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About Us The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit association devoted to the study and enjoyment of numismatic literature. For more information please see our web site at coinbooks.org Subscriptions Those wishing to become new E-Sylum subscribers (or wishing to Unsubscribe) can go to the following web page link Membership There is a membership application available on the web site Membership Application To join, print the application and return it with your check to the address printed on the application. Print/Digital membership is $40 to addresses in the U.S., and $60 elsewhere. A digital-only membership is available for $25. For those without web access, write to: Charles Heck, Treasurer Numismatic Bibliomania Society P. O. Box 2058, Bluffton, SC 29910-2058 Asylum For Asylum mailing address changes and other membership questions, contact Chuck at this email address: treasurer@coinbooks.org Submissions To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com BUY THE BOOK BEFORE THE COIN Sale Calendar September 23 Kolbe & Fanning November 11, 2023, Workman's Books

 

Content presented in The E-Sylum is not necessarily researched or independently fact-checked, and views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.

WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM AUGUST 6, 2023

New subscribers this week include: Mike Brooks, Dan Knight, Wayne Shelby and Matt Virga, all courtesy of Ray Williams; Bill Edwards, courtesy Terry Freed, Keith Dieterly, courtesy Jeff Rill of CNG, and Liza Claar, courtesy Dick Hanscom. Welcome aboard! We now have 8,048 subscribers.

Thank you for reading The E-Sylum. If you enjoy it, please send me the email addresses of friends you think may enjoy it as well and I'll send them a subscription. Contact me at whomren@gmail.com anytime regarding your subscription, or questions, comments or suggestions about our content.

This week we open with multiple NBS events at the Pittsburgh ANA, four new books, a book review, the 2023 COAC, updates from the Newman Numismatic Portal, and more.

Other topics this week include Dutch coins, the ruble, digitization, coin errors and varieties, Joseph Saxton, Mike Diamond, Pauli Murray, denominations on U.S. coins, and Ukrainian resistance banknotes.

To learn more about Shanna Schmidt's numismatic library, Johann-Baptist Frener, Arthur Andrews, Wizard Coin Supply, the unique 1867 Shield nickel mated pair error, Regano's Roman Coin, plug nickels, nickel-silver, Bob Higgins, faux-engraved jetons, Junk dollars, buchbindungsblut, and the nakedness of numismatic emperors, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum

NBS EVENTS AT THE 2023 PITTSBURGH ANA

With the 2023 ANA World's Fair of Money in Pittsburgh only weeks away I wanted to share some highlights of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society's events. From Tuesday through Friday the NBS will host our club table (#433) located near literature dealers Charles Davis and Kolbe & Fanning. The table will provide an opportunity to receive a commemorative NBS coffee mug with a $25 donation and view highlights from Friday's charity auction. Please be sure to stop by on Wednesday, August 9th for a special book binding demonstration. Members will be able to make their own updated The Asylum index for vols. 31-40 (2013-2022) that will take about 45 minutes. Copies of the book will be made available to all NBS members at a future date. Like all of our gatherings, the table is a great chance to connect with old friends and meet new literature enthusiasts.

The NBS Symposium will be on Thursday, August 10th at 1:00 in room 328. We are delighted to have researcher and author Dr. Harry Salyards sharing insights into his monumental book Eagle Poised On A Bank Of Clouds : The United States Silver Dollars Of 1795-1798. Prior to the Symposium the Board will conduct their annual meeting at 11:30 in room 328.

The General Meeting will be on Friday, August 11th at 11:30 in room 325. The meeting will feature the presentation of The Asylum author awards, a video tour of the amazing library at NBS Board member Shanna Schmidt's office, and our all-important charity auction. Again this year we would like to invite attendees to bring a rare, obscure or whimsical item or two to share during an informal fellowship time at the conclusion of official business. This will be an opportunity to share a special item from your library and connect with fellow bibliophiles.

We hope many of you will be able to attend our events and help support the mission of the NBS.

David Fanning writes:

Charlie Davis writes:

For more information on the ANA event, see:
https://www.money.org/worldsfairofmoney/

2023 NBS BENEFIT AUCTION

Each year at the ANA World's Fair of Money, the Numismatic Bibliomania Society conducts a charity auction to raise funds for the organization. All items sold are donated to the NBS by members and 100% of the proceeds go to the NBS treasury.

Absentee bids should be sent to David Fanning at df@numislit.com by the end of Thursday, August 10.

The sale will take place on Friday, August 11 as part of the NBS General Meeting, to be held in Room 325 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Please read the terms of sale before bidding.

Thank you for your support of the NBS!

To view the Benefit Auction Catalogue, see:
2023 CHARITY AUCTION (https://mcusercontent.com/5c68a72f4948c463818f613c2/files/ec8d6c96-8108-164a-f101-8f0f7ce7a2cf/NBSAuction2023.pdf)

NBS BOOKBINDING DEMO

Bookbinding Term of the Week

Our bookbinding term of the week is buchbindungsblut, a new word in the bookbinder's lexicon, which comes to us courtesy of ChatGPT. This refers to the occasional drop of blood that may result from accidental usage of a bookbinding needle. Never fear, as we will have a supply of BandAids on hand for the NBS bookbinding demo, just in case! See everyone Wednesday at table 433. Pictured here is a sample of the text block that we will be assembling during the demo.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NBS BOOKBINDING DEMO: CASE BINDING (https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n31a03.html)

 

NEW BOOK: DUTCH COINS 1795-2001

The descriptions of many coins bear the so called Schulman-number. Sometimes written out in full, but more often abbreviated to LSch. 150 (Sch.152). What is the origin of this Schulman-number and what does it mean?

Origin
During the German occupation of our country a curfew prohibited people to be outside after 8 o'clock pm. Jacques Schulman spent these long winter evenings gathering numismatic data, often aided by a carbide or oil lamp. Many of these data he took from the card index that had been kept up to date since the late 18hundreds by the Schulman numismatists. In this card index all the coins and medals were each described that had passed through Schulman's hands.

The Standard Work on the Dutch Coins
After the war, Jacques Schulman meticulously checked these data and then published his work on the Dutch Coins 1795-1945. It had been his aim to write a practical, easy to consult handbook with detailed information on mint marks, mint master marks, engravers, rarity, and historical and numismatic particularities. As many as possible of the coins that Jacques Schulman described in this handbook, he has held himself in his own hands and verified them with the description.

To each coin in the handbook of the Dutch Coins Jacques Schulman accorded a number: the famous Schulman-number.

Revised edition
After a cautious first edition with 2.500 books printed, this work has soared to great heights and by the fifth edition in 1975 it had become the standard work on Dutch Coins from 1795 all over the world. The accorded numbers per coin in the book are internationally accepted and used for identification purposes.

Over the years, many new coins and variants have been seen by us. This newly accumulated knowledge has now been written down and catalogued in a completely modern and up to date way with an appropriate numbering. This new numbering carries the abbreviation LSch. A list (concordance) of the old and new Schulman-numbers is available. This digital handbook of the Dutch Coins from 1795 to 2001 is unique in its sort, revolutionary and freely accessible to anyone on our website. Unthinkable in 1946, but suitable to our time!

To read the complete article, see:
Handbook Overview of the Dutch coins from 1795-2001 (https://www.laurensschulman.nl/en/database-en/)

NEW BOOK: JOHANN-BAPTIST FRENER

Johann-Baptist Frener: Life & Works 1821-92
By Matthew Ruttley

A biography and catalogue of the known works of the artist Johann-Baptist Frener (b. Luzern 1821, d. Guatemala City 1892). Frener was late 19th century Central America's finest engraver, producing a plethora of coins, medals, engravings and sculptures. An orphan child prodigy, Frener's talents earned him a place in Paris at the École des Beaux-Arts, under the tutelage of Bovy, Pradier and Ingres. Following his studies, he moved to Florence, Munich and then back to Luzern where he produced the spectacular 1853 Shooting Thaler.

Disappointingly, he was not able to secure the contract to engrave the unified Swiss coinage of 1850, but by chance a Guatemalan commission sent to Europe by President Rafael Carrera noticed his work. He moved to Guatemala City and rejuvenated the country's coinage with the assistance of organisations such as the Sociedad Económica, a quasi-governmental body established during the enlightenment. Word spread, resulting in further commissions from the mints of Honduras and El Salvador. Aside from his regular work, many beautiful and rare medals were commissioned as diplomatic gifts for Ulysses S. Grant, Guzmán Blanco of Venezuela, the 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris, the composer Verdi and Queen Isabella II of Spain.

This 10-year research project has uncovered many unpublished documents to help piece together Frener's life and critically analyse rumours surrounding the designing of the flag of Guatemala and even his possible implication in an assassination plot against Justo Rufino Barrios. The author has been given unprecedented access to many world-class private collections and national archives in both Switzerland and Guatemala, all of which have been meticulously photographed and documented. Descendants of the artist in Guatemala have helped confirm Frener's ancestry, marriages and relationships.

Students of Swiss and Latin American history will find the biography and bibliography a unique lens into the inchoate post-colonial republics of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. Art Historians will appreciate the fascinating juxtaposition of the Beaux-Arts movement with the politics of the region. Auctioneers and collectors will find the structured catalogue and sale records exceptionally useful in organising collections for both sale and curation.

Title: Johann-Baptist Frener: Life & Works 1821-92
ISBN: 979-8-9888531-0-7
Format: 8.5x11, Hardcover, 400 pages
Price: $65 plus shipping.

Domestic USA media-mail postage is $5. International shipping will be calculated on a case-by-case basis.

Inquiries and payments should be made to sales@ifobjects.com

NEW BOOK: THE RUBLE

When reading Ekaterina Pravilova's original, fascinating and meticulously researched The Ruble it is a good idea to keep in mind its subtitle: A Political History. For Ms. Pravilova's multi-layered account of the evolution of the paper ruble from its inception in the mid-18th century until the post-revolutionary reforms in the early 1920s goes beyond the merely monetary. The biography of the ruble, explains Ms. Pravilova, is a history of the Russian state, written in the language of money. Regardless of the type of political system in place, she writes, money does not simply reflect an existing (or imagined) social and political order but creates it; it is not a consequence or an attribute but an integral and constitutive part of any regime. Ms. Pravilova, a professor of history at Princeton, shows that the ruble has been, above all, a symbol and an instrument of centralized, autocratic and imperial power.

The story begins in 1769 with the launch, under Catherine the Great, of assignats, Russia's first paper currency. This was, Ms. Pravilova maintains, a risky move. Historically, money had been a token of legitimacy, an indication of the pureness and integrity of monarchical power. But even in Catherine's time, the figurative, if not the literal, flimsiness of paper money posed both economic and political dangers to the absolutist state.

