Content presented in The E-Sylum is not necessarily researched or independently fact-checked, and views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.

WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM JANUARY 16, 2019

This week we open with more highlights from the upcoming Kolbe & Fanning numismatic literature sale, FOUR new books, a new journal issue, a book review, and the passing of another prominent numismatic figure.

Other topics this week include the St. Louis Stamp & Coin Co., numismatics and sports, collector/dealer John Zug, coin model Hettie Anderson, engraver James Longacre, coin counterfeits, reissued 50 pence coins, the Lutes discovery 1943 bronze cent, prop money and Breadcoins.

To learn more about Indiana obsolete banknotes and scrip, colonial minter Walter Mould, two coin collectors who owned the NHL Los Angeles Kings, the recoined sols, the Chicago Coin Club 100th anniversary Redbook, the Berlin giant gold coin heist trial, and the man who purchased 25,000 1909-S VDB Lincoln cents from the San Francisco Mint, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum

MORE KOLBE & FANNING SALE 151 HIGHLIGHTS

MORE HIGHLIGHTS FROM KOLBE & FANNING’S JANUARY 26 SALE

The January 26 numismatic book auction being held by Kolbe & Fanning Numismatic Booksellers is coming up soon. With items in over a dozen different languages on ancient, foreign and U.S. numismatics, the 500-lot sale has something for everybody.

A few notable lots include:

Lots 81, 97 and 99

Lot 81: Sidney Grose’s classic three-volume catalogue of the McClean / Fitzwilliam Greek cabinet

Lot 97: Jacob Hirsch’s massive 1908 catalogue of the Consul Weber Greek coins

Lot 99: Hirsch’s 1909 offering of the Weber Roman coins

Lot 172

Lot 172: Piranesi’s magnificent 1750 Opere Varie, bringing together 48 extraordinary engraved prints depicting the artist’s fantastical vision of the remnants of antiquity

Lots 256 and 279

Lot 256: a lovely copy of Duby’s rare 1786 work on obsidional coins Lot 279: a complete original set of Count Hutten-Czapski’s very rare and important work on Polish coins and medals

Lots 382 and 401

Lot 382: a price and named plated copy of S.H. Chapman’s 1913 sale of the John Lyman collection

Lot 401: a sumptuously bound copy of Ed Frossard’s rare plated 1892 catalogue of the A.H. Saltmarsh collection.

Bidders may participate in the sale online or through more traditional means. Bids may be placed via post, email, fax or phone, as well as online. Kolbe & Fanning use Auction Mobility as our third-party online bidding platform. Auction Mobility is an app-based platform allowing users the ability to participate in the sale through phones, tablets and computers. To register for the online sale, bidders must go to bid.numislit.com and sign up. Once you have set up an account, you may browse lots, place advance bids, or participate in the live sale online. Those wishing to participate on their devices can download the Kolbe & Fanning app through the Apple or Google Play Store.

The printed catalogue of Sale 151 has been mailed to active customers (foreign customers may wish to consult the online catalogue in case of delay). A PDF of the printed catalogue has been posted to our main website at numislit.com for those who prefer that format. Bids placed via post, email, fax or phone must be received by January 25, the day before the sale, in order for them to be processed. Advance absentee bids may also be placed online at bid.numislit.com; live internet bidding will be available during the sale itself through the same platform.

Kolbe & Fanning Numismatic Booksellers LLC is a licensed and bonded auction firm in the State of Ohio. For more information, please see the Kolbe & Fanning website at numislit.com or email David Fanning at df@numislit.com. To register for the sale, go to bid.numislit.com. We look forward to your participation.

NEW BOOK: GUIDE BOOK OF CIVIL WAR TOKENS, 3RD ED.

Whitman Publishing announces the release of a revised and updated third edition of the award-winning Guide Book of Civil War Tokens, by Q. David Bowers. The 512-page book debuted during the 2018 holiday season, and is now available online (including at Whitman.com) and from bookstores and hobby shops nationwide. Its retail price is $39.95.

Civil War tokens are metal “coins” (actually not legal tender) privately issued by American tradesmen and others during the conflict. These tokens were used to advertise businesses and also to grease the wheels of commerce during the coin shortages caused by the war. By the summer of 1862, nervous citizens had hoarded all of the nation’s gold and silver coins and even its small copper-nickel Flying Eagle and Indian Head one-cent coins. This caused a financial emergency as it became nearly impossible to make change for everyday transactions. Millions of private tokens became substitutes for official U.S. coins, spent and accepted as 1¢ each by the public. Today these tokens are highly collectible. Values generally range from $15 for common, circulated pieces to more than $15,000 for rarities including unique tokens. In recent years, with eBay offerings, professional auction listings, and other opportunities to buy and sell, Civil War tokens have emerged as a dynamic part of the hobby marketplace.

The Guide Book of Civil War Tokens is a complete history and price guide. The third edition features new resources including an index of more than 20 die-maker ascriptions, organized by maker and Fuld number. This covers the nation’s most productive die-makers such as John Stanton and Emil Sigel, as well as more obscure sources including John D. Lovett and Mossin & Marr.

It also has a new index of tokens organized by the occupation or service of the issuer. This includes more than three dozen types of merchants—bakers, brewers and distillers, hoteliers, jewelers, pharmacists, doctors, saloonkeepers, and others who issued so-called store cards.

The first and second editions of the Guide Book of Civil War Tokens, released in August 2013 and December 2014, won national awards including the Token and Medal Society’s Mishler Exonumia Cataloguing Award and an Extraordinary Merit Award from the Numismatic Literary Guild.

Features include an illustrated appendix on sutler tokens (private issues of government-licensed contractors who typically operated camp stores in connection with traveling military regiments); biographies of selected Civil War token engravers and coiners; information on non-contemporary issues; and an appendix on encased postage stamps (another form of emergency currency issued in 1862).

Among the third edition’s features are hundreds of individually updated values based on today’s market, coordinated by valuations editor Steve Hayden; and numerous edits capturing the latest research in this active field. “The vast majority of Civil War tokens are very affordable in grades of Extremely Fine or higher and range in price from a few tens of dollars to a few hundred,” said Bowers. “There are so many possibilities, anyone can with care assemble a notable collection at modest expense.”

Bowers, widely regarded as the “Dean of American Numismatics,” wrote A Guide Book of Civil War Tokens with the cooperation of leading organizations, museums, libraries, collectors, dealers, and researchers. Also instrumental were the Civil War Token Society (in particular), the American Numismatic Society, the Token and Medal Society, and the American Numismatic Association. The book includes more than 2,000 full-color images, plus values in multiple grades, rarity ratings, detailed historical background, a study of how Civil War tokens were manufactured, ways to collect them, identification of unusual varieties, and information on the potential for valuable new discoveries. It covers both patriotic tokens and “store cards” (merchant advertising tokens), as well as sutler tokens (some of which used Civil War token dies) and encased postage stamps of the era. Nearly every known Civil War token die is described in both pictures and text.

Award-winning researcher John Ostendorf calls it “a must-have book for Civil War token collectors, who will benefit from Dave Bowers’s decades of research, presented in a very readable format.”

“There is no other reference like the Guide Book of Civil War Tokens,” said Whitman publisher Dennis Tucker. “It is the only full-color illustrated price guide to these collectible pieces of Americana. With a small investment of $39.95—about the price of a common copper token in Extremely Fine condition—a collector, dealer, or appraiser can become an expert on Civil War tokens and sutler tokens.”

“No book on how to collect Civil War tokens has ever been as thorough,” said Dr. George Fuld, a well-known expert in the field. “I expect that it will be a standard reference for years to come.” Fred Reed, another specialist in Civil War money and past editor of the Token and Medal Society Journal, said, “Every collector of this series will esteem this volume, and every historian or serious writer on the Civil War should consult its colorful pages in the future.”

In addition to being available at bookstores and online, A Guide Book of Civil War Tokens can be borrowed for free as a benefit of membership in the American Numismatic Association, through the Dwight N. Manley Numismatic Library (money.org/library). ANA members receive 10% off copies ordered through Whitman Publishing, the Official Supplier of the Association.

