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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 10/15/2024 - Numismatic Antiquarian Bookshop Lang 11/2/2024 - Kolbe & Fanning 1/4/2025 - Workman's Books

 

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

WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM OCTOBER 6, 2024

New subscribers this week include: Skip Lane, and Gavin Quinn. Welcome aboard! We now have 7,269 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 a numismatic literature sale, two new books, updates from the Newman Numismatic Portal, a view into Auditorium books, and more.

Other topics this week include gold sovereigns, Canadian paper money, numismatics in Iraq, the Whitman Baltimore Expo, Proclamation medals, Foster Lardner, Arno Safran, fixed price and auction previews, a hanging penny, the Waitangi crown, the Vail medal, and the Internet Archive.

To learn more about Una and the Lion, the Pellerin collection, the Odd Fellows, the North, Central, and South American Exposition of New Orleans, Eugen Nicolae, the Starred Reverse cent, the Mond Nickel Company medal, Worcestershire tokens, COINEX, the Maastricht Paper Money Fair, and Canada's new sundial coin, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum

 

KOLBE & FANNING BCD LIBRARY SALE, PART 2

Kolbe & Fanning Numismatic Booksellers are excited to announce that we will be holding the second sale of material from the extraordinary BCD Library on Saturday, November 2. Our first offering of highlights from this library was a tremendous success, with bidders participating from all over the world. The second sale is both similar to and different from its predecessor. While it once again covers the entire span of ancient numismatics, this sale's main emphasis is on more specialized publications—die studies of individual cities, collections that focus on particular regions, and monographs about specific issues. The online catalogue can be accessed at bid.numislit.com.

Some highlights of this first sale include:

Lot 37: a finely printed and finely bound copy of Théophile Gautier's charming 1894 Une nuit de Cléopatre

Lot 68: the 1665 first edition of Charles Patin's excellent Introduction a l'histoire, par la connoissance des medailles, arguably his most influential work

Lot 71: Vasiliy Petrov's rare 1910 numismatic guidebook, including sections on Greek, Roman, Jewish, Bosphoran and Chersonese coins

Lot 167: Francisco Neumann's 1779 Populorum et regum numi veteres inediti, in a contemporary vellum binding

Lot 187: Oderico & Benedetti's 1777 volume of previously unpublished ancient Greek coins primarily from the collection of Benedetti

Lot 191: the set of 23 engraved folio plates depicting the coins belonging to the Bodleian collection in 1750, prepared by Francis Wise

Lot 198: a 1787 numismatic volume of David & Mulot's catalogue of the Florentine collection, in a handsome contemporary binding, with 90 engraved plates of coins

Lot 232: A.M. Podschiwalow's very rare Beschreibung der unedirten und wenig bekannten Münzen... (Moscow, 1882), with fine photo-lithographic plates

Lot 323: an 1846 edition of the Numismatique du voyage du jeune Anacharsis, finely bound by J. Weber in French calf with the arms of Guillaume Pavée de Vendeuvre

Lot 377: Robinson and Clement's 1938 work on The Chalcidic Mint and the Excavation Coins Found in 1928–1934, the only major reference on the coins of Olynthus.

Register early to bid online
Bids may be placed via post, email, phone, as well as online. Kolbe & Fanning use Auction Mobility as our third-party online bidding platform. Auction Mobility is an app-based platform allowing users the ability to participate in the sale through phones, tablets and computers. To register for the sale, bidders must go to bid.numislit.com and sign up. Once you have set up an account, you may browse lots, place advance bids, or participate in the live sale online. Those wishing to participate on their devices can download the Kolbe & Fanning app through the Apple or Google Play Store. The sale will also be listed on Biddr and NumisBids in the near future.

To view lots and bid, see:
https://bid.numislit.com/auctions/1-9MLBJH/bcd-library-part-2-sale-171

The printed catalogue is being mailed to all active customers on our mailing list. As international mail speeds have been inconsistent, we encourage our foreign clients to consult the electronic catalogue in case their printed catalogue does not arrive promptly. A PDF of the printed catalogue has been posted to our main website at numislit.com for those who prefer that format. Bids placed via post, email, or phone must be received by February 16, the day before the sale, in order for them to be processed. Advance absentee bids may also be placed at any time online at bid.numislit.com. Live internet bidding will be available during the sale itself through the same platform.

Kolbe & Fanning Numismatic Booksellers LLC is a licensed and bonded auction firm in the State of Ohio, and our auctions are conducted by licensed auctioneers. For more information, please see the Kolbe & Fanning website at numislit.com or email David Fanning at df@numislit.com. To register for the sale, go to bid.numislit.com. We look forward to your participation.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
KOLBE & FANNING BCD LIBRARY SALE (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n03a03.html)

 

NEW BOOK: THE GOLD SOVEREIGN SERIES, 3RD ED.

The Gold Sovereign Series – Third Revised Edition
By Steve Hill

As of September 2024 the new Standard Catalogue to the Gold Sovereign Series has been published by Token Publishing of Exeter UK, as a fully updated third revised edition by Steve Hill of Sovereign Rarities and formerly of A H Baldwin and Spink, based on the original works on Sovereigns and their Halves by Michael Marsh.

The new edition has been expanded ever further, with all the new issues in the gold Sovereign series, the major update being the last issues of Queen Elizabeth II and the first editions of the new King Charles III era.

There is a completely new section added at the start as Steve has now added 45 pages of hammered gold Sovereigns and Half-Sovereigns with full tabulations and reference numbers, the first time a detailed synopsis of all the varietal issues from King Henry VII to James I have been featured in one book with such individual specification.

Many illustrations have been updated or added as well as new varieties and text revisions throughout the book which now encompasses hammered issues, gold Five Sovereign coins of Five Pounds, Double Sovereigns of Two Pounds, Sovereigns, Half-Sovereigns and Quarter-Sovereigns.

The hardback book runs to over 300 printed pages and is available from the publisher and numismatic book sellers for a cover price of £45 sterling plus shipping.

For more information, or to order, see:
The Standard Catalogue to the Gold Sovereign Series. Brand new edition (https://www.tokenpublishing.com/shop/product/8138/16)

NEW BOOK: 2025 CANADIAN GOVERNMENT PAPER

2025 CHARLTON CANADIAN GOVERNMENT PAPER MONEY

$49.95

A Charlton Standard Catalogue Canadian Government Paper Money

36th Edition 2025 – English

J. Ruthowski, Editor

Weight .85 kg

Dimensions 23 × 20.5 × 3.5 cm

For more information, or to order, see:
2025 CHARLTON CANADIAN GOVERNMENT PAPER MONEY (https://coinstampsupplies.com/product/2025-charlton-canadian-government-paper-money/)

 

A LOOK INSIDE AUDITORIUM BOOKS

...

To watch the complete video, see:
Auditorium Books | Instagram Reels
(https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAjAqvfP6RU/)

Link to Auditorium Books' Website:
Auditorium Books
(https://www.auditoriumbooks.com/)

 

S&S LIBRARY CONTINUES DIGITIZATION

S&S Library Continues Digitization

The S&S numismatic library, privately held in Chicago, launched a digitization effort in 2023 that now numbers over 2,000 scanned volumes. This library specializes in ancient numismatics but also includes important works related to medieval and modern numismatics. Recently scanned is the multi-volume set Recueil De Médailles (1762-1778, twelve parts in nine volumes), a catalog of the Jospeh Pellerin (1684-1782) collection. The bibliographer Bill Daehn gives Pellerin the credit for being "the first to classify Greek coins in geographical order, rather than alphabetical order."

Wikipedia describes the formation and dispersal of Pellerin's collection: "Tradition has it that he encouraged the sailors of the French Mediterranean Fleet to buy up such ancient coins as they found on offer throughout their range, which he guaranteed to buy back from them at double the purchase price. In this way he gradually accumulated what became the largest and most valuable collection of ancient Greek coins ever to be held in private hands to that date, amounting to 33,500 coins which he ultimately sold to Louis XVI in 1776 for £300,000. This notable collection, housed in massive original marquetry and ormolu cases in the Louis Quinze style, still forms a nucleus of the collection of the Bibliothèque Nationale [BN] de France." Today, the SNG catalogs documenting the BN numismatic collection describe numerous examples with the Pellerin pedigree.

Image: Plate IX from volume 1 of the Joseph Pellerin reference

Link to Pellerin Recueil De Médailles set from the S&S Library:
https://archive.org/details/snslibrary?tab=collection&query=pellerin

Link to S&S Library digitization announcement (September 24, 2023):
https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n39a09.html

VIDEO: NUMISMATICS IN IRAQ

"Bill Myers is a military surgeon who has served two tours in Iraq. He is an avid coin collector and has assembled an extensive collection of coins and money items from that part of the world. In this presentation you will see and learn:

• How collecting POGS that have been issued for different military campaigns
• Lenticular images on pogs
• Errors on pogs from cutting and printing
• Eagle cash used in the PX
• Examples of old Iraqi currency including counterfeits and the themes on the money
• Current Iraqi currency with exchange of 1300 dinars to the US dollar
• Iraqi coinage and tokens
• Challenge coins and medals issued by the military
• Other currency available in the shops in the local marketplace"

Speaker(s): Colonel Bill Myers. From the 2009 Florida United Numismatists convention.

To watch the complete video, see:
Numismatics in Iraq (https://youtu.be/_GJfQY7BI68)

MORE ON 'THE LAST PATRIOTIC CIVIL WAR TOKEN'

David Gladfelter writes:

I am not convinced that the number of stars on the flag can be used to reliably date the token.

Both the 1847 and 1852 dated California Counter tokens have 24 stars which is too few for either year. Also, they are arranged in a star shape which seems unusual. But they do have the correct number of stripes (13).

The 1849 "California Token" has 30 stars which is correct for the date, but only 9 stripes.

Clearly diesinkers took liberty with their flag designs. Note that all of these pieces were most likely issued after the dates on them.

And here is a token in brass similar to the one discussed, but with a very stylized flag with only 9 stars.

To read the complete Token Catalog item description, see:
Unknown, California, U.S.A. (https://tokencatalog.com/token_record_forms.php?
action=DisplayTokenRecord&td_id=635682&inventory_id
=769981&td_image_id=573951&attribution_id=661256&record_offset=188)

Michael adds:

Bill Hyder writes:

Michael replies:

Julia Casey writes:

Julia adds:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
THE LAST PATRIOTIC CIVIL WAR TOKEN? (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n39a13.html)

AMERICAN EXPOSITION OF NEW ORLEANS MEDALS

I was wondering if you were going to extend your Medals in Advertising series when the Campbell's soup can example came up.

