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The Royal Hotel, close to Scarborough’s seafront, was the venue for the 2009
National Numismatic Congress of BANS staged over the weekend of 3-5 April.
A total of 72 delegates from all over the British Isles, representing 25
national and local numismatic societies, enjoyed a warm welcome from the
organising team, led by David Goodall, Stephen Skellern, Ian Dowthwaite and
other officers and members of the hosting Yorkshire Numismatic Society in this,
their centenary year. Indeed, the fact that there were no less than 17 members
of the organising society in attendance ensured a convivial and extremely
well-run event, for which those responsible should take full credit.
Fortified by an ample dinner, proceedings got off to an invigorating start on
the Friday evening with Simon Tomson, excavations director of the Pontefract &
District Archaeological Society, talking about coins in a field archaeological
context in relation to some recent county excavations. Saturday’s lecturers
maintained the north-country element of the programme – Dr Goodall, the
Society’s 63rd president, spoke about the chemical dimensions of numismatics; Dr
Peter Watson, editor of the Society’s Proceedings, looked at the behavourial
traits of self identity pertaining to some of the early Roman emperors as seen
on their coins; Keith Sugden presented a masterly exposé of the Ostrogothic
coinage, directly relating it to the contemporary Byzantine issues of the time;
and Tony Abramson encompassed the latest research in describing finds of
sceattas in and of Northumbria.
Sunday was the turn of the visitors. Joe Bispham placed the various issues of
silver pennies of King Stephen into context with the broader historical events
surrounding the reign; Chris Comber took a detailed look at the various aspects
and nuances of the hammered shillings of Elizabeth I; Peter Clayton presented a
lively explanation of three naval battles that changed the course of history –
Actium, Lepanto and The Nile, or Alexandria – and showed images of related coins
and medals; and last but by no means least, BANS vice-president, Kevin Clancy,
provided a thought-provoking address, ‘The currency of portrait.’
On Saturday afternoon most delegates took up the option to visit the ruins of
Whitby Abbey, where Simon Tomson acted as our guide and gave an impromptu and
fascinating account of this English Heritage property. Dinner in the evening was
followed by a piano recital by Dr Goodall and Mrs Elaine Skellern, and a large
raffle with prizes donated from a variety of trade sources; indeed it was
pleasing to note that among the roster of sponsors this year was the Skipton
Building Society. All delegates received a replica of a Charles I Scarborough
siege coin, struck by David Greenhalgh, while the speakers were each rewarded
with a bronze specimen of the Yorkshire Numismatic Society’s centenary medal.
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