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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 Lang Numismatic Auction sale July 29, 2025 Kolbe & Fanning sale on July 31, 2025

 

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 JULY 27, 2025

New subscribers this week include: Josh Wadsworth courtesy Sam Deep; Brennan McKain courtesy Justin Hinh; and John Janeczek. Welcome aboard! We now have 7,243 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 a numismatic literature sale, two new books, and two obituaries, updates from the Newman Numismatic Portal, and more.

Other topics this week include exonumia of Paraguay, paper money of Israel, cultural property law, SPINK Books, Liberty Loan Bonds, ANA announcements, riddling, the James Stack collection, and coin hoards.

To learn more about the Autonomous Bronze Coinage of Sikyon, The Money Tree, Geoffrey Bell, Peter Tompa, David Lange, National Anti-Counterfeiting month, the dimes of the S.S. Central America, and the anniversary coin honoring His Royal Majesty of Bermania, King Alanus I, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum

 

 

KOLBE & FANNING BCD LIBRARY WEB SALE #1

BCD Library Web Sale #1 Thursday, July 31 @ 12:00 noon

Kolbe & Fanning Numismatic Booksellers will be holding a Web Sale of selections from the extraordinary BCD Library on Thursday, July 31 at 12:00 noon Eastern Time. Our Web Sales generally focus on useful but lower-price books, catalogues and other numismatic publications, and this initial offering in this format of material from the BCD Library includes publications on a wide variety of topics, mostly pertaining to antiquity, all of which are listed with a starting price of only $10. The online catalogue can be accessed at bid.numislit.com. There is no printed catalogue.

Along with more commonly available references, a number of rarities and other delicacies are included. Some highlights of this first Web Sale include:

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SPINK BOOKS SOLD

Spink & Son Ltd. is delighted to announce the sale of the assets and goodwill of Spink Books, the leading publisher of numismatics books, to The Pen & Sword Group, one of the leading publishers of military, naval and aviation history.

Spink Books is the leading imprint for numismatic book publishing and has been supplying and publishing numismatic reference works for collectors for over 100 years. Many of its titles have become the definitive reference works in their fields and are highly sought after by enthusiasts, collectors, dealers and auctioneers worldwide. Spink Books has also published many specially commissioned works on behalf of governments, major institutions and private collectors as well as being the distributors for a range of publications, on behalf of many learned societies and authors, including the Royal Numismatic Society and the British Numismatic Society.

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NEW BOOK: EXONUMIA OF PARAGUAY

Moneda Privada en el Paraguay - La historia a través de la exonumia
Private Currency in Paraguay - History through Exonumia
Raúl Olazar

A more detailed and illustrated research work possible (I have no doubt that there will be a more advanced Volume 2, because it has very much to be increased), which was born from the passion and curiosity awakened in my tokens and vouchers from Paraguay. The objective is to disseminate the history of private money in our country — a system that plays a very important role in history, but that is still quite unknown both for collectors and for Paraguayan people in general.

My idea was to give continuity to the legacy of two great numismatists that our country has and that now rest on another plane; We also offer a solid foundation to new collectors, teaching institutions and numismatists interested in knowing more about the history of private money, its antecedents, creation and circulation.

From now on it is clear that this is not a catalog with prices, but rather an illustrated guide with images of existing parts. Embora does not mention values, the book indicates on its face reference to some levels of rarity. Everything that still needs to be learned, we know, we can reach a second volume.

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NEW BOOK: PAPER MONEY OF ISRAEL

Paper Money of Israel, Design and Printing Processes of the First Decade, 1948-1958
Raphael Dvir

The founding of the State of Israel was recent in historical terms, yet its history is still being compiled. Raphael Dvir's work, Paper Money of Israel, Design and Printing Processes of the First Decade, 1948-1958, was not previously covered by numismatic researchers as much of the information was lost for decades.

Dvir's work is an illustrated history, with extensive illustrations of notes and design elements used during the design process. The beloved Landscape series and previously unknown and unadopted designs are covered. The book is the most significant advancement in Israeli numismatic research in decades.

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MYRON G. XENOS (1938-2025)

Myron Xenos, age 86, of North Ridgeville, Ohio, passed away peacefully on July 20, 2025, with his wife at his side. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and a friend to many. He will always be remembered for his love for his family, kindness, sense of humor, and love of animals.

He was born August 3, 1938, in Cleveland, Ohio, to the late James and Margaret Xenos (nee Fanelli). He is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Daryl Xenos (nee Eckert), his daughters, Stacey Xenos-Maverick (Mike) and Stefanie Xenos, and his granddaughter, Taylor Golas.

Myron grew up in Rocky River, Ohio. As a young man he collected stamps, coins and their literature. He was also active in the Greek Orthodox Youth Association and was a member of the Masonic Order of DeMolay. After graduating from Rocky River High School, he attended Kent State University where he met his lovely wife and received his bachelor's degree in 1962. Myron proudly served in the United States Army (1958-1963).

