WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM NOVEMBER 14, 2010

Among our new subscribers this week is Lloyd Wagner. Welcome aboard! We now have 1,389 email subscribers, plus 92 followers on Facebook, including Donn Pearlman, Pierre Fricke and Donald Yarab.

First, a correction. Roger Burdette's special offer on his new Assay Commission book for readers of The E-Sylum offer is good through December 10 - see his ad in this week's issue.

OK, another correction. In last week's Wayne's Word's I mentioned "Louis Eliasberg's unique 1877-CC No Arrows Dime". Harold Levi spotted the typo - it should be 1873.

Many thanks to Leon Saryan and Wayne Schroll for assisting Oded Paz in his quest to contact Turkish numismatists.

AOL will be the death of me yet. We've always had proportionately more problems reported by AOL subscribers than any other ISP. Over the last several weeks we've been investigating a problem where a small subset of our AOL subscribers get an empty E-Sylum message or none at all.

The AOL headquarters is just up the road from my house and I pass it nearly every day. If I knew whose door to knock on I'd barge in and whack somebody upside the head. This problem is driving us nuts. It's not all AOL subscribers, just some, and we're having a devil of a time tracking it down. Sorry! Our email provider, Binhost, has an engineer looking into it.

This week we open with a reminder of the upcoming Kolbe & Fanning auction and my review of the Krause 2011 U.S. Coin Digest. Other topics include Dick Johnson's primer on plating in numismatics, replica Victoria Cross medals, and the Cornell hoard of colonial currency.

To learn about electroplated pewter coin replicas, Louis Eliasberg's worst condition coins, A.M. Smith's handwritten manuscript and dinner with Mint Director Ed Moy, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
Numismatic Bibliomania Society

KOLBE & FANNING AUCTION CLOSES THURSDAY NOVEMBER 18TH

Just a reminder that Kolbe & Fanning's 119th mail bid auction sale closes this Thursday, November 18. Bids may be placed by mail, fax, email or phone. Phone calls will be answered until 6 pm, though bids may be left on voicemail until midnight. Fax and email bids will be received until midnight. Mail bids must be received by the day of the sale.

The sale features a wide range of numismatic literature from around the world. Highlights include the Wayne Homren collection of 18th- and 19th-century U.S. newspapers and periodicals with numismatic content, a collection of U.S. numismatic material from the Civil War years, and other works including:

• the Currency Act of 1764, a rare British Parliamentary Act regulating American colonial paper money, the severe restriction of which provided in part the justification of the American Revolution
• nice examples of the first two coin publications of Q. David Bowers, issued in 1955 and 1956, and specially bound combined presentation editions of both the Garrett and Norweb collection sales
• a 1914 letter from S.H. Chapman to William H. Woodin, discussing plated Gable sale catalogues
• Evelyn's 1697 Numismata, which includes the earliest illustration of the St. Patrick's coinage
• the famous 1878 Adolph Weyl sale of the Fonrobert collection of over 6,000 American and Canadian coins, tokens and medals; a nice first edition, first printing of the Red Book
• two of the rarest limited editions of the Red Book: the 2008 ANS sesquicentennial and 2008 NLG Bash volumes, limited to editions of 250 and 135 copies respectively
• a set of the Forni reprint of Babelon's Traité des Monnaies Grecques et Romaines
• Medina's classic 1924 Medallas Europeas Relativas à América
• Cayón's 1990-95 four-volume Compendio de las Monedas del Imperio Romano the seldom-encountered Forni reprint of Imhoof-Blumer's Die Antiken Münzen Nord-Griechenlands.

The catalogue is available on the firm's website at www.numislit.com. Bids may be placed by contacting Kolbe & Fanning at: 141 W. Johnstown Rd., Gahanna, OH 43230; (614) 414-0855; fax (614) 414-0860; df@numislit.com.

Kolbe & Fanning Numismatic Booksellers LLC
141 W. Johnstown Rd.
Gahanna, OH 43230
(614) 414-0855
Cell (614) 256-8915
Fax (614) 414-0860
df@numislit.com
www.numislit.com

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
NUMISMATIC GLEANINGS FROM CONTEMPORARY NEWSPAPERS (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n42a11.html)
A CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNT OF THE 1851 ROPER SALE (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n43a13.html)

BOOK REVIEW: 2011 U.S. COIN DIGEST

The obvious comparison for Krause's red-covered U.S. coin book is Whitman's classic "Redbook", A Guide Book of United States Coins. The books do largely cover the same territory, but I've always found that different books have different redeeming features, and I think the 2011 U.S. Coin Digest has a number of things going for it. While I'm not an active dealer or collector of U.S. coins (and thus can't vouch for the valuations), I feel I could safely recommend either publication to collectors or the general public seeking basic information and pricing information on U.S. coins.

