Welcome to The E-Sylum: Volume 7, Number 10, March 7, 2004:
an electronic publication of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.
Copyright (c) 2004, The Numismatic Bibliomania Society.


LAKE BOOKS SALE 73 PUBLISHED

  Fred Lake of Lake Books writes: "The catalog of our mail-bid
  sale of numismatic literature (#73) which closes on April 6, 2004
  at 5:00 PM (EDT) is now available for viewing at:
  Catalog

  The sale has 524 lots covering a wide variety of numismatic topics
  including United States and World coinage, Ancient coinage,
  Tokens and Medals, Paper Money, etc."


KOLBE FORD SALE

  George Kolbe writes: "Another installment of John J. Ford, Jr.
  Library June 1, 2004 auction sale highlights follows:

  Photographic Plate Paste-ups for the 1952 A. N. A. Sale
  Catalogue and other New Netherlands catalogues

  Rare Bankers Directories, including Rand, McNally and
  others

  Important Business Directories, including Dunkley and
  Woodman's 1867-8 Business Directory of the Principal Cities
  in the West and South, Dun & Co.'s 1867 Mercantile Agency.
  United States Business Directory, etc.

  An interesting handwritten 1862 letter from J. A. Bolen to
  "Mr. Mason," concerning tokens and including a drawing of
  one

  A group of eight scarce monographs on Medicina in Nummis

  A February 23, 1856 Bill of Lading for the Clipper Ship
  Midnight, recording the shipment of 70,424 pounds of
  ?Sweeps,? i.e., precious metals, from the San Francisco Mint
  to the New York Assay Office

  A February 3, 1870 letter from Secretary of the Treasury Geo.
  S. Boutwell, to O. H. Lagrange, Supt. Branch Mint, San
  Francisco, concerning regulations pertaining to "when gold or
  silver shall be cast into bars or ingots, or formed into disks at
  the Mint of the United States, or any of its branches thereof??

  A January 13th, 1858 letter from the Superintendent's office,
  Branch Mint of the United States, to J. M. Eckfeldt, Esqr.
  Coiner &c., reading: ?Enclosed you will please find a printed
  copy of notice of the closing of this branch on and after the 19th
  inst. The bullion received for coinage to the 19th inclusive will
  be refined and coined before we cease operations.?

  An original manuscript by Archibald Firestone entitled
  Descriptive List of California Gold Dollars 1853 ? 1876,
  describing over fifty pieces, accompanied by Samuel W.
  Comstock?s inventory of Octagon & Round California Gold
  Dollars, Half Dollars, Quarter Dollars, including 389 pieces:
  75 dollars, 165 halves, and 149 quarters

  A beautifully bound 1942 military commission on vellum,
  presenting First Lieutenant Hans Karl Sattler with the Knights
  Cross of the Iron Cross, signed by Adolf Hitler

  Various research papers, correspondence, and other materials
  relating to Private Gold Coins, Bars, Ingots, etc., featuring
  several early papers on pioneer gold coins written by John J.
  Ford, Jr., along with early correspondence with Paul Franklin

  United States vs. John W. Haseltine. Affidavit of Defence.
  June 23, 1910. An original document pertaining to United
  States pattern coins. The resolution of this lawsuit reaffirmed
  the right of individuals to own patterns without fear of
  government confiscation

  A remarkable body of correspondence pertaining to the
  disposition of the two 1877 $50 gold coins acquired circa
  1909 by William Hartman Woodin, documenting a number
  of aspects concerning this great controversy that, up to now,
  have been often misunderstood

  An appraisal by Wayte Raymond of 1,350 pattern coins in
  the Newcomer collection

  The original manuscript/typescript of John J. Ford, Jr.?s
  First Numismatic Work

  The original 1909 letter/invoice from John W. Haseltine to
  William H. Woodin, establishing the date acquired and the
  price paid by William H. Woodin for the unique set of
  controversial United States $50 gold pattern coins which
  now reside in the national collection

  The Original Walter Breen Manuscript on New Jersey
  Coppers, written circa 1956-1958

