I want to comment on the Wyatt copies, especially the Good Samaritan Shilling. In the 19th century there was a long debate about the genuineness of this piece. The Chapman brothers cataloged the Bushnell piece as genuine in the sale of his coins in 1882. After questions were raised, they even published a separate supplement attempting to back up their opinion.

I believe the book that the illustrations came from was Numismata Antiqua, a thick volume, almost all of which are ancient coins, that illustrate the coins in the Thomas Pembroke collection published in 1746.

It is an interesting story how I bought this book. At an ANA convention in New York, I was standing with several literature collectors on the bourse floor when a man approached us, and offered this book for sale. I remembered I had once read that this book had the first illustrations of American coins. I started to look through the book.

Phil Carrigan, who was standing next to me said "Dave, you wouldn't be interested in that".

I said. "If what I think is in this book, IS in this book I am interested". Sure enough, I came to a page titled Coins of the English Colonys and Settlements Abroad. Illustrated are the Good Samaritan, Maryland, New England and Carolina coinage. I had the spine rebound in full leather, and now this volume is a prized possession in my library.

Happy 104th Birthday to the Grand Statesman of American Numismatics.

Thanks for your delightful birthday wishes to Eric. The article stimulated many emails --- with The E-Sylum on top of the pile.

The news about the amazing Eric Newman reminds me of something from a few years back. On his 99th birthday, George Burns said that for his 100th birthday he would rent the London Palladium---if it was still there.