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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: Jeff Dickerson, Treasurer Numismatic Bibliomania Society P. O. Box 578, Weatherford, TX 76086 Asylum For Asylum mailing address changes and other membership questions, contact Jeff 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 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 FEBRUARY 23, 2025

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 two new books, a periodical, one book review, two obituaries, updates from the Newman Numismatic Portal, and more.

Other topics this week include Buffalo Nickel proofs, Bust dimes, money of the Civil War, Doc Brown tokens, regulated gold, Ed Quagliana, fixed price and auction selections, my numismatic diaries, the Korean mint, and the Memphis Coin Club show.

To learn more about the 2026 Red Book, the Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists, Bill Cross, Steve Duckor, the Lincoln plaque in the Oval Office, Angilina Arsena, the Arsinoe Mnaieion, the Scarcity of Living Space medal, the the National Stock Certificate, Bond & Paper Money Show, the Military Order of the Serpent, California small denomination gold recovered from the wreck of the steamship Winfield Scott, how coins make you stupid, eBay's most expensive gold and silver coins, and Jefferson's "Notes on the Establisment of a Money Unit, and of a Coinage for the United States", read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum

 

NEW BOOK: 2026 GUIDE BOOK OF U.S. COINS

Whitman Brands™ proudly announces the return of A Guide Book of United States Coins, the world's #1 best-selling price guide and numismatic reference, now enhanced in its completely-redesigned 79th edition. Since 1946, collectors worldwide have trusted this guide for its grade-by-grade coin values, historical insights, detailed specifications, high-resolution photographs, and accurate mintage data. Wholesale shipments begin late March 2025.

The 2026 edition has been meticulously redesigned with the collector in mind. It features a larger 6" x 9" format, an intuitive layout, and over 32,500 market values in up to nine grades for more than 12,000 coins, tokens, medals, sets, and other collectibles. It also includes new market insights, updated research, and the latest mint data. For the first time, pricing is based on Collector's Price Guide (CPG®) retail pricing, and Greysheet Identification (GSID?) catalog numbers are integrated for seamless identification across Whitman's family of products.

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NEW BOOK: BUFFALO NICKEL PROOFS

The Buffalo Nickel Proof book by Kevin Flynn is now at the printers. This book is 8 ½ by 11, 123 pages.

The primary purpose of this book is to present detailed die diagnostic descriptions and photographs to be used to identify and authenticate Buffalo nickel proofs, including matte, satin, and brilliant proofs. This book contains many photographs of diagnostics not published before and a few new die combinations which were not previously listed.

Another objective of this book was to present an analysis of the striking characteristics for Buffalo nickel proofs. Buffalo nickel proofs were struck on a hydraulic press which could strike coins at a much greater pressure than was used for business strikes. Side by side comparisons and photographs were done between proofs and business strikes showing the details of the primary design elements and the rims, edges, and corners. In studying Buffalo nickel proofs side by side against EDS business strikes of the same year, different striking characteristics were found for each year. Normally, only small differences were found on the design elements. The rims, edges, and corners were the primary where differences were seen. The rim and edges on the proofs were normally wider with flat surfaces. The corners were knife-like on the proofs where they were rounded on the business strikes.

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PERIODICAL: THE CLARION WINTER 2025

Table of Contents

• President's Message
• Editor's Desk
• How Three Steel Pennies Helped Me Pay It Forward by Rob Throckmorton
• Rarity ? Cost by Paul Schultz
• Norway's Unique Siege Coin by Lawrence C. Korchnak, Ph.D.
• Iceland's Althing Commemoratives by Malcolm Johnson
• On the Road: Combining a Love of Coins, Photography, and Travel by Dave Lombardo
• PAN Kidzone May 2025 auction lots
• The Lure of Early Copper by Mark Borckardt
• Canada's Real Silver Dollars 1935-1966 by Mark Benvenuto
• San Francisco Women Quarters—The Secret to Getting Rich? An eBay Analysis by Matt Campbell
• Can I Get Your “John Hancock”? Autographed Bank Notes Add a Unique Touch by Michael V. Hicks
• PAN News
• PAN Member Club News

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BOOK REVIEW: U.S. CLASSIC GOLD COINS OF 1834-1839

Hi Folks, What are the qualifications of being a Coin Geek? Well there are likely many types of qualifications. Overall it is folks like us who like to spend a lot of time looking at old coins, reading about old coins, and learning the history that they bring, that are considered to be Coin Geeks. Over the past 6 months, I met those qualifications.

