This unintended ”controversy” has opened up some fascinating discussions and has really added a new perspective to our larger hobby and our mission. I would say that is has been well worth the tumult. It was all quite accidental but has been very interesting and informative.

I loved this line from Paul Bosco: “It’s so much better for The E-Sylum to be comprehensive than for it to be polite.”

I was also very interested in the mention of Missouri tax tokens with anti-FDR messages. People tend to think of FDR as universally beloved but it was a fact that he faced a sincere opponent in each of four elections, and a significant minority of the populace opposed his policies throughout his Presidency. Some years ago in a relative’s estate I came across some buttons that said “NO THIRD TERM” and ephemera condemning FDR’s audacity in running a third time (I can only imagine how they felt about election #4, although that was during wartime so perhaps the opposition was muted). I have also seen early Roosevelt dimes stamped or engraved with SOB and LIAR. These sentiments are all but forgotten in the modern era, but are well worth documenting as they give a more complete picture of FDR’s presidency.

The same idea applies to the Obama dollar. That message will either turn out to a prophetic statement about the impact of his presidency, or a reminder of a grumbling undercurrent that proved to be misplaced. Either way, it deserves to be preserved for posterity, and we numismatists are the ones to do it.

I have known for some time that coin collectors are a diverse and often strongly opinionated bunch , whether it is regarding politics or opinions about which coins/designs/grading standards/etc. are best. Yet, I consistently do not sense any bias in The E-Sylum, so congratulations really are in order. It cannot be an easy task!

I've read few writers as talented or as amusing as Paul Bosco. I know him personally and he is as delightful to talk with and listen to as he is to read. Pure genius...and quirky. He was quite a close friend of the late Steve Tanenbaum.

The article on John Kraljevich's whaling medal reminded me about how absolutely spectacular is the New Bedford Whaling Museum. I heartily recommend it to anyone headed for Massachusetts or Cape Cod!

Joseph I. France was the successful candidate against John W. Garrett for the Republican nomination to become their candidate for the U. S. Senate from Maryland in 1922. France, although the incumbent, lost to the Democratic candidate in November.

But he also had a numismatic connection, although somewhat of a “stretch.” On June 24, 1903 he had married Evalyn (Nesbitt) Tome, the widow of Jacob Tome who had died in 1898. She had succeeded her late husband as president of two national banks in Maryland, The Cecil National Bank of Port Deposit and The National Bank of Elkton. In this role, she signed the national bank notes issued by these banks until she relinquished the presidencies in 1906.

As such, she was not only an early woman national bank president, but also one of only two women that I have found to be the president of two national banks during the national bank note issuing period.

Of the two coins, attributed as my contribution, first one is from Lithuania and second one only is from Latvia. My apologies.

The video Dick Johnson recommended about eliminating the Canadian nickel has been removed from YouTube.

And I wonder if "The Fundamental Units" creator Martin John Callanan is aware that he can't make one of those oversized photos of the Canadian cent without getting a copyright clearance for it?