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NUMISMATIC NUGGETS: OCTOBER 10, 2021Here's a selection of interesting or unusual items I came across in the marketplace this week. Tell us what you think of some of these. -Editor 
ISLES OF FRANCE & OF BOURBON. French Administration. 5 Livres, 1795. P-Unlisted. PMG Very Fine 20. (UNL5a). Isle de la Reunion. Troisieme Emission. An incredibly scarce & early 5 Livres note. Three of the four margins offer plentiful paper. The penned signature and serial number remain dark & legible. A historical offering for Reunion & French paper money collectors. PMG comments "Insect Damage". From the October 2021 Stack's Bowers World Collectors Choice Online Auction -Editor
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1838 U.S. Large Cent Countermarked "D. G. BENTLEY & CO / NORWICH CT // PERESCOPIC . GLASSES" This is the finest of two known examples. The "PERESCOPIC . GLASSES" mark is stamped neatly between the "ONE" and "CENT" on the reverse. The name and city marks are stamped on the obverse. Research from the book "Ophthalmologia Optica & Visio in Nummis", by J.M. Galst and P. Van Alfen, 2018, page 448: A lens manufacturer named D. G. Bentley advertised in the Norwich, Connecticut newspaper Aurora in 1839 and 1842 that he made perescopic spectacle lenses using steam power. Periscopic spectacles (also known as "wide field spectacles") are those with either menisci or concavoconvex lenses, with the concave surfaces towards the eyes, allowing the eyes extra latitude of motion. They were invented by W. H. Wollaston of Great Britain in the early 19th century. [A different example of this countermark is also shown in the book, on a US Draped Bust Large Cent (1796-1807).] David Gardner Bentley was born in Norwich, New London County, Connecticut in February 1810. He was married on 22 April 1833, and he died on 01 May 1845. He is listed in the US Federal Census for 1840 in Norwich, New London County, Connecticut. Brunk B-573.
Issuer: David Gardner Bentley (b.1810 - d.1845)
From Bob Merchant's eBay offerings. Neat counterstamp. -Editor
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1879 Pattern Morgan Dime. Judd-1589, Pollock-1782. Rarity-7-. Copper. Reeded Edge. Proof-67 Cameo (PCGS). An elusive and highly-prized rarity from the Morgan pattern series. The obverse depicts George T. Morgan's famed Liberty head used on the silver dollar of that year, with legend surrounding and date below. On the reverse a continuous wreath of laurel with berries is seen, with an inner beaded border which contains E PLURIBUS UNUM and ONE DIME along with 13 tiny stars. As noted on USPatterns.com, there are perhaps 12-15 known of this issue, most are in high grades in varying copper categories from brown to red. What a great piece! The reverse looks like a piece overstamped with another die. Interesting, and very distinctive. Offered at fixed price by Stack's Bowers. -Editor
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A superb gem example from a low mintage of 846 coins struck in proof format. Untoned central devices are framed by beautifully clean mirrors touched with pretty champagne iridescence. Considerable contrast and fantastic eye appeal! What a gorgeous coin! This knocked my socks off. From the David Lawrence Rare Coins inventory. -Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
To read the complete lot description, see:
Wayne Homren, Editor The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org. To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum All Rights Reserved. NBS Home Page Contact the NBS webmaster 
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