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JEREMIAH DESMOND BRADY (1940-2025)

The New York Numismatic Club is saddened to announce the death of Past President Jeremiah Brady on July 11, 2025. Dr. Brady served as President of the Club in 1980 and 1981. He was also a member of the Board of Directors.

PP Brady earned his AB and PhD from Harvard University and his MLitt from Cambridge University, where he was a Fullbright Scholar. Among other positions, he served as Curator of Medieval Coins and Medals at the ANS from 1970 until 1980. Dr. Brady oversaw the publication of the ANS's holdings of early English coinage in the Sylloge of Coins of the British Isles. His research has focused on the coinage of Charles I. PP Brady is survived by his wife of 56 years, the former Marion Talbot; his sister, Sue Brady Wankowicz of Oregon and Ellen Brady Finn Kelley of Ann Arbor, MI, sister-in-law, Sally Brady of Hartland Four Corners, VT and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday, August 2, 2025, at Our Lady of the Holy Angels RC Church, 465 Main St., Little Falls. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to Little Falls Public Library, 8 Warren Street, Little Falls, NJ 07424 or Cambridge in America, PO Box 9123, JAF BLG, New York, NY 10087-9123.

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GEOFFREY BELL CANADIAN NUMISMATIC RESOURCES

Geoffrey Bell's legacy lives on through Ferguson Foundation Numismatic Research Portal

The J. Douglas Ferguson Historical Research Foundation is honoured to announce a major $250,000 donation, pledged over the next five years, in memory of the late Geoffrey Bell—a cherished numismatist, dealer, auctioneer, and educator. This generous gift will support the continued growth of the Foundation's online research portal, ensuring Geoff's passion for knowledge and history endures for future generations.

Offered through Brian Bell and the Bell family, the contribution will directly fund the expansion of the Foundation's Canadian Numismatic Resources website, which will be renamed the Geoffrey Bell Canadian Numismatic Resources (GBCNR) in recognition of their support.

Geoffrey Bell, a long-time director and past chair of the Foundation, held the Ferguson Foundation close to his heart. "The Ferguson Foundation's numismatic website was a project Geoff strongly believed in," said Foundation Chair Robert Forbes. "It is wonderful that his family wishes to honour him by sponsoring its development and expansion. The Foundation is deeply grateful for this generous donation and the opportunities it creates for the website's future."

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PETER TOMPA ON CULTURAL PROPERTY LAW

Peter Tompa Presents to the St. Louis Ancient Coin Study Group

The St. Louis Ancient Coin Study group meets monthly via Zoom and features speakers presenting on various aspects of ancient and byzantine numismatics. At the recent July 17 meeting, Peter Tompa, IAPN Executive Director, spoke on cultural property law and practice. Tompa discussed the complexities surrounding U.S. customs laws related to the import of ancient coins. He explained that importers - particularly dealers or buyers from foreign auctions - risk seizure of coins without proper documentation, especially regarding origin and valuation. Tompa outlined how misrepresentations, Cultural Property Implementation Act restrictions, and national patrimony laws can all justify seizures. He also noted that designated import restriction lists have expanded over time to include more coins, sometimes controversially.

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VIDEO: LIBERTY LOAN BONDS OF WWI

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ANA ANNOUNCES 2025 AWARDS

The American Numismatic Association (ANA) is presenting its Chester L. Krause Memorial Distinguished Service Award and Hall of Fame honors to those who have left indelible marks within the numismatic community. The recipients will be recognized during the 134th Anniversary Banquet at the World's Fair of Money® in Oklahoma City, August 19-23.

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FREE WFOM COINS IN OKLAHOMA CITY

To celebrate the Oklahoma City World's Fair of Money, the American Numismatic Association (ANA) and Minted Assets are partnering to give away a free, special-edition legal tender coin during the show, August 19-23. Approximately 250 base metal commemorative coins will be distributed daily at the Minted Assets tables (1132 and 1134)—beginning at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, and at 12 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Coins will be available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.

As an added bonus, renowned coin designer Joel Iskowitz, the mastermind behind this year's coin design, will be at the Minted Assets table on Thursday, August 21, to meet with visitors.

The obverse design shows an allegorical figure of NOMISMA, which is the Greek word for "money." She is shown holding the Oklahoma quarter, which serves as the World's Fair of Money 2025 logo. In place of the 2008 quarter issue date, the signature of Susan Gamble—the quarter's designer—is displayed. "E. Pluribus Unum" (Out of Many, One) graces the legend as a fitting tribute to the show's mission of bringing the people in the hobby together.