The 1885 and 1886 North, Central, and South American Exposition of New Orleans awarded this medal which was engraved in the field around the central device as "Highest Award on Plain & Aerated Mineral Water to the Arcadian Mineral Spring Co. Waukesha, Wisconsin." The Arcadian was one of several dozen other natural springs celebrating the healing powers of Waukesha's waters from the late nineteenth to the very early twentieth centuries. Illustrations of this medal were used on the company's letterhead and identified as "Highest Award on Plain and Aerated Water." There apparently is another medal floating around for their Ginger Ale but I have yet to see it. A tin sign (presumably originally brightly colored but gray-tone in this rendition) gloats: "Only Gold Medal" although sticklers for accuracy may point out that the medal proper is more likely gilt Bronze. It is a whopping 72mm diameter, about 8mm thick, weighs over 250 grams (the limit on my scale) and has a plain edge.

The unsigned medal was produced by Philadelphia silversmith Peter Krider for the relatively obscure 1885-1886 North, Central, and South American Exposition in New Orleans which itself was promoted to recover losses from the 1884 World's Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition. I have seen a few other uninscribed bronze specimens cross the block in the last several years but no others gilt or inscribed pieces.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
THAT MEDAL ON CAMPBELL'S SOUP CANS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n39a27.html)

NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: OCTOBER 6, 2024

Eugen Nicolae (1955-2024)
Georges Depeyrot writes:

For more information, see:
https://www.arheologi.ro/arheolog/nicolae-eugen/
https://iabvp.ro/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Eugen-Nicolae-CV-1-1.pdf

Coins on Book Covers
David Vagi writes:

To read the complete item description, see:
ARCHIBALD MALMAISON.
Hawthorne, Julian
Published by Funk & Wagnalls, New York, 1884 (https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=31329182267)

Annual London Numismatic Booksellers Group Photo
Charlie Davis writes:

To read Ursula Kampmann's CoinsWeekly article, see:
Swinging London COINEX 2024 (https://new.coinsweekly.com/news-en/swinging-london-coinex-2024/)

 

WHITMAN BALTIMORE EXPO, NOVEMBER 2024

The Whitman Expos™ Baltimore Winter Expo, one of the nation's premier coin and collectibles shows, returns to the Baltimore Convention Center from November 14 to 16, 2024, celebrating over 50 years of service to the numismatic community. This event will feature nearly 1,000 independent dealers, offering free appraisals, expert insights, and a unique opportunity for collectors and families to explore the world of coin collecting.

Open to the public with free admission with a photo ID, the Baltimore Winter Expo is a trusted marketplace for buying, selling, and trading rare coins, paper money, and other collectibles. Attendees will have the chance to learn about the value of their coins and the stories behind them from seasoned dealers as they shop, sell, and trade. As an additional draw, both Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC®) and Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) will be on-site to perform coin authentication and grading during the Expo with additional details available on each company's website.

"This event is about more than just collecting coins," said Lori Kraft, general manager of Whitman Expos. "It's about community, history, and education. For over 50 years, the Baltimore community has warmly welcomed us as we connect numismatic enthusiasts, and we look forward to offering the best experience for our community in Baltimore for many years to come."

The Baltimore Winter Expo will also host family-friendly events, including the popular "Kids Nook," where children 6 to 12 can engage in interactive activities including a fill-your-album coin activity, treasure chest coin grab, and coin-themed coloring activities. Each participating child will receive a goodie bag with collectibles provided by coin dealers to inspire the next generation of collectors.

Additionally, scouts and their families are invited to sign up for a workshop on Saturday, November 16 at 10 a.m. where they can complete most of the Coin Collecting merit badge requirements and Cub Scouts can earn the Adventures in Coins elective towards their Wolf rank advancement. Pre-registration for this workshop is required.

Collectors looking to beat the crowds can purchase early-bird access, which offers entry to the show before public hours on all three days. Public admission hours are from noon to 6 p.m. on Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Partnering with the legendary auction house Stack's Bowers Galleries, the Baltimore Winter Expo will also feature an extensive auction of numismatic rarities. Among the highlights are rare coins from the Robert D. Reed, Bernard Richards, Darrel O. Neidigh, Jr, and Ross Family Collections as well as the recently publicized ‘Chapman Set' of Gold Dollars. These collections represent a significant assemblage of hundreds of United States gold coins, including early Mint issues and world-class Territorial gold across all denominations and series. Many of these offerings have been off the market for forty years or more, are freshly grated, and represent important opportunities not to be missed. For more details, visit www.stacksbowers.com.

For more information on the Whitman Baltimore Winter Expo or to pre-register for the event, visit https://expo.whitman.com.

• Thursday, November 14, 5:30PM, Room 301: Maryland State Numismatic Association meeting
• Friday, November 15, 9AM, Room 301: Liberty Seated Collectors Club meeting
• Friday, November 15, 2PM, Room 304: C4 Lecture – Open to the Public: Jim Glickman, "Collecting American Colonials"
• Friday November 15, 3PM, Room 301: Barber Coin Collectors' Society meeting
• Saturday, November 16, 9:30AM, Room 304: C4 Annual Business meeting
• Saturday, November 16, 10:30AM, Room 304: C4 Lecture – Open to the Public: Bruce Smith, "Continental Currency: The Paper Money That Funded Our American Revolution"
• Saturday, November 16, 1PM, Room 301: Early American Coppers Club meeting

WHITMAN LAUNCHES COINS FOR THE CURE

Whitman Brands™ launched its Coins for the Cure Program and partnership with Susan G. Komen®, the world's leading breast cancer organization, in an effort to create a world without breast cancer.

With the release of a limited-edition pink American Women Quarters coin album, Whitman hopes to help raise awareness and money toward ending breast cancer. The limited-edition album holds all circulated strikes of the best-selling American Women Quarters series, and as a bonus, the 2018 Breast Cancer Research Awareness Commemorative Coins.

"Following the acquisition of Whitman Publishing, I believed it was the perfect time for us to embrace greater social responsibility and give back wherever possible, "said John Feigenbaum, President and CEO of Whitman Brands. "The decision to partner with Susan G. Komen was an easy choice—they are leaders in the fight against breast cancer, professional and collaborative, and their cause inevitably touches us all. We are thrilled to kick off this partnership!"

The American Women Quarters™ Program, authorized by the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, is the first U.S. quarter program to exclusively honor the achievements of women. From 2022 through 2025, the U.S. Mint will issue five quarters per year, each featuring a unique reverse design. These coins celebrate the determination, perseverance, and indomitable spirit of American women, honoring contributions in fields such as suffrage, civil rights, abolition, government, humanities, science, space, and the arts.

The Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Program, authorized by the Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Act of 2016, has been instrumental in raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research and education. The program includes a $5 gold coin, a silver dollar, and a clad half dollar, with the $5 gold coin being the first U.S. federal gold coin to feature a rose-gold hue. These coins symbolize resilience and solidarity, conveying messages of hope, strength, and unity.

"Our partnership strategy is simple: combine our established brand, a popular coin program, and a high-impact nonprofit organization to raise awareness and funds for an exceptional cause," stated Michael Pfeiffer, Director of Operations for Whitman Brands. "We aim to give back and believe we can make a difference."

Susan G. Komen began with a promise between two sisters to find a cure for breast cancer. Over four decades later, they have become a global movement at the forefront of research and innovative programs. According to the 2024 Susan G. Komen Impact Report, in 2023, they provided over 52,000 direct patient support services, educated more than 2.5 million people on breast health and breast cancer, invested $10 million in research grants, introduced crucial legislation in 29 states, and launched ShareForCures®, a breast cancer research registry.

"The historical statistics are astonishing, but the true impact of Komen's initiatives will undoubtedly be felt by future generations, and we're excited to be a part of it," reiterated Pfeiffer.

In October 2023, the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum, the National Women's History Museum, and the Congressional Bipartisan Women's Caucus, announced the following women to be honored in the 2025 American Women Quarters:

• Ida B. Wells – Investigative journalist, suffragist, and civil rights activist
• Juliette Gordon Low – Founder of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America
• Dr. Vera Rubin – Astronomer who pioneered work on galaxy rotation
• Stacey Park Milbern – Activist for people with disabilities
• Althea Gibson – First Black athlete to break the color barrier at the highest level in tennis

For more information about the Coins for the Cure Program and our special-edition pink American Women Quarters album, please visit Whitman.com. The album is available for sale for $29.95 online at Whitman.com, Whitman's eBay Store, Amazon.com, and Walmart.com, and bookstores, hobby shops, and other retailers nationwide.

Disclosure: From August 1, 2024, to September 15, 2025, Whitman-CDN Publishing, LLC T/A Whitman Brands will donate to Susan G. Komen® 20% of the retail sales price received by Whitman Brands and 10% of the wholesale sales price received by Whitman Brands for each specially marked product sold, with a guaranteed minimum donation of $2,500.

Specifications
Title: Susan G. Komen® Album, American Women Quarters: 2022-2025
ISBN: 079485186X
Retail $29.95 U.S.
Description: Limited edition pink album has 48 die-cut coin openings to hold all circulated strikes of American Women Quarters from both the Philadelphia and Denver Mints. Includes an additional page with 6 openings to hold the 2018 Breast Cancer Research Awareness Commemorative Coins.
https://whitman.com/susan-g-komen-american-women-quarters-album-2022-2025/

VOCABULARY TERM: PROCLAMATION MEDAL

Proclamation Medal. A coronation medal issued for a new ruler in Spanish countries. The custom of proclaiming a new regent carried over into the new world where Spanish American countries issued proclamation medals for new rulers even though they were presidents, not kings. Proclamation pieces were also issued, announcing events and decrees of national interest. The first Spanish proclamation medal was issued for Phillip II's ascension to the throne in 1556. Latin American countries continued the practice to the 20th century. For the most part these medals were struck at national mints on coining equipment and resemble coins more so than medals.

Reference:
NE42 {1882} Doty, p 269-270.

To read the complete entry on the Newman Numismatic Portal, see:
Proclamation Medal (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/dictionarydetail/516551)

 

WILLIAM FOSTER LARDNER (1873-1934)

During the recent ANA WFOM on Saturday, August 10, I met Mark Borckardt at the Heritage table and he led me across the room to the table of Jones and Horan. They are a company specializing in horological auctions. If you are wondering what horological means, it's about time. They had acquired a small group of choice coins that would appear in their October 10 auction. They were promoting the coins at the show and made a presentation at the EAC meeting.

