COIN WORLD ON INFLUENCE IN NUMISMATICS

A response to the observations on Coin World's Most Influential publication

Ever since Coin World published its The Most Influential People in Numismatics supplement to our May monthly issue, our editors, sales representatives and customer service staff have been bombarded with email and phone calls from readers and advertisers. Many of our customers praised the publication; some wanted additional copies to keep and share; and others were critical of omissions (Why isn't he on the list? and Why am I not on the list?). Most, however, at least recognize the monumental effort required by the Amos Media Company to produce and publish the publication.

The last two issues of The E-Sylum have featured comments from readers, first from Pete Smith, whose wonderful American Numismatic Biographies is a pioneering work, then from others. Except for David T. Alexander (whom I have known for more than 45 years since we both worked together at Coin World), most of responders in The E-Sylum have been critical of our selection of names on the list, decrying a perceived slant toward individuals from the commercial side of the hobby/business and a lack of recognition for researchers and writers.

It is accurate to state that most names on the list come from the commercial side rather than the research side. Since the readers of E-Sylum are researchers, writers, and editors, I can understand their feelings of being neglected (I first started writing about coins for school projects as a teen in the late 1960s; I recall going to my English teacher to tell her that her marking of the word disme as a misspelling on an assignment was incorrect). All of the names suggested by our critics are certainly deserving of being recognized as Influential. However, so do many of the people on our list who are not researchers and writers. To dismiss dealers, graders, authenticators as not Influential, as some critics seem to suggest, is just wrong. The founders of one of the largest auction houses in the world or the founders of the major grading services are just as influential in the hobby as the writers and researchers who spend decades studying early American copper or Seated Liberty coinage or national bank notes. They are just influential in different ways.

To that end, the name of the publication was chosen very carefully. The title is The Most Influential People in Numismatics, not The Most Influential Writers in Numismatics or The Most Influential Researchers in Numismatics. We wanted to recognize all segments of the hobby, not just one. Could we have produced a similar list bearing only the names of researchers and writers? Of course, we could. However, every such list is controversial; every reader of The E-Sylum, if asked to come up with their list of Most Influential People in Numismatics, would come up with a list that differed from every other list. My personal list would have been different. That is the nature of such lists.

To those critics who say that the list is U.S.-centric, I say guilty as charged. We are a U.S.-based publication staffed by editors and writers from the United States, with a subscriber base that mostly lives in the United States. A broader project would have taken many more months to research, write, and edit.

The editors, designers, sales representatives, and members of management at Amos Media who worked on Most Influential put many hours into this project beyond their regular tasks of producing monthly and weekly issues of Coin World, maintaining a website and Facebook page, and producing weekly podcasts. They deserve credit for that. They will deserve credit for future projects. Our Most Influential publication was an experiment, and a successful one. It will not be the last such publication of its kind.

William T. Gibbs, Managing Editor, Coin World

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
ON INFLUENCE IN NUMISMATICS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n18a11.html)
MORE ON INFLUENCE IN NUMISMATICS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n19a13.html)

NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: MAY 16, 2021

Jud Petrie's Magic Token Research
Jud Petrie writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NEW BOOK: MAGIC TOKENS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n18a04.html)

Guadalupe's Basilica Marriage Token

Adrián writes:

For more information, see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_of_Our_Lady_of_Guadalupe
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Diego

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: FEBRUARY 21, 2021 : Query: Mystery Token (https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n08a17.html)

Postcard Printer Auguste Heintz Herstal

Adrián writes:

For more information, see:
http://www.cartophilie.be/

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
QUERY: NUMISMATIC POSTCARD PRINTER SOUGHT (https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n17a09.html)

Kent Company and Whitman Coin Board Images on NNP
Author and researcher Dave Lange writes:

To view the image collections on NNP, see (scroll down to Coin Boards):
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/imagecollections?searchLetter=C#search

Query: M. Mionet, Curator of the French National Museum
Roger Burdette writes: Big Boy Coin In Space
Peter Huntoon writes:

You may have seen this graphic on social media in recent days and wondered just what it meant.

Last month, Astronaut Megan McArthur piloted NASA's SpaceX Crew-2 to the International Space Station, and on board with her is a coin from Union Pacific's Steam Crew. McArthur's son loves trains, and she contacted the Union Pacific Railroad Museum for something train-related that she could take up into space. In honor of the 152nd anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, McArthur plans to show off the coin in space. Follow her on Twitter at @Astro_Megan or Instagram at astro.megan to see it happen!

When McArthur's six-month mission ends, the coin will join the Union Pacific Railroad Museum's permanent collection in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Adams' Squirting Nickel
Carol Bastable writes:

To read the complete lot description, see:
RARE 1950s DISNEYLAND TAYLOR & HUME Merlin's Magic Shop Squirting Buffalo Nickel (https://www.ebay.com/itm/324620389166)

PAN 2021 SPRING SHOW A BLOCKBUSTER

Rich Jewell writes:

David Kahn writes:

Tom Uram writes:

Rick Lank writes:

For Rick and Becky's website, see:
https://talisman-coiner-productions.us/

Ben Franklin (aka Pat McBride) writes:

For a photo gallery on our Flickr archive, see:
PAN 2021 Spring Show (https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/albums/72157719190898221)

VOCABULARY TERM: EDGE LETTERING, PART 1

Edge Lettering and Numbering. Marking of any kind – letters, symbols, figures or ornaments – which is placed on the edges of numismatic or medallic items to add decoration, security or additional information about an item. This information may include such data as the identity of the artist, issuer or maker (often in the form of initials, hallmark or logo), the fineness, composition, serial numbering, maker's location, size of edition, copyright, data omitted from the design, the recipient's name or a variety of other facts or symbols.

Edge lettering, or edge stamping, is often as significant as the designs and inscriptions appearing on the obverse and reverse. Most often the information is abbreviated or in the form of symbols and may not be readily understood at first glance. For the person who learns how to decipher edge markings, important details are revealed.

First, if the item contains reeding or knurling on the edge, this usually indicates the piece was struck in a coining press with a single blow. The reeding is formed by the expansion of the blank against a restraining COLLAR. In contrast, a smooth edge reveals very little: it could be struck or cast, produced in a coining press or a medal press; it could have been struck with a collar or without a collar; it could have been trimmed or untrimmed. A smooth edge is like a blank page in a book – something needs to be placed on it to pass information on to the observer.

Lettering was perhaps the first information placed on the edge of a coin or medal. French coins were first issued with lettered edges in 1577. In 1805, Matthew Boulton, then director of the Soho Mint in Birmingham, England, gave to each of the officers engaged in the Battle of Trafalgar a medal that bore a portrait of Lord Nelson. Around the medal was the edge lettering: TO THE HEROES OF TRAFALGAR FROM M BOULTON.

