Michael Hodder and Q. David Bowers
In 1971 the Norwebs donated a gold thrysma and 10 silver pennies of Anglo-Saxon England. In 1972 came Peruvian and Chilean gold coins, many collected during the Norwebs' diplomatic assignments in those countries. In 1973 they gave an aureus of the usurper Allectus, minted in England; this piece was discovered in 1876, and was then just the third example known;
In 1974 the Norwebs donated 69 silver pennies of William the Conqueror, representing almost a complete mint set of one issue of this Norman king (BMC viii). Further English coins followed in their 1975 donations, including a gold Celtic stater of the Bellovaci tribe, Anglo-Saxon sceattas, and Tudor and Stuart coins.
An important donation was made in 1976, the beginnings of the single most significant series given by the Norwebs to the American Numismatic Society, coins of the English king Charles 1. Eight silver coins from the Lundy Mint, six specimens of the Pontefract Castle emergency issues, a gold unite dated 1642 of the Oxford Mint, and five half crowns from the Weymouth Mint were given, along with another Celtic gold stater and a complete set of the portcullis coinage of Elizabeth 1.
The following year, 1977, the Norwebs donated 194 pieces of Charles I's gold and silver coinage. This donation established the ANS as holding the most important collection of the coinage of Charles I in the world, surpassing even the British Museum's collection. This large donation represented the balance of the Norweb collection of Charles I issues, and included a 1644 Oxford crown and a Truro crown showing the king riding at a full gallop.
Their resignation for health reasons from the Council followed the next year. A final donation, of 138 copper tokens and patterns from Charles I's reign, marked the closing of an exceptionally important numismatic relationship. The Norwebs favored the American Numismatic Society in many ways, and even after their joint resignations maintained close touch with the Society and its staff. As noted, the relationship continues today, under the aegis of their son, R. Henry Norweb, Jr.
The National Numismatic Collection
Under the able direction of Vladimir Clain-Stefanelli, Executive Director of the National Numismatic Collection at the National Museum of American History (popularly, the Smithsonian Institution) from 1956 until 1982, and his wife Elvira Clain-Stefanelli, Executive Director 1982 to date, the Smithsonian's numismatic collection grew to become one of the two great institutional collections of United States coins. During the long tenure of the Clain-Srefanellis a close relationship developed with Ambassador and Mrs. Norweb. The relationship led to several important gifts from the Norwebs to America's national coin collection.
Ambassador Norweb helped to sponsor Vladimir Clain-Stefanelli's application for the director's position in 1956. They had met earlier in the 1950s at the American Numismatic Society. Later in the 1950s, when the Clain-Stefanellis were at the Smithsonian's old building, Ambassador Norweb used to drop by for visits and numismatic chats while he was in Washington, doing consulting business for the Department of State on Latin American affairs.
One of the first projects the Clain-Stefanellis applied themselves to was the creation of exhibits documenting the coinage in circulation at the time of the American Revolution. This was to include both U.S. colonial era coins, as well as coins of the world in circulation in the 1770s and 1780s. However, an unfortunate gap in the National Collection's holdings meant that examples of our own colonial era coins would be under-represented, and as the Collection did not have then, nor does it have today, funds for purchasing coins, the exhibition appeared doomed to incompleteness.
Through a generous and important loan, the Norwebs made it possible for the National Collection to exhibit a noteworthy sample of U.S. colonial era coins. In 1960 the Norwebs extracted 52 colonial coins from their collection, many purchased years earlier by Albert F. Holden, and loaned them to the National Collection on an extended basis. These were incorporated in the Clain-Stefanelli's exhibit of Revolutionary War era coinages, and were first displayed to the public in March 1961.
These colonial era coins were on loan to the National Collection until 1982. In December of that year, in memory of the passing of Vladimir Clain-Stefanelli and to commemorate R. Henry Norweb's earlier retirement from the diplomatic service, the Norwebs transferred the loan into a gift to the American people.
Among the 52 colonial era coins donated to the National Collection were: two New England shillings and sixpence; a Willow tree shilling and sixpence; an Oakand Pine tree denomination set; a Maryland-Lord Baltimore denomination set, including the groat; New Yorke in America tokens in brass and lead, the latter very rare; a Rosa Americana 1722 and 1723 denomination set; a pair of Higley coppers; a Virginia "shilling" and penny; a Vermont and Massachusetts date set; a set of Chalmers' coinage, including the rings shilling; a New Hampshire copper, large harp variety; a Woods Hibernia date set; and important New York coppers, including a 1786 NON VI VIRTUTE VICI, 1787 Clinton Cent, 1787 Indian/New York arms, and a 1787 Eagle on Globe.