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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: Jeff Dickerson, Treasurer Numismatic Bibliomania Society P. O. Box 578, Weatherford, TX 76086 Asylum For Asylum mailing address changes and other membership questions, contact Jeff 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 11/2/2024 - Kolbe & Fanning 1/4/2025 - Workman's Books Watch here for updates!

 

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 SEPTEMBER 22, 2024

New subscribers this week include: Bill Baisden, Michael Roi, and Mitch Kania, courtesy John and Nancy Wilson. Welcome aboard! We now have 7,247 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 NLG awards, two new books, an obituary, updates from the Newman Numismatic Portal, fall PAN show events, and more.

Other topics this week include money in art, art medals, the New Orleans, Louisiana Mint, Alexandria in Nummis, Labor Exchange scrip, John J. Ford, Jr., Fred Holabird's work on the SS Central America, the grandfather of Dansco albums, fixed price and auction previews, the Henley and "Hidden Figures" Congressional gold medals, Shackleton's polar medal, and cleaning currency in Gaza.

To learn more about Private & Pioneer Gold Coins of the U.S., U.S. Treasury Notes 1812-1865, the Crime of 1873, Bitchcoin, Don Stoebner, Nimrod Dix, the Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society, OPA Ration Tokens, New Netherlands catalog descriptions, a gold Mardi Gras Doubloon, dirty dollars, Mary Margaret Rich, Hiram Birth, the Dressed Head of Elizabeth II, the Museum of Victorian Mourning, ambigrams, strobogrammatics and palindromes, the New Brunswick Trial and Pattern Set, Fish Skin Parchment, The Ribbit, Korean Enameled Silver Coins, a "salvageable" numismatic researcher, and a peculiar character believed to be mentally unbalanced, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum

2024 NUMISMATIC LITERARY GUILD AWARDS

David W. Lange Memorial Book of the Year
America's Golden Age: Private & Pioneer Gold Coins of the United States 1786-1862
Donald H. Kagan & David J. McCarthy

Best Book: U.S. Coins
America's Golden Age: Private & Pioneer Gold Coins of the United States 1786-1862
Donald H. Kagan & David J. McCarthy

Best Book: World Coins
Five Guineas and Five Pounds: The King of Coins
Greg Holloway

Best Book: U.S. Paper Money
U.S. Treasury Notes 1812-1865 - An Illustrated History
Nicholas J. Bruyer

Best Book: World Paper Money
Siam Specimen Banknotes Third Series
Jan Olav Wilborn Aamlid

Best Book: Tokens & Medals
Sveriges Kungliga Medaljer
Roberto Delzanno

Numismatic Columns or Articles: U.S. Coins to 1900
Circulation of Foreign Gold and Silver Coins in the United States, 1826
Roger W. Burdette
American Journal of Numismatics 35

Numismatic Columns or Articles:
U.S. Coins 1901 to Date Theodore Roosevelt and the Gold Coin Designs of 1907-1908
Michael F. Moran
ANS Magazine

Numismatic Columns or Articles: World Coins to 1500 (Including Ancients)
The Career of Corutus Tertullus and the Significance of Diana Planciana and the Temple of Artemis at Perge on Nerva's Coinage
Nathan T. Elkins
Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome

Numismatic Columns or Articles: World Coins 1501 to Date
The Coinage of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria: A Guide and Catalogue of the Circulating Coins of the Islamic State, 2016-2017
Maxwell Kalman
American Journal of Numismatics 35

Numismatic Columns or Articles: U.S. Paper Money
Uncoupled: Paper Money's Odd Couple
Fred Schwan/Joseph Boling
Society of Paper Money Collectors Journal

Numismatic Columns or Articles: World Paper Money
Collection Inspiration: Buddhist Sites / Insects / Parrots
Paper Money Guarantee
PMGnotes.com & PMG eNews

Numismatic Columns or Articles: Tokens and Medals
Digging Deeper: Why Did a Revolutionary War Medal Sell For $264,000 / CPG Coin & Currency Market Review
Greg Reynolds
Greysheet.com

Numismatic Columns or Articles: Numismatic Spot News, Marketplace or Analysis
Choosing Designs for U.S. Coins in 2026
Steve Roach
Coin World

Numismatic Columns or Articles: Numismatic History or Personalities
Ernest G. Chormann, Diesinker of Mystery
Dr. Terry A. Bryan
The Centinel - #1 & #2 Winter/Spring 2024

Ed Reiter Memorial Award for Best Column of Series - Numismatic Publications
Origin of Morgan Silver Dollars / Second Phase of Morgan Dollars Powers a Political & Economic Disaster / The Third Phase of Morgan Dollars Relates to India & Britain
Greg Reynolds
CACgrading.com

James L. Miller Memorial Award - Article or Story of the Year
TIE:

The Exciting Competition for British Rarities at the NYINC January 2024
Greg Reynolds
CDN Greysheet

The Crime of 1873: The Legislation That Abolished The Silver Dollar Was Considered To Be A Criminal Act By Some
Robert R. Van Ryzin
The Numismatist

Periodicals: Best Investments Newsletter
The Rosen Numismatic Advisory
Maurice Rosen
The Rosen Numismatic Advisory

Periodicals: Best Professional Periodical
2024 Book of Lists and America's Early Gold Coins
Scott A. Travers
CoinAGE Magazine

Periodicals: Best Club or Not-for-Profit Periodical
ANS Magazine 2023.3 & ANS Magazine 2024.1
Peter van Alfen
The American Numismatic Society

Periodicals: Best Price Guide
The Monthly Greysheet
John Feigenbaum & Patrick Ian Perez
Whitman Brands

Best Website/Digital: Best News or Blog Website
The Reading Room
Darcie Graybill
Money.org

Best Website/Digital: Best Dealer or Industry Website
David Lawrence Rare Coins - John Brush and Andy Jeffrey
www.DavidLawrence.com

Best Website/Digital: Best Numismatic Social Media Account
Instagram
Stack's Bowers Galleries

Auction Catalogs: Best U.S. Coins Auction Catalog
TIE:

The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collections, Part IV
Heritage Auctions

The Sydney F. Martin Collection Part IV
Stack's Bowers Galleries

Auction Catalogs: Best World Coins Auction Catalog
Platinum Session: World & Ancient Coins
Heritage Auctions

Auction Catalogs: Best Paper Money (U.S. or World) Auction Catalog
TIE:

The Ibrahim Salem Banknote Collections of World Penninsulas and Islands Heritage Auctions

The London Chelsea Collections of People's Bank Banknotes 1948-1980
Stack's Bowers Galleries

Auction Catalogs: Best Exonumia/Americana or Numismatic Literature Auction Catalog
The Richard Margolis Collections Part 1
Stacks Bowers

Video: David Lisot Memorial Video Award
The L.E. Bruun Collection: The Most Valuable Collection of World Coins to Ever Come to Market
Stacks Bowers

Multimedia: Best Podcast
Heritage Auctions Unlocking the secret of the World & Ancient Coin Market: What You Need To Know Now!
Heritage Auctions
Cris Bierrenbach and Sam Spiegel

Best Software or App
Heritage Auctions www.HA.com/Live
Heritage Auctions
Paul Minshull, Michael Weems, Brian Shipman, Ryan Sokul and Jim Halperin
HA.com

Best Software or App Heritage Auctions www.HA.com/Live
Heritage Auctions
Paul Minshull, Michael Weems, Brian Shipman, Ryan Sokul and Jim Halperin
HA.com

Special Awards: Lee Martin Founder's Award - Best All-Around Portfolio
TIE:

Steve Roach
CoinWorld

Greg Reynolds
CDN Greysheet/CoinAGE/CACgrading.com

Special Awards: Clement F. Bailey Memorial Award
Sebastian Dadler's Arrival of Princess Mary: A Case Study in Baroque Iconography
Gilman Parsons
The Medal

Special Awards: The Ribbit
Wayne Homren

Special Awards: The Clemy
Jeff Garrett

Special Recognition
Patrick Perez

For more information on the Numismatic Literary Guild , see:
https://www.nlgonline.org/
https://www.nlgonline.org/news/2024-numismatic-literary-guild-award-winners/

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
NEW BOOK: AMERICA'S GOLDEN AGE (https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n33a03.html)
NEW BOOK: FIVE GUINEAS AND FIVE POUNDS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n11a03.html)
NEW BOOK: U.S. TREASURY NOTES, 1812-1865 (https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n30a05.html)
https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n36a10.html : NLG's Ribbit Award Hops Around (https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/club_nbs_esylum_v22n36.html)

NEW BOOK: MONEY IN ART

Money in Art: From Coinage to Crypto
David Trigg

£19.99

HENI Publishing is delighted to present a new book featuring a curated chronological selection of 90 artworks from Pop art to now, from the witty and the political to the beautiful and the conceptual. From pioneers Andy Warhol, Robert Indiana and Lynn Hershman Leeson to contemporary artists Jeremy Deller, Lubaina Himid, Damien Hirst, Kerry James Marshall, MSCHF, Cornelia Parker, Grayson Perry and many more; a key work by each artist is illustrated and accompanied by a short explanatory text by art historian, David Trigg.

As an inescapable aspect of everyday life, money has appeared in the background of art throughout its history within the context of mythological, biblical and historic scenes – from Danaë and the shower of golden coins, to the 30 pieces of silver for which Judas betrayed Jesus. In the last seventy years however, as consumer culture has spread internationally, many artists have given money the centre stage in their work to reflect on various economic, political, social and symbolic concerns that relate to different currencies and formats. In some of these artworks, physical money — banknotes and coins plus cheques and credit cards — is the actual art material, used by artists to question and subvert notions of value or to examine the aesthetics of these quotidian objects.

As the world enters an age of decentralized, virtual currencies, artists have been quick to respond to the creative potential of this new economy, from Sarah Meyohas's creation of her own digital currency, Bitchcoin (2015), to Damien Hirst's The Currency (2021–22) which offered 10,000 art collectors the choice between owning a physical painting or an NFT – with the corresponding element being destroyed – to explore the boundaries between art and currency, and question ideas of value.

An introductory essay sets the scene with an historical overview of money in art, whisking readers from ancient Greek pots and Renaissance paintings by Titian, Rembrandt and Gentileschi, to Dutch genre scenes, still lifes and early twentieth-century Dada collages, and the book opens with a foreword by Canadian economist and former Governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney.

Publication: October 2024
Illustrations: 110
Dimensions: 235 x 195 mm
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-912122-96-7
No. of pages: 192

About the Author
David Trigg is a Bristol-based writer, critic and art historian. He has written widely on contemporary art for books and major art journals, including Studio International, The Art Newspaper, Art Monthly, ArtReview, Frieze and The Burlington Magazine. He is the author of Reading Art: Art for Book Lovers (Phaidon Press, 2018), named one of the ‘art books of the year' by The Times, which examines how artists have depicted books as symbols, subjects and objects. His book Spring (Tate Publishing, 2020) explores the season of spring through artworks from Tate's collection. A selection of his interviews with artists is included in Talking Art 2 (Ridinghouse, 2018).