I was most interested in a 1794 Large Cent, S-48, the Starred Reverse cent. This is in a PCGS holder as VF-20.

The coins were from the family of William Foster Lardner and had been preserved in wax paper envelopes for the past 90 years.

For those E-Sylum readers who complain that we don't include enough poetry, here is a poem about Lardner.

Foster Lardner was born in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, on November 24, 1873, the son of William Sheperd Lardner (1846-1905) and Mary Foster Jones (1841-1919). His father had a drug store in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. His father wanted Foster to become a doctor but his interests were in a different direction. His brother Lynford (1880-1941) did become a doctor.

Foster showed an interest in the theater at a young age. He wrote his first play at age ten which was presented in a room in his home. As a youngster Foster put on productions in a barn with the admission charge being one pin. The circus came to town when he was thirteen and he followed by recruiting every kid in town to appear in his circus.

Lardner appeared in college theatrical productions and graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1894. Between acting roles, he worked at his father's drug store. He was offered employment by Felix Morris and toured with the Morris company for two years. For two more years he toured with Ada Rehan and then the Daniel Frohman Stock Company.

The Oconomowoc Enterprise had glowing comments in 1902.

Lardner moved to Providence in 1900 for work with the first Albee stock company. In 1906 Charles Lovenberg offered him a position as house manager in the Albee Theater. When a new theater was erected, he became the manager. In his role as manager, he read plays and selected those to be performed, interviewed and selected the cast and signed the players. In 1926 he became manager for seven theaters for Keith-Albee Enterprises. Lardner resigned in 1930 after a merger with RKO.

He married Sibilla Iarene Besler Gidney (1874-1956) in Providence, Rhode Island, on October 28, 1911, and had a daughter.

He joined the American Numismatic Association in June 1913 as member 1701. He frequently attended conventions and served on the board of governors in 1919 and 1920. At the 1928 convention, he entertained with magic tricks.

During the First World War, he did magic tricks for soldiers in hospitals. For Halloween in 1933, Lardner entertained 60 children at the Providence Hospital with magic tricks. The children proclaimed that it was the best Halloween ever.

Lardner collapsed on stage at the Elks' Auditorium in Providence, Rhode Island, while entertaining about 400 members of the Providence Engineering Society. He died of a heart attack on May 17, 1934, and is buried at Princes Hill Burial Ground in Barrington, Rhode Island.

"Catalogue of the Splendid Collection of United States Cents: the Property of Mr. Foster Lardner: Containing Nearly One-hundred and Fifty Pieces, all in Choice Condition,"
The sale had the Lardner large cents with 146 lots. Fifty copies of the catalog were produced with four plates. The plates might allow for pedigree tracking.

"Catalog of the Collection of U. S. Fine Cents and Rare Gold. The Property of Mr. Foster Lardner."
The sale had a nice run of 1794 large cents, lots 5 to 54. Lot 12 was listed as Hays 8, the equivalent of S-48. The description does not match the current coin.

The catalog for the Jones and Horan sale of October 10. 2024, has 400 lots. Lots 45 to 400 include jewelry and timepieces. The eighteen coins from the Lardner estate are lots 27 to 44. The starred reverse cent is lot 43.

The highlight of the sale is lot 44, an 1834 proof half cent, PCGS PR66 proof cameo. It is the highest graded example of that variety.

Lot 26 US Draped Bust $5 Gold, 1802/1, PCGS XF45

Lot 29 US Liberty Cap cent, 1795, PCGS AU Detail

Lot 34 US Liberty Seated quarter, 1873, PCGS PR65 w/CAC

Lot 43 US Liberty cent, 1794 Starred Reverse, PCGS VF20

Lot 44 US half cent, 1843 Proof, PCGS PR66 Red Cameo

To visit the Jones and Horan website, see:
https://jones-horan.com/

ARNO SAFRAN INTERVIEW, PART FOUR

GREG BENNICK: I love it. I love the connection to coin clubs. I actually spoke at a coin club. I'm from Seattle and I spoke at a coin club recently, about error coins and you know, in my mind, error coins are what I think about all day long. But in the minds of the people at the coin club, many of them, very experienced collectors, had never considered error coins. So, to be able to talk to them about the topic was wonderful. Because people were just so interested and it was brand new information and I can only imagine that the presentations you give have enlightened so many people about different things that maybe they haven't heard of before.

ARNO SAFRAN: Yeah, now you mentioned error coins right? Did you say that?

GREG BENNICK: Yeah, mint errors, off center, double strike.

ARNO SAFRAN: One of the members of the Aiken club collects error coins and he's got a wonderful collection of that. And another one recently did, but he moved back down to Florida. A lot of these people have problems with life and things and they can't always stay. This guy had an incredible collection of modern coins, but he got them for nothing. He's young, he just got the coins which cost him what the coins worth. He gave wonderful programs on that. Unfortunately, he moved back to Florida, so we don't have him anymore. His name is Jack something or other. You know, another couple of guys collected error coins as well.

GREG BENNICK: Well, it's good to know. After we're done speaking, I'll definitely give you my contact information and if anyone ever wants to chat about error coins, I'm always happy to chat, without a doubt. I love them very much. So, this is exactly what I'm talking about. By doing presentations and being involved in a coin club, you learn to make connections and you make connections with other people. Then all of a sudden everybody's experience of the hobby just grows when the more we know of each other and what each of us collects.

ARNO SAFRAN: It's true. I'll tell you, my father collected stamps at one point in time and he was a very serious musician. But he also worked in a business where they sold very nice clothes in downtown Manhattan, for rich people. And he would be like the fellow who didn't sell the clothes, but would talk to them, and sell them. So, he was a salesman. He also collected these stamps. But he was very serious in music and all he wanted me to do was be a musician, another Beethoven - which never was going to happen.

But that was all. I did have a good musical life, I can't complain about that. He was too serious and when he retired, he had nothing to do with no one to talk to, because we were too far away. He lived in Florida and we were up in New Jersey at that time. So, we'd see him once or twice or three times a year. Either we'd go down there and we'd chat about music a lot. But the thing is, he didn't have a hobby. I was determined that when I retired from teaching college, I was going to have a hobby. So, I could do something with my life and not feel, you know, bitter or angry or you know that kind of thing. And then numismatics did it.

GREG BENNICK: That's great, that's just great. I'm so happy to hear that. Well, this has been a great conversation. I'm trying to think if there's anything else other than…I thought of something actually just now. You mentioned your father being involved in music. What did your father play? Was he a composer?

ARNO SAFRAN: Played the violin. My mother and he met back… he came from Poland in 1920. He arrived, he was the middle son, the middle child of seven. The only one who was musical. He loved music. Used to love opera. He came here in 1920. Long before I was born, and he had an older brother that got him settled. He had a job, and he met my mother in a little symphony orchestra in downtown Manhattan on Second…I don't know how well you know Manhattan.

GREG BENNICK: Quite well.

ARNO SAFRAN: Second Avenue…a little section there…he met my mother and she played the violin and that's how they got started. That's how I got into music.

GREG BENNICK: That's great. Which instruments do you play?

ARNO SAFRAN: I play the piano. I play the guitar also. I used to teach kids. So, I learned to play the guitar, like Pete Seeger. No, I wasn't as good a guitar player as he was (laughter) and he played the banjo as well. But, you know, I used to play the folk songs. I always felt that, there's a wide range of musical quality, just like there is in numismatics. It's such a wild area. I mean there's so many so many different aspects of numismatics, and the same with music. You have folk music, you have classical music, you have popular music, you have jazz, you know, you have all this kind of thing.

And, so I took a chance and started learning how to play the guitar. I mean, it was a wonderful experience, you know. In the early years I played, I came in to move a piano around the classroom and some of these women who were very, very conservative when they were teaching, they didn't want to know from nothing about music when I came into the class. I couldn't move the piano in there, so I started playing the guitar! And we'd play the wonderful folk songs that everybody loved and I got to learn them and the kids loved that too. You have to be flexible in this world, if you want to be successful.

GREG BENNICK: Absolutely, that's probably true in coins as well, with in terms of collecting things you can afford or finding things that you like and all that sort of thing.

ARNO SAFRAN: Well, I will start the newsletter on the left side column. I make it a two column page each one. On the left hand is a small little coin or something, maybe a half dime or it might be a silver little trime, you know a three cent piece or something like that. It gets them started to talk about what was going on and why that coin was made. And then on the right side of it, I start the main article. I go either two and a half pages to three pages, sometimes to four pages, depending on how many coins are involved.

But I settled on such a way that there's variety - not just of one type of coin, but a whole variety and that helps as well. Then we have what they call as the minute. That comes in later. Then if there's still space, we have the advertisements on the cover page of various dealers in the area and then another article, a small article if there's an extra space for it. That's how the newsletters work.

GREG BENNICK: That's great. This is great and you know one thing that I noticed when I was looking at your presentations is that you've always had a really strong sense of education in what you do. And it sounded like that just from your description of the newsletters. But also, you know, for example, you gave a two-part presentation on Hard Times Tokens, and that was an example like many of your presentations, where you go deep into the history, not just of the coins. It's almost like you're approaching the education of these things on multiple levels, the coins and the history around them.

ARNO SAFRAN: Well, I did the same thing with music. For example, when we talked about certain composers like, Gustav Mahler, I talk about Austria. You know, I would tell what was going on in Austria at the time or Beethoven or Mozart, what was it like living at that time. I did the same thing. I just took say my philosophy and added it to numismatics when I retired.

GREG BENNICK: That's great. So many people have probably learned so much from you, it's just wonderful. I'm so glad that I was introduced to you at least even over the phone and via email. Because I know that I'm going to get a lot from the PowerPoint presentations, even without seeing you present them, there's so much information in there.

ARNO SAFRAN: Well, you couldn't have called it a better time. I don't usually eat at six o'clock. I usually have dinner around seven. Because I have a cocktail. My wife and I used to have this wonderful cocktail, around 4:30 or so. So, I'm not hungry and so you could not have called at a better time.

GREG BENNICK: Thank you for taking the time.

ARNO SAFRAN: My pleasure. Thank you too.

