"I am writing to inquire about the mention in The E-Sylum Volume 21, Number 36, September 9, 2018 of the pending publication of a new book on prison scrip and tokens by Bob Hewey and Jim Delaney. Has it, in fact, been published and where it may be found?"

"We are very close to having a first edition ready for publication. However, we (I) have encountered some technical problems. I am trying to use hyperlinks to provide a table of contents for the PDF version and have not figured out how to do that. Technical assistance would be appreciated."

"If we put an asterisk on the word "circulating," I submit that the original reverse design Sacagawea dollar is also a circulating U.S. coin with stars on it. They number 17, representing the number of states in the Union when Lewis & Clark set off on their mission.

"Beginning in 2009, 13 stars replaced "IN GOD WE TRUST" on the edges of the Presidential dollars when that motto was moved to the obverse of the coins for political reasons. The same edge format was used on the Native American dollar coins introduced in 2009.

"The 2013 and 2019 Native American dollars have stars as part of their reverse designs.

"Finally, we have the Ronald Reagan dollar coin. Though never one of the great "stars" of Hollywood (who could ever forget "Bedtime for Bonzo!"), he does have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!"

"For several years now, I have been researching the tokens issued by Spencer Moosa and his wife, Nina. As often happens with research projects, I've hit a dead end, leaving some fundamental questions still unanswered. I'm wondering if I may prevail on you and your readership for assistance. Specifically, I am seeking to know where, by whom and in what quantity these tokens were struck, and what is their complete date range. (The only dates I can confirm are 1952, 1955, 1956 and 1957.)

I thank you in advance for any assistance you may be able to offer, and I appreciate all of your E-Sylum efforts. "

"I read about the Covid medal contest at CSNS and thought you might find Dan Carr's covid medal [or token] to be an interesting piece."

"In the Sept. 20th issue Bill Groom asked about silver Conder tokens. I had a silver Middlesex 1039b in my collection - same dies, different edge. It was also well worn, but the wear was smooth and even, and it too had the look of a pocket piece, not something that knocked about in circulation.

England in this era was famous for its multitude of private clubs - I wonder if these worn silver pieces were admission badges of sorts, shown at the door to get into one where the members were all abolitionists?"

When I bought my piece it was supposedly the only silver example of one of the anti-slavery issues, though of course I always realize the word unique is thrown about far more often than is accurate! I'm not surprised to see another, but it is interesting that it is a completely different edge.

Sadly I don't know its silver content for sure. I sold it, along with a handful of other silver Conders to the guy who is putting together the best set of silver ones perhaps since Cokayne. Seemed fitting that the couple dozen I had that he lacked would go to the right home. It did look to be a less-fine silver content than the others I had, and 80% wouldn't surprise me.

"Your story "HALF CENTS STRUCK ON TALBOT, ALLUM & LEE TOKENS" reminded me of the presentation I helped prepare for Bill McKivor of Seattle back in 2011 for the British Token Congress. It includes the pieces struck on half cents, as well as mules, etc. There was also an earlier version in 2009 for the one-time-only British Token Congress in Seattle."

"The latest E-Sylum has a depiction of the Joseph Askins token. He was born Thomas Haskey in 1771 (debatable) in Walsall England. He was known as "The man with one leg and two voices". He was the first ventriloquist known to have performed in a theatrical auditorium. Conflicting stories about him exist, some probably mythical. It is said that he fought for the British in the American Revolution and lost his leg in battle. (He wouldn't be fighting in the Revolution at the age of five). When he returned home it was reported that he assisted the local potato farmers plant their crops using his peg leg to make the holes to plant the crops.

"He was performing at Sadler's Wells theater in London in 1796, the year his tokens were issued. (Sadler's Wells theater opened in 1683 and is still in operation today, it's 6th location opened in 1998). It was also at this time that he changed to his stage name. He would hold conversations with 'Little Tommy' in his act, an invisible familiar. He was one of the last ventriloquists to perform without a dummy. The Askins Award is given annually to the ventriloquist judged to be the best.

"The dies for the Conder tokens were made by Jacobs and the tokens were sold to collectors by Skidmore. There are a five varieties of Askins tokens attributed by Dalton and Hamer as 250/251/252 plus two subtypes. As a magic token they are attributed by Kuethe as MT018."