RARE NEW ORLEANS MINT MONOGRAPH SOUGHT

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V22 2019 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 22, Number 18, May 5, 2019, Article 9

About a decade or so back there was a book by Charles J Collins titled "A History of the United States Mint, New Orleans, Louisiana" Any idea where one might find a copy?

When I received this inquiry I was fairly confident I'd find a copy of this item in my library; I've got a full shelf of book on U.S. Mint histories. Alas, this one was not there. To jog my own memory I took a look in the E-Sylum archives, and found these remarks from readers beginning in 2003. -Editor

Is anyone familiar with the book, "A History of the United States Mint, New Orleans, Louisiana" by Charles J. Collins, Jr. (Baton Rouge: LSU Printing Office, 1970.)? I first saw a reference to it in the bibliography of a Louisiana State Museum publication, but haven't so far found a bookseller or numismatist who has a copy or has even heard of it. I asked my local library to try getting it through inter- library loan, but the only copy they could find is in the reference collection of the New Orleans Public Library (which they won't lend out.) I think there may also be a copy in the LSU library.

I'd appreciate news of a copy for sale, or information about the author, or if a fellow E-sylum subscriber who lives in New Orleans would go to the library and tell me something about the book! Thanks! If you have any news, please contact me at ginsburg.d at worldnet.att.net ."

As editor, I added the following: "[I assume LSU means Louisiana State University. This is why I love bibliographies and footnotes - you never know what interesting new source might turn up. I thought I had seen every U.S. Mint history published, but I don't believe I've come across this before. If anyone learns more about it, please keep E-Sylum readers in the loop. -Editor]"

"I'm pleased to be able to say that I've received a copy of "A History of the United States Mint, New Orleans, Louisiana" by Charles J. Collins Jr. that I asked about a few weeks ago.

Shortly after my inquiry, I received a response from an E-Sylum subscriber who owns a copy (stored offsite, unfortunately for me). However, he thoughtfully referred me to an acquaintance of his who, very kindly, sent me a photocopy."

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NEW ORLEANS BOOK LOCATED (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v06n32a06.html)

"As to the Charles J. Collins, Jr. book entitled "The History of the United States Mint in New Orleans" discussed in your recent comments, there is also a very rare pamphlet on the general subject published in 1845 by Riddell entitled "The New Orleans Mint and the Process of Coinage, " of which I have located only one other copy. The text of the pamphlet was reprinted in the April 1968 issue of The Numismatist."

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
RARE NEW ORLEANS MINT PAMPHLET (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v08n27a19.html)

Dave and Eric have both passed from the scene, and it was wonderful to read their comments again. So we know the Collins work is rare and seldom seen.

Nowadays of course, we have the Newman Numismatic Portal, and that was my next stop. The book is listed, but since it was published in 1971 and is still in copyright, a full view is not available. Len Augsburger of NNP notes: "the title page says 1970 but the foreword is dated 1971." It's a 158 page card-covered monograph. Here's the book description. -Editor

A History of the United States Mint, New Orleans, Louisiana

The first substantial study of New Orleans Mint history, drawn from original documents in the National Archives and other sources. Printed by Louisiana State University. 38 plates, with architectural drawings of the Mint and other illustrations.

This is an in-copyright publication. "Snippet" results from the book will appear in the Newman Portal search results.