WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM JANUARY 22, 2012

New subscribers this week include Steve Caruso, Thomas F Clarke, Tom Wood, Jeff Bercovi, Norma J Puddester, Ron Zitterkopf, and Kent D Johnson. Welcome aboard! We have 1,502 email subscribers, plus 170 followers on Facebook.

To follow up from last week, Eric Schena came home from the hospital on Monday and has recovered pretty well. He's heading back to work tomorrow.

This week we open with a note about the latest issue of our print journal, and a numismatic literature auction note followed by announcements of three new numismatic books and a story about a numismatic bookstore in India.

Other topics this week include a White House petition on coinage reform, the British Museum numismatic gallery, the 1841 Maundy coinage, and another Roman brothel token.

To learn more about printing technology, quoins, Cow medallist Gozo Kawamura, and coin deliveries to Berbice, Essequibo & Demerara, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren (whomren@gmail.com)
Numismatic Bibliomania Society

THE ASYLUM VOLUME 29, NO. 3 PUBLISHED

David writes:

CGB AUCTION 52 NUMISMATIC LITERATURE LOTS

Howard A. Daniel III writes:

NEW BOOK: ROSA AMERICANA COINAGE OF WILLIAM WOOD

William Wood conceived a plan to manufacture coins for Britain's American Plantations, which were constantly in need of small change to support everyday commercial trans-actions. This plan became entangled in the politics and economic theories of the day, with King George, his mistress, Isaac Newton, Robert Walpole, and other English notables, as well as the colonial merchants, playing key roles in the story behind the production and distribution of the coins.

Drawing upon his original research the author examines the historical context in which the coins were produced, integrating often conflicting, existing material. Particular attention is paid to the methods employed in manufacturing these coins, from the underlying metallurgy, to the process of preparing and striking the planchets, the locations where they were made and their circulation patterns.

A catalogue of known die varieties is developed for each of the three de-nominations issued. Some 21 varieties of halfpence, 66 varieties of pence, and 36 varieties of twopence are identified. As well as describing the coins themselves, he has explored related experimental and pattern issues, providing new insights into these enigmatic issues. Production quantities are estimated, rarity and condition census data developed, and major holdings examined.

Michael Hodder, in his Introduction states "The best advice anyone can take before undertaking a difficult research project is condensed in this quotation from Marcus Portius Cato Censorius (234-149 B.C.): 'Master the subject, the words will follow.' Syd Martin's new book on William Wood's Rosa Americana issues is a good example of the continuing aptness of the saying."

The book, which is enjoying early favorable reviews, can be obtained from Charles Davis, Numismatic Literature, P.O. Box 547, Wenham, MA 01984; Tel: 978-468-2933; Fax: (978) 468 7893; email: numislit@aol.com

NEW BOOK: THE AUTHORITATIVE REFERENCE ON FRANKLIN HALF DOLLARS

The Authoritative Reference on Franklin Half Dollars by Kevin Flynn will soon be available. The book is 8 ½ by 11, 184 pages, and tons of photographs. Prepublication price will be available until the book is printed. Book should be going to the printers in 2 weeks, then should take 5 weeks to print.

This is Flynn's 40th book on numismatics. One of the benefits of writing books is the knowledge gained through research. Reading Franklin's 800 page autobiography gave incredible insight as to his contributions in developing our country's social and moral values and preparing the colonies in becoming a nation. No other individual is more responsible for our independence. It's no wonder Mint Director Nellie Tayloe Ross wanted to pay tribute to Franklin with his image on a coin. As the coins remember those who are important to us, Flynn included extensive information on Franklin's life and contributions.

The primary purpose of this book was to create a complete and comprehensive reference for the Franklin Half Dollar series including all major die varieties, history, hub changes, collecting, historical documents, and hot topics.

