The British Association of Numismatic Societies, the national organisation founded in 1953 which represents numismatic societies throughout the United Kingdom, recently held its AGM in London.

At the meeting the organisation’s existing officers were re-elected unopposed. The Treasurer reported a healthy increase in income over expenditure compared to the previous year, translating into a modest increase in the Society’s overall assets. Alan and Noel Cox, organisers of the 2007 BANS Congress on behalf of the South Wales and Monmouthshire Numismatic Society, reported on a very successful event, for which they personally had raised over £1,500 in sponsorship to help defray costs.

The 2008 BANS Congress, organised by Alan Blake, Ron Kerridge and Rob de Ruiter on behalf of the Worthing & District Numismatic Society in their 40th anniversary year, was held from 4 to 6 April at the Chatsworth Hotel, Worthing, two minutes from the sea front, with easy access from the M23 motorway, Gatwick Airport and frequent fast train services from London Victoria, Brighton and Portsmouth. The event was opened by the Mayor of Worthing, Cllr Heather Mercer. The all-inclusive cost of £165 included accomodation, meals and the Congress Dinner, lectures by nine speakers on a range of numismatic topics and a choice of Saturday afternoon excursion, either to Arundel or Worthing.

In 2009 the Congress will be staged by the Yorkshire Numismatic Society, celebrating their centenary. The Yorkshire Congress will be staged at the St Nicholas Hotel in Scarborough, from 3 to 5 April and will have an all-inclusive cost of £160. Sponsorship and a roster of speakers has been finalised, while the Society is also arranging for a medal to be struck to mark the event.

The informal BANS Autumn Weekend, staged very successfully this year at Dalton Ellis Hall within the University of Manchester campus, will move to Nottingham in 2008. The venue will be Rutland Hall, part of the University of Nottingham, and the dates 5 to 7 September. The provisional all-inclusive cost is £123. Further details will be posted on the BANS website in due course.

Secretaries and team leaders of BANS-affiliated societies are urged to send details of their programmes to the BANS Secretary, Phyllis Stoddart, for inclusion on the BANS website, BANS can also provide a link to individual Society websites.
EMAIL: phyllis.stoddart@manchester.ac.uk

About BANS
The British Association of Numismatic Societies is the national organisation which represents numismatic societies throughout the United Kingdom. It exists to promote the study of numismatics by bringing these societies and their members together to share and increase their interest and expertise in coins, tokens, medals of all types and paper currency.