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2025 WORLD'S FAIR OF MONEY MEDAL

One of the most exciting numismatic events of the year can be commemorated with a collectible medal, designed by renowned artists Jamie Franki and Heidi Wastweet. Every year, the World's Fair of Money®, hosted by the American Numismatic Association (ANA), brings together coin collectors from all over the world. The show features hundreds of dealers, displays of rare treasures, educational opportunities, family activities, and more. This year's event takes place at the Oklahoma City Convention Center in Oklahoma City, OK, August 19-23, 2025.

This year's medal design celebrates Oklahoma City's connections to Native America and wildlife. In the tradition of James Earle Fraser's beloved Buffalo nickel, the medal features a First American on the obverse and a bison (the state animal of Oklahoma), on the reverse.

"Every invitation to design a medal for the ANA is an opportunity to combine my favorite things – teaching and artistry," said Franki. "Oklahoma City is such an interesting and storied place. The history of the area tied beautifully to numismatics in the Native theme. Working with Heidi Wastweet as a project sculptor is so amazing because she can literally interpret anything I put on paper into detailed relief that articulates my ideas so much more clearly than I ever could."

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ANS AMERICA 250 MEDAL PROJECT UPDATE

Help the ANS commemorate the American Semiquincentennial with a Medal!

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NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JULY 27, 2025

George Kolbe Services
Dan Hamelberg writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
GEORGE FREDERICK KOLBE (1941–2025) (https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n28a02.html)
GEORGE FREDERICK KOLBE (1941-2025) (https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n29a17.html)

ANA AWARDS TWO 2025 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

The American Numismatic Association (ANA) has awarded 2025 scholarships to Hayes Ruckstaetter from St. Louis, Missouri, and Hudson Thiry from Luxemburg, Wisconsin. Each winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship to use toward tuition at an institution of their choice.

"The annual scholarship provides the American Numismatic Association the opportunity to recognize young numismatists making an impact in the world," says ANA Education Director Christian Strayhorn, "not only in numismatics, but also in their own fields. By assisting these fine recipients with higher education, it is our hope to see them continue to excel at a high level and share their passion for collecting." The recipients are eligible to receive the scholarship for up to four years.

During 2020, when many students were attending classes virtually, Hayes Ruckstaetter had the time to start collecting coins and pursue numismatic interests, starting with a U.S. type set.

"The rich stories and history behind the coins are my favorite parts of numismatics," said Ruckstaetter, "especially researching older coins that circulated during early wars in America and how the coins were created, distributed, and used during wartime."

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NATIONAL ANTI-COUNTERFEITING MONTH

The Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation (ACEF), representing the numismatic community, on July 14 joined 11 cross-industry associations in a joint letter to six congressional leaders urging support for passage of Senate Resolution 314, which designates July as "National Anti- Counterfeiting and Consumer Education and Awareness Month."

The letter also sought help in preserving funding for the Office of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC) and advocating for an appointment by the Trump Administration of a coordinator before the end of 2025.

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ACEF STAMPING COUNTERFEIT COINS

The Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation (ACEF) will be at Table #1826 Aug. 20 through 23 on the Club Midway during the American Numismatic Association's World's Fair of Money at the Oklahoma City Convention Center equipped to stamp COPY on counterfeit coins submitted by collectors who have unwittingly purchased fakes from e-commerce platforms or fraudulent merchants.

"We want to help victims legally possess counterfeits they have been duped into buying by properly incusing them with the word ‘COPY.' " More importantly, we want them to come to the WFOM to see real coins and meet trusted, real professional dealers who will treat them fairly," said ACEF President John Albanese."

For those unable to attend the WFOM who are seeking a trustworthy dealer, ACEF provides the Trusted Experts Directory at https://acefonline.org/trusted-experts-directory/ that enables one to locate a dealer nearby.

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VOCABULARY TERM: RIDDLER, RIDDLING

Riddler, Riddling. The sieve and the process for sorting out undersize and malformed blanks. Before coining, production run blanks from the blanking presses are dispersed over a vibrating mesh slightly smaller than the size of an acceptable planchet; clips and other debris fall through the mesh leaving correct size blanks above which flow to a separate hopper. Blanks with clips, both straight edge and crescent shape – formed from blanking near the edge of the strip or already blanked areas – are found in the rejects (which are later melted for reuse). Clean scrap from this source, scissel, is excellent for recycling because it is already the correct composition metal. Correct size planchets can then be annealed, cleaned, upset and fed into the coining presses. Mechanical riddling replaces expensive human visual inspection.

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MYRON GUST XENOS (1938-2025)

Myron Xenos was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on August 3, 1938. He was the son of Demetrios a/k/a James Constantin Xenos (1898-1985) and Maria a/k/a Margaret Fanelli Xenos (1910-2012). His father was in the restaurant business and later accounting business

Demitrios Xenos (age 36) and Maria Xenos (age 24) were on a passenger list arriving in New York from Naples and headed for Salineville, Ohio, in 1934. Demitrious was naturalized in Cleveland in 1938.

