Welcome to The E-Sylum: Volume 6, Number 37, September 14, 2003:
an electronic publication of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.
Copyright (c) 2003, The Numismatic Bibliomania Society.


FUTURE OF MONEY SUMMIT

  Dick Johnson writes: "Next month, October 27-29th, in
  Denver, Colorado, will gather the greatest thinkers of the
  world on the future of money. It will be the largest, and
  most expensive, gathering on the subject ever held.

  Sponsored by the da Vince Institute, which calls itself
  "Colorado's futurist think tank," and its principal sponsor,
  Forbes Magazine, "capitalist tool," over two dozen authorities
  are planned to speak.   The featured speaker is John Naisbitt,
  known for his futurist book, "Megatrends."

  The symbol for the summit is a golden-colored medallion. It
  is portrayed as a small globe on a triangle superimposed on a
  circle with a legend of the  world's currency signs intermixed
  with basic arithmetic symbols including a percent sign.

  "Our grandparents used cash for everything," states the web
  site dedicated to the summit, "Our parents used checks. We're
  part of the credit card generation.  So what's next?"

  The symposium will attempt to answer that question for the
  hundreds of firms, nonprofit organizations, banks, think tanks,
  financial organizations, and governments, who plan to send their
  representatives to the summit. It's not cheap - registrations cost
  from $700 to $1500 per attendee.

  It's assumed those who attend will come away with lots of
  insight on the future of money.

  Coins, unfortunately like a little step-sister, are not on the
  menu this time.  In the world of electronic money, coins are
  known as "micropayments," ideal only for transactions under
  $10.  The big boys are all the electronic payments with
  instantaneous transfer often with multinational involvement.

  The future of paper money, however, will be discussed by
  Thomas A. Ferguson, director of the U.S. Bureau of Engraving
  and Printing (at a time yet to be announced).  We expect he will
  discuss a lot of anticounterfeiting steps the Bureau has devised
  for new currency and some of this new technology implemented
  in the redesigned $20 bill, released this week.

  The advancement of technology is endemic throughout the
  two-day program.  "How will money be passed as new
  payment technologies emerge in the future?" is perhaps on
  everyone's mind.  Spending a buck will change in the future.
  A lot of crystal-ball gazing will take place at this event to
  provide the answer to how that will happen.

  "But technology will not be the entire focus of the conference,"
  states Fred Kessler, conference sales director. "Applications
  are of major interest, how that technology can be used."  It is
  an ideal time for entrepreneurs to develop applications for new
  forms of payments, he said.

  One of the new concepts, to be revealed at the conference, is
  the "terra."  This is to be a new world currency. What the euro
  is to Europe, the terra will be to the world.  Contracts for
  payments, say six months in advance, will be for terra, instead
  of dollars, yen or other currencies, he stated.

  While coins are not on the menu for this conference, a second
  such future money conference is already in the planning stage.
  Future coins, states Kessler, is definitely slated for that
  gathering.

  The conference website is:    http://www.futureofmoneysummit.com/"


CIVIL WAR TOKEN JOURNAL REPRINT READY

  W. David Perkins writes: "The Civil War Token Society
  announced in the Fall 2003 issue of The Civil War Token
  Journal that "the fifth and six journal reprints" are now
  available which cover the years 1987-1996, including a 30
  year index.  I have the first four volumes in my library, and
  have sent my order in already for the fifth and sixth volumes.

  For non-members of the Civil War Token Society (CWTS)
  the books are priced at $25.00 each, including postage.
  Books may be ordered through Jud Petrie, P.O. Box 403,
  Freeport, Maine  04032.