  Two superb sets of Nagy photographs of New Jersey Coppers

  A remarkable 1863 Payroll Document from the San Francisco
  Mint, listing ?F. B. Harte Clk. To Superintendent,? as an
  employee, and featuring Bret Harte's autograph acknowledging
  receipt of his salary

  A revealing body of correspondence pertaining to the estate of
  Ard W. Browning, including the appraisal of his collection by
  F. C. C. Boyd

  A fine photograph depicting Farran Zerbe's "Unique Money of
  the World" booth at the 1915 Panama Pacific International
  Exposition/World's Fair in San Francisco

  Rare Bankers' Magazines and Journals, including Homans
  and Rhodes

  An appraisal by Wayte Raymond, B. Max Mehl, and M.
  Schulman comprising a record of Waldo Newcomer?s
  numismatic holdings at the time of his death in 1934

  The Complete, Original Inventory of the Waldo C. Newcomer
  Collection and F. C. C. Boyd?s Original Appraisal/Inventory
  of the Remarkable Colonel E. H. R. Green Collection. Two
  of the most remarkable items in the Ford Library

  A Separate Inventory of Col. Green's Latin American Gold
  Coins

  An 1864 letter from Henry Phillips, Jr. to Joel Munsell
  concerning Phillips' numismatic magnum opus

  A rare 1865 Civil War military periodical, the "Soldier's
  Letter," reporting that ?The amendment to the Constitution
  of the United States, abolishing slavery, has passed!?


MENDACITY SOUGHT

  Myron Xenos published an article titled "Mendacity Revisited"
  in the latest issue of our print journal, The Asylum.  It deals
  with a famous (among U.S. numismatic bibliophiles, anyway)
  1992 hoax that had many believing that a Mother Lode of
  valuable U.S. numismatic literature was soon coming up for
  sale.   The perpetrator has not come forth, and no one has
  yet been able to conclusively prove who it was.  As one of
  the intended victims, I have my own theory.  In his article
  Myron asked everyone with an opinion to share it with him
  for a follow-up Asylum article.  Myron may be reached at:
  The Money Tree, 1260 Smith Court, Rocky River, OH
  44116.  Fax: 440-333-4463. Email: mdxenos at comcast.net.
  "We will hunt down the scoundrel and give him a trophy,"
  Myron writes.    I got a great laugh out of the hoax when I
  finally put the pieces together, and would like to
  congratulate the culprit myself.


EARLY AUCTION SURVEY

  Karl Moulton writes: "The following is what is going to be sent
  to the NBS membership along with a survey of 19th century
  American auction catalogues.  Please advise that the E-Sylum
  readers who are not NBS members can contact me for a form
  as well if they have this material.

  SPECIAL   ANNOUNCEMENT

  To help commemorate its 25th Anniversary, the Numismatic
  Bibliomania Society will be conducting a census of extant 19th
  century American auction catalogues.  Enclosed is your survey
  form.

  We sincerely hope you will take the time to fill this out.  It will
  give you a "hands on" with a portion of your library and help
  inventory your holdings.  Take your time, but please return it
  no later than June 30, 2004, to board member Karl Moulton at
  PO Box 1073, Congress, AZ  85332.
  e-mail: numiscats at aol.com

  The results of this important survey will be published in the
  Asylum, the official publication of the NBS.  Naturally, the
  overall success of this project depends upon the response we
  get from you - the membership.  Won't you please help everyone
  to know what's still out there?

  Any questions can be directed to the board members listed in
  the Asylum.  Also, if you know of any institution having this
  material, please advise Karl Moulton by e-mail and a copy
  will be sent to them.

  Thank you so very much!"


STOLEN DUPONT COIN RECOVERED

  The March 15, 2004 issue of COIN WORLD has a cover
  article on the recently recovered 1866 Seated Liberty, No
  Motto dollar that was stolen in 1967 from the DuPont
  collection.   Stephen Searle sent a link to an article that
  appeared in the March 2 issue of the Washington Post.

  "A rare silver dollar dating from 1866, perhaps the world's
  most notable missing coin, may have been turned over to
  experts last week in the bar of a Best Western hotel in Maine.

