MORE ON COLUMBIA FARTHINGS

Martin Purdy writes:

"It can now be concluded, that Columbia Farthings alone were manufactured in Britain and sent into circulation in England. The former dating, round 1830, is undoubtedly correct. The question is now: Why were they made? As an answer should be mentioned, that for years it was in Britain a tradition, that the major part of minor currency was private tokens of which many were without a name or issuer, why these token issuers just by issuing made their profit. An Act of Parliament declared them illegal in 1817, except for tokens of the Birmingham Workhouse and Sheffield Overseers of the Poor which were current until 1820 and 1823 respectively. The token issuers got then their business destroyed. By using the word COLUMBIA, it may be assumed the issuers tried to let people believe that their illegal tokens instead were money from an area in North- or Southamerica. Because many areas had the name Columbia, it would be difficult or rather impossible to discover the swindle"

Bob Leonard writes:

Herman Blanton writes:

"At one time I collected the so-called Columbia Farthings and tried my best to figure them out. In my research of these enigmatic pieces I discovered that nobody else really knew what they were either. This year I pulled out my Columbia Farthings and set my mind to bringing closure [the end of my research] to this long unsettled arena within my collections even if it meant not learning of their origin.

"I reviewed my notes which include references to The Columbia Farthing by Melvin Fuld (The Numismatist, May 1969 in the section The Token Collector’s Page). Earlier articles in The Numismatist; The Columbia Farthings by John F. Jones, August 1937 and Comments in the Mysterious Columbia Farthing-Size Token, February 1948. I also found my correspondence with Granvyl Hulse (NI librarian at the time [1986]) concerning his article The Columbia ‘Farthing’ in the December 1985 edition of the NI bulletin.

"By using the internet I renewed my quest for information and it lead me to Paul Withers in England. Paul & Bente Withers provide a history of these tokens in their forthcoming book The Token Book 2 Unofficial Farthings and small Advertising Tokens, 1820-1901. With their kind permission we offer the Columbia Farthing section within these pages."

To read the Withers article in the NI Bulletin, see:
Numismatics International Bulletin (https://archive.org/details/NIB2013SepOctVol48Nos09to10/page/n2/mode/1up)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
QUERY: COLUMBIA FARTHINGS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n11a15.html)

NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: MARCH 21, 2021

American Tax Token Society 50th Anniversary
Bill Myers writes:

Seeking Picture of Neziah Wright
Pete Smith writes:

Music to Collect Coins By?
Tom Kays writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
COLLECTING NUMISMATIC AUDIO RECORDINGS (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v19n20a13.html)
NEWMAN PORTAL DIGITIZES VINTAGE 45’S (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v19n38a06.html)

NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR MEDAL PROCESS SET

I’ve been a subscriber to The E-Sylum for several years and find it very informative on a variety of numismatic subjects, not just literature. I have an inquiry that perhaps you can post as it seems that there are experts in all phases of numismatics among your subscribers. I recently acquired a process set of medals for the 1964 - 1965 New York World's Fair by The Medallic Art Co. These were not presented to me as such, just part of a larger group of miscellaneous medals I purchased from a local coin dealer.

For my own amusement, I scanned each of the medals and made a composite image, front and back. There are eight pieces in the set, from blank planchet to finished medal with 6 stages of manufacture in between. They are not mounted; each is in its own Medallic Art Company box with cotton liners. Each box is rather crudely marked on top with black marker 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. I can't find any info on the medals on the internet. I did find a couple of similar sets for presidential inaugural medals but that's about it. I'm assuming as a set it is quite scarce.

My questions are: Were these issued for sale? Given to VIPs? Given to employees? Snuck out the back door? Might you have any idea as to the value? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

AMSA’S WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE MEDAL COMPETITION

Eva-Maria Wohn Wins AMSA’s Women’s Suffrage Medal Competition

A relatively new medalist, Eva-Maria Wohn, of Chicago has created the best art medal on the theme of the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. Sponsored by the American Medallic Sculpture Association (AMSA), the winner also will receive a $300 prize. Wohn’s medal was chosen by a committee chaired by Mel Wacks, member of AMSA’s Board of Directors, consisting of seven distinguished jurors: Philip Attwood, President of Fédération Internationale de la Médaille d'Art; Ellen Feingold, Curator of the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution; Cory Gillilland, formerly Deputy Director of the National Numismatic Collection; Caleb Noel, editor of The Numismatist; Steve Roach, editor-at-large of Coin World; Dr. Alan Stahl, Curator of Numismatics, Princeton University; and Dr. Benjamin Weiss, member of the Board of Directors of Medal Collectors of America.

Eva-Maria Wohn wrote to the committee, saying: I had great fun coming up with a concept and a theme. The research alone was worth it. It’s such a beautiful art form I am always surprised that so few people have fallen under its spell. For the obverse side, I chose the Statue of Liberty to be part of a Suffrage medal, to point out the irony that she stood in the harbor for 34 years before she would have been able to vote in the very democracy she was symbolizing to the world. Liberty is not centered within the 100 because there is still some progress to be made. The reverse features a quote where we were but a handful from Elizabeth Cady Stanton reminiscing about the few but radical supporters of the amendment, but also recognizing that so many lives would be changed because of it. The woman in jail is from an archive photo of a suffragette in prison.

Eva-Maria Wohn was introduced to the art of medals a few years ago by one of the modern masters of the medium, Eugene Daub.  Since that time, she has created numerous medals in order to refine and explore various styles and to learn the technical aspects of sculpting medals.  Wohn says that My attempts are not all aesthetic or technical successes, but each one has a lesson that informs the next piece and also my other sculptural work.  She believes that sculpting medals has given her tools that have made her bas relief, and sculpture in the round, infinitely better. Wohn goes on:  Because the geography of a medal is small, there is no room to hide bad composition, awkward perspective or poorly defined light and shadow. Being a good editor is just as vital as being a good sculptor. 

Eva-Maria also loves the idea of a story compressed into such a small space.  Her favorite medals are those that despite the limitation of space, invite the viewer to explore the message, saying: Overt messages are often less interesting than those that take the viewer on a journey to that end.  She tries hard to create a narrative that is interesting and engaging - one that leaves a viewer room to insert their own views and interpretations; one that invites wonder and curiosity, and ultimately, a kinship with the maker.  Eva-Maria Wohn will be the first to admit that her medallic sculptures have not always met that goal, but says that her love of this lovely art form makes the work of getting there a joy. 

Wohn’s original submission was actually made with the cold-cast process. Since winning, she has decided to produce a limited edition of no more than 19 cast bronze 4-inch medals. For price and availability, contact Eva-Maria Wohn at ewohn@hotmail.com or (202) 341-3301.