  Also available in limited quantities are the first four volumes
  of reprints.  The first four volumes cover journal issues back
  to Autumn 1967 (Vol. 1, No. 1).  One of the features in Vol. 1,
  Issue 1 was titled "Auction Notes" by Robert R. Hailey.  A
  popular Detroit (my specialty) Store Card is MI 225BL, Dr.
  L. C. Rose, who advertised that he "TREATS ALL CHRONIC
  FEMAL & VENEREAL DISEASES."   The auction price
  realized for this token was $22.50, which appears to be a strong
  price for the time.  I recently noted a high grade specimen of this
  Dr. Rose Store Card advertised at $700.00!  Another reason to
  "buy the book before the coin (token)???"

  For questions, pricing or availability on the first four volumes of
  reprints, or to order books please contact Jud Petrie, Book
  Manager, CWTS at exonumia at aol.com."


CALICO ENGLISH TRANSLATION SOUGHT

  Granvyl Hulse, Numismatics International Librarian, writes:
  "Is anyone aware of an English translation of Ferran Calico,
  Xavier Calico, and Joaquin Trigo's "Monedas Espanolas
  desde Felipe IV a Isabel II 1621 a 1868?"


CONVICT LOVE TOKEN BOOK AVAILABLE

  Regarding a book discussed a few issues ago, Philip Mernick
  writes: "The book  "Convict Love Tokens : The Leaden
  Hearts the Convicts Left Behind," referred to in the E-Sylum
  of August 17 is still available from the co-author Tim Millett for
  12 pounds plus postage (free within UK).  He can be
  contacted at tim at timothymillett.demon.co.uk."


ANYONE KNOW WHAT "ABOKELPS" IS?

  Eric P. Newman writes: "You get wonderful answers to
  strange questions asked by your constituency, so I would
  like to ask a question.

  I am confronted with the word ABOKELPS.  It is written in
  English during the 1670-1680 period in Turkish-controlled
  Syria and Palestine and refers to Lyon (Lion) Dollars which
  were trade coins minted by the Netherlands provinces and
  circulating in the Mediterranean areas.  The word is probably
  misspelled and should be ABOKELB which in Arabic, which
  I am advised means father dog or grand dog and probably
  refers to the rampant lion insignia on the coins.  I believe that
  the coins are sometimes referred to in English as dog dollars.
  The letters P and B are pronounced similarly and could have
  been easily mixed up in translation.  The S at the end may be
  an English indication of plural. Would readers be nice enough
  to guide me to literature or knowledge as to this matter?  I
  would be very grateful."


SWEDES REJECT THE EURO!

  Dick Johnson writes: "Citizens of Sweden voted Sunday to
  reject joining with the rest of Europe to convert to the Euro
  currency. Sweden continues a policy of indifference,
  isolationism, stubbornness (pick one) that goes back for
  more than 400 years.

  When the rest of Europe adopted the Gregorian calendar
  (over the Julian) Sweden refused to do it their way.  This
  took place for most European countries 1582-1587 (the
  German Protestant States and Denmark held out until 1700).
  There was a difference of eleven days between the two
  calendars. The rest of Europe did it all a once.  Sweden
  chose not to, and made the change by dropping leap year
  days for the years 1700 to 1740.

  Swedes are going to do it THEIR way no matter what
  (three-quarters of my great grandfathers came from Sweden).
  The news story at:  http://www.iht.com/articles/109957.htm."

  [My grandfather was Olof Gustav Homren, so I'm part
  Swedish, too.   I guess I like to be different, too. -Editor]


U.S. AUCTION SALES

  Len Augsburger writes: "Regarding the catalog compilation
  project, Darrell Low and myself currently have a series of
  articles in the Gobrecht Journal covering significant auctions
  of seated coinage by denomination since 1985 (further info
  on the publication is at http://www.numismalink.com/lscc.html).
  Should anyone attempt a similar undertaking for other series,
  I would recommend also classifying sales by the number and
  quality of the plates."