  The coin, valued at more than $1 million, was surrendered
  in Augusta by a librarian who said he received it from an
  eccentric friend several years ago in a box of coins of
  considerably less value.

  Only two 1866 silver dollars without the inscription "In God
  We Trust" are known to exist.   The other is in a private
  collection, and the missing one was largely written off as lost
  after gunmen snatched it in 1967 from millionaire Willis H.
  du Pont, to whom it will revert.

  "The darn thing turned up," said John J. Kraljevich Jr. of the
  auction firm American Numismatic Rarities. He and a colleague,
  John M. Pack, declared the coin to be the real thing after
  huddling with the librarian at a table in the Best Western last
  week."

  "Later, they said the librarian spoke of discovering that he had
  a coin worth more than $1 million, only to learn later that the
  coin was stolen property and not his at all.

  "I have to admit that as we pulled away and he was walking
  across the parking lot, he looked a little crestfallen," Kraljevich
  said.

  To read the full story, see:  Full Story
  (Registration required)


TRANSITIONAL "IN GOD WE TRUST" PATTERN

  Speaking of the "In God We Trust" patterns,
  Saul Teichman sent us a link to a new page on the
  uspatterns.com web site discussing "a newly-discovered
  overdate quarter which may shed light on "In God We
  Trust" transitional pattern question."

  "The discovery of an 1865 pattern quarter struck over an
  1850-O quarter may shed light on a series of pattern coins
  where the actual date of striking has long been a question.
  This is the series of Civil War era coins related to the
  adoption of the motto "In God We Trust". As for regular
  issue coins, the motto first appeared on the 1864 Two Cent
  piece, and then was adopted on the regular Quarter, Half
  Dollar, Dollar, Half Eagle, Eagle, and Double Eagle
  denominations in 1866. However pattern coins with "In God
  We Trust" actually were struck on 1863 dated Two Cent
  pieces, 1863, 1864, and 1865 dated Quarter, Half, and
  Dollar denominations, and on 1865 dated Half Eagles,
  Eagles, and Double Eagles in copper.  These coins are called
  "Transitionals" as they are made/dated in years before they
  were adopted for regular coinage."

 "...in 1977 one of these 1865 transitionals, an 1865 "In God
  We Trust" Dollar (listed as Judd no. 434 in one of the
  standard pattern references, United States Pattern,
  Experimental and Trial Pieces by J. Hewitt Judd) appeared
  in the Fairfield Collection sale. The cataloguer, Bowers &
  Ruddy, noted that the coin was over struck on an 1866 dollar!"

  US Pattern Transitionals


NEW NICKELS UNVEILED

  Gar Travis writes: "On CBS This Morning, Sunday the 29th
  of  February, Charles Osgood gave a brief introduction and
  showed  "The First" new nickel to the public, the day before
  issue availability on the U.S. Mint Web site."  Gar attached
  screen captures which he was able to make during the program.

  An article about the new coin was published in the MArch 3,
  2004 issue of The Denver Post.

  "Banks, grocery stores, purses and pockets will soon be
  carrying shiny new nickels minted in Denver that commemorate
  the 1803 Louisiana Purchase and honor American explorers
  Meriwether Lewis and William Clark."

  "Millions of the new nickels have been shipped to Federal
  Reserve banks serviced by the Denver Mint and will likely
  reach commercial banks within a few weeks,  said Guillermo
  Hernandez, a Denver Mint spokesman.

  Thomas Jefferson's likeness will remain on the front, but
  Jefferson's Monticello, Va., home will be replaced with a
  replica of the Jefferson peace medal that Lewis and Clark
  presented to Native Americans as a gesture of friendship
  during their 1804-06 expedition.

  The new peace medal design features two hands shaking."

  To read the full story, see:  Full Story


APRIL 2004 COLONIAL NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED

  Gary Trudgen, CNL Editor, writes: "The April 2004 issue of
  The Colonial Newsletter (CNL) has been published. This issue
  consists of a feature paper, two technical notes and a letter to
  the editor.