All of the entries will be illustrated in AMSA’s full-color magazine Members Exchange. The American Medallic Sculpture Association invites American and world medalists to join, as well as art medal collectors. Members Exchange publishes news of workshops and exhibits, and illustrates noteworthy art medals produced by members and others both in the United States and overseas. Dues of $45, U.S. and Canada, or $55 elsewhere can be sent to AMSA, P.O. Box 1201, Edmonds, WA 98020. The AMSA website is www.amsamedals.org.

VOCABULARY TERM: DATES AND DATING

Dates and Dating. Indicating when a coin or medal was issued. The exact date is determined by both internal (appearing on the item itself) and external evidence (from documentary sources). Coins are usually required to be dated their year of issue. There is no such requirement that a medal must be dated; nor is there any obligation to use the year in which it is struck if it is dated. Most often medals bear the date of a historical or commemorative event, an anniversary or founding date, or the dates of a person portrayed on the medal.

In cataloging and attribution, determining the date often requires documentary research and, sometimes, stylistic comparison. The aim of the medal historian or numismatic researcher is to attribute the piece to a single year, or baring that, a period, a part of a century, or even a century itself. Often the evidence does not reveal as specific a point in time as the researcher or cataloger desires. The use of circa (Latin circum, around) is employed when the date of issue could be nearly ascribed a given year. An uncertain year is indicated by a question mark within parenthesis (?) following the date. When it is desirable to indicate a piece is not dated it can be abbreviated n.d.

Whenever possible numismatic researchers try to pinpoint an issue date to at least a particular quarter century (as: second quarter 17th century) if an exact date cannot be determined. Infrequently an academic year or a fiscal year is the issue date (as: 1892-93). And in rare instances an obverse can be one year, the reverse another (example: Louis XIII portrait of 1623 on obverse, Anne of Austria portrait of 1620 reverse). When all else fails and no date or century can be determined, a piece is simply attributed: undated. This should be a last resort, as any astute cataloger can at least attribute a piece to one of the five or six centuries medals have been issued or the twenty centuries for coins.

Internal evidence can take the form of (in order of preference if two or more appear): (1) year on the piece or date inscribed (called date of issue), if say an award or presentation medal; (2) date of anniversary year, if anniversary medal; (3) date accompanying artist's signature, if any; (4) date of copyright, if design is copyright or patented; (5) date given in inscription or chronogram, if present.

External evidence comes from any of a wide variety of documentary records, either from mint records (date given in a mint report), or medallic company (date pieces were cast or struck); or from the emitter (date first published, issued or founded), or date first offered for sale, or even from the artist's records when he completed his work.

As indicated, predating and postdating of medals do occur. A medal for the centennial of the American Museum of Natural History, for example, was designed three years prior, and struck two years ahead of its 1969 centennial year. Postdated is far more common. Extreme examples can be found among many Papal medals which were struck 100, 200 and 300 years after dates they portend to commemorate.

As also indicated, nothing would prevent an issuer from dating and publishing a medal at any time after an event he wishes to commemorate. An anniversary medal on a significant number of years after the event is understandable; but a medal issued at any other period is questionable. Such medals fall in the class of anachronistic medals – those struck in a period incongruent with the date on the medal (or other internal evidence). These medals elicit the astute cataloger's note: "This medal is obviously later than the date it bears." (See after-cast, reissue, restrike.)

The practice of dating by Roman numerals – mandatory for chronograms that work the date into the legend on inscription – has declined steadily. It was prevalent until the 20th century, however, has now fallen into disuse for dating medallic items.

Christian era. In Western civilization dates have been given in two calendars, the Julian and the Gregorian. Named after Pope Gregory XIII, the Gregorian calendar – devised in 1582 and adopted by four countries that year – is the one presently used. Not all nations accepted this calendar at the same time, and for awhile o.s. (old style Julian) and n.s. (new style Gregorian) calendars were used concurrently.

Eras. Medals have dates of various eras in countries for which they are used. Most notable, is the Mohammedan era with dates in AH, which began on July 16, 622 ad since the Arabic year is calculated on the lunar year of 354 days it is 3% shorter than the Christian year of 365 days. (To convert ah to ad subtract 3% of the ah date and add 621.)

Dating by reign. Some reigns, usually of brief duration, have been dated by the year of the reign. France did this after the Revolution. However in the instance of papal issues this has been the practice for centuries. The year of a Pope is numbered in Latin that appears on the medal (and some coins) as ANNO I, II and such. Once the correct Pope is identified it is easy to identify the year of issued by year of his reign.

Hallmark dating. Dating by hallmarks can lead to a specific year (and maker!) but the use of reference charts is necessary. Of the three or four hallmarks one will be the year mark. The shape and type style of the letter will indicate the year and this can be learned by reference to hallmark reference works. See hallmarks and hallmarking.

Masonic dating. An Arabic number above 5,000 appearing on a medal could indicate a date by Masonic dating. It is based on the assumption that the recorded world began 4000 bc. It is easy to determine the year by subtracting 4000 from this number to arrive at the Christian year.

Describing and cataloging dates. The date (or period) when made is one of the first things to identify and record when describing a coin or medal. This task is easy when the piece is dated, otherwise internal or external evidence must be used to ascertain the date (or era). Record exactly the form the date as given on the piece, in either Arabic or Roman numerals. All dates not given in Arabic numerals should be translated into Arabic. Occasionally when the design has divided a date (as for balance or spatial limitation) use the term date divided (omit a hyphen and record date exact).

References:
N8 {1969} Laing, Chapter 2, p 19-51.

To read the complete entry on the Newman Numismatic Portal, see:
Dates and Dating (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/dictionarydetail/515668)

ADOLF LARSON (1878-1967)

Adolf Larson (1878-1967), was born on September 5, 1878 at Christiania, Norway, son of Adolf Larson (1851-), a carpenter, and Marie Albeck Larson (1844-). He came as a child with his family to Chicago, Illinois, in 1881.

He married a Swedish immigrant Jennie at Chicago and they had a daughter Leigh Maria, who became a university professor.

Pacific Coast Numismatic Society correspondence to Adolf Larson, Jr., postmarked March 21, 1921, San Francisco, California, postal stationery.

In the U. S. Census of 1930 he owned an artificial flower shop and his two younger sisters Dagmar (1881-), and Mable (1883-) lived with him and his wife and daughter.

In the U. S. Census of 1940 he still owned his artificial flower shop.

According to The Numismatist, March 1940, he was reported to be the newly elected president of the California Coin Club at Los Angeles. The Santa Ana Register, Tuesday, February 20, 1940, page 5, reported him coming as a guest speaker to the Orange County Coin Club meeting in February. The Numismatist, May 1940, reported that he was awarded honorary membership in the Orange County Coin Club.

He was a member of the Los Angeles Coin Club.

He died on March 9, 1967, and is buried in the Angeles Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles, California.