  W. David Perkins writes: "Per your and Denis Loring's
  "E-Sylum Challenge," I'll take a shot at the four best sales (in
  my opinion) for early silver dollars 1794-1804.  I actually listed
  five sales, as the Ostheimer collection was sold in two sales,
  one in 1968 and the other 1975:

  Haseltine Type Table Sale - November 28-30, 1881.  The sale
  of John W. Haseltine's personal reference collection of early
  silver dollars

  Important as it is the first extensive date and die variety
  collection ever sold at public auction, the "Haseltine Reference
  Collection."  No plates.  Some varieties disposed of prior to
  the sale are listed in the back of the catalog (1794 H-1; 1795
  H-8; 1802 H-7 and 1804 H-1).  B. Max Mehl reprinted
  the Type Table in 1927. Introduced "Haseltine (H) Numbers."
  [as many NBS members know, Haseltine published this
  classification without credit to J. Colvin Randall]"

  Peter Koch writes:  "In last week's (Sept. 7th) E-Sylum edition
  Denis Loring posed the possibility of listing the most significant
  auction sales held of American series of coins, tokens, and
  specialties. Denis' suggested list was a large cafeteria from
  which to dine. It included some forty collectible series: from
  Massachusetts Silver and other Colonials; copper, silver and
  gold U.S. Mint products; Territorial and California Gold; to
  Hard Times and Civil War tokens; and for dessert the list
  rounded out with Errors.

  It's a wonderful idea and challenge. Simply including Errors
  could theoretically double the size of the list, but that's for
  another day.  We've been working, on and off the last year
  or so, on just such a list for two of my favorites: Half Cents
  and Hard Times tokens.

  We certainly don't want to make more of it than it is, but
  soon after diving into a project like this one can sense the
  mild tremor of debate. A listing of "significant" Large Cents
  catalogues we might recommend to this publication may be
  slightly different from a list appearing in EAC's Penny-Wise.
  Are you practical or poetic?  Hardcore or hardbound in love?
  Is it gallant personalities and hot gold stamping, or die state
  3.5 and diagnostic photography?  Of course, we'd like the
  best of both worlds.  Nothing new, we want it all. It's a minor
  problem we faced when collating our "SASHTt" list,
  significant auction sales of Hard Times tokens.  The
  work-in-progress list by the way, that we distributed to a
  handful of significant dealers recently at ANA Baltimore.  The
  usual drill of listing auctions simply containing the most varieties
  in a specific series is nice but not enough.  We found ourselves
  having to go all the way back attaching at least a brief
  background to each sale. There's more than you first think.
  Actually, the SASHTt list grew out of frustration. Catalogers
  will often cite pedigree, if applicable, but without identifying the
  sale / catalogue. If trying to unearth the important Robert Vlack
  Collection of HTts one would have to know it was nestled within
  B&M's Andrew Alexander Collection sale of November '96.
  Or to track a specimen from the large Chester Krause Collection
   a collector would need Presidential's Hard Times Sale book of
  March, '99-yes, we know Krause's HTts were sold by private
  treaty but a smaller number of pieces made their appearance in
  this PCAC sale.   In any event, for what it's worth:

  For Half Cent collectors we come down on the side of
  practicality, thus recent Superior Galleries catalogues get the
  nod.  In terms of detailed descriptions, diagnostic plates,
  current catalogue availability, and in no small part the
  collaboration of McCawley and Grellman, specialists can be
  fairly comfortable in feeling they are using state-of-the-art
  presentations with this trio.

  Dr. Wallace Lee Collection, May, 2003; Bill Weber
  Collection, June, 2002; and the classic February, 1992 sale
  of Roger S. Cohen Collection. This catalogue was a stand-alone
  sale, the entire book was the Cohen HC collection. Not many
  are produced like that. Sans M&G, every lot was given royal
  treatment with most lots plated, every one sized with its grains'
  weight. The book is usually available at a premium-price. To
 complement the above, and generally available for less than
  $100 each: Stack's 1963 Fixed Price List of Joseph Brobston's
  HC collection reprinted a few years ago (may still be available
  from Stack's); Roger Cohen's second 1982 edition of American
  Half Cents--The Little Half Sisters; and Ron Manley's 1998
  The Half Cent Die State Book-1793-1857.

