Coin Collectors Society Founded in 19th Century Moves to Toledo Museum

The American Numismatic Society, an organization of coin collectors founded in 1858 whose motto is “Parva Ne Pareant” (“Let Not the Little Things Perish”), is moving to Ohio’s Toledo Museum of Art to mint a new institutional partnership that will allow for expanded research and exhibition-making in a dedicated four-story building.

The Art Deco-era dwelling was acquired from the Toledo Museum, on whose campus is stands, and will serve at the group’s new home starting in 2028, after it moves from its current base in Lower Manhattan. The American Numismatic Society boasts a collection of some 800,000 coins, monetary objects, art medals, military orders, and decorations, and serves as a publisher of books and online tools related to its beloved subject matter.

“The American Numismatic Society’s move to Toledo marks a transformative new chapter in our long history,” Ute Wartenberg Kagan, the society’s executive director, said in a statement. “Partnering with the renowned Toledo Museum of Art, we will create innovative museum displays that highlight our remarkable collection of coins and medals. We are eager to reach new audiences and develop an affordable, state-of-the-art museum space that supports our mission of research, education, and public engagement. We also anticipate strengthening our academic partnerships with local universities, making Toledo a vibrant hub for numismatic study and research.”

The Numismatic Society’s new home will feature a library, auditorium, and education center, for the sake of what the group describes as approximately 150 million coin enthusiasts in the US. It also hopes to lure international coin fans via the Detroit airport less than an hour away.

Holdings from the society will be integrated into a new reinstallation of the Toledo Museum’s collection galleries to be unveiled in 2027, and the group will mount shows of its own starting the next year.

In a statement, Toledo Museum president, director, and CEO Adam Levine said, “TMA’s collection spans human history but is distinguished by a commitment to presenting works of only outstanding quality, which makes ANS the perfect partner to enrich our collection displays with the integration of numismatic items while enhancing both the art historical experience for all visitors to our shared campus and research opportunities for scholars.”