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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 Watch here for updates!

 

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 APRIL 13, 2025

New subscribers this week include: Eugene Minyailo. Welcome aboard! We now have 7,258 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 three new books, updates from the Newman Numismatic Portal, notes from readers, and more.

Other topics this week include Celtic coins, the Carson City and Dahlonega Mints, the Museum of American Finance, replacement medals, M. W. Hanchett, Bob Evans, the Arizona Territorial Mint, bust coinage, auction previews, counterfeiting, and money artists Tim Prusmack and J.S.G. Boggs.

To learn more about banknotes from Equatorial Africa, the Major General Bissell Short Snorter, NNP Symposium speakers, the Byron Reed Collection, the Gilroy Roberts Museum, the Dahlonega door knocker, the Trial of the Pyx, the Santini Collection of Renaissance Medals, the Huntington Collection, Maryland's Gunpowder notes, bombing with banknotes, and the patent for the sostenuto, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum

 

NEW BOOK: CELTIC COIN ARTICLES

Celtic coin specialist Chris Rudd is celebrating the 200th edition of its catalogue. When Chris started in 1991, there was very little interest in British Celtic coins, with the major dealers happy to pass them on to Chris.

Steadily, Chris grew the market, regularly advertising in coin magazines, and writing articles and reports to stimulate the market. Celtic coins now form a large part of the ancient coin market for all coin dealers, especially since the publication of Chris Rudd's book Ancient British Coins, which is generally considered to be the main reference for British Celtic coins.

In 2024, Chris Rudd published Celtic Coin Articles, bringing together 154 articles originally published in their catalogues between 1997 and 2014.

The company is now owned and run by Elizabeth Cottam, who started working for Chris in 1997, and she has continued to issue 12 catalogues a year.

Now printed in larger A4 format with hundreds of new illustrations and full colour photographs. Celtic Coin Articles from the Chris Rudd Catalogues covers Agricu, Ale Sca, Amminus, ATT, Boduoc, Boudica, Cunobelinus Biga, Dumnoc Tigir Seno, Durotrigan cast bronze, South Ferriby staters, Solidu and Vosenos from contributors including Miranda Aldhouse-Green, Rainer Kretz, John Hooker, Jeffrey May, Paul Robinson, John Talbot and Robert Van Arsdell plus Philip de Jersey's incomparable series of articles ‘Ancient British Kings'.

Also included are four brand new articles: ‘Coriomandu, king of the Dobunni' by John Sills; ‘Esunertos and Ex': an account of the recently uncovered ruler and his contemporaries by Daphne Nash Briggs plus ‘The Caratacus Stater' and ‘Was Anarevito a slave trader?' by Chris Rudd.

A4 hardback, 424 pages, over 1400 enlarged coin photos, many in colour, more than 400 other illustrations and over 70 maps and tables. £85.

For more information, or to order, see:
Celtic Coin Articles (from the Chris Rudd Catalogues) (https://www.greenlightpublishing.com/celtic-coin-articles-from-the-chris-rudd-catalogues-c2x41371351)
Celtic Coin Articles from the Chris Rudd Catalogues (https://celticcoins.com/shop/books/celtic-coin-articles-from-the-chris-rudd-catalogues/)

To read the complete Coin Collector article, see:
200th Chris Rudd catalogue (https://www.pressreader.com/uk/coin-collector/20250411/281659670858075)

To visit the Chris Rudd website:
https://celticcoins.com/

NEW BOOK: THE ARDHA-MASAKAS

The Ardha-māṣakas of Magadha and Maurya: Analysis, classification and illustrated catalogue of the smallest punchmarked coins of ancient India
by A. M. Fishman (Author), I. J. Todd (Author)

Published : April 7, 2025
Language : English
Paperback : 76 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8311892025
Item Weight : 6.7 ounces
Dimensions : 6.69 x 0.18 x 9.61 inches

Expanding on the pioneering studies of V.S. Agrawala, Terry Hardaker and others, Ardha-māṣakas of Magadha and Maurya presents a groundbreaking analysis of the minuscule one-ratti weight punchmarked coins of ancient India.

This work not only explores the style and metrology of a significant group of these ancient coins, but also, for the first time, introduces metallurgical data to the examination of this series, offering new insights for economic historians, numismatists and collectors alike. Additionally, the book revises Hardaker's 1999 catalogue, correcting and expanding his work to present a more comprehensive typological listing accompanied by unprecedented metrological data.

Drawing on published hoards and newly analyzed specimens, this book clarifies the historical context of these small and poorly known coins and refines our understanding of their weight standard and typology. It is a must-read for collectors and those interested in ancient Indian coinage and the monetary history of ancient India.

From the Introduction:
Miniscule coins in several different metals (but with particular designs replicated across the metal types) appear infrequently in areas right around northern and central India, forming what is commonly known as the Magadha-Mauryan ma?aka (or mashaka) coinage. The term ma?aka is, however, strictly incorrect in its application here, as the coins uniformly weigh only half the weight of a ma?aka (which is two rattis). In the following chapters we present a comprehensive typological, metrological and metallurgical analysis based on previously published hoards and studies and our own analysis of a hoard of 1103 one-ratti coins obtained in trade.

For more information, or to order, see:
The Ardha-māṣakas of Magadha and Maurya: Analysis, classification and illustrated catalogue of the smallest punchmarked coins of ancient India (https://www.amazon.com/Ardha-m%C4%81%E1%B9%A3akas-Magadha-Maurya-classification-illustrated/dp/B0F44S1GG7/)
The Ardha-māṣakas of Magadha and Maurya: Analysis, classification and illustrated catalogue of the smallest punchmarked coins of ancient India Paperback – April 7, 2025 (https://www.numismall.com/products/new-catalogue-2025-the-ardha-ma%E1%B9%A3akas-of-magadha-and-maurya-fishman-todd)

NEW BOOK: BANKNOTES OF EQUATORIAL AFRICA

La Cote Des Billets De L'Afrique Equatoriale

Author: DESSAL Jean-Marc
Publisher: Les Chevau-Légers Editions
Language: French
Weight: 510 g.

Banknotes from colonial and then independent Equatorial Africa are sought after by many enthusiasts but remain very difficult to classify. The multiple banks, the numerous territorial titles, the various series, make listing one's collection a real headache. The objective of this work - The rating of banknotes from Equatorial Africa - is first of all to establish a new, more practical and clearer classification, and, as far as possible, to propose coherent ratings.

The first part is devoted to Colonial Equatorial Africa from the 1920s to the end of the 1950s. The second part, to Independent Equatorial Africa, from 1959; the country of destination is then indicated either clearly or in the form of a letter.

A systematic check was carried out from our database, sales of colleagues and specialized sites in order to determine the series, the variants, the rarities and to propose the most up-to-date ratings possible. Of course, the collectibles market is evolving, but the rarity indices and value dynamics are well established.

The numerous resulting tables should quickly trigger very targeted research, and we are certain that discoveries will be numerous.

The Equatorial African Banknote Rating is a tool for collectors; it is intended to be practical and clear, both concise and comprehensive.

For more information, or to order, see:
https://www.cgb.fr/la-cote-des-billets-de-lafrique-equatoriale-cameroun-congo-centrafrique-guinee-equatoriale-gabon-tchad-dessal-jean-marc,lc250,a.html (https://www.cgb.fr/la-cote-des-billets-de-lafrique-equatoriale-cameroun-congo-centrafrique-guinee-equatoriale-gabon-tchad-dessal-jean-marc,lc250,a.html)

NNP ADDS SHORT SNORTER MONOGRAPH

Newman Portal Adds Tom Sparks Monograph on the Major General Bissell Short Snorter

Supported in part by a grant from the Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society, researcher and author Tom Sparks has published a 400+ page work, The Major General Clayton L. Bissell Short Snorter, which is now accessible on Newman Portal. This volume represents an account of a remarkable World War II artifact known as the Bissell Short Snorter. The snorter, a 64-foot-long strip of banknotes, bears signatures of notable WWII military leaders and dignitaries and was discovered by the Sarasota Rare Coin Gallery some time ago, where Jeff Garrett recognized the importance of the document.

Garrett reached out to short snorter specialist Tom Sparks, who identified nearly 300 admirals and generals, 17 presidents and prime ministers, and 37 ambassadors and ministers. The snorter, attributed to Major General Clayton L. Bissell, has since been featured at numerous conventions and on "Pawn Stars Does America." The artifact's value lies not just in its rarity but in its encapsulation of WWII history, capturing the spirit and signatures of many influential figures of that era.

Sparks' work also explores the life and military career of Major General Clayton L. Bissell, from his service as a decorated fighter pilot in World War I to his prominent roles during World War II. Bissell's trajectory included working closely with aviation pioneer Billy Mitchell, playing a crucial part in the 1924 Round-the-World flight as an advance officer, and serving as Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence on the War Department General Staff. His complex and often contentious relationship with Claire Chennault in the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater is also discussed, highlighting differences in command style and strategic vision. The documentation and preservation of Bissell's diaries, facilitated by Sparks' diligent research, lend deeper insight into his impact on military history and the enduring importance of the short snorter tradition.

Image: Bissell snorter note #132, featuring the signature of R. Henry Norweb (diplomat and numismatist) at the far left

Link to The Major General Clayton L. Bissell Short Snorter on Newman Portal:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/646698

VIDEO: CALIFORNIA'S GOLD RUSH ERA MONEY

The discovery of gold in California led to an influx of people from all over the world. While gold was abundant, gold coins were scarce. Learn what was done to facilitate commerce and barter and provide money to an economy that had essentially subsisted on barter. James W. Hunt is the former director of education for the California State Numismatic Association and member of the California state quarter selection committee.

Speaker(s): James Hunt.

To watch the complete video, see:
California's Gold Rush Era Money (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l99RUujwCoo)
California's Gold Rush Era Money (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/557324)

2025 NNP SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS

The Central States Numismatic Society plans to highlight one of their 13 member states each year, continuing with Nebraska in 2025.

Mark Engler
The Homestead Quarter: Nebraska's America the Beautiful Quarter

Matt Hansen
The Gerome Walton Collection of Nebraska National Bank Notes and its Digital Preservation

Derek Higgins
The National Banks of South Omaha, Nebraska

Kristen Rowley
Omaha's Byron Reed Collection

Bob Bair
A Numismatic Memento of a Life-Long Love

Russ Bega
An Introduction to US Exonumia

Elizabeth Hahn Benge & Lillian Sellati
Ancient Coins, Modern Ideas: Goals and Challenges of Interpretation at the Art Institute of Chicago

Greg Bennick
Major Mint Errors: How Are They Made?