Contributing Artists
Abdullah M. I. Syed, Alicja Kwade, Andy Warhol, Ann Hamilton, Arman, C. K. Wilde, Carlos Aires, Chris Burden, Christos J. Palios, Cildo Meireles, Claes Oldenburg, Claire Fontaine, Cornelia Parker, Craig Wood, Damien Hirst, Dan Tague (D-TAG), Denis Beaubois, Diana Fonseca, Edward Kienholz, Gabriel Kuri, Gabriel Orozco, Gavin Turk, Genpei Akasegawa, Gerald Machona, Germaine Koh, Gianni Motti, Gilbert & George, Grayson Perry, Guerrilla Girls, Hank Willis Thomas, Hanna von Goeler, Hans-Peter Feldmann, Hew Locke, Hong Hao, J. S. G. Boggs, Jac Leirner, Jan Henderikse, Jens Haaning, Jeremy Deller (with Fraser Muggeridge Studio), Jonathan Horowitz, Jonathas de Andrade, Joseph Beuys, Jota Castro, Justine Smith, K Foundation, Keren Cytter, Kerry James Marshall, Kim Rugg, Koo Jeong A, Lauren Greenfield, Lee Mingwei, Leo Fitzmaurice, Liz Glynn, Louise Lawler, Lubaina Himid, Lucie Davis, Lynn Hershman Leeson, Mandy El-Sayegh, Mark Wagner, McCarren/Fine, Mel Bochner, Meschac Gaba, Michael Dean, Michael Landy, MSCHF, Philipp Valenta, Ray Johnson, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Robert Indiana, Robert Watts, Roman Ondak, Rose Finn-Kelcey, Roy Lichtenstein, Ryan Gander, Ryan Presley, Santiago Montoya, Sarah Meyohas, Shan Goshorn, Thomas Hirschhorn, Tom Friedman, Tom Otterness, Wilfredo Prieto, Xu Qu, Yaw Owusu, Yoan Capote, Yukinori Yanagi

For more information, or to order, see:
Money in Art: From Coinage to Crypto (https://heni.com/publishing/david-trigg-money-in-art-from-coinage-to-crypto)
(https://www.amazon.com/-/he/David-Trigg/dp/1912122960)

NEW BOOK: MAKING MODERN ART MEDALS

Following the success of its original release in 2023 as an e-book, this wonderful resource has been updated to include chapters on working with wax and other essential techniques for the modern medal maker.

Making Modern Art Medals
A Rough Guide for Artistic Journeys

£17.00

Making Modern Art Medals – A Rough Guide for Artistic Journeys – is a brief introduction to the skills of making modern art medals.

It is related to those ‘rough guides' for travel in that it is about exploration, giving you suggestions for directions that you might take on artistic journeys, and practical ideas on how to make them. It is planned for you to discover and experiment with how art medals can be made.

Edited by Marcy Leavitt Bourne With contributions from the artists:

Philip Booth, Abigail Burt, Julian Cross, Sarah Davis, Roddy Mathieson, Martin Page & Danuta Solowiej

For more information, or to order, see:
Making Modern Art Medals (https://bams.org.uk/product/making-modern-art-medals/)

See also:
https://www.instagram.com/p/C__apM4oTAe/

To read the free e-book, see:
BAMS Making Modern Art Medals 2024 (https://issuu.com/marcyleavittbourne/docs/bams_making_modern_art_medals_2024)

 

DONALD STOEBNER (1947-2024)

Donald Stoebner was born on July 29, 1947, in Eureka, South Dakota, to his parents, Raymond Edison and Norma (Neuharth) Stoebner. At the age of 77, Don died on September 10th, 2024 at Mayo Hospital, Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Don grew up in Forbes, North Dakota; attended Forbes Public School K-12. As a youngster, he belonged to 4-H and Boy Scouts. While in high school, he participated in many school activities: Letterman's Club, track, baseball, basketball, annual staff, class play member, and was a trombone player in the school band. Don graduated in 1965 as Valedictorian of his class. He believed that you should never let books interfere with your education! However, Don really did value education and funded a perpetual scholarship at North Dakota State University.

Don earned his teaching degree at the University of North Dakota in Ellendale in 1969. He taught Science classes in Oriska, Braddock, Streeter, and Jud, North Dakota, from 1969-1976. One of his most rewarding accomplishments was creating and coaching a girls' track team in Braddock. With good coaching and great athletes, several individuals qualified for the state track meet! The second was organizing the first girls' basketball team in Streeter and seeing the junior varsity team go undefeated!

A career change for Don was on the horizon. After two years and four summer schools, he received his BS Degree in Pharmacy at North Dakota State University in Fargo in 1978. He worked as a pharmacist in Carson for four years, passed his Wisconsin Boards in 1982, and opened/operated Solar Town Pharmacy in Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin, in July, 1982. In 2005, he sold his business to Vernon Memorial Hospital with a five year work option culminating June 20, 2010.

While working as a pharmacist, Don had memberships in the Lion's Club, the Kickapoo Valley Association, and the Soldier's Grove Community Development Association. He was also a Board Member for the Kickapoo Exchange and the Pharmacy Buying Group of America. In addition, being business-minded, he became involved in a partnership that formed Town and Country Sanitation in 1994. With hard work and perseverance by the partners, Town and Country grew into a thriving business. After 16 years, Don sold his share of this Boscobel-based service in 2010.

Don enjoyed making collections. At one time he collected barbed wire, railroad dated nails, stamps, and even insects! Over the years, he completed and sold many coin sets (pennies, nickels, quarters, and half dollars). In September 2019, he was privileged to be the 20th person ever to complete an entire Sheldon series set of Early American coppers: large cents minted between 1793 and 1814 with over 300 varieties. Most recently, he started collecting New Jersey Coppers dating from 1786-1788. Don loved going to coin shows and buying/selling on eBay. He had memberships in the Early American Copper Club, the Colonial Coin Collectors' Club, and the Boys of 94.

Collecting fine glass evolved into quite a hobby. He and Janelle Earl loved searching for treasures in antique stores and glass shows all across the country. Fostoria American, American Lady, Fostoria Heirloom, Coin Glass, Jenny Lynn, and Fenton were his favorites. He maintained memberships in the Fostoria Glass Society of America in Moundsville, WV, and the Fostoria Glass Society of TN.

Don had a sense of adventure and a zest for learning. He loved exploring all parts of the country especially the back roads of small towns. Finding museums, antique stores, and mom and pop eating places were always high on his priority list. He made several domestic road trips to all the lower 48 states (some more than once) as well as Alaska and Hawaii. Trips abroad included Aruba, Mexico, St Martin, Italy, San Marino, Spain, Canary Islands, Gibraltar, Morocco, Canada, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. He loved taking pictures of unusual things he saw while traveling and could tell stories which captivated his audience!

Don shared his life with his wife, Bonnie McNeil from Ellendale, ND, 1969-1996; his wife, Susan Perry from Abbotsford, British Columbia, 2005-2010; and a special friend and travel buddy, Janelle Earl from Eau Claire, WI, 2011-present.

To read the complete article, see:
Donald Stoebner (https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/33070127/donald-stoebner)

ANA PRESENTS PHILANTHROPY AWARD TO EPNNES

The American Numismatic Association's (ANA) Philanthropy Award publicly honors those who have made significant contributions to the Association that further its strategic mission to expand, enhance, and sustain the hobby of coin collecting. This year, the ANA recognizes the Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society (EPNNES) for its many years of hobby support.

Eric P. Newman (1911-2017) established the organization in 1958 as a private foundation. A lifelong collector, Newman was an influential numismatist and researcher. An attorney by trade, Newman worked for Edison Brothers Stores from 1944 to 1987.

His namesake foundation supports the hobby through a variety of efforts, including the publication of Newman's books and manuscripts. In 2014 it launched the Newman Numismatic Portal (NNP), an online repository of numismatic content. Administered by Washington University in St. Louis and underwritten by EPNNES, the site offers free access to the largest online library of American numismatic literature and archival resources. It currently has over 200 partners, representing regional and specialty clubs, as well as individual authors, and is an invaluable resource for hobbyists and researchers. Since 2019, EPNNES has been offering yearly grants to authors engaging in original research in American numismatics.

EPNNES has made significant financial contributions to the ANA's Summer Seminar and Young Numismatist Scholarship program, as well as other national, regional, and specialty numismatic organizations. Len Augsburger, project coordinator of the NNP for nearly a decade, describes the ANA's Summer Seminar as "one of the most effective programs offered by the ANA." According to Augsburger, the event combines an enthusiastic volunteer force with the ideal proximity of Colorado College. "This immersive numismatic experience is impactful on all attendees, but especially YNs, who have an opportunity to form lifelong connections with like-minded students and, of course, the subject matter itself."

Newman also served for many years as a Scout merit-badge examiner, and he greatly appreciated the value of engaging with this audience. While extensive collections and original scholarship gather public attention, the personal human touch is the glue that binds everything together. The ANA has created a platform that facilitates what Augsburger describes as a "collector connection," which is an indispensable aspect of the hobby community.

Numismatics was an important part of Newman's life. In his role, Augsburger is committed to honoring his legacy by contributing to organizations like the ANA that uphold his values and show a commitment to numismatic education at all levels. Augsburger says the EPNNES appreciates the ANA's recognition. "I hope that our support continues to promote education within the next generation of numismatists."

THE EARLY YEARS OF THE LOUISIANA MINT

Richard Kelly and Nancy Oliver Update New Orleans Treatise

Previously published as Treatise of the early era of the New Orleans Mint, Richard Kelly and Nancy Oliver have released an updated version of their New Orleans Mint history, The Early Years of the Louisiana Mint, 1837-1861. The work is formatted chronologically and serves as a useful companion to the related correspondence from the National Archives. The authors have extracted extensive data on die shipments and coining production, which will allow future researchers to directly reference the correspondence of interest. Contemporary media accounts supplement the work.

Taking the year 1842, for example, the authors have summarized about 40 individual pieces of correspondence, which detail the various comings and goings of Mint personnel, coining dies, and internal politics. Along the way tidbits appear, such as this comment on the 3-cent piece: "November 8th, Patterson reported that Riddell has proposed a 3-cent piece of silver and copper, but Patterson thought it an objectionable coinage." Patterson was ultimately overruled on this point, as the 3-cent silver piece eventually appeared in 1851. Kelly and Oliver's summary of the correspondence will facilitate working with handwritten material that remains to be transcribed.

Newman Portal acknowledges Robert W. Julian, who acquired the related National Archives scans, operating under a grant from Central States Numismatic Society. Roger Burdette contributed image post-processing, while Nicole Fry rearranged the correspondence chronologically.

Images: 1840-O With Drapery 25c, Large-O, PCGS MS64 CAC. Ex. Tom Bender Collection (Heritage Auctions, August 2022), lot 3784, realized $14,400. Images courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

Link to The Early Years of the Louisiana Mint, 1837-1861 on Newman Portal:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/632304

Link to Branch Mint correspondence from the National Archives (record group 104, entry 11):
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/archivedetail/515205

VIDEO: HOW TO START A WORLD COIN COLLECTION

Bob Hurst is president of the FUN organization. He spent time in the military and lived overseas where he learned to enjoy the different coins of the world.

