"I agree with all the complimentary comments about Queen Elizabeth's life and her steadfast reputation over seven decades. I have enjoyed collecting coins picturing her and her British families, and have written articles about it. In researching for another article on her, I was shocked to find this coin being hawked on the web on Sept 12, four days after her death on Sept. 8.

"My tentative caption for that Queen's coin is: "The Queen has a rather startled expression. Is she startled that she died so suddenly, or that someone struck a coin with her death date so quickly?" I won't identify which country issued that, for fear it may further spread."

Indeed. -Editor

"This is the first coin struck at the new Royal Mint opening by Queen Elizabeth and it was the lowly 1p not a gold coin I believe at her request. It was on display when I visited the mint in October of 2019."

Thanks. Very nice. -Editor

"I must comment about the opening statement quoted in last week's article about a supernova.

In A.D. 1054, a nearby star ran out of fuel and blew up in a dazzling supernova explosion. Though located 6,500 light-years away, the blast was clearly visible in the skies over Earth for 23 days and several hundred nights after.

"It didn't explode in A.D. 1054. It blew up 6500 years earlier but was not observed on earth until 1054 A.D. I am also amused by the comment that it was a nearby star. I patronize a nearby grocery store. Stars are far away or far far away."

One would think that a website with the word "science" in its name would be more precise in editing. -Editor

"My late friend and neighbor Philip A. J. DeVicci wrote a very readable, well-illustrated story about this coin. It was the cover story in The Numismatist, July 1994 (A Coinage of Astronomical Significance). Constantine IX ruled the eastern Roman Empire in 1054 when the supernova that created the Crab Nebula occurred. Under his rule, gold scyphates were struck, the last group showing the two stars flanking the emperor's bust; these were called stellati.

"Phil writes: The commemoration of a supernova on the coins of Constantine IX makes a great story, but will it hold up to closer scrutiny? Are there equal or better explanations? His conclusion: The coincidence of the supernova explosion and the religious events must have weighed heavily on Constantine's mind as a reminder of the Star of Bethlehem, the split between the two Churches, the death of Peter, and the Second Coming predicted in Revelations. ... Only additional study will reveal the answers. And, as Dave Bowers is fond of saying, Facts are scarce."

"Congrats on the anniversary of The E-Sylum! You made passing reference of gratitude to the "readers", who of course are a vital part of the enterprise. In this context I offer a brief anecdote.

"When the British Library was still attached to the British Museum, those certified to use the facility were issued cards called "Readers' Tickets" and the patrons thus documented were, unsurprisingly, known as "Readers". One afternoon I stood amidst others in the security line as we awaited the perfunctory examination of our credentials. Ahead of me was a lady of fairly advanced years, to whom the guard addressed the question: "Are you a Reader?" The answer came back: "I can usually manage the large print."--"

Me, too! Thanks. -Editor

"I am a long time subscriber of your excellent newsletter The E-Sylum. Just wanted to let you know that I have finished compiling "Catalog of Stamp Papers Used in British India". You can download the catalog & the lists in PDF format for FREE at below URLs."

Thank you, and congratulations. -Editor