Ben Dalgleish
Counterfeit Ichibu Silver Coins from Japan

Jeff Garrett
The Great Kentucky Hoard of US Gold

Pamela Herrick
Gilroy Roberts Museum: New Initiatives

Jesse Kraft, Ph.D.
Mining for Sovereignty: Coinage of the Mexican War of Independence, 1810–1821

Liberty Seated Collectors Club
General Meeting

Christopher McDowell
Early North American Indian Peace Medals

Douglas Mudd
The Silk Roads: Money in Motion

Mike Nottelmann
Podcasts for the Numismatic Enthusiast

Tyler Rossi
Bombing with Banknotes

Dennis Tucker
From Concept to Pocket Change: How U.S. Coins Are Designed

For more information including times and descriptions, see:
https://nnpsymposium.org/schedule/

To read the complete Greysheet article, see:
Newman Numismatic Portal Announces NNP Symposium, April 24-26, 2025 (https://www.greysheet.com/news/story/newman-numismatic-portal-announces-nnp-symposium-april-24-26-2025)

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
MAY 2025 NNP SYMPOSIUM ANNOUNCED (https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n14a06.html)
DENNIS TUCKER TO SPEAK AT NNP, ANA EVENTS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n14a07.html)

NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: APRIL 13, 2025

On the Jewish-American Hall of Fame Medals
Pete Smith writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
JEWISH-AMERICAN HALL OF FAME MEDALS END (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n22a24.html)
JEWISH-AMERICAN MEDAL SERIES REBOOTS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n43a32.html)
NEW MEDAL HONORS JULIUS ROSENWALD (https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n14a21.html)

British North Borneo Tokens Orientation
Regarding last week's article about British North Borneo tokens, Ken Berger writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
BRITISH NORTH BORNEO TOKENS SOUGHT (https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n14a11.html

Query: Hand-Coloured Black-and-White Coin Photos
Denis Richard writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
ON EARLY NUMISMATIC PHOTOGRAPHY (https://www.coinbooks.org/v25/esylum_v25n42a15.html)
FANNING ON EARLY NUMISMATIC PHOTOGRAPHY (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n34a04.html)

RUSTY GOE SPEAKS ON THE CARSON CITY MINT

Rusty Goe presented a talk on Saturday, April, 5, 2025, to a receptive audience of fifty people at Reno's Sierra View Library as a part of the Nevada Historical Society's Nevada History on the Go! program. After an introduction by the Historical Society's curator of history, Shery Hayes-Zorn, Rusty shared from his heart, using images to supplement his presentation, about events, people, and coins related to the Carson City Mint.

After sharing a story about Abraham Curry's receiving of an inscribed gold pocket watch from Carson City Mint employees, Rusty moved into his events section during which he summarized how the Carson City Mint came into existence. Newspaper articles from the 1860s provided background material for his narrative.

From there, Rusty launched into his accounts of people related to the Carson City Mint. Abraham Curry continued to receive well-deserved credit. Others mentioned included James Crawford (mint superintendent), C. C. Powning (editor of Reno's Nevada State Journal), and T. Robert Hofer (whom Rusty described as a thought-provoking character connected with the Carson City Mint).

Next came Rusty's discussion of coins from the Carson City Mint. Rusty stated that rare coins captivate, and then he provided ample proof to substantiate his assertion. He began this portion of his presentation by illustrating how the Carson City Mint building metamorphosed into the Nevada State Museum in 1941. Nevada's Judge Clark J. Guild spearheaded that remarkable accomplishment.

Rusty clearly demonstrated how rare coins serve the museum's purpose in preserving the Carson City Mint's heritage. Before highlighting the coins' significance, Rusty focused on the original coin press that was on hand at the Carson City Mint's opening in January 1870 and that is now preserved at the museum. Rusty then shared how the world-class collection of CC coins assembled by Nevada power broker Norman H. Biltz became the museum's crowning glory in its connection to its minting legacy. This collection's exponential price appreciation from the time it first went on display at the museum in 1989 to the present left many in the audience gasping. Pictures of the special ceremony in December 1999, when Wells Fargo Bank donated the Biltz collection to the state of Nevada, added color to this segment of Rusty's narrative.

Rusty then displayed four featured coins from the museum's Biltz collection, including what Rusty dubbed as the Duke of Carson City coins, an Uncirculated 1876-CC twenty-cent piece.

After finishing his discussion of the museum's Biltz collection, Rusty shared about an 1870-CC $20 gold piece that sold for $23,100 in a January 1986 auction and returned to the coin market nearly thirty-nine years later (November 2024) and soared to $1,440,000 in another auction. The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) rated this coin AU-55 prior to the November 2024 event.

The discussion of rare coins would not have been complete if Rusty hadn't given what he calls the King of Carson City coins its due recognition. When he told the crowd that the unique 1873-CC Without Arrows dime is currently worth about $4,000,000 more gasps filled the room.

Rusty then shared an interesting story he discovered while doing research for his latest book, The Confident Carson City Coin Collector. Three very special 1873-CC Liberty Seated silver dollars that entered the coin collecting hobby during the 1970s were recovered during a renovation project at a major Carson City intersection. Rusty said that the finest example of this trio of 1873-CC silver dollars is currently valued at about $750,000. More gasps.

Rusty concluded his discussion of coins by telling the audience that the face value of the 111 date-denominations that comprise a complete set of Carson City coins is $696. This is the amount the original recipients of these coins in the late 19th century could have used them to pay for things. Today, according to Rusty, a complete set of them in the finest conditions could cost $25,000,000 or more. Many more gasps!

During his closing remarks, Rusty mentioned how much the Carson City Mint's legacy meant to the publisher of the 1970 Nevada Bell phone book and the designer of the book's cover image. The passing of fifty-five years has somewhat diminished the Carson City Mint's place in Nevada's history insofar as more recent residents of Nevada are concerned. Rusty said he still believes that the mint should rank near the top of the list of historical triumphs for which Nevadans should be proud.

Near the end Rusty quoted the editor of Carson City's Morning Appeal, Samuel P. Davis, from a September 18, 1899, article in which Davis wistfully reflected about the mint's final transitioning from a coinmaking facility to an assay office.

Rusty said he believes that if someone had told Davis back then that 125 years into the future, not only would that big monument of stone (the mint) grace Carson City, but it would also house a museum filled with incredibly rare coins, the coin press on which Davis himself witnessed the stamping of these rarities, and myriad other treasured artifacts, it would have consoled him.

Lively applause resounded as Rusty's presentation ended. Hands immediately rose as an enthusiastic question-and-answer session ensued.

The consensus from attendees seemed to confirm one of Rusty's opening remarks that Carson City during the mint era is a place around the bend where one can temporarily escape the treadmill. This Saturday afternoon at the library was certainly filled with serenity, much nostalgia, looks back at history, stories about captivating coins, and the stuff of which good times are made.

To read the complete article, see:
Rusty Goe Gives Presentation On Carson City Mint Stories For Nevada Historical Society AT Reno's Sierra View Library On April 5, 2025 (https://www.southgatecoins.com/southgate-rare-coins-culture-buy-sell-coins-gold-silver-at-a-reno-coin-shop-with-history/2025/4/7/rusty-goe-presentation-carson-city-mint-stories-nevada-historical-society-valley-view-library-carson-city-mint-april-5-2025)

 

DAHLONEGA MINT DOOR KNOCKER DONATED

Knock, knock! This brass door knocker once welcomed visitors to the Dahlonega Branch Mint. Now, it has found a new home at the Hargrett Library!

Originally mounted on the Mint's front door in 1837, the knocker was recently donated by Susan King (pictured with Robert Harwell II), a descendant of Dr. Joseph J. Singleton—the Mint's first superintendent and treasurer. A small but mighty piece of Georgia's gold rush history!

To read the library's Facebook post, see:
Richard B. Russell Jr. Special Collections Libraries Building's Post (https://www.facebook.com/UGASpecialCollections/posts/knock-knock-this-brass-door-knocker-once-welcomed-visitors-to-the-dahlonega-bran/1462253031814532/)

From a Coin World article by Paul Gilkes:

To read the complete article, see:
Dahlonega Mint artifact presented to Georgia library (https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/dahlonega-mint-artifact-presented-to-georgia-library)

The Dahlonega Branch Mint was still under construction in January of 1837 when Dr. Joseph J. Singleton, a former state senator from Athens, Georgia, was appointed to be the mint's first superintendent/treasurer. Shortly afterward, Dr. Singleton made the long trip to Philadelphia to take the oath of office and sign his bond. Ironically, the document showing he had taken the oath of office was subsequently mislaid, and he was informed that he would have to take the oath again. He did not have to travel all the way back to Philadelphia, but he did have to make a 600-mile round trip to Savannah to find the nearest federal judge.

When Dr. Singleton arrived in Dahlonega in late March of 1837, he found the "Mint Edifice" nearing completion but still lacking a roof. Nevertheless, he advised the Philadelphia Mint to go ahead and send the machinery. "Our anxiety to commence coining of our metal is fully equal to its value," he wrote to Dr. Robert Patterson, director of the Philadelphia Mint.

Fifteen crates were shipped aboard the brig "New Hanover" and arrived in Savannah on April 22. The boxes were then shipped up river to Augusta, where they were loaded on a convoy of ten wagons bound for the tiny village in the mountains of north Georgia called Dahlonega, a name derived from the Cherokee word meaning "yellow" or "golden."

The shipment was delivered in late May, but it was three months later before skilled workmen arrived from Charlotte to begin installing the equipment. Included in this or in some subsequent shipment from Philadelphia was a door knocker cast in the shape of the Great Seal of the United States of America. The bronze eagle was mounted on the front door of the Mint Edifice to announce the presence of visitors to the establishment.

Sometime after the Dahlonega Mint was closed in 1861, the brass door knocker mounted on the front door was removed and sent to the New Orleans Mint, where it was used until that mint closed in 1909. The superintendent of the New Orleans Mint acquired the knocker at that time. Some years later on a visit to his personal physician, Dr. Herschel W. Bass, of Gadsden, Alabama, the mint official learned that Dr. Bass's wife was the great-granddaughter of Dr. Joseph J. Singleton, the first superintendent of the Dahlonega Mint. On a subsequent visit, he brought the door knocker with him and presented it to Susan Singleton Bass, saying that the artifact belonged in the care of Singleton descendants. The knocker was passed down to Dr. and Mrs. Bass's daughter, Francina Bass Perott, when she and her family moved to Georgia "because it came from the Georgia Mint."

On June 19-20, 1998, numerous descendants of Dr. Singleton traveled to Dahlonega to hold a family reunion and see the places where their ancestor had lived and worked. Among those attending were Francina Bass Perrott and her daughter, Susan Perrott King. They brought with them the historic door knocker from the Dahlonega Mint.

"My mother gave the knocker to me when my family and I moved back to Georgia for the same reason her mother gave it to her years ago," Susan explained. "They both felt that since it came from the Dahlonega Mint, it belonged in Georgia. When I saw the photograph of the old Mint in the Gold Museum, it really gave me a feeling of awe to realize that this same knocker once hung on the front door of that historic building and that my ancestor, Dr. Joseph J. Singleton, must have touched it many times."

