Welcome to The E-Sylum: Volume 5, Number 27, June 30, 2002:
an electronic publication of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.
Copyright (c) 2002, The Numismatic Bibliomania Society.


SUBSCRIBER UPDATES

  We have one new subscriber this week: Kavan Ratnatunga
  Welcome aboard!   Our subscriber count is now 472.


ANA NUMISMATIC THEATRE SCHEDULE

  ANA Education Director Gail Baker has published the
  speaker schedule for the upcoming convention in New
  York City.   The speaker list is heavily weighted with
  your fellow E-Sylum subscribers.  For more information
  see the ANA's web site:
  http://www.money.org/numtheatrenyc.html

  Wednesday, July 31, 2002
  11 AM   K. Visweswaren, "Punch Marked Coins of
                Ancient India (500 BC - 150 BC)"
  12 PM   Craig Krueger
              "A New Slant on U.S. Coinage of the 1850's"
  1 PM    Alan Herbert, "The ABC's of PDS"
  2 PM   Mark Sportack, "Somers' Isles Hogge Money"
  3 PM   Francine Farr, "Metal Monies of Traditional Africa
              in the John B. Henry Collection"

  Thursday, August 1, 2002
  10 AM  Gary Lewis, "State Quarter Committees"
  11 AM  John Lorenzo,
       "The Mott Token-The Final Chapter"
  12 PM  Nicholas M. Graver, "Photographic Numismatics"
  1 PM  Dick Johnson,
       "What I Learned From 3,000 Coin and Medal Artists"
  2 PM  W. David Perkins, "Early Silver Dollars 1794-1803:
        Major Types, Interesting Varieties, Famous Collections
        and Collectors"
  3 PM  P. Scott Rubin, "New York City, for over one
       hundred years the American coin auction capital of the
       United States"
  4 PM  Christopher Connell,
        "Counterfeit Notes in Early New York City"

  Friday, August 2, 2002
  10 AM  Gerald Kochel,
        "The George Hatie Collection of Coins on Postcards"
  11 AM  Scott A. Travers, "Building a Valuable Coin Collection
         from Pocket Change"
  12 PM  Ed Reiter, "My Years with the New York Times"
  1-3PM  Chester L. Krause and Clifford Mishler, "How Publishing
        Communications Has Enriched the Numismatic Pursuit"
  3 PM  Graham Dyer, "Irish Copper Coins of the 18th Century
        Produced by the Royal Mint During the Reigns of George II
        and George III"
  4 PM  Robert D. Leonard Jr., "New Discoveries in California
        Pioneer Fractional Gold"

  Saturday, August 3, 2002
  9 AM  Jon Warshawsky,
          "Back to Numismatics: An Introduction to Early Cents"
  10 AM  Michael E. Marotta, "Alexander as Herakles"
  11 AM  David Hendin,
           "Biblical and Jewish Coins Current Topics"
  12 PM  Anthony J. Swiatek, "Is There Hidden Wealth In
           Your Coin Collection Without You Being Aware?"
  1 PM  John W. Adams, "The Forgotten Medals of John Law"
  2 PM  Jon P. Amato, "Toward a Rarity Analysis and
        Numismatic History of 1796-97 Draped Bust Half Dollars"
  3 PM  Kenneth Bressett, "Consumer Alert-
          The Best and Worst Deals of 2002"
  4 PM  Maurice Rosen, "How to Get Your Money's Worth
           and Maximize Your Returns"


LATIN LINGO FOLLOW-UP

  John Adams sends this update: "In the course of working on
  "AMAT AUREA CONDERE SAECLA", I came across a
  reference to a book so rare that it is not in Clain-Stefanelli.
  The fabulous A.N.S. Library came to the rescue and, last
  weekend, I was able to peruse a copy of C. F. Fleurimont's
  "Les Medailles de la Regne de Louis XV ", written in 1749
  or perhaps a year or two later.

  The medal in question was struck  to celebrate  "le Bonheur
  de la France" - i.e. the happiness of the country under the
  new king.   The motto is translated as "c'est elle qui fait les
  siecles d"Or" - it is she, referring to the goddess Astree
  depicted on the reverse, who brings the golden
  centuries/ages/generations.

  With the help of Frank Campbell, I was able to find
  confirmation of the purpose of the medal as well as its
  translation in a listing of dies published by the French Mint
  in 1892.  I am truly blessed in my researches to have the
  A.N.S. library, the friendship of Frank Campbell (librarian
  plus extraordinaire) and the support of readers of the E-Sylum.
  I am monumentally grateful for all the assistance."


WITHERS PUBLICATION ANNOUNCEMENTS

  Paul Withers writes: "This is to announce the birth of
  our two latest books:

  'Halfpennies and Farthings  -  Edward III and Richard II'
  P & B R Withers  56pp  PB  Fully illustrated.  Price  10 GBP

  An easy to use guide - a new classification based on the
  latest research;  Legends quoted in full for each type and
  sub-type;  Previously unpublished types and varieties included;
  Concordance with Fox, North and Spink;  Historical
  introduction.