To read the complete article, see:
LARSON, Jr., ADOLF EMANUEL (http://www.numismaticmall.com/numismaticmall-com/larson-jr-adolf)

ALAN STAHL EARNS GILES CONSTABLE AWARD

Alan Stahl, curator of numismatics at Princeton University Library (PUL), has been named the first recipient of the Giles Constable Award of the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation. The award, which is given to scholars advancing the study of Venice, was initiated in 2021 in memory of one of the longest-serving members of the Foundation’s advisory board, who passed away in January of this year.

I am extremely honored to be the first recipient of a grant in the name of Giles Constable, says Stahl. Not only for his work, which I respect enormously, but for the role he has played in the careers of generations of scholars with his broad range of interests and his unfailing personal encouragement.

Giles Constable was a historian whose work focused on the Middle Ages and the Byzantine Empire. After teaching at Harvard University and directing research at Dumbarton Oaks Research Library, Constable joined the faculty at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton. Best known for his religious and cultural histories of the 12th century, Constable helped shape popular understanding of Peter the Venerable, Byzantium, 12th-century reformation and crusading, and the monastery in Cluny.

The Delmas Foundation began supporting Venetian research efforts in 1977. In the four decades that followed, the foundation would support nearly 1,000 researchers with more than $4.5 million in awards and grants.

The Constable award includes a stipend, which Stahl intends to use to fund two months of archival research in Italy in 2022 on the topic of Commercial Organization in Late Fourteenth-Century Venice. This project is a continuation of Stahl’s larger work on The Nexus of Wealth and Power in Late Medieval Venice, which began in 2008 and continued with a fellowship from the Delmas Foundation in 2017-18.

Stahl joined Princeton University in 2004 and lectures in the departments of art & archaeology, classics, and history. In addition to teaching, Stahl is involved with developing Firestone Library’s Numismatic Collection, coordinating acquisitions like the recent purchase of 5,280 Byzantine coins from London-based numismatic scholar Peter Donald.

To read the complete article, see:
Curator of Numismatics Alan Stahl earns Giles Constable Award from Delmas Foundation (https://library.princeton.edu/news/general/2021-03-03/curator-numismatics-alan-stahl-earns-giles-constable-award-delmas-foundation)

NUMISMATIC NEWS INTERVIEWS HOWARD DANIEL III

Q: What type of bank notes do you collect the most?

A: I first started collecting Viet Nam in 1964, then Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Burma and the rest of Southeast Asia. But I held on to my old collection until 1973. Within a few years, my Vietnamese collection grew to have the largest number of bank notes and related pieces, and I am still adding more pieces to it.

Q: What is the most interesting bank note you have encountered?

A: There exists a 5 Dong note printed from 1949 by the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam to circulate in the Mekong Delta during the First Indochina War. This note is D-62 (Pick-17) in my Democratic Republic of Viet Nam Coins & Currency catalog. I always try to include the numbers of notes printed for each type and variety. There are two block letters, one serial prefix letter and six serial numbers on the most common variety. I could not break the format into the numbers printed until I had bought over 2000 of them in about a ten-year period! At the time of my research, I could buy them for Cents each but now they sell for Dollars each. Its block letters, serial prefix letters and serial number format was also used on some other notes so after I solved it for the D-62 note, it also gave me the numbers printed for the other notes.

Q: What is the most memorable or noteworthy acquisition in your collection?

A: My most memorable purchase is a unique survivor note from Phan Boi Chau, famous for his attacks against the French in 1921. The note was in a Hong Kong auction and incorrectly identified as a local Chinese note with an estimate of about US$50. I was going to bid US$1000 for it but I asked Joseph E. Boling for his advice about my bid. Joe told me to make it something less than US$100 otherwise they would pull it from the auction to find out its real value. I think I bid US$85 and got it. I was going to have a heart attack if I did not get it! It is a priceless and one of two unique survivors of Vietnamese paper money! There is only one other earlier unique survivor Vietnamese note from the same issuer in 1915 and it is owned by a Vietnamese living in Europe. Both are cataloged in my French Southeast Asia Coins & Currency catalog.

To read the complete article, see:
Collecting Southeast Asian Notes with Howard Daniel, III (https://www.numismaticnews.net/paper-money/collecting-southeast-asian-notes-with-howard-daniel-iii)

HERITAGE OFFERS PARAMOUNT COLLECTION

Paramount: the only word that comes close to describing the breadth, quality and rarity of this incredible collection that Heritage Auctions has the honor of presenting March 25-27. Comprised of 701 world and ancient coins, bidding is now open on the Paramount Collection World & Ancient Coins Signature Auction.

This is by far the most significant collection of world and ancient coins ever offered by Heritage, and it is likely the most significant collection to come on the market in at least a generation, said Cristiano Bierrenbach, Executive Vice President of International Numismatics.

The Paramount Collection contains dozens of lots that are considered unique, with more than 100 multiple ducats that are 5 ducat size or larger, as well as coins that are making their first-ever appearance at auction.

This sale is stacked with world-coin rarities that, in some cases, haven’t been available at auction in decades, and in other cases, haven’t ever been offered publicly until now, Bierrenbach said. In fact, there are coins in this collection that I’ve never even seen before.

VAST SELECTION OF WORLD COINS

The world coin section primarily focuses on large-format, gold coinage from Central and Western Europe, as well as the Americas. Many of these issues were struck to commemorate marriages and deaths, document the tumult of wars, mark the beginnings of revolutions and reformations, and one in particular, the abdication of a King instead of his coronation.

The Great Britain 1937 Edward VIII 5 Sovereign Pattern is one of only a small number of British Pattern coins produced for the would-be coronation of Edward VIII. The gold 5 Sovereign is the grandest and most prized of them all, and the Paramount specimen is the sole individual piece in private hands. Uncompromising in terms of its beauty and quality, this offering has achieved an incomparable PR67 Ultra Cameo grade by NGC, and it could very well be a $1 million coin, Bierrenbach said.

Another highlight from this sale is a Saxony 10 Ducat of 1611 in Gem Mint State, as graded by NGC. If you look of the bust of Christian II, from the detail of his hair to the intricacies of his armor, it’s an absolute wonder that a coin over 400 years old has survived in such condition, Bierrenbach said.

The extraordinarily rare France 8 Louis d’Or from 1640-A, graded MS61 by NGC, is a massive gold trophy coin from a series that includes the largest gold coins produced in pre-Republic France. Made specifically for use by the King, the reason for its existence was entirely symbolic: to demonstrate France’s wealth and opulence, a message reinforced by Jean Warin’s powerful portrait of Louis XIII.

IMPORTANT ROMAN MEDALLIONS

Though the ancients portion of the Paramount Collection is small in comparison, it’s holdings are still powerful. Led by a selection of Roman gold medallions, the first of which is a Maxentius (AD 307-312) AV quaternio or medallion of 4-aurei, struck circa AD 308 and graded MS 5/5 - 2/5, Fine Style, Smoothing, by NGC. This phenomenal medallion was issued as a commemorative during the restoration of the temple of Urbis Veneris, erected by Hadrian in AD 135.

