"No one is sure what the original purpose of the Chinese "wedding token" that Ted Puls sent in is, but I see that he used Brass Checks and Red Lights by Fred Mazzulla as his authority. My understanding is that this book is largely fiction and was written to promote the sale of fantasy brothel tokens. See NNP, Numismatics International Bulletin Vol. 31, No. 10, pp. 250-54"

I vaguely recalled that being said about the book, but came up empty in searching the E-Sylum archives. Thanks for the reference! -Editor

"As far as a pile of "melted" coins; the local dealer had a small pile in his display case. Also; another dealer/collector had coins stored in his house that burned down. The large piles of melted coins were scooped up and sent to a smelter. Ever since then; I have seen him at a lot of local auctions trying to find coins to rebuild his collection."

"A couple months ago, in my considering moving across country, I looked up clubs in the target area and sent out an email like that...Since I am active in Numismatics, Astronomy, Archaeology, and Metal Detecting, I Googled and found clubs that matched those interests, and sent out a single email explaining that I am thinking about relocating to their area and wanted to plan a visit... I asked when the club met and if there were any special activities they were hosting so I could choose when to come out for a visit...I think they all responded back, and I have a month and week picked out where I can participate in a meeting and/or outing for each club...Clear Skies!"

That's great to hear - have fun! -Editor

"Major mint error coin dealer Mike Byers of Las Vegas, Nevada reports that a shipment of coins that he sent Express Mail through the Post Office, to Torrance, California were stolen in transit on January 18th, 2025. The package which included the coins shown below, arrived tampered with and without the coins inside. These coins have not yet been recovered.

"Please be on the lookout for these coins and if they come in over the counter at your store or office, or if you see them online, please contact Mike directly at mike@mikebyers.com or call him at 714-914-6415"

Please be on the lookout, folks. -Editor

"I had three respondents for the World Coins Magazine. The first was a reader from New York, and I will be shipping these to him this week."

It's nice to play matchmaker as Valentine's Day approaches. -Editor

"Let's try this again.

• Numismatics International Bulletins, 1975-1979 in NI binders, with Four extra binders
• Society of International Numismatics, misc issues 1974-78
• Extra odd issues of both of the above.

Free, receiver pays bookrate/media mail postage."

Dick can be reached at alaskararecoins@gmail.com. -Editor

"Not a DOGE or Musk fan but that's not to say elimination of the circulating one-cent coin is a bad idea. If you're "centimental" then keep it for mint sets and proof sets, as Switzerland has done with her one-centime piece. (These sets must be profit centers for the mint, judging from their skyrocketing price.)

"While we're at it, let's stop printing the $1 and $2 bills and replace them with coins, as Canada has done. Defenders of these paper denominations will get over their disappearance."

"It's interesting to see these two coins side by side, but without more evidence, I wouldn't assume this to be a case of copying. After all, there are few ways to depict a walking four-footed animal in profile, and it's plain that two different species are depicted: the North American Grizzly Bear and the circum-polar Polar Bear. Incidentally, when the California coin was first minted it was criticized for representing the animal as being too short in body length. The Polar Bear's streamlined form - evolved for long-distance swimming - is more accurately shown.

"Readers interested in the history of the California Grizzly Half Dollar in particular, or in numismatics in literature in general, might appreciate the poignant World War II memo by artist / journalist Tom Lea, A Grizzly from the Coral Sea, Carl Hertzog, El Paso, Texas, 1944. Though the first edition of this little book has become somewhat expensive, the text without illustrations has been reprinted, perhaps several times (e.g. Greeley, Brandon M. 2008. The Two Thousand Yard Stare: Tom Lea's World War II, Texas A&M University Press)."

Thank you! I was unaware of the numismatic connection in these books. -Editor