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V20 2017 INDEX       E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 20, Number 33, August 13, 2017, Article 14

NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: AUGUST 13, 2017

British Historical Medals Book
Robert H. Thompson of London Borough of Harrow writes: Platt British Historical Medals cover

Thanks for news of the Platt & Platt book on British historical medals of the 17th century, which I hastened to buy on Tuesday 8th August. I look forward to reading it.

Glad to help. -Editor

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NEW BOOK: BRITISH HISTORICAL MEDALS OF THE 17TH CENTURY (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n32a03.html)


John Ward Dunsmore Painting

2017 ANA 1792 talk1

Regarding my Denver ANA show diaries, and my description of a painting in the book 1792: Birth of a Nation's Coinage, Joel Orosz writes:

An amazing report. Just so you know, I did find one minor error, in the caption for the picture of me and the painting--the painting was by John Ward Dunsmore, not by Pete Smith.

Oops - I didn't take a close-up look at this photo, and made an incorrect attribution. Many other illustrations in the book are excellently done paintings by Pete Smith. -Editor

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY: AUGUST 6, 2017, PART 2 : 1792 Presentation (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n32a24.html)

Reminder: 2017 CSNS Author Grant Applications Due August 31
Bruce Perdue writes:

As a reminder the Central States Author grant applications must be received by 8/31/2017 for those who are interested in applying.

The grants are for a maximum of $5000. Interested individuals should email Ray Lockwood CSNS Education Director for applications and additional information.

Ray's email address is sunrayofmarion@aol.com. -Editor

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
CENTRAL STATES AUTHOR GRANT APPLICATIONS (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n29a07.html)

More on the 1783 Type II Quint
Last week I discussed viewing the 1783 Type II Nova Constellatio Quint at don Kagin's table at the Denver ANA convention. Bill Burd of Chicago, IL writes:

After purchasing the Quint in 1979 Walter Perschke put it in his safe deposit box where it remained for 32 years. When he decided to bring it out, he discussed it with me and we decided to display it at my booth at the Chicago ANA convention in August of 2011. He produced a color tri-fold which we handed out at my table.

We discussed $1,000,000 insurance for transporting it to the show. We contacted our respective insurance companies, as well as Brinks and a private armed courier service. Nothing seemed to be practical or cost effective. Without telling anyone Walter simply drove to the convention, took the Quint from his pocket at placed it in my showcase.

As Bill correctly remembered, I visited him at his table to examine the coin, and took this picture of Bill and Walter. -Editor

1783 Type Ii Quint
Bill Burd and Walter Perschke at Bill Burd's table in 2011

2017 ANA Kagin with Nova
Don Kagin with the coin in 2017

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
1783 NOVA CONSTELLATIO PATTERN COINS ON DISPLAY AT 2011 CHICAGO ANA (http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v14n34a08.html)
WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY: AUGUST 21, 2011 (http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v14n35a13.html)
WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY: AUGUST 6, 2017, PART 1 (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n32a23.html)

Bronze Portrait Plaque of King Rama V
Howard Daniel writes:

ThaiRamaV1897 001 One of my prized possessions is lot 61211 in the upcoming Stacks Bowers Auction in Hong Kong. It is a plaque of Rama V of Siam (Thailand) which was made in Paris after he was visiting there in 1897. The image was used on many numismatic pieces. Many years ago before a Baltimore ANA, Joe Boling and I were walking through some antiques a dealer had set up in the pre-ANA. We separated to cover more ground and would yell at each other about something the other might want. One of Joe's yells at me was pointing out the plaque. I almost had a heart attack when I saw it. I brought it to the seller and asked him what was the price for it. He was surprised that I wanted that old "Chinese" item. He told me his price and I almost tore my wallet in half to get the money out of it. There are two other plaques known but they are round and mine is only one that is rectangular. Rama V is a very famous and much loved king of Siam. One of his major accomplishments was eliminating slavery. I told my wife, Phung, about him as I showed her the plaque after returning home. We had it framed in a very nice frame and hung it in our home. When I decided it was time for it to find a new home, she really did not want to let it go but she finally told me it was OK. Now that I am 75, I need to start downsizing. The plaque has a full page in the catalog and I hope it ends up in the hands of a numismatist who also appreciates Rama V.

Great story, and a great piece! Thanks. Good luck to the bidders. -Editor

To read the complete lot description, see:
THAILAND. Bronze Portrait Plaque of King Rama V, ND (ca. 1897). (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-82ZBE)

Notes From Bruce W. Smith

Bruce W. Smith submitted these notes. Thanks.

1) I came across a book on Russian naval medals on Ebay. Never heard of it before, but it is way outside my field of interest. Price is reasonable. The ID# is 332252590525.

To read the complete lot description, see:
Russian IMPERIAL NAVY BADGES & JETTONS 1696-1917 BOOK 1696-1917 photo catalog@@ (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Russian-IMPERIAL-NAVY-BADGES-JETTONS-1696-1917-BOOK-1696-1917-photo-catalog-/332252590525)

2) Regarding the two St. Louis half dime tokens. The Nicholson token with the scales turns up from time to time on Ebay and in auctions. It is scarce but not rare. There is another variety, however, which is rare. This one has an eagle on the obverse and was once listed in an old Wayte Raymond catalog of US coins as a Confederate States coin! The Wilson token has been for sale on Ebay for the past year at around $300 with no takers.

