Many of you wrote and asked how I fared in the recent earthquake in Alaska. Seems the epicenter of the large quake was less than 15 miles from my home! My wife, daughter, dog, and I were all unharmed. We wish we could say the same for our home. Nearly every component of the house was damaged in some way, including floors, walls, windows, plumbing, stairs and stair rails, doors, and even various ceilings. Fortunately, the heat still works, we have were able to get some temporary fixes on some plumbing issues, and we can still live in the house. Another fortunate choice was to carry earthquake insurance. After we pay about $45,000, the insurance company will pick up the rest of the repair tab. So we are trying to look at it from the perspective of, "hey, we get our whole house updated (it was built in 2006) and it will cost just the price of a new SUV."

I knew Richard from 1970 when I joined Spinks in London - he was a credit to our subject, knowledgeable considerate and a gentle man. His ability as a coin dealer was formidable and along with a kind sense of humour, he made a significant mark amongst all involved in the areas in which he flourished - he will be missed, but his legacy will remain in his masterful research on Matthew Boulton and the portrait medals of Benjamin Franklin by Nini.

Seems like the best part of the magnificent Alan Weinberg Collection sales will be his commentaries on the lots included.

I see mention of a book about money at war. I have written about 5-6 articles on the psychological warfare currency printed by warring countries during War. Here are two articles on the Allied and Axis propaganda and counterfeit banknotes during WWII. I have written other articles on Korea, Vietnam, and Desert Storm propaganda currency.

ALLIED BANKNOTES
http://www.psywarrior.com/WWIIAlliedBanknotes.html

AXIS BANKNOTES
http://www.psywarrior.com/WWIIGermanBanknotes.html

Ever since World War II, the U.S. government had preferred to leave Middle East diplomacy to the oil companies and the bankers who financed Big Oil...

Washington was torn by conflicting aims. An abundant supply of cheap oil was essential to the economy and national security. Friendly relations with the Arabs were necessary to keep them out of the Soviet orbit. Yet no Administration could politically afford to offend American Jews by appearing to help Israel’s mortal enemies in the Middle East. The solution: Let the oil companies take care of the Arabs, with the discreet aid or at least non-interference of the U.S. government.

[President Truman’s Secretary of State, Dean] Acheson had been perfectly frank about the oil companies’ role. “American oil operations are, for all practical purposes instruments of our foreign policy towards [Middle Eastern] countries,” he declared before leaving office in 1953. Eisenhower and [in-coming Secretary of State John Foster] Dulles simply maintained the Truman Administration’s benign hands-off policy toward the oil companies. The U.S. continued to regard royalties paid to Arab countries by the oil companies as income tax, saving the oil companies billions in U.S. taxes. This so-called “golden gimmick,” first conceived in 1950 and kept secret for the next six years, allowed the U.S. to in effect funnel foreign aid to Arab countries without admitting it.”

I was fortunate enough to acquire this medal in a large lot of material sold during the last Newman auction by Heritage. I was kind of surprised that it was included in the lot as I would have thought it would have sold for enough individually to be in its own lot. It is in a box just like Ken Bressett mentioned in an earlier E-Sylum article.

When I finally discovered this piece, there were over 1000 pieces in the lot, I, of course, went to Google. Most of the hits directed me to E-Sylum articles from the past which didn't surprise.

Mr. Newman is one of my numismatic heroes so I am quite happy to have this in my collection.

Just wanted to drop you a note to thank you for the final sentence in last week’s E-Sylum. Though many readers may glance over it and pay no regard to those words, it was not missed by this reader who values the tremendous message of truth contained therein, and appreciates very much its inclusion.

Merry Christmas