From these early beginnings, coins and medals have come to be considered as having a "third side" for additional design or data. Coins were given such designs – one in particular was called engrailment – as a further protection against counterfeiting. Medals, while less concerned with security or counterfeiting, are generally not decorated around the edge, but often personalized for an individual recipient, or hallmarked attesting to maker and purity.

To read the complete entry on the Newman Numismatic Portal, see:
Edge Lettering and Numbering (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/dictionarydetail/515813)

MORE ON DAVID ULYSSES PROSKEY (1853-1928)

3. Third Period - 1886 -1887 - The Calman Brothers Syndicate - Scott Stamp & Coin Company, Ltd.

From 1885 to 1887 he published a series on Pattern Pieces based on the work of Robert Coulton Davis in Scott's Coin Collector's Journal.

In 1886, the Proskey Brothers circulated a round brass rimmed cardboard check which they purchased from some unidentified manufacturer. Around the rim printed THIS CHECK IS GOOD FOR/ FIVE CENTS, and second variety reads TWENTY-FIVE CENTS. They handstamped with violet ink a rubber stamp PROSKEY BROS. / MERCHANDISE/ AND SHINGLE MILL/ SILVER SPRINGS, FLA. (See E-Sylum, Vol. 17, No. 4, January 26, 2014, report on ANA Hall of Fame author David Schenkman's article published in The Numismatist)

5. Fifth Period - 1888 - 1901 - Partnership with Harlan Page Smith in New York Coin and Stamp Company.

In the Fall 1887, Proskey was a business partner with Harlan Page Smith in New York Coin & Stamp Company, where Smith served as the financial backer for Proskey to act as the front man buyer and dealer. This afforded Smith the cherry pick the cream of the crop of what came on for his private collection. They employed a clerk at their store, who most probably was David's ten year younger brother Samuel. Smith operated out of New York and Proskey usually from New Jersey, where he lived variously in Little Falls, and also at Patterson, and later in life at North Caldwell. However, they did have an office and coin shop in New York located at 853 Broadway, in the Singer Building, and after the dissolution of the partnership from about 1907 to 1926 at 11 West 30th Street, New York City, New York, and finally from 1926 to 1928, at 912 6th Avenue, which were managed by Proskey.

The 853 Broadway office was also shared by the Proskey Brothers real estate company. The Proskey brothers were also associated with the Allen Brothers, John T. Allen and James G. Allen, in various real estate transactions. Also, the Proskey Brothers about 1891 were located at 371 Fulton Street, Room 129, Arbuckle Building, Brooklyn, New York, managed by Samuel, Nathaniel and Margueritta. Samuel Proskey was one of the real-estate owners of the Spanish-Adams plot of land earmarked for a public park bound by Park and Prospect Places and Kingston and Brooklyn Avenues purchased by this city in April 1892, for $149,000. Samuel Proskey received $45,000 of that sale. The Proskey Brothers also loaned money secured by assets such as stock holdings or land. Throughout the 1890's the Proskey Brothers were very busy in the real estate market, while Samuel was also busy in the coin industry and managed to also serve as the secretary and treasurer of a local Bowling Club at Brooklyn.

After Proskey's death his son David V. Proskey continued the company with the same name at the Little Falls, New Jersey address running full page ads in The Numismatist in 1929 and seems to have been bought out by F.C.C. Boyd after Black Thursday, October 24, and Tuesday, October 29, 1929. In 1940, David V. Proskey was the proprietor of an antiques business.

Fig. 11. The first known coin auction catalogue of New York Coin and Stamp Company held on January 27, 1888, Collection of Clayton A. Smith. The cover illustration of the Brasher doubloon is misleading since it is not offered in the auction. Lot 658 was of a 500 piece stamp collection in an international stamp album. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic Library.

Fig. 12. Publicity stunt by Harlan Page Smith and David Proskey to catch the eye and capture the imagination of newspaper readers to spark interest in collecting Roman coins. "A Roman Tribute Money," The News, Tuesday, March 13, 1888, page 4, reprint from the New York World.

To read the complete article, see:
PROSKEY, DAVID ULYSSES (http://www.numismaticmall.com/numismaticmall-com/proskey-david)

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
DAVID ULYSSES PROSKEY (1853-1928) (https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n18a18.html)
MORE ON DAVID ULYSSES PROSKEY (1853-1928) (https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n19a18.html)

DENIS LORING RECEIVES EAC'S SILBERMAN AWARD

The Herbert Silberman Award (President's Award) is EAC's highest honor and is typically presented to indi- viduals who have shown exceptional service to their fellow EAC members and to numismatics in general. Only a few individuals have previously received this award:

1981 - C. Douglas Smith
2000 - Thomas D. Reynolds
2003 - Rod Burress
2011 - Harry Salyards
2014 - Del Bland
2016 - Chris McCawley and Bob Grellman
2018 - Jack Young

I am pleased to announce the following recipients:

From the early days of EAC to now, this person has always done what he thought was in the best interest of the club. In big ways and in small, publicly and in so very many things that you never knew happened, he has jumped in himself, sometimes twisted arms, or given a little nudge so that our club can continue to be the best coin club around. For his long standing support of Early American Coppers, I am honored to award the Silberman award to Denis Loring.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
BORCKARDT RECEIVES EAC'S SILBERMAN AWARD (https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n19a15.html)

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS AUTHOR ED FUHRMAN

When heavy metal guitarist Ed Fuhrman hits the road, one of his priorities is seeking out a local collector's shop. Is he looking for a vintage guitar or a hard-to-find record?

No. He's looking for coins.

"I've been playing guitar since I was 10 and teaching guitar since I was 15, but I've been interested in coins since I was 5," Fuhrman said. "I have yet to meet any fellow rockers at a coin show. Quite often, I'm the youngest guy at these events by 10 or 15 years, and I'm 53."

Worried that the art of coin collecting might become lost if not taken up by younger generations, the Dumont resident and New Milford native recently published "The Half Cent Handbook: Draped Bust Varieties 1800-1808." Released in January, it's geared toward beginners, especially young people.

It's the first in a series of four books Fuhrman plans to write on the subject. His second book, "The Half Cent Handbook: Classic Head & Braided Hair Varieties," is due out this summer.

Most coin books are very dry, overly technical, and many are out-of-date," Fuhrman said. "It's like looking at a calculus exam. I wanted to make my book different, more hip, easy to use, and to have some humor. My book is designed as a user-friendly guide to help you learn all about these coins and how to have fun collecting them."