  For suggestions to Hard Times aficionados:

  While we subscribe to "today's research is better than research
  on the same topic from fifty years ago" an emotional
  recommendation for New Netherlands' May, 1953 sale with
  its elegant run of Low (HT) numbers must be made.  Imagine
  John Ford and Walter Breen working together in the same
  room ready to conquer the world.  Crafting tight, eloquent
  descriptions of the classic American series of HTts.  Ford has
  always had a warm spot for the series... "collect what they don't
  have a lot of." NN catalogues are a quick-moving read,
  conversational, and get a lot of information packed into one
  sentence-and not afraid to take a stand.  Over the years, the
  catalogue has appeared on most short lists of recommended HTt
  literature; we'll gladly join the fold.  Stack's vibrant November,
  1988 offering of Herbert M. Oechsner's Collection commands
  a premium whenever it appears. Wide range of varieties,
  exquisite high grades, and attachments back to Adams, Miller
  and Tilden.  Of more recent vintage, the second Gilbert Steinberg
  HTt Collection sold by B&M November, 2002 can be
  proclaimed a classic reference for the specialist. Not many
  varieties were missing from this collection.  High quality, multiple
  specimens, elusive rarities, and well written by knowledgeable
  cataloguers who enjoyed and respected the series. The book's
  introductory pages reveal John Kraljevich was lead in
  showcasing the Steinberg Collection "...in a manner we hope
  you will find to be interesting as well as enticing." Indeed!"


1909 MONTREAL ANA CONVENTION PHOTO HELP SOUGHT

  Darryl Atchison writes: "For the past week or so David Sklow
  and I have been trying to identify the individuals in the 1909
  (Montreal) A.N.A. convention photo.  The photo appears in
  Volume 2 of John Adams text "United States Numismatic
  Literature"  page 68.  We have identified about 25 of the people
  in the photo.

  We feel that some of our readers may know who some of the
  remaining people are but readily admit we will never be able to
  name them all.  However, some of the people we still need to
  name look fairly distinctive so we think some of the readers may
  be able to help us. The people we need to identify are:

  1)  In the front row, left hand side - the elder gentleman standing
       immediately beside the young boy

  2)  The first gentleman seated immediately next to the elderly
       gentlemen noted above.

  3)  In the front row, on the far right hand side - the two
       gentlemen standing furthest to the right.

  4)  In the second row - the gentleman just left of centre who i
       holding a hat over his chest.

  5)  In the back row, left hand side - the elderly gentleman with
        a pointed beard and mustache who standing beside the
        lady wearing a black hat (Mrs. John Henderson).

  6)  In the back row - the three gentleman standing on the
       right of the gentleman standing in the centre who is wearing
       the light suit.

  7)  The woman standing on the far right hand side in the back
        row.

  Also, if anyone knows the first name of Mrs. Farran Zerbe or
  Mrs. Waldo Moore, please let me know.

  For your information, we have already identified the following
  people in the photograph (in no particular order).

  J.C. Mitchelson, William Poillon, Edgar Adams, Cora
  Henderson, John Henderson, Ludger Gravel, Theophile Leon,
  R.W. McLachlan, Howland Wood, L.A. Renaud (and his wife),
  Mr. & Mrs. Farran Zerbe, Ben Green, Dr. B.P. Wright, James
  Reid, S.H. Chapman, H.O. Granberg, Elmer Sears, P.O.
  Tremblay, W.W.C. Wilson, Eugene Courteau, Thomas Elder,
  F.G. Duffield, Stephen Nagy, D.A. Williams and Mr. & Mrs.
  Waldo Moore

  My email address is atchisondf at hotmail.com.  Thank you for
  your help."


