publisher: The American Association of Numismatists.
Probably owned by Morris.

Vol. 1. No. 1. October, 1876. 4 pages. Free. Printed on newsprint.
Vol. 1. No. 2. December, 1876. 4 pages. Free. Printed on newsprint.
Vol. 1. No. 3. February, 1877. 4 pages. Free. Printed on newsprint.
"The" was added to the title for this issue only.
Vol. 1. No. 4. June, 1877. 4 pages. Free. Printed on newsprint.

Also, Earl of Crawford showed no ending date of this publication.
I will check current owner of this publication to see if any of
the other three issues are in the collection.

You can find this information and a photo of the periodical in
my book: American Numismatic Periodicals. 1860-1960. an illustrated
collectors guide. Book 1."

Karl Moulton writes: "Morris was a dedicated and well versed
American numismatist who happened to be primarily interested in
Ancient coinage.  He had made a trip to the Holy Land in the late
1860's, where he bought numerous coins from the locals.

He became an ardent supporter of historical research through his
association with the American Association of Numismatists, of which
he was the club Secretary.  This American branch was begun in
conjuction with the American Holy Land Exploration - which had
been established in 1869.  The President was Rolla Floyd of Joppa,
Palestine, while the Vice President was E.T. Rogers in Cairo.
Thomas Ward of Philadelphia was the honorary American director.
According to promotional announcements, there were 7,000 members
worldwide.

Morris actively recruited for members in this country.  He sent out
many flyers and started various publications, beginning in 1870,
regarding the study of Ancient coinage.  One of the later ones was
the Numismatic Pilot in 1876.  If memory serves, there were 4 to 6
issues with that title.  Among his writings were articles in the
American Journal of Numismatics, various newspapers and church
pamphlets, and several Masonic publications, of which he was also
a member.

A biography and sketch of Morris is included in Mason's Coin
Collectors' Magazine, August 1884.  In there, he states he was
friends with William E DuBois, who was among other things, the
assistant assayer at the Philadelphia Mint and the curator of the
Mint Collection of "Specimens of Ores and Coinage".

This writer has Morris' personal scrapbook from the 19th century
in his library.  Among the various flyers and newspaper articles
is perhaps the only extant copy of a membership certificate from
the American Association of Numismatists.  Membership to the AAN
was without fee.

Their charter reads in part "Our association is a union of
Coin-Students desirous of increasing our own stores of ancient
numismata from the fountain-head of supply (the East); of combining
our personal influence to introduce the science of numismatics into
schools and colleges as a handmaid to history."  There had been 15,000
coins (mostly bronze) distributed, and many more were offered for
sale, beginning at $1.00.

While it can't be proven specifically, this worldwide association
of Ancient coinage scholars (including several in the U.S.) could
well have been the seed for Dr. George Heath's idea to form the
American Numismatic Association a few years later."

David Gladfelter writes: "Morris also put out a 56 page folio on
the coins of Suetonius's "Twelve Caesars," both hard and soft covered.
The style is a bit pedantic but the plates are well done. On the back
cover is a plug for "The American Association of Numismatists" of
which he was secretary. The president was Rolla Floyd of Joppa, Syria,
the VP the Hon. E. T. Rogers, formerly a diplomat in Cairo, later in
London, and the treasurer H. J. Goodrich  of Chicago. The notice
states: "This society was originally a branch organization of the
American Holy Land Exploration, established in 1869, and had the
same regulations, officers, etc., as the parent stem. In 1877 the
Society was placed upon an independent footing, and a formal
application is now (May 1877) ready to be made to the Legislature
of Kentucky for an act of incorporation under the name in the caption.
In the meantime, all persons interested in numismatic pursuits are
welcome, without fee, to membership with the society and to the
issues, gratuitously, of our organ, the NUMISMATIC PILOT, published
semi-monthly. The specific aims of the American Association of
Numismatists are:

   "1. To collect in foreign countries, import, describe and
   distribute ancient coins, illustrating the history, religions
   and manners of ancient people.

   "2. To publish numismatic works, and to aid in a larger
   dissemination of such literature among our private and public
   libraries.

   "3. To supply colleges, public institutions and individuals
   with full collections of historical coins, arranged and
   described under the full light of the science.

   "4. To reproduce rare coins and medals of historic interest,
   of which the originals are unique and cannot be obtained in
   this country."

This organization and its periodical may have folded for lack of
dues, or its intent to copy rare coins may have offended collectors
and museums. You know what I know about it. Could this be a topic
for our master sleuth, Joel Orosz, to develop into a Printers Devil
column?"

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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