Welcome to The E-Sylum: Volume 4, Number 08, February 18, 2001: 
an electronic publication of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society. 
Copyright (c) 2001, The Numismatic Bibliomania Society. 
  

SUBSCRIBER UPDATES 

   We have no new subscribers this week.   Our subscriber 
   count holds at 369. 
  

NEW VERSION OF CARSON CITY GOLD BOOK 

   Doug Winter, author of books relating to branch mint United 
   States gold coins, has announced his newest work "Gold Coins 
   of the Carson City Mint, 1870-1893."  This book replaces his 
   1995 work, co-authored with Dr. Larry Cutler, entitled "Gold 
   Coins of the Old West."  According to his press release: 

   "The book, which is expected to be ready in mid-March to 
   mid-April, contains over 250 pages and is profusely illustrated. 
   It contains virtually all new information, included greatly expanded 
   data on the appearance of every gold issue from the Carson 
   City Mint, updated Condition Census and rarity information 
   and new research on the history of the mint and the Carson City 
   gold and silver booms. 

   Winter will produce both hardcover and softcover editions. The 
   hardcover edition will be limited to only 500 copies and will be 
   numbered and signed by the author. 

   The pricing on the book is $39 for the hardcovered edition and 
   $29 for the softcover; these figures include shipping by U.S. 
   Priority mail. As a courtesy to E-Sylum subscribers, Winter will 
   extend a $5 discount on one or both of the editions. 

   According to Winter, "this book should be included in the library 
   of anyone with even a passing interest in the gold coins of Carson 
   City or an interest in the history of the Old West. With my first 
   book on this subject out-of-print and scarce, I think this book will 
   provide a host of new collectors with important information." 

   Winter can be reached by email at dwn@ont.com. Orders can be 
   sent to DWN Publishing at PO Box 7827 Dallas TX. 75209." 
  

BASS COLLECTION PHOTOGRAPHY COMPLETED 

   From a February 8th Press Release from the American 
   Numismatic Association: "Digital photographs now document 
   the more than 500 items that comprise the Harry W. Bass Jr. 
   Core Collection at the American Numismatic Association 
   (ANA) Money Museum. 

   Bass, an enshrinee in the ANA Numismatic Hall of Fame 
   who died in 1998, assembled the most comprehensive 
   collection of America's gold coins, in addition to patterns and 
   large-sized paper money.  Many of the finest specimens from 
   that collection are now on long-term loan to the ANA Money 
   Museum from the Harry W. Bass Jr. Research Foundation. 

   "Work is progressing nicely on mounting an exhibit of this 
   magnificent collection," says Curator Robert W. Hoge. "The 
   wonderful photography was performed by Douglas Plasencia 
   of Bowers and Merena Galleries. He captured more than 
   1,000 images with the same state-of-the-art, high-resolution 
   digital equipment he used to shoot the photographs for the 
   firm's 1999 and 2000 Bass auction catalogs." (Photographs 
   of the Bass Core Collection will be available for detailed 
   study on the Bass web site - www.hbrf.org - and in the 
   ANA Museum's exhibit area.) 

   Hoge adds that noted author and auctioneer Q. David 
   Bowers currently is working on a sylloge of the Bass 
   Collection and a comprehensive biography of its founder." 
  

EAC 1975 PHOTOS ONLINE 

   In a note subscribers to the Colonial Newsletter,  Jim Spilman 
   writes: "We have just posted another group of experimental 
   images on the University of Notre Dame numismatic website. 
   These are the Connecticut specimens from the famous EAC 
   Auction Sale of 15 February 1975 

   These images include Lots # 001 through #553 and - with 
   one minor exception - were all photographed from the 
   original paste-up plates made to illustrate the catalog and 
   which were loaned to The Colonial Newsletter Foundation 
   by Mrs. Herb Melnick.  All images are 500 ppi resolution, 
   or greater. 

   At the time the photographs were made - one of the plates 
   was missing which included Lots 277 - 297. These lots ARE 
   included in our archive but the images were obtained from the 
   Richard Picker Photofiles at CNLF.  Dick was presented with 
   the extra set of the original photographic prints  by Herb 
   Melnick shortly after the sale was over and these prints were 
   donated to CNLF by Mrs. Richard Picker following Dick's 
   death.  This Picker image set consists of a long 2x2 coin box 
   filled with 553 2x2 envelopes.  Each envelope contains the 
   obverse and reverse print for the particular lot - they are stored 
   in exactly the same manner as coins - but the envelopes contain 
   photographic prints rather that coins. ... 