  Also: 'COINS OF NORTHUMBRIA. An Illustrated Guide'.
  E J E Pirie. PB A5 80 pp.  Historical outline, a detailed
  survey of the coins with hundreds of photographs, chapters
  on the Celtic connection, modern forgeries, photography
  and display. 15 GBP

  For more information, contact me at my new e-mail address:
  Paul@galata.co.uk


ALASKA TOKEN BOOK

  Ron Benice writes: "In the item regarding TAMS publications,
  the writer speculates that there may be a third edition of my
  book "Alaska Tokens".   Alas, it's still the second (1994)
  edition.  I guess TAMS advertises it as "new" to distinguish it
  from the first (1979) edition.  I am continuing data collection
  for a future third edition but there is no schedule or
  commitment for its publication."


ALASKAN BINGLE TOKENS

  Coincidentally, on my desk there happens to be a copy of
  a 1955 pamphlet published by the Alaska Rural Rehabilitation
  Corporation (ARRC). Titled "20 Years of Progress in the
  Matanuska Valley, Alaska," it includes an article about the
  ARRC "Bingle" tokens.  It pictures eight different denominations
  of the tokens, but doesn't shed much light on their origins.
  "The 'Bingles' were only in use about six months in the winter
  of 1935-36 when they were called in... No one seems certain
  where the name came from... Perhaps it was more than a
  coincidence that one of the foremost and best loved preachers
  in the valley at that time was also named Bingle."

  After asking Ron about it, he replied: "I've seen the pamphlet
  but don't own one.  The Alaskans use the term bingle for all
  the tokens, not just the ARRC tokens.  And the term appears
  to predate the 1935 ARRC issue."


CHAMBLISS MPC POSTER SOUGHT

  Gar Travis writes: "Does anyone know how to contact Carlson
  R. Chambliss?   I understand he has produced a poster of
  Military Payment Certificates.  I am mounting an exhibit on July
  1st in the Harriotte B. Smith Library on board Marine Corps
  Base Camp LeJeune and heard from currency dealer Daryl C.
  Spekbring of Virginia Beach, Virginia that such a poster exists.
  I would like to obtain one to use to accompany the exhibit
  either from Chambliss or another available source.  My email
  address is oldmoney@coastalnet.com.  Thanks."


HOLMES IN NUMISMATICS

  Bob Fritsch writes: "There are several more references to
  money and coins in the Sherlockian Canon besides those
  mentioned by Mr. DeLorey.

  First and foremost, "The Adventure of the Three Garridebs"
  actually features a coin collector, Mr. Nathan Garrideb.
  Holmes and Watson first met him polishing a Syracusan coin
  with a chamois (shudder).  One of our colleagues has taken
  Nathan Garrideb as his Sherlockian name:  Ed Rochette.

  In "The Red-Headed League", Holmes deduces that Jabez
  Wilson was in China because of a tattoo on his arm and
  "I see a Chinese coin hanging from your watch-chain ...."
  Watson described it as "a square pierced bit of metal".

  In "The Valley of Fear", Birdie Edwards, a Pinkerton agent,
  penetrates the secret society of the Scowrers in Pennsylvania
  coal country.  These dastards coin (counterfeit) their own
  money in addition to other nefarious deeds.

  "The Man with the Twisted Lip" is a middle-class gent who
  poses as beggar Hugh Boone for his income.  He is found
  with pockets full of pennies and half-pennies.

  In "The Musgrave Ritual", Holmes recovers the ancient
  crown of Charles I in addition to several of his coins.

  As England was at the height of empire during Holmes' time,
  rupees are mentioned in two stories:  "The Sign of Four"
  and "The Crooked Man".

  Finally, there is Holmes' unofficial police force,  The Baker
  Street Irregulars.  They are paid a shilling a day for their
  services.  The official Holmes Society in the US takes its
  name from this band of street urchins, and new members
  are given a shilling upon investiture.

  There are many more monetary references to money in the
  Canon, but these are the ones where coins and money have
  a direct plot connection."

  Alan Luedeking writes: "On the subject of numismatics in
  Holmes, I'd like to turn this around and ask about Holmes in
  numismatics. Are there any detailed references?   My
  favorite medal is one by Marika Somogyi issued 15 years
  ago, on the occasion of his centennial.  A gold example is
  supposedly in the Smithsonian.  According to a New York
  Times article of December 27th, 1987, "mintage limits" were
  set at 35 in gold, and 300 in silver, all signed and individually
  serial numbered. I couldn't afford one at the time, but
  contacted Ms. Marika years later and seem to recall she
  mentioned that they had only been made to order.  I don't
  believe they ever sold in great numbers.  I had her make me a
  couple, one in silver with a hanger and one in copper without,
  both artificially "aged". The former is crudely numbered
  145/310.  The latter is unnumbered.  Needless to say, I paid
  much more than I would have originally!"


WYATT PROVENANCE STILL UNKNOWN

  Karl Moulton writes: "In response to Joel Orosz's inquiry
  concerning his find of the 1848 Wyatt publication, after
  checking both of the catalogues in question, there was no
  such item to be found.  Both of the sales were held at the
  Collector's Club and offered very little in the way of
  literature of any kind.