His interest in coins was sparked when he found a box of old currency at his grandfather's house.

"I asked my grandfather if I could keep one of the coins," he said. "My grandfather laughed and said that I could keep the whole box."

Fuhrman decided to write about half cent coins because he has been specializing in collecting them for 25 years. Half cents are the smallest denomination ever produced by the U.S. mint; they were minted from 1793 to 1857.

As a guitarist, Fuhrman is best known for his work with Hades, a popular heavy metal band that released seven albums between 1987 and 2001, and as a longtime Bergen County six-string instructor. He's also played in his own bands, System Addict and Ten Ton Truck.

He said that seasoned coin collectors are similar to talented guitarists. "Both are extremely passionate," Fuhrman said. "There's an adrenaline rush that comes from discovering a new coin or cherry picking, just like there is when you write a good song or come up with a great riff."

To read the complete article, see:
Penny for your thoughts: NJ heavy metal rocker is a coin collector (https://www.northjersey.com/story/life/2021/05/04/coin-collecting-nj-heavy-metal-guitarist-writes-book-beginners/7350946002/)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NEW BOOK: THE HALF CENT HANDBOOK (https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n08a06.html)
REVIEW: THE HALF CENT HANDBOOK (https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n09a07.html)
BOOK REVIEW: THE HALF CENT HANDBOOK (https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n15a06.html)

PAN CLARION INTERVIEWS LIANNA SPURRIER

Lianna Spurrier
Lianna started collecting over 10 years ago and started working in the field professionally in 2018. She's the creative director for Numismatic Marketing and is also an avid collector who's in the process of researching for a book about Japanese bar money. 1. When and why did you become a coin collector? When I was little, I got foreign coins from the Tooth Fairy instead of spending money. I kept them all in a ceramic bank and called myself a coin collector, but I didn't really know anything about them.

When I was 11, my parents cleaned out a relative's house who was a hoarder. I got to go with them and was oddly excited about spending my Saturday's inside a musty old house with rubber gloves and face masks in August, but it was like a treasure hunt to me. We found a few little stashes of coins tucked away – a jar of wheat pennies here, a metal tin with a Seated Liberty half dollar there – and, since I already thought of myself as a coin collector, I asked to keep them.

Pretty soon I had the wheat pennies sorted out by date and mint mark on our living room floor, telling anyone who would listen why the 1909 S VDB was so special. I was very invested in collecting for a few years until high school sucked up all my free time and replaced all of my hobbies with homework. Near the end of college, when I finally had time for hobbies again, I dove back in and have no intentions of leaving.

2. What are you currently collecting?
My main collection is Japanese bar money; it's a series of gold and silver rectangular coins issued from 1599-1869. They're very unusual looking, and also very difficult to find and research. I've always been one for a challenge, so I've sunk my teeth in and eventually plan to write a book on them to make them more accessible for English speakers. For now, I have a website with a basic intro to the series at rectanglecoins.com.

In addition, I have a few cheaper, fun sets. I started a Dansco 7070 type set back in middle school, so I've been gradually filling that in. I also recently started a registry set of toned French Sower francs. When shows are happening, I have a Canadian type set and Fiji Dansco album that I fill in by hunting through bargain bins.

I like to have multiple sets going at different price ranges. The general advice in the industry is to buy fewer, more expensive coins, which is valid; however, there's also a lot to be said for the fun sets. I started off by digging through bargain bins of wheat pennies at flea markets, and that's still one of my favorite things to do at shows. I'm a strong advocate that collections at all budgets are valid and worthwhile.

5. You're the ANA President, name one thing you would do to make coin collecting more attractive to young people?

Man, that is the question, isn't it?

I think one part of the equation that I haven't seen talked about much is putting more emphasis on cheap parts of the hobby. Let's talk about collecting a Dansco album of Jefferson nickels or a 20th century Canadian type set. As a kid, the fancy, high grade pieces were nice to look at, but for me, they were so far out of my budget that they lost my interest. I think any shop that's hoping to attract young people should have some of their cheaper inventory out and displayed right alongside the fancy pieces.

If I hadn't found Don's, with cases full of raw coins that were close to my price range, there's no telling if I would have kept collecting. The fancy shops seemed to say to 11-year-old me, You're not old enough for this. You can't afford this, before the owner even had a chance to say hello.

Another aspect to that is making those same pieces a bit more glamorous. For example, if you have raw pieces in plastic flips, print off some nice labels for them instead of scribbling on bits of cardboard.

I fully realize that's a large commitment of time, effort, and valuable display space, but if our goal is attracting younger people, we need to make their budgets feel legitimate. If it works, they'll eventually come back with more money and buy the fancier pieces.

Translating that to what I could actually do if I were the ANA President, I would make attractive and editable flip labels easily available, and distribute guides to dealers regarding a recommended amount of coins under $100 or $50 to display. Pamphlets could also be distributed to dealers with introductions to inexpensive and accessible sets, so they can then give those to any young people who enter their shop.

For more information on PAN, see:
https://pancoins.org/

M.S. RAU LAUNCHES NUMISMATICS DIVISION

Internationally recognized antiques dealer M.S. Rau is pleased to announce its expansion into a fascinating product category: numismatics, which includes rare gold coins, silver dollars, ingot and federal notes.

The New Orleans-based gallery's numismatic collection will focus on the most elusive and prestigious coins and banknotes known, including the rarest Early Date specie, ancient gold pieces and shipwreck ingots. Among the initial offerings are such scarcities as an 1880 $4 Coiled Hair Stella (Proof), as well as a one-of-a-kind collection of six gold coins from the S.S. Central America Shipwreck.

"Rare currency was a natural addition to our current offerings," said owner Bill Rau, a third-generation antiques dealer and leader in the industry. "Our clients have come to expect one-of-a-kind, historic luxury items from us, and numismatics tick all of those boxes."

Rau conducted an exhaustive search to find the most highly qualified expert in the field to ensure that the numismatic pieces M.S. Rau offers have the same level of quality and rarity expected in all its acquisitions.

Bruce Smith, an internationally recognized expert in the field, has been appointed the Director of M.S. Rau's new Numismatics division and will play an integral role in sourcing treasures from around the globe.

During his 25-year career in the industry, Smith has had the honor of negotiating some of the most noted specie in the history of the market, including many of the Top 100 coins. A published author in the category, Smith has hosted radio, podcast and speaking forums, and has appeared on various national news platforms for his work.