Contents: Introduction ∙ Style, Terminology, and Arrangement Notes ∙ Chapter 1: Overview and Key to Using This Book ∙ Chapter 2: Before the Civil War ∙ Chapter 3: Money of the Civil War ∙ Chapter 4: Civil War Tokens and the History of Collecting Them ∙ Chapter 5: Aspects of Collecting Civil War Tokens ∙ Chapter 6: Patriotic Civil War Tokens ∙ Chapter 7: Civil War Store Cards ∙ Appendices: Selected Civil War Token Engravers and Coiners; Location Unknown Civil War Store Cards; Fuld Numbers Now Non-Contemporary; Non-Contemporary Store Cards, by Issuer; Encased Postage Stamps of 1862; Civil War Sutler Tokens ∙ Notes ∙ Selected Bibliography and Resources ∙ About the Author ∙ Credits and Acknowledgments ∙ General Index ∙ Index of Die-Maker Ascriptions ∙ Index of Store Cards by Occupation or Service

For more information, or to order, see:
https://www.whitman.com/store/Inventory/Detail/A-Guide-Book-of-Civil-War-Tokens-3rd-Edition+0794846467

NEW BOOK: GUIDE BOOK OF U.S. PAPER MONEY 6TH ED.

An updated and revised sixth edition of the Guide Book of United States Paper Money is available now, in January 2019. The new book is a history and price guide of the paper currency of the United States dating from Civil War federal issues to present-day cash, plus related issues. Written by award-winning numismatists Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg, the 416-page guide is printed in full color with hundreds of high-resolution images. It retails for $24.95 and is available online (including at Whitman.com) and from booksellers and hobby retailers nationwide.

The Guide Book of United States Paper Money describes in detail thousands of federally issued notes—not just valuable rarities like the Demand Notes of 1861, but also currency found in our wallets today. An introduction by David L. Ganz explores topics such as the $2 bill, star notes, and World War II notes; American money in the Civil War; the Bureau of Engraving and Printing; how cash is designed, printed, and distributed; how to collect, store, and care for paper money; grading standards; and the many kinds of federal paper money printed from the 1860s to today’s Series of 2017 Federal Reserve Notes with signatures of U.S. Treasurer Jovita Carranza and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. The authors cover recent developments in the hobby. They discuss the Treasury Department’s changing approach to redesign of the $20 bill using a portrait of abolitionist Harriet Tubman (as well as recently postponed plans to include images of women on the $5 and $10 bills).

On the market side, the book combines the standard Friedberg cataloging system with retail values in multiple grades for each note.

Remarking on today’s marketplace, Arthur Friedberg said, “Great rarities know no price limits on the few occasions that such specimens appear for sale. When they sell, the resulting publicity offers a boost to the entire market. Meanwhile, small-size type notes (non–Federal Reserve notes) are approaching a level of interest formerly held by their large-size counterparts.” He described star notes (replacement notes) as being underappreciated, noting that “The market for Federal Reserve $1 notes affords collectors an opportunity to build their collections at face value by searching though what they receive in circulation.”

The first edition of the Guide Book of United States Paper Money was published in 2005, with updated editions released in 2007, 2010, 2014, and 2016.

Authors Arthur and Ira Friedberg are well known in the numismatic world. They have been professional numismatists for more than 30 years. Both joined their father’s family firm, The Coin & Currency Institute, after college. Since then they have established themselves as award-winning authors, coin dealers, researchers, and numismatic consultants to numerous governments and organizations.

The Guide Book of United States Paper Money covers notes from $1 to $10,000 face value; Fractional Currency; Treasury notes of the War of 1812; encased postage stamps; error notes; signatures on U.S. currency; uncut sheets; and other hobby topics. It includes a glossary and a bibliography for further research.

The book may be borrowed for free as a benefit of membership in the American Numismatic Association, through the Dwight N. Manley Numismatic Library. ANA members receive a 10% discount on copies purchased from Whitman Publishing, the Association’s Official Supplier.

A Guide Book of United States Paper Money, 6th edition · By Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg; introduction by David L. Ganz · ISBN 0794846350 · Full color, illustrated · 6 x 9 inches, softcover, 416 pages · Retail $24.95

For more information, or to order, see:
https://www.whitman.com/store/Inventory/Detail/A-Guide-Book-of-United-States-Paper-Money-6th-Edition+0794846351

NEW BOOK: INDIANA OBSOLETE BANK NOTES AND SCRIP

A History of Indiana Obsolete Bank Notes and Scrip
by Wendell Wolka

Finally (authors knowing the usual path of self-published works are now allowed to snicker at that choice of words) I am happy to announce the availability of a new catalogue covering the obsolete bank notes and scrip of Indiana; the first since 1978.

Published as a PDF file and available on either a CD or flash drive, this 900 page e-book lists 450 issuers, over 2800 individual note and scrip descriptions, and has nearly 1400 full color illustrations. As a PDF file, it is fully searchable by key word, phrase, or page number and illustrations can be enlarged to look at smaller details. Those needing hard copy can print out pages, sections, or even the entire book if so desired.

The use of modern technology also allows an attractive price point of $34.95 postpaid; less than one third the price of a comparable traditional format book. Those interested in obtaining a copy of this new e-book may do so by sending a check or money order for $34.95 to Wendell Wolka, PO Box 5439, Sun City Center, FL 33571 or using PayPal (using email address purduenut@aol.com). PLEASE SPECIFY EITHER CD OR FLASH DRIVE as the preferred media when placing orders.

NEW BOOK: RAILROAD STOCKS AND BONDS, 3RD ED.

Official title: Collectible Stocks and Bonds from North American Railroads: guide with prices, third edition

ISBN: 0-9746485-1-4

Published by:
TCox & Associates, Inc.
4891 Independence St, Suite 190
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
e-mail: tcox@coxrail.com

Street price: $45 to $50

Available in new form from scripophily dealers and from any local bookseller by special order

Bookseller and dealer discounts available.

Pages: 576 with approx 142 photos
Format: 8½ x 11 inches, 1.15 inches thick
Shipping weight: 4.1 pounds
Binding: perfect (flat spine)
Cover: paper
Barcoded with ISBN (no embedded price)
Case quantities: 5 copies per case (16 lbs, double-boxed)

The Third Edition includes ALL stocks, bonds and related certificates discovered up to mid-September, 20018. The catalog covers all railroad certificates known to have been issued in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Jamaica, and all Carribean Islands.

The second edition includes descriptions of 21,603 certificates, vastly enlarged since the second edition. These certificates represent 8,361 companies.

For more information, or to order, see:
https://www.coxrail.com/third-edition.asp

JOURNAL OF EARLY AMERICAN NUMISMATICS

The second issue of the Journal of Early American Numismatics (JEAN) has been published and mailed to subscribers. At 211 pages, JEAN 1.2 features six articles by four authors. Gary Trudgen presents a series of three pieces: “Walter Mould: Convicted Felon,” “The People vs. Counterfeit Coppers,” and “Samuel Atlee’s New York City Brewery and Mint.” David Gladfelter writes about the origins of the Colonial Newsletter in “From Little Acorns.” Journal editor Christopher McDowell corrects the previous scholarship on Rhode Island Ship Medals with his deep-dive, “A New Look and Fresh Theory on the Origins of the Rhode Island Ship Medal.” John Kleeberg closes out the issue with new evidence and interpretation in “The Continental Dollar: British Medals or American Coins?”

Annual subscriptions are $60 plus $5 s/h. Subscribers receive two issues per year (over 400 pages of content) in June and December. To subscribe, email Emma Pratte at the American Numismatic Society (epratte@numismatics.org) or call 212.571.4470 x117. ANS Full, Foreign, and Life Associate Members (both new and renewing) may elect to receive JEAN instead of the American Journal of Numismatics.

JEAN accepts submissions on early American numismatics (from all of the Americas) on a rolling basis. If you have an article or would like to pitch one, email a one-page abstract for consideration to editor Christopher McDowell at CRMcDowell@strausstroy.com.

Editor Christopher McDowell adds:

To read earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
JOURNAL OF EARLY AMERICAN NUMISMATICS LAUNCHED (https://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n22a10.html)
JOURNAL OF EARLY AMERICAN NUMISMATICS FIRST ISSUE (https://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n30a02.html)

BOOK REVIEW: THE FIRST CONSPIRACY

Best-selling author Brad Meltzer found the story behind his latest book, "The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington," in a footnote. He said he took the surprising information to Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Joseph Ellis.

