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About Us The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit association devoted to the study and enjoyment of numismatic literature. For more information please see our web site at coinbooks.org Subscriptions Those wishing to become new E-Sylum subscribers (or wishing to Unsubscribe) can go to the following web page link Membership There is a membership application available on the web site Membership Application To join, print the application and return it with your check to the address printed on the application. Print/Digital membership is $40 to addresses in the U.S., and $60 elsewhere. A digital-only membership is available for $25. For those without web access, write to: Charles Heck, Treasurer Numismatic Bibliomania Society P. O. Box 2058, Bluffton, SC 29910-2058 Asylum For Asylum mailing address changes and other membership questions, contact Chuck at this email address: treasurer@coinbooks.org Submissions To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com BUY THE BOOK BEFORE THE COIN Sale Calendar May 29, 2022 SOLIDUS Watch here for updates!

 

Content presented in The E-Sylum is not necessarily researched or independently fact-checked, and views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.

WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM MAY 29, 2022

New subscribers this week include: Jan Olav Aamlid. Welcome aboard!

Thank you for reading The E-Sylum. If you enjoy it, please send me the email addresses of friends you think may enjoy it as well and I'll send them a subscription. Contact me at whomren@gmail.com anytime regarding your subscription, or questions, comments or suggestions about our content.

This week we open with updates from NBS and NLG, three new books, updates from the Newman Numismatic Portal, and more.

Other topics this week include 1794 Large Cents, Julian Brook, Henry R. Linderman, Marcel Jovine, The Bela Lyon Pratt Gallery of Numismatics, Hamilton's Report on the Establishment of the Mint, auction previews, helmets on ancient coins, the Paget models, and Prince William's hair.

To learn more about D.R.D. Edmunds, the NLG annual Awards competition, Abbasid coins, Siam Specimen Banknotes, Lewis M. Reagan, the Aes Grave, tiger tongue money, slug dies, the Dead Man's Penny, meadow muffin money and the numismatic author also known as Victorious Warrior [with] Majestic Power, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum

ASYLUM SUMMER 2022 ISSUE PUBLISHED

The NBS's The Asylum's Summer 2022 Issue
Maria Fanning, editor

Table of Contents

• David R. Drury Edmunds: An Appreciation By Douglas Saville
• Remembering D.R.D. Edmunds By George Kolbe
• BiblioFiles: Anthony R. Gonzales, Sr.
• Numismatic Literary Guild and Numismatic Bibliomania Society: Sister Organizations Devoted to Numismatic Literature By Wayne Homren
• Archbishop Sharpe's Observations on the Coins of England By Dr. John Rainey, MBE
• Walter Breen's Birthdate By David F. Fanning
• ASSOCIATIONS: Autographs • Annotations • Inscriptions Charles Ira Bushnell's Flandin's Catalogue of Coins and Medals: Part II, The Pierre Flandin Sale, June 6, 1855 Second Part of Part II By Joel J. Orosz
• The Coin Atlas Handbook: Somewhat Outdated but Still Useful and Fun By David Pickup
• The Lunatics Are Running the Asylum By Darryl A. Atchison

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NLG AWARDS COMPETITION DEADLINE JUNE 4, 2022

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NEW BOOK: DIE STATES OF 1794 LARGE CENTS

Chuck Heck introduced his new book, DIE STATES of 1794 United States Large Cents, at the Early American Coppers convention held in St. Louis from May 12 – 15. The 9x12 black hardcover book contains 698 full color photos on 200 pages.

The Contents page shows the different approach taken in this book. Heck has a Must Read First section at the very beginning that provides the reader with the rules of the game. What follows is a look at how die states were treated by prior authors, a story of what the US mint was experiencing back in 1794, and a thorough examination of the different types of die states.

