Great issue!

Thank you for capturing “powder metallurgy” in your E-Sylum net. Once again, you have come through!

I noticed the item on Frank Holt's Afghanistan work. From what may be a "new name" in the field, Prof. Holt is a product of the ANS Summer Seminar program from the early 1980s. Although not often published in numismatics, he has always held a fond place in his research for numismatics.

In response to the ANA banquet photograph that Howard Daniel sent in, please inform readers that Howard is the old man on the left (the young man on the right is Fred). I just don’t want to be mistaken for him.

Thank you all for volunteering to write a review of John Mercanti’s American Silver Eagles. I put everyone’s name in a proverbial hat and drew David Ganz at random to receive the advance review copy.

A good friend and client wrote me and asked, "Is the Mint engaged now in providing baking instructions?" His wife showed him a recipe for Almond Croissants and she wondered about the instructions which were:

BUY THE FROZEN CROISSANT, JUST THAW, PROOF,(LET RISE,) AND BAKE !

She then asked, "Is this how the mint makes proof coins?"

A good Numismatic Question for all to ponder !!!!

In the Kolbe-Fanning sale I was outbid on some lots I would have liked, but got a couple of lots. One was a catalog of the 1844 Devenshire sale, which you may remember sometime back I submitted as a candidate as the worst-cataloged sale.

In the Sklow sale I was also outbid, and only got one lot, but, quite interesting I think: lot 973, containing 55 works of John Muscalus on paper money.

I enjoyed your summary of labor currency. I'm founder of Ithaca HOURS local currency, which has transacted millions of dollars value since 1991 and author of "Hometown Money: How to Enrich Your Community with Local Currency"