"I went to him and I said, 'Did this really happen?' And it really happened. When it happened, George Washington rounded up those responsible. He took one of the main conspirators and he hung him in front of 20,000 people – the largest public execution at that point in North American history," Meltzer said Tuesday on "CBS This Morning." "He brought the hammer down, was like, 'I'm George Washington. Don't mess with me. I'm going to be on the money one day.'"

So how did the story of the plot get lost in history?

"Hanging happened on June 28, 1776. Guess what was happening in the world? The Declaration of Independence. The British were literally there and this gets lost to it," Meltzer said.

The book details an effort to undermine the American Revolution just before the signing of the Declaration of Independence and with British troops about to invade New York City. The plot connects counterfeiters, leading New York politicians and even the future president's own bodyguards. At the time, Washington had private bodyguards, Meltzer said, who were the "best of the best" from his regiments.

To read the complete article, see:
How author Brad Meltzer uncovered the secret plot to kill George Washington (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/brad-meltzer-new-book-the-first-conspiracy-plot-to-kill-george-washington/)

To read a Wall Street Journal review (subscription required), see:
‘The First Conspiracy’ Review: The Skulduggery of King George (https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-first-conspiracy-review-the-skulduggery-of-king-george-11547077659)

RICHARD BAGG, PHD (1946-2018)

Dave Bowers writes:

John Pack writes:

From Rick Bagg's web site:

For Rick Bagg's web site, see:
http://www.richardbagg.com/

To read his Linked In profile, see:
Richard Bagg PhD Rare Coin Specialist and Consultant (https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardbagg/)

ST. LOUIS STAMP & COIN COMPANY PRICE LISTS SCANNED

The work of a librarian is endless, with an ever-changing backlog of uncatalogued material and the constant need to prioritize and process the most important content. The American Numismatic Society (ANS) library is no exception, and ANS librarian David Hill has the Sisyphean task of sorting it all out. Among the uncatalogued material, many fixed price lists have not been entered into the ANS library catalog (DONUM). Interestingly, some of these can be found in the ANS multi-volume dictionary catalog (1962 plus later supplements), but for whatever reason, were not included in the eventual computerization of the library catalog. This situation is somewhat relieved with the recent cataloging and scanning of the St. Louis Stamp & Coin Company fixed price lists, c. 1903-1930.

Fixed price lists are among the most bibliographically challenging of numismatic literature as they often come undated, and without regular titles or sequencing. Charles Steigerwalt, the 19th century Pennsylvania dealer, is especially noteworthy (notorious?) in this regard. The situation is somewhat better for the St. Louis Stamp & Coin fixed price lists. Although published without dates, most are numbered and can be attributed within a year or two of publication. There are three distinct series, beginning with the “Special stock reduction circular” (c. 1903-1905), followed by the “Special bargain list” (c. 1903-1908), and then the better-known “Fixed price list” (c. 1905-1930). Also included in the series are unnumbered and undated items such as the “Great Snaps (Not Ginger)” edition, illustrated here.

Link to St. Louis Stamp & Coin Fixed Price Lists on Newman Portal:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/publisherdetail/528772

STACK’S BOWERS AUCTION ARCHIVES IMPROVED

Stack’s Bowers Galleries is pleased to announce a complete rebuild and relaunch of their online Auction Archives, available at https://archive.stacksbowers.com/ . The site now features nearly 650,000 past auction records, including many Stack’s and American Numismatic Rarities sales dating back to 2002, which have not been available before. Added to the archives are famous auctions such as the Oliver Jung Collection (2004), the Frog Run Farm Collection (2004), the Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection of World Gold Coins (2005), the Cardinal Collection/A Gentleman’s Collection (2005), the Norweb Collection (2006), the Keusch, Snow & Del Zorro Collections (2008), the Philadelphia Americana Sale (2010), and the John J. Ford Collection Parts V to XXI, as well as many others. Thousands of stunning high resolution images have also been added, allowing for close examination of auction lots. Stack’s Bowers Galleries is constantly adding to the archive as more data becomes available.

Features of the new Stack’s Bowers Galleries Auction Archives include:

• Industry-leading search speeds. 
• Easily accessible and mobile friendly through your internet browser.  
• Boolean search, allowing users to combine keywords with modifiers such as AND, NOT and OR to produce more relevant results. 
• The use of quotation marks to enhance search results.
• Versatile sorting features.
• Robust filtering capabilities and guided search, with the ability to narrow the search results by:
  • Category: (US Coins, US Currency, Numismatic Americana, Ancient Coins, World Coins, World Paper Money, U.S. Postage Stamps, and Minerals, Fossils & Oddities) 
  • Denomination
  • Country
  • Grading service
  • Grade
  • Auction year/title/session
  • CAC, Star, Plus 
  • Sold, passed

All auction records found in the archive are also accessible in Stack’s Bowers Galleries’ Previous Auction Prices Realized tool, available on all United States coin lot detail pages. This allows bidders to easily identify what similar coins have sold for in previous auctions. This data gives bidders more confidence in their bids, especially when accompanied by the data of multiple independent 3rd party price guides that is conveniently provided within the lot detail pages.

“We invite everyone with an interest in numismatics and numismatic research to visit our site and explore their new access to this extremely important historical information,” commented Brian Kendrella, company president. “At Stack’s Bowers Galleries, we continue to work toward providing the best client interface and best personal service in the hobby.”

To visit the archive, see:
https://archive.stacksbowers.com/

QUIZ ANSWERS: NUMISMATICS AND SPORTS

Vic Mason of Mamaroneck, NY writes:

Bill Burd writes:

ANA Edition reader Paul E. Peelle writes:

Keith Scott writes:

1. Who won the first gold medal at the 1896 Olympics in Athens?

Trick question! In The History of United States Coinage As Illustrated by the Garrett Collection, it states on page 96:

In fact, no gold medals were presented at the 1896 Olympics. First place winners received a silver medal.

On April 6, 1896, American James Connolly won the triple jump to become the first modern Olympic winner. The discus throw was contested later the same day.

2. In early Olympics there was an event called the “Plunge” that involved swimming a distance underwater. What numismatist took a silver medal in this event?

Edgar Holmes Adams took second place in the Plunge in St. Louis in 1904.

3. What living numismatist has scored ten perfect 300 games bowling?

Mark Borckardt

4. What coin collector is in the American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame and the Professional Bowlers Association Hall of Fame?

Chris Schenkel

5. What numismatist earned a World Series ring in 1984?

Albert Bobrofsky worked as a replacement umpire during a strike.

6. What numismatic author scored seven holes-in-one golfing?

John McCloskey, who died on December 15, 2018.

7. What coin collector was inducted into the International Game Fishing Association Hall-of-Fame?

Ted Naftzger

8. What numismatist climbed 32 mountains greater than 14,000 feet?

John McCloskey, again.

9. What professional basketball player served on the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee?

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

10. What member of the ANA Numismatic Hall of Fame was partial owner of the Texas Rangers baseball team?

Amon G. Carter. A later owner was George W. Bush.

11. What numismatist once owned the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA?

Jerry Buss

12. Name two coin collectors who owned the Los Angeles Kings in the NHL.

Jerry Buss sold to Bruce McNall

13. Who owned the Indiana Pacers basketball team?

Ira, Larry and Mark Goldberg.

14. Who was captain of a national championship cycling team?

Nathaniel C. Fick, Young Numismatist of the Year for 1994.

15. I am aware of a coin collector who has completed 37 marathons. Can you identify him or any collector who has completed more marathons?

Al Boka

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
QUIZ: NUMISMATICS AND SPORTS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n01a18.html)

ANSWER: WHAT DO THESE IMAGES REPRESENT?