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NEW BOOK: IDENTIFICATION OF ABBASID COINS

Ed Hohertz writes:

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NEW BOOK: SIAM SPECIMEN BANKNOTES

Siam Specimen Banknotes First Series
By Jan Olav Wilborn Aamlid

For many years I have worked on the book. I paid several visits to Thomas de la Rue at the De La Rue House in Basingstoke, Hampshire to go threw their archives. I met several times with the archivist Ray Marshall who for years have worked for de la Rue and got from him valuable information.

The collection of Specimen notes I have built up during the last 22 years. I have been collecting Thai Banknotes for about 40 years, but starting concentrating on Thai Specimen notes and artwork when de la Rue started selling from their archives. The banknotes are bought from Spinks auctions, other auction companies, directly from de la Rue and from private collectors.

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JULIAN BROOK

One of New Zealand's most learned and active numismatists has finally been beaten by ill health. He was 86 years old.

Julian was a pharmacist but he had a number of passions beside work - the movies, debating, numismatics to name but three. He was a founding and Honorary Member of the Numismatic Society of Auckland and a Fellow of the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand. He was also a 50-year member of the ANA.

He produced over a number of years a series of essays on "The Man on the Coin" which were published in Mintmark, magazine of the N.S.A. When it was announced that NZ would go decimal he contacted tellers in banks and on the Auckland Harbour Bridge to watch for quality old-style coins as they worked. He then circled weekly to see what they had accumulated.

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NNP: LINDERMAN COLLECTION REMNANTS?

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VIDEO: CHINESE MILITARY PAYMENT CERTIFICATES

2011 Memphis International Paper Money Convention

These two renowned military currency researchers take you on an unforgettable foray into the notes from the brief and bloody conflict of the Third Indochina War. Their talk is profusely illustrated with maps of the region and examples of the notes. In this video and PowerPoint presentation you will see and learn: * Three wars fought in Indo-China beginning with the French in the 1950's * Why the Chinese were at odds with the Vietnamese and fought a war * Examples of recently discovered notes for food rations * Military payment script for Chinese soldiers

Speaker(s): Roger Urce & Howard Daniel.

David adds:

The video is available for viewing on NNP at:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/560349

NEWMAN GRANTS 2022 AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT

Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society Announces Newman Grants

The Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society (EPNNES) today announces its third set of Newman Grants, created to financially assist numismatic authors and organizations pursuing original research in American numismatics. Newman Grants are awarded annually on the late Eric P. Newman's birthday and assist with direct costs of numismatic research such as travel, photography, and graphic arts services.

Six awards are being made this year, touching on varied aspects of numismatics including colonial and federal coinage, numismatic literature, medals, and numismatics of World War II. The 2022 Newman Grant awardees are:

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YALE'S BELA LYON PRATT GALLERY OF NUMISMATICS

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GETTY PERSIA EXHIBIT

What propaganda used to be is on glamorous display in an exquisitely crafted silver plate that anchors the final room of Persia: Ancient Iran and the Classical World, a new exhibition at the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades. Made in Constantinople around A.D. 629-630, a period when the Eastern Roman power of Byzantium had surprisingly prevailed in a war against Persia's Sasanian Empire, the nearly 20-inch plate features an elaborate bas-relief that means to help cement the triumph. In three registers, it tells the story of David and Goliath.

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RONALD CRISTAL: THE MONEY MAN OF SIAM

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NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: MAY 29, 2022

Minneapolis Threshing Machine Columbian Exposition Medal
Dave Baldwin writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
VOCABULARY TERM: INSERT DIE (https://www.coinbooks.org/v25/esylum_v25n20a12.html)
MORE ON INSERT DIES (https://www.coinbooks.org/v25/esylum_v25n21a07.html)

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HAMILTON'S REPORT ON ESTABLISHMENT OF A MINT

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VOCABULARY TERM: INVERTED INSCRIPTION

Inverted Inscription. Lettering on a numismatic item whose horizontal alignment is such that it partly reads correctly one way, partly when rotated 180°. An example is a Prague Exposition Medal of 1891 whose reverse inscription is in Czech, and in German by inverted inscription; this design was created by Johann Bartholomaus Braun.

