Interview with Ana Serrano Hernández, founder and CEO of We are Numismatics and president of Nummus

Interview with Ana Serrano Hernández, founder and CEO of We Are Numismatics and president of Nummus

Today, we are pleased to interview Ana Serrano Hernández, a prominent figure in numismatic dissemination. She is the founder and CEO of We Are Numismatics and the president of Nummus Sociedad Española de Numismática (Nummus Numismatics Spanish Society). In addition to her leadership roles, Ana has participated in archaeological excavations and collaborated on renowned numismatic catalogs.

For those unfamiliar, We Are Numismatics is an online platform that connects collectors, scholars, and institutions. On the other hand, Nummus is one of Spain´s leading numismatic associations. With a significant academic background in Art History and Heritage Conservation, Ana has focused on medieval Christian and Islamic coinage of the Iberian Peninsula. Her work includes scholarly research and disseminating numismatic heritage, promoting access and understanding of this field through various platforms and publications.

What inspired you to specialize in numismatics, and specifically in medieval Christian and Islamic coinage?

My entry into the world of Numismatics was through Art in 2012. Thanks to a fellow collector who showed me some Roman coins, I was fascinated by those small objects full of history and art. From there, I began to see coins from a very particular perspective. Adding my experience in public engagement in Contemporary Art, here are the two factors that led me to numismatic dissemination. From there, collaborations with researchers and auction houses began to emerge.

My specialization in medieval Christian and Islamic coinage stems from those collaborations. But I am always expanding my horizons and studying. One never stops learning. Therefore, I do not consider myself an expert; I am always in a learning process. Anyone who says otherwise will stagnate.

Could you share an interesting anecdote from your numismatic research?

When you handle many coins and collaborate with many working groups, discoveries, and anecdotes always arise. It is always gratifying to delve into ancient historiography and make iconographic re-readings, where I have often discovered interpretation errors that have persisted to this day due to not questioning the principles of authority, which are too deeply embedded in this discipline.
But one of my favorite personal «discoveries» was the figure of Elisabeth Charlotte of the Palatinate, a friend of Louis XIV and wife of Philippe of Orléans. Liselotte, as she was called, was a numismatist, something that, if it is rare in the 21st century, just imagine in the 17th century. Her passion for coins was such that she was linked with Spanheim himself, the father of modern numismatic discipline. Although the role of women is still scarce in coin collecting (which is not the case in research, where there are great female names), that is one of my most-read articles. Perhaps out of curiosity or seeking explanations, but here it is (see here: https://wearenumismatics.com/mujeres-en-el-coleccionismo-numismatico/).

What differences and similarities have you found between Christian and Islamic coins of the Middle Ages in the Iberian Peninsula?

The fundamental difference is the design. Islamic coins do not have figurative representation but epigraphic ones (except for the first issues of bilingual dinars or the first fulus of the period of the Dependent Emirate of Cordoba, where some image representations appear, such as the warrior´s bust, the fish, or the column on the steps of the transitional or bilingual dinars). This difference affects the information contained in Islamic coins compared to Christian ones, where minting data such as date, issuing power, and mint appear explicitly.

From an aesthetic point of view, they are also radically different because the beauty of Islamic coins lies in the calligraphy, transcending the mere message it contains. Christian coins, on the other hand, since they feature figurative representations, have a different visual and aesthetic impact. Christian coins are more didactic for the illiterate. However, despite the profound visual differences, there is a similarity common to all coins of humanity: they all contain political and religious messages about the legitimization of power and its propaganda.

Warrior´s fals

What challenges have you faced in founding and leading We Are Numismatics and Nummus, and how have you overcome them?

Nummus Sociedad Española de Numismática (Nummus Numismatics Spanish Society) is a recently created collectors´ association, a great challenge as we are in a «strange» moment for coin collectors. However, the support of the numismatic community, especially the Board of Directors, provides great reinforcement to overcome the difficulties of this major endeavour.

As for We Are Numismatics, it is a dissemination website with a network of networks encompassing more than 100,000 members. The challenge has always been the same: to offer quality content for collectors, dealers, or researchers. Throughout WAN´s journey, the website has evolved by integrating new projects besides the blog, such as the creation of the IMPERATRIX catalog, taking over the legacy of Sebastián Gaspariño (the magazine Manquso and the Amuletos de al-Andalus (Amulets of Al-Andalus) website), and hosting the Tonegawa website to prevent what happened with Gaspariño. Overall, it focuses on valuing resources generated from private initiatives. It is easy for a university or any subsidized entity to carry out a project. But the reality is that most free online resources come from private initiatives and need support. And that is what We Are Numismatics does to a great extent.

All this is an unwavering commitment to valuing collecting because it implies the guardianship and conservation of the heritage it guards and the research underlying the formation of these great collections. Hence, my first idea was to host a large collection in WAN, housed in the Museion by the name Maristán. From there, and from that firm commitment to the invaluable work of the collector, the idea and need to create the Nummus association arose.
These are two great projects that continue to grow, even internationally, and I am proud to say that they are well-known and valued by collectors, researchers, and dealers alike.

How do you see the future of numismatics in the digital age, and what role do We Are Numismatics and Nummus play in this context?

The digital age has greatly benefited everyone due to accessibility. After the pandemic, we learned that we can go global without even leaving home.

