Members continue to renew their ANS membership in higher categories of support and benefits. Each Circle above the basic level offers attractive benefits and discounts while providing additional, much needed support for our organization. In particular, we are obliged to those new members who elect immediate recognition as Circle members, including the Electrum Circle, introduced last year at the request of several generous members.
The Society expresses appreciation to the following members who have joined the Gold, Electrum, Silver, and Bronze Circles for 1996 since the previous listing in the Spring ANSNewsletter:

Gold Circle ($1,000)
Mr. Allen F. Lovejoy, Riverside, CT
Mr. Emilio M. Ortiz, San Juan, PR

Electrum Circle ($500)
Mr. Jose Luis Herrera Somellera, Mexico City, Mexico
Mr. Michel Klat, Reading, Berks, Great Britain
Mr. Jonathan P. Rosen, New York, NY Dr. Stephen K. Scher, Clifton, NJ

Silver Circle ($250)
Mr. Arthur I. Appleton, Chicago, IL
Prof. Ermanno A. Arslan, Milan, Italy
Mr. Andrew E. Michyeta III, Riverside, IL

Bronze Circle ($100)
Mr. Richard M. Beleson, San Francisco, CA
Prof. Blanche R. Brown, New York, NY
Mr. Alfred Buonaguro, Brandywine, MD
Prof. Peter Robert Franke, Munich, Germany
Mr. Mike Gasvoda, Schererville, IN
Dr. Antonio Alberto Guerrino, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Mr. Thomas E. Higel, APO, AE
Mr. Georges Husni, Paris, France
Mr. Mico Kaufman, N. Tewksbury, MA
Dr. Daniel L. Koppersmith, Houston, TX
Mr. Herbert L. Kreindler, Dix Hills, NY
Mr. Hans A. Land, Washington, DC
Mr. Julian M. Leidman, Silver Spring, MD
Mr. George Lill III, La Paz, Bolivia
Mr. Robert Hepworth Lloyd, North Tonawanda, NY
Lt. Col. (Ret) A. George Mallis, Wilbraham, MA
Dr. Ernest J. Montgomery, Natrona Heights, PA
Mr. Robert G. Mueller, New York, NY
Col. William Bain Murray, San Antonio, TX
Mr. Robert W. Newman, Springdale, CT
Mr. Spencer Peck, Oldwick, NJ
Mr. Volker Popp, Mainz, Germany
Mr. Robert J. Riethe, Ardmore, PA
Mr. James F. Rogers, Newtown, CT
Dr. Thurman L. Smith, Springfield, IL
Mr. Barry W. Stallard, Livermore, CA
Miss Grace Thompson, Fairfield, CT
Prof. Homer A. Thompson, Princeton, NJ
Mr. John Stephen Wagner Jr., Dallas, TX
Mr. Michael J. Weller, San Francisco, CA
Prof. G. Michael Woloch, Outremont, Montreal, Canada
Ms. Mashiko Nakashima, New York, NY
Mr. Frank J. Novak, Atherton, CA
Prof. Gunter Ollenburg, Berlin, Germany
Dr. Franco Panvini-Rosati, Rome, Italy
Mr. John Perdios, Athens, Greece
Mr. Henry Pollak II, New York, NY
Ms. Anne S. Robertson, Glasgow, Scotland
Mr. Robert M. Row, Jasper, TX
Mrs. Margo Russell, Sidney, OH
Dr. Arnold R. Saslow, South Orange, NJ
Mr. C. Barry Schaefer, Greenwich, CT
Mr. Stanley DeForest Scott, New York, NY
Mr. T. V. Shockley III, Dallas, TX
Mr. Roger Siboni, San Francisco, CA
Hon. Abraham D. Sofaer, Palo Alto, CA
Mr. William F. Spengler. Colorado Springs, CO
Ms. Elise Travers, W. Seneca, NY
Mr. Holland W. Wallace III, Weslaco, TX
Mr. Robert A. Weimer, Kansas City, MO
Mr. Kerry K. Wetterstrom, Lancaster, PA
Mr. G. Windfelder, Mainz-Gonsenheim, Germany
Mr. Douglas A. Winter, Dallas, TX
Mr. Glenn W. Woods, Mesquite, TX

Invitations are in the mail for the gala black tie dinner honoring Eric P. Newman of St. Louis, Missouri, in recognition of his distinguished service to the ANS and his extraordinary contributions to the study of American numismatics. This very special evening, hosted by the Society's Council, will take place on Friday, October 25, at the Explorers Club, 46 East 70th Street in New York City.

