"Eagle" was at least an official name (not an "semi-official nickname" as you claim) for the ten dollar gold piece, as it called such in the act of 1792 that established federal coinage. To be sure, it never actually appeared on the coin, but the name did have fully official standing. "Nickel," "Trime," and yes, even "penny" might be better described as "semi-official nickname[s]," since I believe that the US Mint has used all three terms, but they don't, as far as I know, appear in law. I'm unsure about "union" for the (hypothetical) hundred dollar coin, there were fifty dollar patterns referred to as half-unions but I don't know how "official" that name was.

Of course all this got tossed into a cocked hat when someone decided all of the bullion coins that were issued beginning in 1986 would be called "eagles" regardless of composition, weight, or nominal denomination. (I have no idea regarding the legal standing of that (ab)use of the name "eagle," either.)

Another fascinating issue as usual. I'm going to have to give up my day job so I can catch up on the back issues of The E-Sylum.

I can't think of any puppets on coins although I'm sure there must be some on medals. However if you expand the meaning of puppets a bit there are a number of examples. The one that comes to mind first is the 5 Franc 1941 coin of Vichy France depicting the head of Marshall Petain. And during the same era numerous coins and banknotes issued in China and Korea were issued by puppet banks of the Japanese.

Regarding the Sept. 13 E-Sylum report about the Mayoralty of London medal: Eimer does not answer who engraved it (just states “BY A. Kirkwood & Son”) but does explain that it is part of a series of medals issued by the Corporation of the City of London “celebrating occasions such as the openings of buildings and the reception of British and foreign royalty in the city.”

An index records 30 different medals for 27 different subjects, including London Bridge, Tower Bridge and Queen Victoria’s Jubilee.

Has anyone ever heard of L V Larsen of Coshocton, Ohio? I just got a 1972 Glendinings catalogue of his English Silver Coins and library.

I see that someone is looking for information on New Haven obituaries. If this is New Haven, CT, contact the research library at the New Haven Colony Historical Society.