John Yonge Akerman (1806–1873) was an English
antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary () is an fan (person), aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient artifact (archaeology), artifac ...
specializing mainly in
numismatics
Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, medals and related objects.
Specialists, known as numismatists, are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, but the discipline also includ ...
. He also wrote under the pseudonym Paul Pindar.
Life
Akerman was born in London on 12 June 1806. In early life he became secretary to
William Cobbett
William Cobbett (9 March 1763 – 18 June 1835) was an English pamphleteer, journalist, politician, and farmer born in Farnham, Surrey. He was one of an agrarian faction seeking to reform Parliament, abolish "rotten boroughs", restrain foreign ...
; in 1838 to the
London and Greenwich Railway Company; and later to
Lord Albert Conyngham (afterwards Lord Londesborough).
In January 1834, Akerman was elected a
fellow of the Society of Antiquaries
A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context.
In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements.
Within the context of higher education ...
. In the autumn of 1848 he became joint secretary with Sir
Henry Ellis Henry Ellis may refer to:
* Henry Augustus Ellis (1861–1939), Irish Australian physician and federalist
* Henry Ellis (diplomat) (1788–1855), British diplomat
* Henry Ellis (governor) (1721–1806), explorer, author, and second colonial Gover ...
, and five years later, sole secretary. He held the post until 1860, when poor health compelled him to resign it and the editorship of the ''Archæologia''.
In 1836, at a time when there was no English periodical of the kind, he started, chiefly at his own expense, a publication called the ''Numismatic Journal'', two volumes of which appeared under his editorship. He helped to form the Numismatic Society of London, which held its first regular meeting in December 1836. Akerman was secretary from then until 1860, and editor of the society's journal, first published in 1838 as the ''Numismatic Chronicle''. From 1869, Akerman lived at
Abingdon, where he died 18 November 1873.
Publications
Akerman published a considerable number of works on coins, the more important being:
*''Catalogue of
Roman Coins
Roman currency for most of Roman history consisted of gold, silver, bronze, orichalcum and copper coinage. From its introduction to the Republic, during the third century BC, well into Imperial times, Roman currency saw many changes in form, denom ...
'' (1839);
*''Numismatic Manual'' (1840);
*''Roman Coins relating to Britain'' (1844);
*''Ancient Coins--Hispania'', ''Gallia, Britannia'' (1846);
*''Numismatic Illustrations of the New Testament'' (1846).
He also wrote :
*''The Adopted Son; A Legend of the Rebellion of Jack Cade'' (1842) (under the pseudonym "Paul Pindar")
*''Glossary of Words used in Wiltshire'' (1842);
*''Spring-Tide; or, The Angler and His Friends (1850);
*''Wiltshire Tales'', illustrative of the Dialect (1853);
*''Remains of Pagan Saxondom'' (1855).
Notes
References
;Attribution
*
*
External links
rns.dircon.co.uk/history.htm*
1806 births
1873 deaths
English numismatists
English antiquarians
Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London
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