"I found Bob Van Arsdell's piece on the breakage of a die very interesting and clearly described. I wonder, however, why he refers to his coin as the penultimate coin struck, as it shows the second die break, and so probably no further coins were struck from that die. That would make it the ultimate coin of the variety. I guess I'm just not clear on that point.

"I would add that Photoshop editing has been a useful tool for numismatic research for several years. Back in 2017, I used Photoshop overlays to demonstrate that the 1792 disme and 1793 half cent dies were produced from the same obverse head punch (or hub, if you prefer). That article was published in The Numismatist, June, 2017, pp. 52-54. I have since used the method to analyze how many of the early US Mint dies were made, including demonstrating that the Wreath cent obverses were ALSO produced from a hub.

"This last is an important finding; we've all been taught that the Wreath cent came about because of popular hostility to the Chain cent design, but that was not the case. The design change actually came about because of a new method of die manufacture that was introduced. All Chain dies had been individually engraved, and it took longer to engrave an obverse than the die would last in coinage. Thus, if a reasonable number of coins were ever going to be produced, obverses had to be hubbed."

"Penultimate" means the next-to-last in a series. I reached out to Bob Van Arsdell for comment. -Editor

"Yes, my coin is the ultimate coin. The penultimate coin is the Photoshop simulation. The penultimate coin no longer exists."

Ted Puls submitted these notes and images about cast coinage errors. Thanks! -Editor

"I thought our readers might find this article interesting.

"A silver tetradrachm and gold drachm minted in the 4th century B.C. in Cyrene (modern Libya) feature the image of the silphion plant. Cyrene was famed as the source of ancient silphion, and coins bearing its image, like these now in the American Numismatic Society collections in New York City, have been found across the ancient Mediterranean world and Asia."

I have read about this "extinct" plant, Silphion, used by the Romans & others a few times over the last few years but it now looks like they may have found some living examples in Turkey.

It has been partly identified by the images on these coins and the speed of growth as well as by cooking know recipes and comparing it with the less good replacements, sounds fairly convincing."

Thank you. I was unaware of the plant or coins. Interesting. -Editor

"In the latest E-Sylum, you mentioned the Peter Tillou sale and asked if anyone bid in it. I did. I bid on all the lots of numismatic books. I won one lot, a group of world numismatic books, which included Van Meiris three volume work on Dutch medals. I believe I was the underbidder on the others. The sale also included several lots of medals, which sold for significantly more than their estimates. I bid on most them, but only won one lot."

Congratulations on your purchase! -Editor

"I am trying to research the history of a very specific 1851 State of California $20 Gilt without much luck and am wondering if your readers might be able to help me out.

"This particular 1851 State of California K-4 is apparently unique in Gilt.

"It has appeared in two recent Heritage auctions, in 2018 and 2020 but I can find no information on it prior to 2018. I have contacted NGC and the NGC forums without any luck and am not sure on how to proceed from here.

"I am wondering if any of your readers might recognize this unique coin and help to shed some light on its history.

"I would also like to get an opinion on the age of the gilting as well."

Interesting piece - can anyone help? -Editor

"Interesting to see your piece on artificial intelligence-generated coin subjects. My use of A.I. in coin designs has been referred to here previously, and I keep up with the technology so here are some recent entries from the DALL-E website for your edification."

Thanks. Check out Edwin's earlier designs in the previous article, linked below. -Editor

RENAISSANCE OF AMERICAN COINAGE: Wizard Coin Supply is the official distributor for Roger Burdette's three volume series that won NLG Book of the Year awards for 2006, 2007 and 2008. Contact us for dealer or distributor pricing at www.WizardCoinSupply.com.