ABOUT WILLIAM RAU AND M.S. RAU

Considered one of the world's foremost experts on 18th- and 19th-century antiques and fine art, William Rau is President, CEO and third-generation owner of M.S. Rau of New Orleans, Louisiana. Over 105 years old, M.S. Rau is one of the largest premier fine arts and antique galleries in the world. William Rau's extensive knowledge of the international art and antiques market has allowed him to help clients cultivate museum-quality collections.

ABOUT BRUCE SMITH

Bruce has been involved with rare world-class objects for more than 25 years. A specialist in Numismatics, he has negotiated some of the most noted specie in the history of the market, including many of the Top 100 coins. Having a broad knowledge across many categories, he has placed important art, sculpture, memorabilia, watches and books, among other world-class rarities. Aside from his degrees in theology, he has a wide interest in studies ranging from English literature to politics, finance and leadership. A published author, he has hosted radio, podcast and speaking forums and has appeared on various national news platforms for his work. A father of eight, when not placing rare objects, he is typically on a motorcycle or a tennis court. His passion for rare things is evident and flows from his awareness that collections are about the fundamental appreciation of the human story.

Direction of Large portfolios//gold and related assets, high value rarities, research and analysis. Managing some of the most extensive and compelling portfolios in numismatics, he applies a research based and relationship driven approach to portfolio direction. For nearly 20 years he has specialized in coins of significant historical importance and high value, placing, amongst others, the 1913 Liberty Head V Nickel, for over $3 million USD. Current projects include a book focused on the Art and Science of Investing in Rarities and Collectible Assets.

To see the firm's numismatic offerings:
https://rauantiques.com/collections/numismatics-collection

DAVE & ADAM'S ENTERS NUMISMATICS

Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) has certified one of the finest examples of the famed 1943 Bronze Cent, an elusive mint error highly prized by coin collectors. The coin was submitted by Dave & Adam's Card World, a powerhouse in the world of collectible sports cards. In order to save copper for the war effort during World War II, the US Mint was supposed to strike all 1943 Lincoln Cents on zinc-coated steel planchets. However, a few bronze planchets from 1942 are believed to have been lodged in the tote bins that were used by Mint employees to carry the unstruck planchets to the presses that struck the coins. These stray bronze planchets later worked themselves loose, mixing with the steel planchets used to strike the cents.

Not long after the steel cents reached the public, rumors circulated that a major automobile manufacturer was offering a car to anyone who found a 1943-dated cent struck in the wrong metal. This bit of whimsy had an unanticipated effect: In 1947, a Massachusetts teenager reportedly discovered the first example of this spectacular mint error, which is often called a 1943 Copper Cent because the alloy it is made of is predominantly copper.

About two dozen others have come to light, including the one purchased by Dave & Adam's, which is called the Marvin Beyer Discovery Coin after the boy who found it in 1957. In addition to its relatively high grade, it also boasts a stellar bluish toning.

The Beyer Discovery Coin is the first coin purchased by Dave & Adam's. It was in the holder of another grading service and Dave & Adam's submitted it to NGC through its CrossOver service. It is now graded NGC MS 62 BN.

We think this is an excellent time to leverage the success we have had in collectible sports cards and apply it to rare coins, said Adam Martin, Co-founder of Dave & Adam's. Collectors are highly interested in rarities like these, especially when they know they are authentic and are assured that their grade is accurate, which NGC certification does.

NGC is part of the Certified Collectibles Group® (CCG®), whose affiliates have certified more than 60 million collectibles since 1987. Other affiliates include Paper Money Guaranty® (PMG®) for banknotes; Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®) for comic books, magazines, posters and, through its CGC Trading Cards division, Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering cards; and Certified Sports Guaranty™ (CSG™) for sports cards. Dave & Adam's was one of the first Official Submission Centers for CSG and CGC Trading Cards.

I'm delighted to see Dave & Adam's expanding into numismatics, said Mark Salzberg, NGC Chairman and Grading Finalizer. Clearly, more and more people are embracing the tremendous opportunity that rare collectibles represent, whether we're talking about a 1943 Bronze Cent or a high-grade Michael Jordan rookie card.

Roger Siboni writes:

TARGET HALTS SALES OF TRADING CARDS

Target says it's done with trading cards — at least for the time being — after a dispute outside one of its Milwaukee-area stores escalated into violence and multiple arrests.

A spokesman for the retail giant said in a statement that it will stop selling MLB, NFL, NBA and Pokémon cards in stores on Friday out of an abundance of caution, but that they'll still be available online.

The company declined further comment.

Demand at retail establishments, especially big-box stores, has swelled, collectors say, as enterprising card flippers descend on stores, purchase their inventories and resell them at sometimes four or five times their retail price online, where The Hobby, as collectors affectionately call it, has been sequestered during the coronavirus crisis.

But collectors say it was getting harder to come by new cards at big-box stores even before the pandemic because flippers are notorious for scouting out stores' restocking schedules and parking themselves in front of store entrances early in the morning to buy up inventories.

It has led to a surge in valuations for cards of all types, with some Pokémon cards quadrupling in value in the past year. One collector told The Washington Post he has sold baseball cards in recent months once worth $50 each for upward of $500. It's also ignited fierce competition between flippers angling for hits, or the most valuable cards.

The new entrants have divided the hobby squarely into two camps: Traditionalists who buy and sell cards as a pastime; and new-school collectors who trade cards as they would investments, looking to short the market and take advantage of the space's volatility. The trend has repeated itself in other collectible markets through the pandemic, including comic books, coins and stamps.

It's collectibles versus commodities. That's what we're facing right now, said one collector, who goes by the name Kyle and runs the Wax Museum basketball card podcast. Like many collectors, he prefers to shield his identity to avoid online harassment from other collectors. That's been the new wave during the pandemic. There's a lot of nostalgia with cards, but people see the sales. They think they like the cards — maybe they have a past connection to them — but they really see the money. It's more interesting than the stock market, he said.

It's probably easier to project a player that's going to get better than analyze tech start-ups.

The surge in interest has renewed connoisseurs' concerns about fraud, which is rampant in the hobby. New collectors make for easy marks for so-called doctors, who illicitly alter cards to improve their appearance and resubmit them to grading companies in hopes of higher appraisals. Rising prices have only increased incentives for such activity, and doctoring scandals within the hobby have led to high-profile prosecutions and federal criminal investigations.

To read the complete article, see:
‘Collectibles versus commodities': As Target halts sales of trading cards, collectors reckon with fast-changing hobby (https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/05/13/target-pokemon-baseball-cards/)

SOVEREIGN RARITIES AUCTION 4 PREVIEW

For more information, see:
https://www.sovr.co.uk/

2021 ANA WORLDS FAIR OF MONEY EXHIBITS

It is good to see that the ANA will meet in August in Rosemont, and that The E-Sylum is spreading the information.