The Classic Head Quarter Eagles and Half Eagles have always been two of my most favorite series in US coins. A friend of mine spent the last two decades building a full die marriage set of both series. That includes examples that are R7 and R8 – meaning just a few coins exist for those die marriages. Both series saw a limited production time from 1834 to 1839 for the Quarter Eagles and 1834 to 1838 for the Half Eagles. They were then closed down in favor of the long duration Liberty Head series. Even though short lived, there are 28 and 34 die marriages in the Quarter Eagle and Half Eagle series, respectively. Most of the production occurred at the main, Philadelphia Mint. However, in the Classic Head Quarter Eagles, the Charlotte mint produced these in 1838 and 1839, and both Dahlonega and New Orleans got into the action at the tail end in 1839. For the Classic Head Half Eagles Charlotte and Dahlonega were in production in 1838.

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WILLIAM CROSS (1934-2025)

William “Bill” Cross, widely regarded as a mentor, visionary, and pillar of Canadian numismatics, passed away on Jan. 31, 2025, at the age of 90.

While no public details on his passing have been released, he is survived by his long-time partner, Jean Dale, and his children: William Cross Jr., Mary, Janet, Susan, and Joel.

Michael Findlay, president of the Canadian Association of Numismatic Dealers (CAND), described his longtime friend as instrumental in shaping Canada's numismatic industry.

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STEVEN L. DUCKOR (1945-2025)

In the past four decades, Duckor has formed finest-known collections in at least half a dozen series. His Barber half dollar collection – selected to Professional Coin Grading Service's Hall of Fame in 2003 and sold in 2010 – is widely acclaimed as the all-time finest collection of circulation strike Barber halves ever assembled. And his collections of Saint-Gaudens double eagles and $1 gold coins have equally dazzled the collecting world.

“Collect rare and the best quality,” he advises. “If it doesn't come gem, other than the few $1 gold coins that are the finest known, I won't buy it. I'm looking for the very best. Remember my mantra: Buy the very best, stretch to buy it. It means if you can't afford to buy it, buy it anyway.”

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NNP ADDS JIM MATTHEWS BUST DIME PHOTOS

Newman Portal Adds Jim Matthews Bust Dime Collection Images

Courtesy of photographer Steve Herrman, images of the Jim Matthews early U.S. dime collection are now available on Newman Portal. The Capped Bust portion of the collection is nearly complete by JR variety and features several examples with late state die cuds. The collection represents a 45-year quest for Matthews, who began collecting the series around the time of the publication Early United States Dimes 1796-1837 (1984) by David J. Davis, Russell J. Logan, Allen F. Lovejoy, John W. McCloskey and William L. Subjack. The majority of the Matthews collection is currently imaged, with the remainder to be posted shortly.

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VIDEO: MONEY OF THE CIVIL WAR

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DOC BROWN TOKENS

John Mutch responded to our article last week on H. G. “Doc” Brown. He provided links to four tokens listed on tokencatalog.com.

DOC. BROWN / THE OWL / SPOKANE, WASH. // 12 ½ C

The first token is aluminum and 29 mm diameter. The 12 ½ cent denomination is common for saloon tokens where drinks were two for a quarter.

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NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: FEBRUARY 23, 2025

Siege Coin Library offered
Author and researcher Larry Korchnak writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGZUdrUPtmt/?igsh=YXY5c3huZ2VkYnpo

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THE MYHERITAGE PHOTO ENHANCER

I subscribe to the genealogy site MyHeritage.com mainly for the Photo Enhancer program. It is designed to improve family photographs, but I found it can be used to enhance and colorize all sorts of old photos, including coin collection catalog plates.

As an example of an enhancement of a photograph of a person, below is an enhanced and colorized photo of an individual from the NARA Secret Service counterfeiting file.

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VOCABULARY TERMS: REGISTRY, REGULATED GOLD

Registry. A list of subscribers to limited issue objects recorded by serial number, or a list of owners of individual medals. Listing the names in a registry exists only as far as original purchasers or owners; obviously these people can dispose of their medals without notifying or changing the registry. Also issuers maintain a registry for items, as key tag medals, which bear a serial number on the back (often with a statement to drop the ring of keys in a mailbox, the issuer will guarantee postage). The medals are issued with a card bearing the same number as stamped on the medal with request to mail the card back to the issuer. Then lost keys can be returned to the owner by use of this registry.

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EDWIN VINCENT PAUL QUAGLIANA (1921-2007)

The Winter 2024 edition of The Asylum had my article, “An Incomplete Listing of Coin Columnists.” I got a note mentioning one who had been overlooked.

Edwin Vincent Paul Quagliana was born in Farnham, New York, on April 19, 1921, the son of Charles Quagliana (1881-1966) and Bertha Maud Robinson (1890-1975). Charles was a canning factory foreman.