Assignats, which bore a promise of convertibility into coinage, were quick to catch on. They were much easier to carry across a vast empire than coins, and they were fully backed by copper and silver coins lodged in two Assignat Banks. They also came with a temptation—to which, inevitably, the empress succumbed. In the absence of adequate credit mechanisms, it wasn't long before the printing presses sped up to help pay for her wars and the expansion of empire. Russia had shifted to a monetary system in which the state's currency and the state's debt were, to a degree, the same thing. Assignats were backed by an undersized metallic hoard; property pledged by aristocrats; and Catherine's promises. Unsurprisingly, this was not enough to prop up their value.

Some relief arrived with the turn to what Ms. Pravilova dubs autocratic capitalism in the wake of disaster in the Crimean War. A new, more liberal czar, Alexander II (1855-81), opened the Russian market to foreign traders and investors, adopted free trade and allowed credit rubles to move in and out of the country. This turned rubles into a commodity with its own price, an exchange rate watched keenly by the increasing number of Russians who could travel abroad. Tangible valuables, writes Ms. Pravilova, started yielding their place to intangible resources of every many kinds (securities, bonds, shares), while the role of the ruble became more abstract—the measure of value rather than a value itself.

But the reformers did not go far enough: They spoke the languages of capitalism and autocracy, not seeing the mismatch between the two, Ms. Pravilova notes. It was a preview, in some way, of the internal contradictions that doomed Mikhail Gorbachev's attempts to transform the Soviet system from within.

For more information, or to order, see:
The Ruble A Political History (https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-ruble-9780197663714)

To read the complete article (subscription required), see:
‘The Ruble' Review: Imperial Tender (https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-ruble-review-imperial-tender-7d83eac3)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
1992 RUSSIAN PRIVATIZATION VOUCHERS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n31a31.html)

NEW BOOK: THE COUNTRY SURGEON

I can't recall what sparked my recent interest in Dr Andrews, but I first heard of him some 60 years ago, during my coin collecting days in Sydney, when I was much impressed by his 1921 landmark work on Australasian Tokens and Coins. He had also been President of the Numismatic Society of Victoria in 1914, and I had filled the same role in the Sydney-based Australian Numismatic Society in the 1960s.

When we began to look for information on the doctor, we discovered a complex and fascinating character, and wondered (as I still do) why no-one has previously sought to record in detail the life of such an interesting, many-facetted and public-spirited man who, though he largely sought to avoid the limelight, played a very significant part in the development of the town for over forty five years.

Arthur Andrews was born into an old-established family of builders and timber merchants in the village of Brickendon in East Hertfordshire in 1848. His mother, a remarkable woman, who though academically untrained, would now be described as a polymath, in addition to raising eleven children, was an accomplished musician who could also draw and paint. She was also an archaeologist, a geologist and a numismatist, and it's tempting to conclude, without any supporting evidence, that she was the source of Arthur's enquiring mind, and his wide-ranging intelligence and energy. Certainly, the connection between the two of them and the science of numismatics is clear. Sadly, she died at the age of 38, when Arthur was only five.

From the time he arrived in Albury as a young surgeon in 1874, Arthur Andrews involved himself in a very wide range of community activities which advanced the development of the town, and the welfare of its citizens. In the course of the next 45 years, he was variously a leading local surgeon, the Government Medical Officer and Deputy Sheriff, five-times President of the Albury Show Society, promoter and Chairman of Directors of the Albury Butter Factory, promoter of the local Gas Company, Chairman for 12 years of the Albury Pastures Protection Board, first President of the Mechanics Institute, promoter and supporter of the local museum, Chairman of the Albury School Board, first president of the Albury P&C Association, Churchwarden of St Matthews Church, one of the leading figures in the prolonged push to make Albury the National Capital at Federation, a noted local historian, farmer and stockbreeder, hotel owner and property investor, to name but some of his many interests. With several others, he also formed the Riverina Pastoral Company, which owned extensive grazing property in western NSW, but as so often happened, continual years of drought crippled that venture. On his retirement in 1919 he was publicly farewelled, with many expressions of regret by leading citizens, and described as a member of practically every public institution in the town, except the municipal council, to which, in fact, he had never aspired.

In addition to several of his professional papers which appeared in leading medical journals, Dr Andrews was well-known as a meticulous local historian, and published a number of significant works, including histories of the Albury and Border Pastoral, Agricultural and Horticultural Society (1907), the Wine Industry in Albury (1907), the Albury Hospital and Benevolent Society (1910), the History of Albury (1912), Notes on the First Settlement of the Northeast of Victoria (1915), Early Settlement in Victoria (1916), The Border Duties (1919), The First Settlement of the Upper Murray, 1835 to 1845 (1920), Australasian Tokens and Coins: A Handbook (1921), Murray Pioneers (1922), Struggles of Wheat Farmers in the Riverina (1923), and a history of St Matthews Church, Albury.

It's hard to imagine how he found time for all these activities, as well as carrying on a busy medical practice, and still having some personal life, but he was also a keen numismatist, with a significant collection of Australasian coins and tokens. He sold it to Sir William Dixson, whose total collection, thus enlarged, was eventually housed in the Dixson Wing of the Mitchell Library. Dr Andrews was also an accomplished furniture maker, who created much of the furniture in his own home.

To read the complete article, see:
https://alburyhistory.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ADHS-Bulletin-602.pdf

Biographers Charles Stitz and Gary Kent with their book alongside Arthur Andrews' works on Albury's history and Australia's coins. They are standing in front of the building which once housed Dr Andrews' coins when it was the town's museum.

To read the complete article (subscription required), see:
Book by Charles Stitz and Gary Kent on Albury doctor Arthur Andrews (https://www.bordermail.com.au/story/8291886/everywhere-surgeon-of-albury-has-his-story-told-in-book/)

For more information, or to order, see:
The Country Surgeon: The life and times of Arthur Andrews of Albury (1848–1925) (https://scholarly.info/book/the-life-and-times-of-arthur-andrews-of-albury-1848-1925/)

BOOK REVIEW: 2021 NUMISMATIC HALL OF FAME

Two weeks ago I bought the book "2021 Numismatic Hall of Fame" by Rick Tomaska & Jack McNamara. The book contains a lot of superb full color pictures of some USA iconic coins (no medals, notes, tokens).

Book Dimensions:
Width: 26.2 cms
Length: 26.0 cms
Thickness: 1.5 cms

Pages: (1),113,(4)
Hardcover

 

Coins detailed inside the book:

1. 1776 Continental Dollar EG FECIT in Pewter
2. 1793 American Chain Cent
3. 1793 Liberty Cap Half Cent
4. 1795 Capped Bust Right Small Eagle Gold Half Eagle
5. 1796 Capped Bust, No Stars Gold Quarter Eagle
6. 1796 Draped Bust Quarter
7. 1798 Capped Bust Right, Heraldic Eagle Large 8, 13 Stars Gold Half Eagle
8. 1799 Capped Bust Right Heraldic Eagle, Small Stars Obv Gold Eagle
9. 1836 Gobrecht Silver Dollar Original Coin Alignment (Proof)
10. 1795 Draped Bust, Small Eagle Silver Dollar
11. 1839-D (Dahlonega, GA) Classic Head Gold Quarter Eagle
12. 1849 Pacific Company Gold Half Eagle
13. 1849 No "L" Liberty Head Gold Dollar
14. 1851 Humbert $50 Gold Slug Reeded Edge 880 THOUS
15. 1855 Wass Molitor Large Head Gold Double Eagle
16. 1854-S Liberty Head Gold Double Eagle
17. 1854 Kellogg Liberty Head Gold Double Eagle SS Central America
18. 1857-S Liberty Head Gold Double Eagle SS Central America
19. 1856 Flying Eagle Cent (Proof)
20. 1860 Clark, Gruber & Co. Gold Eagle
21. 1860 Mormon Gold Half Eagle
22. 1866-S Liberty Head No Motto Gold Double Eagle
23. 1876 Liberty Head Golf Double Eagle (Proof)
24. 1879 Liberty Head Gold Double Eagle (Proof)
25. 1879 Flowing Hair Gold Stella $4 (Proof)
26. 1882 Indian Princess Gold $3 Dollars (Proof)
27. 1884 Indian Princess Gold $3 Dollars (Proof)
28. 1871-CC Seated Liberty Silver Dollar
29. 1889-CC Morgan Silver Dollar
30. 1892-S Morgan Silver Dollar
31. 1893-O Morgan Silver Dollar
32. 1893-S Morgan Silver Dollar
33. 1880-CC Morgan Silver Dollar Reverse of 1878
34. 1921 Morgan Silver Dollar Zerbe Special Strike (Proof)
35. 1911 Indian Head Gold Eagle (Proof)
36. 1907 Saint-Gaudens High Relief Flat Rim Gold Double Eagle
37. 1912 Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle
38. 1920-S Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle
39. 1932 Saint-Gaudens Gold Double Eagle
40. 1916 Standing Liberty Quarter Dollar
41. 1915-S Pan-Pac Round $50 Gold Commemorative
42. 1950 Franklin Half Dollar (Proof)
43. 1957-D Franklin Half Dollar (Not slabbed)
44. 1995-W American Silver Eagle (Proof)
45. 2021-W American Gold Eagle WWII 75th Anniversary Privy Mark (Proof)

All of coins were slabbed by NGC and PCGS except 1957-D Franklin 50 Cents

For more information, or to order, see:
Rick Tomaska and Jack McNamara's 2021 Numismatic Hall of Fame (https://www.rarecollectiblestv.com/rick-tomaska-and-jack-mcnamara-s-2021-numismatic-hall-of-fame.html)

 

WIZARD COIN SUPPLY CUSTOMER MILESTONE

Wizard Coin Supply Celebrates One Millionth Customer Milestone

Wizard Coin Supply, an online retail store focusing on coin, stamp, comic book, and card collecting supplies, has welcomed its one millionth customer on July 23, 2023. These one million customers have purchased products from Wizard on the WizardCoinSupply.com website, through marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon and at trade shows including the FUN (Florida United Numismatists) and ANA (American Numismatic Association) shows.

Wizard Coin Supply opened its doors in 2008 and quickly became the go-to supplier in the world of coin, paper money, stamp, comic book, and card collecting supplies. Owned by Wayne Herndon, Wizard Coin Supply grew into the collectors' market with high quality, yet affordable collectors supply items. With an inventory of over 20,000 different products, collectors know Wizard is the place to obtain those hard to find, esoteric items while also getting the best pricing available on the widely available items.

Wizard is a distributor for over 100 well-known brands such as Whitman, BCW, Dansco and Lighthouse as well as products from individual authors and "mom and pop" companies to provide the most complete inventory of collecting books and supplies available anywhere. The vast selection of products covers everything the coin, stamp, comic book, or card collector -- from the new hobbyist to the seasoned professional -- needs to store, protect and proudly display their collections.

