A Meaningful Tribute

The American Numismatic Society (ANS) has named its executive director position for Sydney F. Martin following a generous gift from his family. The gift celebrates Martin’s years-long dedication to the organization. “Syd Martin was a pillar of support for our institution, enriching members and staff alike with his wisdom and unwavering dedication to numismatics,” says Dr. Ute Wartenberg Kagan, the current Sydney F. Martin executive director. “Having his name forever linked with the role of Executive Director is a deeply meaningful tribute, and I am immensely honored to be the first to hold this position in his memory.”

Martin served as ANS president in 2013-21 and was passionately dedicated to numismatics. As a devoted student of history, he possessed a remarkable collection of colonial coins, which was recently auctioned by Stack’s Bowers Galleries. An accomplished researcher, Martin authored many books and articles on colonial coins. The ANS honored his scholarly achievements with the Archer M. Huntington Medal for Excellence in Numismatic Scholarship in 2020. Martin, along with his wife, Sharon, was an active philanthropist. The couple supported establishments such as the Michener Museum of Art. They also contributed to the foundation of the Philadelphia Prostate Cancer Biome Project at Jefferson Hospital. Martin was also active in numismatic organizations such as the Colonial Coin Collectors Club (C4) and the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.

While serving as ANS president, Martin led a fundraising campaign to move the organization to its current headquarters. He also led the endowment campaign for the executive director position. “Syd rarely sought recognition; he declined numerous naming opportunities throughout his life,” says his daughter, Jessie Thompson. “But we feel like this gift, with his name attached, is a perfect tribute to both his dedication to numismatics and the many meaningful friendships formed throughout the community.”

A version of this article appears in the January 2025 issue of The Numismatist (money.org).