Chris Bower writes:

In regards to the piece on the Half Dime Token. You had shared my blog in a previous issue. It caught me off guard because I have only seen a few of these and for a moment thought you had re-used the article. It is one of my favorite pieces.

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
NICHOLSON'S HALF DIME TOKEN (http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v19n39a21.html)
THE NICHOLSON AND WILSON HALF DIME TOKENS (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n32a20.html)

3) The book on Taiwan tokens is great and is the first catalog on the subject to be published. I have been working on one for years, but it is still a manila file folder in my drawer on Chinese tokens. It is difficult to use because it is arranged by topic -- nine major topics with many subtopics. The rarity scale seems reasonable, though I have some disagreements with his rarity on some U.S. military tokens for Taiwan.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NEW BOOK: TAIWAN'S TOKENS (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n31a07.html)

2017 ANA NBS meeting lot viewing

4) The image of the NBS book sale (books on chairs) was amusing. Some people seem to be worshiping them

Yes, we're a cult of book worshipers. The secret is out! -Editor

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY: AUGUST 6, 2017, PART 2 : NBS General Meeting (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n32a24.html)

Imitiation Japanese Oban

Regarding the mystery Japanese items submitted by Dick Hanscom, Ron Haller-Williams and Jeff Dickerson identified them as a Koban, and silver Koban. Other readers had more specific suggestions. -Editor

Mystery Japan items

Jeff Dickerson writes:

Regarding the mystery Japanese items, I remember seeing similar items in a Hans Schulman sale catalogue. I checked, and the Edward Kann Collection sale of June 18-20, 1971 has plate photos similar to those you've shown (lots 1417-1424). The catalogue description lists these as Japanese "koban", although only the gold type is represented in the listings.

Bruce W. Smith writes:

The oval gold and silver pieces are imitations of Japanese oban or koban (depending on weight) gold coins issued from the 1600's into the 1800's. These were most likely made as souvenirs or store promotions or perhaps made for a collector to give out as gifts. The markings on the back will probably provide the key, but they are too faint to make out.

Kyle Ponterio writes:

These are not legitimate coins issued by the Japanese. These are fantasy issues made for foreigners in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s as they did not want the real coins leaving the country. They come in a plethora of shapes, sizes and denominations with many varieties struck in gold and silver.

None of the reference material either in English or Japanese list these or any of the fantasy issues, but you can occasionally find them in Japanese and foreign auctions. The Japanese list them as fantasy issues while the foreign auctions may list them as genuine items or fantasy issues (It really depends on the auction house and if they really know the series or not).

Thanks, everyone. -Editor

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
QUERY: MYSTERY JAPANESE ITEMS (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n32a11.html)

More on Justus Doolittle
Bruce W. Smith writes:

You mentioned Helen Wang's note on collector Justus Doolittle. He was an American missionary who lived in China from 1850 to 1873, mostly in the area of Foochow (now Fuzhou). His book, "Social Life of the Chinese", contains a wealth of information on Chinese coins and amulets. I have a 1960's reprint of the book, but have never seen the original with Wang Mang spade coin on the spine.

His other book, "Vocabulary and Handbook of the Chinese Language", is also very interesting. I have not seen Volume One, which I imagine is a Chinese-English dictionary, but Volume Two (695 pages) is a collection of miscellaneous information in Chinese and English, arranged in 85 chapters! Chapter 75 is on Chinese coinage and Chapter 79 is on the compradore and shroff. The latter is the employee responsible for examining and testing silver coins received in business, and the one who applied a chopmark to coins found acceptable. Volume Two is available as a print-on-demand reprint.

Doolittle's coin collection is a little more complicated that stated. According to American Journal of Numismatics, July 1866, Doolittle had already sold his collection to B. J. Lake, a Chicago banker, who loaned it to Lake Forest University. In 1872 the collection is said to have passed to Horace Fletcher of San Francisco. Then in June 1881 the collection was cataloged by W. Elliot Woodward and sold by Bangs & Company, consisting of lots 1425 through 1439. When Fletcher bought the collection, it consisted of 464 bronze coins.

Alexander Del Mar (1836-1926) examined the collection and illustrated some of the coins in his "Monograph on the History of Money in China" (1881). This was reprinted in the American Journal of Numismatics in three parts during 1885. Most of the coins are actually forgeries, and my note on Del Mar's monograph reads "A mass of misinformation; totally useless."

Doolittle's diary he kept in China during 1850-1872, is at Hamilton College in Clinton, NY. For some comments on him see page 109 of "Autobiography & Across the Desert of Gobi" by Mark Williams.

Thanks! -Editor

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
REV. JUSTUS DOOLITTLE (1824-1880) (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n32a18.html)

E-Sylum Leidman ad02new portrait


Wayne Homren, Editor

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