A second Roman medallion, a Magnentius (AD 350-353) AV medallion of 3-solidi, has been certified by NGC as MS? 5/5 - 3/5, Fine Style, Light Graffito. It is larger than most ancient coins and presents exceptional artistry.

The Paramount Collection World & Ancient Coins Signature Auction is March 25-27 at Heritage Auctions. Two floor sessions are scheduled for March 25 and 26 with an internet session set for March 27. Learn more at HA.com/3096.

To read the complete press release, see:
Paramount Collection Presents World Coins Not Seen in Decades (https://coins.ha.com/heritage-auctions-press-releases-and-news/paramount-collection-presents-world-coins-not-seen-in-decades.s?releaseId=4108)

NUMISMATIC NUGGETS: MARCH 21, 2021

Holy Roman Empire Rudolf II 10 Ducats

Rudolf II. 1576-1612.
10 ducats n.d. Prague. Triple embossing. 34.56 g. Mint master Benedikt Huebmer. MAXI Û I Û CARO Û V Û ET FERD Û D Û G Û ROM Û CÆS Û REG Ú HISP Ü É The crowned and armored busts of Emperors Maximilian I, Charles V and Ferdinand I side by side r.//¥ HVNG Û BO Û DAL Û CRO zc Û ARCHID Û AVST Û DV Û BVRG double eagle, on the chest double coat of arms (Castile / Austria). Dietiker 556; Fb. 14 d; Halacka 478 a.

GOLD. RR Pretty gold patina, tiny. Marginal flaws, very fine In his essay on the so-called triple eminence, the author Ivo Halacka considers this type to be very likely under Emperor Rudolf II.

To read the complete lot description, see:
Rudolf II., 1576-1612. 10 Dukaten o. J., Prag. Dietiker 556; Fb. 14 d; H (https://www.kuenker.de/en/auktionen/stueck/288899)

1820 Canada Northwest Company Token

Northwest Company copper Holed Token 1820 AU58 Brown NGC, Br-925 (R5), FT-10B, Robins-29106. Engrailed edge (The Charlton Catalog designation of "reeded" for the edge is incorrect). Medal alignment. It is also one of the finest known examples, as the strike is superb, the surfaces iridescent, and no real evidence of corrosion. Perhaps exceeded in condition only by the John J. Ford unholed, plain edge token, sold in our auction of the Doug Robins Collection, Lot 29103. Extremely Rare. Sold with old collector envelope detailed provenance.

To read the complete lot description, see:
Canada: Northwest Company copper Holed Token 1820 AU58 Brown NGC,... (https://coins.ha.com/itm/canada/canada-northwest-company-copper-holed-token-1820-au58-brown-ngc-/a/61202-97064.s)

1876 U.S. Mint Centennial Medal

1876 U.S. Centennial Medal. Julian CM-11. Bronze, 57 mm.

Designed by William Barber. About 7,000 of these 57mm bronze medals were struck by the U.S. Mint. The reverse design of rising Liberty with unsheathed sword was one of the iconic pattern of the whole series, and therefore makes the relatively low mintage medal highly sought after. Offered with the original case as issued, which is probably much rarer than the medal itself.

This is an exceptionally well preserved, brilliant uncirculated specimen with lovely deep toning.

To read the complete lot description, see:
1876 UNITED STATES CENTENNIAL MEDAL, JULIAN CM-11 (http://www.bsrarecoins.com/1876-united-states-centennial-medal-julian-cm-11/)

COINS FOUND ALONGSIDE DEAD SEA SCROLL

For the first time in 60 years, archaeologists have discovered a new fragment of the Dead Sea Scrolls, a cache of ancient Jewish and Hebrew religious manuscripts uncovered in the Qumran Caves on the northern shore of the Dead Sea.

The Israel Antiquities Authority, which carried out the excavations, believes the new scroll, written in Greek, is actually a missing part of the Book of the 12 Minor Prophets scroll, first discovered in 1961. It contains verses from Zechariah 8:16-17 and Nahum 1:5-6. The minor differences in the wording compared to other known manuscripts are important in helping shape our understanding of the evolution of the standardized Hebrew Bible.

The first Dead Sea Scroll was found by a Bedouin shepherd in 1947 in one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.

The new fragments were uncovered in the so-called Cave of Horror, where archaeologists in the 1950s found skeletons of men, women, and children killed during the Bar Kokhba revolt, a Jewish rebellion against Rome circa 132 to 136, during the reign of Emperor Hadrian.

Evidence of Roman encampments on the cliff above the cave suggests that the rebels remained under siege until they died of starvation. The only way to access the cave is by rope, lowering down some 200 feet.

The new Dead Sea Scroll is among several recent archaeological finds, including a partially mummified 6,000-year-old skeleton of a child, Jewish coins from the time of the Bar Kokhba rebellion, ancient arrowheads, and a 10,500-year-old basket, kept intact—lid and all—over the millennia thanks to the desert’s hot, arid environment.

To read the complete articles, see:
In a Remarkable Find, Archaeologists Exploring the ‘Cave of Horror’ in Israel Have Discovered a New Dead Sea Scroll (https://news.artnet.com/art-world/new-dead-sea-scroll-discovery-cave-horrors-1952209)
Rare ancient scroll found in Israel Cave of Horror (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-56405090)

MUGHAL-ERA GOLD COIN FIND IN INDIA

Over 200 Mughal-era gold coins, dating back to the early 18th century, have been seized from the possession of a family of construction workers in Pimpri Chinchwad near here, police said on Tuesday.

Some members of the family had found the coins while working at a construction site, said Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissioner Krishna Prakash.

Inspector Shailesh Gaikwad of Crime Branch and his team had received information that one Saddam Salar Pathan was in possession of some gold coins.

"During a search of his house, 216 gold coins and one copper vase, weighing around 2.357 kg, were found," said Gaikwad.

"As per the preliminary assessment by the Archaeological Department, these are Mughal-era ‘mohurs’ (coins), dating back between 1720 and 1748 and issued by Emperor Muhammad Shah Rangila," he said.

Shah ruled from 1719 to 1748.

Saddam's father-in-law and brother-in law, who stay with him, were doing digging work at a construction site in Chikhali when they chanced upon some coins. They told Saddam and the trio returned to the site and found a broken copper vase containing more coins, said Gaikwad.

Saddam kept the coins at home. As per law, such discoveries have to be reported to the police and archaeological authorities.

To read the complete article, see:
Mughal era Gold coins found near Pune (https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/mughal-era-gold-coins-found-near-pune-222878)

NEW COIN: THE FIRST BRANDENBURG TALER

The coin offered as lot 2341 at Künker’s auction 348 is one of the great rarities of Brandenburg-Prussian numismatics: the first Brandenburg taler, minted in 1521. Of course, back then they weren’t called talers yet. Guldengroschen, as the correct term goes, are silver coins worth one gold gulden. Guldengroschen have actually existed since 1486, but the Joachimstaler guldengroschen, which gave the taler its name, was minted for the first time only one year before the first Brandenburg taler.

