Catchment area:
Dorset, South Wiltshire, West Hampshire, Bournemouth, Dorchester, Poole, Ringwood, Salisbury, Southampton, Weymouth.

The Wessex Numismatic Society was founded at a meeting held at St Peter’s Hall, Hinton Road, Bournemouth on September 10th 1948. The originators of the Society were Vivian du Bedat Smythe (1889-1954) and Dr Edward Burstal (1879-1967). From our inception we have endeavoured to promote the study of numismatics in its widest sense — not only coins from classical times to those of the present century, but also commemorative and campaign medals, trade tokens and paper money. The current membership of 34 includes people whose interests encompass all these themes.

The Society’s first Secretary, Ronald Bartlett (1921-1961), was one of those who founded BANS in 1953. We have hosted the annual National Numismatic Congress in Bournemouth three times, in May 1953, April 1973 and April 1992. On each occasion we have staged a public exhibition of coins and medals in the town. The 1973 Congress coincided with our Silver Jubilee, for which we had a special commemorative medal struck. To mark our Golden Jubilee in 1998 members received a special Society paperweight.

Our varied programme of events caters for all tastes. Usually we play host to at least three distinguished visiting speakers a year, augmented by papers from members who compete for the Society’s Sir John Hanham medal (first awarded in 1956), a members’ evening, a quiz and two auctions a year. We’re a friendly group with a warm welcome for everyone, from beginners to serious-minded collectors. For further information, please contact the Secretary.

Officers:
Patron: Mrs Yvonne Johnstone. President: Edward Colgan. Vice President: Bill Petts. Secretary: Peter Preston-Morley.
Treasurer: Italo Volgano. Committee: Philip Cox, Ray Harrod, Robert Lee, Derek Stewart, Mrs Susan Stewart, Walter Wilkinson.

October 7th

Ray Harrod, Treasury Notes.

November 4th

Numismatic Quiz, hosted by Edward Colgan.

December 2nd

Winter Auction.
(viewing from 5pm, auction starts 7pm)

January 6th

Gavin Scott, More about Countermarks.

February 3rd

Ken Humby, Medals of Dorset Men.

March 3rd

Alan Cherry, Coins of the Emperor Hadrian.

April 7th

The 11th Raymond Lax Memorial Lecture.

Philip Attwood, Promoting the French Medal 1889-1939.

May 5th

The 53rd Founders' Memorial Lecture

Edward Colgan, Tinkerly Treasure: the Gun Money of James II.

June 2nd

Summer Auction
(viewing from 5pm, auction starts 7pm)

July 7th

Members' Evening, incorporating a competition for the J.T. Baring Trophy.

September 1st

61^st Annual General Meeting and Presidential Address followed by a Trading Session.

(table set-up from 7pm; close 9.30pm).

All meetings are held at the Edward Wright Room, Beaufort Community Centre, Beaufort Road, Southbourne, Bournemouth and commence at 7:30pm for 8pm on the first Tuesday of each month (except for auctions which commence at 5pm for 7pm). The Society does not meet in August.

Subscriptions: £7 per annum. Juniors aged 15-18 £1. Under 15s free. All subscriptions are payable in October.

Contact address: Peter Preston-Morley, c/o Dix Noonan Webb, 16 Bolton Street, London W1J 8BQ. Tel. 020 7731 1702, E-mail ppm@dnw.co.uk.