Chairman of the Organizing Committee and Master of Ceremonies for the evening is Joseph R. Lasser, a former ANS Councillor and longtime friend and colleague of Eric, who promises a memorable night that will be both entertaining and uplifting. Several Society members and good friends have volunteered to share memories of the honoree whose accomplishments in numismatic research and education are unique as they are legendary.

Eric Newman has been likened to Benjamin Franklin, from whom he often takes inspiration and whose talents and achievements are well known to Eric. Visitors to the Eric P. Newman Education Society Museum in St. Louis are greeted by the kindly Ben, and his anti-counterfeiting device of "nature printing" on early American currency is known to us through Eric's expertise. Ben Franklin provides one of the themes for the gala evening, with the emphasis on education, delivered with a twinkle.

Among the many recognitions garnered by Eric Newman over the years, he enjoys the distinction of having received the highest awards for numismatic scholarship from the American Numismatic Society, from the Royal Numismatic Society of Great Britain and from the American Numismatic Association. His bibliography encompasses the breadth of early American numismatic history, punctuated continuously by meticulous research, finely honed logic, uncanny insight and gracious acknowledgment of the contributions of others.

Those in attendance will receive several memorable keepsakes, including the 1997 Eric P. Newman Tribute Calendar, featuring illustrations of great treasures from the ANS American cabinet, providing all with a year of numismatic art as well as dates of interest to Society members. The evening will conclude with presentation to Eric of the Society's Gold Medal, honoring his service and support of the ANS.

The program also includes recognition of Shaykh Hamad Bin Abdulla al-Thani as the International Honoree at our gala dinner. Shaykh Hamad, who recently joined the ANS, has provided funding for the newly established Shaykh Hamad Fellowship in Islamic Numismatics at the ANS. During a recent trip through the Middle East taken by Mr. and Mrs. Newman, the Shaykh and his family graciously received the Newmans visiting on behalf of the Society and its governing Council.

The Society's gala Tribute Dinner on October 25 should be on every member's "must do" list for the fall season in New York. For further information, please call ANS Development Officer Stephanie Cohen directly at 212/234-3130 and do plan to attend.

The Society's 1996 Annual Giving Campaign stands just $8,000 short of our $100,000 goal, thanks to a significant increase in the number and amount of contributions this year. One last outburst of generosity on the part of the membership will certainly put us over the top for this important means of support of the core programs at the ANS.

In personal letters sent by several ANS members to their friends and colleagues, many and good reasons for giving to this campaign were advanced, with positive effect. Perhaps you will recognize a quoted passage; perhaps you will be inspired by what has been said on behalf of our ANS to give the gift that will make our 1996 goal. Here are several reasons to give generously:

"...All of us owe the Society a debt of gratitude for its work for us and for others. "
-- Graduate Seminar alumni Brooks Emmons Levy and Thomas R. Martin

"The ANS is an important international treasure. "
-- Harald Salvesen, Life Fellow 1993

"The Society reaches out to you through its publications. . . "
-- G. Michael Woloch, Life Fellow 1994

"The COAC series is invaluable..."
-- Catherine Bullowa-Moore, Fellow 1981
-- Ben Lee Damsky, Fellow 1993

"Each year there are lectures that arouse interest...The services of the library are available to all members...The Curators stand ready to assist you."
-- Associate Members Albert Zaloom and Sidney Harl

The way in which you can demonstrate your support for the uniqueness of the ANS and all that it offers is to give a set amount each and every year to the Annual Giving Campaign. Stephanie Cohen, our new Development Officer, says that her favorite words come from you and they are "The check is in the mail."

At its meeting of July 20, the ANS Council recorded with pleasure and gratitude one new Patron of the Society and four Sponsors. These categories of giving honor donors who have contributed at least $50,000 and $10,000 respectively to the funds or collections of the ANS.

