"Collectors are divided on whether to buy slabbed coins. Many numismatists like the professional grading and descriptions and the protection the slabbing offers. However many of us prefer to handle the actual coins.

"Interestingly archaeologists have discovered that slabbing coins was known to ancient Roman collectors. Perspex or plastic of any type had not been invented, and glass was expensive, so the coins had to be encased in stone or concrete. This meant the coin was protected from wear, accidental damage and were difficult to steal (or even move at all). However the coins could not be viewed by the collector. Julius Caesar who was a keen collector, came up with the saying veni vidi vici which means I came, I saw, I saw no coin.

"Some coins were stamped SPQR which stands for Slab Pretty Quickly, Romans. So look out for rocks or stones which may contain a coin. You would be a fool not to!"

I had no idea! When Charlie Brown said "I got a rock" while trick-or-treating on Halloween, maybe it was a collector passing out Roman slabs... -Editor

"The publisher is AISI - Agenzia Informazioni e Sicurezza Interna (Italian Intelligence Agency) and ISBN is 978-88-88693-45-3. The book is not on the market yet, but copies can be requested directly from me, as the author, writing at the address r.ganganelli@gmail.com. Price of 60 euro does not include shipping costs."

The book was mentioned last week as a nominee for the IAPN Book Prize. -Editor

"I hope readers and collectors of coin-cards can help filling in some blank spots in my recent listing of Embossed Coin-Cards of the World, 1893 - 1938.

"Most coin-cards were produced in German-, French- or English, or as multi-lingual cards with these three languages combined. But cards have also been produced in Russian, with (1) a header-text in Russian and country-indication bottom-right in Russian, and (2) in both Russian – and French (no header-text but Russian and French next to each denomination of coins), country-indication at the right bottom in both Russian and French.

"Do any readers have Russian–only, or Russian & French only cards? Those already known are listed in the catalogue but I'm sure there must be other cards waiting to be found.

"Any cards that are not yet listed do send me copies and I'll certainly include them in a next update of the catalogue. E-mail gladly received by muis100@hotmail.com.

"Thanks for your help !"

Can anyone help? -Editor

"The legend in eight lines within a wreath of flames reads STEUNPENNING VOOR DE SLACHTOFFERS VAN DE GROOTE RAMP OP 1 SEPT. 1923 – Aid Medal for the Victims of the Great Disaster of Sept 1. 1923. After reading the Wikipedia article, I think the medal is much more interesting than just a commemoration of another diplomatic event of Japan's post-WWI era reengagement with the West!"

Indeed, and quite timely with the recent earthquakes elsewhere in the world. Thank you. -Editor

"Thank you for posting stories on the 1870-S Half Dime. I used to buy cookies at that Mrs. Fields in Orland Park and appreciate the history."

"There were any number of items in the last E-Sylum, but one that touched me especially was the Anna Hyatt Huntington piece. She is mentioned on pages 212, 221, 266 and 270 of my book on Hermon Atkins MacNeil. It was MacNeil's Into the Unknown, pages 160-161 that became the National Sculpture Society logo.

After MacNeil died, because there was no site available that could house the multi-ton work, it was sent to Brookgreen Gardens. I'm hoping to visit there perhaps this summer."

That's on my bucket list! I'll look for MacNeil's work. -Editor

"I just wanted to make mention of the ANA Summer Seminar courses which are filling up with only a few more weeks to register. David Alexander and I will be back this year, teaching the Medal in America course. The course covers everything medallic either relating to American history and/or being produced in the U.S. We start with the first "Betts" medals and run through the Colonial and Confederation period, including Indian Peace medals and Comitia Americana medals, then proceed through the War of 1812 medals and other medals produced at the U.S. Mint. This includes agricultural, school, exposition, lifesaving medals and others.

"We cover areas such as Washingtoniana, Lincolniana, Bryan money, so-called dollars, Society medals of the 19th and 20th centuries, art medals including Art Nouveau and Art Deco medals and the works of engravers, such as Furst, C.C. Wright, Morgan, Barber, St. Gaudens, Brenner, Weinman and others. We finish up with contemporary medals. Information is available through the MCA website or the ANA."

"I had one item. In 1857, the S.S. Central America went down in a storm while carrying a cargo of gold coins and bullion. A team led by Bob Evans recovered some of it, and released 1857 PCGS-encapsulated samples of a double pinch (1.5 grams) of gold nuggets, worth one dollar in 1857"

"Unless Mr. Bishop's "double pinch" was recovered during the 2014 expedition, his characterization of Bob Evans as the leader of the team would seem to totally disregard Tommy Thompson's role in the discovery of and recovery from the S.S. Central America. No doubt Bob Evans deserves substantial credit for all his work in that regard but it was Thompson's vision and his persistence that led the team toward success. I would hope that just because Tommy Thompson lingers under incarceration that we would not also deprive him of his due credit."

Bob's a legend, but yes, it was Tommy Thompson who led the team for the historic discovery of the wreck of the S.S. Central America. Neither Steve nor I were sure of when these particular gold nuggets were recovered. -Editor

"Upon further research, I have found that another seller on eBay is stating that the larger nuggets in these samples was recovered in the second recovery conducted in 2014. Here is a link to an article by Q. David Bowers on the S.S. Central America."