GREG BENNICK: Thanks for listening everybody, I really appreciate it. Now if you'd like to see the PowerPoint presentations, that Arno refers to throughout the interview, be sure to go to the page on which this interview resides at the Newman Numismatic Portal. Perhaps you're just hearing the audio and you didn't realize that there's a whole page full of interviews.

If you happen to go to the Newman Numismatic Portal, that's nnp.wustl.edu, you can search for my name, Greg Bennick, G-R-E-G B-E-N-N-I-C-K, and that's where you can find a whole bunch of interviews, that I've been able to conduct with some really fascinating people in numismatics.

So, head there, find the Arno page, and that's where you're going to find a link to the PowerPoint presentations that Arno has given. And if you have suggestions for other interviewees, feel free to be in touch anytime. Mint errors, that's mint errors plural, minterrors@gmail.com.

Until next time, thank you.

LINK TO PRESENTATIONS:
https://augustacoinclub.org/presentations

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)
ARNO SAFRAN INTERVIEW, PART TWO (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n38a21.html)
ARNO SAFRAN INTERVIEW, PART THREE (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n39a19.html)

NUMISMAGRAM MEDAL SELECTIONS: OCTOBER 6, 2024

102761 | GERMANY. Hamburg. Satirical silver Medal. Issued circa 1708 or slightly thereafter. The supposed corruption of the imperial commission by the Jewish community (23mm, 3.77 g, 12h). By an uncertain medallist, marked "T." DU SOLST NICHT GESCHENCK NEHMEN (thou shalt take no gift...), hand putting forth a coin; across the middle, banner reading KOMSTU MIR ALSO (if you'll scratch my back...) // DENN GESCHENKE MACHEN DIE SEHENDEN BLIND (...for a gift blindeth them that have sight, and perverteth the words of the righteous, –adapted from Exodus 23:8 [2nd Book of Moses]), bust facing slightly right, with hand nearly covering face, though with eyes peering through; t on sleeve; across the middle, banner reading SO KOMME ICH DIR SO (...I'll scratch yours). [The underlined legends are meant to be read as a complete message, while the non-underlined legends are meant to be a separate complete message.] Edge: Plain. Cf. GPH 1220-1 (different medallist); Brettauer 4796; Fieweger Coll. 345; cf. Vogel Coll. 8739 (gold). PCGS AU-58. Lightly toned and somewhat matte, with some scattered hairlines noted for completeness. Compare to a similar (though highly inferior) example (PCGS AU-53) from a different medalist (Wermuth) that realized a total of $660 in the Stack's Bowers 2021 NYINC auction, lot 23546. $595.

The city of Hamburg had a festering issue between its Senate and Citizens' Council in the late 17th century, with its local Jewish population a chief concern. Though a Sephardic Jewish population had much more long-standing roots in the city, the Ashkenazi population was, in contrast, much more recent and without actual legal status regarding its ability to reside there. The Citizens' Council—dominated by orthodox Protestants—along with the Lutheran clergy sought to block any concessions by the Senate to the Jewish populations, with the issue eventually escalating much higher within the hierarchy of the Holy Roman Empire.

Emperor Joseph I appointed an imperial commission, led by Damian Hugo Philipp von Schönborn-Buchheim, to settle the dispute between the Senate and Citizens' Council in Hamburg. Ultimately, the commission redefined the legal relationships of the Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jewish populations in Hamburg, with the regulations becoming part of the new Hamburg constitution in 1712. It is quite likely that this satirical medal, along with the various others that share a common design and message, were meant to convey the idea that the Jewish citizenry had bribed the commission for recognition of their status, furthering an antisemitic viewpoint among the largely Protestant populace. Given the contemporary works of medallists like Christian Wermuth (who also contributed to this specific "series"), and his satirical issues like the "corn Jew," the concept of antisemitic medals would be completely within the context of the period, and seemingly a likely cause that would generate such a concerted medallic effort among numerous workshops.

To read the complete item description, see:
102761 | GERMANY. Hamburg. Satirical silver Medal. (https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/102761)

102613 | CANADA. Mond Nickel Company nickel Medal. Issued 1925 for the 25th anniversary of the firm (44mm, 44.22 g, 12h). By P. Metcalfe. TUM PRIMUM CONGNITA PRAEPES SUBVOLAT (then for the first time a winged thing sprang aloft, –adapted from Ovid's Metamorphoses, Book XIV), Pan or impish, mischievous demon dancing left above flames, with bubbles ascending from his hands // THE MOND NICKEL COMPANY LIMITED / 1900•1925, stylized depiction of daffodils (Wales) and maple leaves (Canada), representing the two locations of the company's major interests. Edge: Plain. Choice Mint State. Even gray surfaces, with a mostly matte-like nature. $165.

To read the complete item description, see:
102613 | CANADA. Mond Nickel Company nickel Medal. (https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/102613)

102792 | GERMANY. "Homo Superior" cast bronze Medal. Issued 2002 (109mm, 460 g, 12h). By N. Müller in Halle. Two infants (one human, to right, and one avian devil-like, to left) facing one another and supported by umbilical double helix; all within industrial chamber // Similar infant, though clearly human and with a more imposing posture, supported by umbilical double helix with two mechanical connections; all within similar industrial chamber in which it barely fits. Edge: Plain. The Medal 41, pp. 97 & 100. As Made. Dusty charcoal surfaces, with some lighter hints around the devices. Very rare, and one of just 10 produced. Ex David Nicholas Silich Collection (acquired directly from the artist, November 2002). $375.

There is essentially no information to go on regarding the design and intended meaning of this large and rather provocative medal. What is known is the artist (Niels Müller), his place of study (Burg Giebichenstein Hochschule für Kunst und Design in Halle, Germany), the overall output (just 10 pieces), and that this design won (for the BAMS Student Medal Project 2002) the Niagara Falls Casting prize for the best medal from abroad. Given its rather haunting nature, one must clearly wonder if the artist is alluding to a type of human that, on account of evil influences, becomes "superior," given the work's title. However, in this sense, superior in a more imposing and rather clearly pejorative context. There also may be some technological overtones as well, given the machine-like, industrial nature of the "womb."

To read the complete item description, see:
102792 | GERMANY. "Homo Superior" cast bronze Medal. (https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/102792)

 

ARCHIVES INTERNATIONAL AUCTION 97 SELECTIONS

Algeria.., 1964. 50 Dinars, P-124, Issued Banknote, Light brown on m/c underprint with mountain sheet at center, Back is m/c with camel caravan at center, S/N Y.212 674, Choice XF to AU Condition.

To read the complete lot description, see:
Banque Centrale d'Algerie, 1964, Issued Banknote (https://auction.archivesinternational.com/Banque-Centrale-d-Algerie-1964-Issued-Banknote_i54174008)

France....., 1932. 500 Francs, P-66l, Issued Banknote, Blue on lilac underprint with ornate oval border with cherubs and animals and figures, Woman at left and Mercury at right, Back is blue on gray with allegorical figures in oval frame, S/N E.1937 538, Choice VF with very light vertical and horizontal folds. Attractive example with fresh appearing paper and sharp corners.

To read the complete lot description, see:
Banque de France, 1932, 500 Francs, Large Format Issued Banknote (https://auction.archivesinternational.com/Banque-de-France-1932-500-Francs-Large-Format-Issued-Banknote_i54174131)

France..., ND (1947). 100 Francs, P-M9, Issued Banknote, Brown and m/c printing with Mercury at center, Back is brown and m/c with reclining woman at center, S/N V.4 15456, Choice VF to XF condition.

To read the complete lot description, see:
Tresor Francis - Post WWII, ND (1947), Issued Banknote (https://auction.archivesinternational.com/Tresor-Francis-Post-WWII-ND-1947-Issued-Banknote_i54174132)

Japan, ND (1945-1952). Ticket for buying Sake from 2 different cabaret night clubs, Cabaret Senpokaku and Cabaret Kanazawa, signed by Lt. Brunner, The certificate allowed the soldier to by One (1) "Go" of Sale. Occupation Army Adjunct. VF to XF condition. This can be considered an MPC related scrip item.

To read the complete lot description, see:
Japan, Ticket for Buying Sake, Post WW II Scrip Note for Occupying U.S. Soldiers in Japan, ND (1945- (https://auction.archivesinternational.com/Japan-Ticket-for-Buying-Sake-Post-WW-II-Scrip-Note-for-Occupying-U-S-Soldiers-in-Japan-ND-1945-_i54174188)

Netherlands, ca.1910-30. 25 Gulden, P-Unlisted, Brown with light brown underprint, Art Deco stylized allegorical man holding fruit basket on right, ornate title at left, back with name of the printing company and items they print. Joh. Enschede En Zonen, Gem to Superb Gem Uncirculated condition. Lovely note and very rare

To read the complete lot description, see:
Netherlands. De Jelsumer Bank, ND (ca.1910-30), Advertising Sample Note (https://auction.archivesinternational.com/Netherlands-De-Jelsumer-Bank-ND-ca-1910-30-Advertising-Sample-Note_i54174215)

Vermont, Sutler, Good For 10 Cents, "Pay All in Goods", Black printing on light yellow paper printed on thin card, Fine condition with a vertical partial fold that has broken the yellow paper on the face and back, but the card is still intact. The 11th Vermont Infantry Regiment was a three-years infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.

It served in eastern theater, from September 1862 to August 1865. It served in the XXII Corps in the defenses of Washington D.C., and with the Vermont Brigade in VI Corps. The regiment was mustered into United States service on September 1, 1862, at Brattleboro, Vermont. On December 10, 1862, its designation changed to the 1st Vermont Heavy Artillery.

Evidently this item must have been issued between September 1, 1862 and December 10th, 1862 since the Vermont 11th's name was changed to the 1st Vermont Artillery on December 10th, 1862. On the first day of September, 1862, the 11th Regiment Vermont Volunteers was mustered into the United States service at Brattleboro, Vt., with about one thousand men and officers. The regiment was commanded by Col. James M. Warner, late Brigadier Gen. U. S. Vols. It immediately went to Washington, D. C, and was stationed in the northern defenses of Washington, where it remained for about twenty months, Extremely rare Sutler chit

To read the complete lot description, see:
F. Evans, Sutler, 11th Regiment Vermont Volunteers, 10 cents Cardboard Sutler Scrip or Chit. ND (ca. (https://auction.archivesinternational.com/F-Evans-Sutler-11th-Regiment-Vermont-Volunteers-10-cents-Cardboard-Sutler-Scrip-or-Chit-ND-ca_i54174317)

For more information, see:
https://archivesinternational.com/

WHITMORE COLLECTION OF WORCESTERSHIRE TOKENS

A fascinating and rare token relating to Worcester Royal Porcelain will be offered as part of a collection of 69 lots of tokens and checks from Worcestershire dating from the 17th century onwards at Noonans Mayfair on Tuesday, October 8, 2024. Amassed by the late John Whitmore (1931-2016), they are being sold by his family.

