"I very much enjoyed the article. You have performed a great service by offering a free web site for numismatists to learn, share and just enjoy information and stories about their collecting hobby and business.

"The respondents and contributors to The E-Sylum express very vividly their interest in the work you initiated.

"Personally, I believe the hobby is moving to be more digital. I think the ANA in particular, should position itself as a leader. Auctions are becoming digital, buying and selling coins and paper money are becoming digital. One can examine a coin or piece of paper money if posted digitally. I look at my two young grandsons, ages 9 and 5, who are computer savvy. I kid that if I have a problem with the TV, I call on the nine year old. Both boys are being home schooled this year due to COVID, but are involved in certified, online classes. Having a mother with a Yale Ph.D is a tremendous asset in their education. But the point is, lacking social interaction, the digital world allows the boys to succeed and possibly be ahead of their classmates.

"The Newman Portal is itself changing the world of numismatics.

"Congratulations for serving the numismatic community for 25 years, A sincere thank you from me for The E-Sylum."

"Here's a story I picked up years ago and have often used in talks or conversations."

True or not, it's a great story. Beware counterfeits! -Editor

"I have the full run and have checked all for Woodward articles - there are several. The most similar to Jim's request is the V4#1 but the Woodward article is: "Shanghai Token Issues" 4 pages, no illustrations. I can send scans if needed."

Thanks! -Editor

"I read an interesting article by numismatic researcher David Vice on the King's Norton Mint in Birminham and I need to ask him a question regarding these coins. He is the author of The Coinage of British West Africa & St. Helena, 1684-1958 "

Can anyone help Kavan get in touch? Thanks. -Editor

"Starting in the mid 1800s the Suffolk Bank in Boston acted as a banknote clearing house for the many New England state or private banks. Their sometimes overbearing system was applauded by some and detested by others! The Federal Reserve System we have today, it is said, in many ways closely resembles the system used by the Suffolk Bank. The hundreds of state banks in business at the time throughout the New England States were subject to some banknote oversight by the Suffolk.

Counterfeit bank notes permeated the industry and had to be removed as efficiently as possible. If someone even inadvertently, presented a counterfeit, raised or spurious note to a teller at the Suffolk that note would quickly be given a stamp exclaiming that the note presented was "counterfeit" and then returned to the owner.

Not to be "bested" by the bank, it looks like the holder of this note devised a plan to be able to keep his note in circulation by adding a prefix to the stamp on the bill. Steve Noyes of Massachusetts, the current owner of this bill asked me if I thought anyone actually believed the new "imprimatur" affixed to his note."

   

Thanks. I can't not never say I've seen a not-counterfeit note like this before! Or not... -Editor