   We are in the process of breaking up some of the image groups 
   into smaller groups.  We have discovered that a few of the 
   larger files are causing download difficulty with some browser 
   configurations and we hope that this will solve those problems. 
   To access the archive click on: 

      http://www.coins.nd.edu/EAC-Conn.Lots.1-553/ 

   Your comments and suggestions will be appreciated. Please 
   email your comments to Louis.E.Jordan.1@nd.edu  OR to 
   JCSpilman@EarthLink.net" 
  

ON MATTHEW YOUNG 

   Scott Miller writes: "I am surprised no one came up with this: 
   "Matthew Young and his Numismatic Correspondents a 
   Century and a Half Ago:  With a Glimpse at the First London 
   Numismatic Society" by A Porritt, Minerva Numismatic 
   Handbooks Number One. 

   Although only 36 pages, there is quite a bit of interesting 
   material.  Some of the names appearing include William Wyon, 
   Edward Hawkins and Marmaduke Trattle." 

   [Editor:  (blush) I knew the name sounded familiar - I could 
   swear that I have the above-mentioned book in my library, 
   but I can't put my finger on it at the moment.  I did manage 
   to locate "A History of the Royal Numismatic Society 1836 
   - 1986" by R.A.G. Carson and H. Pagan, 1986.   Matthew 
   Young is listed as a member of the Numismatic Society of 
   London (from which the Royal Society was formed).  He is 
   listed as living from 1771-1836, and his death date is listed 
   as "12 Jun 1838"   This is consistent with the sale date of his 
   library (26 Nov, 1838).] 

   Darryl Atchison also pointed out the existence of the 
   pamphlet, and noted:  "Also, in view of the nature of the 
   correspondence and the individuals concerned it is not difficult 
   to deduce Young's standing in the numismatic fraternity of his 
   period." 
  

MANILLAS - WEST AFRICAN BRACELET MONEY 

   Bob Leonard writes: "One point not made by Ben Keele in his 
   excellent article--probably because it  wasn't discussed in the 
   sources he consulted--is that the Biafran circulating coins (but 
   not the banknotes) plainly depict a manilla, the former bracelet 
   money of this part of Nigeria, on the side with the palm tree. 
   The shape is similar to that of the Onoudu pattern, though not 
   exact (it is a little too open).  Onoudu (onadoo) manillas were 
   made circa 1825-1875, and apparently circulated as late as the 
   mid-1920's.  All remaining manillas were demonetized and 
   withdrawn by the British in 1948 and 1949--only 20 years 
   before the Biafran coinage of 1969.  (See Sven-Olof Johansson, 
   Nigerian Currencies, and my 1998 article, "Manillas -- Money 
   of West Africa,"  for more information.)" 

   [Editor's note: the Johanasson book was reviewed in the 
    April 1968 issue of The Numismatist (p455);  According to 
    Leonard, his article  "was in the Chicago International Coin 
    Fair giveaway of the Chicago Coin Club that year, and I 
    haven't submitted it to anyone else for reprinting yet.  I 
    could of course send a copy to anyone interested.  The 
    Chicago Coin Club is out of the giveaways."   Mr. Leonard 
    may be reached via email at this address: 
    RLWinnetka@aol.com] 
  

NUMISMATIC INDEXES PROJECT 

   This would be an opportune time to remind everyone that 
   the Numismatic Indexes Project, an online index to 
   numismatic periodicals, is alive and well and  available at 
   this web address:  (The Harry Bass Research Foundation). 
   The Johanasson book review was found in one quick query. 

      http://www.hbrf.org/ 
  

VOCABULARY ANSWER: QUASQUICENTENNIAL 

   Last week your Editor asked: "If a medal for a 100-year 
   anniversary is a centennial medal, and a medal for a 
   150-year anniversary is a sesquicentennial medal, is there 
   a name for a 125-year anniversary medal?" 

   Jim Porter's trigger finger was right on the buzzer - 
   within minutes he replied that "... the answer is 
   "quasquicentennial". I'm citing this web page: 
   http://www.rbls.lib.il.us/dpl/FAQcenn.htm" 

   "Quasquicentennial" ... Kinda rolls off the tongue, 
   doesn't it?   I ask because one of my local clubs 
   is considering striking such a medal in 2003 on the 
   anniversary of its founding in 1878. 