Peter Preston-Morley, Special Projects Director (Numismatics) at Noonans explained: "The John Whitmore Collection of Worcestershire Tokens is the best such group ever to appear at public auction. It covers all corners of the county from Worcester to Kidderminster through to Bromsgrove; Evesham, Bewdley, Shipston-on-Stour, Stourbridge, Droitwich to Malvern and Dudley."

One of the most interesting is a very fine and extremely rare white metal token bearing the motto W[orcester] P[orcelain] C[o] which is estimated at £200-£300.

As Mr Preston-Morley adds: "I have seen no other specimen like this. The Worcester Royal Porcelain Co, formed in 1862, traced its original founding to June 1751, and its royal warrant tag dated to a visit by George III in 1788. Porcelain tokens to the value of 2 shillings and a shilling, with inscriptions promising payment at the China Factory by William Davis, exist but are of exceptional rarity in commerce with the last specimen I saw was in 1998. Davis, by trade an apothecary in Broad Street, was the factory manager from 1751 to 1774, when he took over the business; he sold it in 1783 to the company's London agent, Thomas Flight. The present piece perhaps dates to the first half of the 19th century, but its purpose remains unknown." [lot 147]

Elsewhere in the collection is a large group of 29 rare tokens relating to inns in the city of Worcester, which is estimated at £500-700 [lot 129], while a very rare heart-shaped halfpenny from Bewdley, dated 1670, is expected to fetch £150-200 [lot 83]

John Whitmore, born on Christmas Eve 1931, developed an interest in collecting at an early age. This collection grew to be quite sizeable and, keen to learn more, he joined the Birmingham Numismatic Society. As a part-time dealer he began to invest in better specimens and this early success enabled him, after some years, to leave his job as a senior tax inspector in the civil service and turn his hobby into a full-time business. In 1983 the family moved from near the Lickey Hills to the Malvern Hills. Becoming aware of tokens and, specifically, those of inns, played into his passion for social history and eventually these became his main area of collection. As John's collection grew, he wanted to ensure that the wider numismatic world would benefit from his years of research, so he wrote and self-published several books based on his collection and issues from Worcestershire in general.

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

HERITAGE AUCTIONS: THE ATLANTIC COLLECTION

It's not often that we highlight a collection consisting entirely of modern US bullion coins, but The Atlantic Collection isn't just any collection. Open for bidding from now through October 7, The Atlantic Collection focuses almost exclusively on coins graded MS70 — meaning circulation strike coins rather than proofs, and, at the MS70 grade, unimprovable quality. All coins are certified by PCGS.

The Uncirculated one-ounce gold eagle series covers 39 years, but PCGS has only certified examples dated 1994 as Prooflike. A small minority of the 1994 certified Population is designated Prooflike, and most such pieces as graded MS69. Just 18 coins have been certified MS70 Prooflike for the entire one-ounce gold series, all dated 1994. The Atlantic Collection features a fully struck example, graded MS70 by PCGS, which displays reflective fields, with the reverse exhibiting noticeable cameo contrast between the luminous motifs and the glassy field. A strong lens is required to find the few minuscule mint-made imperfections, such as a tiny strike through on the obverse between stars 5 and 6.

Some of the other unimprovable coins featured in this collection include:

• 1988 $5 Tenth-Ounce Gold Eagle MS70 PCGS
• 1990 $10 Quarter-Ounce Gold Eagle MS70 PCGS
• 1990 $25 Half-Ounce Gold Eagle MS70 PCGS
• 1994 $1 Silver Eagle MS70 PCGS
• 1998 $10 Tenth-Ounce Platinum Eagle MS70 PCGS
• 1998 $50 Half-Ounce Platinum Eagle MS70 PCGS
• 1999 $1 Silver Eagle MS70 PCGS
• 2000 $100 One-Ounce Platinum Eagle MS70 PCGS

The concluding Live session is scheduled for 8:00 PM CT on Monday, October 7. Visit Coins.HA.com to place your bids on these lots.

HERITAGE AUCTIONS: JUDAEAN COINAGE

Ancient Judaean coins, spanning from the 5th century BC to AD 244, offer a captivating glimpse into the rich history and culture of the area. Judaean coins of the region evolved under its various influences, from Hellenistic designs to symbols of Jewish independence during the Maccabean Revolt, and through the Jewish-Roman wars. Their coins reflect the changing tides of history, transitioning from Roman provincial coinage to the symbols of the Bar Kokhba Revolt. Today, Judaean coins are highly collectible because they offer a tangible connection to the ancient past and continue to be of great interest to scholars and collectors alike. Our October 13 Spotlight: Judaea Showcase Auction offers you the chance to acquire some of these fascinating pieces of history; bidding is open now.

Unlike coins of the first Jewish War against Rome (AD 66-70), all coins of the Bar Kokhba Revolt were overstruck on Roman Provincial issues already in circulation, mainly silver tetradrachms and drachms of Antioch, Tyre, and Caesarea in Cappadocia, as well as Roman silver denarii. The government of Simon Bar Kokhba mainly controlled the Judaean hinterlands, hiding men and equipment in an elaborate network of underground caves and tunnels, and did not have the time or resources to set up a full-fledged mint with smelting, refining and casting capabilities. All the same, it must have given the rebel mintmasters a certain thrill to hammer flat the images of the Roman emperors and Pagan deities who they hoped to banish from Israel altogether. Coins struck during the first and second years of the revolt carry a date ("Year One / Two of the Redemption of Israel"), while coins struck during the third year (AD 134-135) are undated. This auction features a number of examples of the AR zuz from Year 3, with the finest graded of the group graded Choice AU 4/5 - 5/5 by NGC.

Here are a few of the other numismatic relics of Judaea offered in this auction:

PHOENICIA. Tyre. Ca. 126/5 BC-AD 65/6. AR shekel. NGC Choice XF 5/5 - 5/5. Dated Civic Year 36 (91/0 BC) Dated Civic Year 36 (91/0 BC). Laureate head of Melqart right, lion skin tied around neck / TYPOY IEPAS-KAI ASY?OY, eagle standing left on prow, palm over wing; C? (date) above club in left field, Phoenician alef between legs, ??Y monogram in right field. DCA Tyre 759.

Ex Walter Lee Crouch Collection (Superior Stamp & Coin Co Public Auction, 13-16 June 1977), lot 3080.

To read the complete item description, see:
PHOENICIA. Tyre. Ca. 126/5 BC-AD 65/6. AR shekel. NGC Choice XF 5/5 - 5/5. Dated Civic Year 36 (91/0 BC) (https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-phoenicia-tyre-ca-126-5-bc-ad-65-6-ar-shekel-29mm-1429-gm-1h-ngc-choice-xf-5-5-5-5/a/61408-25003.s)

JUDAEA. Jewish War (AD 66-70). AR shekel (22mm, 13.96 gm, 11h). NGC VG 4/5 - 2/5, scratches, edge chips. Jerusalem, dated Year 2 (April AD 67-March AD 68). Shekel of Israel (Paleo-Hebrew), ritual chalice with pearled rim, on two raised projections; Year Two above / Jerusalem the Holy (Paleo-Hebrew), staff with three pomegranate buds and globular base. GBC 6, 6387.

To read the complete item description, see:
JUDAEA. Jewish War (AD 66-70). AR shekel (22mm, 13.96 gm, 11h). NGC VG 4/5 - 2/5, scratches, edge chips. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/judaea/ancients-judaea-jewish-war-ad-66-70-ar-shekel-22mm-1396-gm-11h-ngc-vg-4-5-2-5-scratches-edge-chips/a/61408-25072.s)

Vespasian (AD 69-79). AR denarius (18mm, 3.43 gm, 6h). NGC Choice AU 4/5 - 3/5. Antioch, AD 72-73. IMP CAES VESP AVG P M COS IIII, laureate head of Vespasian right / Palm tree in center, Titus (on left) standing right, grounded spear in right hand, parazonium in left, left foot on helmet, Jewess (on right) seated right in attitude of mourning. GBC 6, 6520 corr. (obverse legend). RIC II.1, 1558. Gorgeously toned specimen

Ex Heritage Auctions, Auction 3054 (7 April 2017), lot 30230.

To read the complete item description, see:
Vespasian (AD 69-79). AR denarius (18mm, 3.43 gm, 6h). NGC Choice AU 4/5 - 3/5. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-vespasian-ad-69-79-ar-denarius-18mm-343-gm-6h-ngc-choice-au-4-5-3-5/a/61408-25173.s)

Vespasian (AD 69-79). AE sestertius (34mm, 25.92 gm, 7h). NGC XF 5/5 - 3/5, Fine Style, light smoothing. Rome, AD 71. IMP CAES VESPASIAN AVG P M TR P P P COS III, laureate head of Vespasian right / IVDAEA-CAPTA, palm tree in center; bearded and draped Jewish captive standing right (on left) , hands tied behind back, grounded shield behind, and Judaea seated right on cuirass (on right), in attitude of mourning, resting left elbow on knee, supporting head with left hand, pile of arms behind both figures, S C in exergue. RIC II.1 159. GBC 6, 6530.

To read the complete item description, see:
Vespasian (AD 69-79). AE sestertius (34mm, 25.92 gm, 7h). NGC XF 5/5 - 3/5, Fine Style, light smoothing. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-vespasian-ad-69-79-ae-sestertius-34mm-2592-gm-7h-ngc-xf-5-5-3-5-fine-style-light-smoothing/a/61408-25188.s)

Divus Vespasian (AD 69-79). AR denarius (19mm, 3.55 gm, 6h). NGC Choice XF 5/5 - 4/5. Rome, AD 80-81. DIVVS AVGVSTVS VESPASIANVS, laureate head of Vespasian right / Victory advancing left, placing shield on trophy, with X on shaft, Judaean captive seated left at base of trophy; EX-SC across fields. RIC II.1 (Titus) 364.

