A book on a most important year in American numismatics is being prepared, and the authors could use some assistance from E-Sylum
readers. Who can help? -Editor
CALL FOR ASSISTANCE ON 1792: BIRTH OF A NATION’S COINAGE
Len Augsburger, Joel Orosz, and Pete Smith are nearing completion of the manuscript for their new book, 1792: Birth of a Nation’s
Coinage, to be published by Heritage Auctions. This will comprise the first book-length study of the U.S. Mint’s coinage of 1792:
silver center cent; fusible alloy cent; Birch cent; half disme; disme; and the undenominated eagle-on-globe pieces. The full story of these
great rarities will never be reconstructed, but our study will reveal many previously-unknown facts, and settle a few controversies that
have circulated for decades.
The book’s first appendix consists of an exhaustive census, with pedigrees where known, and photographs when available, of all of these
first attempts to create a coinage for the United States. This census will provide an invaluable tool for catalogers and collectors alike,
tracing the ownership of these coins, in some cases, back to the great collectors and dealers of the 19th century, including names such as
Mickley, Garrett, Parmelee, Woodward, and Cogan.
Our census has documented a solid majority of the surviving coins of 1792, but we haven’t found them all. If you own any of the coins
listed above, and have not discussed them with us, we ask you to step forward and place your name into the census (if you choose, we will
include pertinent facts about your coin, but keep your identity absolutely confidential). If you do not own any such coins, but know of
someone who does, we would be grateful for a referral.
Our goal is to publish the most complete possible census and pedigree as the standard record of the coinage of 1792, and of the
collectors/curators who have preserved these national treasures for our delight and edification. We would be very grateful to receive any
information about ownership of the coinage of 1792. Please contact Pete Smith at petesmith1793@gmail.com
Thanks very much!
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
at this address: whomren@gmail.com
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