In this presentation you will see and learn:

• What constitutes a "foreign" coin
• Why foreign coins are so interesting to collect
• Areas of interest to collect
• Ways to collect
• Definition and examples of thalers, crowns, and minors
• Topical coin collecting including space, ships, Olympic, animals
• Affordability
• Ways to collect ancients both Roman & Greek
• Importance of condition
• Philosophy of collecting

Speaker(s): Bob Hurst.

From the 2009 Florida United Numismatists convention.

To watch the complete video, see:
How to Start a World Coin Collection (https://youtu.be/hHu6RSk-iDw)

 

OCTOBER 2024 PAN SHOW EVENTS

The Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists (PAN) Fall Coin Show is set to occur on October 17 – 19, 2024 Thursday through Saturday at the Monroeville Convention Center 209 Mall Blvd, Monroeville PA (Pittsburgh suburb). All available dealer tables are sold. A waiting list has been created in case of any cancellations. The PAN show has been consistently growing in scope and size with a very strong public participation. A Thursday 12:00 noon ribbon cutting will welcome all public coin enthusiasts. PAN members are allowed an 11:00am early entry onto the show floor. Thursday evening will be the memorable PAN Banquet booked at the iconic LeMont Restaurant overlooking the beautiful Pittsburgh city skyline. This event is a great place to network between dealers and collectors.

Friday will feature the newly named Richard C. Jewell Lecture Series sponsored by Stack's Bowers Galleries in memory of longtime PAN Clarion Editor, board member, and accomplished numismatist Rich Jewell that recently passed this summer after a long illness. PAN is proud that Stack's Bowers Galleries has offered this kind sponsorship in memory of Rich. ANA President Tom Uram will introduce a fine lineup of speakers and topics that will begin at 1:00pm with Patrick Hipple from the Osborne Mint presenting "OPA Ration Tokens" followed by siege coin expert and author Dr. Lawrence Korchnak presenting "Real Rarities: World Coins with a Mintage of Less than 100". John Frost, Gobrecht Journal Publisher will present "The Many Faces of Liberty Seated" followed again by John Frost as President of the Barber Coin Collectors' Society presenting "Collecting Barbers - Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow".

PAN's Living American History portrayers, Patrick McBride as Benjamin Franklin, Dennis Boggs as Abraham Lincoln, and Curt Radabaugh as General George Washington will again be in attendance during the coin show with their backdrops and props. They have been performing at various national coin shows throughout the country and create quite the buzz during their visits to various cities. PAN originally put together this living history feature and is delighted at the public response and enthusiasm. The show floor also has an active coin club area that includes five Pittsburgh area coin clubs along with specialty coin clubs. If you are new to coin collecting then this area is a must visit for information, questions and knowledge.

Saturday will begin with the 10:00am gathering of the PA Area Token Collectors Organization (PATCO). This group is very accomplished in identifying some of the most obscure tokens.

The PANKidZone registration begins at 11:00am with young collectors receiving cent folders to take to the tables of Wheaties to search through. They will receive goodie bags with PAN auction dollars, coins and more. They will be encouraged to participate in a show floor treasure hunt. KidZone director Malcolm Johnson will present a talk "Collecting for Young Beginners" at 12:00 noon followed by our Living History reenactors with some words of encouragement for young citizens.

Robert O. Stakeley, Heinz History Center, Educational Director will offer a short talk on the current exhibit at the history center followed by games, prizes and culminating with the Kid's auction that is the favorite and highlight of their day. More details and coin show information may be found on the PAN website www.PANcoins.org Contact PAN at PANcoins@gmail.com

 

SYMPOSIUM: ALEXANDRIA IN NUMMIS

International Symposium: Alexandria in Nummis

The Circolo Numismatico Ticinese (CNT) will host Alexandria in Nummis — an international symposium dedicated to the Roman Imperial Coinage of Alexandria (30 BC–AD 298). ANS Trustee Andrew Burnett will present "What Does the Alexandrian Coinage of Elagabalus and Severus Alexander Contribute to Our Understanding of the History of Their Reigns?" and ANS Executive Director Gilles Bransbourg will present "Debasement and the Search for Silver in the Later Second Century". The symposium will be held from September 20–21 in Lugano, Switzerland.

QUERY: WWI SERVICE MEDAL NICKNAME

I was interested to see the husband and wife collection of World War I service medals on the E-Sylum last week. One week ago I would not have recognized them. This past week I was evaluating a collection and needed to learn about them.

These are very common medals. They are "I was there" medals presented for service with no other distinction.

For the medal on the left, the 1914-15 star, the number awarded was 2,350,000. For the medal in the center, the British War Medal, 6,500,000 were awarded. For the medal on the right, the Victory Medal, about 6,000,000 were awarded.

British veterans of The Great War had a nickname for this set of medals. For the Smarty Pants Question this week, what was the nickname and the story behind it?

The collection I saw this week had two of the medals. They appear to be unusual in that they have red and silver ribbons. I could not find an explanation for that color combination.

Smarty Pants bonus question for the week: What do the red and silver ribbons represent?

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
Lot #57: Rare Canadian Husband and Wife Medal Grouping : Lot #57: Rare Canadian Husband and Wife Medal Grouping (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n37a26.html)

OTHER RARE LABOR EXCHANGE SCRIP DESIGNS

Eric Schena writes:

To read the complete lot description, see:
Cincinnati, OH- Labor Exchange 5/100; 10/100; 10/100; 25/100; 25/100; 50/100; 1 Unit Wolka 533-UNL; 07; 07; 08; 08; 09; 10. ... (Total: 7 notes) (https://currency.ha.com/itm/obsoletes-by-state/ohio/cincinnati-oh-labor-exchange-5-100-10-100-10-100-25-100-25-100-50-100-1-unit-wolka-533-unl-07-07-08-08-09-10-total-7/a/3529-18288.s)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: SEPTEMBER 15, 2024 : Unique Labor Exchange Scrip Design? (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n37a14.html)

 

ON THE TUTORSHIP OF JOHN J. FORD

This is a very nice article. However, someone might pick a bone or two, or even an ossuary's-worth, about the put-down of John J. Ford, with respect to his stinginess about sharing information.

1. Ford developed and disseminated numismatic information thru his detailed descriptions in New Netherlands auction catalog auctions. It took a while, but in time the likes of Q. David Bowers and Carl Carlson followed his lead. For a few decades now, a fairly scholarly standard of numismatic cataloging has been de rigeur. Ford also had a relationship with Douglas Ball, PhD, who elevated paper money cataloging at NASCA, in the belief that 'rag pickers' would pay more if you treated them like buyers who could read.

2. Ford hired Breen.

3. Ford was on a panel discussion at the ANA, I believe with Bruce Amspacher. He was marvelous, whether discussing Amspacher's unholed '1820' Beaver token or Mint-basement 60-lb bags of prooflike Morgans. Don't underrate the informational valence of a raconteur.

4. Ford did not write books and articles, it is true. He did write letters that read like encyclopedia entries.

5. Perhaps most significantly, Ford who admired talent, shared his extensive acumen telephonically with Michael Hodder. I believe JJF expected that, as a cataloger, Michael would be entrusted to convert a sprawling collection into an explosion of data. Which Michael did.

6. Ford was also an important collector of Western Americana. I believe the Time-Life books published on the subject feature photos of many Ford pieces.

All this being true, I still wish JJF had published more.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
JEFF GARRETT ON SHARING YOUR COLLECTION (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n37a31.html)

NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: SEPTEMBER 22, 2024

Gold Mardi Gras Doubloon
Bob Rhue writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
MARDI GRAS DOUBLOON DETECTIVE WORK (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n37a13.html)

Afghanistan Pattern 60 Rupee
Regarding a coin in the Stephen Album Rare Coins Auction 50, Martin Purdy asked earlier this month:

AFGHANISTAN: Amanullah, 1919-1929, AV 60 rupee (1 1/2 amani) (6.98g), AH1337 (1918), KM-Unlisted, H-22A, PCGS graded Specimen 61, ex Hakim Hamidi Collection.

An extremely rare gold pattern and we have not found any records of another example of this rare type ever having been offered in public auction.

NOTE: In the printed catalog we incorrectly called this an issue of Habibullah (1901-1919) because the coin dates to 1918, but it is a pattern in the name of the next ruler Amanullah (1919-1929). We also did not mention that the denomination is written as 60 rupee.

To read the complete lot description, see:
AFGHANISTAN: Amanullah, 1919-1929, AV pattern 60 rupee (1 1/2 amani), AH1337 (1918), PCGS SP61 (https://www.sarc.auction/AFGHANISTAN-Amanullah-1919-1929-AV-pattern-60-rupee-1-1-2-amani-AH1337-1918-PCGS-SP61_i53868924)

Martin writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
STEPHEN ALBUM RARE COINS AUCTION 50 (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n35a18.html)

Daniel Webster and Dartmouth College
Laurence Edwards writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
COIN COLUMNIST DANIEL WEBSTER (1932-2018) (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n37a19.html)

An Outdoor Wall of Books
Jeff Rock writes:

Vertical Bill Designs

For more information, see:
https://en.numista.com/catalogue/exonumia417298.html

The Unsanitary Dollar

To read earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
DIRTY MONEY RESEARCH WINS IG NOBEL AWARD (https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n37a27.html)
GERMS AND MONEY (https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n14a35.html)
HISTORY OF MONEY CLEANING (https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n14a36.html)

MARY MARGARET RICH'S 1898 PROOF SET

On page 176 of Karl Moulton's Henry Voight and Others Involved with America's Early Coinage is a photograph of an empty presentation box for a proof set. The purple plush satin inside the top cover is inscribed with gilt lettering, "Mary Margaret Rich / AUGUST 9TH, 1898." The swirling script led Moulton to read Mary Margaret's surname as "Reich," he surmised that since the mother of the early nineteenth-century mint engraver, John Reich was Mary Margaret, perhaps this set belonged to Reich's daughter.

Yet, the golden surname is not Reich, it is Rich, and Mary Margaret Rich has her own story. Her story is unspectacular; some might even say it is not worthy of recounting in a numismatic publication. However, others may wish to reflect upon this somewhat disappointing circumstance, such that we, as advocates of a hobby motivated by preservation, failed to protect Mary Margaret Rich's proof set.

Moulton's book referenced lot 2803 from the January 28, 1990, sale of the Thomas S. Chalkley collection by Superior Stamp & Coin Co, Inc. The empty box later resurfaced in the collection of Eric P. Newman, sold by Heritage Auctions on November 10, 2018, as lot 15770. The Chalkley and Newman catalog descriptions do not trace the box before 1990. Both descriptions indicated the box's exterior was in poor condition; the Chalkley description noted that the hinge was broken.

Six-Piece Proof Set Case. Eric P. Newman Collection Part XI. Heritage Auctions, November 10, 2018, lot 15770

Once the surname is read as Rich, the box with its now missing coins can be found in earlier auction listings. On July 26, 1985, it was offered at Stack's as lot 1860, and on September 13, 1988, it appeared with Bowers and Merena at lot 3549 as part of the collections from the Estates of Philip M. Mann, Jr. & Glenn B. Smedley. The coins were described as "a gem original set," and "the silver coins are uniformly toned in deep silver-gray and iridescent blue and green." The nickel was "brilliant and untoned," and the cent "a deep fiery orange." The case's exterior was noted to be in poor condition; no mention is made of the hinge, though it appears to be firmly intact in the image.

How this set came to Stack's in 1985 is not known. However, it seems likely to have been the possession of Mary Margaret Rich DeWaters (1898–1987), who had been a resident of Grasmere, Staten Island, from the 1930s until just before her death. Mary Margaret Rich was born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, on August 8, 1898, the day before the date on the box. Her parents were Georgine Clarke and George Pawling Rich, an influential Philadelphia attorney. In the announcement of her May 15, 1926, marriage to Walker DeWaters, a University of Pennsylvania graduate from Elmira, New York, and Miami, Florida, Mary Margaret was described as "socially prominent in Germantown and Philadelphia" and "a direct descendant of Governor Hiester of Revolutionary fame and of Sir John Pawling, who held one of the original grants in Pennsylvania [Elmira Star-Gazette, May 19, 1926]."

Before her marriage, Mary Margaret had been a real estate agent and notary. Her obituary stated that she attended the Drexel Institute of Technology in Philadelphia and drove ambulances for the Red Cross during World War II. Mary Margaret Rich and Walker DeWaters (an insurance executive) had a son and a daughter and spent their later years as dealers and collectors of rare French paperweights [The Palm Beach Post, April 30, 1978]. Mary Margaret also had a collection of German bisque dolls [The Item of Millburn and Short Hills (N.J.), September 28, 1972].

It is regrettable that between September 1988 and January 1990, someone in the numismatic community chose to separate the coins comprising the 1898 proof set of Mary Margaret Rich from the presentation box, which had befitted them for nine decades. This article is but a small attempt to make amends.

Chris McDowell writes:

HOLABIRD ON THE SS CENTRAL AMERICA

All last week I received calls, emails and texts regarding the National Geographic/BBC three part series on the SS Central America and Tommy Thompson. Robin and I don't watch regular television anymore, preferring to enjoy the outdoors, friends, online movies, or the occasional streamed series. We didn't know about this series until so many folks mentioned it, and finally one good friend in the Bay area pushed for a commentary, so I relented and we streamed it to the TV last night. Everybody's got to do some "binge" watching now and then, and this show fit the bill. Granted this project occupied parts of 26 years of my life, and since I lived it, I didn't necessarily feel the need to see it.

Wow!

The opening warned me immediately, telling us it is based upon Gary Kinder's Ship of Gold book that came out about 2000. When you hear the phrase "based upon a true story," I hope you can read and hear the loud "message between the lines" … It sets off a fog horn in my ears! …Uh Oh!

The BBC put together an interesting three part series that starts with portions of Kinder's book and evolves into a story about Thompson and the investors. It has the appearance of the BBC selling the story to National Geographic for distribution purposes. Kinder himself is in a good portion of the interviews.

My reactions to what I was watching were "all over the map" in terms of the variety of my exclamations and commentary. It was clear from the beginning that the producers were going to present their interpretations of events in their own way … they had an agenda, and that agenda left gaping holes … holes as big as the Atlantic Ocean, in which the Thompson team found the treasure, and as deep as the Marianas Trench, many times deeper than the 7200 feet where the SSCA still sits, 167 years later.

The show also presented new facts, some of which were and are completely unknown to key personnel of the project. Some of these facts would or could have affected the outcome.

But let's take a deeper look, regardless of what you, or anybody else thinks. Here's my list:

1. Thompson had the vision to look for the SSCA from a scientific point of exploration, not the usual treasure hunter mentality.
2. He may or may not have been the first to examine records of where the ship might have sunk. So what…
3. Thompson had the ability to construct a "crack crew" to explore the historical record and evaluate it on a mathematical probability scale. A "crack crew" to a scientist or an engineer means a crew composed of the best minds on the subjects you could find and assemble.
4. Thompson put together another "crack" crew to use the latest scientific equipment to go out and look for the SSCA, and had the ability to raise the funds.
5. Thompson created a team of professionals to design a complex underwater "recovery vehicle" capable of picking up a $20 gold piece without damaging it 7,200 feet deep on the ocean floor, operated from a ship bouncing in waves you could surf in, operated from a cramped little room loaded with high-tech computer equipment. And … they had to get it back to the ship without damage, time after time.

Those five points are a major premise to the SSCA story. After that is where the waters get murky, which is only partially covered in the three part series. There are lawyers, insurance companies, "n'eer do wells," Federal Judges, US Marshalls, PR crews, investors, inventory specialists, curators, auction houses, cash flow issues, maintenance, security issues, materials transfers, accounting, reporting and so many different, and often competing, important issues that it becomes nigh impossible to put even a small sample in a three part television series.

My involvement was not direct. I was not brought in until after years of litigation – about 1998 as I recall. I was recommended by Dr. Bob Chandler, Wells Fargo's chief historian, asked at first to be an independent consultant to the Court, reporting to Judge Clark. But by Court agreement, was paid by the insurance companies. I was asked for my unbiased opinion and inventory of the recovered goods. Not one single person tried to influence me in any form whatsoever, and I wouldn't have put up with it. Right off the bat I created a security system for the inventory process that insured no monkey business of any kind. It kept my team, and the salvor's team equally safe in all regards.

I later was asked to work for the insurance companies - the seven surviving insurers that were granted standing, while the other nearly 125 or so "suitors" had their claims thrown out of Court.

I sat in on several mandatory settlement conferences, Judge conferences and so forth.

A settlement procedure to "split" the treasure was complex, agreed by both parties. This was handled in a locked room full of US Marshalls, lawyers and principals. Bob Evans and I sat on opposite sides of a table for this all-important "poker" game. That day, specifically, was the exact release date for Kinder's book on the SSCA. It is interesting to me today to look at Google sources claiming various specific release dates of the book, none of which are correct. Most may not know this, but major book releases are carefully and tightly controlled by the publisher. The release date is date specific, subject to penalties. You may have read about some of these penalties during the Harry Potter series releases. I mention this only as an example to remind the reader that many stories are based on a true story, but the real truths may not be evident.

Over ensuing years I worked for the lawyers representing some investors.

Then after a few more years, I was asked to assist in the appraisal of the SSCA artifacts under the guidance of the same appraiser that handled the appraisal of the Titanic artifacts. Can you say "fun?" Holy smoke, what a project!

Afterwards, a Court Receiver approached me regarding other issues.

We were awarded the sale of the artifacts, only to have the deal taken away later.

A few years later, we were asked to sell the artifacts, and did so through two sales. Each of these sales utilized all new concepts in education and marketing. I asked for, and received, assistance from Bob Evans, a critical move important to my educational and marketing concepts. We both re-entrenched ourselves into the project, this time on the same team. The results were magical.

We examined items not seen in a quarter century, having sat in storage waiting for legal release. We wrote articles with information heretofore unknown, deeply researched, presenting them in a way all could understand. I decided to utilize original three dimensional photographs Bob had just found in old file drawers that no one had seen in decades. In fact, the two of us spent a day, that felt like 15 minutes, looking at these amazing color slides in three-d. I solicited essays from several crew members, receiving a couple articles from the archaeologist on the 2014 recovery expedition.

During those two sales I had the opportunity to meet some of the original investors, none of whom I had ever met. I had always assumed I'd get phone call after phone call from some of them, but never did, probably because the lawyers were the intermediaries. It is always a pleasure to meet involved people and share stories we all have never heard.

Through my entire multi-decade work on the SSCA, I had the great fortune and pleasure to work with some of the best minds in a wide myriad of subjects, inclusive of legal, science, antiquities and more. What a joy!

Last year or so, I was interviewed by the BBC over a couple days. I had a post-interview email telling me they'd tell me about the show later, but it never came. Those interviews also had an agenda, as you might expect, because the layering of the stories is so complicated. They didn't want to vary from the "script."

So what do I think?

I don't feel compelled to comment on the last two episodes of chasing Tommy Thompson. Yes, I was involved to a very small degree.

What I do want to point out is "the BIG PICTURE," that Thompson and his team did something no one else had ever done, or could do, … recover the greatest American gold treasure.

The "real" and complete story will probably never be told. It is simply far too complicated and complex to a point where the average person would never be able to understand it. More books will be written. More stories will be told.

I've had a truly great career. I've managed open pit gold mines, managed environmental cleanups, managed undersea gold operations, had many engineering, scientific, and historical industry "firsts" in an amazing career that required imagination, vision and the ability to follow through. I've worked side-by-side with some of the greatest minds in the industries I've been associated with, a true blessing. The SSCA was just one of these great projects. I'm darned thankful it came my way, and made associations with so many of the players, regardless of what side of the "line" they were on. I kept a middle road. It can be tough to do…

To read a short new article from the Raleigh News & Observer, see:
Ship carrying $1.5M in gold sank off NC 167 years ago. What happened to the treasure? (https://www.newsobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article292292799.html)

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
LATEST SS CENTRAL AMERICA TREASURES AT LONG BEACH (https://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n05a10.html)
REVIEW: CURSED GOLD: A SHIPWRECK SCANDAL (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n36a14.html)

 

ASHMOLEAN EXHIBIT REVIEW: MONEY TALKS

The serpentine flash of a dollar sign, in Andy Warhol's black and gold canvas, opens this fascinating show. Brusque, abrupt; splashes of paint scattering around it like cartoon speed marks – the motif seems to drive towards the future. That it is priceless today, and now looks so very evidently handmade, probably goes against the spirit in which it was churned out of Warhol's Factory back in 1981. It represents what it shows, but by now exponentially – the most recognisable symbol of wealth in the world.

Dollar Sign is an ideal start to an exhibition that explores money through art. Depictions of money are legion, and there are plenty on display: Rembrandt's etching of The Goldweigher with his fatly bagged coins; James Gillray's caricature of Pitt the Younger with a stomach full of sovereigns, belching paper money from his mouth; a sharp 1933 painting by the overlooked English artist Charles Spencelayh. An old man holds a 10 shilling note up to the light only to discover it has no watermark. It's the standard Great Depression fraud. His eyes are already dim with dismay.

But this show goes deeper into the evergreen relationship between art and money. For money, after all, is in itself both an image and an object. It might be an ancient scrap of paper inscribed with fluid Arabic calligraphy or a Roman coin bearing an emperor's tough profile (startling drawings by Rubens, based on coins he acquired on Italian trips, would be transformed by the Flemish master into portraits of Nero, Vespasian and Vitellius for his Antwerp house).

But even these coins, no matter how functional, start out as works of art. One of the most enthralling sequences here shows all the many different portraits of Edward VIII made to be adapted for his head on a coin; some deselected because they showed him as too young or in expensive evening dress. Edward wanted the obverse images to appear more "modern", favouring, among others, designs by John Francis Kavanagh, head of sculpture at Leeds College of Art.

It is startling to learn that the so-called Dressed Head of Elizabeth II, as sculpted by Arnold Machin RA in 1966, is the most reproduced image in history (300bn copies to date). And here it is, the original shallow relief of the young queen in her crown, as subtle but not as characterful as Martin Jennings's profile head of her careworn son Charles III from 2023. The curators are surely right to wonder whether the move to virtual money will lessen this crownless portrait's impact.

To read the complete article, see:
Money Talks: Art, Society and Power review – a vivid, revelatory look at two sides of the same coin (https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/article/2024/aug/18/money-talks-art-society-and-power-ashmolean-museum-oxford-review-there-are-two-sides-to-everything)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
EXHIBIT: MONEY TALKS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n28a20.html)

VOCABULARY TERM: PRIZE MEDAL

Prize Medal. Any form of medallic item used as an award in a contest, race or game where there is competitive action and more than one contestant. (A medal awarded without competitive action to one recipient only is called a recognition.) Bestowing a medal as a prize is as old as the Roman games, and has continued throughout the civilized world for thousands of years taking on other, often more gaudy forms, such as trophies, cups, bowls, sashes, belts and such.

Prize medals have earned a number of names, including: victory medal (first or most victorious), grand prix (chief prize), premium (an 18th century prize name), and others such as the Grand Prix de Paris (a horse race since 1863), and Grand Prix de Rome (a French government art prize to study in Rome). Money, certificates and privileges often accompany medals as prizes. Occasionally a number of prize medals are awarded at one time (as in a race, for first, second, third, etc. place). Various systems of medal rank have evolved; the most obvious are gold, silver and bronze, in that order. (Although historically gold has not always been more valuable than silver.) Others are:

1. platinum
2. gold
3. vermeil
4. silver
5. bronze gilt
6. silverplate
7. bronze
8. white metal.

With two sizes of dies in three compositions:

1. large gold
2. small gold
3. any vermeil
4. large silver
5. small silver
6. any bronze.

In satire tin and lead are included in metal rank as the last place (lead) and next to last (tin).

To read the complete entry on the Newman Numismatic Portal, see:
Prize Medal (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/dictionarydetail/516548)

AMBIGRAMS, STROBOGRAMS AND PALINDROMES

A three-day exhibition of currencies and coins, organised by the Tiruchi Notaphily Society, is currently under way in the city.

Various collectors engaged in philately, notaphily (the collection of currencies), and numismatics showcased their collection with some available for sale.

The three-day expo features some rare and ancient coins displayed by private collectors. Art works, some fossilised wood, and ammonite specimens have been exhibited.

One of the highlights of the exhibition was the 600 Ringgit bank note from Malaysia commemorating the Malaysian 60th anniversary of independence as well as a 1000000000 Dinar Yugoslav bank note.

The expo showcased bus tickets bearing ambigrams, strobogrammatics and palindromes.

To read the complete article, see:
What Are Radar Notes? (https://www.pcgs.com/news/what-are-radar-notes)

To read the complete article, see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strobogrammatic_number

 

To read the complete article, see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambigram

To read the complete article, see:
Currency and coin expo under way in Tiruchi (https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/currency-and-coin-expo-under-way-in-tiruchi/article68667707.ece)

RICHARD MCPHERREN CABEEN (1887-1969)

Something different this week. No one told me I couldn't write about a stamp collector so I am writing about a stamp collector. He was also a coin columnist.

Richard McPherren Cabeen was born in Seaton, Illinois, on May 11, 1887, the son of Jashua Cabeen (1855-1914), a dry goods merchant, and Hattie Sophia McPherren Cabeen (1857-1940).

Cabeen began collecting stamps in 1898. He joined the Chicago Philatelic Society in 1911 and eventually became their oldest living member.

He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1909 with a B. S. degree in architecture. Then in July he took employment with the architectural firm of Holabird, Root and Burgee where he worked for more than fifty years.

Richard married Blema Eulaila Meagher (1887-1969) on October 28, 1910. (This is the first time I have written about someone named Blema Eulaila.) They had no children.

Cabeen wrote a column for The Collector's Journal and Weekly Philatelic Gossip beginning in 1913. Some of his articles appeared under the pen name of "Sandy." He was one of the most important writers on stamp collecting for his time.

Cabeen took a leave of absence from his job during the First World War from November 1917 to February 1919 to serve as chief of the engineering division with the Bureau of Aircraft Production.

Cabeen was a columnist and stamp editor for the Chicago Sunday Tribune from September 11, 1932, to his death in 1969. He wrote under the byline of Richard McP. Cabeen. The paper encouraged stamp dealers to run classified ads on the same page as the articles.

Cabeen had a column in Popular Mechanics briefly starting in 1937.

In the Friday, June 17, 1966, issue of The Chicago Tribune, it was announced that Cabeen's column, "The Coin Collector" would begin running on Sunday. The paper would devote a page each week to various hobbies. Cabeen's column in the June 19 issue was "Why Such a Fuss Over Clad Coins?"

He wrote a series of 31 monographs called The Chicago Tribune Series of Booklets on United States Stamps published between 1934 and 1939.

Richard McP. Cabeen joined the ANA in 1938 as member 6847. He wrote The Standard Handbook of Stamp Collecting, published in 1957. In 1960, he was honored by the American Philatelic Society with the Luft Award. It is their highest honor and equivalent to the ANA Farran Zerbe Award, He was added to the American Philatelic Society Hall of Fame in 1971.

In December of 1938, he was admitted as a member of the Chicago Coin Club. He frequently exhibited coins at the club meetings including rare gold coins. In 1938, Cabeen donated $5.000 to the club for any purpose they intended. The club created the Richard Cabeen Exhibit Award for the best exhibiting at their monthly meetings. The first award was presented to Cabeen at the January 1969 dinner.

In the February 1943 issue of The Numismatist, he announced that he was looking for donations of maps for the Army Map Service.

In 1951 he presented a paper at the ANA convention on "The Mint in the Tower." This was later published in The Numismatist.

In 1962, there was a series of home invasion robberies in Chicago. Richard and Blema were robbed by three masked men on March 4, 1962. While the couple slept in the basement, a robber climbed a utility pole to gain entrance through an upstairs window. The couple was bound with strips cut out of bedsheets while the robbers made several trips outside to carry off the loot. With the phone lines cut, Cabeen used his revolver to fire four shots into the floor, alerting neighbors. The estimated value of the loss was $50,000.

In April, acting on a tip, police staked out a property that was similar to previous robberies. Three suspects walked into the trap. Killed in the resulting shoot-out were Andrew Chervenak and Kenneth Daniels. Pierre Mager was wounded in the arm. Cabeen and his wife identified two as the robbers who broke in back in March. Several other victims of similar robberies also identified the men as the robbers.

The gang was identified as the Guido-Yonder gang, also described as the silk-stocking gang. Two more of the gang were killed by other members of the gang. Gang leaders Nick Guido and Frank Yonder were convicted of a different robbery and sentenced to 60-100 years in prison. Both were released in 1979 after serving only sixteen years of their sentence. In August 1967, Richard and his wife Blema bequeathed their townhouse to the Collectors Club of Chicago. The club made him an honorary life member in January 1968. The four-story red stone building has been renovated and remains in use by the club.

Cabeen died at home in Chicago on April 13, 1969, and is buried with Blema at Graceland Cemetery. The responsibility for the Chicago Tribune coin column was passed to Leonard W. Stark.

Following his death, the Collector's Club of Chicago published Chicago Postal History as a tribute. It is based on previous writings of Cabeen.

The Collector's Club of Chicago offers a virtual tour of the Cabeen house.

To take the virtual tour, see:
https://www.collectorsclubchicago.org/cabeen-house-virtual-tour/

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
COIN COLUMNIST DANIEL WEBSTER (1932-2018) (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n37a19.html)

ARNO SAFRAN INTERVIEW, PART TWO

GREG BENNICK: Now I'm curious about how you tied that [your passion for music] into numismatics too because you said that you do the same thing with numismatics. Do you mean that you tried to get numismatics to be something more accessible for say, young numismatists or collectors somehow?

ARNO SAFRAN: It's hard for the young people today, because we live in a total…I mean most of the people that are serious collect a lot of stuff that comes out of a mint, you know all the stuff that's coming out. Because all of the coins that we have are no longer silver or gold. I mean you can get silver and gold from the mint, but that's not coins… and the stuff that's used as far as coins today is probably getting change, getting change out. You know most people use the cards like I do. I don't spend a dime. I take my card out when I go to the supermarket and things of that nature and that's sort of a strange thing.

But, if I see a nice quarter - remember that we now have the new quarters which are terrific - I save them up a little bit, just because I like the design on it and the fact that many women that are on it. But they're not rare. I mean it's my own personal enjoyment to see that kind of thing, that women are getting a real break on the on the reverses of the quarters today.

GREG BENNICK: Sure.

ARNO SAFRAN: And, so I enjoy that, even though it's not worth more than 25 cents. I enjoy it.

GREG BENNICK: Now where were your, ultimately where were your passions with collecting itself. You weren't a dealer as much as you were a collector. So, you were focused on specific series more than others? I think that Barber coinage and Seated coinage. Am I right in that?

ARNO SAFRAN: Yeah I was never a dealer. I was lucky in New Jersey. We had a tremendous amount of dealers scattered all over the state. And that you know back then, the coins were probably considered as expensive to what the economy was as they are now today. But you could get some great stuff, you know in New Jersey at that time and of course, that was the same thing for New York City and Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. Now, when you go down here, when I came down here it's you know, it was all you know, dollars, that's all they wanted to collect, was dollars you know, Morgan dollars.

But now it's changed, they collect everything now. I mean they're not, they're not like they used to be. They're much more widespread and the articles I write based on the fact of having a purpose. If you collect a set, even if it's without the gold, you know five or six coins and they all look pretty damn good and you know, I think it makes an impression on them. Plus, I tell them who the president might have been at that time and what was going on and when I give a special program, which is the PowerPoint program, I use a lot of politics in it. Not serious politics, I don't say, "Vote for this guy," not kind of that crap. Who was president at the time, what was going on in the country, who were the people, how they dressed at that time. I'll show slides of that, along with the coins.

GREG BENNICK: The website that I found that has your PowerPoint presentations on it is so extensive, meaning I thought, "Oh, okay, great. I found a PowerPoint. Wait a minute. I found another. Wait, there's a whole list of them!" And then you start going down the list, and there's dozens of them. So, you've given so many presentations that combine history and numismatics and insights about grading, and there's all sorts of things. It's fantastic.

ARNO SAFRAN: Well, it's part of my, as I said, being a college professor earlier. Before that I was a professor of elementary school children from the age of first grade all the way up to fifth grade and sixth grade, going all the way back to the 19, I guess, 60s or 70s. 1960s, I think. But I enjoyed little kids, too. I used to play Aaron Copland's music for the little kids.

GREG BENNICK: And how was the response to that?

ARNO SAFRAN: Yeah, and their response was that they loved it.

GREG BENNICK: I'm so glad.

ARNO SAFRAN: Because it was the stories that they liked. Copland was a marvelous composer. And so, I was able to do certain things which made me feel good and made them feel good. The parents loved that. They loved the fact that - because I lived in Princeton, New Jersey at the time - and the parents, you know, were pretty uppered - they lived in New Jersey, and especially in Princeton, where there was a lot of money in those days.

GREG BENNICK: Of course.

ARNO SAFRAN: And we didn't get much more than a teacher's salary. We lived in a house that was divided with other people. So, it was not what you call the highest level. But, the kids loved me and their parents loved me, too.

GREG BENNICK: So great. Now, do you have a favorite presentation of the ones you've given? Or are there ones that you remember as being your favorites?

ARNO SAFRAN: One of my favorites is the coins the grandfather used. My grandfather, Charlie, was born in 1875. And he used to give us a quarter, a Washington quarter, in the late 1930s, if we were a good boy or a good girl…grandchild. And he never had a three-cent piece or a one-dollar gold coin. But I wasn't a collector back then, so I didn't ask him. He died in 1958. And I was not collecting coins back then at that time.

My father grounded me when I was 14, He brought me a low-graded 1857 cent. And it was probably a Good grade. He'd found it in a gum machine in New York subway station. He worked in downtown Manhattan. And it made me feel, like I said, like… look at Lincoln could have used this coin! And I started collecting then. I found a beautiful dime in - it was known as Gimbel's Department Store, which is closed now. Back in 1947 or 1948 or 1949 around that period of time. And it was a dime of 1825, graded XF, no XF45 or any of that stuff. It had beautiful toning, and it cost me four dollars and 50 cents. This is about the 10th time I bought some coins. And he said, how much did you pay for it? And I said, four dollars and 50 cents. And he said, you're grounded. You're only getting a two-dollar allowance.

He was very, he was very conservative. You know, he just don't understand that. And I didn't start collecting again until the 1976, the 200th anniversary that got me. But I still have that coin. And it's now an AU 53, according to PCGS. But, you know, PCGS. But it's nicer than what they called it. I think it's better than that. And not only that, I think it's worth a thousand dollars than 750 or 800. It's gorgeous. I still have it.

About the Interviewer
Greg Bennick (www.gregbennick.com) is a keynote speaker and long time coin collector with a focus on major mint error coins. Have ideas for other interviewees? Contact him anytime on the web or via instagram @minterrors.

To watch the complete video, see:
Arno Safran Interviewed for the NNP by Greg Bennick (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/641275)

To read the complete transcript, see:
Arno Safran Interviewed for the NNP by Greg Bennick (Transcript) (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/641274)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
ARNO SAFRAN INTERVIEW, PART ONE (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n36a19.html)

THE GRANDFATHER OF MODERN DANSCO ALBUMS

Ervin J. Felix was a coin and stamp expert who worked as the West Coast distributor for the Coin & Currency Institute (C&CI) in the late 1950s and early '60s. After almost a decade of distributing albums for C&CI, he had heard a lot of feedback from dealers and collectors on what they liked and disliked about the current coin albums in the market.

In 1963 Felix took his insights and left C&CI to create a competing set of albums, the Continental Line series. Since he was in Southern California and Dansco was already based in Los Angeles, he contracted with Dansco to make his albums. Felix posted several advertisements of his albums in a few issues of Coin World.

The Continental Line series only ran for a few years. Still, Felix made significant changes during that time. He switched the binder material from vinyl to faux leather and expanded the line of albums to include countries such as Austria, Germany, and Luxembourg.

Impressed with the quality and success of the Continental Line series and realizing the popularity of the coin-album format with collectors, Dansco purchased the rights from Felix. Dansco would continue the Continental Line series for a short time. However, the firm quickly transitioned the Continental Series to the now beloved brown Supreme Albums we know today. Dansco eventually focused less on coin folders and more on manufacturing coin albums.

The great irony is that Felix later joined Whitman—well known for its famous blue albums—as its senior stamp editor for the Stamp & Coin Supply Merchandiser. The modern-day brown Supreme albums still serve as Whitman's most significant competitor today.

To read the complete article, see:
The Grandfather of Modern Dansco Albums (https://readingroom.money.org/the-grandfather-of-modern-dansco-albums/)

NUMISMAGRAM MEDAL SELECTIONS: SEPTEMBER 22, 2024

102732 | FRANCE. Vienne. Contract Lawyers of Châtellerault silver Jeton. Issued circa late 19th century (32mm, 11.19 g, 12h). LEX EST QUODCUMQUE NOTAMUS (the law is whatever we write down), open book containing the law; scales below // ARRONDISSEMENT DE CHATELLERAULT / VIENNE, CHAMBRE / DES / NOTAIRES in three lines. Edge: «cornucopia» ARGENT. Lerouge 90. PCGS MS-65. Lustrous and cartwheeling with brilliance, with intense iridescent toning upon each side. The only such example of the type in the PCGS census. Ex Collection "PL." $325.

To read the complete item description, see:
102732 | FRANCE. Vienne. Contract Lawyers of Châtellerault silver Jeton. (https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/102732)

102898 | UNITED STATES & GERMANY. Woodrow Wilson cast bronze Medal. Issued 1915. American Neutrality (57mm, 93.60 g, 12h). By K. Goetz in München. • WOODROW • WILSON • / LIBERTY • NEVTRALITY • HVMANITY, bust of U.S. president Woodrow Wilson facing slightly right, wearing laurel wreath and stole decorated with imperial eagle of Germany and double eagle of Austria-Hungary // AMERIKA'S NEVTRALES • HANDELN (America's "neutral" action), Uncle Sam seated left on canon balls, presenting battleship and holding bag of money [$]100[,]000; cannon in background. Edge: Plain. Kienast 149; The Art of Devastation, p. 143, fig. 6 & p. 274, no. 69; Böttcher Coll. 5428. Choice Mint State. Deep brown surfaces, with charming relief. $495.

To read the complete item description, see:
102898 | UNITED STATES & GERMANY. Woodrow Wilson cast bronze Medal. (https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/102898)

102831 | GERMANY. Zeppelin, Eckener & Dürr silver Medal. Issued 1929. Commemorating the world tour of the LZ-127 Graf Zeppelin (36mm, 24.94 g, 12h). By O. Glöckler at the Berlin mint. • ZEPPELIN DER SCHÖPFER • ECKENER DER FÜHRER / • DÜRR DER ERBAUER •, busts left of Zeppelin, Eckener, and Dürr // I WELTFAHRT DES LUFTSCHIFFS »GRAF ZEPPELIN«, view of the Earth centered upon the North Pole, with the airship's flight path outlined throughout. Edge: PREUSS. STAATSMÜNZE • SILBER 900 FEIN. Hans Kaiser 511; Button 243; Müller 2249. PCGS SP-66. Highly vibrant and prooflike, with some scattered cobalt and amber toning throughout. $325.

To read the complete item description, see:
102831 | GERMANY. Zeppelin, Eckener & Dürr silver Medal. (https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/102831)

102795 | PORTUGAL. "Rouge et Noir" plexiglass & stainless steel Triptych. Issued 2002 (72mm x 110mm [each], 493.60 g [total]). By J. M. da S. Teixeira. Three pieces in the form of playing cards: Ace of Hearts, Six of Clubs, and Two of Diamonds. The Medal 43, pp. 81-3 (for the artist's take on the position of the medal within the world of plastic art). As Made. Set numbered 2/5. Includes t-shirt. Extremely rare, unusual, and interesting. Ex David Nicholas Silich Collection. $395.

To read the complete item description, see:
102795 | PORTUGAL. "Rouge et Noir" plexiglass & stainless steel Triptych. (https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/102795)

NEW BRUNSWICK TRIAL AND PATTERN SET

Brian Bell writes:

PROVINCE OF CANADA, NEW BRUNSWICK TRIAL and PATTERN SET OF 10 "Most Canadian numismatists can only dream about owning this unique set"

This investment lot features two one-of-a-kind coins and an opportunity of a lifetime. The set includes:

• 1861 One Cent, NB-1. PCGS SP65, Brown. London mint, KM6. Bronze, designed by Wyon, gorgeous surfaces with traces of luster in the legends, Ex: Temple, Bell.

• 1862 Ten Cents, NB-2. PCGS SP63. Reflective fields under gun metal toning. PCGS indicates this is the only coin graded and may be the only example available to collectors. Surely one of the most outstanding New Brunswick pieces in existence. Ex: Norweb, Temple, Bell. A digital search of the British Museum and the National Currency Collection of Canada was also performed with no hits.

• 1862 One Cent, NB-3. More of a trial piece, this coin was issued as part of the extremely rare 1862 Specimen set. Very rare with only two examples known to exist in private hands and both have been certified as Specimen 64 by PCGS. This piece has the more desirable red brown designation with reflective fields under mahogany patina. Ex: Norweb, Temple, Bell.

• 1862 Twenty Cents, NB-4. This is an obituary medalet for George W. Wyon, engraver at the Royal Mint. This piece is especially intriguing as a type because of the obverse die was muled with a reverse design that was exclusively used for the Province of New Brunswick 20 cent pieces of 1862 and 1864.This PCGS SP65+ The finest example (by two grades) certified by PCGS. The eye-appeal includes highly reflective silvery pockets in the fields and a stunning array of vibrant autumn-orange in the centers that transitions to a mix of cobalt-blue and burgundy patina at the peripheries.

• 1870 Five Cents, NB-5. Elusive even at the National Currency Museum. Possibly unique and the only Specimen certified (PCGS SP63), this example displays attractive mottled toning with underlying luster. Ex: Norweb, Temple, Bell.

• 1870 Ten Cents, NB-6a. This example has a reeded edge. The only example graded at PCGS (SP63), the devices are nicely frosted and combine the watery fields to create a pronounced cameo contrast. This coin may be unique outside of the museum example. Ex: Temple, Bell.

• 1870 Ten Cents, NB-6b. This example has a plain edge. PCGS SP63 with mottled gold, russet, and cobalt-blue toning. This coin may be unique outside of the NCC example. Ex: Norweb, Temple, Bell.

• 1871 Twenty Cents, NB-8. Reeded edge, one of three example graded at PCGS (SP62) only one example triumphs this. The fields are highly mirrored with pristine surfaces and a hint of champagne toning. Ex: Temple, Bell.

• 1875 Five Cents, NB-9. We believe this may be unique outside of the National Currency Collection. PCGS SP63, toned in an appealing silver-gray with reflective surfaces. Another one of the special coins in this collection.

• 1875H Five Cents, NB-10. As NB-9, except for the H mint mark. The only example graded at PCGS (SP62) with light champagne toning combining with reflective satiny surfaces, the overall appearance is extremely appealing.

We believe this to be unique with no photo provided in Charlton. Charlton states "the previous six pieces (NB-5 to NB-10) obviously have nothing to do with contemplated designs for New Brunswick, since they bear dates after Confederation. It is believed that Sir Charles Fremantle, Deputy Master of the Royal Mint 1868-1894, arranged for proof Specimens of Canadian coins to be struck for the Royal Mint Museum Collection."

Part of the Geoffrey Bell Collection.

To read the complete lot description, see:
Province of Canada Pattern Set of 10 (https://auctions.gbellauctions.com/Province-of-Canada-Pattern-Set-of-10_i53971991)

Brian adds:

STACK'S BOWERS FALL 2024 MAASTRICHT SALE

By the time you read this, you will have had a chance to take a look at the catalog for the upcoming Fall 2024 Maastricht Auction, which will take place on October 2, 2024, and offer nearly 850 lots of paper money from around the world. In this blog, I won't focus on the rarest and most expensive notes in the sale, but instead will highlight some of my personal favorites. As I was cataloging the sale there are some notes that just stood out. While I am limited to the available space in the catalog, this blog allows me to expand a little more on why I think these notes are so interesting.

Lot 20171 is a 5 Rigsdaler from Denmark dated 1863, Pick-A62a, graded Very Fine 20 by PMG. Prior to the middle of the 19th century the paper money of much of Scandinavia, including Denmark, was rather simplistic, typically black and white notes printed in a uniface format. While this note is still uniface, its design is a radical change from earlier types, with a lovely and highly detailed engraving. It's also a type that is not very often encountered and, in my opinion, would make a worthwhile addition to any advanced Scandinavian collection.

The next lot stood out to me because of its history. Lot 20350 offers a 50 Reichsmark issued at several Reichsbank offices in Austria in the final days of World War II. Graded Choice Uncirculated 64 EPQ by PMG, this is a most curious note, essentially an official reprint of contemporary circulating notes that was issued into circulation as an emergency measure when new notes could no longer be supplied. A random bank note was taken and reproduced as a photomechanical print. Of course, because of this process, each serial number was the same, but desperate times called for desperate measures. The 50 Reichsmark was one of three denominations issued as such; all are reminders of the hectic times of early 1945.

Issued around the same time, lot 20614 is another note from the World War II period, this one printed in the United States by American Bank Note Company. This 1943-dated 50 Gulden from the Netherlands is graded About Uncirculated 50 by PMG and represents the key denomination of this important series. While liberation of the entire Netherlands did not take place until May 1945, the southern regions of the country were already liberated in fall 1944. Here, the government issued this series of notes, which had been ordered by the government-in-exile the previous year. They remained in circulation for a relatively short period of time, as soon after the capitulation, the monetary reform of 1945 saw the introduction of new notes and withdrew all previous types in circulation (including these), making this a short-lived series that represents the liberation of the Netherlands.

Unlike many other areas in numismatics there are still discoveries waiting to be made "in the wild, and lot 20715 is one such find. This 1 Pound from the Standard Bank of South Africa (graded PMG Choice Fine 15) was issued at the Salisbury branch in Rhodesia (present-day Zimbabwe) and is dated 1st July 1919. According to the Pick catalog, the first date of this issue is 1925, which is obviously not correct. This note came to us in an otherwise ordinary consignment, but the note is definitely something special. Unlike later dates, it does not feature a cursive R in the underprint, and in my opinion, constitutes a separate type. Even over a century after the note was issued, no one had realized the specialness of that date until now.

My final personal favorite is actually a group of three lots, lots 20805, 20806 and 20807. These three notes from the Bank of St. Gallen in Switzerland from the 1830s are remainders or proofs printed in the United States by Draper, Toppan, Longacre & Co. of New York. What makes this trio so interesting is that in appearance they look more like contemporary obsolete notes from the United States than Swiss notes. The vignettes used by the printer should be familiar to collectors of obsolete bank notes, as they were used quite frequently by the printer. A fascinating group showing that even in the 1830s banks shopped around to find the most suitable printer for their circulating currency.

The entire Fall 2024 Maastricht auction is available for viewing and pre-sale bidding at StacksBowers.com.

TOM'S NUMISMATIC DIARY SEPTEMBER 22, 2024

It was ‘back-to-school night' at the September Nummis Nova dinner with sixteen folks in attendance. We commandeered a long table in the Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar at the Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax, Virginia.

Julian Leidman presides at the East head of table with Julian's guest Erik Douglas, Wayne Herndon's guest Evan Saltis, Steve Bishop, Eric Schena, Dave Schenkman, Wayne Herndon, and Mike Markowitz disappearing in the distance on the left.

Lorne LaVertu presides at the West head of table with Jon Radel, Chris Neuzil, Wayne Homren's guest John Kraljevich, Daryl Haynor, Tom Kays (presently invisible), Wayne Homren, and Mike Packard on the left.

With so many high caliber coin folks in one place, the numismatic excellence of ‘show and shares' was simply overflowing, nearly never ending, and blinding with luminous objects of high interest. Highlights in the order I saw them (many photographed under restaurant mood lighting) include:

• R. S. Nelson – Aluminum Good for Five Cents in Trade Token (circa 1900) which was an African American- owned Saloon once located somewhere between Henrico and Richmond, Virginia (a very rare item);
• A large silver medal (circa 1850) presented to Officers of the Palmetto Regiment for Mexican American War battles of Vera Cruz, Contreras, Churbusco, Chapultepic, and Caritas;
• The book Carnival Panorama – New Orleans Mardi Gras Medals and Krewes 1884 – 1965 with inset 1966 Official Parade Schedule medal in golden aluminum available exclusively to purchasers of this book, by Jay Guren and Richard Ugan;
• An 1876 Philadelphia, Lingg & Brothers trade token for Watches and Jewelry (Established in 1857) in an NGC MS-65 holder;

• A Byzantine, Constantinople gold Semissis of Emperor Leontius (AD 695 – 698) wearing crown and loros, holding globus cruciger / VICTORIA AVGUS with cross potent on globe (pictured here when still having his nose, a long story);

• A flyer calling for support for House Resolution 7865 – A Bill to facilitate the lawful trade in coins. H.R. 7865 would amend the Cultural Property Implementation Act to facilitate lawful trade in numismatic materials. Specifically it would allow for the import of coin types of "designated lists" as long as there is evidence that the numismatic item was acquired lawfully, is a known type, and is not the direct product of illicit excavations within a State Party after the effective date of any import restrictions on coins. Contact Peter Tompa at pkt@pktcounsel.com for any questions;
• A 1934 "Genuine Fish Skin Parchment" Certificate redeemable by the Hackett-Larson Post No. 165 American Legion of the State of Washington at Friday Harbor for twenty-five cents in United States Coin or Currency;

• An 1837 Milford, Connecticut, Two Dollar on-demand note issued by the Connecticut Mining and Manufacturing Company in a PMG Choice Uncirculated 63 holder;
• An 1830s Millsborough, Delaware one-dollar note issued by Gardiner H. Wright with vignette of the Delaware Furnace;
• A handsome 19th century one-dollar Commission Scrip issued by James Bown & Sons of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Dealers in Guns, Rifles, and Pistols including double barrel shot guns, and the celebrated ‘Kentucky Rifle,' redeemable with at least a ten-dollar purchase at their arms store;

• Three ‘saddle blanket size' National Currency Notes - Ten-dollar National Currency Note of 1875, from Auburn, Maine, issued by the National Shoe & Leather Bank (Charter 2270) with Five-dollar and One-dollar National Currency notes of 1875, from Lewiston, Maine, issued by the First National Bank of Lewiston (Charter 330), all secured by bonds of the United States deposited with the U.S. Treasurer at Washington;
• State Copper selections from the Sydney F. Martin collection including a 1787 Connecticut copper (Miller 53-FF) in XF-45 condition and Massachusetts Cent (Ryder 2b-E) in AU-55 condition;

• A Numismatic Literary Guild Award "The Ribbit" awarded to Wayne Homren in Chicago in August 2024 with plaquette and the wondrous, breathtaking, and prestigious gold "Hoppy" an amphibian of mysterious meaning, known only to the NLG and award recipients;

• A nice set of Draped Bust silver dollars including a 1795 (Small eagle) in AU condition and 1798 (15 stars reverse) in Extra Fine condition;

• A ten-cent 1863 U. S. Postage Currency dime pattern (Judd-325) in Proof-63;

• The Naseby Cup (not in person but you never know with Nummis Nova) – a book about the coins and medals of the English Civil War by Benjamin D. R. Hellings from the Yale University Art Gallery. The Naseby Cup was commissioned by John and Mary Frances Fitzgerald, Lord and Lady of the Manor of Naseby to commemorate in Victorian times, the Battle of Naseby fought in 1645 between King Charles I, and the British Parliament, led by Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell. Seventy-two coins, counters, and medals were hammered into the cup from the time of battle including a New England Shilling of 1652.
• An impressive array of pamphlets, magazines and ephemera brought back from the recent ANA World's Fair of Money – too large a spread to individually address but worthy of individual attention, nonetheless;
• A frame of old coins, tokens, medals, (and replicas) intended to strike the fancy of some of the newer Nummis Nova members, as the long timers are next to never impressed by mere blue-collar pocket money like this motley assemblage including a Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel "Wildman" half thaler of 1614, 1852 Half Dime, 1792 Half Disme, 1597 and 1687 Campen Leeuwendaalders, 1615 Seville Four Reales, 1761 Potosi Two Reales, 1820 George III Death Medal by T. Wyon, 1876 George Washington / Independence Hall Centennial Medal, 1860 Friend & Black, Electrotypers New York Token, 1699 William III Farthing, 1808 Potosi Four Reales, 1749 Mexico Two Reales, 1703 Queen Anne "VIGO" Shilling, 1758 George II Six Pence, and 1852 One Dollar Gold Piece.

• Other mysterious items such as soon-to-be published numismatic articles not to be shown just yet.

With a crowd of this size, many simultaneous numismatic and otherwise conversations took place in unison, lending a babble of fine talk at a cozy venue with great American food that lasted well past some of our bedtimes, but it was well worth it. In my vicinity we discussed the Museum of Victorian Mourning at the Old City Cemetery in Lynchburg, Fairfax Coin Club Quizzes, Nummis Nova guests who recently moved to Northern Virginia (NOVA territory) and their impressions of Fairfax, books we ought to write, Tobacco Lord John Glassford, relic hunting along the Bull Run, and Chinese counterfeits, among other genteel topics of dinner conversation. When you have a super-majority of numismatists in the room, discussions like these are just the tip of the iceberg. No telling what transpired down table to the ends of the east and west.

Julian Leidman examining 1792 Half Disme replica as Evan Saltis observes.

Another group shot during dinner. Clockwise from far left: Lorne LaVertu, Jon Radel, Chris Neuzil, John Kraljevich, Daryl Haynor, Eric Schena, Dave Schenkman

Tom Kays took this photo of my haul of ephemera from the 2024 ANA World's Fair of Money®. In my hand I'm still clutching the shrinkwrap I'd just taken off my new copy of the Naseby Cup book.