To read the complete article, see:
Bronze Door Knocker from the Dahlonega Mint is Treasured by Singleton Descendants (https://www.goldrushgallery.com/news/knock.html)

BOSTON MUSEUM OF AMERICAN FINANCE OPENS

The Museum of American Finance, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, announced it has signed a 10-year lease for exhibit space in Boston. Planning is now underway to develop and create the Museum's exhibits at Commonwealth Pier, the waterfront destination in Boston's Seaport being developed by Pembroke, the international real estate business. With a dynamic mix of new restaurants and shopping, a new waterfront plaza, an enhanced Harborwalk and year-round programming, Commonwealth Pier will be a vibrant waterfront destination for all.

The Museum will occupy approximately 5,400 sq ft, and exhibits are scheduled to open to the public on July 1, 2026. Entrance to all of the Museum's exhibits and programs in Boston will be free of charge—reflecting its core mission of making financial education accessible to all.

The Museum's opening in Boston marks the first time it will have a permanent exhibit headquarters since it left its former home at 48 Wall Street in New York City in 2018, following a flood that badly damaged its facility but left its world-class collections unharmed. Founded in 1989, the Museum has a 35-year track record of creating engaging, state-of-the-art exhibits in New York and around the country, with traveling exhibits and temporary installations bringing its collections to national audiences since the closing of its Wall Street space. Its rich archive spans the entirety of American finance and houses one of the nation's most important collections of 18th century US financial documents, including multiple letters and documents from Alexander Hamilton that established the basis for our financial system.

The Museum will work with the renowned firm Gallagher & Associates to create world-class exhibits that draw from the Museum's collections—while integrating the latest technologies in a partnership with the Fidelity Center for Applied Technology (FCAT).

Visitors will leave our Museum with a greater understanding and appreciation for our nation's financial history—much of it centered in the Boston Harbor area—as well as knowledge that will help them better their own financial lives, said MoAF President/CEO David Cowen. We are thrilled for our exhibits to be based in Boston and will ensure that Commonwealth Pier becomes a destination for school groups, the community and tourists.

The Museum's events and educational initiatives—offered for free in both virtual and in-person formats—currently reach more than 10,000 students and adults annually. The Museum will add Boston-based programs via partnerships with Boston area community organizations and educational institutions to supplement its existing programming.

We are delighted to have a museum with such an important educational mission join Commonwealth Pier. In recent years, there's been a spotlight on the urgent need to support people of all ages improve their financial literacy. We're thrilled the Museum will be offering free admission and programming, said Kristan McLaughlin, Director of Asset Management at Pembroke. The revitalization of Commonwealth Pier celebrates its meaningful history, as well as our present and future. How appropriate to have the Museum of American Finance as part of our community—a literal treasure chest of historic artifacts that bridges to the future through education and its use of technology.

Pembroke's vision for Commonwealth Pier is to create a vibrant, multi-use waterfront destination that inspires exploration and connection to Boston Harbor, the neighborhood, history, art and innovation. In addition to the Museum, there will be new restaurants and shops, a public waterfront plaza and an enhanced Harborwalk, all of which will foster community and be activated with year-round programming. Anchored by Commonwealth Pier, the campus also includes the office towers Seaport East and West, the Seaport Hotel, Eastport Park and public art.

For more information on this project, visit www.moaf.org/Boston.

About the Museum of American Finance
The Museum of American Finance, a chartered 501(c)3 non-profit organization, seeks to improve understanding of the influence of financial institutions and capital markets on the US and global economies, and on individuals' lives. The Museum is dedicated to educating the public on finance and financial history through exhibits, financial literacy programs and public events. An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, the Museum seeks to empower individuals of all backgrounds to strive toward financial independence, while encouraging curiosity and discovery.

To read the complete article, see:
Museum of American Finance Announces Plans for New Exhibit Headquarters at Boston's Commonwealth Pier (https://www.moaf.org/news/press_releases/2025-04-10-museum-of-american-finance-announces-plans-for-new-exhibit-headquarters-at-boston-commonwealth-pier)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
THE MUSEUM OF AMERICAN FINANCE IS MOVING (https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n08a23.html)

THE 2025 TRIAL OF THE PYX EXPERIENCE

How much do you trust the coins in your pocket? In an age of digital finance coins are still reassuringly solid. This trust has been hard-won, thanks in no small part to the Trial of the Pyx – the annual test of the coins produced by the Royal Mint by the Goldsmiths' Company and the London Assay Office.

The 776-year-old ceremony, which is one of the UK's oldest judicial procedures, aims to protect consumers by upholding the quality of the nation's coinage through rigorous testing – as important today as it was at the first recorded public trial in 1248. The process ensures that the coins produced by The Royal Mint meet the standards of precision, accuracy and exceptional craftsmanship for which it is internationally renowned.

A sample of all new coins struck by The Royal Mint – whether currency or collectible - is submitted to the Trial of the Pyx each year. The coins are rigorously checked for fineness and quality by an independent jury which has been made up of members of the Goldsmiths' Company since 1327, before undergoing scientific analysis by the London Assay Office.

Join the Goldsmiths' Company's Library and Archive team on Wednesday 7 May 2025, to learn about the ceremony and the science behind this ancient procedure through objects and documents in their collections, during this exclusive Archive Experience at Goldsmiths' Hall, in the City of London.

Visitors will come face to face with objects and documents that have played an important part in the history of the Pyx, including a gold plate which enraged Sir Isaac Newton and a letter which helped the defeat of Napoleon. There will be chance to handle historic tools associated with testing the coins and a sample of the precious metal coins submitted for testing by the Royal Mint in 2025.

This exclusive Archive Experience will be held in the Library Reading Room, capacity is limited to 10 people, and tickets are priced at £25 per person.

Proceeds will go towards supporting the development of vocational skills and training in our trade and craft through the 1327 charitable fund.

History of the Trial of the Pyx

The Trial of the Pyx originated in the 12th century, making it one of the oldest judicial procedures in the country and has taken place at Goldsmiths' Hall since 1871.

The name Pyx refers to chests in which the coins are transported, and derives from the Latin word ‘pyxis', meaning small box. For centuries they were stored in the Pyx Chamber in Westminster Abbey, along with other important items of state and church. The first record of a public trial dates from 1248 when twelve citizens of London and twelve goldsmiths of the City were selected to examine the money.

Up until the reign of Elizabeth I the juries of the trial were composed of a mixture of goldsmiths and other citizens of the City of London. Elizabeth gave the Company entire responsibility for the trial in 1580, and all jurors were nominated from its members from then on.

The 1870 Coinage Act, established Goldsmiths' Hall as the new venue for the Trial. This made good sense as The Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office was also located in the Hall, as it is today. It is the Assay Office which has the task of testing the metallic composition of the coins.

The Trial Today

The Goldsmiths' Company and Goldsmiths' Company Assay Office play an active role in the Trial, working collaboratively with the Royal Mint.

The Trial is held annually at Goldsmiths' Hall in accordance with the Coinage Act of 1971 and is presided over by the King's Remembrancer of the Royal Courts of Justice, the oldest judicial office in the UK, dating back to the twelfth century.

Little has changed in the procedure since the reign of Edward I. Throughout the year, coins are randomly selected from every batch of each denomination struck, sealed in bags containing 50 coins each, and locked away in the Pyx boxes for testing at the Trial.

Officials from The Royal Mint bring the pyx boxes to Goldsmiths' Hall, containing coins put aside in the course of manufacture during the previous year. These coins, normally more than 50,000 in total, represent one coin from every batch of each denomination minted.

The trial jury, comprising members of the Goldsmiths' Company, is part of a formal court of law. It is summoned to the Hall by the senior judge in the Royal Courts of Justice, known as the King's Remembrancer. During the opening proceedings, the coins are counted and weighed, and a selection put aside for testing by the Assay Office. The Company has two months to test the coins.

For more information, see:
Archive Experience: The Trial of The Pyx - Session One (11:30am) (https://www.thegoldsmiths.co.uk/whats-on/archive-experience-the-trial-of-the-pyx-session-one)

NUMISMASTER'S 2025 LONDON AND WALES TOUR

Join us on a tour of numismatic splendor in history-rich London and Wales. Immerse yourself in money of the past, present, and future as we visit museums, a coin shop, a coin show and a multitude of historical sites.

Tour Dates
September 3 – September 10, 2025

Tour Prices
$5,895 (USD) per person, double occupancy
$6,995 (USD) per person, single occupancy

Tour Includes

• All 4-star hotel accommodations
• All breakfasts, 3 lunches and 4 dinners
• Admission to all group destinations
• 2-course lunch at Royal Mint, Cardiff
• Comfortable coach transport
• Friendly & knowledgeable local tour guide
• Numismatic expertise of Numismatic News Senior Editor Sophia Mattimiro and Numismaster Pricing Analyst Jeff Starck

Your Itinerary at a Glance

September 3, Wednesday – Arrival at London Heathrow and the Hilton Heathrow Hotel

September 4, Thursday – Coincraft coin shop, The British Museum, Kensington Palace

September 5, Friday – Bank of England Museum, Portobello Road Market

September 6, Saturday – London Coin Fair with free time in London for Charing Cross Collectors Market, Victoria & Albert Museum, Harrods and Buckingham Palace

September 7, Sunday – Ashmolean Museum, traveling to Wales, Carleon Roman Legion Museum, tour by Numismatic volunteer

September 8, Monday – Royal Mint tour with private curator and 2-course lunch, free time in Cardiff

September 9, Tuesday – National Museum Cardiff and traveling back to London Heathrow

September 10, Wednesday – Depart or continue travels

To read the complete article, see:
Numis Travel: London & Wales (https://store.numismaster.com/pages/tour/numistravel-2025sep-uk)

 

VOCABULARY TERM: REPLACEMENT MEDAL

Replacement Medal, Replacement Copy. A medallic item reissued or restruck to replace a previously issued medal which subsequently became lost or stolen. For military decorations the recipient, his agent, or sometimes a member of his family may be authorized to obtain such a copy. The medal may be drawn from stock if a quantity is on hand, or may require special striking, and/or engraving. Often a charge is made for such a second copy.

In Great Britain people once in military service may apply to obtain lost medals, and if still on active duty they receive these free. Retired personnel must pay for their replacement medals and wait a short period of time after date of application (sometimes lost medals show up during the waiting period). Campaign medals will not be replaced after the death of the recipient. At times in the past such British medals have been edgelettered: replacement. Since most British medals are named, however, it is conceivable that a lost medal and its replacement medal could come together at some time in the future. In the United States all service personnel, or their families, can receive one medal free if authorized; all others must be purchased.

A replacement medal is a custom copy if in the same composition as the original. It is also called a replacement medal, a second medal, or sometimes, a jeweler's copy, as when a second set of medals is ordered, say, for a second uniform. Should the replacement medal be ordered in a better-than-the-original composition – as in a more precious metal – it is a deluxe copy. If a second medal is ordered in a less-than-the-original composition it is a reproduction. See copies and replicas.

