The American Accomptant by Chauncey Lee
At a George Kolbe auction was acquired by me.
Its condition was choice for its 1797 date
And unfolding corners a welcome fate.
The first printed dollar sign was its principal feature
And its money exchange tables a valuable teacher.
Its only plate of coins is a gem indeed
Done by New York Bank note-engraver Abner Reed.
I will give its numismatic content many more looks
Now that it's one of my favorite books.[i]

Francis D. Campbell is our great Frank.
For his brilliance and cooperation we're all here to thank.

As a skilled librarian in bibliography,
He also knows lexicography and iconography,
Holography, cryptography, and historiography,
Typography, siderography, and metalography.

He can explain obverse, reverse, inverse and transverse
Along with complex coin varieties diverse.

He can read Chinese, Maltese, and Annamese
and even interpret Brothers Chapmanese.

He stutters in Turkish, Kurdish, Finnish, and Yiddish
But if all else fails he's fluent in Gibberish.

He received publications in sacks and packs,
Decides what is written by hacks and quacks,
Finds too many catalogs from 57th Street Stack’s,
Puts all books in racks on tracks,
Offers them to numismaniacs,
Careful to watch for kleptomaniacs.

Campbell's retirement has thrown ANS in a loop.
His successor must drink lots of canned Campbell's Soup.

Eric P. Newman
March 26, 2008[ii]

The book Illegal Tender is a “novel” expression
About a 1933 U. S. double eagle minted impression
Struck during the Great American depression
When gold coins were ordered into suppression.

Some ’33s were then stolen from Treasury possession
Through some conniving mint workers’ indiscretion;
Then sold through dealers in the coin profession
To collectors afflicted with rare coin obsession.

After two pieces were saved for Smithsonian accession
T-men grabbed others in Federal repossession
Litigation ensued about the right of possession
Leaving collectors none but a very clear lesson.

In a diplomatic pouch on went to Farouk, the Egyptian,
Through stupidity US granted export permission.
After Farouk fled, Egypt seized and auctioned his collection
But his ’33 vanished into clandestine protection.

Later smuggled back to the US for selling session
Right into a Secret Service sting for repossession.
Then was auctioned for price too high for addition
To become an anonymous buyer's best acquisition.

David Tripp's book is full of numismatic erudition,
Not about raising a coin to MS 80 condition,
But research done by an enigmatic magician,
It's wise to buy this book legally in its first edition.

(An apology to the sound advice of Aaron R. Feldman to buy the book before the coin)

Eric P. Newman, August 2004[iii]

Thanks, Heritage, for the ice cream and birthday cake.
We appreciate the bids you all may make.
Perhaps this will help you to stay awake
Even though there happens to be no fake.

And thanks for your singing and celebration
To a numismatist so long in circulation.