Chester L. Krause of Iola, WI, has been recorded as a Patron of the Society. Chet, as he is known to his many friends and admirers, is the founder of Krause Publications and an ardent supporter of a wide variety of numismatic projects and programs.

The Society also welcomed four new Sponsors, named for their contributions aggregating over S10,000. Recognized are: Mr. Ben Lee Damsky, Belmont, CA; Mrs. Silvia Hurter, Zurich, Switzerland; Mr. George Lill III, La Paz, Bolivia; and Krause Publications, Iola, WI.

These loyal and generous contributors, individual and corporate, will be added to the rolls of "Patrons of the Society" and "Sponsors of the Society" published each year in the Annual Report of the ANS. The Society is grateful to these five new honorees and to all who contribute to the growth and welfare of our organization.

At its meeting of July 20, the Society's Council welcomed 23 new members, elected or reinstated as Associates.

New Associates are:
Mr. Timothy S. Balraj, New York, NY
Mr. Jose-Luis Bello, Zaragoza, Spain
Mr. Harry Bone, Princeton, NJ
Ms. Alexis Q. Castor, Durham, NC
Mr. Roger Kahles, South Ozone Park, NY
Amir Sultan Khan, Peshawar City, Pakistan
Rear Admiral Sohail A. Khan, Islamabad, Pakistan
Mr. Omar S. Khudari, Cambridge, MA
Dr. Robert Kilmarx, Alexandria, VA
Mr. John Lorenzo, Midland Park, NJ
Ms. Isabelle A. Pafford, San Francisco, CA
Mr. Robert G. Papp, Pembroke Pines, FL
Mr. Elwood Rafn, St. Paul, MN
Mr. Arthur J. Rossi Jr., San Antonio, TX
Mr. Daniel Frank Sedwick, Goldenrod, FL
Mr. John J. Sendlock, Harrisburg, PA
Mr. Mackenzie Walker, Lindenhurst, NY
Mr. Mark Wilchusky, New York, NY
Mr. Paul V. Woolley, Johnstown, PA

Four Reinstated

At the July meeting, four former Associates were reinstated as active members. The Council expressed its pleasure at this renewed interest in the aims of the Society:
Mr. Robert W. Comely, Marietta, GA
Mr. Jack J. Rosecrans, Sleepy Hollow, IL
Ms. Roberta Stewart, Hanover, NH
Mr. Richard D. Stroman Jr., Bronx, NY

Membership in the ANS is open to all with an interest in numismatics. Members receive a range of benefits including the Society's annual journal, the American Journal of Numismatics, and are informed about forthcoming events and opportunities through receipt of the quarterly ANSNewsletter and special mailings.

New Life Members

The Society continues to promote the opportunity for members to convert to Life Membership by the one-time payment of $1,000. Life Associates and Life Fellows are excused from annual dues.

At its meeting on July 20, the Council recorded the following Life Members:
Dr. Martha Carter, Madison, WI (Assoc. 1983; Fellow 1992)
Mr. Jesse Patrick, Santa Rosa, CA (Assoc. 1967)
Dr. Daniel T. Pelc, Oelwein, IA (Assoc. 1972)
Dr. T. D. Rao, Hollis, NH (Assoc. 1989)
Mr. Richard B. Witschonke, Palo Alto, CA (Assoc. 1969; Fellow 1993)

ANS Fellow Erich Wronker, a resident of Jamaica, NY, died on June 9 at age 75. A member of the ANS Committee on Medals and Decorations, he was a frequent visitor to the Society's coin rooms, assisting in cataloguing the medals collection and working on his specialty, medals related to the history of printing and typography.

Born in Germany, he fled the Nazis in 1933, going to Paris with his family; thence to Cairo and later to Palestine where he served as a "Colonial" under the British Army and later served in the Israel Defense Forces in the War of Independence.

He spent the greater part of his adult life in the Printing Department of the United Nations in New York where his knowledge of languages and typography were honed and utilized during a rewarding career. At home he maintained a small hand press where he turned out fine examples of the printer's art. Together with his wife, Lili, an expert calligrapher, they produced certificates, proclamations and other broadsides that combined hand lettering with hand-set type, to great advantage. For several years, the Wronkers have donated to the ANS the certificates presented to ANS Fifty-Year Honorees and this year Lili Wronker completed this task of dedication in memory of Erich.