  The feature paper is a very interesting and useful study of the
  various errors found on early American coins produced before
  the Federal Mint began operations in 1792.  The basis of this
  paper was presented by Dr. Philip Mossman at the ANS
  Coinage of the Americas Conference (COAC) in Baltimore,
  MD on March 17, 2001.  A decision was made not to publish
  a conference proceedings for this COAC, thus freeing up Phil's
  paper for publication elsewhere.  Phil has expanded the paper
  for publication in CNL.

  Minting equipment from the various American pre-Federal
  coinage operations has not survived, plus there is no known
  written documentation from this era that adequately describes
  the technologies employed to mint these coins.  The best
  evidence we have concerning the minting processes are the
  coins themselves.   By studying error coins from each step of
  the minting process the technology employed to mint the coin
  can be extrapolated.  In this paper, Phil follows the
  contemporaneous minting process from start to finish,
  illustrating and explaining errors that occurred in the process.

  In the first technical note, Robert Martin reports the discovery
  of a new Connecticut obverse die.  The newly discovered die
  is paired with an already known 1785 reverse die labeled A.3.
  Tentatively, the new obverse die has been classified as Miller
  6.6, thus creating a new 1785 variety, M. 6.6-A.3.  Robert
  presents diagnostic and metrological data on the discovery coin.

  An extremely interesting and important central device trial
  piece is the subject of our next technical note.  This artifact
  from the period when British halfpence were being extensively
  counterfeited has been the subject of much discussion and
  examination over the past several months.  The central devices
  that are impressed into the trial piece are the same that are
  found on the 1781-dated series of counterfeit halfpence.  The
  authors, Byron K. Weston and Gary A. Trudgen, conclude
  that the trial piece is the result of impressing central device
  matrix punches into a copper flan.

  Finally, a thought provoking and informative letter was
  received from Thomas Kays in response to our previous issue
  which contained Dr. Philip Mossman's "Money of the 14th
  Colony: Nova Scotia (1711-1783)."  Tom's letter, along with
  Phil's inserted replies, is reproduced in the Letter to the Editor
  section.

  CNL is published three times a year by The American
  Numismatic Society, Broadway at 155th Street, New York,
  NY 10032.  For inquires concerning CNL, please contact
  Juliette Pelletier at the preceding postal address or e-mail
  pelletier at amnumsoc.org or telephone (212) 234-3130
  ext. 243."


RAYMOND OBITUARY SOUGHT

  Peter Koch writes: "Does anyone on this exquisite mailing
  list have a photocopy of John J. Ford's obituary of Wayte
  Raymond in the February 1957 The Numismatist they could
  mail me?  I'll gladly pay expenses-plus, or reciprocate in similar
  fashion. E-mail me direct at finent at optonline.net or reply to
  The E-Sylum editor.  My genuine thanks."


MINT FINANCIAL PROBLEMS DECLARED FIXED

  A March 5th article in the Rocky Mountain News says
  "The U.S. Mint has fixed problems in keeping track of its
  money, according to its annual report and audit.

  But the potential loss to taxpayers from past problems rose
  to $63 million, the report said.

  In 2000, 2001 and 2002, the mint's private auditor warned
  of significant security problems with its computer and financial
  controls.

  The auditor said that financial records were vulnerable to
  tampering and that employees didn't check bills, payroll and
  credit card accounts adequately before paying them.

  The 2003 audit indicates that those problems have been fixed.

  "This is as clean as I've seen on any federal agency," said Roger
  Von Elm of Urbach, Kahn and Werlin, the mint's private auditor."

  To read the full article, see: Full Article



CHAPMAN SALE BUYER INFORMATION SOUGHT

  Denis Loring writes: "I'm looking for the buyer of lot 2309 in
  S.H. Chapman's sale of the Gregory collection, June. 1919.
  If anyone knows, please e-mail me at dwloring at aol.com.
  Thanks."


FROSSARD'S CATALOGUING FOR WOODWARD AND SAMPSON

  David F. Fanning of Fanning Books writes: "On page 69 of
  John Adams's "United States Numismatic Literature," Adams
  notes that Ed. Frossard catalogued some sales for both W.
  Elliot Woodward and Henry G. Sampson.  I know Frossard
  did the second Vicksburg sale (Woodward 101), but did he
  do any others for Woodward? And which Sampson
  catalogue(s) did he do?  Any info would be very appreciated.
  Thanks."