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MARCEL JOVINE (1921-2003)

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HARVEY STACK'S NUMISMATIC FAMILY, PART 122

While Harvey Stack passed away in January of this year, we are pleased to continue to offer readers the articles he had already written, so that they can be read and enjoyed as he would have wished.?

1996 turned out to be similar to the few years before, with the numismatic hobby starting to lose many members. Many were confused by the eagle silver and gold precious metal "disks" being made by the Mint. They were commonly called "coins" but were they really coins? The face values ($1 for one ounce silver and $50 for one ounce gold) did not match the intrinsic value of the metal or the price that was charged for them. Not only did this cause some new and established collectors to leave the hobby, but it also diminished the budgets of those who did purchase these items. There was less money available to be spent on the more traditional numismatics that had been our business at Stack's for over 60 years. This loss of collector interest was also seen in a drop in membership in the American Numismatic Association and other coin organizations, as well as lower attendance at conventions and coin shows.

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COLLECTION OF AN ENGLISH DOCTOR, PART TWO

Sovereign Rarities are very proud to present the second part of The Collection of an English Doctor to offer for sale through our website www.sovr.co.uk at fixed prices. Formed by a very discerning collector of many years standing, this English collection formed diligently over the last few years, aims to illustrate the history of the English silver Penny, with the criteria being to collect as many mints and moneyers as possible in the time that was allowed.

Continuing on chronologically from the recent part one, this intermediate part contains all the late Anglo-Saxon coins from Canute onwards as well as all the Norman Kings and some Baronial issues the total consisting of 107 coins.

It can be difficult to pick highlight pieces especially when there are so many in such a large grouping, but the rarest and most unusual pieces are clearly the most interesting, a top twenty as follows in reign and mint order:

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MORE ON THE PLATINUM JUBILEE AUCTION

The Platinum Jubilee Auction

Elizabeth the Second,
by the Grace of God, of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen,
Head of the Commonwealth,
Defender of the Faith

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THE HERITAGE LII COLLECTION CURRENCY SALE

An eclectic offering of rare currency and related financial documents will be presented June 12, 2022, in an unreserved, 285-lot, special online Showcase Sale by Heritage Auctions. The LII Collection's focus on artistic merit and historical significance enhances each piece's collectability. Spanning over three centuries, the Collection forms a narrative from the early 1574 Siege of Leiden paper coins to United States National Banknotes. American Obsolete Banknotes, representing multiple topics and locations collected across three decades, feature a number of notes never cataloged by Heritage. Many of the vignettes, with themes such as architecture, whaling, and polar exploration, are displayed on great rarities in excellent condition. Included is a significant selection of Gem Obsolete Banknote Proofs. Additionally, there are rare and historical certificates engraved by the banknote companies as well as a compact offering of American Colonial Currency.

Some highlights include:

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NUMISMATIC NUGGETS: MAY 29, 2022

Apollo 11 Commemorative Moon Landing Medal.

1969 Apollo 11 Commemorative Moon Landing Medal. By Medallic Art Company. Gold. Awarded to Edwin E. Aldrin. Mint State.

Though we are unaware of the specific ceremony in which this medal was awarded to Aldrin, there is no doubt this was a special presentation piece. The case references Aldrin, and the gold composition is clearly something special. Designed by Ralph J. Menconi, the Medallic Art Company manufactured these medals in sterling silver (limited to 10,000 pieces) and bronze (open edition) and both are easily obtainable on the secondary market today. We have never encountered one in gold, however, and have unable to locate any other examples though we strongly suspect identical examples were awarded to Armstrong and Collins.

To read the complete lot description, see:
1969 Apollo 11 Commemorative Moon Landing Medal. By Medallic Art Company. Gold. Awarded to Edwin E. Aldrin. Mint State. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-WUOSQ/1969-apollo-11-commemorative-moon-landing-medal-by-medallic-art-company-gold-awarded-to-edwin-e-aldrin-mint-state)

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HELMETS ON ANCIENT GREEK COINS

Figure 3 shows a Corinthian stater with Athena wearing a decorative Corinthian helmet on the reverse. Note that the helmet is pulled back on the head to allow the face to be seen. The engravers didn't want to cover up who was being depicted on the coin.