About Wizard Coin Supply: Founded in 2008, WizardCoinSupply.com is built on the promise that we will consistently bring our customers the largest selection of coin, stamp, comic book, and card collection supplies and materials at deeply discounted prices. We understand that building a great collection is an endeavor that usually requires many years and that every collection is as unique as the collectors themselves. At WizardCoinSupply.com, we want to help you build, share, and enjoy your collection over the course of a lifetime.

To browse their inventory, see:
WizardCoinSupply.com

To read the complete press release, see:
Wizard Coin Supply Celebrates One Millionth Customer Milestone (https://www.prweb.com/releases/2023/08/prweb19466996.htm)

2023 COINAGE OF THE AMERICAS CONFERENCE

2023 Coinage of the Americas Conference:
18th & 19th Century Design and Production

SPONSORED BY THE RESOLUTE AMERICANA COLLECTION & THE STACK FAMILY.

September 22–23, 2023
9:00 AM–4:00 PM

American Numismatic Society
75 Varick Street, Floor 11
New York, NY

The eighteenth and nineteenth centuries saw the beginning and apex of the Industrial Revolution in the United States and abroad, and those methods drastically changed during this period. Perhaps nowhere is this more obvious than in numismatics, where nearly every method of design, die production, and striking was transformed. New machines were created for the sake of monetary creation, while old methods never seemed to fully fade away. This was not only true for the production of coins, tokens, and medals, but especially for paper currencies.

Some of the most beautiful and iconic coins and paper currencies were made during this period, some inspired by millennia-old coins and others serving as inspirations for centuries to come. The artists and engravers who created those designs were recognized as masters of their craft in their own time, and are now hailed as luminaries by present-day numismatists. In addition to their artistic contributions, many of them also had a hand in the technological improvements for numismatic production during this period.

Papers
Schedule will be announced soon.

Christian Gobrecht, 1785–1844
Len Augsburger

Proposals for Matthew Boulton's American Coinage
Roger Burdette

United States vs Gardner: Copper, Counterfeiting, and Connections in Belleville, New Jersey
Bill Dalzell

Cranking Miss Betsey; A Workshop Exploring the Coin Press of the Massachusetts Bay Mint, 1655–1675
Erik Goldstein

New World Proclamation Medals: An Analysis of Their Design, Minting Technology, and Political Importance
Christopher McDowell

Karl Müller: Forgotten Master of Nineteenth Century Sculpture
Scott H. Miller

Some Early Work of Die-sinker and Medalist Charles Cushing Wright
Neil Musante

Influence of Enlightenment Publications on Technology and Design at the First United States Mint
William Nyberg

Numismeta: The Rise of Self-Awareness on 18th and 19th Century Engravings
Emily Pearce Seigerman

History Recovered: Saga of the 1792 Silver Disme
Robert Rodriguez

Joseph Wright: Engraving American Independence
P. Scott Rubin

Artistic Printing: The Bank Note and Securities Designs of Thomas F. Morris.
Mark Tomasko

For more information, or to register, see:
2023 Coinage of the Americas Conference: 18th & 19th Century Design and Production (https://numismatics.org/coac2023/)

AMERICAN PHILATELIC RESEARCH LIBRARY DIGITIZATION

Robert A. Mason Collection Sale Raises $229,000 for Library Digitization

"When Bob retired, he started visiting for days at a time, and developed deep relationships with the staff here, recalled Scott English, the APS executive director, in a recent phone conversation about Robert A. Mason's unexpected — and hefty — 2017 bequest to the American Philatelic Research Library.

With no family of his own, Mr. Mason in his later years had found companionship and support at the library, often inviting staff to lunch.

What's unique about Bob is that he never popped up on anybody's fund-raising radar, English continued. It's really a testament to how amazing our staff is that he decided to leave everything he had to the organization when he died.

The initial part of Mr. Mason's estate allowed the APRL to retire its mortgage debt. The substantial collection Mr. Mason left behind of his specialty area, U.S. and worldwide revenue stamps, was then offered in two sales by Schuyler Rumsey Philatelic Auctions.

English said the proceeds from the two sales will provide seed money for the APRL's digitization project, which has been gradually ramping up: over 1,300 new journals have been added so far this year, bringing the total to almost 5,000. All of these are now available free and unrestricted to visitors.

The APRL digital holdings have been renamed the Robert A. Mason Digital Library in honor of the generous bequest.

Thanks in part to the publicity the Rumsey sales brought to the digitization project, requests for research in that area have also jumped substantially, according to English. While the number of visitors seeking assistance in the physical library remains steady, library staff now responds to some 900 requests every month for help in the digital holdings, a several-fold increase during the past couple of years.

Thanks to the sales of Mr. Mason's collection, the library is moving forward on the digitization project at a faster pace than previously planned, English said.

To read the complete article, see:
Robert A. Mason Collection Sale Raises $229,000 for Library Digitization (https://stamps.org/news/c/news/cat/aps-news/post/robert-a-mason-collection-sale-raises-229-000-for-library-digitization)

For more information on the American Philatelic Research Library, see:
https://stamps.org/services/library

NEWMAN PORTAL ADDS MATED PAIR VIDEO

Mated Pair Discovery Inspires Video

First reported by the Numismatic News on May 2, the discovery of an 1867 Shield nickel mated pair error represents one of the more remarkable finds in the U.S. series in recent memory. The pair originated as two planchets, intended for a nickel 3-cent piece and for a Shield nickel. The 3-cent planchet was first struck with the Shield nickel dies, and then restruck after landing on top of a Shield nickel planchet. Collector Greg Bennick, who pieced together the whole story after purchasing the pair from Heritage Auctions in December 2022, tells the tale in this video produced by Lianna Spurrier.

Link to Discovery of the Mated Pair Shield Nickels video on Newman Portal:
https://archive.org/details/bennickmatedpair

VIDEO: U.S. COIN VARIETIES

Coin Varieties We Should Know and Some Others

There are many varieties on coins that are known to most collectors. These varieties can be an interesting and valuable part of someone's collection. In this lecture with slides, veteran collector William Cowburn discusses and shows the varieties that every collector should know as well as many that are not so well known including:

• 1883 "no cents" Liberty nickel and a reverse change in 1901
• 1913 Buffalo nickel type 1&2 and a date variety in 1921
• 1938 Jefferson nickel and subsequent changes in 1966 & 1982
• 1892 Barber quarter and the different reverse types including moving mintmarks
• seated half dollars with motto and without motto including different sized mintmarks
• information about how to collect and other areas for research

Speaker(s): William H. Cowburn.

To watch the complete video, see:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/578860

REGANO'S ROMAN COIN

Peter Jones writes:

Ken Barr writes:

John Phipps writes:

Barbara Bailey writes:

Milwaukee is awash in rumors about secret bowling alleys, hidden tunnels and former rooming houses. But in the case of Regano's Roman Coin, a family-owned bar at 1004 E. Brady St., it's true. Well, most of it.

Run by Teri Regano, whose dad Joe bought the place in 1966 and renamed it, Roman Coin is the quintessential bar. Even in broad daylight, in midday, as sun streams through the windows that had once been long paneled over, folks pop in and out and everyone greets everyone else by name.

Regano clearly has a knack for this business and also has a passion for the history of the building, which has been a tavern from the day it opened in 1890. Of course, during prohibition the word "tavern" was replaced in the business names with the words "soft drinks."

But before anything else, it was a Pabst-owned "tied house," that is a tavern owned by a brewery as a means to sell its beer. Even today, a competing Schlitz tied house sits kitty corner across Brady Street from Regano's.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JULY 30, 2023 : Roman Coin Restaurant (https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n31a13.html)

 

MORE ON JOSEPH SAXTON

John Phipps writes:

Joseph Saxton improved on Gobrecht's medal-ruling machine and reduced distortions to reproduce an image of a medal for reproduction in a book or catalogue.

In this machine, a medal is placed in a horizontal position. A stylus is passed over the surface and the resulting line is cut by a graver into the surface of a horizontal copper plate. The position is changed in small increments forming a series of parallel lines that create the appearance of relief on the copper plate. The image on the plate appears reversed, but when inked and impressed on paper, the image is properly aligned.

Eckfeldt and DuBois used Saxton's third version of the medal-ruling machine, now powered by steam, to produce engravings of coins in the Mint Cabinet for their 1842 book, A Manual of Gold and Silver Coins of All Nations Struck Within the Past Century.

Also illustrated was an image of the Second Philadelphia Mint. Saxton made a daguerreotype of the Mint, Christian Gobrecht made a small relief model, an electrotype shell was made and used in place of a medal. A description of the process is in pages 186-188 of the book.

This marked a brief period of time when a daguerreotype and medal-ruling process were both used to create a printing plate. If photography had developed a decade earlier, it is likely that the medal-ruling technique would never have been used for book illustration.

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
ARTHUR HENRY FRAZIER (1899-2000) (https://www.coinbooks.org/v25/esylum_v25n39a14.html)
WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY: JULY 30, 2023 (https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n31a26.html)

EXPRESSING DENOMINATIONS ON US COINS

Gary Dunaier writes:

Wayne writes:

John Phipps writes:

To read the complete article, see:
KANAKA‘OLE QUARTER CLASHED DIE VARIETY (https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n31a28.html)

NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: AUGUST 6, 2023

More on Tassie Coin Impressions
Don Goddeau writes:

Daniel Fearon writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JULY 30, 2023 : More on Tassie Coin Impressions (https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n31a13.html)

Silk Purse Coins and the Attribution Opinion Business

Jon Sullivan writes:

Bill Eckberg writes:

It is an interesting time for coin grading. The reality is that grading United States vintage coins is not a growth industry—after all there are only so many raw classic coins that have yet to be graded. This is something the current owners of Collectors and Certified Collectibles Group (parent companies to PCGS and NGC, respectively) seem to be keenly aware of, and it remains to be seen their level of commitment to this so-called vertical. The former has a very strong market share in sports card grading (PSA) and the latter has the same in paper money (PMG) and comic books and magazines (CGC).

The other key issue is talent. Becoming a grader with enough skill to work full time for a third party certification service takes time and determination, and the pay needs to be commensurate with what an individual with that level of ability can make as a dealer. As I write this, the ANA Summer Seminar is taking place, where the seed can be planted for such skills. Behind the scenes, I have heard first-hand from multiple dealers that grading service problems—slow returns, inconsistent grading, and other administrative issues—have had an impact on business this year. Thus, CAC Grading seems to be coming online at a prescient time, potentially one that fundamentally changes the classic United States rare coin market.

Perhaps we are entering a new era, in which grading is brutally honest, forthright, and calls out problems where they exist. It could be a situation in which short-term pain results in long-term gains, as coins that were overgraded or ones in which problems were missed or ignored are taken off the market and given the proper grades they should have received initially. While this will cause said coins to lose value, it will result in a cleaner, more transparent market that is able to attract new, well-capitalized collectors.

