WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY: APRIL 15, 2018

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V21 2018 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 21, Number 15, April 15, 2018, Article 27

Politics & Prose
I'll start this week's diary with a non-numismatic event that took place last Sunday, April 8th. Regular readers will be famliliar with the members of my Northern Virginia numismatic social group, Nummis Nova. Well, one of our members had a big event that day - Joe Esposito was signing his new book at Washington's landmark bookstore, Politics & Prose. I arrived about 1pm and joined the waiting crowd. Joe was introduced and gave a nice talk about researching his book, Dinner in Camelot: The Night America's Greatest Scientists, Writers, and Scholars Partied at the Kennedy White House.

With a guest list that included forty-nine Nobel laureates along with many other distinguished scientists, artists, and writers, the dinner party held at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue on April 29, 1962, was extraordinary even by White House standards. By today’s standards, it seems nearly unimaginable that people of distinct, and sometimes clashing views—Linus Pauling attended after having picketed the White House earlier that day—could convene for a gracious evening in so highly charged a setting. Recreating both the conversations and their historical context, Esposito, an educator, historian and writer, evokes the tensions of the Cold War and U.S.-Cuba relations, outlines the goals of the space program and the civil rights movement, and lets guests such as James Baldwin, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Mary Walsh Hemingway, and William and Rose Styron reflect the important role intellectuals played at the time.

Nummis Nova

On the road in Boston for his book tour, Joe Esposito was unable to join us for the Nummis Nova dinner on April 10th. Our host was Robert Hoppensteadt, who chose Delia's Mediterranean Grill & Brick Oven Pizza in Alexandria, VA.

First to arrive was Eric Schena, who met me on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant. We were the first to be seated. Soon to arrive were Dave Schenkman, Gene Brandenburg and my guest Steve Roach of Coin World. Other attendees included Mike Packard, Jon Radel, Tom Kays, Julian Leidman and Wayne Herndon.

We had a nice table and soon the beverages and appetizers were flowing. I started by passing around a copy of Joe's book which he'd signed for me on Sunday. I'm looking forward to reading it. Here are some photos of the evening.

Back row, from left: steve Bishop, Eric Schena, Steve Roach,
Robert Hoppensteadt, Tom Kays, Mike Packard.

Right side, from front: Dave Schenkman, Jon Radel, Wayne Herndon, Julian Leidman

Baseball Schedule Tokens
Dave Schenkman brought these rarities along on honor of the start of baseball season.

Here are my three early baseball schedule tokens. All are 38mm; the 1910 and 1914 are brass, and the 1917 is nickel plated brass. The 1910 is the earliest known sport schedule token.

The evening was over all too soon. The food and company were marvelous. I really enjoy this club, which is all about the numismatic fellowship without the hassle and stress of officers, elections, and committees - just the fun. 'Til next time.