Minting such new coins – Moneta Nova is a common part of the inscription on early talers and can also be seen on our piece – was a question of prestige. For the production of talers was by no means profitable, at least it wasn’t in silver-poor Brandenburg – that’s why they stopped minting them as early as in 1522. The ruler who commissioned this coin was Elector Joachim I (1484-1535). The taler shows his bearded head-and-shoulder portrait. This was another novelty for the Margraviate of Brandenburg: it is the first Brandenburg coin featuring the portrait of an elector!

But who was Joachim I?

Elector Joachim I was a man of ambition. After the death of his father, he took over the rule at the age of only 15, initially together with his younger brother and under guardianship. He founded the University of Frankfurt an der Oder and fought robber barony in Brandenburg in order to strengthen his position with regard to the local nobility. Due to the eloquence, which he displayed in the assembly of the electors, Brandenburg-Prussian history gave him the epithet Nestor as a reference to Agamemnon’s wise advisor. However, we should not read too much into it as it was a family tradition of early Hohenzollern rulers to have a classical epithet: the grand-father was called Achilles, the father Cicero and Joachim’s own son Hector – at least that’s helpful for coin collectors to remember whether the person was more distinguished by military success or their oratory skills.

Self-confidently, Joachim put his own portrait on the obverse of the first taler, as mentioned above, the first portrait on a Brandenburg coin. His clothing immediately alludes to the fact that he was one of the most powerful electors of the Holy Roman Empire: the elector’s cloak trimmed with ermine and the coronet identify him as one of the seven electors entitled to elect the emperor. In his hand he has a scepter, which can be seen once more on the coin, in the center of the coat of arms on the reverse. If you believe the scepter to be the random attribute of a ruler, you are wrong.

It is the imperial scepter of the emperor, one of the imperial insignia. As Arch-Chamberlain of the Holy Roman Empire, the Margrave of Brandenburg had always had the privilege of bearing the imperial scepter at the coronation of the emperor. This was a source of pride, even though no additional powers were associated with the office. That’s why the golden scepter on a blue background remained part of the Brandenburg coat of arms for centuries, depicted on the breast of the red heraldic eagle.

But let’s get back to our historical taler. It is extremely rare. Only a few specimens of these pieces were minted. Almost all of them were melted down in the following years due to their high silver content. Thus, only a few specimens of the first Brandenburg taler survived – just 23 pieces are known and almost all of them are kept in museums and large collections. Therefore, this auction provides the very rare opportunity to purchase a key piece of early Brandenburg-Prussian history.

To read the complete article, see:
Joachim I: The Power-Conscious Elector Who Minted the First Brandenburg Taler (https://www.kuenker.de/en/information/presseinformationen/aktuelle-mitteilungen/352)

THE SILVER 1723 WOOD'S HIBERNIA FARTHINGS

In 1722, William Wood obtained a patent to strike copper coins for Ireland over a fourteen year period. In actuality, Wood produced copper coins only from 1722 to 1724, at which time public resistance to the coins and a smear campaign by Jonathan Swift (author of Gulliver’s Travels) forced Wood to discontinue the operation.

In Wood’s three short years of production, he struck Farthings and Halfpennies for circulation as well as a few Pattern Farthings and Halfpennies in 1724. Numerous die varieties comprise the mintages of the regular-issue Farthings and Halfpennies.

Included among Wood’s Hibernia Farthings are some unusual silver pieces dated 1723. In the past, these silver versions have been called Pattern coins or prototypes, but their true nature is unknown. Syd Martin, in The Hibernia Coinage of William Wood (1720-1724), listed three different Farthing varieties in silver: one of which was known only in silver; another that was an off-metal variant; and a third of indeterminate status Walter Breen, in his eponymous Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins, listed two silver varieties as off-metal strikes with no reference to them being pattern coins.

Status aside, how rare are the Silver 1723 Hibernia Farthings? I’ve always thought of them as being very rare, since they appear at auction rather infrequently. Martin assigned a rating of Rarity 5 (or 46-75 known) to each of two of his varieties, which means he thought there were approximately 92 to 150 known. Breen called one of his varieties Very rare and the other Ex. Rare but gave no numerical clues. PCGS lists 36 examples in their PCGS Population Report, but that number may be inflated due to resubmissions. PCGS Auction Prices list 51 citations, but that number includes many duplicate appearances of the same coin.

By analyzing and examining historic auction records and catalogs, I have identified 32 demonstrably different Silver 1723 Hibernia Farthings and gathered photographs of each. Many of these coins came from well-known collectors such as Norweb, Ford, Partrick, Craige, and Eliasberg. Assuming there are several pieces out there that were either missed or have not yet come on the market, I believe a fair estimate of the total number of Silver 1723 Hibernia Farthings to be on the order of 35 to 45 pieces.

Here’s what an analysis of the 32 examples in my database reveals. Twenty-seven examples are of the Martin 3.2-Bc.10 variety (Martin estimated 46-75 examples). Four examples are of the Martin 3.23-C.1 variety (Martin estimated 46-75 examples. Only one example is of the Martin 3.23-C.1 variety (Martin estimated 2-3 known).

To read the complete article, see:
How Rare Are The Silver 1723 Wood's Hibernia Farthings? (https://numismaticdetectives.com/blog/f/how-rare-are-the-silver-1723-woods-hibernia-farthings)

1870 JAPAN WYON PATTERN SET OFFERED

The April Hong Kong auction being presented by legendary rare coin firm Stack's Bowers and Ponterio features countless highlights from the Pinnacle Collection, with a majestic Year 3 (1870) Pattern Set from Japan standing as quite possibly the most impressive. Containing eight denominations ranging from the gold 10 Yen all the way down to the copper-nickel 1/20 Yen, the quality of the set is exemplified by each piece's Gem or Superb Gem designation as well as by the way the surfaces shimmer and glisten when rotated in the light.

This set's history can be traced to an exciting period of change within Japan following the opening of the island nation to the West and the closing of the feudal period much glamorized through tales of the noble samurai and stealthy ninja. The Meiji Emperor revolutionized the country's coinage system in 1869, replacing the old, ingot-and-plate-like denominations with more standardized, uniformly round decimal denominations. Prototypes were produced by Japan's master engraver, Natsuo Kano, in conjunction with Tomoo Masuda, who worked on design, and Hyoka Ishii, who focused on calligraphy. These designs were then sent to London where the nascent Japanese coinage could be taken to the next level.