To read the complete article, see:
The Business of Numismatics: August 2023 Greysheet (https://www.greysheet.com/news/story/the-business-of-numismatics-august-2023-greysheet)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
LOOSE CHANGE: JULY 30, 2023 : Silk Purse Coins (https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n31a34.html)

Emil Weigand and Friedrich Wilhelm Kullrich
In response to the question from Terry Hess, Judy Blackman writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JULY 30, 2023 : Prussian Piece and Adult Movie Token Book Help Sought (https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n31a13.html)

Russian Privatization Vouchers
Don Cleveland writes:

Don adds:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
1992 RUSSIAN PRIVATIZATION VOUCHERS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n31a31.html)

ChatGPT Opines on Rare Coins
Martin Purdy writes:

On the Term "Plug Nickel"

Book lovers should be word lovers - yet another chapter: A Joyous Payoff of Bibliomania.

Having had difficulty with the term "plug nickel" for some time, I thought I had found my little high horse over insisting that anyone who didn't use the past tense of the verb as the modifying adjective didn't know, because they didn't understand the dumb-and- dumber-like insult of what kind of commission of crime proceeds with the methods once the monetary value of the activity is gone? There almost isn't a metal less precious than nickel... why become guilty of defacement? What gain?

Further, if, on the path to spiritual self-possession, one is partially through the disillusionments it takes to stop impeding one's own trade settlements due to half-baked ideas and beliefs, one might have grown weary of those who must take to dodgy habits because they know themselves to be guilty of a crime. One might develop a special disdain for some man-of-straw imagined to have bound himself to cover up guilt for a crime that could not have made wealthy.

All this complication goes to the point that: finding a standard reference that really rings true to the usage remembered to have been the way of elders is truly a joyous payoff of biliomania.

Well, it turns out, sometimes an older sense of a word can be found in a foreign dictionary's rendering into English that no modern reference seems to provide. I've been doing a slow read of a massive Polish reference from the State Publishing House in Warsaw (then Communist) Poland. (Copyright 1969.) It is only alphabetized in Polish, so cross-reference was near impossible. Lo and behold, "plug" associates adjectivally with notions like "squalid" and "filthy." I have not been able to find corresponding reference on the internet or any other English language source handy enough to research.

The inference found in a standard reference, now, it does make sense that the usage could reasonably have been that not only was five cents not much money, but the coin itself may also have been inferred to be unclean (much the way "lousy" did not really require the presence of lice to be understood.) This is no surprise by the connotation, but connotations alone are often the stuff of unceasing wonders.

Many things like this shouldn't matter. I didn't think they did, mostly, until I found in the Civil Service how much of a quest someone, or someone's family, can be left on over some word that I didn't recall being very special. But I've been called on it. When I couldn't prove it by any book in all of City Hall, the trip to the downtown library branch for the O.E.D. was a humbling one. What does it take to extinguish an unceasing wonder?

My 90' of book shelf is surely no comparison to the eviable climate-controlled glimpse of heaven many NBS members probably have every right to be proud of, but as of today, I can go standard-reference on "plug nickel" and that, by the contents of my own library (or due-diligence inventory, if it be so called.)

Once of standard reference, the wonder usually does CEASE! And that was the reason for the quest to begin with. To extinguish an unceasing wonder.

ANA TALK: GERMAN IDENTITY IN MEDALLIC SCULPTURE

As part of the 2023 Sundman Lecture Series symposium at the American Numismatic Association World's Fair of Money, Dennis Tucker will present Changing German National Identity in Royal and Imperial Medallic Sculpture. The presentation is scheduled for Wednesday, August 9, at 10:00 a.m. in room 330 of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

The theme of the 2023 Sundman Lecture Series is The Numismatics of Nation Building; Money, Medals, Tokens and National Identity. The program's four lectures focus on how coinage, paper currency, medals, and tokens have been used to create, record, and/or modify national identity since the ancient Greeks used their money to announce the creation of new states, a phenomenon which continues to this day wherever new nations appear.

Tucker's lecture hinges on the assertion, in Otto von Bismarck's memoirs, that German patriotism, to be active and effective, needs as a rule to be dependent upon a dynasty. . . . The German's love of the fatherland needs a prince on whom he can concentrate his attachment. Bismarck wrote this after successfully transforming the most powerful German monarch into a new German emperor, a nineteenth-century Charlemagne.

LEFT: A portrait medal of Empress Augusta, wife of Wilhelm I. It's unusual to see a German princess or queen, or even an empress, at center stage on a medal.

RIGHT: A wedding medal of Crown Prince Friedrich and his wife, Princess Victoria, daughter of Britain's Queen Victoria. Their union was that rarest of things: a royal European marriage founded in love, not politics or money or strategy.

Bismarck and the German people had their prince in the person of Wilhelm, king of Prussia, whose dynasty was the old Hohenzollern line of Teutonic dukes, electors, and kings.

Through the 1800s and into the early 1900s, thousands of different medals were designed, minted, and distributed to celebrate the German royal and imperial families. What do these regal portraits tell us about Germany and the German people? And as the Empire began to fall apart during World War I, how did those messages change?

Award-winning researcher and writer Dennis Tucker will share images from his personal collection and other historical archives in this richly illustrated lecture.

Tucker is a life member of the ANA, secretary pro tem of the Rittenhouse Society, a fellow of the Academy of Political Science, and a past governor of the Token and Medal Society. His book American Gold and Silver: U.S. Mint Collector and Investor Coins and Medals, Bicentennial to Date won an Extraordinary Merit award from the Numismatic Literary Guild. As publisher at Whitman Publishing since 2004, he has worked on hundreds of books on numismatics, military history, and other nonfiction subjects. Since 2016 he has served the U.S. Treasury Department as the numismatic specialist of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.

ANA TALK: CHERRYPICKING IN 2023 AND BEYOND

Whitman publisher Dennis Tucker will give a Money Talks presentation at the 2023 American Numismatic Association World's Fair of Money in Pittsburgh. Cherrypicking Rare Coins in 2023 and Beyond is scheduled for Thursday, August 10, at 2:00 p.m. in room 330 of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

Many rare and valuable die varieties have been discovered in recent years. They're waiting to be cherrypicked—found in dealers' inventories by sharp-eyed collectors and bought for regular-coin prices. This presentation explores today's cherrypicking scene with special emphasis on half dimes, dimes, twenty-cent pieces, and quarter dollars from the early 1800s to modern pocket change. These denominations include many of America's most popular coin series: Mercury and Roosevelt dimes, Washington quarters, Liberty Seated and Barber coinage, and more. Tucker also gives an overview of the history of cherrypicking, sharing anecdotes from collectors and researchers including Bill Fivaz (coauthor of the standard reference, the Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties of U.S. Coins).

Dennis Tucker has been a coin collector since childhood, when his big brother showed him a Red Book and gave him a 1937 Buffalo nickel. Today he actively collects United States Mint commemorative medals and coins; European and American art medals; and Philippine coins struck under U.S. sovereignty. In 2004 he became the youngest publisher in the history of Whitman Publishing. He specializes in books on numismatics, banking and financial history, the American presidency, political and military history, and other nonfiction topics. Since 2016 he has been the numismatic specialist on the U.S. Treasury Department's Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee.

Cherrypicking Rare Coins in 2023 and Beyond includes an audience Q&A segment. The talk will be simultaneously livestreamed as an ANA eLearning Zoom webinar.

ANA TALK: THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF COLONIAL COINS

Dennis Tucker, publisher at Whitman Publishing, will present The Changing Landscape of Colonial Coins at the 2023 American Numismatic Association World's Fair of Money in Pittsburgh. The presentation is scheduled for Friday, August 11, at 4:00 p.m. in room 330 of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

Colonial coins and tokens have long been a serious—and fun—specialty in American numismatics. This presentation explores how coin collectors have looked at colonials over the years, as illustrated by how their coverage has evolved since 1946 in the Guide Book of United States Coins (the Red Book). It's also the behind-the-scenes story of hobby legends like R.S. Yeoman, Kenneth Bressett, Q. David Bowers, and Jeff Garrett, all of whom have taken an active interest in colonial coins and coppers in the Red Book. Tucker gives a look at today's changing hobby world, including controversies and groundbreaking new research.

Dennis Tucker has served the hobby as publisher at Whitman Publishing since 2004. He is a Life Member of the American Numismatic Association and a past governor of the Token and Medal Society. His writing has appeared in national publications such as Coin World, Numismatic News, and The Numismatist, online at Coin Update and Mint News Blog, and in many club and association journals. Since 2016 he has been the numismatic specialist on the U.S. Treasury Department's Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee. He and his family live in Atlanta.

The Changing Landscape of Colonial Coins is part of the ANA's Money Talks educational programming. The presentation runs for one hour and includes an audience question-and-answer segment.

 

VOCABULARY TERM: NICKEL-SILVER

Nickel-silver. An alloy of nickel, copper and zinc. Its gray-white color is in imitation of silver; but there is no silver in nickel-silver. Formerly this alloy was widely known as german-silver, but this term fell into disuse in World War I due to anti-German sentiment in England and America. While German-silver was known as early as the 1830s (from natural alloys found in Germany) it was not until the 1840s when experiments in England were conducted with brass. Nickel was added to brass until the gold-colored alloy turned silver-gray. By 1848 a successful nickel-brass alloy was in use, it was called albata.

There are many nickel-silver formulas: 55-65 copper, 5-25 nickel, 10-30 zinc.

Here are two common types:

65 CU 18 NI 17 ZN 8.75 sp gr 1110° melting point
55 CU 18 NI 27 ZN 8.69 sp gr 1055° melting point

Nickel-silver has a moderate use in the medallic field, mostly for badges, key tag medals, charms, watchfobs and other small items where a hard alloy with excellent wearing qualities are demanded (but not in direct contact with skin). It was learned in 2002 after the introduction of the alloy of the nickel-silver and brass (with zinc) bimetal compositions of the European Euro coinages that this would often cause a rash among cashiers handling a large number of the bimetal coins.

History of nickel-silver. Early form in China where it was invented. Chinese called it paktong. A process was once employed to remove the copper and zinc from the surface of nickel-silver exposing only the nickel for a brighter, harder surface. Developed by Thomas B. Lasher (of the Holmes & Edwards Silver Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut) the process was called Lasher silver. The same effect, however, could be accomplished (at lower cost after 1890) by nickel plating a nickel-silver object. There is also a similar type nickel-silver called Craig silver. (Again, there is no silver in these alloys, they were created solely to imitate silver.)

Other than perhaps a brighter gray-silver color, there is no way of knowing – by inspection alone – whether a coin or medal is made by any of these compositions. (Do a specific gravity test.) Also nickel-silver looks very much like copper nickel after some wear. Nickel-silver is not a white metal, despite its color (but its hardness precludes this).