Nikolay Malchev saw the images on our Flickr archive and wrote:

Chip Howell writes:

From: Sadigh Gallery's Ancient Greek Illyrian Silver Epeirote Republic Tetradrachm Coin 43152

To read the complete item description, see: Sadigh Gallery's Ancient Greek Illyrian Silver Epeirote Republic Tetradrachm Coin 43152 (http://sadigh.weebly.com/featured-artifacts/sadigh-gallerys-ancient-greek-illyrian-silver-epeirote-republic-tetradrachm-coin-43152)

Chip adds:

To read the Dodonian Zeus Wikipedia entry, see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodonian_Zeus

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JANUARY 6, 2019 : Query: What Do These Images Represent? (https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n01a10.html)

NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JANUARY 13, 2019

More on The Westerner Newsletter
Ken Bressett writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
THE WESTERNER NEWSLETTER (https://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n52a09.html)

UK Banknote Concept Designs: Endangered Wildlife

Gisele Navarro of NeoMam Studios writes:

To read the original article, see:
UK Banknote Concept Designs (Endangered Wildlife Edition) (https://www.quickquid.co.uk/quid-corner/uk-banknote-concept-designs-endangered-wildlife-edition/)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
ENDANGERED SPECIES BANKNOTE DESIGN CONCEPTS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n49a25.html)

NFLD = Newfoundland

Ken Berger writes:

Dave Ellison writes:

Aidan Work of New Zealand writes:

Gerry Tebben writes:

B.J. Herbison writes:

Ken Barr writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NUMISMATIC NUGGETS: JANUARY 6, 2019 : 1938 Canadian 10 Cent (https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n01a23.html)

A Vision of the Cashless Future
Dick Hanscom writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
LOOSE CHANGE: JANUARY 6, 2019 : Without Hard Cash, What’s Left To Steal? (https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n01a32.html)

A Nod to Paul Nugget
Vic Mason writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
PAUL NUGGET JOINS DAVID LAWRENCE RARE COINS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n01a17.html)

Christian Blom
Frank Robinson writes:

To read the complete document, see:
Christian Blom Correspondence File, 1973-1993 (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/520588?page=0)

More on the Bond That Still Pays 280 Years Later

To read the full working paper, see:
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0968565010000168 (https://www.chicagofed.org/publications/working-papers/2009/wp-12)

To read the full published version (subscription required), see:
The Case of the Undying Debt (https://doi.org/10.1017/S0968565010000168)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
THE BOND THAT STILL PAYS, 280 YEARS LATER (https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n01a31.html)

Columbia & Washington Medal Follow-Up

Gene Anderson writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
THE COLUMBIA & WASHINGTON MEDAL (https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n01a11.html)

Albums for Canadian Small Cents
Gawain O'Connor writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
VIDEO: COIN COLLECTING ON A BUDGET (https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n01a06.html)

Chop Mark on a U.S. $20 Bill
Web site visitor Patrick Fenderson writes:

To read an earlier E-Sylum article, see:
CHOPMARKS ON MODERN U.S. PAPER MONEY (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v17n07a21.html)

Query: Uniface Philippine Treasury Certificate

Ken Berger writes:

George Rode Writes to the Chapmans

Bill Foley writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
QUERY: ANA PIONEER GEORGE W. RODE (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n20a24.html)
MORE ON GEORGE W. RODE (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n21a23.html)

HARRY BOOSEL'S 1873 OPEN AND CLOSED 3'S

Boosel had an unusual specialty – collecting anything numismatic with the date 1873. Focusing initially on United States coinage of that year, he began writing monthly columns in the Numismatic Scrapbook Magazine beginning in March, 1957. In 1960 he put together, from his columns, a book on the topic titled simply 1873 – 1873, using type fonts resembling the two date styles of that year, the closed 3 and the open 3. The book was published by Hewitt Brothers of Chicago, then publisher of NSM. Next year will be its 60th anniversary.

Circa 1967, Boosel, who had continued writing “1873” articles, published a hardcover edition of 500 copies which included tear sheets of four subsequent supplements. He made a few pen and ink changes before autographing and signing the hardcovers. In all, Boosel wrote at least nine supplements, furnishing hand-marked tear sheets along with the hardcover books. The latest supplement that I have is a tear sheet from the 1987 Coinage of the Americas Conference at the American Numismatic Society in New York on the topic America’s Silver Coinage 1794-1891. Boosel’s contribution was titled “The Silver Coinage of 1873, and the So-Called Crime of 1873.” He died in 1994.

Why all this background? Look closely at the inscription at the bottom of Boosel’s 2½ cent token: “1873 HXB. 1973”. To my eyes, the 3 on the first date is “closed” and that on the second is “open”!

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
QUERY: BOOSEL'S 2 1/2 CENT COIN CONCEPT (https://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n52a08.html)
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JANUARY 6, 2019 : More on the 2 1/2 Coin Concept (https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n01a10.html)

QUERY: RECOINED SOL UNDERTYPE SOUGHT

Jeff Rock writes:

VOCABULARY TERMS: CAST AND CHASED

Cast and Chased. Molded pieces which are subsequently hand worked to sharpen molded relief and infrequently to add engraved lines. This is a method of producing medals (other methods are striking, repousse, niello). Casting and chasing is particularly useful for creating large medallions – and was the method employed by the first medalists of the Renaissance, by Pisanello and others who followed him.

The larger the cast medal or object the greater the need for chasing. Casting by its nature has certain imperfections, both raised (as lines, burrs and bosses) or incised areas (pits, holes and nicks). The imperfections may be in the mold or in the piece cast from the mold. Trapped gasses – air bubbles (occulded gas) – are the most common cause of such imperfections. These tend to locate near relief, lettering or molding inside the rim, and since they were not intended by the artist the need exists for their removal.

The French artist Germain Pilon (1535-1590), famous as a sculptor for his tomb of Henry II and Catherine dé Medici, cast and chased numerous medallions of French royalty in the mid 16th century. Working in the smaller scale of glyptic art he was still able, by chasing, to create a fidelity comparable to contemporary drawings. French medalists who followed Pilon used casting and chasing extensively.

The noted German satirist Karl Goetz cast a great number of his works in large size (over 4 inches) and many of these show evidence of chasing, perhaps by the hand of the master himself. Early goldsmiths would create medals and medallions by casting – even in precious metals – then would chase the pieces. Frey relates that Jewish goldsmiths early in the 17th century cast gold and silver medals of Charles VI, Maximilian I and others, then chased them to give the pieces a look of 200 years earlier. Frey termed such pieces “judenmedaillen.”

Many modern medals are made by casting and chasing, but production is slow and time-consuming by this method. The technique is useful for very short runs, or by an artist in his own studio for his own edification.

Evidence of tool marks. Not all pieces that are cast and chased show evidence of their tool marks. The rounded corners of lettering and detail, coupled with lines of tooling, are certainly diagnostics of this class of manufacture. Small casts may not require chasing, larger casts require some. Skillfulness of the chaser is apparent however, the more skilled he is, the less he is apt to leave traces of his hand tooling.

Some inexperienced collectors consider chasing marks as evidence, by their mere existence, the piece is counterfeit. Such, obviously, is not the case for originals being issued by this manner. See cast medals, chasing.

References:
N2 {1958} Babelon, p 33.

Looking for the meaning of a numismatic word, or the description of a term?  Try the Newman Numismatic Portal's Numismatic Dictionary at: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/dictionary

Or if you would like a printed copy of the complete Encyclopedia, it is available. There are 1,854 terms, on 678 pages, in The Encyclopedia of Coin and Medal Technology. Even running two a week would require more than 19 years to publish them all. If you would like an advance draft of this vital reference work it may be obtained from the author for your check of $50 sent postpaid. Dick Johnson, 139 Thompson Drive, Torrington, CT 06790.

JOHN ZUG (1869-1949)

John Zug (1869-1949), was born on May 1, 1869, Washington, District of Columbia, son of John Edgar Zug (1842-1915), and Frances "Fannie" Hallis Ege Zug (1843-1913). His family estate Tanglewood is located in Bowie, Prince George's County, Maryland.

In 1877, the eight year old John Zug began stamp collecting.

In 1892, he graduated Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, with a Civil Engineering degree.

He worked as a civil engineer, and was a stamp and coin dealer on the side.

In 1892, he worked for the United States government relocating to 322 Occidental Block, Seattle, Washington, to work on harbor dredging there. While there he became the first stamp dealer in the Pacific-Northwest.

