Ralph Rucker's copper envelope book has no ordering details, because it can't be ordered. Heritage Auctions printed copies for distribution free of charge to all members of EAC attending the Buffalo EAC convention. Additional copies are being printed in the next two or three weeks, and a free copy will be sent to every member of EAC with the next issue of Penny Wise.

E-Sylum readers that wish to receive a copy will need to join EAC ($39 per year). Dare I say the book alone makes the annual membership a bargain?

Here is a link for an EAC membership application
http://eacs.org/EarlyAmericanCoppers.pdf .

The project is a true labor of love. Ralph set up a table at the last couple of EAC conventions and asked people to bring in envelopes, which he would photograph/scan and about which he'd take information down. Production and printing were by Heritage at no cost to Ralph or the club. All they asked in return was to have a 1-page ad inside the front cover. EAC is paying for the mailing.

I have always been proud of the fact that I was born & raised in New York (although I now live in California). Thus, I was surprised to learn that New York was originally written as New-York. I found this hard to believe. So I examined my colonial notes from New York and, sure enough, every single one had New-York. Then I started wondering, was this also true for New Jersey and New Hampshire. I examined the pictures of notes issued by these colonies in Eric Newman's book, "The Early Paper Money of America," and learned that both New Jersey and New Hampshire also used hyphens. I next examined the various copper coins which are depicted in the Redbook. However, I only found one coin which used a hyphen, the 1786 NON VI VIRTUTE VICI.

I then examined some period maps and learned that the Dutch did not use a hyphen in Nieuw Nederlandt. Unfortunately, I have not had a chance to do research on New Amsterdam nor New Brunswick. However, I did learn from Newman's book that New Orleans, under Spanish rule (i.e. Nueva Orleans), did not use a hyphen.

It is fascinating what trivia one can learn from reading The E-Sylum.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: I read with interest the First Salute article from West Point. We also have that tradition here at the Air Force Academy. We love it at our coin shop as during the month of May prior to graduation we have a fair number of graduating cadets come in to purchase Morgan, Peace, Ike (for the cheapies) and 1 Ounce American Silver Eagles to be used for that purpose. The sales really aren't that much more, but it is interesting talking to the graduating cadets as to what they'll be doing and where they will be stationed. The graduation ceremony itself is always interesting and the fly over is something special. If we don't get to see the real thing, it will be on TV off and on for the next day.