Engraver Leonard Charles Wyon, from the famous Wyon family of engravers, prepared dies for the new coinage. These dies, along with their subsequently produced patterns, arrived in Osaka in the spring of 1870. Some modifications were made to the reverse design as well as denominations represented, with the 20 Yen being added and the 2-1/2 being reduced to 2 Yen for the initial output. By the end of the year, a new era of coinage began at the Osaka Mint.

While it remains unclear how many patterns were produced by Wyon in London, it is certain that the numbers are incredibly low, with just two complete sets remaining extant. One is believed to have remained with the British Royal Mint, now located in the Welsh countryside in Llantrisant, and other is the set offered here from the Pinnacle Collection. A handful of singles and strikings in other metals appear in the British Museum and Bank of Japan Collection; in private hands, the Yen turns up from time to time, but appearances are rare. The set offered in the Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio April Hong Kong Auction provides a unique bidding opportunity and may be impossible for any collector to duplicate. As such, it represents one of the most desirable—if not the most desirable—items in Japan's numismatic history, as not only is its rarity unsurpassed, but it is the patriarch of modern Japanese coinage and a symbol of the country's progress. A true national treasure, its April 2021 offering may well represent the last appearance for many generations to come.

For more information on the Stack’s Bowers and Ponterio April 2021 Hong Kong Auction or the Pinnacle Collection, visit the firm’s website at www.StacksBowers.com, call 800-458-4646, or email info@stacksbowers.com.

To read the complete lot description, see:
JAPAN. Pattern Set, Year 3 (1870). London (British Royal) Mint. Mutsuhito (Meiji). All PCGS Gold Shield Certified. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-QA5WL/japan-pattern-set-year-3-1870-london-british-royal-mintmutsuhito-meiji-all-pcgs-gold-shield-certified)

A RARE 1860 CAMBODIA PIASTRE

This week’s homepage coin is from the French Protectorate of Cambodia in Southeast Asia. Here is the very short version of how France gained control of the country. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the ancient Khmer Empire (Cambodia) came increasingly under the influence of its more powerful neighbors, Siam to the west and Annam (Vietnam) to the east. By the early 19th century, its national sovereignty had been lost, and Cambodia was placed under the joint suzerainty of Siam and Vietnam. During this time, the Cambodians continued to select kings who still had some authority over their internal affairs. King Ang Duong, who reigned from 1840 to 1860, tried unsuccessfully to forge an alliance with the French to help Cambodia regain more independence.

When Ang Duong died, his son Ang Voddey was chosen to succeed him, and he continued negotiations with the French. Ultimately, Ang Voddey, who took the name Norodom I, was literally forced at gunpoint to sign a treaty in 1863. That gave France control of Cambodia’s foreign relations in exchange for protection against its enemies, thus establishing the French Protectorate. Norodom could not be officially crowned king until 1864, after Siam finally released the Cambodian royal regalia (crown, sacred sword, and royal seal). As years went by, he became little more than a deputy to France, which gave him more time to spend with his own family. According to Wikipedia, he had 47 wives and 61 children, but no citation for those statistics is given. Norodom ruled with little power until his death in 1904, and the French retained control of Cambodia (from 1887 as part of French Indo China) until it became independent in 1953.

Several years after his coronation, Norodom issued a series of coins, all dated 1860. Most authorities believe they were struck in 1875, and Yeoman indicated the date 1860 on coins is the (incorrect) accession date. Of course, if 1860 was meant to commemorate the year he was selected to be king, not the year of accession, it would be correct. Yeoman listed eight types – 5 and 10 centimes in bronze, and in silver, 25 and 50 centimes, 1, 2, and 4 francs, and the crown size piastre, issued as a presentation piece. The bronze coins were struck at the Heaton mint in England, the six smallest silver denominations in Belgium. Piastres were struck both in both Paris and Phnom Penh. KM originally assigned these coins regular catalog numbers, but decided several years ago they were all medallic issues, and moved them to their Unusual World Coins catalog. It may be that some of the silver denominations did not circulate extensively, but that does not mean they were all medals. Dealer Scott Semans has pointed out that the bronze issues were clearly business strikes and belong in the regular catalog. My 10 centimes saw quite a bit of circulation and is not unusual at all.

The homepage coin, Jim’s piastre, is the one denomination that was definitely not meant to circulate. Back in 1966, Chicago’s Windy City Coin Company ran an ad in the Numismatist for a coin like Jim’s. It read: Truly a great rarity amongst the exotic type crowns of the world. This piece was designed by the great French sculptor Faconnet depicting the Royal Coat of Arms, and the denomination spelled out in five different languages in itself discloses the uniqueness of this specimen; only 200 struck for presentation. The languages below the coat of arms are French and Spanish, but I am not sure about the languages above the arms. They look as if they could be Vietnamese, Khmer, and Thai; if not, you can let me know.

The designer’s name Faconnet appears below Norodom’s bust, and the Windy City ad is the only description of the coin I could find in which Faconnet was identified. Their identification, however, was wrong. The great French sculptor’s name was not Faconnet but Falconet, and he died in 1791 – 43 years before Norodom was born. I believe I may have discovered the actual designer, in Volume 2 of Forrer’s 5,227 page Biographical dictionary of medallists: coin, gem, and seal engravers, mint-masters, &c., ancient and modern, with references to their works B.C.500 - A.D.1900, published by Spink in eight volumes between 1902 and 1930.

The entry for Faconnet, Marie Anne Eugenie reads: Sculptor born at Paris; Pupil of J[ustin] Lequien, Jr. She is the author of a number of Portrait medallions in clay which are not without merit. One exhibited at the Paris Salon of 1870 is mentioned by Chavignerie. Had Forrer or his source Chavignerie known that she designed the Cambodian piastre, he would have mentioned it. That short paragraph is certainly an underwhelming legacy for her, if in fact she is the Faconnet whose name is on this impressive coin. I doubt if many women were hired to design coins in those days. All the other denominations of the 1860 dated Cambodian coins were designed by the Belgian medallist Henri Charles Wurden, and the details of Norodom’s bust by the two designers is very similar.

Semans described three varieties of the piastre, and he added letters to the original KM number 49. Faconnet’s name on the variety he called KM-49a is more spread out and slightly curved, and on his KM-49b, it is straight and more tightly spaced. There were also restrikes struck many years later, which he designated KM-49r. Jim’s coin has the straight FACONNET, so his is variety 49b. In researching this coin, I found more than the usual amount of incorrect and conflicting online information, not only about who the designer was, but also about where the coins were minted, when they were minted, why they were minted, and how many were minted. If any of you have more definitive information, please let us know. Whatever the correct answers to these questions are, the fact is the 1860 Cambodian piastre is a very scarce coin indeed. Windy City was asking $950 for their choice proof example 55 years ago.

To read the complete article, see:
https://groups.io/g/Everycountry

ROYAL MINT ISSUES NEW BRITANNIA

The Royal Mint has unveiled the first coin depicting Britannia as a woman of colour.

