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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 APRIL 13, 2025

New subscribers this week include: Eugene Minyailo. Welcome aboard! We now have 7,258 subscribers.

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 three new books, updates from the Newman Numismatic Portal, notes from readers, and more.

Other topics this week include Celtic coins, the Carson City and Dahlonega Mints, the Museum of American Finance, replacement medals, M. W. Hanchett, Bob Evans, the Arizona Territorial Mint, bust coinage, auction previews, counterfeiting, and money artists Tim Prusmack and J.S.G. Boggs.

To learn more about banknotes from Equatorial Africa, the Major General Bissell Short Snorter, NNP Symposium speakers, the Byron Reed Collection, the Gilroy Roberts Museum, the Dahlonega door knocker, the Trial of the Pyx, the Santini Collection of Renaissance Medals, the Huntington Collection, Maryland's Gunpowder notes, bombing with banknotes, and the patent for the sostenuto, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum

 

NEW BOOK: CELTIC COIN ARTICLES

Celtic coin specialist Chris Rudd is celebrating the 200th edition of its catalogue. When Chris started in 1991, there was very little interest in British Celtic coins, with the major dealers happy to pass them on to Chris.

Steadily, Chris grew the market, regularly advertising in coin magazines, and writing articles and reports to stimulate the market. Celtic coins now form a large part of the ancient coin market for all coin dealers, especially since the publication of Chris Rudd's book Ancient British Coins, which is generally considered to be the main reference for British Celtic coins.

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NEW BOOK: THE ARDHA-MASAKAS

The Ardha-māṣakas of Magadha and Maurya: Analysis, classification and illustrated catalogue of the smallest punchmarked coins of ancient India
by A. M. Fishman (Author), I. J. Todd (Author)

Published : April 7, 2025
Language : English
Paperback : 76 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8311892025
Item Weight : 6.7 ounces
Dimensions : 6.69 x 0.18 x 9.61 inches

Expanding on the pioneering studies of V.S. Agrawala, Terry Hardaker and others, The Ardha-māṣakas of Magadha and Maurya presents a groundbreaking analysis of the minuscule one-ratti weight punchmarked coins of ancient India.

This work not only explores the style and metrology of a significant group of these ancient coins, but also, for the first time, introduces metallurgical data to the examination of this series, offering new insights for economic historians, numismatists and collectors alike. Additionally, the book revises Hardaker's 1999 catalogue, correcting and expanding his work to present a more comprehensive typological listing accompanied by unprecedented metrological data.

Drawing on published hoards and newly analyzed specimens, this book clarifies the historical context of these small and poorly known coins and refines our understanding of their weight standard and typology. It is a must-read for collectors and those interested in ancient Indian coinage and the monetary history of ancient India.

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NEW BOOK: BANKNOTES OF EQUATORIAL AFRICA

La Cote Des Billets De L'Afrique Equatoriale

Author: DESSAL Jean-Marc
Publisher: Les Chevau-Légers Editions
Language: French
Weight: 510 g.

Banknotes from colonial and then independent Equatorial Africa are sought after by many enthusiasts but remain very difficult to classify. The multiple banks, the numerous territorial titles, the various series, make listing one's collection a real headache. The objective of this work - The rating of banknotes from Equatorial Africa - is first of all to establish a new, more practical and clearer classification, and, as far as possible, to propose coherent ratings.

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NNP ADDS SHORT SNORTER MONOGRAPH

Newman Portal Adds Tom Sparks Monograph on the Major General Bissell Short Snorter

Supported in part by a grant from the Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society, researcher and author Tom Sparks has published a 400+ page work, The Major General Clayton L. Bissell Short Snorter, which is now accessible on Newman Portal. This volume represents an account of a remarkable World War II artifact known as the Bissell Short Snorter. The snorter, a 64-foot-long strip of banknotes, bears signatures of notable WWII military leaders and dignitaries and was discovered by the Sarasota Rare Coin Gallery some time ago, where Jeff Garrett recognized the importance of the document.

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VIDEO: CALIFORNIA'S GOLD RUSH ERA MONEY

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2025 NNP SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS

The Central States Numismatic Society plans to highlight one of their 13 member states each year, continuing with Nebraska in 2025.