The die variety section of the book includes 38 doubled dies and 30 repunched mint marks. This includes several new die varieties which have not been listed before. For each die variety listed, detailed macro photos make identification much easier. Most of the varieties include multiple photographs showing different details. Included also for each variety is a detailed description of the variety, diagnostics, including die markers such as die cracks, scratches, clashes which can make identifying the variety easier, pricing, and cross references.

Many new archive letters were uncovered relative to the Franklin Half Dollar series and are included. This greatly helped in the analysis of the history section and shed new details on the series. For each hub change, enlarged photos show the before and after of the design changes with a detailed description of the differences. Also included are sections on Collecting, Grading, Certified, and Proof Franklin Half Dollars. A detailed analysis is presented on Full Bell Lines as this is critical in collecting Franklins. This book also contains sections written by Brett Parrish, Greg Lewis, and Douglas McIndoe.

The date-by-date section offers an analysis of each date including scarcity, striking characteristics, world history which occurred that year, hot topics, comments, current values, prices realized from Heritage Auctions, and the certified population counts from PCGS and NGC.

The Hot Topics section contains a several detailed studies on the Franklin Half Dollar series including refuting the 1950D/S, the alleged 1964 Franklin Half Dollar, the 1959 Type 2 over Type 1, and the Bugs Bunny die varieties..

Only 50 hardcovers are being printed. Retail for the softcover is $34.95, hardcover $100. Prepublication price available until the book is printed is $30 for the softcover, $85 for the hardcover. Include $5 for media rate or $10 for first class postage.

To order, send a check or money order to Kevin Flynn P.O. Box 396, Lumberton, NJ 08048. Please send any questions to Kevin Flynn at kevinj50@comcast.net .

NEW BOOK: HOLEY DOLLARS OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

I've been following the thread on the recent acquisition of a New South Wales Holey Dollar by the National Museum of Australia. I was especially interested in the calculation of the percentages of extant specimens from various Spanish and Spanish colonial mints. In an act of shameless self-promotion for my forthcoming book on the Holey Dollars of Prince Edward Island (Spink, 2012), I can give you similar percentages for mints that produced the hosts for the PEI 5 shilling coins. Unlike the case with New South Wales, however, all surviving examples of the Prince Edward Island Holey Dollar may be contemporary counterfeits. There is simply no way of telling the difference between a Government issue Holey Dollar and what are referred to as merchant counterfeits.

In any event, of the 79 PEI Holey Dollars I have been able to track down - many fewer than the numbers for New South Wales - the percentage of the total for each of the mints is surprisingly close to the figures for NSW:

Durango - 1 coin - 1.26 %
Lima -- 11 coins - 13.92 %
London - 1 coin -- 1.26 %
Madrid -- 1 coin - 1.26 %
Mexico - 57 coins - 72.15 %
Potosí -- 3 coins -- 3.79 %
Santiago - 2 coins - 2.53%
Unknown - 3 coins - 3.79%

By comparison, the web site's calculations showed 10.87% of the NSW hosts were provided by Lima dollars and 76.81% by Mexican. Your percentage for Potosí was a somewhat higher at 9.42%, but all the rest were in the same ballpark as those for PEI.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: ANA MUSEUM LOOTED OF $1 MILLION IN RARE COINS (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v15n03a05.html)

HOBBY CORNER: INDIA'S NUMISMATIC BOOKSHOP

Ed writes:

Across the fountain on the main road of Chandni Chowk, a narrow stone staircase leads one to an old and tiny shop on the first floor of the building, adjacent to the Bhai Mati Das Sati Das Sikh Museum. The shop, simply named Hobby Corner, is meant for those who treat collecting coins as more than a hobby. For, there are thousands of books on numismatics and related areas stacked inside the small shop, making it perhaps the only bookstore of its kind in the city.

From the nine-volume Indo-Greek and Indo-Scythian Coins by Michael Mitchiner (priced around Rs 21,000) to the first edition of Catalogue of the Gupta Gold Coins in the Bayana Hoard by A S Altekar, which doesn't have a price label, to Medals of British India by Robert P Puddester and latest publications on the subject - the store has nearly 500 titles on coins available at any time. There are also old editions of journals on the subject, books on history, philately, numismatics stationery, and commemorative coin sets of Independent India on sale.