Numismatics has long been regarded as an elitist discipline, with very limited scope and interest, both in research and collecting (I emphasize these two aspects because when we talk about Numismatics, we have these two sides: research and/or collecting). We must recognize that we are few. The digital age has opened up accessibility and connectivity, benefiting the growth of numismatics. Therefore, we must take advantage of it to disseminate information and engage new young collectors and researchers. We can show how wonderful it is to study coins and even buy those pieces of history through auctions worldwide.

What advice would you give to someone starting in the field of numismatics?

Both in the field of research and collecting, the first thing is to build a reference library. Books are fundamental for the study of coins. Another piece of advice is to connect with people with similar interests to exchange experiences and knowledge. Along these lines, it is advisable to visit markets and conventions and be a member of an association where they can get advice and help with doubts. And, of course, I recommend using the vast amount of information available online for free and accessible, whether online catalogs, magazines, publications, forums, or specific numismatic social networks.

What impact do you think numismatics has on preserving and promoting cultural heritage?

Numismatics, in its collecting aspect, produces culture, and collectors are keen consumers of it. This means that, by their nature and tastes, numismatists value heritage. And that is precisely the fundamental weapon to protect it, its knowledge, and consequently, its need for preservation for future generations. Not understanding the importance of collecting in this sense is to deny the very essence of the concept of cultural heritage.

This is a crucial issue today because certain sectors distort the value of collecting and even criminalize it. Lately, this has been my most energetic claim. In the collection of Art and Antiquities lies the origin of the museum and the concept of heritage.

Without a collector who found value in those coins that were no longer in circulation and ceased to «be money», today, the first coins from Ancient Greece would no longer exist; they would have been melted. The same goes for sculptures, paintings, and archaeological objects. The preservation of heritage began at the dawn of humanity at the hands of a collector, and museums, as we know them today, did not emerge until the late 17th century. So what would have happened to the great works of art or antiquities without a collector who preserved them for centuries until that moment? Nothing would exist. In fact, museum collections are nourished by private collections donated or purchased. For example, the Münzkabinett of the Berlin museums is mainly fed by donations, contributions, or purchases of private collections.

All of the above must be reminded to those who forget it, to highlight its value and that numismatic collectors are the first preservers and producers of coin studies.

We know it is a tricky question, but if you had to choose your 5 favorite coins, which ones would they be?

It is a very difficult answer, indeed. Interestingly, at the dawn of coin manufacturing, the pinnacle of beauty (considered from a classical point of view) was very early reached in Syracuse. It´s incredibly challenging for me to choose one, which is why I name this place the paradigm of the sublime.

Decadracma Siracusa.Leu Numismatik Auction 16.Lot 42 (1)

Syracuse Decadrachm

With a different concept of art, among my favorite coins are the Urraca bust denier, the as of Obulco, the ducatons of Philip IV from the mints of Antwerp, Brussels, or Milan, and the Almoravid dinars minted in Cordoba.

As de Obulco.TauleryFau.Auction127. Lot2049 (1)

As of Obulco

How do you see the future of numismatics?

From a collector´s perspective, the future of numismatics involves ensuring its survival in the near future. To achieve this, associations and disseminators are planting seeds through education and engaging content on social media. At an institutional level, associations still have a lot of work ahead. Nummus presents collecting as a serious, responsible activity with full rights in the face of the guardianship and preservation of numismatic heritage in private hands.

Ducaton FelipeIV. TauleryFau..Auction70. lot 202 (1)

Philip IV Ducaton

Self-question: Ask yourself a question you would like to be asked:

I would ask myself something explosive and grand that has a lot to do with the importance I give to collecting; here it goes: If numismatic collecting were to be nominated as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO, what arguments could be made to support this?

I would present it with a defense approach from a global, historical, and cultural perspective: I would show its development throughout history, with its contributions and the repercussions that its existence has had for the development of museums and as a custodian of objects from the past that today form our historical and artistic heritage.

I would raise the question of what the current world would be like without collecting and consequently without works from the past, without the Mona Lisa and museum collections, without patrons and ancient heritage. A world without cultural heritage is a humanity without memory and without identity.

I would argue that coin collecting is more than a hobby; it is also a way of cultural activism, starting from a private initiative to protect heritage, educate, and value history in the face of digital obsolescence and the fleeting nature of rapid consumption without heritage trace.

All of the above, among many other qualities, presents collecting as a human activity with every right and eligibility to be a candidate for protected intangible heritage. In fact, I am considering making a serious proposal.

Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions, Ana. Your numismatic expertise has provided us with valuable insights. We greatly appreciate your comments and reflections and look forward to sharing your knowledge with our audience. Drachma Translations.

Photo credits:
- As of Obulco. Tauler y Fau. Auction 127. Lot 2049
- Syracuse decadrachm. Leu Numismatik Auction 16. Lot 42
- Almoravid Dinar of Cordoba. Áureo & Calicó. Tonegawa II. Lot 354
- Urraca bust denier. Imperatrix
- Fhilip IV Ducaton. Tauler y Fau. Auction 70. Lot 202
- Warrior´s fals. Aureo y Calico. Tonegawa II. Lote17
- Fish fals. Áureo & Calicó. Tonegawa II. Lot 16