I don't recognise this particular book but it looks like a typical Japanese binding, similar to one I picked up when I lived there in 1986-87 (photos attached). The 3rd and 4th images in the article are upside down, however - Japanese books traditionally have the spine at the right and open from what looks like the back page to us. It's less common now but older books were done that way. Mine was printed in 1974 but done the old way, for whatever reason. A couple of pictures from the one I bought are attached. The paper is the same too - each page is a double leaf, uncut.

I was pleased to see you highlight the 1745 Lima Treasure Captured medal. In so many numismatic publications the mark LIMA that is found on some George II silver of 1745 and 1746 is noted as indicating silver captured by Admiral Anson during his circumnavigation of the globe and subsequent capture of a Spanish treasure galleon. The most recent I have seen was in Coin World for December 2016.

I believe this to be incorrect and this medal illustrates the alternative theory, which is in fact supported by original documentation. For anyone interested they cannot do better than read the excellent article by Harry Apling published in the Seaby Coin & Medal Bulletin for March 1970 pages 82-87. I enclose a copy for easy reference.

Thank you, again, for all your hard work. I have particularly been interested in your recent references to Coin Digit Image databases.

Love the emails. Educational, interesting, humor....something for everyone.

I recently discovered the word Elysium. At first glance I naturally thought it was Esylum. I was mistaken…or was I? Upon learning the definition of Elysium – “any place or state of perfect happiness” – one might consider them synonyms.

Definition of Elysium

1: the abode of the blessed after death in classical mythology

2: paradise

Did You Know?
This word came into Latin from the Greek Elysion. In classical mythology, Elysium, or the Elysian fields, was the home of the blessed after death, the final resting place of the souls of the heroic and the pure. So it's easy to see how the word came to mean any place or state of bliss or delight. When we try to picture heaven, many of us probably see a lovely park; the great boulevard of Paris was named for the beautiful park that originally bordered it: the Champs-Elysées, or Elysian Fields.