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RARE MEXICAN SILVER PATTERN COIN SURFACES

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THE WHOLE TRUTH ABOUT THE PAGET ‘MODELS'

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FRASER'S WASHINGTON TURNS BACK ON GOD!

Through all the major changes the quarter has gone through — first transitioning from being made of a 90% precious metal alloy to a comparatively worthless cupronickel-coated copper coin in 1965, then a replacement of the eagle on the reverse for a series of new designs including states, parks, and national landmarks — the image of Washington on the coin's obverse has remained virtually unchanged.

Now, the unforgettable design of our first president is being tossed out of the window for something entirely new in 2022, a revision that seemingly has the founding father turning his back on our national motto, In God We Trust.

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REPORT: REMOVE CHIANG KAI-SHEK PORTRAITS

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PRINCE WILLIAM TO APPEAR ON £ 5 COIN

The Duke of Cambridge's 40th birthday will be celebrated with a £ 5 coin featuring his portrait, the Royal Mint has announced.

The UK's official coin producer has unveiled the coin ahead of Prince William's milestone birthday on June 21.

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LADY AND SIR MOSES MONTEFIORE MEDAL

Medal in honor of Sir Moses Montefiore and his wife, Lady Judith.

Recto: Profile portraits of Sir and (half covered) Lady Montefiore, surrounded by text: Judith Lady Montefiore. Sir Moses Montefiore BART. F.R.S. Signed Ch. Wiener 1864.

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MEXICAN BANKNOTE'S ENDANGERED SALAMANDER

On Oct. 29, 2021, Banco de México, Mexico's central bank, issued a new 50-peso ($2.51) bill, the last in a series of redesigned bank notes intended to combat counterfeiting, facilitate people with visual impairments, and increase the note's longevity.

While the reverse of the old 50-peso bill featured the famed Morelia aqueduct and monarch butterflies, the new note depicts the axolotl in its natural habitat, among the chinampas and ahuejote trees, a willow species native to Mexico. The decision to feature an axolotl — which many people believe is an axolotl named Gorda, although Banco de México clarified that it used various images for reference — has shone a spotlight on decadeslong efforts to rehabilitate the species.

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LOOSE CHANGE: MAY 29, 2022

The Aes Grave

It is said that when Greece was building grand temples of white marble, the Romans were living in mud huts. While this is a sweeping generalization, there is some truth behind it as is demonstrated by the Republic's earliest documented coinage, the Aes Rude or Rough Bronze. These proto-coins, used between the eighth century BCE and the late fourth century BCE, were basically rough ingots of cast bronze traded based on their base metal weight.

By the early fourth century BCE, as the Roman economy evolved and local metalworking technology became more sophisticated, the Aes Rude slowly transformed into the Aes Grave or Heavy Bronze. Like the Aes Rude series, the Aes Grave traded at the value of the metal. But unlike the rough bronze ingots, the Aes Grave can be considered true coinage that includes distinctive types as well as marks of value and approximating to a definite weight standard (Sydenham, 55). While the value of each Aes Grave was still based on weight, interestingly that weight fluctuated wildly. This was due to the fact that the Romans focused more on the total weight of metal and not on the individual coins. Since it was a fractional denomination system based on the roman pound, all the Roman mint was concerned with was casting the correct number of coins from each pound.

To read the complete article, see:
The Aes Grave Bronze Coin During the Roman Republic (https://coinweek.com/ancient-coins/the-aes-grave-bronze-coin-during-the-roman-republic/)

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FEATURED WEB PAGE: AWARDS AND DECORATIONS OF THE US

This week's Featured Web Page is suggested by Paul Horner, who writes:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awards_and_decorations
_of_the_United_States_government