"It looks like something went a little amiss in the original press release regarding the issue of the new Iranian "200,000 toman" note. The illustration shows a 2-million *rial* note, and the proposed toman (never sure if that ever got completely off the ground) was supposed to be worth 10,000 rials - that explains why the last four zeroes are in a lighter colour (2 million rials = 200 tomans).

"I had a look at both sides of the new note on banknotenews.com and "toman" isn't mentioned anywhere on the note (it's rials in both English and Persian), so the "toman" part is just reflected by implication in the number shading and the short number 200 at the bottom. But the reference in the press release to 200,000 tomans is out by a factor of 1,000.

"The note itself is a bit of a mess as a result of all that so it's hardly surprising some wires got crossed!"

Thanks. Here's the other side of the note. -Editor

In January Justin Perrault asked about minters for coin club medals. -Editor

"Although I don't have a comprehensive list, there are other private mints besides the three the author mentioned (Osborne Mint in Cincinnati, Landis Studios in Arkansas, and Daniel Carr – Moonlight Mint).

"Others include BEX Engraving, Hoffman Mint, Medalcraft Mint and Ranger Industries. Whenever I find out about a private mint, I try to list it on the PNNA's "Other Links" page at https://www.pnna.org/wp/links/other-links/ (so now I've got a couple more to add)!

"The PNNA last used BEX for its 75th anniversary medals 10 years ago, and the Boeing Employees' Coin Club still uses them for its annual medals depicting Boeing products. When the PNNA used BEX, the obverse of the medal was designed by former U.S. Mint sculptor-engraver Thomas D. Rogers. But that was 10 years ago. I'm not sure if he still designs any medals. See https://pnna.org/catalog/images/PNNA_75th_set_obv.jpg for a photo of the PNNA medals. An adaptation of this design (without the canoe) is the basis of the current PNNA logo.

"Anyway, if readers come up with any other reasonable private mint choices in the U.S., I will add them to the PNNA's list."

"I just found another U.S.-based manufacturer of custom coins and challenge coins - https://coinsforanything.com/, and I purchased one of their items on eBay. I will add them to my PNNA list, making a total of eight. There should be plenty of choices for clubs wanting some type of medal or challenge coin."

Thank you! -Editor

"I saw the article about Trump banknotes. I have been collecting these fantasy notes, but only those printed in China. Now have about 90 different in my collection also about 150 different medallions, two toilet brushes, T-shirts, stickers etc. All done in China. Hope to eventually publish the collection, which is quite large as 'China Sells Trump' as everything has to have been made in China."

Now we know who's buying all that stuff... Good luck with the collection! It would be interesting to see the variety and quality of items. But toilet brushes? I guess those could appeal to buyers across the political spectrum. -Editor

"The March 16 issue of The E-Sylum included an item "Will the Mint Lose Money Without the Cent?" This article suggests that stopping cent production would cost the US government more because the increased cost of minting nickels would outstrip any savings from ending the cent. This is completely illogical and is an error that should not be made by an organization calling itself "Americans for Common Cents." If we stop minting cents, total costs to the government will decrease due to less materials used, less labor, less maintenance costs, etc. Yes, the remaining overhead costs of running the mint will then be allocated to a lesser number of coins being minted, thus increasing the allocated "per item" cost of each coin. But this is irrelevant. The point is that total costs will decrease, saving money for taxpayers.

"And despite the claim that demand for nickels will be greater, forcing increased minting of nickels, there is no reason to jump to that conclusion. Billions of cents will remain in circulation for decades. Of course the next thing is that someone in Congress will argue that we must stop minting nickels because the allocated "per item" cost now far exceeds face value. So what? If total costs have declined, the "per item" cost is irrelevant. If we really want to save taxpayer money, just stop minting coins completely. Not a bad idea!"

Fairy-tale lobbyist math is hard to follow, and that's usually the point. Sow fear and doubt. -Editor

Tony Terranova passed along photos of this terracotta plaque of Paul Manship by fellow sculptor Paul Jennewein. Thanks - very nice! -Editor

"I was enjoying a used book store last week and spotted a book about the MAYA called The Mysterious Maya by George E. Stuart and Gene Stuart, National Geographic Society, 1977. On page 28 I spotted some green beads. These green jade beads were the high value money of the Mayan's until Spanish gold currency took over. The picture had nine beads just like my set suggesting to me that this number has some yet unknown (to me) meaning. The label on my beads suggested "Mexican jade beads" (likely Guatemalan jade). Ethnographic money collectors need to be bibliomaniacs with widely spread book resources to add enjoyment to the hobby."

Indeed. Thanks. -Editor

"I found this note in a box that I am having fun exploring. It seems to connect to the emergency money of the fall of 1907 in the style of printing, but is dated in the spring if my very limited French is working. It has the name of the "house of French emergency fund 17 street of September Quarter Paris second arrondissement or district. Money has been received at a customs house in New Orleans. And something to the effect of being able to draw up for two years- suggesting a wine connection or maybe just money. I wonder if there is any book on such items."

Great question - I've never seen one of these. Readers? -Editor