To read the complete item description, see:
Divus Vespasian (AD 69-79). AR denarius (19mm, 3.55 gm, 6h). NGC Choice XF 5/5 - 4/5. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-divus-vespasian-ad-69-79-ar-denarius-19mm-355-gm-6h-ngc-choice-xf-5-5-4-5/a/61408-25198.s)

Titus, as Caesar (AD 79-81). AR denarius (17mm, 3.00 gm, 6h). NGC VF 4/5 - 3/5, marks. Rome, AD 72-73. T CAES IMP VESP-PON TR POT, laureate head of Titus right / Titus driving in quadriga walking right, scepter in raised left hand, branch and reins in outstretched right. GBC 6, 6513. RIC II.1 (Vespasian) 1563. Wonderful iridescent luster.

From The M&N Collection.

To read the complete item description, see:
Titus, as Caesar (AD 79-81). AR denarius (17mm, 3.00 gm, 6h). NGC VF 4/5 - 3/5, marks. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-imperial/ancients-titus-as-caesar-ad-79-81-ar-denarius-17mm-300-gm-6h-ngc-vf-4-5-3-5-marks/a/61408-25202.s)

Take advantage of your opportunity to place your bids in this auction through Sunday, October 13, with the Live Session scheduled for 7PM CT. All bids are accepted exclusively at Coins.HA.com!

DANIEL F. WONG SALE SELECTIONS

Lyn Knight Currency Auctions is delighted and proud to present the Daniel F. Wong Collection of World Paper Money to be offered in several installments. We start tonight with EVERY PIECE at least 67 or better; many are either Top Pop, Top Pop by themselves, or the only example on the report.

Knight Live will run this incredible sale on Tuesday, October 15th @ 10 AM CDT - Afghanistan - Zimbabwe

Dan Wong is one of the friendliest and shrewdest numismatists I have ever had the privilege of meeting. It has been an absolute pleasure to know him for approximately 35 years. Dan was and is a powerful numismatic force in his own usually quiet way.

The Daniel F. Wong collection is one of North America's premier holdings; it was formed over many decades via specific requests to dealers and other collectors as well as numerous trade shows. The collection is primarily an amazing array of gem material and graded as such. The vast majority is PMG graded (virtually all are third party graded). Many notes that typically come in VF (at best) or Fine, when found at all, are in UNC and have been tightly held until now. We are all fortunate to be the beneficiary of Dan's powerful and careful collector eye.

Here are some early alpha highlights with much more to come:

For more information or to bid, see:
https://www.lynknight.com/
https://www.lynknight.com/catalog_sessions/1966

MDC MONACO AUCTION 15, PART TWO

Lot 1218 - FRANCE 2nd Republic (1848-1852). 20 francs Ceres, Proof 1851, A, Paris. Obv. REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE. Republic's head facing right, represented as Ceres, under a star, between a fasces and a branch; below signature L. MERLEY. F. Rev. (different) LIBERTE EGALITE FRATERNITE (different). In a crown composed by an olive branch and an oak branch : 20 FRANCS. Below (mint) and (date). G.1059 - F.529 - Fr.566; Gold - 6,44g - 21 mm - 6h. This is the second highest grade! PCGS PR66CAM. Proof with Cameo, mirror fields and matte reliefs. Tiny notch on the rim at 6 o'clock on the reverse and minimal rubbing on the neck on the obverse. Very rare and spectacular.

Starting price: 18 000€

Lot 1240 - FRANCE Second Empire / Napoleon III (1852-1870). Gold pattern of 100 francs bare head, Proof, smooth edge, A under the bust, 1855, A, Paris. Obv. NAPOLEON III EMPEREUR. Bare head facing right, below (mint) and signature BARRE. Rev. EMPIRE FRANÇAIS. Imperial coat of arms set on a crowned mantle and over the scepter and the hand of justice, 100 and FRs on the sides; below (different) (date) (different). Maz.1600 - G.1135 p.583 = this example! - VG.-; Gold - 32,25g - 35 mm - 6h. Top Pop : this is the only graded example! From the Farouk Collection, king of Egypt, Sotheby' sale February 1954, No. 575 then Heritage sale 3033, Chicago, august 8th 2014, No. 23223 NGC PF65 CAMEO. Proof with mirror fields looking glazed and matte reliefs, with full mint lustre, creating a Cameo contrast. Very rare. Remarkable pedigree.

Starting price: 200 000€

Lot 1272 - FRANCE Second Empire / Napoleon III (1852-1870). Gold pattern of 100 francs laureate head, Specimen (SP) 1862, E, Paris. Obv. NAPOLEON III - EMPEREUR. Laureate head facing right, below (mint) and signature BARRE. Rev. EMPIRE FRANÇAIS. Imperial coat of arms set on a crowned mantle and over the scepter and the hand of justice, 100 and FRs on the sides; below (anchor) (date) (anchor). G.1136 - Maz.1603 - VG.3613; Gold - 35 mm - 6h. This is the second highest grade! Only a SP67 example, MDC sale 9 No. 735 (440 000€+fees) is in higher grade. PCGS SP65CAM. Specimen with smooth edge and date between two anchors on the reverse. Mirror glazed fields and sandy reliefs give a Cameo aspect. Only some minor fingerprints on the obverse. Exceptional presentation quality, in its mint state, with a golden patina with barely greenish tones. Very rare.

Starting price: 200 000€

Lot 1767 - GREAT BRITAIN William IV (1830-1837). Crown, gold strike, Proof 1831, London. Obv. GULIELMUS IIII D: G: BRITANNIAR: REX F: D:. Bust facing right, signature W. W. on the edge of the neck. Rev. Shield surrounded by the Collar and laying on a crowned mantle; below ANNO (date). KM.PnA98 - Esc.2463 (R5, previously. Esc.272) - S.3833 - Fr.381; Gold - 38 mm - 6h. Top Pop : this is the only PCGS graded example! PCGS PR62DCAM. Proof with smooth edge and a Deep Cameo effect between mirror fields and matte reliefs. Minimal notches on the rim, minor hairlines on the fields and some micro-scratches. Very nice light, golden patina with barely greenish tones. Very rare.

Starting price: 300 000€

The bust, on the obverse, is inspired by Francis Leggatt Chantrey (1782-1841), a renowned sculptor during the Georgian era, famous for his busts. The reverse is made by Jean-Baptiste Merlen (1769-1850), who was an engraver and medalist in Paris before moving to London after the Battle of Waterloo. He joins the Royal Mint in 1820, recommended by Benedetto Pistrucci, as assistant engraver to the chief engraver William Wyon. Merlen mainly worked on reverses, such as the ones used on the half-sovereigns of William IV, a theme that will be taken up again under Victoria, or the reverses of the Maundy set coins, used from 1822 to 1887.

Lot 1773 - GREAT BRITAIN Victoria (1837-1901). 5 pounds "Una and the lion", headband with 5 rolls and 9 leaves, Proof 1839, London. Obv. VICTORIA D: G: BRITANNIARUM REGINA F: D:. Bust facing left, wearing headband; signature W. WYON R. A. Rev. DIRIGE DEUS - GRESSUS MEOS. The queen facing left leading a lion with her sceptre : below (date) and signature W . WYON R. A. Fr.386 - S.3851 - W&R.279 - GH.103; Gold - 37 mm - 12h. Top Pop : this is the higher graded example! For this variety (headband with 5 rolls and 9 leaves), our example is the higher graded by NGC amongst 41 proof examples [The top pop example graded PF is 63 ; the top PFCA is 63 ; the top PFUC is 66 (our example) and the second highest in PFUC is far behind, graded 64*] NGC PF66* ULTRA CAMEO. Proof and Ultra Cameo. Raised letter edge : DECUS ET TUTAMEN * ANNO REGNI TERTIO*. In its mint state with minor micro-scratches on the glazed fields. Intact mint lustre.

Starting price: 700 000€

Conceived by William Wyon (1795-1851) in 1839 to commemorate the beginning of queen Victoria's reign (1837), the "Una and the lion" 5 pounds is considered one of the most beautiful British coins. Victoria, standing with a lion, is moving left, with the motto "May God directs my steps" above her. The young queen, 20 years old, is represented as Lady Una, from Edmund Spencer's The Faerie Queene, a poem written in 1590. This is the first time a British monarch is represented as a fictitious character : England as a lion is guided by Una, personified by queen Victoria, and her sceptre.

Lot 1776 - GREAT BRITAIN Victoria (1837-1901). Crown pattern, smooth edge, by William Wyon, Proof 1845, London. Obv. VICTORIA DEI GRATIA. Diademed bust facing left; signature W. WYON RA. Rev. * BRITANNIARUM - REGINA FID: DEF: *. In a two laurel branches crown, crowned shield. S.- (3882 type) - Bull 2656 - Esc.-; Silver - 37 mm - 12h. Top Pop : this is the highest graded example! NGC PF64. Proof. With smooth edge and medal alignment. Very rare date, slightly different from the 1844 patterns. With a collector's patina and slightly satin reliefs.

Starting price: 60 000€

Lot 1787 – GREAT BRITAIN Victoria (1837-1901). Pattern of 5 international francs or Double florin, smooth edge, by William Wyon, Proof 1868, London. Obv. VICTORIA D: G: BRITANNIAR: REG: F: D:. Crowned bust facing left. Rev. 5 FRANCS / INTERNATIONAL. In a two oak branches crown : DOUBLE FLORIN (date). W&R.372 (R4) - KM.Pn115; Gold - 1,52g - 16 mm - 12h. NGC PF64 ULTRA CAMEO. Proof : the mate mint lustre on the reliefs is barely touched and mirror fields only show some fingerprints. Less than 20 known examples.

Starting price: 15 000€

In 1867, under the reign of Napoleon III, France seeks to create a universal currency based on the Germinal franc. The Universal Exposition attracts 7 million visitors from all around the world. In the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosts an international monetary conference with European countries, including Russia and the Ottoman Empire, and the United States of America. In 1865, the Second Empire already succeeded in establishing the Latin Union between France, Belgium, Switzerland and Italy. After 2 months of discussions, the project is abandoned but a theoretical agreement is reached on some points : the gold standard (the silver is abandoned); the fineness of 9/10th and the unified weights; the decimal system (the duodecimal system is abandoned); common monetary unit. In France, a 25 gold francs coin is desired, a coin close to the American 5 dollars, the USA being the first country to have a decimal system in the world, but also close to the British sovereign and to the 10 Dutch forints. 1868 should have been the year of realization for the project but it has to face lack of political consensus and then the shift to protectionist blocs. For Great Britain, this double florin or 5 francs project is the work of William Wyon; he took special care of this strike, intent to impress internationally.

Lot 1872 - ITALY Guastalla (county then duchy), Ferdinand II Gonzaga (1575-1630). 10 doppie 1610, Guastalla. Obv. FERDIN. GON. - MELF. P. TE. G. D. [Ferdinand Gonzaga, Prince of Melfi and Lord of Guastalla]. Draped and cuirassed bust, with the golden Feece, standing three-quarters facing right. Rev. ECCE. ANCI. - DOMINI. FIAT. - MICHI. Annunciation scene; below (date). MIR.353 - CNI.IX.17 and 19 - Bellesia 8 - Fr.458 = this example; Gold - 66,35g - 46 mm - 6h. Top Pop : this is the only graded example! From The Paramount collection, No. 30364. This example is illustrated in Friedberg, 9th edition, p.555. NGC MS61. Only 4 examples seem to be known, including 3 in public collections (Milan and CNI)! Big module strike, well struck, barely off centered with a minor double strike. Spectacular bust on the obverse and very nice Annunciation scene on the reverse. Beautiful golden reflections. An unique opportunity to acquire a museum piece!

Starting price: 400 000€

Ferdinand II Gonzaga (or Ferrante II Gonzaga), Lord and Count of Guastalla, is the son of Caesar I of Guastalla and Camilla Borromeo. In 1621, his county became a duchy. He is married to Giovanni Andrea Doria, coming from the family of great Genoese admirals.

Lot 1899 - ITALY Savoy, Victor Amadeus II (1675-1730). Gold medal, module of 20 ducats, Capture of the city of Cremona by Prince Eugene of Savoy and capture of the Marshal Villeroy, by P. Müller, Specimen (SP) 1702, Augsburg. Obv. PATIENS VOCARI - CÆSARIS VLTOR [Horace, Odes, Allow yourself to be called the Caesar's avenger] To the left, Pheme holds a medallion with a cuirassed effigy facing right of Prince Eugene, surrounded by palms, and circular legend : EUGEN: PR: SAB: CÆS: EX: GENER: COMD. Under the medallion, an eagle is holding a rooster between its talons and some chickens are fleeing. Below : VILLAREGIO SVPR. GALL/ DVCE INTRA MOENIA/ CREMONÆ CAPTO/ 1702 [Villeroy, Marshal of France, captured in Cremona]. Rev. FLANTIBVS AVSTRIS. Allegory of the Holy Roman Empire, as Athena, seating with spear and shield, holding a Victory while the wind is destroying lilies fields. Below : VIRTVS GERMA/ NORVM. VL.IV p.370 - Coll. Julius cf. 627 - Montenuevo cf. 1166; Gold - 69,13g - 40,5 mm - 12h. Top Pop : this is the only graded example! PCGS SP61. Raised letter edge : : + FLORENTES FERVLAS ET GRANDIA LILIA QVASSANS [He tears down the flowering rods and the highest lilies]. Still has some mint lustre under a thin patina. Scratch on the leg of Pheme and minimal hairlines on the reverse's fields. Probably unique!

Starting price: 50 000€

By Philipp Heinrich Müller (1654-1719), one of the most famous European medalists from late 17th to early 18th century. Born in a modest family, Müller begins working for a goldsmith in Augsburg. Thanks to his talent, he's spotted by Leonard Weiss, city councillor, who allows him to become a medal engraver. He is working for Augsburg, but also in Nuremberg for Caspar Gottlieb Laufer, Mint-master in Nuremberg. He becomes known and admired throughout Europe where he reproduces portraits of many Princes and rulers of his time

Lot 2120 - SWITZERLAND Helvetic Confederation (1848-present day). Pattern of 20 francs Vreneli, gold from Gondo's mines, in Valais, with small cross, Specimen 1897, B, Bern. Obv. HELVETIA. Bust of Helvetica facing left; signature F. LANDRY. Rev. On two oak branches, shield of the Confederation with 20 and FR on the sides; below (date) and (mint). Fr.501 - HMZ.1195b - OC.405.1a; Gold - 21 mm - 6h. This is the third PCGS highest grade! PCGS SP64. Specimen. With small crosses. Struck with the gold extracted in Gondo, in Valais, with a characteristic greenish color. Only 29 struck examples! Almost in its mint state, with only some micro-scratches.

Starting price: 200 000€

In 1291, year of the pact between Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden, Gondo has been bought by the Bishop of Sion, Boniface de Challant, to the territory of Novara. Thanks to a post office linking Lyon to Milan, the main resource for the inhabitants of Gondo was trade with Italy. Some gold mines were exploited from the middle of the 16th century to the end of the 19th century. Gold exploitation was definitively abandoned in 1897. Only 29 coins of 20 francs were struck with the gold extracted in Gondo in 1897, last year of minting with that gold. Only a few examples are known : one in the Swissmint collection, without the cross; one in the Museum of Zurich, with the cross; finally, 2 or 3 examples sold in 2002, 2013 (NGC SP66) and our example.

MDC Monaco, 27 Avenue de la Costa, 98000 Monaco (+377) 93 25 00 42 – info@mdc.mc – www.mdc.mc

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
MDC MONACO AUCTION 15, PART ONE (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n39a23.html)

HENRY FAUNTLEROY HANGING PENNY

A fascinating and very rare penny that relates to the hanging of banker and forger Henry Fauntleroy, that happened 200 years ago this year and was attended by more than 100,000 spectators, will be on display on the stand of Timothy Millett at the LAPADA Berkley Square Fair from October 22-27, 2024. It has a price tag of £2,500.

Henry Fauntleroy (1784-1824) was for 7 years, a clerk in the London bank of Marsh, Sibbald & Co., of which his father was one of the founders. He was taken into partnership, and the whole business of the firm was gradually left in his hands. In 1824, the bank suspended payments. Fauntleroy was arrested on the charge of appropriating trust funds by forging the trustees' signatures and was committed for trial. It was rumoured that he had squandered £250,000 in total which it is claimed he spent on homes for his mistresses and gambling at the races. He was tried at the Old Bailey; found guilty and sentenced to be hanged. After the hanging, there were rumours that he had put a silver pipe down his throat and hadn't died. Wealthy friends, it was claimed, had cut down the body and whisked him away to live a luxurious life overseas.

"Only about 10 of these pennies are known to exist, it is presumed that they were all created by the same engraver spotting a business opportunity", says London-based Tim Millett who has over 40 years' experience as a dealer, specialising in historical medals and historical works of art.

He added: "These coins were sold at the hanging to an enthusiastic and resentful crowd, as recorded in the legend- "the robber of widows and orphans". and to be offering this penny, a relic of such a sensational event just weeks before the 200th anniversary of the hanging, November 30th (in the city where he lived and died) is very exciting."

He finishes: "Fauntleroy was a reckless character and even kept a book recording each one of his forged transactions. At the time, the story attracted a huge amount of attention. Even today, if you go into the entrance of the Old Bailey, there is a cabinet with documents related to the trial. Normally the establishment don't like hanging their own, it might set an unfortunate precedent."

Since 2009, the LAPADA Berkeley Square Fair has become a leading showcase for art and antiques on the international arts calendar, establishing a reputation for attracting buyers interested in significant one-of-a-kind investment pieces, alongside a new generation of keen collectors from around the world. The fair is located in the heart of Mayfair, known globally for its rich heritage, luxury retail, neighbouring art galleries, restaurants, hotels and private members clubs. The fair benefits from its close proximity to these establishments, with visitors spending well over £10m across the week.

The LAPADA Berkeley Square Fair is delighted to welcome back esteemed partners Rathbones incorporating Investec Wealth & Investment (UK), the Wallace Collection and Pulbrook & Gould for 2024, whose value and support leading up to and during the fair continue to bolster the fair's success.

About LAPADA
LAPADA the Association of Art & Antiques Dealers is the largest society of professional art and antiques dealers in the UK. It is a trusted resource for private collectors and the art and antiques trade in the UK and 16 other countries around the world. Established in 1974 it boasts over 500 worldwide members, who are experts in their fields, with specialities ranging from fine art, jewellery and furniture to contemporary works, sculpture and ceramics. Due to the Association's strict Code of Practice, clients are offered total reassurance when purchasing from a LAPADA member. LAPADA offers a referral service for any member of the public looking for a trusted dealer in a specific area, who is seeking quality and assurance of authenticity. It also offers industry advice and lobbies on issues affecting its members and good practice in the art and antiques trade. In 2015, LAPADA launched its newly developed website, which is the leading online marketplace for sourcing authentic art and antiques from trusted LAPADA-accredited dealers.

For more information, see:
https://lapadalondon.com/

NEW ZEALAND'S 1935 WAITANGI CROWN

The New Zealand 1935 Proof Crown, often referred to as the "Waitangi Crown", holds a unique place in numismatic history. This rare and sought-after coin commemorates the 95th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, a landmark document that shaped the course of New Zealand's history. Struck in silver and with a limited mintage of just 1,128 coins, the Waitangi Crown is a prized possession for collectors and acts as a fascinating window into the country's past.

In this article, we'll delve into the historical context surrounding the coin's creation, explore its design and specifications, and discuss its rarity, value, and appeal to both coin enthusiasts and history buffs.

This treaty, signed on February 6, 1840, between representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Maori chiefs, established a unique relationship between the indigenous Maori people and the British settlers.

The treaty aimed to ensure British sovereignty over New Zealand while guaranteeing Maori ownership and control over their lands, forests, and other possessions. In return, Maori were granted the rights and privileges of British subjects.

What sets the Treaty of Waitangi apart from agreements in other colonized regions is its explicit recognition of indigenous rights and sovereignty. Unlike many instances where colonization led to the dispossession and marginalization of indigenous populations, the Treaty of Waitangi sought to establish a partnership between Maori and the British Crown. While the reality of its implementation has been complex and fraught with challenges, the treaty remains a foundational document in New Zealand's history and a symbol of the ongoing dialogue between Maori and the Crown.

The design of the 1935 Proof Crown Waitangi's reverse evolved before arriving at the final version we know today. Initially, the New Zealand authorities, including the coin's advocate Allan Sutherland, favored a design by James Berry that depicted a group of Maori chiefs signing the treaty. However, this design was deemed too intricate for a coin by the Royal Mint's Standing Committee.