The main webpage for the convention is https://www.money.org/worldsfairofmoney/ which was listed in the last E-Sylum. Near the top of the page is a bullet-list of links for some aspects of the show -- farther down the page is a grid of graphics for more aspects of the convention. Near the bottom is the "EXHIBIT INFORMATION" graphic which is a link to information on the Collector Exhibit Area.

This year's Collector Exhibit Area will differ from recent years due to restrictions arising from Covid-19. The current plan is to have:

• The usual 21 Classes are out, replaced by the 6 Classes used during the National Money Show (spring ANA convention).
• A limit of 8 cases for one exhibit, and only one exhibit per exhibitor.

See the Rules and Application documents at:
https://www.money.org/numismatic-events/convention-exhibits

(In these documents, the page breaks and formatting are a little "off" as of May 12, but they are usable. Corrected documents are expected.)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
2021 ANA WORLD'S FAIR OF MONEY CONFIRMED (https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n19a24.html)

INTERNATIONAL TOKEN WEB CONFERENCE

International Token Web Conference
22-23 May 2021

The International Token Web Conference is back.

The past year was hard on everyone and we all deserve a full weekend of token-happiness. As it turns out, the online conference format was very successful and proved to be effective on getting to know new subjects and new persons, without pandemic risks or even the hassle and expenses of travel. So here we go again.

As before, the event will be free and present renowned token experts from all over the world and a public from all the continents.

The organization felt the responsibility to do even better this year. The event will hold Thematic Rooms spread all over the whole weekend. These will be Zoom meetings with smaller groups that will talk informally about the theme of the room, while at the same time bringing together people with the same interests. Even If you are in Hawaii, Australia or Kiribati, you are no longer limited by the time zone, you can propose a Thematic Room and schedule a proper hour for your attendees.

Free registration is now open, and we are taking proposals for Thematic Rooms. You can find all the information at the official event website.

George Cuhaj adds:

Free registration, schedule, and all the info at:
https://tokenconference.numismatas.com/

JEWISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH TALKS

Mel Wacks and Joel Iskowitz Talks Celebrate Jewish American Heritage Month

May has been proclaimed Jewish American Heritage by every President from George W. Bush to Joseph Biden. On May 23 at 2 PM Eastern Time, Mel Wacks, President Emeritus of AINA and Director of the Jewish-American Hall of Fame will present a lecture via Zoom on Important Jewish American Medals and Coins. He will be followed by Joel Iskowitz, longtime participant in the U.S. Mint Artistic Infusion Program, where Joel designed over 50 coins and medals; he will talk about The Victor D. Brenner – Joel Iskowitz Connection and Recent Projects.

To join Zoom meeting, sponsored by the American Israel Numismatic Association (AINA), use the following link or the information that follows:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89743066171?pwd=d28xcmZWK0NUd1RSMEJiZVNKZFpxZz09

Meeting ID: 897 4306 6171
Passcode: TheShekel
One tap mobile: +13017158592,,89743066171#,,,,*550333763#

Mel's illustrated talk will begin with the earliest known Jewish American medal, created in 1784 by the colonial silversmith Myer Myers to celebrate a circumcision. The talk will conclude with a dollar in the American Innovation dollar series – issued this year – commemorating the inventor of the first video game console (Odyssey), Ralph Baer.

Joel has felt a particular tie with the early 20th century medalist Victor David Brenner, particularly in that Brenner designed the first Lincoln Cent in 1909, while Iskowitz designed the Professional Life in Illinois" cent, third of the four cent designs celebrating the centennial of the Lincoln Cent in 2009.

For further information on AINA, visit www.TheShekel.org

For further information about the Jewish-American Hall of Fame, visit www.amuseum.org/jahf/

For further information on Iskowitz' Lincoln Cent design, visit https://www.usmint.gov/coins/coin-medal-programs/lincoln-bicentennial-one-cent-coins/professional-life-in-illinois

NUMISMATIC NUGGETS: MAY 16, 2021

1779 John Paul Jones Comitia Americana Medal

UNITED STATES. John Paul Jones (1747-1792) Medaglia 1779 (opus: A. Dupré) (56 mm.) La cattura della fregata britannica HMS Serapis da parte della USS Bonhomme Richard. Per la series "Comitia Americana". Busto in uniform verso ds. con i capelli raccolti R / L'impegno navale, HOSTIVM NAVIBVS CAPTIS AVT FVGATIS, Scontro tra vascelli. Betts 568; Adams e Bentley, cap. 8th; BHM 222, R2; MH 580; CP 105/22; Ford XIV, 203rd SPL +

To read the complete lot description, see:
LOT NO. 1360 - WEB AUCTION 100 (https://auctions.bertolamifinearts.com/de/lot/101966/usa-john-paul-jones-1747-1792-medaglia-/)

Feuchtwanger Cent

To read the complete lot description, see:
1837 Feuchtwanger One Cent Hard Times Token AU-55 PCGS (https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/103555387_1837-feuchtwanger-one-cent-hard-times-token-au-55-pcgs)

Apollo-Soyuz Test Project Medal

Apollo-Soyuz Test Project Flown Silver Robbins Medallion, Serial Number 43F, Personally Presented by Deke Slayton to and Directly from the Estate of NASA Legend Chris Kraft, with Slayton's Signed COA and Handwritten Letter of Appreciation. This 35mm sterling silver medal is one of only ninety-three flown (of 285 minted) aboard the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, the first international manned space effort, July 17-19, 1975, with U.S. crewmembers Thomas Stafford, Vance Brand, & Deke Slayton and Soviet crewmembers Alexei Leonov & Valery Kubasov. The obverse features the mission insignia depicting the docking maneuver above the Earth and the names of the mission and crewmembers. The reverse features the title "First Joint U.S.-U.S.S.R. Space Flight" and the engraved dates. The serial number is on the rim along with the sterling and Robbins hallmarks. This mission effectively ended the "Space Race" between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. We seldom are able to offer flown examples of this mission's medal and this one is likely the nicest we have ever handled.