Mark Engler
The Homestead Quarter: Nebraska's America the Beautiful Quarter

Matt Hansen
The Gerome Walton Collection of Nebraska National Bank Notes and its Digital Preservation

Derek Higgins
The National Banks of South Omaha, Nebraska

Kristen Rowley
Omaha's Byron Reed Collection

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NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: APRIL 13, 2025

On the Jewish-American Hall of Fame Medals
Pete Smith writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
JEWISH-AMERICAN HALL OF FAME MEDALS END (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n22a24.html)
JEWISH-AMERICAN MEDAL SERIES REBOOTS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n43a32.html)
NEW MEDAL HONORS JULIUS ROSENWALD (https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n14a21.html)

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RUSTY GOE SPEAKS ON THE CARSON CITY MINT

Rusty Goe presented a talk on Saturday, April, 5, 2025, to a receptive audience of fifty people at Reno's Sierra View Library as a part of the Nevada Historical Society's Nevada History on the Go! program. After an introduction by the Historical Society's curator of history, Shery Hayes-Zorn, Rusty shared from his heart, using images to supplement his presentation, about events, people, and coins related to the Carson City Mint.

After sharing a story about Abraham Curry's receiving of an inscribed gold pocket watch from Carson City Mint employees, Rusty moved into his events section during which he summarized how the Carson City Mint came into existence. Newspaper articles from the 1860s provided background material for his narrative.

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DAHLONEGA MINT DOOR KNOCKER DONATED

Knock, knock! This brass door knocker once welcomed visitors to the Dahlonega Branch Mint. Now, it has found a new home at the Hargrett Library!

Originally mounted on the Mint's front door in 1837, the knocker was recently donated by Susan King (pictured with Robert Harwell II), a descendant of Dr. Joseph J. Singleton—the Mint's first superintendent and treasurer. A small but mighty piece of Georgia's gold rush history!

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BOSTON MUSEUM OF AMERICAN FINANCE OPENS

The Museum of American Finance, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, announced it has signed a 10-year lease for exhibit space in Boston. Planning is now underway to develop and create the Museum's exhibits at Commonwealth Pier, the waterfront destination in Boston's Seaport being developed by Pembroke, the international real estate business. With a dynamic mix of new restaurants and shopping, a new waterfront plaza, an enhanced Harborwalk and year-round programming, Commonwealth Pier will be a vibrant waterfront destination for all.

The Museum will occupy approximately 5,400 sq ft, and exhibits are scheduled to open to the public on July 1, 2026. Entrance to all of the Museum's exhibits and programs in Boston will be free of charge—reflecting its core mission of making financial education accessible to all.

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THE 2025 TRIAL OF THE PYX EXPERIENCE

How much do you trust the coins in your pocket? In an age of digital finance coins are still reassuringly solid. This trust has been hard-won, thanks in no small part to the Trial of the Pyx – the annual test of the coins produced by the Royal Mint by the Goldsmiths' Company and the London Assay Office.

The 776-year-old ceremony, which is one of the UK's oldest judicial procedures, aims to protect consumers by upholding the quality of the nation's coinage through rigorous testing – as important today as it was at the first recorded public trial in 1248. The process ensures that the coins produced by The Royal Mint meet the standards of precision, accuracy and exceptional craftsmanship for which it is internationally renowned.

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NUMISMASTER'S 2025 LONDON AND WALES TOUR

Join us on a tour of numismatic splendor in history-rich London and Wales. Immerse yourself in money of the past, present, and future as we visit museums, a coin shop, a coin show and a multitude of historical sites.

Tour Dates
September 3 – September 10, 2025

Tour Prices
$5,895 (USD) per person, double occupancy
$6,995 (USD) per person, single occupancy

Tour Includes

• All 4-star hotel accommodations
• All breakfasts, 3 lunches and 4 dinners
• Admission to all group destinations
• 2-course lunch at Royal Mint, Cardiff
• Comfortable coach transport
• Friendly & knowledgeable local tour guide
• Numismatic expertise of Numismatic News Senior Editor Sophia Mattimiro and Numismaster Pricing Analyst Jeff Starck

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VOCABULARY TERM: REPLACEMENT MEDAL

Replacement Medal, Replacement Copy. A medallic item reissued or restruck to replace a previously issued medal which subsequently became lost or stolen. For military decorations the recipient, his agent, or sometimes a member of his family may be authorized to obtain such a copy. The medal may be drawn from stock if a quantity is on hand, or may require special striking, and/or engraving. Often a charge is made for such a second copy.

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MILTON WALDO HANCHETT (1822-1904)

M. W. Hanchett had a proposal for revisions to American coinage as well as a patent for the sostenuto. To learn what that is, read on.

Hanchett's American ancestors landed at Nantucket on May 30 in 1630. Milton Waldo Hanchett was born in Suffield, Connecticut, on July 12, 1822. His parents were Dr. John Wilkes Hanchett (1774-1844) and Margaretta Granger Hanchett (1790-1880). At the age of four, his family moved to Syracuse, New York, and settled there.