On September 20, 1899, he married Katheryn Ella Davey (1880-1953), at Montesano, Lewis County, Washington. They had a daughter Frances. The couple were divorced in Alaska sometime after November 1917.

In 1907, at Boston, John Zug sold his stamp collection at auction.

In 1909, he is reported by some to have purchased 25,000 1909-S VDB Lincoln cents from the San Francisco Mint.

In 1920, he returned to his family estate Tanglewood is located in Bowie, Prince Georges County, Maryland. There he and his sister Anna (1876-1967) traded as stamp dealers. Benjamin Hudson Collins (q.v.), suggested he become a coin dealer.

Beginning November 1920 until October 1949 he published a full-page inside back cover advertisement in The Numismatist.

From 1920 to 1946, John Zug sold coins and stamps from his family farmhouse "Tanglewood", Bowie, Maryland. He was known to carry a wide assortment of gold coins.

In 1923 he became ANA Member No. 2123.

In 1927, the Washington Coin Club was founded and charter member John Zug was elected Vice President.

In 1935 he was a charter member of the Baltimore Coin Club.

In 1948, at the the ANA Convention, San Francisco, California, he was awarded the 25 year member silver medal.

Among the coin rarities he owned were : an 1876 proof-like Type I Trade Dollar, an MS67 Red 1909-S VDB Cent.

He died on October 23, 1949 at his daughter Frances' home in Towson, Maryland. He is buried in Holy Trinity Methodist Cemetery, Bowie, Prince George's County, Maryland. Zug was a 32nd degree Mason and Shriner.

To read the complete article, see:
ZUG, JOHN (https://sites.google.com/a/numismaticmall.com/www/numismaticmall-com/zug-john)

The entire inventory of the Lupia Numismatic Library is for sale. Individual items will be available before the remaining archives are broken up into parcels sold at philatelic auctions in the U. S. and Hong Kong. Check NumismaticMall.com frequently as dozens of new items with estimates will be posted daily until everything is sold.

All inquiries will be given prompt and courteous attention. Write to: john@numismaticmall.com .

HARVEY STACK'S NUMISMATIC FAMILY, PART 35

As 1964 began, Stack’s was coming off a very successful year in 1963. However, the new year was to bring various challenges to the coin hobby. First of all, Congress realized making U.S. coins – dimes, quarters, and half dollars -- was providing the silver almost at market price. From 1961 to 1963 the price of silver rose by some 20% and the Mint was virtually “giving away” the coins at close to or slightly above the value of the silver in each coin. So, Congress decided to start issuing dimes and quarters after 1964 in a clad metal and also to reduce the amount of silver in the half dollar by 40%. Meanwhile, earlier coins which were 90% silver in many cases increased in value as the price of silver rose.

Traders in precious metals started to buy up standard silver coins and store them away for future sale and possibly melting. This became a distraction to the numismatic hobby. Silver speculators, including the famous Hunt family of Texas, invested in silver coins on speculation. Dealers were flooded with orders to provide silver coins to those who felt the future market would be favorable, and general interest in collecting was deterred by this speculation. Even those who collected classic coins like Morgan silver dollars, thought that the market for silver might go up enough to increase the value of the collections. So many held back from selling either by private sale or at auction.

This interest in precious metals was also evident for gold coins during that year, increasing the demand for what could be acquired here in the United States as import regulations remained challenging.

Adverse publicity affected the auctions of some current collections. We had sales almost every month of 1964, but with the exception of a few, most were general collections, causing collectors to have some trouble filling out their want lists.

One of the highlights was the Philip Ward Collection of United States and Foreign Coins, in gold, silver and copper. It was a super collection of worldwide coins and appealed to buyers as a "real old-time collection." It was not full of high price rarities but was a basic collection of quality coins, providing us the opportunity to help quite a few of our clients. The collection formed by “Irl Baker" was an outstanding offering of United States gold, silver and copper coins that contained some classic rarities. The other collections were much smaller, but for some of our clients offered a chance to build on what they had already collected.

Another factor that influenced the coin business was the tightening by the Treasury's restrictions on importing gold coins without a license, overseen by the Office of Gold and Silver Operations (OGSO). This import licensing was required for all coins imported into United States at the Post Office, Custom House and even for people who bought gold coins overseas and returned carrying them. The rules and regulations were so oppressive that they slowed the importing of gold coins. The problem was that the OSGO never published a list of what could clear Customs and what was prohibited. Dealers and collectors were confused by the lack of clarity and distressed when they tried to bring gold coins from overseas for sale or personal collections. It seemed to some, including me, that the OSGO made up the rules as coins were presented to them for licensing. These rules and restrictions encouraged some to smuggle coins and buyers had to exercise great care not to buy illegally imported gold coins. This had a very damping effect on collecting as others experienced the difficulty of the licensing procedure.

Stack's had the perfect way to test the import regulation, and in my next article, I will tell the story of how that came about.

To read the complete article, see:
Harvey Stack Remembers: Growing up in a Numismatic Family, Part 35 January 8, 2019 (https://www.stacksbowers.com/News/Pages/Blogs.aspx?ArticleID=3238)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
HARVEY STACK'S NUMISMATIC FAMILY, PART 34 (https://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n52a17.html)

HETTIE ANDERSON, MODEL FOR SAINT-GAUDENS

Hettie Anderson was an African American model who, long story short, was odds-on the one to pose for Liberty on Saint-Gaudens’ eagle and double eagle coins, as well as Adolph Weinman’s Walking Liberty 50-cent (or half dollar) coin.

The thing is that for many years, the stunning female figure depicted on the eagle coins was a complete mystery for everyone else except Saint-Gaudens’ close family, friends, and work colleagues. His family actually tried to keep this information unknown, perhaps because she was black. Luckily, thanks to William E. Hagans’ research, the nearly century-old secret was discovered and Hettie Anderson received the proper kudos.

Although other models were receiving credit for Adolph Weinman’s Walking Liberty half dollar coin, Weinman described Hettie in all without mentioning her name – probably, once more, because she was African American.

Hettie Anderson was a successful model born in South Carolina in 1873 and relocated to New York City in . At that time, her job was very uncommon for a black woman. She also posed as the Liberty figure on Saint-Gaudens’ twenty-dollar gold coin and as the Victory figure for the Sherman Monument.

To read the complete article, see:
The Story of the First African American to Appear on a U.S. Coin (https://blackexcellence.com/the-first-african-american-to-appear-on-a-u-s-coin/)

Hettie Anderson was born in South Carolina in 1873. She relocated to New York City, where she became an artist's model, an uncommon employment at that time for a woman of African-American descent. Anderson posed for the Sherman Monument's figure of Victory in 1897; one of her sittings with Saint-Gaudens was captured by the artist Anders Zorn. Anderson was also the model for the figure of Liberty on Saint-Gaudens' twenty-dollar gold piece.

To read the complete article, see:
Hettie Anderson (https://sgnhs.org/augustus-gaudens-cd-html/Models/Hettie.htm)

Roger Burdette confirms:

THE COLUMNS OF THE SECOND PHILADELPHIA MINT

At the entrance of Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia sits six marble columns that have for over a century withstood the test of time, the elements and man. The Ionic order Greek-style colonnades are all that remains of the 2nd United States Mint in Philadelphia and today stand in geographic and historic isolation of their origin site.

Designed by famed architect William Strickland. Fashioned after the Temple of Ilyssus near Athens, the columns formed one of two porticoes on the Mint Building that stood at the corner of Chestnut and Juniper streets from 1829 until its demolition in 1902. Strickland wrote “it is difficult to preserve all the characteristics of a Greek Temple whose original design and appropriate was solely for the worship of the gods and for the disposition of public treasure.”

The Strickland Columns, standing 24-feet tall and three feet wide each, were donated in 1904 to what was then known as the Jewish Hospital and placed at Old York Road where they remained for nearly 100 years. It is theorized that famed architect Frank Furness, who also designed other buildings for the hospital, supervised the placement of the colonnade.

Each marble column is three feet in diameter, fluted and bound at the neck of the capital with an olive wreath. The columns are composed of five elements: an abacus, a capital, a shaft, a base and a plinth. Each abacus and capital weighs approximately 41,000 pounds. The shafts vary in weight from 17,000 to 18,500 pounds. Four of the plinths and bases weigh 4,600 pounds; the two other weigh 67,000.