One similarity I commend is Krause's use of the combination hardbound/spiral format Whitman began offering a few years ago. The inner spiral binding allows pages to lay flat for easy consultation while viewing coins, and the hard outside binding fits well on any numismatist's bookshelf. It's the best of both worlds for a book meant to be consulted regularly.

While the Whitman Redbook has grown and grown over the years to include more and more useful information, the Krause Digest felt a little slim by comparison. However, this may partly be due to the book's clean layout. There is actually 55 pages of front material before the listings.

The chapters provide a well-organized overview for the novice collector or member of the general public attempting to identify and price coins. Chapter 1 is a very clean and simple Type Identification Guide with images of all major design types of regular issue U.S. coins from Half Cents to Double Eagles. For the unfamiliar it's a great way to begin the book - I can hear readers saying, "look - I've got one of those!"

Chapter 2 provides the same advice I give to everyone asking me about the value of their coins: "Don't clean your coins" and "Always hold your coin by the edge." The three-page discussion on "Care and Storage of Your Coins" is simple and to the point.

Chapter 3, "How to grade" is a nice photographic overview of circulated coin grades. A picture is worth a thousand words, and the twelve-page guide illustrates ten different common type coins (including Indian and Lincoln cents, Morgan dollars and Barber designs) in six grades from AU-55 to G-4.

Listings begin on p55 with U.S. Half Cents. This departs from the Redbook practice of listing chronologically, with colonial issues appearing first. In the Digest, colonial coinage starts on p202. I think this is a good choice for the novice reader who is far more likely to have U.S. circulation coins to look up.

Commemorative coins are listed beginning on p153, followed by bullion coins, mint and proof sets. After the colonial coin section are listings for U.S. Territorial Gold, Hawaii and the Philippines. Each section is differentiated by colored "tabs" at the outer edge of each page.

All in all, the 2011 U.S. Coin Digest is a useful book that I think will serve the novice well. My boss inherited some coins from her Mother recently, and I'll lend her my copy to see if it works in practice.

For more information, or to order, see: www.shopnumismaster.com/product/2011-us-coin-digest/

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: NEW BOOK: 2011 U.S. COIN DIGEST (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n20a06.html)

COURT TRIAL LIKELY IN CASE OF SEIZED 1933 DOUBLE EAGLES

Resolution of the legal positions of the U.S. Mint and the descendants of Israel Switt over the fate of 10 genuine 1933 double eagle coins moved one step closer to trial on Oct. 28 with release of a 20-page decision by U.S. District Court Judge Legrome Davis Jr., from the federal court on the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

A trial would occur in late 2011 or in 2012.

Both sides have been battling since September 2004 when Switt's daughter, Joan Langbord, and her two adult sons, contacted the Mint's counsel, Daniel Shaver, to ask if the Mint would authenticate 10 coins thought to be genuine 1933 double eagles. The coins were sent to Washington for review.

The family acted through New York lawyer Barry Berke, who had previously negotiated with the Mint to legalize the King Farouk-Jay Parrino-Stephen Fenton specimen that sold for $7.59 million in 2002.

Israel Switt, a Philadelphia jeweler and pawn merchant, has been identified in recent years as included in the pedigree of every known specimen of the 1933 double eagle or $20 gold piece that ever surfaced. This includes a number of pieces in the 1940s and 1950s in a series of seizures or prosecutions, usually by the United States attorney in the district where the coin was seized.

The Mint declined to return the 10 gold coins, saying in essence, “sue us,” and Berke rose to the challenge, demand the coins return in court.

Berke's pleadings laid out the case as to why Langbord and her family believed that they had the right to retain the coins and that the Mint had to seek their forfeiture, not simply retain them like a neighborhood bully. The Mint had an entirely different perspective and attempted to retain the coins as the fruit of a crime, much as a bank robber is denied the loot.

The plaintiffs basically claim the government has my coins, it took them, and we want them back. Significantly, the government now bears the burden of proof that it is the rightful owner. The problem: all through the years, the government found that when the other side had the burden, it could not be met. The shoe is on the other foot.

In the end, the Judge gave both sides a little – and Langbord's a solid procedural victory. “The Court appreciates the uniqueness of this case. But the unfamiliar landscape does not persuade it to abandon well-established legal principles, as the parties' briefs often suggest it should.”

