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V4 2001 INDEX       E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 4, Number 28, July 8, 2001, Article 7 NUMISMATIC MYSTERY AUTHORS On a related note, Bowers also cites some American numismatic mysteries: "A mystery, not a hoax, is the identity of the author of Evans' History of the U.S. Mint. It was published by Evans, but so far as I know, Evans had nothing to do with writing it. In fact, large amounts of information are the same as published earlier by A.M. Smith, etc. One great unexamined reserve of early American numismatic information is in the Boston Evening Transcript, a.k.a. Boston Transcript, circa 1857 and earlier, before the advent (in 1857) of The Historical Magazine. Apparently, Jeremiah Colburn, a true scholar and genius, wrote lengthy numismatic articles in the Transcript, but I have never seen them. I have not checked with either the Massachusetts Historical Society (of which I am a fellow) or the American Antiquarian Society--as the pressures of time have intervened--but if anyone else can find these articles, I think we would all benefit. Another minor mystery--perhaps the Colburn writings would give clues--is who coined the terms "Booby Head" and "Silly Head" for 1839 cents, such usage being in place at least by the late 1850s."

Wayne Homren, Editor

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