The young owner, Aditya Jain, says that it all started more than 25 years ago, with his father Rajesh Jain's keen interest in numismatics. Rajesh Jain, one of the founder members of the Delhi Coin Society and a life member of Numismatics Society of India, has been a regular in various exhibitions in the city, displaying his large collection, that includes error coins.

As Aditya took over from his father, he thought of launching the store on the Internet. "There's hardly any publisher of numismatics books who hasn't given us a distributorship. Thanks to the Internet we have been able to expand our client base and get at least 50 queries per day -many of these from foreigners and numismatics societies across the world," he says, while showing his name as the distributor on several books published across the country. Aditya adds that the store specialises on publications on Indian coins - from the ancient to the contemporary.

"In the future, we plan to add reprints and original rare books to our list," he says. The store's website also offers services such as valuation of antique coins to individual collectors and amateurs.

Collectors from all over India drop in looking for the latest research work published in the field, claims the owner. The setting seems just right for anyone interested in antique coins, as one flips through books on the subject sitting next to a window that gives a bird's eye view of the old city

To read the complete article, see: Coin Corner (www.indianexpress.com/news/coin-corner/902549/0)

WHITE HOUSE PETITION TO REFORM COINAGE SYSTEM

Created on September 22, 2011, it reads:

Treasurer of the United States Rosie Rios responds:

Kavan adds:

To read or sign the petition, see: Reform the coinage system. (wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions#!/petition/
reform-coinage-system/Q0rspKM7)

BRITISH MUSEUM MONEY GALLERY BEING REBUILT

The Money gallery at the British Museum opened 14 years ago, and was at the time an innovative way of displaying coins and medals. It represented a new way of thinking about the history of money, and changed how museums around the world told this global story.

Now, a new partnership between Citi and the British Museum means we are able to redisplay the gallery, make changes to the design and content of the displays, and take advantage of new knowledge and new ideas in museology and monetary history.

We will be building on the results of an evaluation of the current Money gallery that has been done over the past few years. This gives us some clear pointers for how it can be clarified and updated, and we have already started a program of consultation with key audiences to find out what they would like to see the new gallery containing, and what questions they have about money and its history.

The gallery will close to the public until June 2012 while the refurbishment takes place. An online blog documenting this can be found at http://blog.britishmuseum.org/category/collection/money-gallery/

To read the complete article, see: Money gallery at British Museum being rebuilt (www.coinsweekly.com/en/News/4?&id=974)

JEFF REICHENBERGER ON PRINTING TECHNOLOGY

Just a few comments about the type case used in the Thames and Field article and thanks to Dick Johnson for his reminisce.

Dick observed that the Thames and Field case is upside down, which is true. Also, perhaps it is an older case, but the type cases I am familiar with (in fact, I still use them regularly) are longer by 1/3. The missing section would hold the capital letters. As you can see, larger compartments do hold the letters used most often.

Below is one of the cases I currently use.

I have letterpress equipment and two type cases (two fonts) that I use for a certain recurring job and various obscure jobs in my print shop. In addition, I use the Platen Press for perforating, scoring, and die cutting applications. For printing - back in the day - the idea was for the printer to 'kiss' the paper with the inked type just enough to make a clear and crisp impression without making a 'bite' in the paper - that is, too hard of an impression so the back of the sheet looks embossed. This was particularly important in book printing where printed pages back each other up.

Ironically, in recent times, I have printed invitations where the customer was insistent that there be a 'bite' in the paper to add 'old fashioned authenticity' to her project! (There was no reason for me to explain that the age of the machine, worn gears, bushings, cams, and joints made it impossible for anything but a substantial 'bite'.) Living in the stone-age has its advantages! Below is a photo of the Chandler and Price 15" platen press in my shop. Likely built around 1910.