Based on other cases and past practices called precedent, “the Court 1) denies the Government's motion for leave to file Counts II and IV of its proposed complaint; 2) grants the Government's motion for leave to file Count III of its proposed complaint; and 3) grants Plaintiffs' motion to dismiss the Government's claim of interest in the forfeiture proceeding.”

To read the complete article, see: Trial Likely for Langbord 1933s (www.numismaster.com/ta/numis/Article.jsp?ad=article&ArticleId=15442)

A PRIMER ON PLATING FOR ALL COLLECTORS

Paul G. Lajoie is cataloging his extensive collection of Statue of Liberty medals in preparation of publishing a catalog of these American idol collectibles. This week he encountered a Dieges & Clust medal that was marked: "xx gold." What was the meaning, he asked, of "xx gold?"

That is an invitation for me to talk about one of the core concepts of numismatics that is so unknown to coin collectors but is such vital information for medal collectors -- electroplating. Read carefully below; there is a quiz at the end of this discussion. To answer Paul's question first, here is what I sent him:

Plating is the process of electroplating, the electrochemical process of depositing ions of a metal onto a base object. In the numismatic field it means a very thin layer of one metal is deposited on another metal already shaped by die striking or casting. This is done to improve the surface metal, its color or finish.

Electroplating is accomplished by electrolysis in plating tanks. The process uses electricity of low voltage direct current in a tank filled with a liquid electrolyte. Two electrodes are required, one of which is the item to be electroplated; it is the cathode. The other, the anode, is the source of metal to be deposited. It wears away like a bar of soap; it is sacrificial, as metal ions from the anode passes through the electrolyte, they are deposited on the cathode. Once the current is turned on, ions leave the anode, enter the electrolyte, and similar ions adhere to the cathode. The longer the item remains in the tank and the current kept on, the thicker will be the deposited layer of metal.

Generally, a precious metal is deposited on a less expensive metal, but virtually any metal can be deposited on any other metal. It might require an intermediate step, however. Gold, for example, does not bond to iron or aluminum. But it can be bonded to another metal first, say copper or nickel, then that item can be plated with gold.

Copper and copper alloys (such as bronze) are relateively inexpensive metals, and they actively bond with silver or gold, so they are widely used for shaping any item to be plated with a precious metal. You might be surprised to learn all those silver-plated tableware you have been using for years are actually struck in copper, then heavily plated with silver. These have been made in America since 1847. Thank you, Rogers Brothers.

The use of electroplating in the medallic field has a very wide use; medals are frequently plated. The most obvious reason is to create a rank of award. We all know the rank of medals range from bronze, the lowest, to silver, to gold the highest. But another surprise! All those Olympic Gold Medals are not pure gold. Even the most prestigious award medals in the Olympic Games, Olympic Gold, are actually struck in bronze and goldplated!

A typical medal to be plated is fully struck up, trimmed, and cleaned. It must be chemically clean, no grease or oil must be on its surface. (There are degreasing applications and chemicals on the market.) The medal must be free of surface debris and contaminates. Chemical cleaning creates an activated surface, one that is highly receptive to tarnish, thus the item to be plated must be inserted in the electroplating tanks as quickly as possible before this tarnish begins to form.

Medals are generally plated in a batch. So a number of medals are placed on a metal rack that is lowered into the electrolyte solution.

Usually the metal being plated can be observed in twenty minutes or so. A normal coating of a thousandth of an inch might take four hours. An extra heavy coating might require eight hours or more. (In the 19th century some items were marked -- like Paul's Dieges & Clust medal -- identifying the thickness of this plating: "xx gold" meant more than normal, "xxx gold" meant thickest plating of all.)

The electroplated metal is a thin coating. It will have the same properties on the surface as a solid medal of this metal. However, since it is a thin coating it can be worn off easily. Plated medals can be given a patina or relieved finish but care must be taken not to remove any of the thin coating. Plated medals, like all fine art medals, are almost always protected with a lacquer coating as a final step.

Plated medals wear at the high points first just like solid metal medals. Often a nose on a portrait as a high point will be first to display the under composition of the plated medal. When this occurs, it is called bleeding -- the under composition, the base metal, is exposed.

