NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: DECEMBER 3, 2017

I saw the snippet about Challenge Coins in The E-Sylum. Here's three of my favorites. The one on the left was presented by MG Huntoon, Commandant of the US Army War College; the one on the right is from the Garrison Commander of the Carlisle Barracks; and the one below (my favorite) was presented by the 366th Air Expeditionary Wing, Air Expeditionary Force, Operation Iraqi Freedom.

As a long time collector of classic coin boards, I enjoyed seeing the image of the NELCO Lincoln Cent board that David Lange shared. This is a coin board I have never seen before. I did some research and discovered the company was registered on November 10, 1970 to Edwin L. Nelson (president) of 5607 Tomoka Drive, Orlando, Florida. The business was located at One N Orange Avenue, Suite 901, Orlando, Florida.

Based on the street view in the attached image, the building was initially constructed for the State Bank of Orlando and Trust Company. Given NELCO was located on the top floor of this building, it was likely some sort of financial or insurance company which might explain the numismatic angle. Leonard P. Nelson was listed as the vice president so it appears the company was ether a partnership between brothers or father and son. Either way, NELCO was clearly a shortened version of NELson COmpany as Dave hypothesized. The registration of the company name expired on September 3, 1976 due to non-payment so the company must have closed shop after six years. Anyone with access to Orlando telephone books from this period or the Orlando public library may be able to confirm what this company did.

I also looked into the artist who created the striking portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the back of the NELCO board. Although he signed his name as Bob MacCourt, I considered alternate spellings of his name and found two references under Robert MacCourt and Bob McCourt in the February 18 and February 22, 1968 editions of The Orlando Sentinel respectively. In the two references he is described as a sketch artist who draws portraits with charcoals and lives in Casselberry, Florida just north of Orlando. It appears he had nothing to do with numismatics other than having his artwork printed on the back of the NELCO coin board.

David Sundman passed along this announcement of an upcoming lecture by David Motl of the U.S. Mint at the Treasury Historical Association. Thanks. It's a members-only event, but why not join? I'll be out of town that day anyway, but I would recommend it to any of my friends in the greater Washington, D.C. area. There is even a door prize drawing for a free copy of Fortress of Finance, the book about the U.s. treasury Building. -Editor

Established in 1792, the United States Mint celebrated its 225th Anniversary in 2017. When the framers of the U.S. Constitution created a new government for their untried Republic, they realized the critical need for a respected monetary system. In April 1792, Congress passed The Coinage Act, which created the Mint and authorized construction of a Mint building in Philadelphia. Since that time, both the United States of America and the U.S. Mint have undergone many changes. This presentation will cover the many ways in which the Mint has grown and changed during its 225-year history

Important Notes: Attendees not possessing valid Treasury Building access pass/identification must obtain advance security clearance through the U.S. Secret Service for entry into the Treasury Building. To obtain clearance, please telephone THA at (202) 298-0550 and supply your full name (with complete middle name), date of birth, social security number, your city and state of residence, and a daytime telephone number. Alternatively, if you have a sufficiently secure email system, you may send this information to THA@treasury.gov. Clearance requests must be made no later than Friday, December 15, 2017.