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V25 2022 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE NEWMAN PORTAL ADDS WPNS ARCHIVESThe latest addition to the Newman Numismatic Portal is a collection of minutes from the Western Pennsylvania Numismatic Society. Project Coordinator Len Augsburger provided the following report. -Editor Western Pennsylvania Numismatic Society Archives Housed in five large bins, the Western Pennsylvania Numismatic Society (WPNS) archives are a treasure trove of numismatic history, reflecting the activities of this longstanding organization. Newman Portal has recently scanned one of the minute books, which covers the period 1912-1950. Well-known names such as A. C. Gies and Ben Green appear in the early pages. The minutes are detailed as to who owned (and exhibited) what, and anyone interested in the holdings of particular members during this period will find ample data. Newman Portal continues to process this important archive, which will appear piecemeal on the site as documents come through the scanning queue. 
Image: Ben Green memorial notice, from the February 3, 1914 WPNS meeting minutes I'm a Life Member of WPNS and a past Curator and President. I wrote a monograph on the early history of the society, but these 20th century records have not been researched and written up. Here are just a few of the entries I noticed while organizing and packing the material for NNP: "Mr. Clapp - 18 varieties of 1793 cents; Mr. Gies - 4 varieties of 1793 cents; Mr. Locker - sixteen half dimes, 1838 to 1859, uncirculated; Mr. Marks - Pattern half dollars in copper, 2 varieties 1859; Mr Locker - 25 half dimes 1829 to 1873, uncirculated and proof; Mr. Manning - complete set Panama Pacific Commemorative coins 1915; Mr. Gies - Round $50 Gold piece and one Octagon $50 gold piece, $10 dollar gold piece 1854 S Mint; Mr Manning - U.S. Eagle of 1800 Unc. and U.S. Half Eagle of 1804 Unc;" etc.... Amazing stuff. There is a January 1937 Resolution and copies of correspondence to the ANA that WPNS had asked for the resignation of Howard Gibbs "for good and sufficient reasons" and opposes the appointment of Gibbs as the ANA District Secretary for Western Pennsylvania. On November 1, 1938 a guest speaker from the U.S. Secret Service spoke about counterfeiting and exhibited "a spurious 1894-S dime". Ladies and gentlemen - start your numismatic research engines! -Editor
Link to Western Pennsylvania Numismatic Society minute book, 1912-1950:
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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