To read the complete entry on the Newman Numismatic Portal, see:
Replacement Medal, Replacement Copy (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/dictionarydetail/516624)

 

MILTON WALDO HANCHETT (1822-1904)

M. W. Hanchett had a proposal for revisions to American coinage as well as a patent for the sostenuto. To learn what that is, read on.

Hanchett's American ancestors landed at Nantucket on May 30 in 1630. Milton Waldo Hanchett was born in Suffield, Connecticut, on July 12, 1822. His parents were Dr. John Wilkes Hanchett (1774-1844) and Margaretta Granger Hanchett (1790-1880). At the age of four, his family moved to Syracuse, New York, and settled there.

Milton's ancestry is complicated. Most people have two parents, four grandparents, eight great- grandparents, sixteen great-great-grandparents, and thirty-two great-great-great grandparents. Milton had only twenty-eight great-great-great grandparents. John Hanchett (1649-1744) and Esther Pritchard (1647-1711) were his great-great-great grandparents three times.

His father's grandfather and mother's grandfather were brothers. Thus, his father and mother were second cousins. Going back another generation, his mother had two great-grandparents who were brother and sister. In addition, his mother had a great-grandfather and a great-great grandmother named Granger who were brother and sister.

Hanchett seldom used his first name. His name appears as M. Waldo Hanchett, Waldo Hanchett or M. W. Hanchett.

Hanchett claimed that he could recall the visit of Lafayette to Syracuse in 1824. History records that Lafayette actually visited Syracuse on June 9, 1825.

He was in a pharmacy business with his father and brother in Troy, New York. He worked in New York City during 1840 to 1845. Later he practiced dentistry with Dr. Amos Westcott.

On June 27, 1848, he was married to Martha Anna Huntington (1825-1890). They had two daughters and a son. The first daughter died at six months.

On August 15, 1848, Hanchett received a patent for a dentist chair with adjustable elevation, reclining back and footrest. He practiced dentistry with Dr. Preston in Hartford, Connecticut, during 1850 to 1855. He also had a business producing dentifrice.

Hanchett was a musician and composer. He was a member of the Syracuse Musical Union. He was the organist for the St. Paul's Episcopal Church for nine years. At times he was choirmaster and soloist. He composed a song, known for its first line, Children, Sing a Christmas Carol.

From 1852 until retirement, he was a fire underwriter and agent for the Merchant's Fire Insurance Co., of Hartford.

Hanchett originally belonged to the First Presbyterian Church. In 1855. Hanchett became a member of the newly forming Plymouth Congregational Church. The church was formed by abolitionists who withdrew from the First Presbyterian Church. He was superintendent of his church's sabbath school and president of the Young Peoples Association.

The New York State Banking Co. was founded in 1872 with Hanchett as a director and vice president.

On May 9, 1874, he filed a patent for an Improvement in Piano-Forte Attachments. This was a patent for the sostenuto, which is the middle pedal on many grand pianos. It lifts the stops to sustain a note.

He was a director of the Franklin Institute and two-time president of the Young Men's Christian Association.

In the 1890's, Hanchett drew fifteen sketches of Syracuse as he remembered buildings from the 1820's. His sketches have been displayed at the Onondaga Historical Association.

Under the name of M. W. Hanchett, he was the author of A New Series of Designs for the Gold Silver and Subsidiary Coins of the U. S. (1898). It is not a book, but rather a single piece of paper folded in thirds.

The publication stated, …the opening of the new century seems an appropriate time when the designs of our national coinage might well be revised and systematized and made more significant of our republican government.

His proposed designs did not include human portraits, but were all variations of eagle on the obverse and stars on the reverse. On the gold coins, the eagle faced right; on silver coins to the left. Hanchett explained this would be an aide for the blind,

One suggestion was for the spread of the eagle's wing to be proportional to the value. He proposed that the motto, Our Trust is in God be placed on the coins. No patterns were made of his proposed coins.

In previous reports of the folder, it is found with a typewritten article by Raymond H. Williamson. This has the heading, THE U. S. COINAGE*DESIGN PROPOSAL OF 1898 MADE BY M. W. HANCHETT OF SYRACUSE NEW YORK, By R. H. Williamson for Charles W. Foster 850 East Lake Road Rushville. This includes an extensive biography of Hanchett. The item is undated but must have preceded the death of Charles Foster in 1959.

Near the end is this parenthetical comment: Many of these interesting books and pamphlets are now being collected by those interested in the silver campaign and some are already quite rare. (The line of Antiquity moves ever forward and what is common today becomes more interesting with age, and is eagerly sought after in light of new perspectives).

The folder was reproduced for The Numismatist issue of May 1981. Wayne Homren showed a copy of the Hanchett brochure at his Nummis Nova dinner on Tuesday May 21, 2024, and mentioned this in The E-Sylum issue of May 26, 2024. He loaned the brochure to the Newman Numismatic Portal to be scanned. As part of that process, Len Augsburger added the name of M. W. Hanchett to the Names index for NNP.

I discovered the added name in the index and did research to expand the Hanchett biography for a listing in American Numismatic Biographies. I thought the story was also interesting enough for an article for the E-Sylum. If not for Honest Tom Sampson, the article might have been published a month earlier. I am adding Charles W. Foster to my list of potential future articles.

Hanchett was an invalid for several years and died at home in Syracuse, New York, on January 28, 1904, He is buried at Oakwood Cemetery with his wife and parents.

He left an estate valued at more than $100,000 to his surviving son Dr. Henry Granger Hanchett with an additional trust of $10,000 for his eight-year-old granddaughter Winifred.

How did the Mint respond to Hanchett's proposal? Roger Burdette provided a copy of a letter from Director of the Mint, George E. Roberts.

To read Hanchett's brochure and Ray Williamson's article on NNP, see:
A New Series of Design for the Gold, Silver and Subsidiary Coins (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/641427)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY: MAY 26, 2024 (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n21a20.html)

TREASURE TALK WITH BOB EVANS, EPISODE 3.1

The morning of our Customs appointment, Brinks brought out the sturdiest 8-foot folding table they had and placed it in the middle of the locker room, surrounded by the banks of gray, half-height lockers. It looked like a 20-foot section of a public-school hallway, with a table set up for a bake sale. I filled out the paperwork to remove a dozen containers with an assortment of gold coins and ingots, figuring this would be a good start, and maybe all that was needed.

Two well-dressed customs agents from the local office arrived for this examination, an athletic-looking, middle-aged black gentleman, and a white woman in a business suit. They reminded me of lawyers rather than cops. They were firm but polite as I showed them an array of gold pieces arranged on the table. The gold was still a fresh catch. While at sea, I had merely stabilized and stored the pieces, maintaining the original conditions as well as I could, swaddled in layers of cloth and plastic, many of the bars were still damp. I offered the visitors exam gloves, like I was wearing, but they thought it unnecessary. The rust from the shipwreck was still in full evidence, coating the gold bars, and flaking off onto the table and onto their hands as they had a close look. I instructed them to handle the coins only by the edges.

Since these folks were United States Customs officials, there was one key question:

Q: The coins are US gold, but what about the bars? Is this foreign gold?

A: No, the ingots were made in California, out of California gold, by firms located in the United States.

Q: How do we know that?

I phoned our history researchers back at the Home Office in Columbus, so they could fax proof that California became a state in 1850, (not every Virginian knows this off the top of their head,) and copies of ads from the ingot assayers, showing their addresses in San Francisco and Sacramento.

While I was arranging for the faxes, the visitors were on the phone with their own office, and before long two more guys from Customs arrived at the door, the local manager, and the regional manager, who happened to be at the Norfolk office that day. This stuff obviously had their attention, and it didn't fit into any standard checkboxes on the forms. They were fingerprinted and ushered into the locker room.

One of the ingots I had set out for this display was Kellogg & Humbert No. 804, an enormous 662.28-ounce specimen, really impressive.

At that time, it was the second largest bar we had recovered, ultimately the fourth largest. This was the biggest brick I set out that morning, and big bricks of gold are not easy to handle. I had plenty of practice by this time. The first move is to tilt the bar and get your fingers under it. Then you grab it firmly, and lift, holding it next to your body with both hands. I placed No. 804 six inches from the table edge, fully supported by a leg directly beneath. For those of you keeping score at home, 662.28 troy ounces is more than 45 pounds, or 20 kilos. And it wasn't the only weight on the folding table. We didn't want it to collapse!

As I remember, the regional manager was a rather large man. Standing on the opposite side of the table, he surveyed the array of messy, rust-covered ingots. Then he reached across and tried to grab No. 804, overhand, with one hand. (In my now long experience, when faced with an assortment of gold bars to ogle, they always go for the biggest one. It's human nature.) When it didn't budge in his grip and his fingers slipped off, he turned beet-red, and he mumbled that I must have glued it to the table. So, I used proper large-gold-bar lifting technique, and I handed it to him, eliciting a grunt as he felt the weight equivalent of a six-year-old child press into his hands. The usual startled reaction: Oh, wow! and his initial embarrassment melted into a smile.

When the Customs quartet had finished mulling over the gold, it was getting close to lunchtime. Some of the drivers and guards needed to get in their lockers, so traffic was getting busy, and the space was crowded. I offered to send this gold back into the vault and bring more out, but they decided they had seen enough, if we could provide a list of everything recovered. With plenty of smiles and wonder about what they had just seen, as they exited, they remarked with excitement, Thanks! We'll get back to y'all!

They never did. At least not to me. Our attorneys told me that apparently there was no issue: American gold, mined in America, brought ashore in another part of America. It just took 132 years. No duties applied.

To read the complete article, see:
Treasure Talk: Episode 3 Part 1 My office at sea: (https://finestknown.com/treasure-talk-episode-3-part-1my-office-at-sea/)

For the complete series, see:
Category Archives: Treasure Talk with Bob Evans (https://finestknown.com/treasure-talk-with-bob-evans/)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
TREASURE TALK WITH BOB EVANS, EPISODE 1 (https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n12a12.html)
TREASURE TALK WITH BOB EVANS, EPISODE 2.1 (https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n13a17.html)
TREASURE TALK WITH BOB EVANS, EPISODE 2.2 (https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n14a15.html)

THE ARIZONA TERRITORIAL MINT

Our business was established in 1961. I learned the trade from my father (Don J. Crowder). Being a Mint Master requires being an artist to draw up the concept of the idea for a coin, token, medallion, keychain, belt buckle, letter openers, sheriff badges etc. Next you must engrave the coining dies. Next you must be like a blacksmith to heat treat the coining dies. Then you must hand lap or polish the coining dies. You need the skill of a machinist to make the tooling that enables you to run or operate the big coining press.