  [David may be reached at  fanning32 at earthlink.net.-Editor]


COUNTERFEIT LOGIC

  David F. Fanning writes: "Thanks for the latest E-Sylum. I was
  amused by the following quote from USA Today regarding
  counterfeits of the new twenties:

  "More money being caught, even if it was originally accepted,
  suggests the new $20s are harder to fake because they are
  easier to spot - the government's goal in the redesign."

  So, more counterfeits being detected means there are fewer
  counterfeits? Interesting logic. I expect the bills only have to
  be accepted once to meet the counterfeiter's goal."


LITERARY DEPOT TOKEN INFORMATION

  Based on city directories & the Rulau token book
  Larry Dziubek sends the following information about
  the Morse token discussed last week:

  "M. P. MORSE,  literary depot, 76 Fourth appears in
  an 1850 directory and in the 1850 census,  but not in
  the 1844 or earlier directories.

  In the 1847 Pgh. directory he is at 4th between Wood
  and Market.

  The token issued between 1845 and 1847.  There are no
  clarifications of the business.  The text on the token
  appears in directories and in the census."


JOHN SCHAYER QUIZ ANSWER

  Last week I asked, can anyone tell us about John
  Schayer's line of work outside of numismatics?

  Dave Bowers writes: "Schayer was in the boot and shoe
  trade and also was a wholesaler of alligator skins."

  David F. Fanning writes: "Schayer sold animal skins --
  in particular, he focused on alligator-skin products like
  boots. He had the most hideous logo I think I've ever
  seen, of an alligator putting on a pair of alligator-skin
  boots. I wish I could share  the image with E-Sylum
  readers (I know you've seen it, Wayne), as it really
  is a monument to tasteless art."

  [Absolutely correct. -Editor]


SPELLING BEE NIGHTMARE: "NUMISMATICS"

  Congratulations to the recent winner of the Nevada State
  Spelling Bee, who had to get past the word "numismatics"
  to clinch the championship.  From the March 6th Reno
  Gazette-Journal:

  "Knowing how to spell ichthyosaur, the state fossil of Nevada
  helped a 13-year-old Fallon girl to correctly spell ichthyology
  ? a branch of zoology that deals with fish ? Saturday to
  become this year's best speller in the Silver State.

  Shankari Rajagopal, an eighth grader at Churchill County
  Junior High School, won the Nevada State Spelling Bee held
  at the University of Nevada, Reno. Before the winning word,
  she also had to spell numismatics."

  To read the full story, see:  Full Story


THE BOOK NOBODY READ

  [The following item is non-numismatic, but it is about using
  literature to learn about history.  It comes from a Wall Street
  Journal book review. -Editor]

  "In "The Sleepwalkers" (1959) -- a history of early astronomy
  -- Arthur Koestler claimed that for a long time very few people
  followed the arguments in Nicolaus Copernicus's "On the
  Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres," the 1543 treatise that
  put the sun at the center of planetary motion. Koestler
  believed that it was Johannes Kepler, a generation later, who
  popularized the heliocentric theory.

  But was Koestler right? While researching another book, Owen
  Gingerich, a professor of astronomy and the history of science
  at Harvard, noticed that early printed copies of Copernicus's
  book appeared to be heavily used. "The Book Nobody Read"
  (Walker, 306 pages, $25) is Mr. Gingerich's attempt to
  investigate this mystery and to explore the ways in which ideas
  -- including earth-shaking ones -- get out into the world and
  into the minds of men.

  Mr. Gingerich's earlier research had led him to track down
  every known extant copy of the first (1543) and second
  (1566) editions of this seminal astronomical work. He
  traveled to libraries, museums, book dealers and auction
  houses around the world, confirming his belief that "On the
  Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres" was widely noticed
  among an intellectual elite. By tracing the history of each
  copy's ownership and reading the hand-written notes in the
  margins, Mr. Gingerich discerns an "invisible college" of
  astronomers and scholars (including Galileo) who spread
  the heliocentric hypothesis."