This photo shows some printers tools. The steel frame is called a 'chase'. The type is locked into the chase using wood and steel blocks known as 'furniture'. You can see the type locked in with a 'cut' of a cross. A cut is simply an engraved device cut into a larger piece of lead or wood, which is type height and will print along with the type copy. The items at the bottom are -left to right- a composing stick. This is where you compose your words (upside down of course). The T-handle wrench is what you use to tighten everything into the chase. Finally, the device at the bottom right -two steel wedges with teeth- what the T-handle forces apart to tighten the whole thing - and what is my only real link to justify this rambling in a numismatic e-magazine - is known as...drum roll please...a QUOIN!!

I am in complete agreement with Dick's assessment:

"Anyone who has set type by hand, locked it in a frame, put the frame in a press, and printed a first impression will know the thrill of seeing your handwork in print. It set me up for a lifetime as a lover of the printed word and related fields of writing and book collecting."

For me, a bibliophilic tendency is a natural extension of my profession. Printing has become rather fast-paced and techno-heavy these days. I often feel like not much more than a copy jockey, which is why I really enjoy running the letterpress from time to time. It regenerates me and makes me feel like a real printer!

Dick Johnson adds:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: DICK JOHNSON REMINISCES: TYPE DRAWERS AND PRINTING (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v15n03a07.html)

VOCABULARY WORD: QUOIN

I enjoyed reading DICK JOHNSON REMINISCES: TYPE DRAWERS AND PRINTING . In the 1950's I too was an active printer using my High School Print Shop. One memory I have of those days, related to numismatics, is using a wedge or expanding mechanical device to lock the type into the steel frame (chase). This wedge device is called a quoin.

The quoin was operated using a quoin key

These quoins (pronounced 'coins') came in various forms. The simplest ones are nothing more than 2 wooden wedges that are slid across each other's face to exert pressure inside the type frame. A step more complex, than that are cast metal wedges with toothed faces. This is the type I used. A special key (quoin key) is turned in the teeth to slide the wedges. This provides a great deal more locking pressure.

But, quoin and coin are not only pronounced the same - they are the same word. The word coin comes originally from the Latin word cuneus, meaning "wedge". The term came to apply to the wedge-shaped die that made these small pieces of money. Later, the word coin was applied to the stamped image on the money, but eventually referred to the money itself. Other forms of this word across time and languages are: coyn, coygne, cuigne, coigne, quoin, and others.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: DICK JOHNSON REMINISCES: TYPE DRAWERS AND PRINTING (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v15n03a07.html)

NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JANUARY 22, 2012

Metras Publishes Journal of Journey to Jerusalem
Longtime E-Sylum reader Mike Metras writes:

What a wonderful experience. Their travels remind me a bit of the 9,000-mile walk of John Albert Krohn, who walked all around the perimeter of the United States in 1908, distributing tokens along the way. -Editor

Ingrid Smith Has Passed
Joe Foster writes:

THOUGHTS ON THE ANA MUSEUM THEFT

Regarding the recent disclosure of thefts from the American Numismatic Association museum, Jan Monroe writes:

To read the complete editorial, see: Coin theft an expensive security wake-up call for the ANA (www.coinworld.com/articles/coin-theft-an-expensive-security-wake-up-call/)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: ANA MUSEUM LOOTED OF $1 MILLION IN RARE COINS (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v15n03a05.html)

ROYAL MINT ON THE 1841 MAUNDY THREEPENCE

Philip Mernick writes:

It's great to know these records exist. Philip adds:

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see: QUERY: THE 1841 MAUNDY THREEPENCE (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v14n45a19.html)
MORE ON THE 1841 MAUNDY THREEPENCE (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v14n46a20.html)
FOLLOW-UP ON THE 1841 MAUNDY THREEPENCE (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v14n53a20.html)

NUMISMATIC ARTICLES IN THE JOURNAL OF MODERN HISTORY

Bruce W. Smith writes:

GOZO KAWAMURA, COW MEDALLIST

SOME STACKS-BOWERS JANUARY 2012 AMERICANA SALE LOTS

Lot #6308. Mysterious Gold Medal Issued By Albert Wiss

Lot #5055. Obsolete Notes. Long Branch, New Jersey. D. P. Peters-National Hotel.

