The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 14, April 3, 2005, Article 9

NUMISMATICS ANSWERS QUESTION JEWELERS PONDER

Dick Johnson writes: "I read a thread this week where a
Memphis professor had asked a question of a jewelers#39; group:
"Could ancient celators have done the engraving on tiny dies
given their technology and without magnification?"

The replies led to more questions than answers. Why, I wonder,
did he think modern day jewelers had a knowledge of ancient
coin technology? Jewelers appeared to have little knowledge
of early technology, even a similar technology used within their
own field from ancient time to the present. The replies appeared
amateurish. Some were based on hearsay moreso than any
basis in fact.

While Internet chats fill a lot of Google#39;s eight billion pages,
I am more convinced NOT to get truth off the world wide web.
How much better to get it from ... books! An author works on
a book often for years with diligent research and writing. Unless
it is self-published his publishing house will edit his writing.
There is an active fact checking before it reaches the frozen
form on the printed page.

Chat room comments appear too ephemeral. A quick reply
off the top of a half-empty head. It is not vetted nor edited.

To the professor#39;s credit, the thread ends with a reference
to an article in the American Numismatic Society#39;s Museum
Notes, and reference to volume 1 in Wayne G. Sayles#39;
fantastic series on Ancient Coin Collecting which describes
the very coin die engraving technology data he was seeking.
He should have asked numismatists in the first place (and
spelled Sayles name correctly!).

Contrast the effort numismatists engage in the study of their
collected specimens – we seek history#39;s truth because our
collections come from historical periods – versus jewelers,
whose apparent interest is merely selling the next item at
hand.

View the thread for yourself: Full Thread "

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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