Foundation in 1881
The Bavarian Numismatic Society was founded during an anthropologists' congress in Regensburg: the foundation was agreed at the meeting on 10 and 11 August 1881, and the constituent session was held on 29 October 1881 in Munich. Its first chairman was the banker and collector Max von Wilmersdörffer.
From the outset the Bavarian districts (Upper Bavaria, Lower Bavaria, the Palatinate, the Upper Palatinate, Upper Franconia, Middle Franconia, Lower Franconia, Swabia and Neuburg) were represented by delegates. A society-run press was also resolved upon; the editorial committee for the 'Mittheilungen der Bayerischen Numismatischen Gesellschaft' (MBNG) was led by Eugen Merzbacher. The committee asked King Ludwig II to assume the patronage, which was granted. The 1st general assembly took place from 13 to 15 August 1882 in Nuremberg.
Between the World Wars
After the First World War the society reassembled only hesitantly. The inflation that followed did the rest, so that the publication of the Mitteilungen depended on 'voluntary contributions from members and other donations'.
The annexation of Austria by the German Reich in March 1938 created a new situation: negotiations with the Austrian Numismatic Society gave rise to the 'Deutsches Jahrbuch für Numismatik', which appeared in three volumes in Munich from 1938 to 1941 as a continuation of the Numismatische Zeitschrift (Vienna), the Zeitschrift für Numismatik (Berlin) and the Mitteilungen der Bayerischen Numismatischen Gesellschaft (Munich). The intention to absorb the society into a Nazi organisation was thwarted. From 1945 activities came practically to a standstill.
A fresh start after 1945
Only on 4 December 1947 did the Bavarian Numismatic Society constitute itself anew. An editorial committee (Max Bernhart, Hans Gebhart, Erich Hoffmann) was formed to publish a new yearbook. On 17 December 1947 the Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior was asked for a licence to continue, so that from March 1948 regular members' meetings could again be convened.
The currency reform of 20 June 1948 delayed the publication of the successor, so that the first volume under the title 'Jahrbuch für Numismatik und Geldgeschichte' (JNG), with support from the German Research Foundation, could only appear in 1949. It has been published ever since.
Chairmen and notable figures
Alfred Noss was chairman of the society from 1921 until his death in 1947. Among the later chairmen was the provincial-Roman archaeologist and numismatist Hans-Jörg Kellner, from 1968 to 1971.
Former members included the numismatist and former director of the Staatliche Münzsammlung München Harald Küthmann, the ancient historian and numismatist Konrad Kraft, the numismatist Peter Robert Franke (honorary member) and the numismatist and former director of the Staatliche Münzsammlung München Bernhard Overbeck. Scholarly active members of the BNG today include the current director of the Staatliche Münzsammlung München, Dietrich Klose, and the ancient historian Wolfgang Günther.