CoinsWeekly editor Ursula Kampmann has joined the ranks of Bermania, the micronation ruled by coin dealer Alan Berman.
Here's an excerpt from her account of the induction ceremony from the January 22, 2015 issue of CoinsWeekly. What fun! -Editor
There is a small kingdom located in the remote corners of the Balkans. It is an age-old kingdom that was founded a long time ago, at some point
during the Byzantine Empire. The Kingdom of Bermania is ruled by Alanus I who, with a gentle hand, promotes both humor and numismatics.
Alanus I, for reasons of necessity – with only a few coin collectors living in the secluded valley, in the remote corners of the Balkans, and with
King Alanus not levying taxes and hence depending on his bread-and-butter job as a numismatist… - has retreated to a place near the city of New York.
That is why the famous meetings of Be.G.O.N., the Bermanian Guild of Numismatists, where in the past more than one certainty of traditional
numismatics have crumbled into dust, are often held alongside the New York International Numismatic Convention.
In 2015, as every year, the Bermanic people and a couple of invited guests gathered to listen to the royal speech and to receive a largitio that
stood in the tradition of Roman-Byzantine customs. In Bermania, the largitio traditionally consists of baklava that, thankfully, is not thrown into
the crowd but presented by the crown prince neatly on a plate.
This
year’s speech of His Royal Highness addressed a hitherto unknown manuscript of the author Marc Twain in which he reported on the trip to Bermania
that he undertook to get some breeding pairs of the American opossum to the then Bermanian King. On his trip he realized that the opossums found
approval not as an asset to the European zoos but were rather acquired by the distinguished zoo directors to make their gorgeous beards look even
prettier. Please note: he who has an opossum in his beard will not run short of original topics of conversation at any party!
Mark Twain likewise crossed the native city of the former citizen of Bermania, Munich. The Royal academic elaborating on this stop can certainly
be taken as an homage to Ursula Monacensis Burgcomitissa, as Ursula Kampmann was welcomed into the Kingdom of Bermania by King Alanus in his 41st
year of reign.
In a long and elaborate swearing-in ceremony Ursula Kampmann was proclaimed Burgravine of Munich. She
took an oath to rule wisely and justly in the name of Bermania.
In his non-royal everyday life His Majesty Alanus I is a coin dealer with a passion for selling coins that tell a story. His website is linked
here.
As a coin dealer he has written several books, including “Papal Coins”“ and “Papal Numismatic History”, which can be bought directly from him –
with a royal dedication, if requested.
The Bermanian Royal Court posing with the newly-appointed Burgravine.
To read the complete article, see:
The Kingdom of Bermania (www.coinsweekly.com/en/News/4?&id=3219)
Wayne Homren, Editor
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
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