To read the complete lot description, see:
Apollo-Soyuz Test Project Flown Silver Robbins Medallion, Serial Number 43F, Personally Presented by Deke Slayton to and Dire... (https://historical.ha.com/itm/explorers/space-exploration/apollo-soyuz-test-project-flown-silver-robbins-medallion-serial-number-43f-personally-presented-by-deke-slayton-to-and-dire/a/6238-50034.s)

Second National College Bank Note

$5 OBSOLETE BANK NOTE. ISSUED BY THE BANKING DEPARTMENT OF THE VERMONT COMMERCIAL COLLEGE AND USED FOR TEACHING, NEAT PIECE OF HISTORY

To read the complete lot description, see:
1866 SECOND NATIONAL COLLEGE BANK, VERMONT (https://auctions.bidalotcoinauction.com/lots/view/1-4LJ4DK/1866-second-national-college-bank-vermont)

ROMAN PRAETORIAN GUARD COINS FOUND

Hundreds of ancient Romans fleeing the eruption of Vesuvius in AD79 were minutes away from being rescued on a boat sent by the historian Pliny the Elder when they perished, an expert has claimed.

The skeletons of 300 inhabitants of the coastal town of Herculaneum were discovered in the 1980s huddled with their jewellery on the town's beach, killed by a tide of boiling volcanic material as they waited to be saved.

Historians have suggested they were close to being picked up by a rescue mission ordered by Pliny, who was commander of the local naval fleet; Francesco Sirano, the director of the archaeological site at Herculaneum, says he may now have clinching proof of this.

The ornate weapons and the rucksack found with one of the skeletons, known as No 26, suggest he was part of the doomed mission sent by Pliny, which is why the locals look like they were lining up calmly to board his boat, Sirano said.

Herculaneum was buried under 20 metres of volcanic material that hardened into rock, allowing the preservation of wood, albeit carbonised, unlike at its more famous neighbour, Pompeii.

When the eruption was spotted by Pliny from Misenum, across the Bay of Naples, he ordered the galleys to be put to sea, his nephew, Pliny the Younger, wrote. Pliny the Elder boarded one vessel, braving scalding rock crashing on the decks and telling his captain, Fortune favours the brave before he died, possibly of a heart attack, after landing at the town of Stabiae.

On the beach at Herculaneum, which is now 500 metres inland, the remains of a nine-metre-long rowing boat thought to be military suggests that Pliny's ships also made it there.

Near to the boat lay skeleton No 26, a man aged between 40 and 45, in good health who was thrown face down into the sand by the force of the eruption.

Thought to be a regular soldier because of his sword and dagger, Sirano said that the latest research showed that he was probably from the elite Praetorian Guard.

The coins he carried — 12 silver denarii and two golden denarii — were equal to the month's salary paid to the Guards, he added.

Daivd adds:

To read the complete article (subscription required), see:
Clue that ancient Romans were close to being saved from Vesuvius (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/clue-that-ancient-romans-were-close-to-being-saved-from-vesuvius-tdfxkxjf0)

WHAT ANCIENT COINS TELL US

What do ancient coins tell us about the Omer period and the time of the Bar-Kochba revolt, when the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot became associated with death and mourning?

According to the Bible, the seven weeks between the two holidays referred to as ‘omer' – a unit of measure which was used to quantify the amount of produce to offer as a sacrifice to God – was not meant to carry any specific connotation other than its agricultural meaning.

A window into that period and the life in the land of Israel during those years can be opened today through an unexpected means: the ancient coins minted by the rebels.

Coins were considered an expression of sovereignty, Donald T. Ariel, head of the Coin Department at the Antiquities Authority (IAI), told The Jerusalem Post. Minting coins meant to be free.

The symbolism behind the coins is clearly stated in the ornaments they feature. They include the Temple facade, trumpets, a harp/violin, vine leaves, palm trees – which at the time were considered the ultimate symbol of Judea – as well as writings such as Year One of the Redemption of Israel or Year Two of the Freedom of Israel and Jerusalem.

The revolt – also known as the Third Jewish Revolt – broke over the religious restrictions imposed by the Romans, as well as their decision to build a Roman city over the ruins of Jewish Jerusalem, including a pagan sanctuary where the Temple had stood.

The geographic distribution of the coins found offers important insights into the vicissitudes of the revolt; as much as the insurgents yearn to return to Jerusalem, they were not able to.

Some 22,000 coins have been excavated in the area of the Old City of Jerusalem. Of those, three were Bar-Kochba coins. Another few were found in other areas of modern Jerusalem. This is important evidence showing that the city was never captured by the rebels, Ariel said.

To read the complete article, see:
What do ancient coins tell us about Bar Kochba and the Omer period? (https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/what-do-ancient-coins-tell-us-about-bar-kochba-and-the-omer-period-667775)

MARY BEARD FUNDS CLASSICS SCHOLARSHIPS

Historian Mary Beard is to fund scholarships for two disadvantaged students to study classics at Cambridge University, as a "retirement present".

The Cambridge professor is stepping down next year after almost 40 years of teaching and research.

She described the £80,000 donation as her "payback time".

"I am very conscious of what I've gained from classics, no-one from my family had a university degree," said Dame Mary.

The historian and television presenter wants to help widen the reach of classics as a subject, so it's not "just for posh people who've done Latin for ages".

Most people approaching retirement might expect the present to be heading in their direction, but Dame Mary - no stranger to doing things her own way - wants to mark her departure with her own donation.

Her BBC television series, such as Julius Caesar Revealed and Mary Beard's Ultimate Rome: Empire Without Limit, have brought ancient history to a wider, modern audience.

Dame Mary said her own interest in classics was through an early enthusiasm for archaeology, and she remembers the excitement of finding a Roman coin and "holding the past".

One of her earliest memories, she said, was being taken by her mother to the British Museum as a small child, and an attendant being kind enough to open a display case to let her hold a piece of ancient Egyptian carbonised cake.

She now wants to help open up classics for another generation of young people.

To read the complete article, see:
Mary Beard's retirement present to fund students (https://www.bbc.com/news/education-57102489)

GOLD BRACTEATES FOUND IN NORWAY

In the sixth century A.D., elite individuals in southeastern Norway buried seven gold pendants in a field as a sacrifice to the gods. The artifacts, known as bracteates, feature images of Norse gods and stylized animal figures, reports Ida Irene Bergstrøm for Science Norway.

A private metal detectorist and archaeologists from Viken County discovered four of the bracteates in the municipality of Råde in 2019. The University of Oslo's Museum of Cultural History found the other three while conducting a follow-up excavation at the site in 2020. Only one similar pendant has been found in Norway over the past 70 years, according to the archaeologists.

Overall, researchers have found about 900 bracteates to date, 160 of them in Norway. The artifacts are specific to Scandinavia, though some have been found in Germany and England, presumably as imports from northern countries.

Bracteates are thin and heavily decorated. Per the Metropolitan Museum of Art, they represent a Scandinavian take on Roman and Byzantine portrait medallions, which emperors presented as gifts to important people. Fifth- and sixth-century Scandinavians wore the pendants to convey high status or kept them as treasure.

