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NUMISMATIC NUGGETS: JULY 8, 2018
Here's a selection of interesting or unusual items I came across in the marketplace this week. Tell us what you think of some of these.
-Editor
1771 North Carolina Five Shillings 
Early American currency went through several stages of development in colonial and post-Revolutionary history of the United States. Because few coins were minted in the thirteen colonies that became the United States in 1776, foreign coins like the Spanish dollar were widely circulated. Colonial governments sometimes issued paper money to facilitate economic activity. During the American Revolution, the colonies became independent states; freed from British monetary regulations, they issued paper money to pay for military expenses. The Continental Congress also issued paper money during the Revolution, known as Continental currency, to fund the war effort. One by one, colonies began to issue their own paper money to serve as a convenient medium of exchange. In 1690, the Province of Massachusetts Bay created "the first authorized paper money issued by any government in the Western World." This paper money was issued to pay for a military expedition during King William's War. Other colonies followed the example of Massachusetts Bay by issuing their own paper currency in subsequent military conflicts.
See also the 1771 North Carolina note in David Lange's contribution elsewhere in this issue. Great coincidence for this to pop up!
-Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
1783 Peace of Versailles Medal 
1783 Peace of Versailles, Libertas Americana French Medal NGC MS62 (Betts-608) A fascinating piece made in a white metal. Closely related to the famous Libertas Americana medal, this piece was struck to commemorate the Peace of Versailles, ending the Revolutionary War.
An ex-Eric P. Newman piece from David Lawrence Rare Coins.
-Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
1853 $2.50 Gold Liberty Love Token 
Gold love tokens are expensive and harder to find. Nice one.
From Silver City Auctions.
-Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
Chinese Prancing Horse Gaming Token 
CHINA. Szechuan. 5 Cent Horse Gaming Token, ND (ca. 1912). PCGS AU-55 BN Secure Holder. Duan-2281var. (2011 edition); Duan-3621(2005 edition). Struck in copper. Obverse: prancing horse; Reverse: spray of orchids. Lovely oxblood tone.
An unusual item, offered by Stack's Bowers.
-Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
Chinese 5 Cash Commemorative Token 
CHINA. Szechuan. 5 Cash Commemorative Token, ND (ca. 1918). PCGS MS-63 BN Secure Holder. CL-Unlisted; Y-Unlisted; CCC-Unlisted; cf. Duan-3627. Struck in copper, reverse blank (not uniface). It is theorized that the production of these pieces was ordered by a high ranking official, thought to be the director of the Tientsin mint, in 1918 the lunar year of the horse to commemorate the birth of his new son. Three denominations were made (5 Cash, 10 Cash and 20 Cash), but due to their intricate high relief designs the reverses were left blank. The dies were produced by die-sinking and hubbing presses rather than the normal coining press. The following year in 1919(Year of the Goat) silver tokens were made to commemorate the birth of a new baby girl(see L&M-1000A). Horse is well struck up with tender detail, both sides deep brown.
Another interesting piece from the Q. David Bowers Collection.
Ex: R. B. White. Ex: Lockhart. -Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
1935 Connecticut Half Dollar 
This gnarly old tree always reminded me of the scary talking tree from The Wizard of Oz. But it's a nicely balanced coin design that I've always liked. fat-looking eagle, though. This example is from David Lawrence Rare Coins.
-Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
Gold One Celeston Set 
Celestia - The Nation of Celestial Space Historical 6 Piece Set 1959 token struck in 0.900 fine gold by James Thomas Mangan for the "Nation of Celestial Space" (Celestia for short). Mangan laid claim to all of space in Jan 18, 1949. The obverse shows Ruth Mangan, James Mangan's daughter with "MAGNANIMITY" on the head band. Apparently there are 4 total varieties: 1959 and 1960 UNC (as shown) and 1960 and 1961 proof (not seen). The reported mintages are 540 in 1959 and 200 in 1960.
Here's a group of One Celeston gold coins minted for the promoted "Nation of Celestial Space" in a Capitol Plastics display holder.
-Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
To read an earlier E-Sylum article, see:
Wayne Homren, Editor The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org. To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum All Rights Reserved. NBS Home Page Contact the NBS webmaster 
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