  Perhaps this scarce publication was offered in a regular
  book auction, rather than a numismatic offering; or maybe
  it will show up in one of the other numismatic sales
  mentioned by Joel."

  NBS Board Member Dave Hirt writes: "I was trying to find
  some info on Joel's question on auction sales at Bangs in
  November 1902.   In this case the book by Lorraine Durst
  is useful because it lists the sales by auction house.  The Low
  sale he mentions was not held at Bangs.  The Manhattan Coin
  Co. sale is not listed at Bangs, but I am not sure she cataloged
  this company at all.  However, Bangs had ten different book
  sales in November 1902.  The dates and institutions that have
  copies of the catalogues are listed in the McKay American
  book auction book.  Hope that this is of some help."

  Joel replied:  "I'll consult my copy of McKay.  Many thanks
  to Karl and to David -- and to you as my information
  intermediary (the E-Sylum comes through again)!"

  [Dave cites two very useful books:  Lorraine's Durst's
   "United States Numismatic Auction Catalogs: A Bibliography"
  (1981) is useful as Joel states because of its unusual
  organization -- sales are listed by auction house rather than
  cataloguer.   "American Book Auction Catalogues 1713-1934
  A Union List" by George L. McKay (1937, reprinted 1967)
  is useful not only for its lists of book sales but also for its
  histories of major auction houses, many of which hosted coin
  sales as well as book sales.  -Editor]


MINING REFERENCES

  John Lorenzo posted the following list of references relating
  to mining on the Colonial Coin Collectors Club mailing list
  earlier this week:

  "Peter M. Molloy. The History of Metal Mining and Metallurgy.
  An Annotated Bibliography. Garland Publishing, Inc. 1986.

  In terms of American Mining only try these reference sources:

  1. Ira B. Joraleman. Copper :The Encompassing Story of
      Mankind's First Metal. Berkely, Calif.: Howell-North
      Books, 1973. 407 pages.

  2. Richard H. Phelps. Newgate of Connecticut: Its Origins
      and Early History. Hartford, Conn.: American Publishing
      Co., 1876. The Simbury copper mine which was also
      used as a prison during the American Revolution as already
      indicated by D.F..

  3. Thomas A. Rickard. A History of American Mining.
       New York: McGraw Hill, 1932.

  4. Alfred L. Rowse. The Cousin Jacks: The Cornish in
      America. New York: Schribner, 1969. 451 pages.
      JPL: Social History of the Cornish Miners by a noted
      English historian. Cornwall copper and tin miners
      bringing their expertise to America.

  5. Harry & Grace Weiss. Old Copper Mines of New
     Jersey. Trenton, N.J.: Past Times Press. 1963. 94 pages.
     JPL: Colonial Copper Mining- The standard. Silberman's
      ace for his CNL write-up G.T mentioned in the CNL.

  6. Josiah B.Whitney. The Metallic Wealth of the U.S.,
      Described and compared with other countries. Philadelphia:
      Lippincott, Grambo & Co. 1854. 510 pages. Reprint.
     Amos Press, 1970. Best book on American mining to
     1854 as per Otis Young."


BYRON JOHNSON PHOTO

  Joe Boling writes: "Regarding David Lange's recollection of
  Byron Johnson at the 1977 ANA convention -- he said that
  perhaps he recognized Byron from the Bowers and Merena
  catalog of his collection. That was a posthumous sale. Perhaps
  he remembered Byron from his portrait on the TAMS
  president's medal in 1974."


NICE TRY

  From "News of the Weird":
  "Police in Norfolk, Neb., are still trying to find Curtis Boyd,
  23, after he skipped out on bail after allegedly trying to pass
  a check for $22 million at the Bank of Norfolk drive-through
  in May.  Boyd had purchased a computer software
  check-writing program and apparently figured all he had to
  do to get the bank to give him money was to present a
  realistic-looking check with certain Federal Reserve code
  numbers.  When the bank declined to take it, Boyd took the
  check back, decided apparently that the one imperfection in
  the check was the lack of an "issuing bank," and thus returned
  to the Bank of Norfolk after hand-writing the name "Reality
  Perspective Bank" at the top of the check.  This time, the bank
  employees called the police.

  Under the "News That Sounds Like a Joke" category, the
  same column includes this tidbit from London:
  "A 39-year-old man with a bad stuttering problem claimed
  unlawful discrimination when he was turned down in his
  quest to become a licensed driving instructor; his trainer
  found that the man could not utter the word "stop" fast
  enough."

 http://www.newsoftheweird.com/archive/nw020623.html


FEATURED WEB PAGES

  This week's featured web pages relate to Operation
  Bernhard, the German effort to counterfeit British and
  U.S. currency during W.W.II.

  The first is an illustration of one of the counterfeit
  British Five Pound notes.  For those who read
  French, the second reference is to a french language
  page about the operation, illustrated with one of the
  notes and a portrait of project leader Reinhard Heydrich.

  http://www.reptiles1.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/britishmilitary/335.jpg
  http://www.confidentiel-defense.com/anciens/numero%201/bernhard.htm



Wayne Homren
Numismatic Bibliomania Society