The E-Sylum:  Volume 5, Number 42, October 20, 2002, Article 5

THE E-SYLUM COMES THROUGH AGAIN!

  Dick Johnson writes: "My appeal in the September 15th
  E-Sylum (v5#35) to borrow a complete set of the Great
  Religions Series of medals for a research project led to a
  spate of telephone calls (is 6 a spate?). This led me to the
  widow of the sculptor, Ralph J. Menconi, Marge Menconi,
  who had the artist's original set I could borrow.

  Better yet, her son lives in Connecticut and he was to see
  her that weekend. Result --  I picked up the set 24 miles
  from my house!  (We are going to identify the patinas on
  these and the Society of Medalists from the former foreman
  of Medallic Art's finishing department next week -- useful
  information on patina finishes for a proposed book.)

  Incidentally, the Great Religions Series was originally
  announced to contain 25 different medals for 25 different
  religions. However, the artist died November 1972 and
  only 16 had been issued before his death.  He had
  prepared in advance, however, two more models before
  he died, and these were issued in due course.  But the last
  seven medals were never issued.

  The only other set I learned about was from collector Ira
  Rezak, so a complete set of the 18 is extremely rare. Most
  people ordered only their own religion, I learned.  These
  are offered infrequently on eBay.  There is a challenge for
  some fellow E-Sylum reader to assemble such a rare set!
  And thank you Wayne Homren and E-Sylum, you came
  through again!"

  [It's funny, but not all that uncommon, for a request such
  as Dick's to bounce around the globe a few times in
  cyberspace before landing in one's own back yard.
  With a little luck the net can be a very efficient tool for
  finding people and information.  -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

	coinbooks.org Web

The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization 
promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org.

To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor 
at this address: whomren@coinlibrary.com

To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum