"I have no idea whether this might be helpful, but I noticed on Ancestry.com that there was a Warren L. Shaw who died in Boston in 1868. There's also an 1867 probate record for another Warren L. Shaw who died in Springfield; I think this one's wife was named Juliette.

"A probably less likely candidate is a Walter Lewis Shaw, a clerk at the Lowell Depot, according to the Boston Directory, who got married in Boston in 1882.

"As for the incomplete address, I suspect that Boston still didn't have door-to-door mail delivery in 1852. People would periodically have picked up their mail at the Post Office. At least, that's how it was in the early 19th century. I think residential delivery in the US didn't start until after an Act of Congress in 1863. Up until then, there was no reason to put a street address on mail."

Thanks - all possible clues. -Editor

"Reading further, and seeing the piece about Alexandre Vattemare, prompted me to see what he says about the 1815 cent mentioned in W. L. Shaw's ad.

"In the chapter on Federal period coins in the Bibliothèque Impériale in Paris, on p. 56 he says (in French) for coin #70:

CENT. — EX. 1815. — Weight 10.6 g. Given the high cost of copper, caused by the war with England, no cents were minted in 1815. The existence of this coin [in the collection] proves once again that there was clandestine minting of American coins in Birmingham, introduced to the United States from Canada and Nova Scotia.

"I'm not knowledgeable about this topic but, even if this is a fake like the altered coin he lists next, it suggests that collectors ca. 1852-1861 had reason to believe that such coins existed. Or maybe this was a pattern made, as Vattermare seems to suggest, in England?

"For some reason, he makes a similar comment on the next page about the 1823 cent in the collection, making it clear that his information was not necessarily reliable. One suspects that Vattermare has confused his information about the 1815 cent because Boulton of Birmingham usually supplied the US Mint with copper planchets, but their shipments (at least officially) stopped during the war of 1812.

"I don't know if anyone has since examined the Paris example, but I imagine it's another altered piece.

"But W. L. Shaw wouldn't have known that."

"I enjoyed last weekend's E-Sylum and following on the back of the earliest cash machine mentioned, here are a couple of websites about the first one in Enfield, just north of London."

Thank you. Nice articles with great photos. -Editor

We have a mystery badge from Sen. Leverett Saltonstall's papers that I'm hoping your readers might be able to help us identify. I think it might be related to Saltonstall's WWI military service, but could be wrong. Saltonstall (1892-1979) served as a first lieutenant in the 301st Field Artillery Regiment in the 76th Division for the last six months of the war. Uniface, the design is a white disc containing a blue star in small circle with a red feather or leaf slightly overlapping it and a red cross in another small circle overlapping the leaf. We haven't found any military references, U.S. or French to match these. If not military, this might relate to his Massachusetts gubernatorial years, 1939-1945. The badge design seems too old-fashioned to be from his years in the U.S. Senate (1945-1967). No maker's marks on the badge.

Very interesting badge! Can anyone help identify it? -Garrett

Thanks to a Wall Street Journal review in May, this novel was on my summer reading list. I was surprised to see the story take a numismatic turn. I won't spoil the book, but Russian printing of Allied Military Currency in post-war Germany figures into the plot.

‘The Wealth of Shadows' Review: Hitting Hitler in the Wallet

https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/the-wealth-of-shadows-review-hitting-hitler-in-the-wallet-fd7000d0

Sounds like a great summer read! -Garrett

"I've had the pleasure of enjoying the world of coins in the San Francisco bay area for over 60 years. My comments refer to this specific geographic area.

"Regular visits to local coin shops, exchanging rolls of cents, and looking through change hoards are amongst the most fun and memorable experiences. Coin shows were another matter since they were big and had too many choices.

"After buying a BU 1909 SVDB in 1982 for about $1K I showed it to several dealers who said it had corrosion spots and that I had been ripped off. It was nearly 15 years before I would attend another coin show. Slabs had become common and I was focused to a much greater extent. I then acquired an S-VDB, 14-D, 16-D dime, and a nice Fugio cent with confidence.

"After joining coin clubs I was involved in management and operation of shows and regular activities.

"At a show I was seen as an expert. I didn't feel like one. Who knew? It was new, different and fun most of the time. Then the troubles started brewing.

"The Santa Clara Show that had once hosted over 1K dealers was shrinking. Gene Bruder could save the day since he always had great offerings. Superior exhausted my remaining budget and bidding was mostly against Dealers. Not to mention a great meal before the auction.

"California was playing sales tax and business license games against those out of state. The City of San Jose privatized venue management that promptly raised fees over 200%. Real estate was heading beyond absurd into the really absurd realm. Big Dealers would only make an appearance at Long Beach or the rare ANA Show.

"Today a majority of shows are private and a shrinking number are club sponsored. A huge show today has three dozen Dealers, some have maybe 6 or fewer. As part of Fremont Coin Club management our upcoming 2 day show represents survival.

"Free admission and parking is a good start along with security and responsive local Police. Exhibits, educational programs, and a Youth table will be there. I'm even setting up a Barber/ Liberty Seated Coin table for those with advanced interests.

"The Show takes place July 27, 10 to 5 and July 28, 10 to 4 at Elk's Lodge 38991 Farwell Drive Fremont.

"Hopefully we can have a full room of Dealers.

"I wonder how long this trend will continue?"