The presses at the Arizona Territorial Mint came from the U.S. Mint at West Point circa (1893), that is the 400-ton hobbing press, the coining press that came from the U.S. Mint at Philadelphia circa (1861),is a 200-ton hobbing press, The U.S. Denver Mint circa (1908) is a 200-ton knuckle joint coining press, and the U.S. San Francisco Mint (1950) 100-ton screw press. All the U.S. Mint coining presses were badly worn-out or sold as scrap, to scrap or machinery dealers. I purchased the coining presses and restored them and got them up and running which took over thirty-five years of restoration. Today I use the presses daily. Yes, it takes a lot of maintenance to keep them running. These presses have made millions of silver dollars and twenty-dollar gold pieces. The coining presses over time have coined more than a billion dollars in coins.

I start with a forty-five-pound ingot of copper or brass and roll that into a strip of metal the thickness that I need to make a coin or badge. Then I use a punch press to make a blank (the proper term is a planchet). Then the metal is polished, and then we strike the metal to emboss the wording or design. With a sheriff badge it will get domed and then a safety pin will get soldered on the back. The letters will get a black patina, and the badge will get packaged for resale. This whole process takes three weeks from beginning to end and over fifty steps to make it ready for the public to buy.

We make coins for dozens museums, the Arizona Highway Patrol, Military units, the Arizona State Parks and Old Tucson Studios, churches, Shallot Hall Museum, Goldfield Ghost Town, etc. We like to make historical items and try to preserve history in our state. It is like working in a museum.

There are very few private mints today. Modern Mints have retired the old equipment for faster, safer coining presses. It is a great joy to take an ingot of metal and turn it into a souvenir that preserves history. My copper comes from Arizona, I make the coining dies here in the shop, everything is made in my shop, we don't sub out anything or any part. It is 100% Veteran owned and proudly made in America. Thank you for supporting American owned and American made products.

To read the complete article, see:
https://www.atmint.us/

HERITAGE AUCTIONS: BUST COINAGE

1795 $1 Flowing Hair, Three Leaves, B-5, BB-27, R.1, XF40 PCGS. This is one of the top lots in the auction, and an excellent example of Flowing Hair coinage. It is the often seen B-5 variety, which is suitable for type collectors, as a nice coin can be had without breaking the budget to fulfill the demand of a scarce variety. This example is only lightly circulated, and it boasts a sharp strike with complete border dentils on each side. There are some adjustment marks (as struck) in the central obverse, which correspond to slight softness on the reverse eagle's breast. In my opinion, collectors could do far worse when seeking an XF 1795 Flowing Hair dollar.

To read the complete item description, see:
1795 $1 Flowing Hair, Three Leaves, B-5, BB-27, R.1, XF40 PCGS. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/early-dollars/1795-1-flowing-hair-three-leaves-b-5-bb-27-r1-xf40-pcgs-the-flowing-hair-dollar-is-for-all-practical-purpos/a/60446-51189.s)

1801 10C JR-2, High R.4, VG8 PCGS. CAC. Both varieties of the 1801 Draped Bust dime are somewhat scarce, but JR-2 is the less often seen of the two. This example grades only VG8, but it is an exceptional coin for that grade, and the average collector will not soon find even another comparable example. The coin is well worn but shows a thoroughly bold strike. One might even argue that the coin is conservatively graded, as the central reverse details are strong, and the weak borders are commonplace on screw press coinage. Regardless, it is a strong coin for the VG level, and the CAC sticker would suggest my opinion of the coin is not alone. It is also housed in a green label holder.

To read the complete item description, see:
1801 10C JR-2, High R.4, VG8 PCGS. CAC. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/early-dimes/1801-10c-jr-2-high-r4-vg8-pcgs-cac-housed-in-a-generation-31-green-label-holder-cac-population-3-13-mintag/a/60446-51011.s)

1814 10C STATESOFAMERICA, JR-5, FS-901, R.4, VF25 PCGS. CAC. JR-5 is the famous STATESOFAMERICA variety, which is listed in the Guide Book, showing the last three words of the reverse border legend entered close together. It is also the scarcest of the 1814 dime die marriages. In short, this single variety appeals to several collecting avenues, and it is notoriously difficult to find an attractive example in what might be considered a "collector grade." This VF example is one of those hard-to-find pieces. It shows an excellent, natural gray patina and is only lightly worn, with even wear. CAC endorsement leaves no doubt as to its quality for the grade.

To read the complete item description, see:
1814 10C STATESOFAMERICA, JR-5, FS-901, R.4, VF25 PCGS. CAC. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/bust-dimes/1814-10c-statesofamerica-jr-5-fs-901-r4-vf25-pcgs-cac-cac-population-2-12-/a/60446-51016.s)

1805 50C O-111, T-3, R.3, Fine 15 PCGS. Numerous 1805 Draped Bust half dollar varieties are known, ranging from common to very rare. O-111 is among the more plentiful varieties. The current coin, in Fine 15, representing a common variety, is nothing of great rarity to write home about. However, as a collector-grade type coin, it is hard to beat. This piece's problem-free, natural slate-gray patina, complements even wear. Similarly attractive Draped Bust halves of any variety in this grade have not been recently available on the market.

To read the complete item description, see:
1805 50C O-111, T-3, R.3, Fine 15 PCGS. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/early-half-dollars/1805-50c-o-111-t-3-r3-fine-15-pcgs-pcgs-population-65-537-mintage-211-722/a/60446-51067.s)

1828 25C 25 Over 50C, FS-901, B-3, R.5 -- Scratch -- PCGS Genuine. VG Details. While this Capped Bust quarter grades only VG8, its status as the famed 25 Over 50C variety more than makes up for it. This die was originally made in 1818, as it uses the letter and number punches from that era. However, it was shelved, likely due to the error, until 1822. After a limited production run, the die returned to the shelf, where it remained until 1828. It was used one more time in this final year of the Large Diameter Capped Bust quarter, once again for a limited time. As such, both die marriages are quite rare, but the severity of the error means demand is always strong.

To read the complete item description, see:
1828 25C 25 Over 50C, FS-901, B-3, R.5 -- Scratch -- PCGS Genuine. VG Details. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/bust-quarters/1828-25c-25-over-50c-fs-901-b-3-r5-scratch-pcgs-genuine-vg-details-mintage-102-000-pcgs-38979-/a/60446-51049.s)

1808 50C O-110, High R.4, AU50 ANACS. This is the rarest die marriage of the second year of Capped Bust half dollar production, readily defined by the I in PLURIBUS being centered between the TE of STATES - further right than on any other die marriage of the year. It is also the second latest die state for the marriage, Die State 110.8 in BHNC parlance, which has a strong die crack at Star 7, but not under the right wing.

To read the complete item description, see:
1808 50C O-110, High R.4, AU50 ANACS. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/bust-half-dollars/1808-50c-o-110-high-r4-au50-anacs-mintage-1-368-600-pcgs-39376-/a/60446-51089.s)

 

SANTINI COLLECTION OF RENAISSANCE MEDALS

As I sat down to write this, I was distracted by an email that popped into my inbox with the headline Renaissance Portrait Sets $3.1 Million Record. Needless to say, the headline caught my attention, given the subject matter of this auction. The concept of the medal as we know it today had its origins in the Italian Renaissance, and though it had earlier antecedents, the medal was given its now familiar format by Italian Renaissance artist Antonio di Puccio Pisano, called Pisanello. Pisanello's medals have a very distinct style and format that can be identified from across the room, and many artists around the world have, with varying degrees of success, imitated that style over the centuries since Pisanello's first medals were cast.

Though fantastic quality Renaissance medals are not a common sight in American numismatic auctions, they may occasionally be found by scouring the offerings in auctions across Europe and the U.S., and by reviewing the stocks of medal and art dealers at galleries and coin fairs. Building a world class collection is possible but not for the impatient or the faint of heart, as comprehensive offerings of great medals are infrequent, and the supply is generally slim. In the last couple of decades, there have been a few notable auction offerings, such as the Michael Hall, John R. Gaines, and Lawrence R. Stack Collections, which have enlivened the field with demand-inducing supplies of terrific medals. After all, without a steady supply of things to collect, a collector can become frustrated and abandon the collecting project. So it is with pride that Stack's Bowers Galleries offers the small but significant collection of medals presented in the pages to follow, perhaps the largest offering of these historic medals by an American auction firm. The collection was a work in progress, with purchases of great medals and plaquettes from auctions of the last decade. However, the core of the Santini Renaissance Medal cabinet—the collection of numismatist-connoisseur Jonathan H. Kagan—was formed by that gentleman via private and auction purchases in the 1990s and was purchased by the Santini Collection in 2019-2020.

While the five dozen medals and plaquettes in this collection represent an opportunity to buy some fine quality Renaissance medals (as were the hundreds of medals in the Hall, Gaines and Stack collections), the general trend in Renaissance medals over the last century has been forced market rarity, as significant collections have been donated to institutional collections. The famed Gustave Dreyfus Collection is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., while collectors Mark and Lottie Salton donated most of their fantastic Renaissance medals during their lifetimes. Perhaps the greatest proponent and contemporary collector of these little works of art has been the great scholar-collector Stephen K. Scher, who curated the groundbreaking traveling exhibition and catalog The Currency of Fame: Portrait Medals of the Renaissance in the early 1990s. Stephen and his wife Janie Woo Scher recently donated their own nearly 900-piece collection of medals—centered around the Renaissance but including significant medals through the 19th century—to The Frick Collection in New York, forever removing one of the most significant collections of Renaissance medals from the marketplace.

If you are new to Renaissance medals, you may not know where to begin. Though they share much in common with coins and have been traditionally studied and collected along with coins, they may also be thought of as miniature two-sided (or one-sided, in some cases) sculptures or works of art. This is how Scher approached his six decades of medal collecting, focusing not on the subject matter of the medals, but rather on the aesthetic aspects of any medal he was considering for his collection. So, when collecting Renaissance medals, one need not worry that the wonderful portrait on a medal at hand is of a minor, little known character in Italian history, but rather focus on the beauty of the medal. Is it aesthetically pleasing? Is the medal's design well-executed? Is the medal in a high state of condition? Is the medal—whether struck or cast, as in most cases here—well-made? Is the medal an original or early casting? It was by following these parameters that Scher built the incredible collection that now resides at The Frick. And fortunately for you, many of these parameters have been fulfilled by the medals in the Santini Collection, often acquired from auctions of great medals or, as noted, from the collection of Jonathan H. Kagan, whose skilled connoisseurship is reflected here.

Though Scher was not hyper-focused on subject matter, it can often provide a reason to collect a particular medal. Perhaps you collect more modern medals and want a work by the father of the medal. Then one of the Pisanellos in this sale is in your future. Collect ancient Roman Imperial coins? Then the gorgeous and charming medal of Caracalla by Boldù or perhaps the medal of the Empress Faustina by Filarete (whose doors adorn St. Peter's Cathedral) is for you. Collect architecture in nummis? Try the charming castles on the reverses of the portrait medals of Sigismondo Malatesta and Niccolo Todini. As a student of early American numismatics, I was charmed by the plaquette of the Punishment of Tityus, as a very similar rendering also appears on the backs of the South Carolina $70 notes of February 8, 1779; these renderings were apparently based on the 1532 drawing of the scene by Michelangelo Buonarroti.