The Committee then suggested a simplified design featuring just two figures: Lieutenant-Governor Hobson and Maori chief Tamati Waka Nene. Artist Percy Metcalfe was brought in, and he created a model inspired by Art Deco and Egyptian Revival styles. This design underwent several revisions based on feedback from New Zealand officials, including then-Minister of Finance Gordon Coates, who critiqued everything from the position of Hobson's leg to the size of Nene's hands and the accuracy of his cloak.

Andrew adds:

To read the complete article, see:
New Zealand's 1935 Waitangi Crown Captures a Pivotal Moment in History (https://www.sterlingcurrency.com.au/blog/new-zealands-1935-waitangi-crown-captures-a-pivota/)

A VAIL MEDAL PIN

The eBay listing for a Medallic Art Company 14K tiny lapel screwback pin turned up last November. The seller didn't know what it was but I knew immediately; the pin is the wearable reflection of this medal...

Here is a 2 1/2-inch silver example of The Vail Medal For Noteworthy Public Service. Theodore Newton Vail (1845-1920) was president of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) from 1907 until he retired in 1919. He had a long and honored career. His guiding principle was that customer service was more important than increasing dividends. This axiom sums up his career. "Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. Theodore Newton Vail invented the telephone business."

The central figure on the reverse represents the "Civilizing Force of Communication" speeding the winged message along the wires. At the right, "Loyalty to Service" upholds the left hand of the central figure, while a third figure, "Devotion to Duty" helps to support the lines of communication.

The medal was designed by Adolf Weinman in 1921, and was awarded to employees for noteworthy acts reflecting the Bell Telephone System's highest traditions of loyalty and devotion to duty. Gold, silver, and bronze medals, struck by Medallic Art Company, were awarded in the hundreds from 1920 to 1984 when the Bell System was broken up. Underneath the image of the medal is an enlargement of the ½-inch gold pin I bought.

AT&T published a log of all Vail Medal recipients from 1920 to 1948 called For Noteworthy Public Service. There are only 15 gold medal winners in that period and only one with the initials "A. L." Anna Lennan was the chief operator of The Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company, Piedmont, WV. The citation (p43) reads "Piedmont suffered a severe flood on March 29, 1924. Miss Lennan left her home in Westernport, MD at about 6 AM and disregarding the pleas of her family and townspeople crossed a partially submerged bridge over which traffic was prohibited and which was later swept away. Arriving at the office she organized the forces that had reported for duty so that telephone service was satisfactorily maintained."

Anna Lennan's day was fraught with trials, and when ordered to leave she refused. Her desire to maintain service was so great she remained on duty until 11 PM when continued service was assured. The story of Anna Lennan and the gold pin that goes with it was a had-to-have. Since it was poorly listed I won it with little competition. Another case of owning the book made all the difference.

For more information on the Token and Medal Society, see:
https://www.tokenandmedal.org/

MAASTRICHT PAPER MONEY FAIR HIGHLIGHTS

BNB editor Owen Linzmayer holds the huge 100,000-peso note (Philippines BNP1003) with the help of Pakistani dealer Muhammad Zeeshan Yameen, who had just purchased same from another dealer.

Stack's Bowers Galleries just concluded its Fall 2024 Maastricht Auction of World Paper Money on 2 October. According to Dennis Hengeveld, Director of Consignments & Senior Numismatist, "Attendees were particularly interested in Eastern European notes from the Al Kugel Collection, such as the rare 1923 5,000-marka note (Estonia B206a) that ultimately sold for US$33,600, almost ten times its estimate. We see more and more interest in this area and the Al Kugel collection offers an unprecedented opportunity to acquire select rarities from the region."

Not to be outdone, Noonans was showcasing the Mount Damavand Collection of Persian Banknotes, which went under the hammer on 3 October. "The Persia chapter of The Banknote Book was invaluable in the preparation of our catalog for this collection," said Andrew Pattison, head of Noonans banknote department. "The astonishing level of detail in the chapter meant we were able to easily distinguish varieties and discover rarities that we might have otherwise overlooked. Our most significant find was a 1926 2-toman note with a previously unknown overprinted branch of issue: Seistan (Persia B114b21b). Several notes on offer also filled in gaps in other listings which were inferred but not confirmed, and added a number of previously unknown minor varieties which are invaluable for completing the records of this highly collectable series."

If you missed these rarities, there's still time to bid on Spink's auction of world banknotes to be held 8 October. According to Arnas Savickas, Global Coordinator Banknotes, "We experienced a great deal of excitement around multiple lots, and while it's challenging to narrow it down to just a single highlight, the recently discovered unissued 50-pound note circa 1924 generated a disproportionate number of inquiries (Australia B118.5as)."

This unissued 50-pound note (Australia B118.5as) was recently discovered after a hundred years in hiding and is set to be auctioned by Spink on 8 October 2024.

To read the complete article, see:
Whitman Brands Attends The MIF Paper Money Fair In The Netherlands (https://www.greysheet.com/news/story/whitman-brands-attends-the-mif-paper-money-fair-in-the-netherlands?)

INTERNET ARCHIVE LEGAL BATTLES

To many, the Internet Archive is its own kind of sanctuary — a vestige of a bygone internet built on openness and access, a Silicon Valley standout interested not in series funding or shareholder value, but the preservation of any piece of the cultural record it can get. But to the corporations and people that own the copyrights to large swaths of that record, the Internet Archive is like a pirate ship stuffed with digital plunder. Two lawsuits have brought these long-simmering tensions to the courts and public consciousness, with financial repercussions in the hundreds of millions that could bring down the internet's greatest library.

With the Archive, he says, "The whole idea was to build the Library of Alexandria for the digital age. To build universal access to all knowledge."

The Archive is best known for its preservation of the ephemeral expanses of the World Wide Web, available through its one-of-a-kind archive/search engine, the Wayback Machine.

In June 2020, several book publishers sued the Internet Archive following the launch of its pandemic-era National Emergency Library, which made its collection of scanned books available to borrow freely and without restrictions amid school, university, and library closures. The publishers claimed mass, willful copyright infringement and won a summary judgment in the lower courts last March. (The Archive appealed, but lost again earlier this month.)

The same day the district court settlement was announced in August 2023, a set of music-industry clients — led by major record labels Universal Music Group and Sony Music — filed their own copyright-infringement lawsuit over another Archive endeavor, the Great 78 Project: an unprecedented effort to digitize 78 rpm records, the obsolete shellac discs that emerged in the 1890s and remained the dominant format for audio recordings until vinyl surpassed them in the 1940s and 1950s.

To read the complete article, see:
Inside the $621 Million Legal Battle for the ‘Soul of the Internet' (https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/internet-archive-major-label-music-lawsuit-1235105273/)

Losing the Archive is, indeed, a frightening prospect. "There is a misperception that things on the web are forever—but they really, really aren't," says Craig Silverman, who thinks the nonprofit's demise would make certain types of scholarship and reporting "way more difficult, if not impossible," in addition to representing a disappearance of a bastion of collective memory.

Just this September, Google and the Internet Archive announced a partnership to allow people to see previous versions of websites surfaced through Google Search by linking to the Wayback Machine. Google previously offered its own cached historical websites; now it leans on a small nonprofit.

The Internet Archive also has challenges beyond its legal woes. For starters, it's getting harder to archive things. As Mark Graham, director of the Wayback Machine, told me, the rise of apps with functions like livestreaming, especially when they're limited to certain operating systems, presents a technical challenge. On top of that, paywalls are an obstacle, as is the sheer and ever-increasing amount of content. "There's just so much material," he says. "How does one know what to prioritize?"

Then there's AI, once again. Thus far, the Internet Archive has sidestepped or been exempt from the new scrutiny on web crawling as it relates to AI training data. This June, for example, when Reddit announced that it was updating its scraping policy, it specifically noted that it was still allowing "good faith actors" like the Internet Archive to crawl it.

To read the complete articles, see:
The Internet Archive's Fight to Save Itself (https://www.wired.com/story/internet-archive-memory-wayback-machine-lawsuits/)
We're losing our digital history. Can the Internet Archive save it? (https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240912-the-archivists-battling-to-save-the-internet)

LOOSE CHANGE: OCTOBER 6, 2024

Canada's New Sundial Coin

If you're looking to add a unique item to your coin collection, the Royal Canadian Mint has released a new piece that not only looks like a sundial but functions as one, too.

The sundial is known as the world's earliest timekeeping device. It's composed of two main parts: a flat circular plate and a dial or stick called a gnomon.

When a sundial is aligned properly, it will tell the local solar time based on where the sun casts its shadow on its surface.

This is essentially how the Mint's new coin functions.

It includes a rhodium-plated brass gnomon. When placed in the sun and pointed in the direction of true north, the gnomon casts a shadow onto the base of the coin, indicating the time.

To read the complete article, see:
Canada just got a stunning new sundial coin that can actually tell time (https://dailyhive.com/canada/royal-canadian-mint-sundial-coin)

The Latest on Counterfeit Toonies

Counterfeit toonies are cropping up in Canada at a rate that is more than doubling every year, Statistics Canada data show.

From 1,300 fake $2 coins reported in 2019, there were 28,666 last year. That's a 22-fold increase over four years in the number of counterfeit toonies deemed to have passed into circulation or been seized before they made it into general circulation.

Counterfeit coins expert Mike Marshall says this is only the tip of the iceberg. The reality of counterfeit coins in Canada is much, much worse, he maintains.

"That is only a drop in the bucket," he says. "Over a 12-month period in the province of Ontario, we were doing reams of coin roll searches all over the province. We went to banks, purchased rolls of toonies, and checked them for counterfeits. We were running between seven and nine per cent counterfeit."

To read the complete article, see:
Mint downplays StatCan, expert's reports on recent proliferation of fake toonies (https://canadiancoinnews.com/mint-downplays-statcan-experts-reports-on-recent-proliferation-of-fake-toonies/)

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
COUNTERFEIT CANADIAN 'CAMEL TOE' TOONIES (https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n09a30.html)
REALLY BAD FAKE CANADIAN TOONIES (https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n51a25.html)

How to win a Nobel prize

• Your best chance of winning comes when you're 54, the age of 24 recipients. The average age of all laureates is 58.
• In the entire twentieth century, only 11 Nobel prizes were awarded to women. Since 2000, women have won another 15 prizes.
• You should expect to wait for your award — for about two decades after you produce your Nobel-worthy work. So, on average, you should make a start on these projects by your 40s.
• Be prepared to share the prize.

To read the complete article, see:
How to win a Nobel prize (https://www.nature.com/immersive/d41586-024-02897-2/index.html)