In reference to your Quiz Question in “Handling Coinage in San Francisco in 1885,” as to who is the 'Sullivan' referenced in the article: He was John L. Sullivan, aka the Boston Strong Boy, who is recognized as the first Heavyweight Champion of gloved boxing. He held the title from 1882, to 1892, and won more than 450 fights in his career.

Too easy !

Everybody knows John L. was the most famous, and I believe the last, champion of the bare-knuckled generation of prize fighters.

An advantage to being a charter member of the E.A.O.F.B. (Exalted & Aristocratic Old Farts Brigade.)

I believe Sullivan refers to boxer John L. Sullivan, who DOES have a numismatic connection. The Franklin Mint honored him as part of the Gallery of Great Americans medal series in 1974. Not as neat as the Corbett-Fitzsimmons So-Called Dollar medals, but still neat.

Oddly, they're all Roman Date letters, which I presume has something to do with the answer.

The outsized letters on various coins and medals, mostly European and mostly 17th century and later, are employing a chronogram for dating purposes (i.e. indicating a date for the coin or medal…little to do with social activities). These large letters also correspond to numerals in the Roman system of counting (M = 1000, D = 500, etc.) but they are hidden about in the legends and need to be “collected” and “organized”, then counted, to discover the date. Usually the chronogram is restricted to one side of the coin or medal, but the one you have shown occurs on both: MDCCVVVII, or 1717.

I had a good laugh reading this week's issue when I came across your entry about the Solomon Islands pizza coin. I am among the lucky recipients of this numismatic delicacy, courtesy of a Christmas gift from my girlfriend. With tongue firmly in cheek, I'd sent her an article about the coin when it was first announced, adding something to the effect that "This is the only modern coin that would be of interest to me."

It was a humorous reference to my well documented obsession with pizza, and to my surprise she actually ordered one and presented it to me on Xmas Day. It's actually housed within a simulated pizza box printed in red, white and green. I take this as a reference to Italy, though it may be the national colors of the Solomon Islands, for all I know. I showed the coin to several astonished co-workers the following week, one of whom wanted to test its scratch-and-sniff properties and began to open the capsule. I had to put a stop to that, as it might render the coin "impaired." I presently have no plans to get it certified...