"A few issues ago, you published the information provided in a press release: "The Perth Mint is Australia's "largest fully integrated, innovative precious metals enterprise" and provides gold, silver and platinum products and services to markets across the world. It's run by the Western Australian government and is the world's only government-owned and guaranteed precious metals enterprise."

"I think that the Royal Canadian Mint might have a different opinion, since they would claim that they are not only a government-owned and guaranteed precious metals enterprise, but the world's largest.

"If I am wrong, I am sure that we will hear back from a few of your knowledgeable readers."

The U.S. Mint makes a sizable business in precious metals as well. -Editor

"Not having yet seen any of the Charles III coins I have a question about the recent article. It states that the 2 pound coin reverse has: a rose (England); shamrock (Ireland); thistle (Scotland); and a daffodil (Wales). Daffodil? I thought that Wales was represented by a leek."

Well, the article only says that each piece "displays a distinctive British animal or plant" - it doesn't connect the images with England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. While the leek is indeed a SYMBOL of Wales, the daffodil is the NATIONAL FLOWER. -Editor

The daffodil is the national flower of Wales and the symbol of cancer charities in many countries. The appearance of wild flowers in spring is associated with festivals in many places.

To recognise the importance of the four countries of the United Kingdom to the King, each is represented on individual coins of our latest release; the 2023 King Charles III Accession Sovereign Series, by their distinctive national flowers: the English rose, the Scottish thistle, the Welsh daffodil and the Irish shamrock.

Per an article quoted in last week's issue, "There's a motif of three interlocking Cs (take that, Coco Chanel), inspired by Charles II, who had a double-C design on his coinage. The Cs stand for crown, community and conservation, the unifying themes of Charles's coronation speech."

"As is often the case, this doesn't tell the full story, as different Charles II coins had differing numbers of C's - on the Maundy 4, 3, 2 and 1-penny coins, the denominations were represented by four C's through to a single C, for example. Illustrations of a fourpence and threepence attached, along with a silver crown, which *did* have a series of paired C's on the reverse."

Thank you! Our readers are always keepin' it real. -Editor

"The 08/25 article on "gift card scams" got me thinking: Does anyone collect Gift Cards? A google search (www.giftcardcollector.com) led to a suspicious looking Chinese website but no Gift Cards (the Google entry was 16 years old). An eBay search revealed 892 items, including vintage no-balance cards and active cards with balances. The average vintage no-balance card started at two dollars. Like baseball cards in the 1980's, Gift Cards seem to have had their moment, so collect for fun. I guess collecting Gift Cards ran into the same wall as pre-paid Phone Cards (remember those?).

The article revealing major retailer Target no longer accepts checks makes me wonder if check collecting is not far behind. I have a few in my collection and notable autographs are always a help with value. Among the most interesting is one from noted Confederate currency dealer and author Colonel Grover Criswell. The check states that "bearer may redeem monetary amount in confederate currency," should they wish. Original, to say the least."

Any item made and used by humanity is a candidate for collecting and study, and I would argue that gift cards quality as a branch of numismatics alongside checks, charge coins, and credit and debit cards. They are all part of the evolution of money and the world economy, and thus a fine collecting and scholarly pursuit. Collecting is a natural human instinct, part of how we make order of our chaotic world. -Editor

"It was interesting to see H. Alvin Sharpe, mentioned in the article Numismatic Adventures in Collecting 'Doubloons' by Tom Kays in the August 25, 2024, E-Sylum. I told the story (possible truth, possible myth) of creating the Mardi Gras doubloons as part of a program presented to the Metropolitan Coin Club of Atlanta this year. Briefly, here is the story.

"Because of a variety of anticipated problems the Mardi Gras Committee prohibited the throwing of items from floats into the crowd. Many were disappointed with this decision. H. Alvin Sharpe had the idea to create medals in anodized aluminum. He made a few medals to test throwing them and to show others what his idea was. His idea wasn't getting anyplace because he was regarded as a crackpot. He decided to try one more time. If this attempt failed, he was done. He went to the Mardi Gras Parade office and spoke with Darwin Fenner. Mr. Fenner listened and then told Sharpe that someone would get hurt if they allowed metal discs to be thrown. As a response, Sharpe threw a handful of the disc in Fenner's face. Fenner was so impressed and ordered 80,000 for the 1960 parade. And the very collectible Mardi Gras doubloon was born."

Thanks. Great story, apocryphal or not. Can anyone locate a primary source for this? There could be a contemporary newspaper article about the first Mardi Gras doubloons. -Editor

"Concerning the awarding of Nobel prizes mentioned in Tom Kay's Numismatic Diary, the Nobel peace prize is the only Nobel prize awarded in Oslo. All the others are awarded in Stockholm."

Fun fact. Thanks for setting us straight. -Editor

"Members of Medal Collectors of America (MCA) receive a subscription to the award-winning The MCA Advisory, the option to purchase the annual MCA club medal, and the invitation to social events and speakers, both online and at major conventions.

"The MCA Advisory is seeking all types of articles related to the study and collection of medals. Do you have something to share?"

It's a great club and journal, which Doug currently edits. He can be reached at
info@medalcollectors.org . -Editor