Lot #10431. Elgin, Illinois Pioneer Medal Plaque

ON CIRCULATING 'GOLD' COINS

Howard A. Daniel III writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: THINK TANK RECOMMENDS MELTING 'GOLD' COINS (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v15n03a17.html)

ARTIST GARY TAXALI DESIGNS COINS FOR ROYAL CANADIAN MINT

Internationally celebrated contemporary visual artist and award-winning illustrator, Gary Taxali, recently appointed to the Stamp Advisory Committee for Canada Post, has collaborated with the Royal Canadian Mint to create a series of six celebratory coins to feature in their 2012 gift sets, covering the themes of Birthday, Wedding, Tooth Fairy, New Baby, O Canada, and Holiday (which will be released later this year). ‬

‪Taxali is known for his reinvention of pop art and iconography reminiscent of the 1930s with comparisons to pop culture masters like Keith Haring and Andy Warhol. Fine art, pop culture and 1930s style iconography and graphics are intertwined in the unique retro style of the coins.

The Taxali designed coins are a unique and marked departure from the Mint's usual coin designs with a more edgy, vintage yet contemporary style. Each coin is like a miniature collectible piece of Taxali art with the artist's initials engraved on the coin that will excite Taxali fans worldwide.

‪The coins feature Taxali's recognizable pop culture imagery infused with his retro graphic vintage style. The words "25 Cents", "2012" and "Canada" are depicted on the coins in Gary's famous font called "Chumply", the first time the Mint has allowed an artist to change the typography on coins.

"The Mint is pleased to work with Gary Taxali on this year's gift sets," says Patrick Hadsipantelis, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at the Royal Canadian Mint. "His renowned artistry brings a new and unique twist to these special keepsakes which celebrate some of life's great moments".

To read the complete article, see: Artist Gary Taxali collaborates with the Royal Mint (www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=53064)

ANOTHER POSSIBLE ROMAN BROTHEL TOKEN IDENTIFIED

When amateur archaeologist Bob Dix unearthed what purported to be a Roman treasure, he thought it was pretty special - but he was not quite too sure why. Until now.

When his son gave him a metal detector for his birthday, he spent two days scouring his garden in Pylle.

Among several things he dug up was what seemed to be a risqué and raunchy Roman remnant. The pendant-style piece of jewelry clearly shows a man and woman engaged in an intimate sex act.

Mr Dix thought it was a bit strange but pretty special and tucked it away in a box for safe keeping.

To his surprise, he read about the story of a similar find in a national newspaper this month. Excited experts claim that the bronze Roman coin which recently washed up on the banks of the Thames is the first example of a Roman brothel token ever found in this country. Now Mr Dix, whose find has a similar design to the one found by a London pastry chef, has called in the experts too. And he maintains the discovery in his garden was actually the first.

Experts say the holder of the coin found in London would in Roman times have taken it to one of the many Londinium brothels and handed it to a sex slave in exchange for the act depicted on the coin. Retired Mr Dix, who now lives in Shepton Mallet, and used to run Community Care Mobility in Wells, hopes experts will find his token just as exciting - and valuable.

He said: "I believe the piece I found is slightly different to the one in London - I think it was what the prostitutes would have worn round their necks and people would recognise what service they were willing to provide."

Mr Dix says his former home in Pylle was off the Fosse Way, next to a former Roman settlement where builders unearthed many Roman artefacts years ago.

"I am eagerly waiting to hear what the experts say," he added.

To read the complete article, see: Roman remnant reveals risqué routines of our ancient invaders (www.thisissomerset.co.uk/Bob-calls-experts-check-brothel
-token/story-14975525-detail/story.html)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: ROMAN BROTHEL TOKEN UNCOVERED IN LONDON (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v15n02a17.html)

CASE AGAINST ROBERT HECHT ENDS IN ITALY

The trial of Robert E. Hecht Jr., the alleged mastermind of an international black market in ancient art, ended with no verdict this week when a three-judge panel in Rome found the time allotted for the trial had expired.