A NOTE ON PLAGIARISM

  Alan Roy writes: "I was a victim of plagiarism a few years ago.
  At the time, I maintained a website for the now defunct Hamilton
  Coin Club.  Included in the site was a brief article I wrote as an
  introduction to Canadian numismatics.  A few weeks later, I was
  surprised to find the article publish verbatim in the Canadian Coin
  News.  I contacted the editor, and he offered to pay me for the
  article."


THE NEW CURRENCY'S HIDDEN AGENDA

  Len Augsberger writes: "On the September 9 show, David
  Letterman discussed the new peach colored $20 notes,
  suggesting that the government was changing the color to
  distract us from the fact that we had less of them, apparently
  a reference to the President's speech requesting additional
  funding for the Iraqi conflict."


HISTORY DETECTIVES

  Numismatic researchers should feel at home watching a new
  television series titled  "History Detectives."   The series was
  discussed in an article in the August 17, 2003 Washington Post.

  "When she was first told the proposed name for the new PBS
  program, Columbia professor Gwendolyn Wright thought it
  was "a little glib." But now she's happy to be one of the
  "History Detectives."

  "The first time I heard the title, I didn't want to say it," said the
  professor of architecture, planning and preservation. "But I
  generally came to like it. It became a way of suggesting that
  doing history is fascinating, that it's using your mind."   It
  suggests, she said, "the ways you go through things, pick up
  things that are tangential to what you're looking for."

  "The premise of the show is a simple, open one that offers a
  wide variety of historic investigations. The show's four
  detectives are presented with some historical riddle -- an
  unverified historic claim, a mysterious artifact of unknown
  significance or one for which significant claims are made.
  What follows are adventures in research, with trips to
  locales involved, visits to any number of archival preserves
  and consultations with experts from many fields."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A55591-2003Aug13?language=printer

  [The one-hour show aired Mondays at 8 p.m. It debuted July
  14, and ran  through Sept. 8.   I only learned about it recently
  during a web search.  Have any of our readers seen the show?
  -Editor]


COINS LOSING FAVOR AT CASINO SLOTS

  Dick Johnson writes: "International Game Technology, a
  major manufacturer of slot machines, will be telling visitors
  to their booth at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas
  beginning Tuesday, that use of coins in slots is becoming passé.
  They are showing 150 flashy new slot machines at the gambling
  trade show, most of which are cashless.

  Instead of coins, time honored for use in slot machines as
  well as vending machines, parking meters and public
  telephones, they are replacing these with cards.  "The player
  uses a card that works like a debit card," states the advance
  news story, "subtracting losses and adding winnings. IGT can
  command a higher price for these machines than coin-operated
  ones."

  LaVere Redfield is rolling over in his lumpy grave on this
  news (PS, he took some silver dollars with him!)  The story
  is at:
  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58402-2003Sep11.html"


DUMB BANK ROBBERS

  Nolan Mims writes: "The other day while browsing in a local
  bookstore, I came across a volume called "ROBBING BANKS"
  by L. R. Kirchner, and, having a penchant for banking history,
  had to purchase it. One of the chapters was entitled "The
  Dunces" and was filled with stories of dumb bank robbers.
  One of my favorites was the guy who robbed a small town
  Texas bank located right outside a military base. He
  approached the teller's cage with .45 automatic in hand and
  ski mask on his face and demanded all the money.  He left with
  $9,000 in his bag and was captured within 15 minutes because
  of a flaw in his plan of operation. He was wearing his military
  fatigues with his name and unit patch on them. Local law
  enforcement and military police simply went to his barracks and
  arrested him, recovering all the loot from the robbery.  He was
  dumbfounded that the police caught him after his brilliant
  scheme."


FEATURED WEB PAGE

  This week's featured web page is on the U.S. Twenty-Cent
  Pieces 1875-1878.  The page is from an educational section
  on the commercial web site of The Old Coin Shop of
  San Diego, CA.

  http://www.oldcoinshop.com/coinhistory/20c-1875-78.htm


  Wayne Homren
  Numismatic Bibliomania Society