"I was very pleased to see the new book The First Coins of the Americas, by Dr. Peter Jones, referenced in the latest E-Sylum. This is a wonderful work. If there had been such a book available many years ago, I think I might have dedicated myself to studying and working on collecting these kinds of issues instead of having become very much of a generalist. Although I have indeed often focused from time to time on these series, over the years, there was much material and information in it that was of interest, and essentially new to me!

"I highly recommend this volume!"

"As noted by Dave Lange, our feline friends do seem to have an affinity for numismatic catalogues. Several Kolbe sales in the 1990s featured selections from the library of NBS co-founder Jack Collins. In one of them, Jack's special hardbound edition of Lester Merkin's iconic 1964 Louis Helfenstein auction sale catalogue was featured. Minor discoloration on the cover was noted. Left unsaid was the origin of the stain: Jack's intrepid cat had employed the volume to mark its territory."

"Concerning John Nebel's 2016 experience with Customs putting a lengthy, documents-required hold on his three Ancient Greek coins, this is still going on today.

"On Sept 23, 2020 at 2:30 AM California time, I successfully phone bid on a rare silver United States US Mint medal being offered in a well-known Great Britain antique house auction. I paid several hundred dollars for an Express FedEx shipment of the medal after Express FedExing a cashiers check to the auction house.

"Homeland Security / Customs held it for a month in Memphis, requiring my signing online documents on what it was and even then held it until I made several insistent phone calls to a Missouri-based FedEx customs specialist who interceded on my behalf. I finally received it only because of my and her efforts.

"What the acquisition of an old US Mint Civil War medal being returned to the US from overseas has to do with Homeland Security I don't know.

"It was an 1864 silver General Benj. Butler silver Colored Troops medal with original ribbon and silver clasp in original case with a handwritten Butler note addressing his part in having the medal designed, struck and awarded. The movie Glory with Denzel Washington and Matthew Broderick highlights the medal's historical background."

"I see that the mysterious Eilan Cohen and his mint in Brooklyn, are exactly that, mysterious! I have enclosed photos of the few items that I've purchased earlier this year that are products of the Cohen Mint. Even his LOGO is shrouded in mystery! It appears to be a Paul Revere type of soldier, mounted on a horse. In the case of his Rhodium tokens, he uses an American Eagle motif on the reverse. On his 1g gold tokens from 2004, the reverse is the NYC skyline with the Twin Towers centrally located. His 1/4g Rhodium tokens are very small, with "1/4g" engraved on the reverse.

"Fascinating man, who dedicated his life to minting a metal, so much more valuable than gold, but so hard & brittle, that it was never before "mintable." Interesting that when he finally discovered a process for minting it in 2009, he died shortly thereafter! The Cohen Mint was only in existence from 2004-2009, so I believe that any of his Rhodium tokens are well worth checking out, as their rarity, both in terms of the metallic value, but also scarcity of the tokens themselves, make them a very sound investment for any collector. All too often opportunity passes before it's realized in hindsight.

"Thank you for keeping it out there for all who are interested & hopefully someone can add anything to my scant knowledge & hopefully, the mystery of Mr. Cohen & his mint can be made a little less mysterious!"

"Regarding Howard Daniel's mention of the auction for a US Navy Medal of Honor, the Medal of Honor is legal to possess in the United States but it is illegal to buy, sell, manufacture, import or export. The unfortunate result of the misguided US law is that foreigners are free to trade in them but US residents may not. The prohibition includes the medal, ribbon or rosette.

"All Medals of Honor are issued named. This one was unnamed indicating it was probably a display copy."