Hecht, a 92-year-old Baltimore native now confined to bed at his home in Paris, has cut a wide swath through the art world since the 1950s, supplying museums and collectors around the world with some of the finest examples of ancient Greek, Roman and Etruscan art.

"I have no idea of where an object was excavated," he said in a phone interview on Thursday. "It could have been excavated 100 years ago, it could have been excavated an hour ago."

Throughout that colorful career, Hecht has been dogged by allegations that his wares had been recently looted from archaeological sites and smuggled out of their homeland. It was a claim he never directly denied while maintaining his innocence of the Italian charges, which focused on an alleged conspiracy among dealers he considers rivals.

The ruling brings an ambiguous end to a sweeping investigation that traced relics looted from tombs in Italy through a network of smugglers, dealers and private collectors before appearing on display at museums in the United States, Europe and beyond.

The criminal case stemming from that investigation has dragged through Italian courts since 2005 and focused on Hecht and two co-defendants: Marion True, the former Getty antiquities curator, and Italian dealer Giacomo Medici.

To read the complete article, see: Italian case against antiquities dealer ends (latimesblogs.latimes.com/culturemonster/2012/01
/italian-antiquities-robert-hecht-case-ends.html)

To read an earlier E-Sylum article, see: QUIZ ANSWER: ROBERT HECHT AND THE MEDICI CONSPIRACY (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n49a15.html)

COULD FACEBOOK CREDITS EVOLVE INTO A TRUE CURRENCY?

Although Facebook Credits is still primarily an in-game currency, in 2011 we began to see a glimmer of what Credits will look like when it grows up.

Movie studios like Miramax, Warner Bros. and Paramount Pictures, not to mention BBC Worldwide began offerings movies and TV shows for rent on Facebook. As an example, in promotion of "Mission: Impossible, Ghost Protocol," the series' first three movies were made available for rent on Facebook for 30 Credits per rental. In addition, to promote the launch of "Tower Heist," Universal Pictures gave away 1 million Facebook Credits ($100,000 value) in an online scavenger hunt. DJ David Guetta began selling MP3s on his Facebook Page (19 Credits per track) and U.K.'s "Big Brother" and "The X Factor" began allowing fans to vote for contestants using Facebook Credits.

These examples, however, were few and far between in 2011 and it's fair to say that even most Facebook users don't know what Credits are for. 2012 is the year this will change.

Facebook has proven that the Credits model can work in social gaming, which represents between 25-30 percent of Facebook users, and will now utilize the same model to first enter the business of music, movies, TV and any other shareable media, before entering larger industries like financial services and health care in the coming years.

While still relatively unknown, Facebook Credits will emerge and begin to mean very real cash to a quickly expanding group of first-mover entrepreneurs and innovators who are just starting to get a whiff of the opportunities presented by the Facebook Credits economy.

It's for real and it's here.

Similar to Moore's Law, which famously predicted that the number of transistors than could be placed inexpensively on an integrated circuit doubles every two years and Mark Zuckerberg's Law that (scarily to some) states that people will be willing to "share" twice as much each year, I believe the Facebook Credits economy will double every year for the next five years.

This is based on the staggering amount of new ways that people will be earning and spending Facebook Credits over the coming years and the international growth, which will follow innovation in the U.S. This is conservative based on reports we've already seen that global revenue from Facebook Credits more than tripled in size from 2010, $140 Million, to $470 million in 2011. By 2016, Facebook Credits could be a $15 billion business.

To read the complete article, see: Predictions for Facebook Credits in 2012 (www.insidefacebook.com/2012/01/18/predictions
-for-facebook-credits-in-2012/)

FEATURED WEB PAGE: METACOIN

www.metacoin.com