Milton's ancestry is complicated. Most people have two parents, four grandparents, eight great- grandparents, sixteen great-great-grandparents, and thirty-two great-great-great grandparents. Milton had only twenty-eight great-great-great grandparents. John Hanchett (1649-1744) and Esther Pritchard (1647-1711) were his great-great-great grandparents three times.

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TREASURE TALK WITH BOB EVANS, EPISODE 3.1

The morning of our Customs appointment, Brinks brought out the sturdiest 8-foot folding table they had and placed it in the middle of the locker room, surrounded by the banks of gray, half-height lockers. It looked like a 20-foot section of a public-school hallway, with a table set up for a bake sale. I filled out the paperwork to remove a dozen containers with an assortment of gold coins and ingots, figuring this would be a good start, and maybe all that was needed.

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THE ARIZONA TERRITORIAL MINT

Our business was established in 1961. I learned the trade from my father (Don J. Crowder). Being a Mint Master requires being an artist to draw up the concept of the idea for a coin, token, medallion, keychain, belt buckle, letter openers, sheriff badges etc. Next you must engrave the coining dies. Next you must be like a blacksmith to heat treat the coining dies. Then you must hand lap or polish the coining dies. You need the skill of a machinist to make the tooling that enables you to run or operate the big coining press.

The presses at the Arizona Territorial Mint came from the U.S. Mint at West Point circa (1893), that is the 400-ton hobbing press, the coining press that came from the U.S. Mint at Philadelphia circa (1861),is a 200-ton hobbing press, The U.S. Denver Mint circa (1908) is a 200-ton knuckle joint coining press, and the U.S. San Francisco Mint (1950) 100-ton screw press. All the U.S. Mint coining presses were badly worn-out or sold as scrap, to scrap or machinery dealers. I purchased the coining presses and restored them and got them up and running which took over thirty-five years of restoration. Today I use the presses daily. Yes, it takes a lot of maintenance to keep them running. These presses have made millions of silver dollars and twenty-dollar gold pieces. The coining presses over time have coined more than a billion dollars in coins.

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HERITAGE AUCTIONS: BUST COINAGE

1795 $1 Flowing Hair, Three Leaves, B-5, BB-27, R.1, XF40 PCGS. This is one of the top lots in the auction, and an excellent example of Flowing Hair coinage. It is the often seen B-5 variety, which is suitable for type collectors, as a nice coin can be had without breaking the budget to fulfill the demand of a scarce variety. This example is only lightly circulated, and it boasts a sharp strike with complete border dentils on each side. There are some adjustment marks (as struck) in the central obverse, which correspond to slight softness on the reverse eagle's breast. In my opinion, collectors could do far worse when seeking an XF 1795 Flowing Hair dollar.

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SANTINI COLLECTION OF RENAISSANCE MEDALS

As I sat down to write this, I was distracted by an email that popped into my inbox with the headline Renaissance Portrait Sets $3.1 Million Record. Needless to say, the headline caught my attention, given the subject matter of this auction. The concept of the medal as we know it today had its origins in the Italian Renaissance, and though it had earlier antecedents, the medal was given its now familiar format by Italian Renaissance artist Antonio di Puccio Pisano, called Pisanello. Pisanello's medals have a very distinct style and format that can be identified from across the room, and many artists around the world have, with varying degrees of success, imitated that style over the centuries since Pisanello's first medals were cast.

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EARLY AMERICAN HISTORY AUCTION APRIL 19, 2025

Early American History Auctions, Inc. is proud to announce the focus of this auction is the early history of America from the Colonial Period, French & Indian War, American Revolution, and the Civil War Era. Included are numerous diverse lots consigned by Ambassador and former Secretary of the Navy, J. William Middendorf II, highlighted by Paul Revere Engraved: THE BLOODY MASSACRE Boston March 5th, 1770 & the historic engraving: THE BOSTONIANS IN DISTRESS 1775 .

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NICOLAS MAIER MEDAL COLLECTION SELECTIONS

Nicolas Maier writes:

Third Republic (1870–1940). Medal, La Toilette by Oscar Roty, SAMF No. 11, 1899, Paris. Maier 4; Bronze – 46.50 g – 69.5 mm – 12 h. Obverse: A young Greek woman from behind at her toilette; above, "ROME" and below, the signature "ROTY". Reverse: In the clouds, a lily branch and a mirror. Edge marks: (horn) BRONZE (lizard) and number 11. Only 171 examples struck in bronze and distributed to members of the Société des Amis de la Médaille Française (SAMF). With a glossy brown patina, barely rubbed on the buttock and shoulder. Superb, as struck.

From the collection of Nicolas Maier.