Since a silverplated item looks exactly like a solid silver item, the practice of hallmarking was created for anyone to distinguish between the two. This was necessary to indicate fineness. Plated items are not required to be so marked. Thus silver and other precious items made in the 20th century and later are required by law to indicate their fineness. This was first enacted in England in 1904. Tiffany & Co observed this and pressed for a similar law in the U.S.A., enacted 1906; thus American metalworkers call it the "Tiffany Law."

Electroplating requires an experienced operator. He must control a half dozen or more variables in the process all at once. These include such factors as voltage and current density, metal composition and cleanliness of the base surface metal, composition and purity of the anode, composition of the electrolyte solution, its pH, temperature, agitation, and other chemical factors, plus other factors. Impurities in any of these affects a desired deposition. They create electroplating anomalies (a rare form of "mint errors.")

There are so many other components of electroplating that apply to numismatic items. Perhaps they should be discussed at a later time. These include partial plating -- how to plate only a portion of a medallic surface; reverse plating -- salvaging the gold from a goldplated item; bright plating -- a surface with high reflectiveness; flash plating -- super thin coating; Sheffield plate -- plating before striking; anodizing for aluminum; and test cut -- how to determine the under composition of a plated item.

The word "plate" is also used in additional ways in the numismatic and medallic field: (1) the one side of a box medal; (2) the planchet for a side-by-side die at the Paris Mint for striking their Restrike Series; (3) large plates (like dinner plates that have been embellished with medallic items), and (4) a coin or medal illustrated on a plate in a printed catalog or book.

NOW FOR THE QUIZ: The Philadelphia Mint had electrolytic tanks from 1855 until recently. Yet, they never plated a coin or medal (to my knowledge, at least). What then, did they use these tanks for? Answer next week.

KILKENOMICS FESTIVAL CURRENCY: THE MARBLE

Kilkenomics is an Economics festival which will run in Kilkenny city from November 11th - 14th 2010.

Twenty-four events, five venues, views from four continents, thousands of questions, hundreds of answers, one weekend

If you're like us you're finding all economics complicated and frightening in equal measure right now. What if we were to put some world class economic thinkers together with some of the best comic analytical minds available and see if they can't make all this easier to understand in a way that is entertaining, informative and funny?

With all this talk of money, we've decided to introduce our own currency – after all, Ireland's had 4 currencies in the last 40 years, so why not one more? Introducing…'The Marble'. It will have this magical quality to get more value, access special offers and buy more stuff in Kilkenny throughout the festival weekend (in pubs, restaurants, gigs, bookshops etc). For one weekend only The Marble will be strongest currency in Europe.

To read the complete article, see: Kilkenomics Festival (kilkenomics.com)

MORE ON THE GERMANY REPARATIONS COMMISSION PHOTO

Last week an E-Sylum reader asked for help identifying people pictured in a Library of Congress photo of "Reparations Commission with Stevenson, 6/25/29"

Tom DeLorey writes:

Gar Travis writes:

Pete Smith writes:

A New York Times article of June 26, 1929 identifies two more individuals who may have been in the picture. These include undersecretary Joseph P. Cotton (possibly top, second from left) and undersecretary Ogden L. Mills (possibly top, far right).

I have not yet been able to find a photo of Boston lawyer Thomas Nelson Perkins. He should be in the picture and only the man at the top, second from right, remains unidentified.

So far I have been making guesses. I have tried to find an original publication with the photo identifying the subjects but so far that has eluded me. My guesses should not be assumed to be correct.

But note that this was not a photo of the Reparations Commission. It was the American delegation to the Allied Reparations Commission. I did not find a listing for the entire commission.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: QUERY: GERMANY REPARATIONS COMMISSION PHOTO (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n45a13.html)

MORE ON THE NORTH CAROLINA COLONIAL CURRENCY HOARD

Erik Goldstein writes:

Mark Borckardt writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG ACQUIRES NORTH CAROLINA COLONIAL CURRENCY HOARD (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n45a07.html)

OFFICIAL REPLACEMENT VICTORIA CROSS MEDALS

Darryl Atchison writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: QUERY: REPLACEMENT VICTORIA CROSS MEDALS (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n45a18.html)

MORE ON COIN REPLICAS AND THE HOBBY PROTECTION ACT

Speaking of replicas: Regarding the tiny "COPY" inscription on the Higley copper reproduction illustrated in previous issues, I wrote: "I thought that "COPY" was a wee bit small myself. So which regulatory agency is in charge of enforcing the Hobby Protection Act?"