Nickel-silver is called maillechort in French. It is abbreviated NS in America and England; McHort in France (and some edgemarkings include this abbreviation on French medals).

To read the complete entry on the Newman Numismatic Portal, see:
Nickel-silver (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/dictionarydetail/516397)

ROBERT LEROY HIGGINS

I attended the 2011 Central States show as a table assistant working for a local coin dealer. My boss was aware that I was at the time looking for 1792 half dismes. On April 29, He came back to the table after visiting Certified Asset Management and told me they had a mint state example in their inventory.

I looked at the coin, made some notes and talked with the owner. Bob Higgins was very open and generous with information about the coin and two others he had handled.

I was aware that Higgins had been associated with Tom Noe and learned about a very complicated pedigree involving Rare Coin Alliance and the Cardinal coin. At his level, coins were commodities to be traded to make a profit and a clean pedigree was irrelevant.

In a 2004 ad, Higgins stated, (we) believe that relationships are first and foremost and are the cornerstone of our business plan. I found him to be charming but I would not have invested money with him.

My boss made some deals with him. I recall a time when my boss thought the premium on MS- 65 Saints was too high, He sold some to Higgins in trade for an equal number of uncertified coins and the cash difference. They referred to the deal as selling the air out of the certified coins.

At the major coin shows, deals are often made with no money changing hands. On the last day of the show, a dealer may send his table assistant around to deliver checks and pick up checks. That was one of my jobs.

I don't remember specifics, but I think Bob may have asked us to wait a few days after a show to deposit his check. Dealers often want to be able to deposit checks they take at a show before the checks they write can clear. At the time we were not aware that Higgins was also slow to make scheduled payments to his substantial investors.

Less that a year later, on March 22, 2012, FBI agents raided the Baltimore show and detained Higgins with another dealer and seized assets of First State Depository including the 1792 half disme. When I asked Higgins about the coin on April 20, he said it was currently with the FBI.

The complaint, in brief, was that Higgins and his companies had deposited numismatic assets to secure a $10 million loan and line of credit. Rather than keep those assets securely deposited, they brought them as inventory to trade shows in violation of the loan provisions. There were related problems with coins acquired with investor funds. In effect, Higgins did not own the coins pledged as collateral.

I always enjoyed talking with Bob. In 2014 he told me about his new venture and the services he would provide for his customers. I think that business was called Argent Asset Group. One of their services was portfolio management. This was for investors who didn't want the bother of actually looking at their coins. I don't recall talking with him after 2014.

That initial venture was not successful and Higgins filed for bankruptcy in May of 2016.

On August 12. 2022, a U.S. Attorney announced an indictment against Higgins including these charges:

On October 5, 2022, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed a civil enforcement action against Robert Leroy Higgins, Argent Asset Group LLC., and First State Depository Company LLC. They alleged fraud with a multi-million dollar precious metals scheme and tax evasion.

On July 3, 2023, the CFTC announced a consent decree ordering Higgins and his companies to pay $112.7 million in restitution to victims and an additional $33 million civil monetary penalty. In addition, the order imposed a permanent trading ban.

The CFTC stated,

Higgins was bankrupt in 2016. Just seven years later he had converted that into a debt of 146 million dollars. I wonder how that ranks among numismatic business failures.

The Higgins story is not unique in numismatics. It might be considered almost common for bullion repositories to engage in fraud in the management of repository accounts. There are other examples of borrowers who pledge the same assets to secure multiple loans.

I don't believe most crooks in the business set out to be crooks in the beginning. At some point, the ability to acquire money without exchange for a product can be a temptation that cannot be resisted.

MIKE DIAMOND INTERVIEW, PART THREE

Greg Bennick: Can you tell us what stutter strikes are, just for the uninformed among us.

Mike Diamond: Sure. There are three types which I imagine I can call Type 1, Type 2, and Type 3. Type 1 involves a slightly off-center coin with one pole sitting on top of the collar. The hammer die comes down. The collar has to be a stiff collar. The hammer die comes down and makes an initial impression, then skips to one side and continues its downstroke to complete the strike, leaving a thin crescent of die-struck design lying outside the complete design.

Greg Bennick: It would almost look like a double strike, except I'm assuming you only see that effect on one side of the coin.

Mike Diamond: Right! Always on the obverse side. And no grading service has ever correctly labeled these. They always label them as double strikes. In fact, no grading service uses the term stutter strike. If they notice the extra design at all, they label it a double strike.

Greg Bennick: And the stutter strike was one of your discoveries?

Mike Diamond: Yeah.

Greg Bennick: Amazing. How about Type 2 of the stutter strike?

Mike Diamond: Type 2 involves a coin receiving a partial brockage or an indent, and that impact causes the rest of the coin to tip up and make early contact with the hammer die. As the hammer die continues its descent, it pushes that part of the coin out beyond the striking chamber and it completes its descent, completing the strike. So again, you end up with a thin crescent of die struck design lying beyond the normal design. Type 3 is kind of a wastebasket where a bent or a torn or some other irregular planchet causes the die to skip and leave again a slight sliver of design out beyond the normal design.

Greg Bennick: All of your discoveries aren't all printed in one place, are they? I know they are in Coin World, but I don't think they are available easily? How would someone find out about all of your work?

Mike Diamond: I wrote up a lot of these in ErrorScope. But they've all been revisited in Coin World. I've been writing for Coin World since 2007.

Greg Bennick: Given all of your discoveries, which to you are the most significant? I've read through your list of what you've discovered and it's fascinating. I'm just wondering which of those you think were the true eureka moments?

Mike Diamond: Okay, I'll give you an example of one. Some of these take me years to figure out, because it requires collecting a sample. But die attrition errors, which of course no grading service is going to label, die attrition errors took me years to figure out because you're dealing with a design that's partly missing and replaced with a featureless crescent. Over time I accumulated more and more examples of it. It became clear to me that the edge of the hammer die was simply being worn away as it repeatedly contacted the beveled entrance of the collar. And so sometimes they are labeled as cuds. Sometimes they're mislabeled as misaligned dies. You'll see all sorts of misidentifications. So, it's always satisfying when I can figure out something that's been bugging me for years. There was a recent article on Trans Strike Damage. This is damage that occurs before, during, and after the strike. I haven't totally figured out all the details of it. I've only seen three examples of it. Two examples I only knew from photos. The third example I managed to purchase from Jon Sullivan, who basically listed it as a damaged broadstrike, which is what it sort of looks like. But clearly, some of the damage is post-strike, some of the damage is pre strike or intra-strike. But anyway, that purchase allowed me to at least characterize it as a form of damage that is continuous through the striking process as the coin is pinned between the dies and something is damaging it.

1998-P quarter with trans-strike damage on its obverse face (which was struck by the anvil die)

Greg Bennick: Do you ever just see other people, who know less than you, attribute errors and you just shake your head silently and smile because you know so much more than they do about the minting process? (laughs) I can imagine that happening.

Mike Diamond: I try to correct people's misconceptions. I check in on Joe Cronin's Facebook group. I check in and if somebody makes a mistake or an opinion needs to be elaborated on, I contribute my thoughts. I also contribute to the Coin Community error group. In fact, I made two posts today where people had misconstrued an error. The first one was a missing clad error, and everybody said it was a fake, and I immediately could tell it was genuine. Sometimes I'll pop my head in Coin Talk. I hosted a group for twenty years and then Yahoo! got rid of all its groups. So that was it for that little endeavor.

Greg Bennick: What happened to the information that was on that group, which I remember as the Error Coin Information Exchange?

Mike Diamond: It just vaporized. I decided not to download it because pretty much anything on there, ends up in my Coin World column. In fact, everything in ErrorScope has actually ended up in my Coin World column with additional information.

Greg Bennick: Tell me about error-ref.com. I think people would love to know about it if they already don't.

Mike Diamond: It's a resource on die varieties and errors, all kinds of errors, die varieties, planchet errors, striking errors. It's supposed to be a complete resource though it is really not complete. There's a twenty-five or so page checklist of every type of die variety and essentially every type of error that I know of. I update it every year or two. The types of errors that are not well covered in standard references are what I tend to focus on as far as creating a full page for them.

More of Greg's error interviews can be found in previous issues of Errorscope magazine. For more information on the Combined Organization of Error Collectors of America (CONECA), see:
https://conecaonline.org/

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
MIKE DIAMOND INTERVIEW, PART ONE (https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n30a20.html)
MIKE DIAMOND INTERVIEW, PART TWO (https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n31a19.html)

NUMISMAGRAM MEDAL SELECTIONS: AUGUST 6, 2023

102475 | GREAT BRITAIN. England. James I silver faux-engraved Jeton or Gaming Counter. Issued circa 1720, or slightly later. Series 5: Sovereigns of England: Half length (25mm, 2.78 g, 12h). By the school of Simon van der Passe. IACOBUS D G MAGNÆ BRITANNIÆ HIBERNIÆ REX POTENTISS, capped and ermine-mantled bust facing slightly right, holding scepter and orb, and wearing ruffled collar // Crowned coat-of-arms within Collar of the Garter; all within elaborate border. Cf. Mitchener p. 1675, 26. Choice Extremely Fine. Very lightly toned, with excellent and highly intricate artistry. A fairly rare later type from a popular series. $365.

Gambling and games of chance have served as a form of entertainment and excitement during much of recorded history in one way or another, and many of these games necessitate some form of accounting during play. In early modern Europe, jetons were commonly employed for these purposes and allowed for skilled engravers to promote their artistry. One such engraver was Simon van der Passe, born in Utrecht circa 1585.

Van der Passe worked in England from 1616–1621/2, having founded a school after being exempted from the royal monopoly given previously to Nicholas Hilliard. This exemption allowed for the "graving and imprinting medailles" and small portraits of the king, and van der Passe utilized his technique for the production of numerous series of jetons or gaming counters, initially employing portraits of the Stuarts, James I and later Charles I with his wife, Henrietta Maria. Though Simon would return to Holland in 1621/2, his London-based school continued under the management of his brother, William. Subsequent issues of these jetons would feature Gustav Adolph and his wife, Maria Eleonora, the sovereigns of England, 'classical portraits' of historical and biblical figures, 'street cries,' and the Commonwealth.

Of even greater interest and debate among numismatists over the past century has been the method of manufacture of these jetons. Their appearance at first glance would lead one to believe that they have been individually engraved owing to their incuse design. It is thought that, in fact, these ornate counters were skillfully cast (or struck) and polished through the niello process in order to generate this 'faux-engraved' effect.