At Albion High School, class of 1939, Edwin was a football player, president of the camera club and editor of the Clarion-Echo weekly.

In 1940 he entered Hamilton College and played tackle on their football team. His schooling was interrupted when he was drafted in 1942. He served briefly in the Coast Artillery and received a medical discharge.

After military service, he was employed by Bell Aircraft Corp. In 1946 he worked for the frozen foods division of Birdseye.

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ATLAS NUMISMATICS SELECTIONS: FEBRUARY 23, 2025

1081639 | GREEK. CARIA. Cos (Kos or Cys), Islands off Caria. Struck circa 280-250 BC. AR Tetradrachm. NGC AU? (About Uncirculated ?) Strike 5/5 Surface 4/5 Fine Style. Cos Island, Greece. 15.22gm. Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin / K-OIO-N / ?ANTI??OS. Crab above inscription and quiver within dotted square. HGC 6# 1308.

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NUMISMAGRAM MEDAL SELECTIONS: FEBRUARY 23, 2025

103081 | GREAT BRITAIN. England. James I with Prince Charles silver faux-engraved Jeton or Gaming Counter. Issued circa 1625-1629/30. Series 1: James I & Prince Charles (27mm, 2.30 g, 12h). By the school of Simon van der Passe. GIVE THY IVDGEMENTS O GOD UNTO T(HE) KING, ermine-mantled bust of James facing slightly right, wearing elaborate collar and hat with brim and jewel // AND THY RIGHTEOVSNESSE UNTO T(HE) KINGS SONNE, mantled bust of Charles facing slightly right, wearing elaborate collar. Mitchener 4784. Choice Very Fine. Deeply toned. Includes old dealer ticket from Robert Ball in Berlin. Compare to a similar example that realized a total of $480 in the recent 19 February 2025 CNG e-sale, lot 1018. $295.

Gambling and games of chance have served as a form of entertainment and excitement during much of recorded history in one way or another, and many of these games necessitate some form of accounting during play. In early modern Europe, jetons were commonly employed for these purposes and allowed for skilled engravers to promote their artistry. One such engraver was Simon van der Passe, born in Utrecht circa 1585.

Van der Passe worked in England from 1616–1621/2, having founded a school after being exempted from the royal monopoly given previously to Nicholas Hilliard. This exemption allowed for the "graving and imprinting medailles" and small portraits of the king, and van der Passe utilized his technique for the production of numerous series of jetons or gaming counters, initially employing portraits of the Stuarts, James I and later Charles I with his wife, Henrietta Maria. Though Simon would return to Holland in 1621/2, his London-based school continued under the management of his brother, William. Subsequent issues of these jetons would feature Gustav Adolph and his wife, Maria Eleonora, the sovereigns of England, 'classical portraits' of historical and biblical figures, 'street cries,' and the commonwealth.

Of even greater interest and debate among numismatists over the past century has been the method of manufacture of these jetons. Their appearance at first glance would lead one to believe that they have been individually engraved owing to their incuse design. It is thought that, in fact, these ornate counters were skillfully cast and polished in order to generate this 'faux-engraved' effect.

To read the complete item description, see:
103081 | GREAT BRITAIN. England. James I with Prince Charles silver Jeton. (https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/103081)

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DAVISSONS AUCTION 44 BRITISH SELECTIONS

Auction 44, our premier annual sale, is online now! Closing Wednesday, March 12th 2025. Read on as we discuss the pieces chosen for our catalog cover, plus one more.

The stars of the cover and the sale are the two queens, cousins and competitors…gold coins related to Mary Stuart and the crown from the final year of the life of Elizabeth I. These two towering figures from the 16th century now lie near each other in Westminster Abbey.

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HERITAGE AUCTIONS: INDIA WORLD & ANCIENT COINS

Mughal Empire. Aurangzeb Alamgir gold Mohur AH 1098 Year 30 (1687) MS63 NGC, Shahjahanabad mint, KM315.42. Appearing almost as if dipped in buckwheat honey and bearing a crisp, easily legible strike, this admirable example eclipses the broad majority of Mohurs on the market.

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2025 NATIONAL STOCK CERTIFICATE SHOW

Buffalo Bill (William F) Cody-signed stock in the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show, American Bank Note Co lithograph. Extremely rare and decorative share

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WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY: FEBRUARY 23, 2025

On Tuesday, February 18, 2025 I left work a bit early and headed toward Vienna, VA, where I would pick up Kellen Hoard at the Metro Station before continuing on to the meeting of Nummis Nova, my Northern Virginia Numismatic social group. Kellen is a student at George Washington University in D.C., and he'd been coming as my guest since arriving in the area. But we hadn't seen him while he was doing a semester abroad. He really gets around. Now working an internship at the Brookings Institution, he interviewed for the position via zoom from Istanbul.

