The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 44, October 28, 2007, Article 18

ON THE ANA'S LAMP OF KNOWLEDGE LOGO

Dick Johnson writes: "Our esteemed editor tossed off a 
line in last week's item on returning the name of the 
present version of the American Numismatic Association's 
magazine to 'The Numismatist' -- what it had been for been 
for over one hundred years -- after it had been changed a 
few years ago.

"'What's next' Wayne Homren asked parenthetically, 'restoring 
the Lamp of Knowledge to the organization's logo?' 

"Oh Yes! Please do! Board members please note!

"I wrote a long editorial in Coin World on just that subject 
when the change occurred. The new logo -- what someone called 
a 'Liberty head inside a Russian hammer and sickle without 
the hammer' -- is a GRAPHIC symbol, two dimensional. Our 
field (at least coins, medals and tokens), collects and 
studies GLYPTIC, three dimensional, objects. 

"The ANA should have a GLYPTIC object as its trademark 
or logo. Doesn't that make sense?

"The ANA logo should be a small relief symbol, even 
though it can be expressed graphically in print. The 
old Lamp of Knowledge symbol was exactly that. It was 
taken from a medal designed by sculptor Lewis King, 
created in 1971, from the logo the organization had 
used since its founding (although other relief versions 
have been created over the years). The Lamp of Knowledge 
is a student's lamp to further the symbolism that we all 
study numismatic objects."

[At Saturday's Banquet of the Pennsylvania Association 
of Numismatists, ANA Board member Joe Boling discussed 
a number of ANA issues, and he was asked about the magazine 
name and logo. While both issues have been discussed, no 
decisions have been made. Boling noted that there are a 
number of costs associated with changing a logo, and that 
any change would likely be implemented gradually, just 
as the most recent change was accomplished.

Although some advocate simply going back to the previous 
logo, others suggest considering a totally new depiction 
of the Lamp of Knowledge symbol more in keeping with current 
artistic styles. These suggestions are in line with what 
Dick is proposing - a new version which addresses other 
shortcomings of the old design. I'm in agreement - should 
the Board vote to return to a Lamp of Knowledge symbol, I 
would prefer to see a new version created. -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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