To read the complete item description, see:
102475 | GREAT BRITAIN. England. James I silver faux-engraved Jeton. (https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/102475)

102476 | GREAT BRITAIN. England. Charles I silver faux-engraved Jeton or Gaming Counter. Issued circa 1720, or slightly later. Series 5: Sovereigns of England: Half length (25mm, 2.25 g, 12h). By the school of Simon van der Passe. CARROLUS I D G MAGNÆ BRITANNIÆ FRANCE ET HIB REX FIDEI DEF, bust facing slightly right, wearing ruffled collar // Crowned coat-of-arms within Collar of the Garter; all within elaborate border. Cf. Mitchener p. 1675, 27. Choice About Uncirculated. Very lightly toned, with excellent intricate artistry. A fairly rare later type from a popular series. $435.

To read the complete item description, see:
102476 | GREAT BRITAIN. England. Charles I silver faux-engraved Jeton. (https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/102476)

102472 | SWEDEN. Crown Prince Gustaf & Victoria of Baden tin Medal. Issued 1881. Commemorating their marriage (44mm, 39.61 g, 12h). By L. Ahlborn in Stockholm. GUSTAF VICTORIA, jugate bare heads right of Gustaf and Victoria // Oval coats-of-arms of Sweden and the Grand Duchy of Baden draped with floral wreaths; crown above; all set upon base with their marriage date. Edge: Some staining, otherwise plain. Delzanno (Myntårsboken 2022), p. 471. Choice Mint State. Highly mirrored and flashy fields, with some pleasing frosting to the devices. Includes original roundelle of issue—a fairly rare aspect for the type. $245.

To read the complete item description, see:
102472 | SWEDEN. Crown Prince Gustaf & Victoria of Baden tin Medal. (https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/102472)

102453 | SWITZERLAND. St. Gallen. Silver Schützenplakette (Shooting Plaque). Issued 1904. Commemorating the Swiss Federal Shooting Festival from 16–28 July (45mm x 63mm, 63.88 g, 12g). By Hans Frei in Basel. Male participant standing right, holding rifle set on ground and being crowned with wreath by female figure standing left on raised platform; to lower right, cherub standing right, holding target above his head // Bear seated slightly right on tablet, holding cantonal coat-of-arms and Swiss flag; city view in background; EIDGENÖSSISCHES / SCHÜTZENFEST IN / • ST. GALLEN • in three lines on tablet. Edge: Some light marks, otherwise plain. Richter 1176a. Choice Mint State. Enchanting gray surfaces, with some enticing toning and a matte nature. $395.

To read the complete item description, see:
102453 | SWITZERLAND. St. Gallen. Silver Schützenplakette (Shooting Plaque) (https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/102453)

VILA RICA MOEDAS AUCTION 17

Vila Rica Moedas (www.vilaricamoedas.com) is a Numismatic company based in São Paulo, Brazil, and it is run by its two partners David André Levy and Hilton Lúcio, both authors of reference catalogs and accomplished numismatists.

Vila Rica will hold its Auction 17 on August 15th and 16th. The auction is internet-only and split over two sessions. It will offer a vast range of Brazilian coins from Colonial to Republican issues, featuring the 3rd part of the Vila Rica Collection of Silver Coins (despite the name, the collection is not related to the auction house). Also featured in this auction will be selections of the Münster Collection of Silver Coins, modern proofs from England, Israel and other countries, and a collection of Imperial and Republican silver coins (3rd System).

The Vila Rica Collection is one of the most accomplished collections of silver coins ever put together, and the most important one to be auctioned on recent years. The first part was sold by Heritage Auctions in May 2021 and the second part was sold by Vila Rica Moedas in December 2022. The collection is famous for the high standards of the collector, resulting on a high quality of its coins as a set. The third part is focused on fractions, of note the early colonial ones which are very rare to find in decent condition.

Some highlights of the sale follow:

Lot 1 – Crowned Stamp, 50 Réis, 1663. AI P034. VF+. Over Portugal XXXX Réis D. João IIII - Évora. Rare. Exceptionally toned.

Lot 3 - Brazil, 80 Réis, 1695. AI P108. VF+. Wide Crown. Uneven planchet. Very light filing mark at 12:00. Very rare in this condition.

Lot 42 - Brazil, 640 Réis, 1750R. AI P162; Lup 1A (RRR). aEF. Beautiful tone. Very rare in this condition.

Lot 44 - Brazil, 160 Réis, 1756. AI P164. VF-. Light marks on rim. Very rare!

Lot 51 - Brazil, 320 Réis, 1768. AI P172; Aranha 1A. VF+. SVBQ

Lot 66 - Brazil, 600 Réis, 1752B. AI P230; var 1C. VF-. Rare! Key date of the J series. With escutcheon counterstamp.

Lot 101 - Brazil, 640 Réis, 1782. AI P325; Lup 1A. VF. Low Crown. Rare! Beautifully toned.

Lot 141 - Brazil, 640 Réis, 1799B. AI P369a; Lup 7A. VF-. SVBQ. Very rare.

Lot 154 - Brazil, 640 Réis, 1807B. AI P390; Lup 1A. VF/EF. Rare!

The auction will take place on August 15th and 16th. Registration for bidding can be done at https://leiloes.vilaricamoedas.com/. If you need assistance, please feel free to contact either David or Hilton through the email info@vilaricamoedas.com and they will be happy to assist you with registration. Bids can also be accepted through the Sixbid platform.

MDC OCTOBER 2023 FRENCH COLLECTION

At MDC Monnaies de collection, we are excited to present our upcoming auction, The French Collection, taking place in October 2023.

This collection of 540 lots, built for over 40 years, gathers the most beautiful coins from the French Revolution to the Fifth Republic, with a vast majority of Top Pop.

The auction will take place in Monaco at the Hôtel Métropole on the 11th of October 2023, from 1:30 pm to 4 pm (lots 1 to 296) and then from 4:15 pm to 7 pm (lots 297 to 540).

Today, it is not possible to recreate such a collection, and we know that many collectors will find in our auction the special coins they have been looking for to complete their collection.

We have printed, on this occasion, a bespoke catalogue. It has been edited to embody the Proustian madeleine that are French coins, a sort of must-have textbook for each numismatist.

Lot 15. FRANCE / CAPÉTIENS Constitution (1791-1792). Demi-écu de 3 livres FRANÇAIS 1792, 2e semestre - An 4, A, Paris. Av. LOUIS XVI ROI DES FRANÇAIS. Tête à gauche du Roi, les cheveux noués par un ruban sur la nuque. Au-dessous (différent) (date). Rv. REGNE DE LA LOI. Le Génie de la France gravant le mot CONSTITUTION (en deux lignes) sur une table de la loi reposant sur un autel, accosté du (différent) et d'un faisceau à gauche, d'un coq et (atelier) à droite. Signature DUPRÉ en creux sur la base de l'autel. À l'exergue : L'AN (date) DE LA LIBERTÉ en deux lignes. G.42 - Dy.1719 ; Argent - 14,74 g - 32 mm - 6 h.
Top Pop: it's the most beautiful graded coin!

PCGS MS64. Très rare type qui ne passe quasiment jamais en vente et seuls 2 exemplaires gradés chez PCGS , l'autre en VF30 ! Minimes stries d'ajustage. Cet exemplaire n'a quasiment pas circulé, avec une patine aux reflets dorés. Superbe à Fleur de coin.
Starting price: 3000€

Lot 22. FRANCE Convention (1792-1795). E Essai ou prototype du sol à la balance FRANÇAISE, signature en relief et ligne d'exergue 1793 - An II, A, Paris. Av. REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE / L'AN (date). Table inscrite LES HOMMES SONT EGAUX DEVANT LA LOI et signature Dupré en relief, sous un œil rayonnant, entre une grappe de raisin et des épis de blés, avec barre d'exergue. Rv. LIBERTE EGALITE. Fléau d'une balance surmonté d'un bonnet de la liberté, sur lequel est une couronne avec au centre : 1 S. ; au-dessous (atelier) et (différent) (date) (différent). G.20 v. - Maz.292 v. - VG.415 ; Cuivre - 11,67 g - 28,5 mm - 6 h.
Top Pop: it's the only graded coin!

NGC MS 64 BN. Signature Dupré cursive et en relief, avec barre d'exergue au droit sous la Table. Dans son état de frappe, avec une légère patine marron en formation. Fleur de coin.
Starting price: 1500 €

Lot 36. FRANCE Directoire (1795-1799). Un décime Dupré, surfrappe de 2 décimes AN 5 (1796), T, Nantes. Av. REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE. Buste de République à gauche, coiffée d'un bonnet de la liberté ; au-dessous signature cursive Dupré. Rv. Dans une couronne formée de deux branches de chêne : UN DÉCIME. L'AN (date). (différent) (atelier) (différent). G.185 - F.128 ; Cuivre - 20 g - 32 mm - 6 h.
Top Pop: it's the most beautiful graded coin!

PCGS MS64BN. Surfrappe de qualité, très bien venue et laissant à peine paraître 2 DÉCIMES. Dans son état de frappe, avec une patine marron. Presque fleur de coin. G.185 - F.128 ; Cuivre - 20 g - 32 mm - 6 h.
Starting price: 1000 €

Lot 39. FRANCE Directoire (1795-1799). 5 francs Union et Force, listel par virole An 4 (1795), A, Paris. Av. UNION ET FORCE. Hercule debout de face avec la léonté, unissant la Liberté debout à gauche tenant une pique surmontée d'un bonnet de la liberté, et l'Égalité debout à droite, tenant le niveau. Autour, les différents. À l'exergue signature cursive Dupré. Rv. RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE *. Dans une couronne formée d'une branche de chêne et d'une branche d'olivier : 5 FRANCS. L'AN (date). ; au-dessous (atelier). G.563 - F.287 ; Argent - 25 g - 37 mm - 6 h.
Top Pop: it's the most beautiful graded coin!

PCGS MS63. Frappe avec virole, aux listels nets ! Fleur de la tranche particulière. De qualité exceptionnelle pour ce type, avec toute sa fraîcheur d'origine. Presque Fleur de coin.
Starting price: 3000 €

Lot 43. FRANCE Consulat (1799-1804). 1 franc Bonaparte, Frappe de présentation (SP) An XI (1802-1803), A, Paris. Av. BONAPARTE PREMIER CONSUL. Tête nue à droite, au-dessous signature Tiolier. Rv. REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE. Dans une couronne formée de deux branches : 1 FRANC. Au.dessous (différent) AN (date) (atelier). G.442 - F.200 ; Argent - 5 g - 23 mm - 6 h.
Top Pop: it's the only graded coin!

PCGS SP63. Frappe spéciale (SP) et certainement une épreuve de présentation du Franc Germinal, tout nouvellement créé ! Les listels sont larges et marqués : une pièce majeure pour l'histoire de la Numismatique moderne française. De minimes marques au droit. Jolie patine de collection. Superbe à Fleur de coin.
Starting price: 3000 €

Lot 51. FRANCE Premier Empire / Napoléon Ier (1804-1814). Demi-franc calendrier révolutionnaire An 12 (1803-1804), A, Paris. Av. NAPOLEON EMPEREUR. Tête nue à droite, au-dessous signature Tiolier cursive. Rv. RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE. Dans une couronne formée de deux branches : DEMI FRANC, au.dessous (différent) AN (date) et (atelier). G.395 - F.174 ; Argent - 2,5 g - 18 mm - 6 h.
Top Pop: it's the most beautiful graded coin at PCGS! (one coin in 65 at NGC)!