The limited edition coin is one of two new designs created by the artist PJ Lynch to offer a contemporary new vision of Britannia, reflecting the diversity of Britain today.

Britannia, the national personification of Britain, first appeared on coins under the 2nd century Roman emperor Hadrian, when she was depicted carrying a spear and shield. The use of Britannia on coins was revived under King Charles II when her shield bore the crosses of St George and St Andrew and she carried an olive branch as well as a spear. Later modifications have included the replacement of her spear with a trident and the addition of a lion.

Last year the Royal Mint announced a commitment to ensuring greater diversity on British coins and unveiled a new 50 pence, with the phrase Diversity Built Britain. Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, said that he requested the mint introduce the 50p to celebrate the We Too Built Britain campaign, which works for fair representation of minorities’ contributions in all walks of life.

Mint officials said that the 2021 Britannia builds on its commitment, reflecting a nation which is diverse and evolving with a contemporary new depiction.

Describing both the exclusive design showing Britannia as a woman of colour, in profile, and a core design, depicting a white Britannia with a lion, Lynch, said: Creating an original new design for an icon such as Britannia is a dream for an artist.

For the core range, I started with a lot of sketching — lots and lots of thumbnail drawings of Britannia herself in different poses, sometimes with her lion guardian, and sometimes with her trident and shield on a rocky shore with waves splashing at her feet.

Lynch added: For the exclusive editions in the range, I decided it would be a good idea to go in close for a profile portrait of Britannia.

Lynch, who is also a children’s book illustrator, added: I wanted her to look strong, resolute and attractive, but I also felt that her features should reflect something of the diversity of the people of Britain in the 21st century.

To read the complete article (subscription required), see:
All change for coin that reflects modern Britain from Royal Mint (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/all-change-for-coin-that-reflects-modern-britain-from-royal-mint-5pdb2sznj)

SYDNEY HARBOUR BRIDGE TOKENS AND MEDALS

The bridge officially began construction on July 28th 1923 with the turning of the first sod at an official ceremony in Milson’s Point. This was 10 years after the Sydney Harbour Bridge project was first planned and over a hundred years after the first ideas were raised to build a bridge linking the Central Business District to the North Shore of Sydney. The government, through a tendering process worked through twenty proposals from six companies for the construction of the bridge awarding the contract to British firm Dorman Long and Co Ltd.

Calculations for the designs of the bridge filled 28 books and, in the end, it cost more than 10 million pounds to build the bridge (10,057,170 pounds, 7 shillings and 9 pence to be exact). This is just under a billion dollars in todays money.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge, affectionately known as The Coathanger because of its arch-based design extends 1,149 metres from one side to the other. The arch spans 503 metres with four pylons standing 89 metres above sea level. Interestingly these four pylons serve no structural purpose and are a decorative feature only. It took 95,000 cubic metres of concrete and 17,000 cubic metres of granite stone to make the bridge. Steelwork weighing 52,800 tonnes is held together by around about 6 million rivets.

Here we have one of those rivets, or at least a slice of a rivet that was surplus to use in the bridge. These commemorative medals were struck on planchets made from slices of the excess steel rivets made by McPhersons P/L of Melbourne. It’s not known who was responsible for these but this example comes from the collection of a very good friend who saw my face light up when I saw he had one of these hard-to-find medals in such good condition.

Construction began from each side until meeting in the middle, this milestone reached 19th August 1930 just shy of 2 years after the arch construction began. In this afternoon the two halves met but celebrations were short-lived because expansion and contraction of the metal caused the bridge to separate again. They were rejoined later that evening. The tokens seen here were made at the time to commemorate the event and were sold at Noble Numismatics.

To read the complete article, see:
NSSA Presidents Numismatic Address -The Sydney Harbour Bridge (https://www.australian-coins.com/coin-news/nssa-presidents-numismatic-address-the-sydney-harbour-bridge/)

YELLEN PROVIDES PAPER MONEY SIGNATURE

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen last week provided her official signature that will be used on the 2021 series of U.S. paper currency, the department said Tuesday.

Treasury said Yellen provided her signature on March 10 during a meeting with Bureau of Engraving and Printing Director Leonard Olijar. The department plans to reveal her signature in the near future.

U.S. bills are signed by the Treasury secretary as well as the U.S. Treasurer.

New signatures may not be the only change to bills under the Biden administration. The White House said in January that it's looking at speeding up the process of putting Harriet Tubman's image on the $20 bill, after the Trump administration delayed the effort.

The signature of former President Trump's Treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, appeared on bills starting in 2017. Mnuchin and his wife, Louise Linton, toured the Bureau of Printing and Engraving in November 2017 to see the production of the first bills with his name.

To read the complete article, see:
Yellen provides signature for paper currency (https://thehill.com/policy/finance/543434-yellen-provides-signature-for-paper-currency)

THE FACES ON WORLD BANKNOTES

Emblazoned with mottos, emblems, and historical imagery, money is one of the most tangible symbols of a nation’s identity. As that identity evolves, so too does the design of the country’s coins and banknotes—and the process can be fraught.

That has been the case in the United States with a plan to make abolitionist Harriet Tubman the face of the $20 bill, replacing former U.S. President Andrew Jackson. Although the U.S. Treasury had hoped to issue the design in time for the women’s suffrage centennial in 2020, the plan languished under President Donald Trump, who had criticized it as political correctness. Now, however, the Biden administration has announced it will move forward with the redesign.

But how do countries determine whose portraits to feature on their currency, and what does it tell us about their pasts? Here’s a look at banknotes from around the world and the stories behind their creation—from the delicate negotiations to create a Bosnian currency in the wake of civil war, to the nations that have used their currency as a way to move on from colonialism and reckon with racist pasts.

Left: Many countries use their banknotes as a way to honor their earliest leaders. Seewoosagur Ramgoolam led the movement to end British colonial rule in Mauritius. In 1968, he became the country’s first prime minister and now appears on its 2000-rupee note.

Right: Celebrated as the father of the nation, Michael Somare was a politician who led the push for Papua New Guinea’s 1975 independence from Australia. Somare, who now appears on the 50-kina note, was the country’s first and longest-serving prime minister.

To read the complete article, see:
What can the faces on its currency tell us about a country? (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/what-can-faces-on-currency-tell-us-about-country)

BANKNOTE OF THE YEAR 2020 NOMINEES

To watch the videos, see:
BNOY: Banknote of the Year 2020 (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX2ZeuXKeuJVgGTgA5JaVp1-8xpW5KaH3)

COUNTERFEIT CURRENCY SEIZED IN BULGARIA

Police seized high-quality forged banknotes produced at a printing office at a university in Bulgaria's capital, authorities said Tuesday.

In a joint operation with the U.S. Secret Service, Bulgarian police detained two people and seized a printing machine and equipment for printing money, along with large amounts of counterfeit U.S. dollar and euro notes.