One reason that entry into the field of Renaissance Medals is so enticing is their relatively modest price to value ratio—the price of entry to the field is a far cry from the above-mentioned, record-setting $3.1 million price tag recently garnered by Sotheby's for Bernardino de' Conti's ca. 1500 Portrait of an Elegantly-Attired Noblewoman in Profile. One could patiently build a fantastic collection of Renaissance medals for far less than the price of this one painting, while enjoying a lifetime collecting objects of similar aesthetic or historical appeal. For example, many of the individual medals in this auction will sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars, while fantastic ones will sell in the tens of thousands. In rare cases one might bring hundreds of thousands of dollars, less than even the $249,000 price tag of Bernardino de' Conti's Noblewoman when it last came to market in 1993. If you are a seasoned collector of Renaissance medals, I am not telling you anything new. But hopefully these few words, and especially the medals to follow, will inspire you to follow in the Renaissance medal collecting footsteps of Dreyfus, Gaines, Hall, Scher, Stack and their many predecessors and contemporaries.

To read the complete article, see:
The Santini Collection of Renaissance Medals (https://stacksbowers.com/the-santini-collection-of-renaissance-medals/)

 

EARLY AMERICAN HISTORY AUCTION APRIL 19, 2025

Early American History Auctions, Inc. is proud to announce the focus of this auction is the early history of America from the Colonial Period, French & Indian War, American Revolution, and the Civil War Era. Included are numerous diverse lots consigned by Ambassador and former Secretary of the Navy, J. William Middendorf II, highlighted by Paul Revere Engraved: THE BLOODY MASSACRE Boston March 5th, 1770 & the historic engraving: THE BOSTONIANS IN DISTRESS 1775 .

Exactly Two Hundred and Fifty Years Ago on this date April 19th, 1775, the Shot Heard Round The World occurred on Lexington Green, a small town in Massachusetts and started the American Revolutionary War. The night before on April 18th, a young American Patriot and founding member of the Sons of Liberty of Boston named Paul Revere volunteered to ride and warn the countryside and local militia that the British Redcoats were on the march, intending to capture the leaders of the Patriot cause and military stores of weapons in Lexington and Concord. The rest … is history. That historic event is a precursor to which all Americans will soon be celebrating in Commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence from England and King George III, which follows on July 4th, 2026. This auction event is primarily focused on the American Patriots and notable persons of the Colonial and Revolutionary War era, together with many other historic collectibles.

This Auction's Highlights Include:

Lot 28: 1810 Paul Revere Autograph Letter Signed to His Son, Joseph Warren Revere, Excellent Business and Personal Content Historically Recording the first example of (American Foreign Spying) industrial espionage in United States history." for the Revere Copper Company. Lot 59: 1770 Paul Revere Engraved Hand-Colored The BLOODY MASSACRE perpetrated in King - Street, BOSTON on March 5th, 1770, by a party of the 29th Regt., Boston: Engrav'd Printed & Sold by Paul Revere, (March 1770) - One of only 29 Known. Considered The Most Famous Political Engraved Print in American History !

Lot 58: November 19, 1774 The Bostonians in Distress. Engraved Intolerable Acts Period Political Mezzotint Engraved Print, London, printed for R. Sayer & J.Bennett, Printsellers.

Lot 71: 1774 THE MASSACHUSETTS SPY Patriotic Boston Newspaper Published by Isaiah Thomas Featuring Its Famous JOIN OR DIE with SEVERED SNAKE Vignette Masthead, Engraved by Paul Revere.

Lot 61: c. 1750-1760 Scarce "GRIFFIN & TOW" Silver Mounted Flintlock Pistol with Sterling Silver Grotesque or Monster Face Butt Cap.

Lot 69: One of the Rarest of Benjamin Franklin Portraits, Stauffer's First State of Three, published by Edward Savage in 1793.

Lot 74: May 4th, 1778 Revolutionary War Date Georgia, Forty Dollars Currency Note with Dove and Sword Seal Vignette, Gem Crisp Uncirculated.

Lot 82: The Friends to Liberty are earnestly requested to attend at the LIBERTY-POLE, To-morrow Morning, at 8 o'Clock, on Business of the utmost Importance. New-York, Sept. 28, 1775. Extremely Rare Revolutionary War Date Political Broadside.

Lot 93: American Revolutionary War Period Matched Pair of Pocket or Traveling Size Pistols for Personal Protection, Grips With Engraved Inlaid Silver J M and V A Owned by Captain John Morton, 4th Virginia Regiment of the Continental line.

Lot 98: c. 1776 Revolutionary War Era Wool Frock Uniform Coat of John Dunwoody with DAR Ancestor Number A035110, worn uniform coat while serving with General Washington, including during the historic Delaware River crossing on the night of December 25th, 1776, during the Continental Army's secret surprise advance for the Battle of Trenton on Christmas Day, December 26th, 1776, he was in the Last Boat to cross the Delaware, and in later engagements including the Battle of Brandywine, September 11th, 1777 and other battles.

Lot 102: Handsome Portrait Miniature of Commander John Paul Jones a.k.a. "Father of the American Navy" by George Bagby Matthews after Charles Willson Peale's 1781 Life Portrait.

Lot 110: Circa 1805 Original Oil On Wood and Gesso Portrait of Pierre Van Cortlandt, Patriarch of the Hudson Valley Family, Owner of Van Cortlandt Manor and First Honorary Member of the Society of Cincinnati by John Wesley Jarvis.

Lot 115: c. 1793 George Washington / President of The United States of America... Portrait from Life, After a painting by Edward Savage Attributed as Engraved by Edward Savage.

Lot 123: (1789) Superb George Washington Inaugural Button with Small Laurel Wreath and Surrounding Legend, LONG LIVE THE PRESIDENT with Original Shank, Albert WI-17B.

Lot 136: Rare DECATOR and Major General BROWN War of 1812 Heroes Transfers, Beautiful Small Size Lusterware Pitcher.

Lot 144: Decorative Embroidered Waist Coat of John Floyd, Sr. (1783-1837) 25th Governor of Virginia, Father of John Buchanan Floyd (1806-1863), also a Governor of Virginia and the Secretary of War under President James Buchanan.

Lot 146: 1814, Complete Prodigal Son Series of Four Original Hand-Colored Engraved Prints by Amos Doolittle of New Haven, Connecticut, a.k.a. The Paul Revere of Connecticut An Impressive Matched Framed Set.

Lot 158: 1861 Confederate Special Printed Broadside GEORGIA CITIZEN EXTRA: "GLORIOUS VICTORY!" First BATTLE of BULL RUN, Framed.

Lot 174: SEATED LINCOLN Monumental Cast Silver Sculpture of 1,140 Troy Ounces .999 Fine Pure Silver, After the original by Renowned Mount Rushmore Sculptor Gutzon Borglum, Number 29 of Only 56 Cast and Signed by Borglum in the Silver Casting.

Lot 179: Abraham Lincoln Indian Peace Medal Popular Largest Size, Listed as No. 57 in the book: 100 Greatest American Tokens & Medals.

Lot 171: Five Cents B. F. Miles Peoria, Illinois Exceptionally Rare & Elusive Key Merchant Type Required to Complete the Thirty-Four Individual 1862 Encased Postage Stamp Merchant Type Set of Emergency Use Civil War Currency.

Lot 193: c. 1800 Federal Period, Historical Liverpool Creamware Pitcher HE IN GLORY ... AMERICA IN TEARS. GEORGE WASHINGTON with a Standing (Thomas) JEFFERSON. Rare Memorial Pitcher.

Lot 204: 1755 Very Rare Original First State French Printing of the Fry - Jefferson Map of Virginia, Paris: Robert Vaugondy, by Joshua Fry (1699-1754) & Peter Jefferson (1708-1757), Framed.

These are but a few of the 218 exceptional historic auction lots being presented.

Closing: Patriot's Day Saturday, April 19th, 2025.

For more information, or to bid, see:
https://www.earlyamerican.com/

 

NICOLAS MAIER MEDAL COLLECTION SELECTIONS

Nicolas Maier writes:

Third Republic (1870–1940). Medal, La Toilette by Oscar Roty, SAMF No. 11, 1899, Paris. Maier 4; Bronze – 46.50 g – 69.5 mm – 12 h. Obverse: A young Greek woman from behind at her toilette; above, "ROME" and below, the signature "ROTY". Reverse: In the clouds, a lily branch and a mirror. Edge marks: (horn) BRONZE (lizard) and number 11. Only 171 examples struck in bronze and distributed to members of the Société des Amis de la Médaille Française (SAMF). With a glossy brown patina, barely rubbed on the buttock and shoulder. Superb, as struck.

From the collection of Nicolas Maier.

To read the complete item description, see:
Third Republic (1870–1940). Medal, La Toilette by Oscar Roty, SAMF No. 11, 1899, Paris. (https://www.biddr.com/auctions/mdcmonaco/browse?a=5671&l=6963359)

Third Republic (1870–1940). Medal, Souvenir of the Universal Exposition by Jules-Édouard Roiné, SAMF No. 260, 1900, Paris. Maier 6; Silver – 133.85 g – 55 mm – 12 h. Obverse: "LA. FRANCE. ACCUEILLE ET. COURONNE. LE. GÉNIE DES. DEUX. MONDES." The French Republic, seated on a throne to the right with fasces and a rooster at her feet, accompanied by allegories of the Arts and Industry, receives representatives of the world in procession; signature "J. E. ROINÉ" and "D'APRÈS A BESNARD". Reverse: "EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE MDCCCC". Aerial view of Paris in perspective, with, in the foreground, buildings specially erected for the Universal Exposition, such as the Grand Palais and the Petit Palais; signature "J. E. ROINÉ". Edge marks: (horn) SILVER (lizard) and number 260. Only 112 examples struck in silver and distributed to members of the SAMF. Only minimal marks on the rims and very lightly rubbed. Superb, as struck.

From the collection of Nicolas Maier.

To read the complete item description, see:
Third Republic (1870–1940). Medal, Souvenir of the Universal Exposition by Jules-Édouard Roiné, SAMF No. 260, 1900, Paris. (https://www.biddr.com/auctions/mdcmonaco/browse?a=5671&l=6963361)

Third Republic (1870–1940). Medal, The Society of Friends of the French Medal by A. L. M. Charpentier, SAMF No. 254, 1901, Paris. Maier 11; Bronze – 162.00 g – 67 mm – 12 h. Obverse: "SOCIÉTÉ DES AMIS DE LA MÉDAILLE FRANÇAISE FONDÉE LE 28 FÉVRIER 1899". A nude woman, in profile to the left, leaning forward and writing on a tablet; monogram signature "ALMC". Reverse: Four nude men, half-length, of different ages, examining a medal; monogram signature "ALMC". Edge marks: (horn) BRONZE (lizard) and number 254. Only 145 examples struck in bronze and distributed to SAMF members. With a brown patina. Minute marks. Superb, as struck. Medal celebrating the founding of the SAMF. The date on the obverse refers to the society's founding, not the date of the medal's creation, which was two years later.