PCGS MS64. Dans son état de frappe. Très jolie patine de collection. Presque Fleur de coin.
Starting price: 300 €

Lot 58. FRANCE Premier Empire / Napoléon Ier (1804-1814). 40 francs tête nue, calendrier révolutionnaire An 13 (1805), A, Paris. Av. NAPOLEON EMPEREUR. Tête nue à gauche, DROZ F. sur la tranche du cou et au-dessous signature Tr Rv. REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE. Dans une couronne formée de deux branches d'olivier : 40 FRANCS et au-dessous .(différent). AN (date) .(atelier). G.1081 - F.537 - Fr.481 ; Or - 12,9 g - 26 mm - 6 h.
Top Pop: it's the most beautiful graded coin!

PCGS MS64. Proche de son état d'origine, avec seulement de micro-marques sur le velours de frappe et dans les champs. D'aspect légèrement camée au droit. Remarquable qualité pour ce type. Superbe à Fleur de coin.
Starting price: 3000 €

Lot 70. FRANCE Premier Empire / Napoléon Ier (1804-1814). 2 francs, type africain 1807, A, Paris. Av. NAPOLEON EMPEREUR. Tête nue à droite, au-dessous signature Tiolier. Rv. RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE. Dans une couronne formée de deux branches : 2 FRANCS ; au.dessous (différent) (date). (atelier). G.499 - F.253 ; Argent - 10 g - 27 mm - 6 h.
Top Pop: it's the most beautiful graded coin!

NGC MS62. Quelques micro-griffures au droit et infimes marques de manipulation. Avec une patine grise sur le brillant d'origine. Superbe à Fleur de coin.
Starting price: 4000 €

Lot 71. FRANCE Premier Empire / Napoléon Ier (1804-1814). 5 francs type transitoire 1807, A, Paris. Av. NAPOLEON EMPEREUR. Tête nue à droite, signature BRENET et au-dessous Tr cursif. Rv. RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE. Dans une couronne formée de deux branches : 5 FRANCS ; au.dessous (différent) (date). (atelier). G.582 - F.305 - Dav.83 - Maz.441b ; Argent - 25 g - 37 mm - 6 h.
Top Pop: it's the most beautiful graded coin at PCGS! (one coin in 65 at NGC)!

PCGS MS63+. Exemplaire exceptionnel avec d'infimes marques et quelques plats sur les points hauts du relief. Frappe centrée et parfaite. Magnifique patine de collection aux reflets irisés. Type très rare. Presque Fleur de coin.
Starting price: 15000 €

Lot 107. FRANCE Louis XVIII (1814-1824). 5 francs buste habillé, Flan bruni (PROOF) 1814, A, Paris. Av. LOUIS XVIII ROI DE FRANCE. Buste habillé de Louis XVIII à gauche, au-dessous signature TIOLIER F. Rv. PIECE DE 5 FRANCS. Écu de France couronné, entre deux branches de laurier, au-dessous (différent) (date) (atelier). G.591 - F.308 ; Argent - 25 g - 37 mm - 6 h.
It's the second highest grade!

PCGS PR64. Flan bruni (PROOF) avec une somptueuse patine grise aux reflets bleutés. Quelques exemplaires connus en Flans brunis. Superbe à Fleur de coin.
Starting price: 3000 €

Lot 114. FRANCE Cent-Jours / Napoléon Ier (mars-juillet 1815). 5 francs Empire, Flan bruni (PROOF) 1815, A, Paris. Av. NAPOLEON EMPEREUR. Buste à droite de Napoléon Ier, la tête laurée, au-dessous signature BRENET et Tr. Rv. EMPIRE FRANÇAIS (date). Dans une couronne formée de deux branches : 5 FRANCS. G.595 - F.307 ; Argent - 25 g - 37 mm - 6 h.
Top Pop (2): it's the most beautiful graded coin!

PCGS PR63+. Flan bruni (PROOF), et frappe centrée et soignée. Patine de collection aux reflets bleutés. L'autre exemplaire connu en PR63+ a réalisé $60000 le 25 août 2021 chez Stack's Bowers. Presque Fleur de coin.
Starting price: 10000 €

Lot 137. FRANCE Charles X (1824-1830). 2 francs, tranche cannelée, Flan bruni (PROOF) 1830, A, Paris. Av. CHARLES X ROI DE FRANCE. Tête nue à gauche, au-dessous signature MICHAUT et T. Rv. Écu de France couronné, accosté de 2 - F, entre deux branches de laurier, au-dessous (différent) (date) (atelier). G.516a - F.259 ; Argent - 10 g - 27 mm - 6 h.
Top Pop: it's the only graded coin!

PCGS PF64. Flan bruni (PROOF). Tranche cannelée. Une micro-griffe sur le buste sinon dans son état de frappe, avec les champs miroir. De la plus grande rareté ! Presque Fleur de coin.
Starting price: 6000 €

Lot 152. FRANCE Louis-Philippe Ier (1830-1848). Essai de 5 francs à la Charte, 1er type avec chartes inscrites en relief, tranche en relief 1830, A, Paris. Av. LOUIS PHILIPPE I - ROI DES FRANÇAIS. Tête nue à droite, signature N. P. TIOLIER. Rv. TITRE 900 MIL. - POIDS 25 GRAM. Sur un sceptre et la main de Justice posés en sautoir, accompagnés de drapeaux en sautoir, les tables avec la CHARTE DE 1830, sous une couronne. Au-dessous 5 - F et (atelier) ESSAI (différent). G.672a - Maz.1109 ; Argent - 24,95 g - 37 mm - 6 h.
Top Pop: it's the most beautiful graded coin!

NGC MS 63. Tranche en relief : DIEU PROTEGE LA FRANCE. Tables en relief au revers. Avec une profonde patine grise de collection. Très rare. Superbe à Fleur de coin.
Starting price: 2000 €

Lot 222. FRANCE IIe République (1848-1852). Épreuve de 5 francs Cérès en Or, Frappe spéciale (SP) 1849, A, Paris. Av. RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE. Tête de la République à gauche en Cérès, sous une étoile, au.dessous signature E. A. OUDINÉ. F. Rv. (branche) LIBERTE. EGALITE. FRATERNITE. Dans une couronne formée de deux branches : 5 FRANCS (date) et au-dessous (différent) (atelier) (différent). Maz.1214 - G.719 (1989) ; Or - 25 g - 37 mm - 6 h.
Top Pop: it's the only graded coin!

PCGS SP66. Frappe spéciale (SP) avec les reliefs mats sur champs miroir. Tranche lisse. Minimes marques sur le listel au droit à 5 h et au revers à 12 h. De qualité exceptionnelle avec son velours de frappe ! Manquait à la collection Farouk et sans doute unique ! Fleur de coin.
Starting price: 100000 €

Lot 236. FRANCE IIe République (1848-1852). 10 francs Cérès, Flan bruni (PROOF) 1851, A, Paris. Av. RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE. Tête de la République à droite en Cérès, sous une étoile, entre un faisceau et une branche ; au-dessous signature L. MERLEY. Rv. LIBERTE. EGALITE. FRATERNITE. Dans une couronne formée d'une branche d'olivier et d'une branche de chêne : 10 FRANCS. Au-dessous (atelier) et (date). G.1012 - F.504 - Fr.567 ; Or - 3,22 g - 19 mm - 6 h.
Top Pop: it's the most beautiful graded coin!

NGC PF 64. Flan bruni (PROOF) et de frappe parfaite. Une minime tache rouille au droit. Très rare. Fleur de coin.
Starting price: 3000 €

Lot 249. FRANCE IIe République (1848-1852). 20 francs Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, Flan bruni (PROOF) 1852, A, Paris. Av. LOUIS-NAPOLEON BONAPARTE. Tête nue à droite. Au-dessous, signature BARRE et (différents). Rv. REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE. Dans une couronne formée de deux branches : 20 FRANCS (date) et au-dessous (atelier). G.1060 - F.530 - Fr.568 ; Or - 6,45 g - 21 mm - 6 h.
It's the second highest grade! From the Mortimer Hammel collection, Stack's 1982.

PCGS PR64 DCAM. Flan bruni (PROOF). Quasiment dans son état de frappe avec les champs miroir (infimes hairlines) et les reliefs détachés, d'aspect camée intense (DCAM). Patine orangée profonde. Très rare. Presque Fleur de coin.
Starting price: 10000 €

Lot 272. FRANCE Second Empire / Napoléon III (1852-1870) Essai de frappe de 50 francs tête nue, Frappe spéciale (SP) 1854, Paris. Av. NAPOLEON III EMPEREUR / * ESSAI (date) *. Tête nue à gauche, au-dessous signature BARRE. Rv. EMPIRE FRANÇAIS / * 50 FRANCS *. Au centre, aigle aux ailes éployées sur un foudre. Maz.1605 - G.1110a ; Or - 16,12 g - 33 mm - 6 h.
Top Pop: it's the only graded coin!

PCGS SP62. Frappe spéciale (SP). Seules de minimes micro-griffures et hairlines. Patine orangée. Très rare. Superbe à Fleur de coin.
Starting price: 60000 €

Lot 293. FRANCE Second Empire / Napoléon III (1852-1870) Essai de 100 francs tête laurée, Frappe spéciale (SP) 1861, Paris. Av. NAPOLEON III EMPEREUR. Tête laurée à droite, au-dessous (étoile) et signature BARRE. Rv. EMPIRE FRANÇAIS. Armes impériales posées sur un manteau couronné et brochant sur le sceptre et la main de justice, accostées de 100 - FRs ; au-dessous (étoile) (date) (différent). G.1136a - Maz.1602 ; Or - 32,25 g - 35 mm - 6 h.
it's the second highest graded coin!

PCGS SP65. Tranche lisse. Légère patine dorée. Les reliefs mats sur champs miroir. Fleur de coin.
Starting price: 200000 €

Lot 425. FRANCE IIIe République (1870-1940). Présérie de 20 francs Marianne, Frappe spéciale (SP) 1898, Paris. Av. REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE. Tête laurée de la République à droite, signature J.C. CHAPLAIN. Rv. LIBERTE. EGALITE. FRATERNITE. 20 - Fcs. Coq à gauche ; à l'exergue (date). GEM.276.5 - G.1064 - Fr.596 ; Or - 6,45 g - 21 mm - 6 h.
Top Pop: it's the only graded coin!