  [So, dear readers ... are there any  numismatic works you
  would put in this same category?  A book which had far
  more influence on the hobby than people generally think?
  What book nearly ALWAYS appears in beat-up, dog-
  eared condition?  And what book almost NEVER seems
  to have been actually opened and read?  -Editor]


HILL AND JANVIER MACHINE INFORMATION SOUGHT

  Darryl Atchison writes: "I noticed in this week's E-Sylum
  that Dick Johnson in his article on Mint engravers using Mint
  facilities for private work that he refers to Hill and Janvier
  reducing machines.  Can anyone recommend a book that
  illustrates and discusses the technical aspects of machinery
  related to either coinage or banknote production?  Any
  reference that highlights the differences in usefulness, etc.
  between different pieces of machinery such as those cited
  by Mr. Johnson would be especially interesting, I think."


ARISTIDE'S CASH STASH LIKE STILTON CHEESE

  This week the Wall Street Journal reported that like Saddam
  Hussein, Haitian leader Aristide had a hidden stash of U.S.
  notes.  Have any of Saddam's notes found their way into
  collectors' hands?  Will Aristide's?

  "Looters found stacks of rotting U.S. dollars stashed in a
  tunnel beneath former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide's
  mansion, while a rebel leader who helped oust him said his
  men would surrender their weapons.

  The discovery of the cash in a secret basement compartment
  likely will fuel allegations of corruption and arbitrary rule that
  fed the rebellion in Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas.
  The country's annual income works out to $480 a person."

  "The discovery of cash in a safe behind a cinderblock wall
  came when looters were going through Mr. Aristide's house
  -- which was completed in the early 1990s -- after he flew
  into exile. They found five stacks of $100 bills, each about
  three inches high. Part of the money, seen by a Wall Street
  Journal reporter, had the consistency of Stilton cheese,
  crumbling into dust when handled. Local bankers calculated
  by the size of the stacks that the total amount of the find
  would be about $350,000."


PET PEEVES: OMISSIONS FROM AUCTION CATALOGUES

  Darryl Atchison writes: "Some years ago Fred Lake authored
  an article in The Asylum noting general comments of interest to
  bibliophiles. One of his comments was that as a book dealer
  he hated auction catalogues that omitted page numbering.

  I want to expand on Fred's thoughts in that article and mention
  two other pieces of information that are disturbingly omitted
  with greater frequency these days.  These are a select
  bibliography and estimated price guidelines.

  I want to raise these two topics in the hopes of stimulating some
  debate or commentary from other collectors and more
  importantly, the dealers who are preparing auction catalogues.
  For the purposes of my argument I want you to assume that I
  am a beginning collector who is interested in forming a
  respectable collection of any series of tokens, coins, banknotes
  or whatever.  The nature of the collectible is not important just
  the fact that I am a beginner.

  Let's look at the flaw of omitting a select bibliography first.
  There are several reasons why select bibliographies should
  be included in every auction catalogue which lists lots in any
  given series using a classification numbering system previously
  compiled and/or published by a numismatic author.  I will list
  these in no particular order.

  1)  to credit the original cataloguer whose numbering system
       is being used and to highlight the source

  2)  to give the beginner collector the opportunity to learn more
       about a series before diving into the deep end.  A more
       informed bidder is probably a better and happier bidder.
       Auction houses obviously agree or why else would they
       prepare such eloquent lot descriptions in the first place?

  3) to create a cadre of collectors who will become hopefully
      become interested in numismatic literature, thereby
      stimulating interest in two hobbies

  4) to inform both collectors and non-collectors of books
      which may eventually interest them.  Believe it or not,
      many collectors often purchase books which deal with
      topics well outside of any of their numismatic collecting
      preferences.