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TREASURE TALK WITH BOB EVANS, EPISODE 6.2

The next April found me back at sea working on the shipwreck I last saw 23 years previously. The crew of the Odyssey Explorer treated me, at first an outsider, with real respect, which I truly appreciated. I will admit that a whole mental circus unfolded in my mind as I felt like a native guide ushering a team of world class explorers into a place that only I knew well. Or I thought I knew it well.

The technology in 2014 was worlds removed from the tech of 1991. During the receivership hearing in 2012, I was asked about any plans I had for future expeditions, and I testified that the first step should be a thorough survey of the entire shipwreck site. And that is what happened, a full photo-mosaic and multi-beam sonar survey, mapping the whole main shipwreck and surrounding debris field. I remember team members enjoying the sport of browsing through the images of the photo-mosaic, looking for piles of coins in the debris field, and recording each such location. Each image, slightly overlapping the previous one, represented a straight-down photo from 2 or 3 meters above the seabed. I recall hearing some delighted remarks as piles of gold coins marched into view, "Whee!" "Bingo!" "Yahtzee!" "Jackpot!"

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STACKS BOWERS TO SELL JAMES STACK COLLECTION

Stack's Bowers Galleries is honored to announce the sale of selections from the James A. Stack, Sr. Collection. Projected to bring upwards of $20 million, the over 200 coins to be offered from the collection have been off the market since at least his passing in 1951. Several individual pieces are valued in excess of $1 million each.

Mr. Stack, who had begun collecting coins and paper money by the late 1930s, set the goal of building as complete a collection of U.S. coins as time would allow him. In a relatively short time, he built one of the greatest (yet underappreciated) collections of U.S. coins of all time. He took full advantage of an era in numismatic history when major collections were coming to market in droves, both for private purchase and via public auction. Verging on completeness, the Stack collection at his passing included many major rarities like an 1802 half dime, 1894-S dime, 1838-O half dollar, the finest known 1870-S silver dollar, and an 1815 half eagle, all of which were sold in previous auctions by Stack's Rare Coins (predecessor firm to Stack's Bowers Galleries). In 1944 he even acquired a 1933 double eagle, which was surrendered to the U.S. Secret Service in 1945, never to be seen again. The only remaining trace of this coin is a solemn handwritten note under the empty space in the album where his 1933 had once resided: "Secret Service has mine."

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2200 YEAR OLD HOARD DISCOVERED IN CZECHIA

A 2,200-year-old Celtic settlement containing several hundred coins and over 1,000 pieces of jewelry has been discovered in the Bohemia region of the Czech Republic.

The site, "unparalleled in its scale and character in Bohemia," held a vast number of ancient riches, including amber and fine pottery, Museum of Eastern Bohemia representatives said in a translated statement. The site was not fortified, suggesting that the people who lived were major players in regional trade.

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BARTON DISCUSSES COLONIAL NUMISMATICS

Doug Barton is a numismatist — a coin and currency collector. He is also a docent at the Great Bridge Battlefield and Historic Waterways Museum in Chesapeake.

Barton blends his hobby with his interest in monetary history in a presentation that sheds light on the coins and currency used in American colonies during the Revolutionary War.

"During the American Revolution, there was no American money. What was spent most was Spanish reales," Barton said. "When the Jamestown colony was set up in 1607, the Mexico City mint set up by the Spanish had already been running for 71 years," he noted. "The eight-real coin — ‘the piece of eight' — was the main Spanish denomination."

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COINS FROM THE THIRTY YEARS WAR FOUND

A rare archaeological discovery in Germany has captivated historians: Silver coins dating back to the early 17th century have been found inside a copper cauldron during excavations at Gotthardtkirchplatz in Brandenburg an der Havel, a historic city in northeastern Germany. The treasure is believed to have been hidden around 1634, during the chaos of the Thirty Years' War.

The discovery was made possible by a construction project for a new extension of the Youth Art Gallery Sonnensegel e.V., allowing archaeologists to investigate the site of a former half-timbered house. The building was abandoned and leveled in the 17th century — and now reveals a secret hidden for nearly 400 years.

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BERMANIAN 50TH ANNIVERSARY COIN

Crowned bust of King Alanus I of Bermania, wearing collar of the Order of the Bear over royal mantle, with Latin inscription: * ALANVS · D: G: BERMANIAE · REX · ORB: TER: NOS: IMP: VEN: COM: &c. (translation: Alanus by the Grace of God King of Bermania, Emperor of Our Terrestrial Orb, Count of Fairfield, et cetera.)

Designed and engraved by Woody Maringer.

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ABOUT THIS ISSUE: JULY 27, 2025

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