PCGS SP63. Sans différents et tranche en relief. Frappe spéciale (SP). Aspect légèrement mat. Très rare et sans doute le troisième exemplaire connu ! Presque Fleur de coin.
Starting price: 12000 €

For more information, see:
http://www.mdc.mc/

 

THURSDAY LUNCH CLUB REPORT JULY, 2023

Ray Williams writes:

Ray adds:

Roger Moore writes:

Roger adds:

Matt Virga writes:

Wayne Shelby writes:

Bill Liatys writes:

Don Hartman writes:

Dan Knight writes:

Leo Shane brought two colonial notes.

U.S. MINT STRUCK PESOS, JUNK DOLLARS

As the Chinese Civil War raged in the late 1940s, the United States made efforts to support the Nationalist Guomindang which, after Japan's defeat at the end of World War II, had lost the initiative to the Communists in the country's decades-long Civil War. In early 1949, the U.S. Mint began striking 1934-dated Junk dollars to support the Guomindang's flagging currency regime; later in the year, 1898-dated Mexican one-peso coins were struck.

Inflation had been a persistent issue for China through most of the later stages of the Pacific War and remained an issue for both sides in the Civil War as hostilities resumed in 1945. The anticommunist Guomindang launched Silver Yuan Certificates in 1949 to provide a trusted currency as the Gold Yuan fell to inflation; to provide specie reserve for the new notes, back-dated Junk dollars and Mexican pesos were struck at the Mexico City and San Francisco mints. The new silver certificates bore representations of the Junk dollars for which they were redeemable.

Dies for the original 1934 Junk dollars were prepared at the Philadelphia Mint and the original coins were struck at the Shanghai Mint. According to the 1949 Annual Report of the Director of the Mint, over 12 million Chinese dollars were struck at United States facilities in that fiscal year, split between the mints at Philadelphia and Denver.

Mexican silver coins circulated in China for centuries before the Second World War, evidenced by the profusion of Spanish colonial and Mexican coins bearing chopmarks, characters stamped on them by merchants attesting to the coins' weight and purity. Spanish imperial and Mexican coins continued to circulate in China well into the 20th century and when the Guomindang needed silver reserves, the United States and Mexican governments elected to strike Mexican pesos in addition to 1934 Junk dollars, counting on their popularity and ubiquity to ensure acceptance. More than 10 million 1898-dated pesos were produced, including 1,250,000 struck at the San Francisco Mint according to the Mint director's Annual Report for 1949.

The restrikes are most obviously differentiated by the position of the o in Mexico City's Mo mintmark. Original pesos have the top of the M and o flush with one another, where on the restrikes the top of the o sits above the top of the M. Other diagnostic criteria can be used to differentiate between originals and restrikes.

Some numismatists may have witnessed the striking of the restrike 1898 pesos as the American Numismatic Association's convention took place in San Francisco in 1949 and some attendees toured the Mint.

1898 Peso restrikes and 1934 Junk dollars (originals and restrikes) are widely available and are affordable for collectors interested in the history of modern China, U.S. foreign policy, and Mexican silver crowns and world crowns. Stack's Bowers Galleries offered 11 examples in our April 2023 Hong Kong Auction which sold for prices from about $200 to $1,000.

One 1934 Junk Dollar and two 1898 Peso restrikes from the San Francisco Mint are offered in Session K of Stack's Bowers Galleries' August 2023 Global Showcase Auction

To read the complete article, see:
DID YOU KNOW THAT THE U.S. MINT STRUCK 1898-DATED MEXICAN PESOS AND 1934-DATED JUNK DOLLARS IN 1949? (https://stacksbowers.com/did-you-know-that-the-u-s-mint-struck-1898-dated-mexican-pesos-and-1934-dated-junk-dollars-in-1949/)

MORE ON PAULI MURRAY

It's official. The U.S. Mint's American Women Quarters Program has announced that a nonbinary Black activist, lawyer, priest and poet will be featured on a quarter in the next round, making her the first Black queer person to appear on U.S. currency.

Pauli Murray's quarter will be issued in 2024. Others in the 2024 class are Patsy Takemoto Mink, the first woman of color to serve in Congress; Dr. Mary Edwards Walker, a Civil War–era surgeon, women's rights advocate, and abolitionist; Zitkala-Ša, a writer, composer, educator, and activist for Native Americans' rights; and Celia Cruz, the Cuban-American singer known as the Queen of Salsa.

All of the women being honored have lived remarkable and multi-faceted lives, and have made a significant impact on our Nation in their own unique way, Mint Director Ventris C. Gibson said in a press release. The women pioneered change during their lifetimes, not yielding to the status quo imparted during their lives. By honoring these pioneering women, the Mint continues to connect America through coins which are like small works of art in your pocket.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1910, Murray was assigned female at birth but questioned her gender at an early age. They grew up in Durham, North Carolina and would graduate at the top of their class at Howard University School of Law. They would later become a lawyer and activist against sexism and racism.

Murray was a staffer on the Committee on Civil and Political Rights as part of President John F. Kennedy's Presidential Commission on the Status of Women and played an active role in the Black civil rights movement of the 1960s.

To read the complete article, see:
Pauli Murray Becomes First Black Nonbinary Person to Appear on U.S. Currency (https://shinemycrown.com/pauli-murray-becomes-first-black-nonbinary-person-to-appear-on-u-s-currency/)

THE QUARTER'S ABOUT-FACE

The quarter's about-face, by George

Have you looked at the change in your pocket recently? You may have spotted something new on a familiar coin. Some say it rights an old wrong. Others say there never was a wrong in the first place. Read the evidence and decide for yourself.

Americans pride themselves on being master practitioners of innovation and change. Yet when it comes to our coinage, we're downright stodgy. The Lincoln penny is a beloved childhood memory for many, but at 114 years, the obverse (the front) also holds the world record for the longest-running coin without a change. Likewise, the dime is 77 years old, and the half-dollar is practically a kid at 59. (They've tinkered so much with the nickel in recent years, we'll sidestep that one.)

Then there's the quarter. For 91 years, it has featured George Washington staring off into the distance with a paternalistic firmness that befits the Father of Our Country. All that time, he was looking to his left. Until last year.

Our story begins in the early 1930s. With the bicentennial of Washington's birthday approaching, Congress thought it would be nice to mark the occasion with a special coin. The original idea was to put him only on the half-dollar for the 200th birth anniversary in 1932. But that proposal quickly grew into a complete overhaul of the quarter.

Everyone agreed George's mug should be featured on the new 25-cent piece. And that was about all they agreed on. The George Washington Bicentennial Committee held a competition and selected a likeness crafted by sculptress Laura Gardin Fraser. She was an old hand at creating lovely coin designs, including the special Alabama Centennial, Fort Vancouver Centennial and Oregon Train Monument commemorative half-dollars in the 1920s. She based her creation on a famous 1785 bust of Washington done by French artist Jean-Antoine Houdon. The committee loved it and selected her design.

The venerable Commission on Fine Arts gave Fraser's selection its blessing. And that should have been the end of that.

But it wasn't. The design was forwarded to Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon for his approval. Jaws dropped when he rejected Fraser's submission and picked another designed by John Flanagan instead. It was also based on Houdon's bust but had Washington looking the other way. Mellon's successor as treasury secretary, Ogden Mills, stuck with the choice.

And so millions upon millions of coins showing Washington gazing to the left began rolling out of U.S. mints starting on Aug. 1, 1932.

So, why the change? The simple answer is that we just don't know for sure. There was grumbling at the time, and it was passed down over the decades, that Mellon rejected Fraser's submission because she was a woman. But there's a problem with that: There is no record of Mellon writing or saying anything of the kind or having a bias against women in general.

More than likely, he probably spotted some detail he just didn't like in the design. Mellon was an internationally recognized art connoisseur with the bankroll to support his good taste. A scion of Pennsylvania's fabulously wealthy Mellon family, he later proposed the creation of – and backed it up by donating dozens of priceless pieces to – the National Art Gallery in Washington.

As America slogged its way through the Great Depression and World War II, the Fabulous Fifties and Swinging Sixties, right through the dawn of the new Millennium, Washington was there every step of the way, always looking left. Until the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020 came along. It not only authorized the American Women Quarters program but also required that Washington remain on the front, though redesigned to look different from previous coins.

And so Frasier's 1931 design was hauled out of storage, dusted off and finally went into production in 2022. It took 89 years, but she finally made it. Supporters say it is fitting that an obverse designed by a woman is now on a coin whose reverse honors accomplished American women.

To read the complete article, see:
The quarter's about-face, by George (https://www.chronicleonline.com/opinion/columnists/the-quarter-s-about-face-by-george/article_4d57a3ff-5553-5f33-8611-f3bb4a7287aa.html)

UKRAINE'S RESISTANCE RUBLES

Hundreds of 50 Ruble notes are appearing across the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine - from Melitopol, Berdyansk and Tomak in southern Ukraine all the way to Sevastopol and Yalta in Crimea.

But these are no ordinary Russian banknotes.

In fact, they are part of a campaign designed to undermine the Russian occupation by a Ukrainian, all-female and non-violent resistance group that emerged in the Russian-controlled city of Melitopol late last year.

Applying intricate graphic design skills, the women have doctored the traditional 50 Ruble note to turn what was once a tool of Russian oppression into a symbol of Ukrainian defiance, carrying a powerful message to any of the occupiers who may think they are lucky to stumble across the 'free money'.

The group is called Mavka, after the female forest spirit from Ukrainian and Russian folklore and mythology. Mavka is a long-haired woman, typically seen as a temptress figure who lures men into the woods and to their deaths.

Mavka is using its activists on the ground to spread the bank notes at great personal risk. If caught they could be arrested, imprisoned or worse.

At the centre of the note – in its traditional form – stands a female figure: the Monument of Neva, that sits in St Petersburg, seen holding a sceptre.

But the activists have turned the sceptre into perhaps the ultimate symbol of the Ukrainian nation: the Trident (tryzub). The figure has also been given a floral headdress, in the Ukrainian style, and carries the familiar facial features of the Mavka character.

The work of Mavka's activists is now spreading throughout Ukrainian online spaces. The group's Telegram is filled with photos of the notes in key points around the occupied towns and cities – with messages of support from Ukrainians.

One activist took a photo of one of the Mavka notes right in front of the National Bank of Russia in Simferopol in occupied Crimea. 'Ukrainian women are giving their verdict on the Orcs. Support the women's resistance movement!' read one comment.

'My awe at the bravery of these women,' read another.

To read the complete article, see:
EXCLUSIVE Forced into dumping Ukrainian currency when the Russian occupiers move in, a fearless all-female Ukrainian resistance group is circulating counterfeit rubles with a VERY direct message that could cost them their lives (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12328873/How-fearless-female-Ukrainian-resistance-group-taken-circulating-counterfeit-rubles-direct-message-Russian-occupiers-cost-lives.html)