The iconic columns were removed from the Einstein Campus in November 2000 when the entrance at Old York Road was modified and the traffic pattern changed. After nearly a decade and a half in storage, the Strickland Columns were returned to their home along Old York Road as an eminent example of recycling, relocation and restored history.

To read the complete article, see:
Iconic columns at Einstein Medical Center withstand the test of time (http://www.phillytrib.com/lifestyle/iconic-columns-at-einstein-medical-center-withstand-the-test-of/article_c87e3cd2-7b9d-50ff-9044-082abefb5c92.html)

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
SECOND PHILADELPHIA MINT COLUMNS STANDING TALL ONCE AGAIN (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n16a11.html)
SECOND PHILADELPHIA MINT COLUMN INSTALLATION PHOTO (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n18a08.html)

LONGACRE’S LAST LETTER?

John Dannreuther emailed me with a very neat find by John Kraljevich. While at a Civil War militaria show, John purchased what may well be Chief Engraver James B. Longacre’s last letter.

On December 26, 1868, Longacre, who was terminally ill with pneumonia, wrote a brief instruction to Assistant Engraver William H. Key to have William Barber complete raising the reverse working hub for the new Eagle by cutting away the excess metal in the fields which was pushed out in the course of the earlier impressions:

Other mint records show that “table” was generally used to refer to the overall die face surface, so in this case, Longacre was referring to the fields.

Removing the excess metal pushed out by previous hubbings was critical as it effectively created a mechanical “dam” which would prevent further impression. In fact, not understanding the need to remove the excess metal had prevented the mint from hubbing full dies until Franklin Peale discovered the process during his 1833 to 1835 visits to the British and French mints.

Sadly, Longacre succumbed to illness and died just six days later on Jan. 1, 1869.

CHICAGO COIN CLUB 1,200TH MEETING

Bruce Perdue writes:

ANA ENGRAVING COURSE SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

The art of engraving has been around since the dawn of time. From artistic printmaking and mapmaking to storytelling through printed illustrations, engraving has been a profound artistic method for creative minds over the years. Even today, engraving remains as an important artistic expression and one that is seen every day—in our pocket change. Engraved steel dies are used to stamp a metal disk to transfer designs to coins or medals.

Six applicants interested in the medium will have the opportunity to explore the ancient art of hand die-engraving together with more modern processes used to create coins and medals during a week-long, all-expense paid workshop on “The Art of Engraving." The class will take place during the American Numismatic Association’s popular Summer Seminar, June 15-20 on the campus of Colorado College in Colorado Springs. The course is led by Laura Stocklin, engraver at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

Selected participants will receive a scholarship provided by the Gilroy and Lillian P. Roberts Foundation in honor of Gilroy Roberts, ninth chief engraver of the United States Mint. The scholarship includes tuition, lodging, and meals for one week, and up to $400 reimbursement for transportation costs. Students who successfully complete the first year will be invited back for the second year (June 2020) to continue their study of this fascinating art form (and will receive a second scholarship, as outlined above, to allow participation in 2020).

“My intention for the course is not only to bridge the gap between artists and numismatics with insight into the craft and artistry of the objects of the hobby, but also to further what are slowly disappearing crafts,” said Stocklin, who has instructed the course since 1999. “Hand engraving is an ever-shrinking field; as such, expanding exposure to numismatic art forms is paramount to me.”

Applicants need not be professional artists to attend the workshop. To apply, send a letter to Seminars Manager Brianna Victor that addresses the following:

• Explain your art background, including education and interests.
• List any exhibits where your art has been shown publicly. Please list any awards your artwork has received.
• List any art organization of which you are a member.
• What, if any, are your numismatic interests?
• What, if any, interest do you have in die making or the coining process?
• Do you have a special project or skill you would like to develop during the class?
• Please submit five examples of your artwork for consideration during portfolio review. Digital images preferred, but not required.

Completed application should be sent to bvictor@money.org with the subject line: “2019 Art of Engraving Scholarship.” Electronic submissions are preferred but not required. The deadline to submit applications is Friday, March 15.

COIN COUNTERFEITS GET BETTER AND BETTER

One disturbing thing about fakes and reproductions is that they tend to get better as the counterfeiters learn new methods of production and universal methods of detection. Back in 1972, when I received my initial training, some folks thought we should reveal all we knew about counterfeit coins while others insisted we keep everything secret so as not to help the counterfeiters improve their product. We took the middle ground and revealed just a few of the distinctive defects (“markers”) used to identify a fake.

The group that wished us to keep everything secret turned out to be correct. The more we divulged, the more difficult authentication became as commonly seen defects on virtually all fake coins eventually disappeared. At one Summer Seminar in 1973 or 1974 I showed the class a newly produced $10 Indian and one of the “markers” to use to easily detect it. Within a short period of time, the identical fakes showed up at the authentication service with that defect removed.

I don’t mean to alarm readers, but the counterfeiters have taken huge leaps forward in the last several years so that many of the state-of-the-art fakes would fit undetected into a coin collection among the prized pieces.

To read the complete article, see:
Counterfeits get better and better (https://www.numismaticnews.net/article/counterfeits-get-better-and-better)

MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE ANCIENT COIN DONATION

A coin collector from Lewiston, Maine, with no prior connection to Middlebury, has donated more than 1,000 ancient coins to the Middlebury College Museum of Art.

Gary Guimond, who started collecting ancient coins in the 1950s, was looking for an educational institution where his gold, silver, bronze, and electrum coins would be preserved, appreciated, and studied as primary sources of history.

Using online resources, Guimond learned about the Middlebury College Museum of Art and its extensive holdings in ancient civilizations, particularly from the fourth century BCE to the third century CE. The donor approached President Laurie Patton, who put him in touch with Middlebury's Office of Advancement, which connected him to the Museum of Art and its curator of ancient art, who was pleased to accept the gift.

“There are a good number of beautiful and interesting coins from ancient Greece, ancient Rome, the early and middle Byzantine eras, Parthia, and even the Gallic Empire,” said Professor Pieter Broucke, the associate curator of ancient art. The collection is particularly strong in coinage from the Roman Empire, he said, with pieces displaying Augustus, Tiberius, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, Septimus Severus, and the empresses Faustina the Elder and Julia Domna.

The collection includes a bronze Ptolemy II coin, a Republican silver coin, a number of Justinian coins, and a fourrée coin of Caracalla from the third century CE. The collection also contains several Byzantine cup-shaped bronze coins and some medieval French and Eastern European coins, as well as a cluster of lead tokens and pewter objects that served as currency in Renaissance England.

In an email, Guimond explained the motivation behind his gift: “The most important consideration to me is to find a safe home for the collection and for ensuring the coins will be available to students and faculty to display, conserve, study, and research. It feels that Middlebury [is] the right place for all [these pursuits].”

Indeed, Middlebury’s museum, with extensive holdings in antiquities, was in a good position to accept and utilize the collection. “The gift constitutes a major expansion of our numismatic holdings at the Middlebury College Museum of Art,” Broucke explained. “It will be studied by students and faculty in the Departments of Classics, History, Religion, and Art History for generations to come.”

One coin of particular interest to Broucke is a silver drachm of the Parthian King Mithradates II, who ruled from 121 to 91 BCE. (See photo.) The coin, in fine condition, shows the diademed (or crowned) bust of "Mithradates the Great" wearing a torque (or collar) that ends in a seahorse. The coin was struck in Rhagai (modern-day Ray in Iran) in about the year 100 BCE, the professor said.

The Middlebury Museum is in the early stages of determining how the coins will be used, but Broucke is fairly certain that several will go on view in the Antiquities Gallery, while other coins or tokens, either individually or in small clusters, could be displayed in conjunction with the museum’s Byzantine and medieval objects.

In addition, a number of the coins in less-than-fine condition will go into a “study collection,” where students and faculty will be permitted to handle the objects and scrutinize them for research purposes, Broucke said.

To read the complete press release, see:
Vast Collection of Ancient Coins Is Gifted to the Museum of Art (http://www.middlebury.edu/newsroom/archive/2019-news/node/610436)

ROYAL MINT TO REISSUE SCARCE 50P COINS

David Pickup writes:

The Royal Mint is to reissue ten rare 50p coins next year, in celebration of the denomination’s 50th anniversary.