Ben Keele writes:

David Ganz writes:

On a related note Philip Mernick writes:

To read the CoinReplicas FAQ page, see: FAQs (www.coinreplicas.com/about/faqs)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: COIN REPLICAS AND THE HOBBY PROTECTION ACT (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n45a08.html)

MORE ON THE LOUIS ELIASBERG COLLECTION

Mark Borckardt writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: LOUIS ELIASBERG'S 1873-CC NO ARROWS DIME LETTER OF RECEIPT (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n45a11.html)

NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: NOVEMBER 14, 2010

Regarding the images of three-cent Feuchtwanger tokens, Myron Xenos writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: ON THE STICKNEY THREE CENT FEUCHTWANGER SPECIMEN (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n45a09.html)

Joe Boling writes:

Regarding this statement in the American Antiquarian Society item on a piece of baseball-related ephemera, "Advertisers have long used the image of popular baseball players and baseball teams to hock their wares. ", Joe adds:

To read the earlier E-Sylum item, see: W.S. HILL BASEBALL ADVERTISING NOTE (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n45a16.html)

Philip Mernick writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: ROYAL MINT STRIKES JOHN LENNON COIN (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n44a20.html)

WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY: NOVEMBER 14, 2010

Tuesday the 9th was the night of the November meeting of Nummis Nova, my Northern Virginia numismatic social group. Our host was Gene Brandenberg, who made reservations for us at the Union Street Public House in Old Town Alexandria, VA. For many years Gene operated a coin shop right next door. The location was especially convenient for Bill Eckberg, who lives within walking distance.

I had a longer haul to get there, but after locating a parking space I arrived at the restaurant about 6:35pm. Several folks were already there, seated at a table in the upstairs dining room. I took an empty chair across from Tom Kays and next to my guest for the evening, Edmund Moy, Director of the U.S. Mint.

Ed had been invited earlier by Roger Burdette, who knew him through his work on the Citizen's Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC). But because of his travel schedule, it had been difficult to find an open date. I followed up with Ed via email, and we picked November a couple months ago. Luckily, he remained open and was able to attend.

It was great to finally meet him - I don't get out much to Mint events or major coin shows. He's been a very active Mint Director, and travels the country introducing new coin designs at their launch events. He clearly enjoys his work. He recounted for some of us how he came to get the appointment and receive the word by phone from President Bush.

He acknowledged that the tough part of the job is dealing with multiple constituencies. With so many interested parties, it's inevitable that some will be unhappy. There's the blue-collar factory workforce, Treasury officials, suppliers and contractors, coin collectors and the general public, among others. He seemed happy to be among a group that didn't have a complaint or want something from him. As always, our group was there for the fun part of numismatics - sharing stories, coins, and fellowship.

Absent were regulars Roger Burdette and Wayne Herndon, whose work schedules got in the way. Those present included Chris Neuzil, Jon Radel, Joe Levine, Dave Shenkman and Julian Leidman.

Julie went up to introduce himself to Ed Moy, and ended up taking my seat for a long conversation. But I like to mingle, and stayed at the other end for our meals, speaking with Joe and Dave. Dave passed around a slabbed 1798 dollar along with three different Gallery Mint dollar reproductions. One had a triple error, made to order for him by the Gallery Mint's Ron Landis.

I had a couple binders of ephemera relating to the U.S. Mint and coin legislation, including a copy of the April 12, 1792 National Gazette, featuring the full text of the 1792 Mint Act, covering all of the front page and part of page 2 (see, I'm not selling ALL of my neat newspapers)!

Also included were two scarce reports of the Director of the Mint (1867 and 1872).

Other topics of conversation included Chief Engraver John Mercanti and the 2009 Ultra-High Relief Saint-Gaudens $20 gold coins. After waiting to allow everyone else a chance to acquire one, Director Moy bought one on the last day of sale and only after everyone was sure they weren't going to be sold out.

Tom expressed interest in a rare undated handwritten manuscript among the ephemera I'd brought. The six-page article written by "A.M. Smith, Numismatist, Philadelphia" is titled "Rare U.S. Coins". I purchased it in the January 2002 Stack's Americana Sale (lot 522). Here's a link to a slideshow on Flickr: A.M. Smith Manuscript, "Rare U.S. Coins" (www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/sets/72157625259908701/show/).

Tom and I spent part of the evening discussing the events for kids that Jon Radel and I help run at Wayne Herndon's Northern Virginia coin shows. While at the recent Virginia Numismatic Association show in Richmond, Tom solicited donations of numismatic items to be given to the kids or sold at the kids' auction. He'd brought with him a canvas Mint bag holding about 40 pounds of coins! On top of that, he had another bag of coins, some of which he'd placed in specially made holders. Wow!