From the collection of Nicolas Maier.

To read the complete item description, see:
Third Republic (1870–1940). Medal, The Society of Friends of the French Medal by A. L. M. Charpentier, SAMF No. 254, 1901, Paris. (https://www.biddr.com/auctions/mdcmonaco/browse?a=5671&l=6963367)

Third Republic (1870–1940). Medal, The Monkey with the Statuette by Paul Jouve, SAMF No. 161, 1906, Paris. Maier 37; Bronze – 88.83 g – 53 mm – 12 h. Obverse: A monkey seated to the left, contemplating an ushabti; signature "JOUVE". Reverse: Group of monkeys on a branch; signature "J". Edge marks: (horn) BRONZE (lizard) and number 161. Only 117 examples struck in bronze and distributed to SAMF members. With a brown patina. Minor spots. Superb, as struck.

From the collection of Nicolas Maier.

To read the complete item description, see:
Third Republic (1870–1940). Medal, The Monkey with the Statuette by Paul Jouve, SAMF No. 161, 1906, Paris. (https://www.biddr.com/auctions/mdcmonaco/browse?a=5671&l=6963405)

Third Republic (1870–1940). Medal, The Toilette by Ovide Yencesse, SAMF No. 45, 1910, Paris. Maier 55; Bronze – 77.72 g – 65 mm – 12 h. Obverse: Young woman bathing, after Edgar Degas, Le Tub; signature "OVIDE YENCESSE". Reverse: "SOCIÉTÉ DES AMIS DE LA MÉDAILLE FRANÇAISE". At the top, a woman seen from behind, with a bun, looking at herself in a mirror; signature "OVIDE YENCESSE". Edge marks: (horn) BRONZE (lizard) and number 45. Only 80 bronze examples struck and distributed to SAMF members. With a brown patina. Only minor black spots in the fields. Superb, as struck.

From the collection of Nicolas Maier.

To read the complete item description, see:
Third Republic (1870–1940). Medal, The Toilette by Ovide Yencesse, SAMF No. 45, 1910, Paris. (https://www.biddr.com/auctions/mdcmonaco/browse?a=5671&l=6963433)

Third Republic (1870–1940). Medal, Numismatics, International Numismatic Congress in Brussels, by J. Jourdain, 1910. Maier fig.56 p.138; Silver – 92.14 g – 65 mm – 12 h. Obverse: "LA NUMISMATIQUE". In a landscape of ancient ruins, an allegory of Numismatics is seated, contemplating an ancient coin, while in the foreground a worker has just unearthed a coin hoard. Reverse: "SOCIÉTÉ ROYALE BELGE DE NUMISMATIQUE. CONGRÈS INTL BRUXELLES 1910. STÉ. HOLLANDAISE BELGE DES AMIS DE LA MÉDAILLE." An artist-medalist modeling a wax portrait of King Leopold II; legend "LA MÉDAILLE CONTEMPORAINE" and signature "J. JOURDAIN". Edition of the Société Hollandaise-Belge des Amis de la Médaille d'Art (SHBAMA), with 56 examples struck in silver and 150 in bronze. Nice gray patina. Superb, as struck.

From the collection of Nicolas Maier.

To read the complete item description, see:
Third Republic (1870–1940). Medal, Numismatics, International Numismatic Congress in Brussels, by J. Jourdain, 1910. (https://www.biddr.com/auctions/mdcmonaco/browse?a=5671&l=6963495)

Third Republic (1870–1940). Medal, SS Normandie, by J. Vernon, ND (1945), Paris. Maier 333 – MdP.M.3338; Silver – 156.86 g – 68 mm – 12 h. Obverse: Amphitrite, goddess of the sea, holding the bridle of a sea horse emerging behind her. In the exergue: "NORMANDIE – Jean Vernon". Reverse: "NORMANDIE .79280 Tx / Cie Gle TRANSATLANTIQUE / = French Line = / LE HAVRE. NEW-YORK / = 1935 =". The ocean liner Normandie. Edge punch (horn) 2SILVER. Small nick on the edge at 7 o'clock on the reverse. Lightly cleaned with a forming gray patina. Superb, as struck.

From the collection of Nicolas Maier.

To read the complete item description, see:
Third Republic (1870–1940). Medal, SS Normandie, by J. Vernon, ND (1945), Paris. (https://www.biddr.com/auctions/mdcmonaco/browse?a=5671&l=6963512)

For all of the medals in the sale, see:
https://www.biddr.com/auctions/mdcmonaco/browse?a=5671&s=Collection+maier&aso_price_currency=EUR&o=na

HUNTINGTON COLLECTION TO BE SOLD AGAIN

Ed Hohertz writes:

The Hispanic Society's former coin collection, auctioned by Sotheby's a few months ago, will be sold in lots in Europe. Three of them, auctioned individually in an open bidding process, will be available for purchase in Madrid.

"Spain has never had a goodwill ambassador in North America—or anywhere else—who did so much to foster the study and love of all things Hispanic." ABC dedicated these words to Archer M. Huntington , a millionaire philanthropist from the late 19th century, in 1953.

Huntington dedicated his life to the study of Spanish culture, and in 1904 founded the Hispanic Society of America (HSA) , a public institution that houses all kinds of Spanish treasures. These include fourteen commissioned Sorolla canvases , works by Goya, medieval textiles, Roman pieces... and, until three months ago, the largest collection of coins from the Hispanic world outside of Spain. A catalog of 38,000 pieces that he assembled through purchases from individuals in Europe and Latin America.

In 2011, the HSA decided to put its numismatic collection up for sale to raise money to acquire new works of art. It offered the collection, valued at between $25 and $35 million, to the Ministry of Culture and the Bank of Spain. The government rejected the offer. "In the current situation, it would have been difficult to justify a purchase of this amount," explains José María de Francisco, dean of the Faculty of Documentation at the Complutense University of Madrid.

The institution also approached various museums in Europe and the United States, but no one was willing to acquire the entire lot. Faced with the institution's refusal, last March, Sotheby's auction house awarded it to the highest bidder in a sealed bid. For a time, the identity of the buyer remained unknown. We now know that it was a consortium of European professionals who created a Temporary Joint Venture (UTE) with the sole purpose of acquiring the collection and then breaking it up and putting it on the market. The price they paid for it remains a mystery.

One of the consortium members is Jesús Vico, owner of the Madrid auction house that bears his name. On June 26 , Vico will hold a public sale of 1,000 coins from the Huntington collection. The businessman explains that the lot was selected based on "geographical" criteria: only coins minted in the Iberian Peninsula are included. Huntington also collected coins from Spain's European and overseas colonies.

The first coin dates from the 4th century BC (a drachma, the first "unit" minted by the Greeks in Hispania) to the reign of Alfonso XIII, contemporary with the collector's death. "It's the best numismatic auction ever held in Spain," notes the dean of the UCM (University of Madrid), who catalogued the lot. The historian emphasizes that the coins are a "complete document," "an inexhaustible source of information on the art, economics, and politics of each era," he believes.

The American Numismatic Society warned in 2011 of the risk that the collection could disintegrate upon its departure from the Hispanic Society. That is exactly what has happened.

To read the complete article, see:
Adiós al tesoro de Huntington. La antigua colección de monedas de la Hispanic Society, subastada por Sotheby's hace unos meses, será vendida por lotes en Europa. Tres de ellos, subastados por piezas en una puja abierta, se podrán adquirir en Madrid (https://www.abc.es/cultura/arte/abci-subasta-monedas-huntington-201206100000_noticia.html)

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
HISPANIC SOCIETY SUES ANS OVER CONTROL OF COLLECTION (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n13a14.html)
JUDGE RULES ANS MUST RETURN COLLECTION TO HISPANIC SOCIETY (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n20a12.html)
THIS IS TO CRY: ARTICLE DETAILS HISPANIC SOCIETY OF AMERICA'S PLANS (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n32a13.html)
ANS RETRIEVES ANOTHER 7,291 HUNTINGTON COINS (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n05a20.html)

THE MARYLAND GUNPOWDER NOTES

By far one of the distinctive issues of the colonial period, Maryland's Gunpowder notes are a window into both revolutionary sentiments and the measures taken amidst uncertainty and conflict. Issued under a resolve dated July 26, 1775, these notes were intended to promote the manufacture of gunpowder. They offer a far more distinctive composition than the simplistic forms favored by Maryland during the period.

At left, as part of a design produced by Thomas Sparrow, George III oversees the burning and occupation of an American city from a symbolic distance. The balance of the composition harkens to the possibility that peace and reconciliation could be achieved between the Colonies and Great Britain. A female allegorical figure representative of the Continental Congress hands Britannia a petition labeled CONG PETI, while American troops carrying the flag of Liberty are seen in the background.

Additional border cuts further speak to the sentiment conveyed by this design. The motto AN APPEAL TO HEAVEN may be seen at right opposite the Latin expression PRO ARIS ET FOCIS at left, which roughly translates to For altars and the hearth, adds a tinge of optimism.

The verso portrays a scene depicting the aforementioned figures achieving peace is observed and the Latin motto PAX TRIUMPHIS POTIOR, which roughly translates to Peace is preferable to victory. Such sentiment, although well-intentioned, would prove to be little more than misplaced optimism preceding a full-scale conflict.

Today these notes are seldom offered. Quality examples are conspicuously absent from most auctions with years often passing between offerings. The Gunpowder notes are a numismatic rarity that stands among the most distinctive issues of the period.

To read the complete article, see:
A Brief Overview of the So-called Gunpowder Notes from Maryland (https://stacksbowers.com/a-brief-overview-of-the-so-called-gunpowder-notes-from-maryland/)

AUSTRALIAN MONARCHISTS WANT CHARLES NOTE

In 2023, the RBA announced it would be replacing the nation's longest reigning monarch with a design that celebrates the connection that First Nations peoples have to Country.

On Tuesday, The Australian Monarchist League (AML) revealed a compromise design that pays tribute to both Indigenous Australians and maintains the tradition of featuring the Monarch on the banknote.

The proposed design includes Uluru on the left, the wattle and rainbow serpent in the middle and King Charles III on the right.

Many took to social media to comment on the design, with a petition attracting hundreds of signatures within hours of launching.

Heather McPherson said: Ï don't particularly like Charles but he should be on our $5 note as our beloved Queen was.

Allan Evans slammed the decision, telling the RBA to maintain the status quo.

Put the Monarch back on $5 note, he said.

In 1966, Australia's $1 banknote featured both Queen Elizabeth II and Indigenous Australians with monarchists calling for this to happen again.