   ANA Museum Curator Robert Hoge concurs, as 
   does D. Wayne Johnson who writes: "The name for 
   a 125th anniversary is quasquicentennial.  When I was 
   cataloging all the firm's medals for Medallic Art Company 
   I compiled a chart of all the useful anniversary names. 

   Later I learned there are rules for these names. And that 
   every year can have a word name (not just the major 
   anniversaries). This was brought to my attention when 
   reading Playboy  (I look at the pictures in numismatic books, 
   I read the text in the January 1975 issue of Playboy!)  The 
   year before our nation's 200th anniversary (Bicentennial, 
   remember?) an author came up with the name for that year: 
   the nation's 199th anniversary. I learned the formulae from 
   this (and it works for any year). 

   For anyone interested I will email that Anniversary Name chart. 
   But it will take some time to put that formulae into words (and 
   find that old copy of Playboy). Contact: dick.johnson@snet.net" 

   Finally, Bill Spengler writes: "In your much-appreciated 
   E-Sylum of Feb. 11 you asked: "...is there a name for a 
   125-year anniversary medal?"  I don't know about its 
   application to medals but I offer the following on the term 
   itself. 

   By sheer coincidence, last week while driving on Interstate 
   80 in west-central Iowa I stopped in the hamlet of Casey 
   (population around 500) to do a little antiquing.  In one 
   shop a few pieces of porcelain commemorating the 125th 
   anniversary of li'l ole Casey in 1994 happened to catch my 
   eye.  The reason was their carrying the word 
   "QUASQUICENTENNIAL"  in bold letters, a term I 
   couldn't recall having seen before.  At the time I had no idea 
   this piece of trivia might come in handy so soon.  But here it 
   is for your consideration.  It is not to be found in Webster's 
   Unabridged, but I am told that the Casey city fathers were 
   pretty sure of the accuracy of their etymology or they 
   wouldn't have cast the term in porcelain!" 
  

ANOTHER VOCABULARY WORD: ANNULAR 

   Paul Gilkes, in an article on holed U.S. pattern coins, uses 
   the words "annular" and "annulated" to describe the holed 
   pieces.  From the online Merriam Webster dictionary 
   (http://www.m-w.com): 

      Etymology: Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle 
      French annulaire, from Medieval Latin anularis, from Latin 
      anulus   Date: 1571 : of, relating to, or forming a ring 
  

BRESSETT: THE MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR 

   While at the Florida United Numismatists show last month, 
   Your Editor met Ken Bressett and picked up a new pamphlet 
   of his.  Published for a coin dealership (Minneapolis Gold, 
   Silver & Numismatic Services, Inc), "The Morgan Silver Dollar: 
   An American Legend" is a sixteen-page tract on the coin, its 
   design and designer, and the minting process. 
  

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS 

   Don Groves writes:  Jan Monroe’s suggestion of McKenney- 
   Hall “Portrait Gallery of American Indians” is a splendid 
   recommendation for numismatists interested in medals. 
   Indian Peace Medals, particularly those beginning with the 
   Washington administration are of tremendous interest for the 
   numismatist. 

   When Indians first received these medals they far out-classed 
   anything the British or French had been presenting them to 
   encourage their loyalty to the King. With an expression of 
   friendship and gifts, these medals were used by our forefathers 
   to assuage Indian chiefs and great warriors that their loyalty 
   to the new found United States of America was paramount 
   in their best interest. 

   The McKenney-Hall books come in two sizes - very, very 
   large and large.  Each set is in three volumes with 50 plates 
   in each for a total of 150 outstanding copies of the portraits 
   of significant Indians at that time.  Some of the Indians were 
   captured on canvas in the field but most were invited to the 
   White House for an audience with the great white father and 
   thence sat for their portrait.  The portraits were later  hung 
   on the walls of the War Department Building. 

   Unfortunately, most of these great paintings have not survived 
   because of a fire, but to possess the volumes with the colored 
   print is indeed an outstanding accomplishment.  The small, 
   three-volume set now sells at auction for about $30,000. 
   The large volume set, $125,000 to $150,000.  So, the 
   practicality of acquiring them is not attainable for most of us. 
   However, most of the great libraries in our country do possess 
   the volumes. 

   Many years ago I visited the New York Public Library and 
   had the pleasure of reviewing the plates.  They are absolutely 
   fantastic.  Of the 150 portraits, 49 of them feature Indians 
   wearing their medal or medals. The most prominent medal is 
   worn by Red Jacket, Chief and leader of the Six Nations, 
   who played a paramount part in the American Revolutionary 
   War.  His medal is the large size 1792 Washington piece. 

