Queensland was the last state in Australia to see the establishment of a separate and distinctive state-based numismatic society.
Back before decimalization (pre-1966) a local coin club was formed in Brisbane, largely through the efforts of Reginald Harrison. It was known as the Numismatic Society of Queensland. Unfortunately this club folded after a year or so. A branch of the Sydney-based Australian Numismatic Society was formed in Brisbane in 1962.
Then in January 1986 Graeme Stevens, George Dean and Terry Davidson met to form a Steering Committee to discuss the feasibility of starting a new Queensland-based club. Further Steering Committee meetings and expressions of interest to prospective members rapidly followed. The new society, known as the Queensland Numismatic Society, held it’s first general meeting on Friday the fourth of July, 1986. An appropriate date for the foundation of a new, independent coin club. Meetings have been held on every first Friday of the month (except where such is a public Holiday) ever since. Incorporation was obtained in December 1986.
Membership grew rapidly during the ‘boom years’ of the 1980’s, with 75 members signed up in the first two months and member number 100 in November 1987. Over half our membership has been collectors from country and regional Queensland as well as interstate and international members keen to support our aims. Current membership stands at around seventy.
Since the first month of our existence, we have produced a monthly Magazine containing meeting minutes and articles and papers written by members. In 1995 a Literary Award for best article in the QNS Magazine was inaugurated, with sponsorship from Tasmanian numismatic entity Roger McNeice.
Meetings of the Society were originally held on the grounds of Newstead House, a historic residence on Brisbane’s inner northside. In June 1999 rent increases forced the Society to move to premises owned by the Royal Blind Foundation in Stone’s Corner, on the southside. In July 2001 the RBF sold those premises and we were on the move again. Our next meeting location was the hall of the South Brisbane Baptist Church in the inner southside. This was sold in 2013, so we moved to the Metropolitan Senior Citizens Centre 9 Church St, Fortitude Valley Qld 4006. We moved to the Meeting Hall, 47 Dornoch Terrace, West End. We currently meet at the Chermside Library meeting room, 375 Hamilton Rd, Brisbane, Qld 4032. Click here for the current meeting information.
The Society has issued several commemorative medals since it’s foundation – see items for sale for medals still in stock.
The QNS Logo
The design illustrated here was selected by the members from a set of options in 1986, just prior to formal Incorporation. George Shea won the design competition.
The monogram, Q over NS, is self-explanatory – the initials of the Society. Our motto, NUMMORUM FAMULUS, is Latin for “Servant of the Coinage”. It first appeared on the edge of the British tin farthing coinage of the 1680’s. When King Charles II used the motto, he meant that he would not abuse the monetary system for personal gain but instead serve the coinage, and through it the people, for the better.
The crown-and-Maltese-cross on the top of the monogram is the badge of Queensland, which has been used on the Queensland flag since it’s adoption in 1876.
Redland Bay Coin & Stamp Club
In 2014 the club became a branch of the QNS. It is run independently and currently meets at Cleveland.