People in Scandinavia took ownership of a status item from the Roman culture, gave it a Norse look and made it their own, say archaeologists Jessica Leigh McGraw, Margrete Figenschou Simonsen and Magne Samdal of the Museum of Cultural History in a statement, per a translation by Science Norway.

The Rådehorde includes four artifacts identified as C-type bracteates, meaning they're stamped with an image of a human riding a horse with horns. The researchers say this figure may represent the god Odin riding Sleipnir, his eight-legged horse, or Odin's son Hermod riding to the realm of the dead.

The other three bracteates are classified as D-type and depict animal figures. The researchers say these animal motifs probably contain symbolism that they can't fully interpret. But the finds did help the team date the horde, since D-type bracteates only began appearing in the sixth century.

To read the complete article, see:
Ancient Norse Elites Buried These Gold Pendants as Sacrifices to the Gods (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/1500-year-old-pendants-found-norway-180977705/)

THE 1969-S DOUBLED DIE CENT

Seeing Double! Rare Doubled Die Cent Could Sell For Six Figures

Every week, our coin staff at Heritage receives multiple inquiries from hopefuls who are searching their pocket change for treasures. One such lucky consignor has entrusted a modern rarity to Heritage for sale in January: a 1969-S Doubled Die Cent! This coin has been authenticated by PCGS and certified as an amazing MS64 Red. It will be featured in the June US Coin Auction #1331.

The 1969-S Doubled Die is the key coin to the Lincoln Memorial Cent series that began in 1959. The doubling is very obvious and can be seen by the naked eye--this is a major variety that is clearly visible even to the non-collector. Relatively few of these scarce pieces have been located and certified, making them a true prize for the Lincoln Cent or variety collector! When you look at this coin, you might feel that you have double vision.

Graded 64 Red by PCGS, this coin has a fascinating backstory. The 1969-S is was one of the only coins to be famous for having once been believed to be a counterfeit. Coincidentally, this definitely-real variety was also copied to create an actual counterfeit--the 1969 Doubled Die without the "S" mintmark. Two men, Morton Goodman and Roy Gray, had begun making fake 1969 Doubled Die cents in 1969, which soon got them into legal trouble. They were striking and selling supposed "variety coins" that were actually just fakes and marketing them through a coin collector who first sold the fake coins for a profit but later turned Goodman and Gray in to the Secret Service! The Secret Service raided one of their homes in the "Summer of 69" as the song tells us, and they discovered incriminating evidence. Gray's home was full of the makings of the counterfeiter's art: planchets, machinery, and punches for coins to deceptively re-create what can only be made officially by the US Mint.

While agents continued investigating and proved Goodman and Gray were guilty of counterfeiting, a real rarity was actually coming out of the woodwork through legal channels. While the 1969 Doubled Die with no mintmark is fake, the 1969-S Doubled Die from San Francisco is real and valuable! These rare coins were discovered, bit by bit, by both collectors and the Secret Service (who was searching for fake coins to take off the market after the Goodman and Gray scandal.) In the search for fake coins, the agents actually found some real ones!

However, this crazy crime story actually led to the true variety that Heritage is selling in the upcoming auction being rarer, because the Secret Service destroyed some of the REAL 1969-S Doubled Dies while culling out the FAKE 1969 coins from Goodman and Gray. While the counterfeiters ended up going to jail, their crimes actually led to a rare coin being even rarer!

While no one knows the mintage of the 1969-S Doubled Die for certain, some estimates say that less than 50 exist today. In addition, the example being offered by Heritage is in far nicer condition than is usually seen and had full red color! The last time a similar coin sold at Heritage 10+ years ago, it brought over $100,000. Relatively few are graded in any grade today, so don't miss your chance to get your hands on one here:
https://coins.ha.com/itm/lincoln-cents/p/1331-58001.s

THE NEW COIN SHORTAGE OF 2021

The Federal Reserve continues efforts to manage the distribution of the Federal Reserve's coin inventory and new coin produced by the U.S. Mint in a fair and equitable manner. Our focus is on ensuring that businesses and consumers continue to have ready access to U.S. coin during the COVID-19 pandemic. To meet increased demand for coin fairly and equitably across all depository institution (DI) customers, the Federal Reserve Banks will begin to allocate coin in DI orders for dimes and quarters, beginning with orders placed for pick-up on Monday, May 3, 2021.

Why we are allocating coin again

After a relatively stable first quarter of 2021, coin orders from DIs began to increase in March, with the most dramatic increase seen in the first two weeks of April. In addition, coin deposits to the Reserve Banks have been on a slow decline since January. What initially appeared to be the normal seasonal increase in coin orders typical in the Spring has developed into a sustained trend that significantly exceeds typical seasonal patterns. The U.S. Mint continues to produce new coins at increased production levels; however, increased demand from DIs is outpacing U.S. Mint production and resupply available from low rates of deposits, resulting in the Federal Reserve's coin inventory being reduced to below normal levels.

To read the complete article, see:
2021 Strategic Allocation of Federal Reserve Coin Inventories (https://www.frbservices.org/news/communications/042821-cash-2021-strategic-allocation-federal-reserve-coin-inventories.html)

To read earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
MORE ON THE COVID-19 COIN SHORTAGE (https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n28a14.html)
THE COVID-19 COIN SHORTAGE (https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n25a11.html)
MINT DIRECTOR MOY ON THE COVID-19 COIN SHORTAGE (https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n30a11.html)

TREASURY SECRETARY OFFICE CURRENCY DISPLAYS

To read the complete article (and watch the video), see:
Stocks Rise to End Turbulent Week of Trading (https://www.wsj.com/articles/global-stock-markets-dow-update-05-14-2021-11620978526)

THEORY: CURRENCY "PREDICTED" COVID PANDEMIC

Kavan Ratnatunga writes:

There is absolutely no end to conspiracy theories. Be it the Bermuda triangle or the Illuminati, or for that matter, animated shows like Simpsons, which many think has predicted major events such as the election of Donald Trump as the President of the United States of America.

To some these conspiracy theories are extremely interesting while some get extremely disturbed knowing them. Though most people thrash them as useless, they do create a certain interest among a large number of people.

A video of one such conspiracy theory is doing the rounds on the internet of late. A video, likely made by an American man, shows how the currency bills printed from 1996-1999, in sequence predicted the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon. What is more interesting is that the man who made the video also shows how $ 20 bills depict a man wearing a mask in the year 2020, hinting at the Covid-19 pandemic.