We were the last of the gang to arrive and slid onto the end of a long bench on one side of our table. While regulars Julian Leidman, Daryl Haynor, Wayne Herndon and Roger Burdette couldn't attend, most everyone was present. We were congregated in the Outback Steakhouse in Clifton, VA.

Tom Kays was among those wedged in on that cozy bench, and he offers this Aussie take on the evening.

Tom's Take
Crikey! Nummis Nova held a piss up down under at the new Outback Steakhouse in woop woop Clifton/Centerville, Virginia at the invitation of our host Steve Bishop. Heaps of rippers floated down table aside our tucker and many a cold one at this billabong. Fair dinkum mate, there were coins/tokens/medals including an 1872, copper, Argentine Republic, Shield of Valor for the assault on Curupaity; a 1912 “Military Order of the Serpent” with actual snake drop (crikey mikey) in brass from Atlantic City, New Jersey; three War of 1898 United States decorations for service in the West Indies, Spanish, and Philippines Campaigns; a Kingdom of Paeonia silver tetradrachm of Patraus (Circa 335 – 315 BC) featuring Apollo (with void at head) and horseman brandishing a spear; beautiful U.S. Silver dollars of 1795 (small eagle in Extra Fine), 1801 (Bolender-3 in AU-55), and rainbow toner uncirculated Morgan dollars of 1879-S and 1880-S; a twelve and a half cent, J. H. Marr “Pony Saloon” Token from Tombstone, Arizona (Territory); a brass token from the Philadelphia, Chestnut Street Theatre commemorating the 100th Performance of “Charley's Aunt” on February 11, 1895 (Charley's Aunt is a farce written in 1892 by Brandon Thomas, set at Oxford University and chock full of late Victoria titillation that still plays today); and aluminum die trials of Virginia Numismatic Association membership tokens from 1965. Pictured are some bonzer items.

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ANCIENT ROME LEAD POLLUTION TIED TO COINS

Gerry writes:

Lead pollution in ancient Rome was so high that it dropped the population's IQ by around 3 points, if not more.

Elites were exposed to lead through water pipes, cooking pots, bath tubs, cosmetics and the syrups that sweetened their wine. But the most widespread exposure for Romans came from industrial pollution caused by the mining and smelting of metals used to make money.

Romans melted down galena, a lead-rich ore, to extract the silver needed for coins, and lead was a major byproduct of the process.

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KOREA MINT EXPLORES COMMEMORATIVES

As the global coinage industry undergoes a paradigm shift from traditional currency to collectible and artistic pieces, South Korea's state-run minting agency is looking to integrate its coin production with K-culture to develop a new high-value industry.

The Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation (KOMSCO) announced on February 12 that it participated in the 2025 World Money Fair (WMF) in Berlin from January 29 to February 1, where it explored the latest trends in the international minting industry.

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COLONIAL GEORGIA COLORED SEALS, PART 3

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EBAY'S MOST EXPENSIVE BULLION COIN LOTS

An analysis of eBay's sales data also revealed the most expensive silver coins bought on the online marketplace, going for upwards of $23,000.

Today, rare coins often sell for thousands or even millions of dollars through platforms such as Heritage Auctions, APMEX, and eBay.

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MEMPHIS COIN CLUB SHOW

The Memphis Coin Club was founded in 1936, said Ray Brown, one of the club's leaders, and the coin show has been an annual event almost every year since. More than 50 dealers from across the South and Midwest packed into the arena Saturday to sell just about any type of coin you could imagine.

You could buy a Buffalo nickel for a dollar. One dealer had a table full of somewhat-mangled coins called “large cents” because, well, they're quite large and have a face value of one cent. You could pick any of them for nine bucks. Another table had a box full of old foreign coins, and you could pick one out for a couple of bucks.

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LOOSE CHANGE: FEBRUARY 23, 2025

The Numismatic Industry of Colorado

The clicking of the bulletproof 1930s vintage Brandt Coin Sorter and Counter is both constant and unforgettable, as it spits out coin after coin while Tim Jackson is busy talking shop to a recent visitor from behind his desk at the Corner Coin and Jewelry Inc.

To read the complete article (subscription required), see:
Colorado's coin industry rivals that of just about any other state in U.S. (https://denvergazette.com/news/colorados-coin-industry-rivals-that-of-just-about-any-other-state-in-u-s/article_d1108f28-f0b1-11ef-aa00-d713e8ffde1e.html)

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ABOUT THIS ISSUE: FEBRUARY 23, 2025

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