According to a Royal Proclamation published earlier this month, the new 50p coins will be released in 2019, and they will all be reissues of previous designs.

The list of 50p coins cited for reprint includes the scarce ‘Kew Gardens’ 50p, a coin much sought-after by collectors and often considered the rarest 50 pence piece in circulation.

It’s not yet known whether the coins will be issued for circulation, or will simply be sold as commemorative, display editions, but it is expected that commemorative collector’s editions in Cupro-Nickel, Silver and Gold will be made available. The new coins will presumably be identifiable by having 2019 stamped upon them, and may not be as valuable to collectors while older, original versions are out there.

To read the complete article, see:
Rare 50p coins are being reissued by the Royal Mint – including the Kew Gardens design (https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/rare-50p-coins-valuable-reissued-royal-mint-2019-kew-gardens-coin/)

MEDIA COVERAGE OF LUTES 1943 COPPER CENT

What’s a penny worth?

In this case, a rare penny, expected to fetch about $170,000 at auction this week, brought in a little over $200,000.

The 1943 copper penny was minted in Philadelphia and is one of an estimated 10 to 15 in existence. Heritage Auctions spokesman Eric Bradley tells Fortune that the coins are rare because they weren’t made of zinc-coated steel, as were others at the time.

Tom Caldwell, of Concord, Mass. was the top bidder of the Philadelphia penny. He says he plans to display it at various coin shows around the country. The money raised from the sale will go to the Pittsfield Public Library, where Don Lutes, Jr., the original owner of the coin, was a patron until his death last September.

Lutes received the penny in 1947 as change for his school lunch. Intrigued, he asked the U.S. Treasury if it had made any copper pennies in 1943 and was told no. He kept the coin anyway.

To read the complete article, see:
Ultra-Rare Penny Sells for $204,000 at Auction (http://fortune.com/2019/01/11/ultra-rare-penny-auction/)

To read the complete articles, see:
Fetching a pretty penny: Rare copper penny Army veteran found in his lunch money in 1947 sells for more than $200K at auction - after claims it would sell for eight times that (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6581223/Rare-penny-sells-200K-auction.html)
Rare coin found in teenager’s pocket change could fetch a pretty penny at auction (https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/01/09/rare-coin-found-pocket-change-could-sell-six-figures/2530599002/)

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
MORE BREEN AND TAXAY AUTHENTICATION CERTIFICATES (https://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n28a12.html)
BEARDLESS BREEN ON RADIO WITH 1943 BRONZE CENT (https://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n30a08.html)
DISCOVERY SPECIMEN 1943 BRONZE CENT GRADED (https://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n33a16.html)

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BREADCOINS

Jeffrey Carter, who is homeless, carried two gold-colored coins in his palm as he approached the Mission Muffins cafe trailer in Northwest Washington to exchange them for a breakfast burrito and apple juice. The quarter-size coins — each worth $2.20 and inscribed with part of the Lord’s Prayer and an image of wheat — were “Breadcoins,” a new form of currency in the District intended for people in need.

Inspired by the popularity of cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin, Breadcoins have circulated in the District since 2016, but they are still relatively unknown. They are an option for people who worry that giving money to those in need might be used to fuel an addiction.

“People don’t want to give to people who drink alcohol and use drugs,” Carter, 56, said this week as he waited for his food. “It’s a new way to give.”

Carter got his Breadcoins at the Central Union Mission, where he has been living since August, when he relocated from Connecticut. The shelter serves meals, but using Breadcoins at Mission Muffins gives him more options and allows him to feel like a paying customer.

Central Union Mission disburses the coins to residents who take its workforce development classes. Breadcoin co-founder Scott Borger often distributes the coins to people when he volunteers at the shelter each week.

The coins are the product of his entrepreneurial venture, which encourages people to buy coins for $2.50 each and distribute them to people who are hungry or to participating nonprofit groups. Each coin is redeemable for $2.20 worth of food at one of six vendors in the District, with a combined 11 locations. The value difference keeps the nonprofit organization running.

Some items at Mission Muffins are priced so that they can be bought with one Breadcoin. For example, a Breadcoin will buy a muffin, a twin pack of scones or a cup of coffee. For items that cost more, people can pay with multiple coins or make up the difference with cash.

Borger, who is also an economist at the National Credit Union Administration, said the project gives him a different perspective on the city than his job does.

“In a room with people who are talking about billion-dollar deals, it’s good to be reminded on occasion that $100 or even $25 can be a huge difference in someone’s budget,” he said.

During the commute to her job near Union Station, Melanie Weldon-Soiset frequently gives Breadcoins to people who ask her for money. She started buying the coins about two years ago, when she attended church with the co-founders.

Each coin comes with a list of vendors that accept it. Some people are grateful, some are confused, and still others have rejected the coins, Weldon-Soiset said. She said carrying a few Breadcoins in her purse has taught her to feel more compassionate toward other people’s suffering.

To read the complete article, see:
‘Breadcoin’ is a new currency in D.C. for people in need (https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2019/01/11/breadcoin-is-new-currency-dc-people-need/?utm_term=.8aa56f4aaf70)

To visit the Breadcoin web site, see:
https://breadcoin.org/

REGINA COIN SHOW FEATURES FIRST NATIONS MEDALS

When Queen Victoria died on January 22, 1901, it began a series of events that would have great consequences for the future of the British monarchy and its overseas territories.

With her death, Victoria’s eldest son became Edward VII.

Edward’s eldest surviving son was next in line to the throne, so he sent the young George on a trip to many parts of the British Empire. The Duke, and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall and York, left England on March 16, 1901 aboard H.M.S. Ophir. For the next nine months, they visited Gibraltar, Malta, Ceylon, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Mauritius, South Africa, St. Vincent, and finally, Canada and Newfoundland.

Melvill Allan Jamieson’s book “Medals Awarded to North American Indian Chiefs 1714-1922” chronicled the event: “…As in other parts of the British Empire a gathering of the native tribes was held to offer allegiance to the Royal travelers who were representing the King Emperor.”

On September 28, 1901, the Royal party rode in a special carriage two miles west from Calgary to Shagannapi Point, a wide plateau among the foothills overlooking Calgary. In ancient times, it served as a meeting ground between Blackfoot and Cree. Approximately 2,000 representatives of the various First Nations tribes of western Canada were encamped there, including Blackfoot, Blood, Peigan, Sarcee, Stony and Cree. They were wearing their finest buckskins, feathers, leggings and moccasins.

It was a grandiose affair. A detachment of North West Mounted Police accompanied the Royals and the Governor General of Canada, Lord Minto.

The 12 Head Chiefs of the First Nations tribes were presented to the Duke, who greeted and shook the hand of each Chief. A young Sarcee boy then read a statement welcoming the Duke “to the land of our forefathers.” Each of the Head Chiefs of the six First Nations then gave a speech in their own languages.

This was followed by a speech from the Duke to the assembled First Nations peoples.

His speech ended with “From the warmth of your reception I feel that you will also long remember this day. In order to specially commemorate it the Great King has ordered that a suitable silver medal shall be struck, and one will be presented to each of the Head Chiefs, which shall always be kept by him so long as he remains in office, and afterwards by his successors.”

Each of the 12 Head Chiefs received a 65mm silver medal. The obverse of the medal depicts the busts of their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York encircled by a scroll of maple leaves. The reverse shows the Royal Arms in the centre, underneath CALGARY SEP. 28th 1901 surrounded by PRESENTED TO HEAD CHIEFS IN COMMEMORATION OF ASSEMBLY OF INDIAN TRIBES. The medal is suspended by a ring, with a red, white and blue ribbon at the top of which is a brooch showing a male First Nations in a canoe, holding a paddle in both hands.

In addition, 24 similar bronze medals were presented to sub Chiefs.

Both the silver and bronze medals were produced by P. Ellis Company of Toronto.

After his return to Britain, George was proclaimed Prince of Wales in November 1901. He became King George V in 1910, leading Britain until 1936. His granddaughter, Elizabeth II, is currently on the throne.

