"In addition to Kay Lenker's many previously enumerated accolades, since 2005, the San Diego Coinarama coin show's Best of Show Award for competitive exhibits, which are a feature of that event, has been named in honor of Kay."

Ken provided a photo of the 2005-2018 award plate, which he sponsors. It is named for Kay across the top. From 1978-2004, Kay sponsored a more ornate Coinarama Best of Show silver award plate, named for her first husband, Stuart T. Edgerton. -Editor

Readers commented on our excerpts from Dick Johnson's Encyclopedia of Coin and Medal Terminology. -Editor

"I really do like how you print excerpts from D. Wayne Johnson's Encyclopedia. I never met him in person but I bought a copy of his book and got a lot out of it. We spoke on the phone and corresponded in writing. Keep showing the world selections of his good work!"

"I think it is great that you are including the entries of Dick Johnson's Encyclopedia of Coin and Medal Terminology in The E-Sylum, not only for their educational value but also as a tribute to Dick."

"Finding Dick Johnson's introduction of the medallic art is appreciated as a promoter of the medallic art."

"That was his desire: to provide information to collectors about numismatic terms that they might not have access to or understand."

Indeed. Dick was always open and sharing with his research and thinking. He was an early, regular, enthusiastic contributor to The E-Sylum. My inbox isn't the same without his regular contributions.

I fondly remember my visit with sculptor and medallist Mashiko at her Manhattan studio. At the time she was already planning a move across the river, and the move was completed in October. Her Medialia Gallery will reopen by appointment in the late spring of 2023 at 263 New York Avenue, Jersey City, NY 07307. -Editor

"David unselfishly, and always with grace and happiness, gave so much back to our industry by memorializing people and events for decades with his video interviews. They invariably portrayed the very definition of who he was, someone totally present in the moment and someone with lots of intelligent questions and almost childlike curiosity.

"When I saw him it shows we always spent a few minutes just catching up with what's important in our lives at the moment. I will always value and miss those memorable connections I had with a truly beautiful and genuine soul."

David was indeed a beautiful and genuine soul, always smiling and happy to help in any way possible. He is sorely missed. -Editor

"It was nice to see Bob Hoge's note on David Lisot's interview of Dan Brown. Bob himself, is one of the greats of US Numismatics. When Bob left the Curator's position at ANA, we lost a numismatic star who rivaled two other (ANA) extraordinary numismatists, Ken Bressett, he of Red Book fame, and Ed Rochette. Bob's fame grew when he was a curator of note at ANS. Ken was rightly honored by ANS with a black-tie dinner. And Ed has the ANA museum named after him. Lest we forget and recognize those who tilled the fields of numismatics."

Amen! -Editor

"Objective research in original sources and interviews with surviving employees from the 1964 period, as summarized in A Guide Book to Peace Dollars, demonstrate that Mr. Brown's story is largely apocryphal. Its origin is possibly the distribution of Kennedy half dollars to Denver Mint employees earlier in 1964, combined with confusion and much wishful thinking."

A Sasquatch of American numismatics, examples of a 1964 Peace dollar have been rumored but never seen. Until a stop-the-presses moment like the discovery of the King of Siam 1804 Dollar, Occam's Razor tells me it likely does not exist - the simplest or most obvious of several competing explanations is the one that should be preferred until it is proven wrong. But the letter from Dan Brown is a piece of numismatic history regardless, showing what a hobby leader knew and thought at that particular time and place. Time will tell if a genuine example of the rumored coin ever appears. -Editor

"Back in the 1970's, dealer Lester Merkin, highly respected and a frequent traveler to England and Europe in search of American numismatic treasures (and a close friend of David Spink), told me to be leery of acquiring the Castorland silver originals due to the issuer's family descendants having a hoard of them and releasing the hoard slowly onto the market. At the time, I recall two or three mint state silver Castorland originals, new to the market, were appearing for sale each year.

"I do not know if Lester had visual access to the hoard or if he was relying on information provided by someone who had, but knowing Lester, he'd not have issued this advice had he not trusted his source."

Interesting - thank you. -Editor

"Great issue this week, loved the Castorland discussion. As I get The E-Sylum after I go to bed Sunday, I have an enjoyable early Monday morning reading it. I look forward to it very much. Thanks again for all your efforts putting this together. It's great."

"The discussion reminded me of the following medal, whose reverse bears the figures of Marianne of France presumably crowning the goddess of Science and Industry on the left, and Ceres, goddess of Agriculture and Abundance on the right, engraved by Jean Baptiste Eugène Farochon, a design that was used on several French medals from 1864 until at least 1955. I would very much like to know the name of the goddess on the left, the one of science and industry. Thank you!"

Great question - can anyone help? -Editor

"Great E-Sylum, as usual. I especially liked the article about the coins in The Little Drummer Boy and Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey.

"The Saturday Night Live Christmas Carol skit Saturday night was spot on when it comes to coins. As Scrooge tosses a coin to an orphan it spins through the air to reveal that it is a 1687 half crown or crown of James II (IACOBUS in Latin) . Since the coin is in beautiful, possibly proof, condition and is dated about 150 years before Dickens' day, it appears that Scrooge was not only a covetous old sinner but also a discerning collector of coins."

Cool - thanks! -Editor

"I'd love to know the backstory on the SNL coin. Someone there knows coins."