I'm not saying it should be taken with a grain of salt, but I doubt it is an absolute requirement. At one time --post Henry Grunthal-- it was. Robert Hoge is not a PhD; in his long tenure as an ANS curator, who complained about his academic bona fides?

As the editor suggests, there could well be E-Sylum readers who would make credible candidates. There may also be readers who could spread the word about the open position to some wonderful potential candidates, with and without the preferred grad-school heft..

I do believe the rigorous academic grounding that goes with earning a PhD is a considerable asset in carrying out the duties of the position, and an asset to the Society, in carrying out its mission and in securing its prestige. The ANS has a history of hiring young PhDs with fairly slender numismatic backgrounds, compared to, say. a good dealer at a major coin show. I think the results have been very good, indeed.

All this said, I still hope that well-qualified but under-sheep-skinned persons will come forward and consider this position. Even an "unsuccessful" applicant aids the Society, if s/he deepens the pool of candidates, and the process itself could initiate a long and useful relationship between the ANS and the scholar.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:ANS SEEKS ASSISTANT CURATOR OF AMERICAN COINS AND CURRENCY(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n41a21.html)