The value of the seized currency is impressive. The material evidence speaks of serious criminal activity, Sofia police chief Georgi Hadzhiev said Tuesday.

The amount of counterfeit money seized is $4 million and 3.6 million euros, according to the prosecutor’s office.

Police believe that the two suspects are part of a larger criminal enterprise, dealing in the trafficking of counterfeit dollars to Ukraine, and of euros to Western Europe.

To read the complete article, see:
Bulgaria, US seize millions of counterfeit dollars, euros (https://finance.yahoo.com/news/bulgaria-us-secret-counterfeit-money-185644698.html)

LOOSE CHANGE: MARCH 21, 2021

Connecticut Coppers

In part one, of this series the background and meaning of Connecticut Coppers were discussed. In part two, the contents of a general set were explained. Although there are more than three hundred varieties of Connecticut Coppers, it is explained in part two that an affordable set of just twelve coins is complete in a logical sense, by date and subtype. Here in part three, the focus is on the costs and availability of the coins themselves so that collectors may commence building their respective sets.

1787 MUTTONHEAD, MAILED BUST RIGHT

This has been termed Muttonhead since before 1875. It is generally believed that these were not minted in Connecticut and not at the Machin’s Mills facility near Newburgh, New York. During the 18th century, there were informal, underground mints in North America, which often made imitations and counterfeits. A particular clandestine mint in Massachusetts is often cited by historians and Muttonhead Connecticut Coppers could very well have been made there.

It is possible that Muttonhead Connecticut Coppers were partly satirical in nature. Did they poke fun at King George III and Britannia? It is also possible that the differences in design were effected for legal reasons, to later argue, if necessary, that these were legal imitations of Connecticut Coppers rather than counterfeits minted with criminal intent. There were instances of clandestine mints during the 1780s intentionally making very inexact imitations with the intention of evading laws against counterfeiting or preparing a defense in advance. Although the pertinent legal issues during the 1780s were extremely ambiguous, the Muttonhead pieces are now regarded as true coins.

To read the complete articles, see:
CONNECTICUT COPPERS, PART 1: BACKGROUND AND MEANING (https://www.greysheet.com/news/story/connecticut-coppers-part-1-background-and-meaning)
CONNECTICUT COPPERS, PART 2: Contents of a Logical & Affordable Set (https://www.greysheet.com/news/story/connecticut-coppers-part-2-contents-of-a-logical-affordable-set)
CONNECTICUT COPPERS, PART 3: Easily Assembling A Set (https://www.greysheet.com/news/story/connecticut-coppers-part-3-easily-assembling-a-set)

A New Nashville Coin Collector

It started out as a hobby to get me through this past winter in off season, said Hughes, who owns Hughes Lawn and Garden Solutions. I like to hunt for rare coins, tell their story and admit I love all the attention I get with my posts. Mostly, I love the history of an old coin and imagine where it’s been. I feel like it’s a win-win for everyone.

And, when you think about it, coin collecting is not like building a fleet of antique automobiles. Ironically, it’s a less monetarily demanding hobby, and whatever is invested in coins will at least return its original face value. When a streak of luck lands, the original investment is increased a 1,000-fold or more.

His side hobby started in today’s general way of exploration – through YouTube consumption.

I saw this guy buying silver bullion, said Hughes.

He did a few searches and stumbled on J.M. Bullion, a U.S.-based online precious metal retailer. The bug gave him a little bite, and he went for broke and busted out $200 to buy three coins and a silver bar.

His side hobby started in today’s general way of exploration – through YouTube consumption.

I saw this guy buying silver bullion, said Hughes.

He did a few searches and stumbled on J.M. Bullion, a U.S.-based online precious metal retailer. The bug gave him a little bite, and he went for broke and busted out $200 to buy three coins and a silver bar.

To read the complete article, see:
Coin Collecting Connoisseur (https://www.mainstreet-nashville.com/communities/coin-collecting-connoisseur/article_33798cf2-84fd-11eb-b715-d7ffd9f1a0ea.html)

YOUNG FOLKS DISCOVERING ANTIQUES

Sup, queens, Macy Eleni calls to her quarter-million TikTok followers in a recent video. Welcome to another ultra-fabulous, packed-to-the-brim Los Angeles estate sale.

Since the start of the pandemic, Eleni has racked up a rabid following as she shops her way through estate sales, thrift shops and antique stores, dropping tips for newbies to the pre-owned world she has haunted since she was a kid. The twist: Eleni is 28 and her followers skew even younger than her fellow millennials.

This runs counter to all that the kids don’t want your stuff downsizing advice doled out in recent years by AARP and others. PBS’ long-running Antiques Roadshow regularly updates vintage episodes showing sharply lower appraisal values, particularly for furniture.

But COVID has changed everything. Stuck at home and videoconferencing, young people with eco-conscious values have become a prized new market for antiques and art to liven up their spaces, moving up the shopping ladder from de rigueur vintage clothing, anecdotal evidence indicates.

Eleni realized she had tapped a rich vein when she was switching apartments during the first week of the coronavirus lockdown, and, with thrift stores closed down, she visited an estate sale to scope out things for her new place. The house was a 1980s mansion, and she decided to film the trip and turn it into a TikTok, where she is known as @blazedandglazed.

By the end of the day, her post had tens of thousands of views with a comments section full of teenagers who’d never heard of such an event, where people open their homes with an everything must go mentality. Usually, it’s because someone has died and the relatives want to sell their possessions quickly, or a homeowner is moving and can’t take everything with them.

Eleni never spends more than $100 per item, and her hauls have included antique jewelry, clothing, furniture and home décor. Standouts include a pair of custom trash cans: a leopard-print one and a ribbed-glass one she describes as sexy ‘80s dad vibes.

Her rapid success has landed her partnerships with multiple companies that run estate sales. Often, she’ll go in a day early and film a video to promote the sale.

TikTok blows everything up, said Eleni, who graduated from Ohio University with a retail and fashion degree and hopes to eventually parlay the viral fame into a thrifting TV show. Posting one video can change a thrift store’s life.

Stefani Colvin, a 21-year-old musician and estate sale frequenter, has another theory on the uptick in younger antique enthusiasts.

Young people aspire to be different, especially Gen Z, she said. The idea of having something old no one has is appealing to us.

During the pandemic, Colvin has been making money through Depop, a secondhand sales platform primarily used by Millennials and Gen Z. To date, she’s sold 1,541 items and racked up 30,000 followers for her unique offerings including Betty Boop tank tops, colorful sweaters and shirts with flaming skulls.

To read the complete article, see:
In the pandemic, young folks discover antiques for Zoom and nostalgia (https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-03-14/pandemic-antiques-young-buyers)

FEATURED WEB SITE: EVERYCOUNTRY

This week's Featured Web Site is the Everycountry group on groups.io, suggested by Andy Singer.

Andy writes:

https://groups.io/g/Everycountry