To read the complete article (and see the video):
Conspiracy theorists at it again: Call Covid-19 planned (https://telanganatoday.com/conspiracy-theorists-at-it-again-call-covid-19-planned)

BITCOIN ATMS APPEARING

Bitcoin of America is making a push to expand its operation in South Florida.

Its CEO, Sonny Meraban, took his plans to the city of Miami mayor with great reception.

We actually had a conversation with Mayor Francis Suarez where we saw he wanted to bring Bitcoin and crypto to the city of Miami, Meraban said.

Purchased bitcoin actually goes into a virtual wallet or app, which only the owner has access. You can transfer the virtual cash to retailers who accept crypto.

Bitcoin can also be bought. It's currently is trading at roughly $57,000 a coin.

And no, there's not an actual little gold coin.

Now, Meraban is placing bitcoin ATMs all over South Florida. Bitcoin of America has placed roughly 50 throughout the area.

Meraban said, Our goal is to get about 200, and we'd like 100 of those in the city of Miami.

The bitcoin ATMs will start appearing in more and more gas stations, convenience store, groceries – any high foot traffic areas.

To read the complete article, see:
Company Placing Bitcoin ATMs All Over South Florida (https://miami.cbslocal.com/2021/05/11/company-placing-bitcoin-atms-all-over-south-florida/)

To visit the Bitcoin of America website, see:
https://www.bitcoinofamerica.org/

HYBRID CRYPTO-BANKNOTES PROPOSED

As central bank digital currencies (CBDC) become reality and the use of cryptocurrencies for payments becomes more mainstream, how do we make sure these new digital monies are available to everyone, everywhere, at all times? To date, the only payment technology that can do this is cash.

The pure physicality of banknotes presents problems in the digital age. International remittances are slow, holding banknotes can be costly and problematic, and cash can impede central bank monetary policy (such as by breaking the zero lower bound in interest rates).

It seems only logical that an ideal payment instrument would combine the advantages of banknotes and digital currencies. A hybrid banknote would use a universally accepted and robust payment technology – cash – to deliver the cutting-edge benefits of digital money. A hybrid banknote – for instance, a bill with a chip embedded – could routinely function as a banknote does currently, but have the ability to access an electronic network to transfer value.

A hybrid banknote would act as a transitional device between cash and digital monies such as CBDCs. It would gradually replace current banknotes and exist alongside current smartphone technology until no longer needed.

For people who want or need to use cash because they just prefer banknotes or they do not have a bank account, a hybrid banknote will allow them to continue using cash. It will also give users the option to use a hybrid banknote's electronic capabilities. At the same time, a hybrid banknote will fulfill the promise made by central banks that cash will exist alongside CBDCs.

Further, the continued use of banknotes will prevent the disintermediation of the cash industry. And hybrid banknotes will facilitate the application of new central bank policies that would require money with smart contracts.

Hybrid banknotes would also provide for offline, anonymous transactions. However, when connected to an electronic network, anonymity would be determined by the design of the digital side of the hybrid banknote.

There are currently three types of hybrid banknotes being worked on by developers, including myself and designer Andrei Lipkin: smart banknotes, cryptoNotes and crypto bills.

To read the complete article, see:
Hybrid Banknotes Can Bridge Cash and Crypto (https://www.coindesk.com/hybrid-banknotes-can-bridge-cash-and-crypto)

LOOSE CHANGE: MAY 16, 2021

Judging the Medal of the Year

To read the complete CoinsWeekly article, see:
What Makes an Art Medal a Great Art Medal? (https://coinsweekly.com/what-makes-an-art-medal-a-great-art-medal/)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
2021 AMSA MEDAL OF THE YEAR WINNERS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n16a26.html)

The Schuler High-Performance Minting-Press

To read the complete article, see:
Schuler Sells 1000th High-Performance Minting-Press (https://coinsweekly.com/schuler-sells-1000th-high-performance-minting-press/)

To visit the minting section of the Schuler website, see:
https://www.schulergroup.com/branchen/minting/index.html?shortcut=minting&sLang=en

Ceylon Banknotes from 1785 to 1884

From the first introduction of Paper currency for Ceylon, by the Dutch, in 1785, to 1884 when the Colonial Government of Ceylon took over the issue of Currency, is a 100-year history, that are poorly documented in Standard Banknote Catalogs. The language on the notes changed from Dutch to English with the British takeover in 1796. Only the denomination was in Sinhala and Tamil. Early notes in Rix Dollars were redeemable in Copper. British Sterling Pounds was introduced in 1825. Watermarks were introduced around the 1840s and are hardly documented. Private Banks such as The Chartered Mercantile Bank of India, London & China - Ceylon Branch, Oriental Bank Corporation issued notes from 1844. These are not "Specialized" Issues as cataloged. They were the only issuer of Banknotes in Ceylon from 1856 till the Private Banks crashed in early 1880 due to the Coffee blight. Decimal Currency in Rupees was adopted in 1870. Dr. Kavan Ratnatunga has now compiled all available images of Ceylon Banknotes from Auction Catalogs, HSBC Archives, British Museum, and the National Museum Colombo, in his website notes.lakdiva.org, on which this lecture is based.

To watch the video, see:
Ceylon Banknotes from 1785 to 1884 by Dr Kavan Ratnatunga HD 1080p (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKJ3808_3no)

Three Early U.S. Bank Buildings

Before there could be bank buildings, there had to be banks, and the United States didn't have any when it declared its independence. Great Britain had forbidden the American colonies from operating banks, not the least of the restrictions imposed by the mother country on the burgeoning American economy.

But then in 1781, the Continental Congress chartered a bank with the unwieldy name of The President, Directors, and Company of the Bank of North America. (In 1825 the bank changed its name to what everyone called it anyway, the Bank of North America, or BNA for short.)

It opened in Philadelphia on January 7, 1782. It was located in a store owned by its chief cashier, Tench Francis, on Chestnut Street, which had been redesigned to serve as a bank. The converted store would be the bank's headquarters for the next 64 years.

To read the complete article, see:
Three Early U.S. Bank Buildings (https://bankingjournal.aba.com/2021/05/three-early-u-s-bank-buildings/)

Bank of England Buildings

The Bank of England opened in rented accommodation on Cheapside in London in 1694. Today, it's based in a building on nearby Threadneedle Street which covers three acres. Our collection shows how the exterior of its building has changed since the site was purchased in 1724.

To read the complete article, see:
Views of the Bank (https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum/online-collections/artworks/views-of-the-bank)

FEATURED WEB SITE: CUBAN NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION

This week's Featured Web Site is the Cuban Numismatic Association of America (CNA)

https://www.cubannumismaticassociation.com/