 

Hiram Birth's Legal Paper
Perhaps my favorite of all the items I saw at dinner was this strange scrip note brought in by Dave Schenkman.

Dave writes:

Far less famous than San Francisco's eccentric Emperor Norton, Hiram Birth's scrip is even more rare - this is the first I've seen or heard of him. The article mentions a $1.25 denomination with different text. Is anyone aware of other examples or denominations? Are these cataloged anywhere?

 

NOONAN'S SELLS HENLEY CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL

An extremely fine Congressional Gold Medal presented to Lieutenant Robert Henley, as instructed by the President of the United States, James Madison, following the Battle of Lake Champlain sold for a hammer price of £180,000 – against an estimate of £40,000-50,000 at Noonans Mayfair on Thursday, September 19, 2024 in a sale of British, World Coins and Historical Medals [lot 481].

As Nimrod Dix, Deputy Chairman of Noonans said: "This medal is a unique and splendid testament to one of the defining moments in Anglo-American history. There are very few Congressional gold and silver naval medals known to exist – possibly only four of each."

A silver example from the same collection was also in the sale, which had been awarded to Captain Isaac Hull while in the Naval Engagement of U.S.S. Constitution and H.M.S. Guerriere on 19 August 1812. Estimated at £12,000-15,000, it fetched a hammer price of £46,000 [lot 478].

Elsewhere in the sale, one of the earliest coins, an oak tree shilling, from Boston Massachusetts, dating from 1652 – the year that round coinage was implemented - fetched a hammer price of £44,000 and was bought by a private collector. It had been in the possession of the same British family for the last 300 years [lot 477].

For more information, see:
https://www.noonans.co.uk/

COLLEGE POINT G.A.R. MEDALS

Jim Haas writes:

ERNEST SHACKLETON'S POLAR MEDAL

A mystery millionaire, an international export ban, and an undisclosed sum that potentially runs into the millions has seen a rare medal awarded to legendary polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton coming to New Zealand.

Shackleton's Polar Medal, hailed as being of great significance in the history of Antarctic exploration, has today been unveiled at Canterbury Museum in Christchurch.

"This cements Canterbury Museum's international standing as the repository of one of the most significant collections of heroic age Antarctic objects in the world," said museum director Anthony Wright.

The medal, presented to Shackleton after three expeditions to the icy continent, had been the subject of a temporary export bar in Britain where it has been for 100 years.

It was presented to the famed Antarctic explorer after completing three separate expeditions to the icy continent – represented by three silver bars.

The medal has only ever been displayed twice previously, in London. Canterbury Museum will display it permanently.

Canterbury Museum already has Robert Falcon Scott's Polar Medal in its collection, the latest acquisition effectively completes the set.

While Shackleton's legacy will continue to be honoured in that newly developed display, Harrison's will stretch further across the museum. The capital from his initial $10m bequest will fund many more acquisitions for the Christchurch public.

To read the complete article, see:
Ernest Shackleton medal gifted to Canterbury Museum using mystery donor's $10m bequest (https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/ernest-shackleton-medal-gifted-to-canterbury-museum-
using-mystery-donors-10m-bequest/VQRKVVGNKVGULKDCMG7YFRQRVI/)
Rare Ernest Shackleton medal heading to NZ after battle with British government (https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/525745/rare-ernest-shackleton-medal-
heading-to-nz-after-battle-with-british-government)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
CHRISTIE'S SELLS SIR ERNEST SHACKLETON'S MEDALS (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v18n41a27.html)
PILOT LUIS PARDO'S SHACKLETON EXPEDITION MEDALS (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v19n51a26.html)

HIDDEN FIGURES CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDALS

A simple turn of phrase was all it took for U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of Katherine Johnson's home state of West Virginia to capture the feeling in Emancipation Hall at the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

"It's been said that Katherine Johnson counted everything," she said. "But today we're here to celebrate the one thing even she couldn't count, and that's the impact that she and her colleagues have had on the lives of students, teachers, and explorers."

That sense of admiration and awe toward the legacy and impact of NASA's Hidden Figures was palpable Wednesday during a Congressional Gold Medal Ceremony to honor the women's work and achievements during the space race.

Author Margot Lee Shetterly detailed the stories of the women from NASA Langley in her 2016 nonfiction book "Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Who Helped Win the Space Race." Though the book focused on NASA Langley, where Shetterly's father worked, it helped raise awareness of similar stories around NASA.

A film adaptation of the book starring Taraji Henson as Johnson, Octavia Spencer as Vaughan, and Janelle Monáe as Jackson came out later that year and further elevated the topic. NASA participated under a Space Act Agreement with 20th Century Fox in activities around the movie, to provide historical guidance and advice during the filmmaking process.

The medal citations were as follows:

• Congressional Gold Medal to Katherine Johnson, in recognition of her service to the United States as a mathematician
• Congressional Gold Medal to Dr. Christine Darden, for her service to the United States as an aeronautical engineer
• Congressional Gold Medals in commemoration of the lives of Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson, in recognition of their service to the United States during the space race
• Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of all the women who served as computers, mathematicians, and engineers at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics and NASA between the 1930s and the 1970s.

Andrea Mosie, senior Apollo sample processor and lab manager who oversees the 842 pounds of Apollo lunar samples, accepted the medal awarded to all NASA's Hidden Figures. She began her career at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston in the 1970s.

To read the complete articles, see:
‘Hidden Figures' of the space race receive Congress' highest honor at medal ceremony (https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/19/us/nasa-hidden-figures-congressional-gold-medal/index.html)
NASA's Hidden Figures Honored with Congressional Gold Medals (https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/langley/nasas-hidden-figures-honored-with-congressional-gold-medals/)
NASA's 'Hidden Figures' awarded Congressional Gold Medals for pioneering space work (https://www.npr.org/2024/09/19/nx-s1-5119312/hidden-figures-women-nasa-space-congressional-gold-medal)
NASA's "Hidden Figures" honored in Congressional Gold Medal ceremony (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nasas-hidden-figures-congressional-gold-medal-ceremony/)

CLEANING CURRENCY IN GAZA

The prolonged closure of bank branches in Gaza and the halt in the influx of new currency since the war began have left residents using the same worn-out banknotes for nearly a year, complicating the already fragile commercial activity and sparking a rise in counterfeit currency.

A new profession has emerged on the margins of this crisis—"banknote cleaning." For a fee, Gaza residents can have their worn-out currency cleaned: a 100-shekel note costs 4 shekels to clean, a 20-shekel note costs 2 shekels, and a 200-shekel note costs 5 shekels. Some have even developed methods to repair torn notes or refresh them using cleaning products. Markets in Gaza are now seeing old and battered 100- and 20-shekel bills re-enter circulation.

Mahmoud Abd al-Nabi, who works in a currency exchange shop, has found a solution to preserve the life of his customers' banknotes. "I clean old notes with water and soap, hang them to dry in the sun, and return them to customers," he said. "I wash between 10,000 and 15,000 shekels daily to restore them."

To read the complete article, see:
Banknote cleaning becomes lifeline in Gaza as currency shortage deepens (https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/r1kgmxc2r)

LOOSE CHANGE: SEPTEMBER 22, 2024

Korean Enameled Silver Coins

In 1882, the state introduced a series of silver coins aimed at modernizing its trade. The coins came in three sizes denominated in Chon (or 1/10 ounce): 1 Chon, 2 Chon, and 3 Chon. Like the coins of its neighbors, these were produced to high standards of silver weight and purity. However, because Joseon lacked the sophisticated equipment needed to produce milled coinage, these new coins were cast. One side bears four Hanja characters, giving the coin's denomination read right to left, and Tae Dong ("Great East," an archaic name for Korea) read top to bottom. The opposite side displays only one character, Ho, as a mintmark. This central character was filled in at the mint by a glossy cloisonné enamel coating in black, blue, or green. It is this unusual trademark that sets this series apart from any other East Asian coinage.

It is uncertain why the mint chose to employ this expensive and labor-intensive technique, which required each coin to be refired in order to melt and set the glass powder. If the objective was to make the coins appear more valuable, it may have worked too well; they quickly fell out of circulation as the upper-class Yangban population hoarded the intrinsically valuable silver coins. Since the coins did not have the desired effect, Joseon authorities quickly discontinued their production in 1883, only months after the coins were first minted. Fourteen years later, the Joseon Era itself came to a close with the proclamation of the Korean Empire.

To read the complete article, see:
An Intriguing Selection of Korean Enameled Silver Coins (https://stacksbowers.com/an-intriguing-selection-of-korean-enameled-silver-coins/)

Half Cents Are Back, Baby!

Stock prices in half-cents are coming soon to a brokerage near you.

The Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday approved a change to market rules that would cause the prices of many stocks to be quoted in increments of $0.005.

SEC officials say the rule change will help lower costs for investors by narrowing bid-ask spreads—the difference between the buying and selling prices of stocks. Bid-ask spreads eat into investors' gains when they trade in and out of stocks. If the spreads are tighter, investors save money.

For many stocks, such as Ford Motor and Snap, the bid-ask spread is often 1 cent—and it can't get smaller because of longstanding SEC rules that set the minimum price increments for most exchange-listed stocks at a penny.

Now, the SEC is creating a two-tier system with two minimum price increments, or "tick sizes." Some stocks would continue to have 1 cent ticks, but others—those where the bid-ask spread is frequently stuck at around 1 cent—would have their minimum price increments reduced to half a cent.

For more information, see:
Pricing in Eighths (https://tontinecoffeehouse.com/2018/11/05/pricing-in-eighths/)

To read the complete article, see:
Get Ready to See Stock Prices in Half-Pennies (https://www.wsj.com/finance/regulation/get-ready-to-see-stock-prices-in-half-pennies-1f18321b)

Trump's Silver Coin

Former US President Donald Trump has announced the launch of his first officially authorized commemorative silver coin, named "TRUMP COINS." Priced at $100, the coin is designed by Trump himself and is minted in the US.

The item features 99.9% purity and a proof finish, marking it as the highest standard in collectible medals. It showcases a portrait of Trump on the front and the White House on the reverse. Each piece is encased in a premium custom felt pouch and includes a certificate of authenticity.

"This is a 1oz .999% silver medallion and struck with a proof finish featuring our 45th President's profile on the obverse and the White House on the reverse," as described on the initiative's official website.

The coin will be available for purchase starting September 25 and is not intended as a legal tender or an investment tool.

To read the complete article, see:
Trump debuts exclusive silver coin—designed by Trump, minted in America (https://cryptobriefing.com/trump-commemorative-coin-launch/)

To visit the coin website, see:
https://realtrumpcoins.com/

For more on the topic from Forbes, see:
Trump Hawks A $100 Silver Coin (With About $30 In Silver)—Adding To Bibles, Sneakers Merchandise (https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2024/09/21/trump-hawks-a-100-silver-coin-with-about-30-in-silver-adding-to-bibles-sneakers-merchandise/)

FEATURED WEBSITE: SCRIPOTIME

This week's Featured Website is ScripoTime, a new site for collectors of stock certificates and other financial documents.

https://scripotime.com/