As the dinner broke up we all thanked Ed for coming and invited him to come again. He gave everyone his business card. It had been a very enjoyable evening. Tom offered to walk me to my car to help haul the donated coins. I dropped him off at his car on the way out of Alexandria.

The rest of the week flew by quickly, and I did little numismatically, not even working much on The E-Sylum. But I did send out some emails to start the planning process for the next kids' event, to be held December 11th at the Annandale, VA coin show. I made arrangements to meet Wayne Herndon at his office Saturday morning to organize the giveaways and auction lots.

It was an unusual weekend for me - my wife had taken the family up to Pittsburgh to celebrate her niece's birthday and attend a wedding shower. I stayed home tending to chores and Max the Dog. I got up early Saturday, walked Max, went for a run, and installed some weather-stripping around our doors (winter's coming)! After 11am I left the house.

Wayne's office is spacious, yet crowded with work areas and merchandise. In back is a small warehouse for all of his Wizard Coin Supply stock and displays. I took pictures of the coin book aisle. Before I left his wife Karin and son Kyle arrived, on hand to help unload a shipment arriving later by truck.

We talked about plans for the next Nummis Nova dinner. On the way home I grabbed lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings, taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi to work on a few articles for this E-Sylum. But Max was waiting, so I didn't dawdle.

Back home, after walking Max I scanned images for this article. I worked on the issue off and on over the rest of the weekend between other chores. The gang arrived back home about 8:30pm Sunday. It's a school night, so it was time for the kids to shower and get to bed. I was able to publish The E-Sylum a little early and watch the Steeler football game. The weekend was a nice break, but it's back to the old grind tomorrow. Keep those E-Sylum emails coming, folks.

Another of Tuesday night's exhibits

SO WHAT'S A 'DEL BOY'?

Regarding this passage in a U.K. newspaper article, I asked "So what's a "Del Boy"? How are early counterfeits like these catalogued in the literature?"

Jim Duncan of New Zealand writes:

Philip Mernick forwarded a link to a page on WikiPedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Del_Boy .

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: METAL DETECTORIST FINDS UNUSUAL COUNTERFEIT ROMAN COIN (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n45a19.html)

DECEMBER 2010 SPINK SALE OF ANCIENT, ENGLISH AND FOREIGN COINS

To view the complete catalogue, see: Ancient, English & Foreign Coins & Commemorative Medals (2nd Dec 2010) (www.spink.com/auctions/pdf/1012.pdf)

IRELAND'S “BARNYARD” EURO COIN SERIES EXTENDS CLASSIC DESIGNS

The Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland will issue a very special silver coin honoring their well known and much loved “Barnyard” series of circulating coins designed by Percy Metcalfe and first issued in 1928. This will be the first time Percy Metcalfe's artwork will be presented in the Euro currency.

As a tribute to the first coins of the Irish state, the Central Bank has chosen to expand these designs and give them more relevancy within the EURO by updating them within a “New Generation.”

Percy Metcalfe's original designs are replicated and have been re-tooled and sharpened slightly for more vivid detail. The difference is with the addition of the animal's offspring. The original coins show the animals in profile with quite basic anatomical depictions. This is still the case with the “Horse” coin for example, but now, we will see a foal casually looking towards us in a more relaxed pose.

The first coin in the series will see the issue of the redesign of the Horse, with the Salmon and smolt in 2011 and the Irish Wolfhound with pup following in 2012.

To read the complete article, see: Central Bank of Ireland to Issue “Barnyard” Euro Coin Series (news.coinupdate.com/central-bank-of-ireland
-to-issue-barnyard-euro-coin-series-0426/)

TRUE STORY: THE UPSIDE DOWN COIN INSCRIPTION

Caller: I have a silver dollar (voice inflection confirms accuracy of caller id location: Birmingham, AL)

Dealer: OK

Caller: It's a 2008.

Dealer: mm hmm

The letters on the side are upside down. I was wonderin' if that was unusual…

Dealer: (pause) I doubt that they are. You probably just need to turn the coin over.

Caller: (long pause. The thought process and moving of the coin are palpable across the phone line)… All right then. Preciate it.

Dealer: You bet.

Dennis Tucker of Whitman Publishing adds:

FEATURED WEB SITE: MILITARY COIN COLLECTING

This week's Featured Web Site is suggested by John and Nancy Wilson, who write:

www.2-clicks-coins.com/article/
military-coin-collecting.html