The E-Sylum:  Volume 8, Number 47, November 5, 2005, Article 6

COLONIAL NEWSLETTER PUBLISHED

CNL Editor Gary Trudgen writes: "The December 2005 issue
of The Colonial Newsletter (CNL) has been published. The
issue begins with a study by R. Neil Fulghum of the
circumstances that led to the issue of North Carolina's
so-called "smallpox currency" of 1779.  Today, with the
threat of smallpox being used as a weapon of mass destruction
by terrorists, this paper reminds us of the horrors of this
disease while exploring an episode in our monetary history
during the War for Independence. Neil also delves into the
life of the mysterious Hugh Walker, the printer of North
Carolina's "smallpox currency." Walker appears to be lost
to history as he is never mentioned in the published
research on North Carolina's early printers.

The recent increased interest in St. Patrick coinage
was stimulated by Brian Danforth's ground breaking research
into its origin. Next, we are pleased to present an updated
study of the known halfpence dies in this series. Authored
by Dr. Roger Moore, with assistance from Stan Stephens and
Robert Vlack, the paper provides two extremely useful photo-
plates that contain high quality photos and attribution
information for the known obverse and reverse dies. Plus,
more accurate legend descriptions are provided which were
made possible by the recent availability of very high grade
specimens from the Ford VII sale.

Our final contribution is from Dr. Roger Moore and Alan
Anthony in the form of a Technical Note where they report
a newly discovered Virginia halfpenny variety. The new
variety combines two previously known dies resulting in
Newman 15-W. Interestingly, this new discovery shows that
obverse 15 is a "no period" variety. Previously it was
considered to be a "period" variety because of what is
now known to be a die defect. Also, metrological data on
discovery specimen is given.

CNL is published three times a year by The American
Numismatic Society, 96 Fulton Street, New York, NY 10038.
For inquires concerning CNL, please contact Juliette Pelletier
at the preceding postal address or e-mail pelletier@amnumsoc.org
or telephone (212) 571-4470 ext. 1311."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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