on june 16, 1908, dr. george f. heath, founder of the american numismatic association suddenly died. farran zerbe, then president, assumed the task of editing and publishing the numismatist, and soon purchased the publication from heath's heirs. in 1911, through the generosity of w.c.c. wilson of montreal, quebec, canada, the numismatist was purchased from zerbe and presented to the ana and since that period, the magazine has been owned and published monthly by the ana.