   Sometimes these prints become available at auction or through 
   print shop dealers.  Philadelphia Print Shop is one in particular. 
   There are others.  In the case of Red Jacket, that print can 
   usually be acquired in the $500 to $1,000 range.  Since the 
   books have now skyrocketed in value, dealers no longer break 
   them up to sell the prints individually so they will become 
   scarcer in the future.  See the books at your nearest large 
   city library or watch the antique publications for sales of the 
   individual prints." 

   [Editor's note:  While the original McKenney-Hall books 
    are indeed quite rare, Jan Monroe was recommending an 
    affordable substitute: "McKenney-Hall Portrait Gallery of 
    American Indians by James D. Horan, Crown Publishers, 
    1972.  The Horan book contains the biography of Col. 
    Thomas L. McKenney and his efforts to collect Indian 
    Peace Medals.] 
  

NOTES FROM GEORGE FREDERICK KOLBE 

   "One minor point: "FIRST ILLUSTRATED NUMISMATIC 
   BOOK TRANSLATED" is incorrect.  The book mainly depicts 
   Roman Emperors and Royal Ladies and does not feature much 
   text beyond a brief biographical sketch of the person depicted. 
   The text that is featured in the book is translated from an Italian 
   essay written in 1967 by Roberto Weiss about Fulvio and the 
   book. It appears in English here for the first time. 

   On another front, an inexpensive reprint is in preparation of 
   John Adams'  "United States Numismatic Literature Volume I : 
   Nineteenth Century Catalogs."  Included will be a list of 
   corrections and additions, and I solicit the input of E-Sylum and 
   Asylum readers. A preliminary list of "Corrections and Additions" 
   will be posted on my web site in the next several days, or I will 
   be glad to send prospective participants a copy upon request. 
   I anticipate printing a separate version of the "C & A" for 
   distribution, at a reasonable price, to those who already have 
   copies of the first edition." 
  

GENERAL MORELOS ISSUES 

   Bob Dunfield  writes: "Thank you for the very entertaining and 
   informational E-Sylum newsletter! I look forward to reading it, 
   and keeping copies for the information and addresses, etc. 
   (The 'Dumb and Dumber' entry was hilarious!, although very 
   sad, in a way). 

   I am continuing research on the 8 Reales "SUD" issues of 
   General Morelos and his Captains.  At this point, I have many 
   references, including the very informative hardbound 'The Julius 
   Guttag Collection of Latin American Coins',  arranged by Edgar 
   Adams, a Quarterman publication, copyright 1929, reprinted 
   in 1974.  There are many photos, and descriptions of coins 
   without photos, and I think, one of the first attempts to catalog 
   the 8 Reales copper SUD coins by die variety, and approximate 
   the date of manufacture. It is an excellent reference book. I would, 
   however, like to ask the members if they might have any sale 
   catalogues that they might wish to sell, or recommend, especially 
   those that have pictures and descriptions of the 8 Reales SUD 
   pieces, in copper, and especially those coins struck or cast in 
   silver.  Anything recommended or offered for sale would be 
   greatly appreciated! Many thanks, " 

   [Editor's note:  Mr. Dunfield may be reached at this email 
   address: Twbcbooks@aol.com.   While it doesn't have any 
   new illustrations of coins, my article in the Spring 1996 issue 
   of The Asylum (Vol. XIV, Nos. 2-4, pp19-23) discusses the 
   pamphlet "Sketch of the Coinage of the Mexican Revolutionary 
   General Morelos Based upon an Important Find", by Lyman 
   Low (1886) ] 
  

BOOK QUOTES 

  "A classic is something everybody wants to have read and 
   nobody wants to read" [Mark Twain] 
  

FEATURED WEB SITE 

   This week's featured web page is from the Western & Eastern 
   Treasures Magazine, a publication for medal detector fans. 
   This particular page describes the 1994 discovery of a silver 
   1756 Kittanning Medal on a hilltop near Pittsburgh.  Other 
   "best finds" for 1994 included a 1793 Chain Cent, an 1863 
   "Davis Guard" medal honoring the events at Sabine Pass, 
   and a Mechanic Slave tag from 1800. 
  

http://www.treasurenet.com/cgi-bin/treasure/bestfinds.pl/Show?_id=c336 
  

   Wayne Homren 
  Numismatic Bibliomania Society