The medals will be on display at the Regina Coin Club spring show and sale, April 13-14, 2019 at the Turvey Centre, just north of Regina.

First Nations representatives have been invited to cut the ribbon to open the show. Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan Thomas Molloy will attend the show as Queen Elizabeth’s representative.

George Manz is Fellow of the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association and President of the Regina Coin Club.

For more information on the Regina Coin Club, see:
http://www.reginacoinclub.com/

NEPAL WANTS HIGH-DENOMINATION INDIAN BANKNOTES

The Nepalese government has asked the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to make all Indian bills, including Rs 200, Rs 500 and Rs 2,000, legal tender in the Himalayan state, where the Indian rupee is widely used.

India has been reluctant to allow high-denomination currency notes to circulate in Nepal, where currently only the Rs 100 note enjoys official acceptance, as this could lead to people stashing illegal cash and fuel the flow of fake banknotes.

The Indian rupee accounts for an estimated 25 per cent of the total money in circulation in Nepal, with the currency also used for the bulk of bilateral trade between the two countries. India is the largest trading partner of Nepal, a landlocked country located between India and China.

Also, the thousands of Indian tourists who visit Nepal every year have shown a preference to transact in the Indian rupee.

However, last month, the Nepalese government banned the circulation of Rs 200, Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 bills, which were introduced after India’s November 2016 demonetisation move but are yet to be notified by the RBI for use in Nepal.

Besides Nepal, the Indian currency is also widely used in Bhutan, with people allowed to carry Rs 25,000 in Indian currency to the two countries.

To read the complete article, see:
Why Nepal wants high-denomination Indian bills as legal tender in the country (https://theprint.in/economy/why-nepal-wants-high-denomination-indian-bills-as-legal-tender-in-the-country/175300/)

PROP MONEY PODCAST

There’s a scene in the buddy cop movie Rush Hour 2, starring Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, that takes place in a crowded Las Vegas casino. After some tense action, a small bomb goes off near one of the roulette tables and money flies everywhere.

A company named ISS Props had provided the money for that scene (and several others) to the filmmakers. The fake money amounted to nearly a billion dollars in fake bills — and the company was surprised when one day, during the filming, two men from the Secret Service showed up to their office. The Secret Service was there because some of the fake cash had gone missing from the set and had started turning up on the Las Vegas strip. CEO of ISS Props, Gregg Bilson Jr., was now facing a serious charge: counterfeiting.

The U.S. has strict penalties for counterfeiting that can be traced back to the 1860s. Around the time of the Civil War, there was a lot of counterfeit money circulating through the country. The federal government needed to assure faith in its currency, so it got serious about cracking down on counterfeit bills. All reproductions of U.S currency became illegal, including photographs of money.

In 1865, a new enforcement agency was formed to help deal with the counterfeiting problem: the Secret Service. That agency is now part of the Department of Homeland Security and is generally associated with protecting leaders and their families. But in the beginning, they were part of the Treasury Department, and their only job was to fight counterfeiting.

The ban on any photographic representation of money was in place for about a century, and this created a problem for people who worked in visual media, which came to include film.

In the early days of cinema, when money was needed in a film, producers often used Mexican pesos. After the Mexican revolution ended (around 1920), a bunch of regional Mexican money that had been created during the revolution lost value and was sold for cheap.

In the second half of the 20th century, the government began relaxing restrictions on the rules around photographing currency and it’s now legal to show real money in film. Using real money is great for scenes where you only need to show a small amount in a close-up shot. But for scenes where you need a lot of visible cash, it can be too risky. For those kinds of scenes, fake money is often preferred.

Gregg Bilson’s bills for Rush Hour 2 featured many small differences setting them apart from the real things, but they were still too close to reality for the Secret Service. Bilson had to turn over all of this prop money to be destroyed. They also confiscated and destroyed all the electronic files used in creating the fake money.

To read the complete article and listen to the podcast, see:
Money Makers (https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/money-makers/)

BERLIN GOLD COIN HEIST TRIAL BEGINS

The 100kg (220lb) Canadian "Big Maple Leaf" was made of pure 24-carat gold and was worth €3.75m (£3.4m; $4.3m).

The chief suspects on trial, all in their early 20s, are two brothers and a cousin from a Lebanese Berlin family accused of organised crime links.

A ladder, a wheelbarrow and a getaway car were allegedly used in the heist.

Detectives have not recovered the coin, and believe it has been either cut into pieces or melted down and sold.

It was one of just five such coins minted by Canada, and had been donated to the museum by an anonymous collector.

Prosecutors allege that the three chief suspects climbed onto adjacent railway tracks and used a ladder as a bridge to break into the museum through a third-floor window, which was not alarmed.

The men then smashed through a bullet-proof glass case to steal the coin.

They are believed to have used a wheelbarrow and skateboard to roll the coin away before abseiling from the tracks to their getaway vehicle.

To read the complete article, see:
Giant gold coin trial opens in Berlin (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46821706)

To read the complete articles, see:
Four men deny giant gold coin heist from Berlin's Bode Museum (http://artdaily.com/news/110453/Four-men-deny-giant-gold-coin-heist-from-Berlin-s-Bode-Museum)
Four men go on trial for giant gold coin heist from Berlin museum (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/10/four-men-to-go-on-trial-for-giant-gold-coin-heist-from-berlin-museum)
Trial For Suspects Accused Of Stealing 220-Pound Solid Gold Coin Begins In Germany (https://www.npr.org/2019/01/10/684261949/trial-for-suspects-accused-of-stealing-220-pound-solid-gold-coin-begins-in-germa)

To read earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
GIANT GOLD MAPLE LEAF COIN STOLEN (https://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n14a11.html)
GIANT COIN THEFT FAMILY PROPERTIES SEIZED (https://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n29a37.html)

LOOSE CHANGE: JANUARY 13, 2019

The Parmelee 1808 Quarter Eagle

It would be the only year of issue for the design, as 13 years would elapse before the next delivery of quarter eagles from the mint. This resulted in the 1808 quarter eagle becoming one of the two or three most difficult U.S. type coins to acquire.

Of the 2,710 pieces delivered that day, perhaps 3% or 4% have survived. One in particular stands head and shoulders above the rest. This is the story of that coin...

To read the complete article, see:
The Story of an American Coin (https://www.pcgs.com/news/the-story-of-an-american-coin)

No for Clemency for Tom Noe
Ohio Gov. John Kasich is departing office without deciding whether to grant clemency to imprisoned “Coingate” figure Thomas Noe.

Mike DeWine, who succeeds Kasich as governor, could rule later on Noe’s petition.

Noe, 64, has served 10 years of an 18-year prison sentence for stealing from a $50 million rare-coin fund that he handled for the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation.

To read the complete article, see:
Coingate figure Tom Noe gets a ‘no decision’ from Kasich (https://www.dispatch.com/news/20190109/coingate-figure-tom-noe-gets-no-decision-from-kasich)

Shredded Currency Used in Concrete

In 2018, the Federal Reserve had to get rid of 8.4 million pounds of the stuff, and selling it as souvenirs does not move it fast enough.

The San Francisco Fed’s Dec. 10 blog says its Salt Lake City branch has a more concrete solution for recycling shredded cash — concrete. The bank’s office there says it “provides its shredded currency to a local company that incinerates the residue and uses it as energy to fuel their operations. Then the ash is used in a cement mixture process, so every bit of the shred is used.”

To read the complete article, see:
Concrete could be hiding something that used to be money (https://www.coinworld.com/news/paper-money/2019/01/concrete-could-hide-something-that-used-to-be-money.html)

The Weinberg 1793 Chain Cent

2. Lot 4312. 1793 Chain Cent, PCGS MS64+BN CAC. Sale Price - $1,500,000

This was the second highest price ever paid for a 1793 Chain Cent and the price was very strong for an MS64+BN. The consigner, Alan Weinberg, acquired this coin directly from Large Cent connoisseur, Ted Naftzger, on December 31, 1996, thus this coin never appeared in any of the later Naftzger sales, either public or private, where it would have been a highlight. Truly, an amazing coin.

To read the complete article, see:
Ten Big Ones From The January 2019 Heritage Sale (https://info606505.wixsite.com/website/blog/ten-big-ones-from-the-january-2019-heritage-sale)