Last November, the Medal Collectors of America and the Massachusetts Historical Society teamed up to organize an unprecedented conference on medals and medal collecting, Artand Memory: The Role of Medals. The objective was to provide a venue for scholarly presentations and discussion around a range of topics related to collecting and enjoyingmedals, with plenty of time around the edges for social enjoyment.

While the social opportunity has come and gone, high definition video of all of the presentations and panel discussions are now available via the following links:

MHS Numismatic Collection
Anne Bentley, MHS Curator of Art & Artifacts, documents the Society's numismatic collection beginning in 1791 with the donation of a copper Columbia and Washington medalfrom the Boston merchants who financed the venture and touches on highlights of the MHS collection.

Their Secrets Revealed!
John Sallay exposes the history of early American college secret societies and their medals.

Medallic America
Alan Stahl documents the allegorical representation of America on medals through the ages.

Panel Discussion: "The Art of the Medal"
Ira Rezak, Robert Hoge, Scott Miller, Cory Gillilland: Four experts discuss the concept of art in relation to the medal, and various medallic styles, from those commissioned toproject power and identity through contemporary medals reflecting an artist's creative impulse, no longer bound by shape or medium.

Early Work of Victor David Brenner
Patrick McMahon on the earliest part of Brenner's career as a "medalleur" in the 1890s.

So Called Dollars
Jonathan Brecher introduces the world of So-Called Dollars, medals roughly the size of a one dollar coin. The term derives from Bryan Money of the 1890s and encompasses a widerange of subjects to the present day.

Books & Medals
MHS President Catherine Allgor's welcome / Len Augsburger surveys numismatic literature, printed and electronic, in relation to medals.

Medallic Art Company Archives at the ANS
Ute Wartenberg Kagan recounts the American Numismatic Society's efforts to save America's medallic heritage by securing the archives of the Medallic Art Company from the auctionblock.

Panel Discussion: "Why Collect Medals?"
Stephen Scher, John Sallay, Robert Rodriguez, Q. David Bowers: Four prominent collectors reflect on their collecting careers and what initially drew them to medals. With anafterword by John Adams.

The full playlist is at:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1FU5Ln1f9NUiUPLqE9d0iclcC1_dOPnG

These presentations are also available on the MCA website at
https://www.medalcollectors.org/multimedia/video and on the MHS website at
www.masshist.org/video.

All of the presentations were published in full color with commentary in the December, 2018 issue of The MCA Advisory. A few extra copies of this 112 page issue arestill available from the MCA for $20 plus postage while supplies last. Contact Bob Williams at tcp573@aol.com.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
MEDAL COLLECTORS OF AMERICA MEETS IN BOSTON (https://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n45a06.html)