To read the complete item description, see:
Third Republic (1870–1940). Medal, La Toilette by Oscar Roty, SAMF No. 11, 1899, Paris. (https://www.biddr.com/auctions/mdcmonaco/browse?a=5671&l=6963359)

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HUNTINGTON COLLECTION TO BE SOLD AGAIN

Ed Hohertz writes:

The Hispanic Society's former coin collection, auctioned by Sotheby's a few months ago, will be sold in lots in Europe. Three of them, auctioned individually in an open bidding process, will be available for purchase in Madrid.

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THE MARYLAND GUNPOWDER NOTES

By far one of the distinctive issues of the colonial period, Maryland's Gunpowder notes are a window into both revolutionary sentiments and the measures taken amidst uncertainty and conflict. Issued under a resolve dated July 26, 1775, these notes were intended to promote the manufacture of gunpowder. They offer a far more distinctive composition than the simplistic forms favored by Maryland during the period.

At left, as part of a design produced by Thomas Sparrow, George III oversees the burning and occupation of an American city from a symbolic distance. The balance of the composition harkens to the possibility that peace and reconciliation could be achieved between the Colonies and Great Britain. A female allegorical figure representative of the Continental Congress hands Britannia a petition labeled CONG PETI, while American troops carrying the flag of Liberty are seen in the background.

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AUSTRALIAN MONARCHISTS WANT CHARLES NOTE

In 2023, the RBA announced it would be replacing the nation's longest reigning monarch with a design that celebrates the connection that First Nations peoples have to Country.

On Tuesday, The Australian Monarchist League (AML) revealed a compromise design that pays tribute to both Indigenous Australians and maintains the tradition of featuring the Monarch on the banknote.

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WWII POLAND COUNTERFEITING PLATE FOUND

A matrix used to produce counterfeit banknotes during World War II has been discovered during renovation work at one of Warsaw's most famous banks.

The device was found concealed beneath wooden flooring inside the National Development Bank (BGK) building in the city center and had most likely been there since wartime.

Featuring the mirror image of a one zloty banknote, the lithographic plate had been created on a perfectly flat slab of marble measuring 18 by 19 centimeters.

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SLABBING MISCUE: PRUSMACK VS. J.S.G. BOGGS

Explore the unique world of alternative currency with the J.S.G. Boggs Art Note. This $2 non-Legal Tender Note is a legacy of artistic innovation, featuring distinctive drawings by the renowned artist J.S.G. Boggs. Its vivid theme of art is presented on high-quality paper, ensuring that each piece captures the essence of Boggs's vision.

Each note is a testament to the rich history of currency and art, making it a must-have for collectors and enthusiasts alike. With its Very Fine-35 (VF-35) grading, this item showcases its preservation and quality, promising to be a valued addition to any collection.

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LOOSE CHANGE: APRIL 13, 2025

U.S. Mint Stopped Ordering Cent Planchets

Legislation introduced in the 119th Congress would specifically limit production of the Lincoln cent, a coin that has been struck for nearly 116 years since its introduction in 1909.

The inventory of unstruck ready-to-strike cent planchets combined at the Denver and Philadelphia Mints is considered by the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Mint enough to handle production needs for the near future as the mintages wind down, with no more planchets ordered from the lone outside vendor.

The unstruck planchets are also sufficient for striking Uncirculated Lincolns cents at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints for inclusion in 2025 Uncirculated Mint sets and for Proof sets executed at the San Francisco Mint.

The ready-to-strike planchets with raised rims have been produced for decades by the same contracted outside vendor in Tennessee. The vendor has undergone several name changes — Alltrista Corp. in Greeneville, Jarden Zinc Products at the same location in Greeneville, and now Artazn LLC, as a subsidiary of One Rock Capital in Tusculum, Tennessee.

To read the complete article, see:
Planchet supply is enough to keep the cent in production (https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/planchet-supply-is-enough-to-keep-the-cent-in-production)

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
THE PENNY PURGE: COMMON CENTS OR CENTSLESS? (https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n07a29.html)

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THROWING BANKNOTES IS ASSAULT

A court rejected an appeal from a man accused of throwing a stack of banknotes in a motel employee's face, ruling that the act amounted to assault under Korean law.

The man in his 30s had been fined 500,000 won ($350) for throwing eight 50,000 won bills at an employee in the parking lot of a motel in Suwon, Gyeonggi, in January 2023.

The man attempted to park on the way to meet his girlfriend, but the motel worker told him that only guests with premium rooms could use the lot. The defendant allegedly threw the stack of bills directly at the employee's face after an argument.

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FEATURED WEBSITE: ARIZONA TERRITORIAL MINT

This week's Featured Website is the Arizona Territorial Mint of Cove Creek, AZ, suggested by Heath White.

https://www.atmint.us/

ABOUT THIS ISSUE: APRIL 13, 2025

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