The Wessex Numismatic Society (Bournemouth)

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: Bill Petts. Secretary: Peter Preston-Morley. Treasurer: Italo Volgano. Committee: Edward Colgan, Philip Cox, Geoff Crawford, Robert Lee, David Palmer, Derek Stewart, Mrs Susan Stewart.

2011
October 4th	Members’ Evening, incorporating a competition for the J.T. Baring Trophy.

November 1st	Numismatic Quiz, hosted by Edward Colgan.

December 6th	Winter Auction. (viewing from 5pm, auction starts 7pm)

2012
January 3rd	Mike Sleeman, 17th Century Winchester Traders and their Tokens.	Illustrated with PowerPoint.

February 7th	David Young, The Oratory, Holophusicon and what else?	Illustrated with PowerPoint.

March 6th	The 55th Founders’ Memorial Lecture. Bill Petts, Hoards of Wessex Hoards.	Illustrated with PowerPoint

April 3rd	Megan Gooch, An Introduction to the Viking Coinage of York.	Illustrated with PowerPoint

May 1st	John Finlay, Celtic Coinage across Europe.	Illustrated with PowerPoint

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

July 3rd	The 14th Raymond Lax Memorial Lecture. Derek Aldred, The Beachy Head Hoards of Roman Coins.	Illustrated with Slides

September 4th	64th 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.