  As to the subject of price guideline estimates I believe that
  these are again important for a variety of reasons.  Again,
  please think of me as a beginner collector and YOUR
  catalogue may even be the first auction catalogue I ever pick
  up.  No matter how beautifully illustrated and well-researched
  the catalogue is... imagine how daunting a task lies before
  the initiate in trying to establish his own pricing guidelines.
  We were all beginners at one time or another... remember
  what is was like when you were just starting out.  As much
  as I hate to admit it, standard catalogues which are only
  updated once a year are frequently out-of-step with the
  actual marketplace.  These standard catalogues may reflect
  prices which are either grossly too high or vastly underpriced
  for any given coin.  Most auction houses also sell coins retail
  so they are more in tune with the market than other
  publishers.  Price estimates should reflect the particular auction
  houses view of the marketplace at any given moment in time.
  This of course does not mean that the actual price realized on
  any given lot will necessarily be within the range estimated.
  We all know that two "whacked out" bidders can drive bids
  sky-high and we have all seen instances where coins have
  been "stolen".

  Anyhow, these are my thoughts for what they are worth.
  I hope they generate some interest."


UNITDROIT CONVENTION AND NUMISMATICS

  Arthur Shippee forwarded the following note from The
  Explorator email newsletter:

  "A new list has started for the discussion of the implications
  of the Unitdroit Convention (and others) on the trade and
  sale of antiquities, especially in regards to coins: 
Unitdroit Convention Discussion Group"

  [A web search found the following text of the convention,
  which addresses "the illicit trade in cultural objects and the
  irreparable damage frequently caused by it,  ... and in
  particular by the pillage of archaeological sites and the
  resulting loss of irreplaceable archaeological, historical
  and scientific information... Unitdroit Convention
  -Editor]


CURRENCY GALLERY OWNER

  Following up on last week's question about the owner
  of the CurrencyGallery.org web site, Ed Snible writes:
  "Network Solutions will usually reveal the identity of web
  site operators.
  Network Solutions Whois

  Network Solutions says the operator of currencygallery.org
  is Stephen Sullivan.   Mr. Sullivan is the author of "The US
  Error Note Encyclopedia" and his commercial web site is
  http://www.capcurr.com

  [Interesting detective work.  -Editor]


JUST PUBLISH IT ALREADY!

  Ray Williams writes: "In the Feb 29th E-Sylum,  Granvyl G.
  Hulse, Jr. wrote that "a lesson in that the first book on any
  subject, no matter how thoroughly the author tries to make
  it accurate, will never hold up under the light of later research."

  I think this is a rather discouraging comment to a potential
  author, but it makes me think of how I look at the need for
  more books in my fields of  numismatic interest.

  Being starved for new publications in the US Colonial
  Numismatic area, I would like to make a comment to
  potential authors.  I've seen friends and acquaintances at
  conventions carrying around manuscripts that are so close
  to being ready for publication but haven't been published.
  It's this "perfection hang-up" that's stopping things.  If these
  potential authors are waiting for perfection, we will not
  benefit from what they've already researched until (if) the
  book is published.  Case in point...  Walter Breen's
  Encyclopedia for Large Cents!  The book didn't get published
  until 10 years after Breen had passed away!  Once you have
  a significant product for publication, and it reasonably meets
  the authors goals, PUBLISH IT.   If afterwards there is
  updated information and new facts, then that is why God
  made second editions!"


MORE ON MEDALS ON STAMPS

  David Gladfelter writes: "In the 60s the U. S. Postal Service
  issued a series of stamps honoring "Champions of Liberty."
  They included Ramon Magsaysay, Símon Bolívar, Lajos
  Kossuth, José de San Martin, Ernst Reuter, T. G. Masaryk,
  Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Karl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim,
  Giuseppe Garibaldi and Mohandas K. Gandhi. Their portraits
  were in medallic design. The denominations were 4¢ and 8¢
  which were the first class and airmail rates respectively, so
  some of these stamps went on overseas mail including
  countries behind the Iron Curtain. In the 80s sheets of these
  stamps could be bought at discounts up to 20%. When I could
  get them I saved them for numismatic correspondence, along
  with the Banking and Commerce 10¢ stamps and the Indian
  head penny 13¢ stamp."


GINGRAS HUDSON'S BAY BOOK

  Jan Monroe writes: "I am not familiar with Darryl Atchison's
  requested articles on the Gold Hudson's Bay Company
  medals in Mehl's Numismatic Monthly.  However, there are
  excellent references to some of these gold medals in the
  book "Medals, Tokens and Paper Money of the Hudson's
  Bay Company"  by Larry Gingras.  This book was published
  by the Canadian Numismatic Research Society in 1975.  It
  is now hard to find and therefore expensive.   Gold medals
  discussed include the 30 year 9k gold long service medals,
  Vancouver Pioneer Association Medals in 14K gold, and
  the Lady Kindersley rescue medal in 9k gold.

  Darryl notes: "Yes, I am aware of the text by Gingras.  I
  don't own a copy, because as Jan says it must have been
  printed in a fairly small number.  I don't know if it is "expensive"
  ... just elusive.  I have seen it in a couple of auctions but
  have not been the successful bidder YET."


SPENCER CLARK

  Regarding last week's request from Stefan Herpel,  Jan Monroe
  writes: "I suggest Mr. Herpel read  pages 216 through 247 of
  Jason Goodwin's book,  "Greenback".  This fascinating book is
  subtitled "The Almighty Dollar and the Invention of America.
  The actual reference I think he is referring to is listed on pages
  244 and 245.  The person on the note was actually Spencer
  Morton Clark who put himself on the five cent fractional note
  who is listed in the book as "...a bankrupt sex pest under
  investigation for embezzlement and fraud.  Nineteen days after
  the new (fractional) notes went into circulation congress passed
  a law forbidding the likeness of anyone living to be used on
  U.S. currency."

  I recommend this book to anyone reading the E-Sylum as a
  fun read that is difficult to put down.  It was published in 2003."

  As Spencer Morton Clark worked for Salmon Chase and
  Chase had to defend him, this very well could have effected
  the issuance of interest bearing specimen notes that had
  Salmon Chase's portrait engraved on the $1,000 note.
  See Friedberg Design 55 Note 210.  The timing of the new
  law in relation to the dates of issuance of the Chase notes
  deserves further research."


EXPLODING TWENTIES

  Whenever currency is redesigned, the conspiracy theorists
  come out of the woodwork to proclaim it's all a government
  plot to do something terrible.   Apparently one of the latest
  ideas making the rounds is that the new U.S. currency has
  embedded in it RFID (radio frequency identification) tags.

  A web site has a story titled "RFID Tags in New US Notes
  Explode When You Try to Microwave Them."

  "Want to share an event with you, that we experienced this
  evening.. Dave had over $1000 dollars in his back pocket
  (in his wallet). New twenties were the lion share of the bills
  in his wallet. We walked into a truck stop/travel plaza and
  they have those new electronic monitors that are supposed
  to say if you are stealing something. But through every monitor,
  Dave set it off. He did not have anything to purchase in his
  hands or pockets. After numerous times of setting off these
  monitors, a person approached Dave with a 'wand' to swipe
  why he was setting off the monitors.

  Believe it or not, it was his 'wallet'. ...

  We could have left it at that, but we have also paid attention
  to the European Union and the 'rfid' tracking devices placed
  in their money, and the blatant bragging of Walmart and
  many corporations of using 'rfid' electronics on every
  marketable item by the year 2005.

  Dave and I have brainstormed the fact that most items can
  be 'microwaved' to fry the 'rfid' chip, thus elimination of tracking
  by our government.

  So we chose to 'microwave' our cash, over $1000 in twenties
  in a stack, not spread out on a carousel. Do you know what
  exploded on American money??  The right eye of Andrew
  Jackson on the new twenty, every bill was uniform in it's burning
   ... Isnt that interesting?"

 "We will now be wrapping all of our larger bills in foil on a
  regular basis.

  What we resent is the fact that the government or a
  corporation can track our 'cash'. Credit purchases and check
  purchases have been tracked for years, but cash was not
  traceble until now..."

  To read the full article, including pictures of the fried
  notes, see:  Full Article


FEATURED WEB SITE

  This week's featured web site is an old favorite, recommended
  by John and Nancy Wilson of Ocala, FL.  They write: "Another
  great site that probably was listed on E-Sylum, but not sure, is our
  National Numismatic Collection which resides in the Smithsonian
  in Washington, DC."

     National Numismatic Collection

	 
  Wayne Homren
  Numismatic Bibliomania Society