To read the complete article, see:
Australian Monarchist League suggests new $5 banknote with King Charles and Indigenous design (https://7news.com.au/entertainment/royal-family/australian-monarchist-league-suggests-new-5-banknote-with-king-charles-and-indigenous-design-c-18304938)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
AUSTRALIAN CURRENCY WON'T FEATURE KING (https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n06a28.html)

WWII POLAND COUNTERFEITING PLATE FOUND

A matrix used to produce counterfeit banknotes during World War II has been discovered during renovation work at one of Warsaw's most famous banks.

The device was found concealed beneath wooden flooring inside the National Development Bank (BGK) building in the city center and had most likely been there since wartime.

Featuring the mirror image of a one zloty banknote, the lithographic plate had been created on a perfectly flat slab of marble measuring 18 by 19 centimeters.

According to the bank's historian, Radoslaw Milczarski, the banknote had been drawn onto the stone using greasy ink or crayon and would have allowed for high-quality copies.

However, the matrix lacks several notable anti-counterfeiting elements, such as background guilloché patterns.

It is likely, therefore, that those using it would have had access to pre-printed paper that already featured watermarks and intricate guilloché patterns, a telltale indicator of a highly complex operation requiring multiple people.

Among other things, the discovered matrix features inscriptions that include ‘Bank Emisyjny w Polsce' (Bank of Issue in Poland) and Jeden Zloty (One Zloty), and a series number dating it from an issue of notes that was made in 1940.

Even then, however, one zloty would not have bought much more than two loaves of bread or a kilo of butter.

Despite this, counterfeiting such small denominations would have been fruitful given that such notes would be far less likely to be detected.

If we go to a store and hand over a 500 zloty banknote, we can be sure that the cashier will scrutinize it from every angle, says Radoslaw Milczarski. But low denominations escape attention, which makes it harder to spot forgeries.

Who might have used this exact matrix, though, has baffled historians, with some theorizing it could have been used by PWB/17/S, a sophisticated forgery cell operated by what would later become Poland's Home Army.

To read the complete article, see:
WWII-era matrix used to counterfeit banknotes discovered in Warsaw bank (https://tvpworld.com/86040312/wwii-era-matrix-used-to-counterfeit-banknotes-discovered-in-warsaw-bank)

SLABBING MISCUE: PRUSMACK VS. J.S.G. BOGGS

Explore the unique world of alternative currency with the J.S.G. Boggs Art Note. This $2 non-Legal Tender Note is a legacy of artistic innovation, featuring distinctive drawings by the renowned artist J.S.G. Boggs. Its vivid theme of art is presented on high-quality paper, ensuring that each piece captures the essence of Boggs's vision.

Each note is a testament to the rich history of currency and art, making it a must-have for collectors and enthusiasts alike. With its Very Fine-35 (VF-35) grading, this item showcases its preservation and quality, promising to be a valued addition to any collection.

To read the complete lot description, see:
J.S.G. Boggs Art Note Non-Legal Tender Note $2 Legacy VF-35 With Comments (https://www.ebay.com/itm/405755718855)

Tim Prusmack Money Art 2001 Deuce with Robert E. Lee Portrait. PCGS Superb Gem New 67PPQ.

The ANA summer convention was held in Atlanta in 2001. Appropriately, money artist Tim Prusmack issued another note in his series to commemorate numismatic conventions. He used the format of the Series 1886 $2 Silver Certificate with the portrait of General Winfield Scott Hancock as his basis. General Hancock was replaced with a color portrait of General Robert E. Lee and to commemorate the city of Atlanta, Prusmack painted a rendition of the carving on Stone Mountain that contains equestrian portraits of Generals Lee and Stonewall Jackson plus President Jefferson Davis. Printed signatures on the note are of "R.E. Lee" and Tim Prusmack. This example is number 178 of 250.

To read the complete lot description, see:
Tim Prusmack Money Art 2001 Deuce with Robert E. Lee Portrait. PCGS Superb Gem New 67PPQ. (https://currency.ha.com/itm/miscellaneous/other/tim-prusmack-money-art-2001-deuce-with-robert-e-lee-portrait-pcgs-superb-gem-new-67ppq/a/141238-32050.s)

To read earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
MONEY ARTIST TIM PRUSMACK DIES (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v07n05a01.html)
J.S.G. BOGGS (1955-2017) (https://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n05a04.html)

LOOSE CHANGE: APRIL 13, 2025

U.S. Mint Stopped Ordering Cent Planchets

Legislation introduced in the 119th Congress would specifically limit production of the Lincoln cent, a coin that has been struck for nearly 116 years since its introduction in 1909.

The inventory of unstruck ready-to-strike cent planchets combined at the Denver and Philadelphia Mints is considered by the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Mint enough to handle production needs for the near future as the mintages wind down, with no more planchets ordered from the lone outside vendor.

The unstruck planchets are also sufficient for striking Uncirculated Lincolns cents at the Philadelphia and Denver Mints for inclusion in 2025 Uncirculated Mint sets and for Proof sets executed at the San Francisco Mint.

The ready-to-strike planchets with raised rims have been produced for decades by the same contracted outside vendor in Tennessee. The vendor has undergone several name changes — Alltrista Corp. in Greeneville, Jarden Zinc Products at the same location in Greeneville, and now Artazn LLC, as a subsidiary of One Rock Capital in Tusculum, Tennessee.

To read the complete article, see:
Planchet supply is enough to keep the cent in production (https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/planchet-supply-is-enough-to-keep-the-cent-in-production)

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
THE PENNY PURGE: COMMON CENTS OR CENTSLESS? (https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n07a29.html)

2025 Proof Set Sales

No new numismatic products were released by the U.S. Mint last week, so collector favorites – proof coins and proof sets – saw the strongest sales gains. They accounted for seven of the eight most purchased products for the week ending April 6.

To read the complete article, see:
US Mint Sales: 2025 Proof Set Nears 212K in First Month Since Launch (https://www.coinnews.net/2025/04/10/us-mint-sales-2025-proof-set-nears-212k-in-first-month-since-launch/)

Indian Collector Hosts Coin Exhibit

In the quiet village of Sonala, the retirement from government service for a 70-year-old agriculture extension officer has birthed a different kind of harvest: a trove of ancient coins painstakingly gathered over 30 years. Each piece, sourced from Hyderabad's markets or Adilabad's soil, serves as a timestamp of dynasties long gone. His mission? To ensure the whispers of Kanishka's reign and Alamgir's rule aren't lost to time, but instead ignite curiosity in young minds.

The journey of B Muralidhar as a coin collector began three decades ago, sparked by a visit to a coin exhibition in Hyderabad. That single visit sowed the seeds of a lifelong passion — one that led him to amass and preserve more than 100 rare and ancient Indian coins.

Recently, on Ugadi, Muralidhar curated a special coin exhibition at Kalashram in Adilabad, offering the public a rare glimpse into the country's numismatic heritage. Around 130 coins were displayed, spanning centuries of Indian history and even featuring coins from Japan. The collection captivated visitors, drawing admiration for its depth and diversity.

The exhibition showcased coins from dynasties that ruled India between the 1st century AD and 600 years ago — including relics from the era of Kanishka, the Vishnukundins, Bahmani Sultans and the Mughals. A highlight of the display was a gold coin weighing 11.8 grams, minted during the reign of the 15th Mughal emperor, Azizuddin Alamgir II (1756–1759).

To read the complete article, see:
A retired officer's harvest of history (https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2025/Apr/13/a-retired-officers-harvest-of-history)

Manuscript Reveals Merlin and King Arthur Stories

The fragment's condition posed a significant challenge. It was fragile, with tears and folds that made it difficult to handle. Traditional methods of conservation might have involved physically removing the binding to unfold the fragment, but this risked causing irreparable damage.

Instead, the team decided to preserve the fragment in situ, keeping it as an example of 16th-century archival binding practices while using cutting-edge technology to virtually unfold and digitise it.

Using mirrors, prisms, magnets, and other tools, the team at CHIL carefully photographed each section of the fragment. The hundreds of resulting images were then painstakingly reassembled digitally, much like a jigsaw, to create a coherent image of the text.

By manipulating the digital images, the team could simulate what the document might look like if it were physically opened.

To read the complete article, see:
The discovery set off an extensive conservation and research project, supported by the University Library with funding from Cambridge Digital Humanities. (https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/merlin-manuscript-discovered-cambridge)

THROWING BANKNOTES IS ASSAULT

A court rejected an appeal from a man accused of throwing a stack of banknotes in a motel employee's face, ruling that the act amounted to assault under Korean law.

The man in his 30s had been fined 500,000 won ($350) for throwing eight 50,000 won bills at an employee in the parking lot of a motel in Suwon, Gyeonggi, in January 2023.

The man attempted to park on the way to meet his girlfriend, but the motel worker told him that only guests with premium rooms could use the lot. The defendant allegedly threw the stack of bills directly at the employee's face after an argument.

Prosecutors later charged him with assault, arguing that throwing money at someone's face constituted unlawful physical force.

The man denied wrongdoing, claiming he'd thrown the cash toward the motel's counter, not at the employee and arguing that paper bills could not cause harm and therefore did not meet the legal standard for assault.

Legal sources said Sunday that Suwon District Court had rejected the man's attempt to appeal the fine.

The court ruled that the man had used physical force that caused both physical and psychological distress, citing evidence reviewed in the initial trial.

To read the complete article, see:
Man who threw banknotes at motel employee committed assault, court rules (https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-04-13/national/socialAffairs/Man-who-threw-banknotes-at-motel-employee-committed-assault-court-rules/2283887)

FEATURED WEBSITE: ARIZONA TERRITORIAL MINT

This week's Featured Website is the Arizona Territorial Mint of Cove Creek, AZ, suggested by Heath White.

https://www.atmint.us/

ABOUT THIS ISSUE: APRIL 13, 2025

Wayne Homren
Wayne Homren is the founding editor of The E-Sylum and a consultant for the Newman Numismatic Portal. His collecting interests at various times included U.S. Encased Postage Stamps, merchant counterstamps, Pittsburgh Obsolete paper money, Civil War tokens and scrip, Carnegie Hero Medals, charge coins and numismatic literature. He also collects and has given presentations on the work of Money Artist J.S.G. Boggs. In the non-numismatic world he's worked in artificial intelligence, data science, and as a Program Manager for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Garrett Ziss
Garrett Ziss is a numismatic collector and researcher, with a focus on American paper money and early U.S. silver and copper coins. He is also a part-time U.S. coin cataloger for Heritage Auctions. Garrett assists Editor Wayne Homren by editing and formatting a selection of articles and images each week. When he's not engaged in numismatics, Garrett is a Senior Honors student at the University of Pittsburgh.

Pete Smith
Numismatic researcher and author Pete Smith of Minnesota has written about early American coppers, Vermont coinage, numismatic literature, tokens and medals, the history of the U.S. Mint and much more. Author of American Numismatic Biographies, he contributes original articles to The E-Sylum often highlighting interesting figures in American numismatic history.

Greg Bennick
Greg Bennick (www.gregbennick.com) is a keynote speaker and long time coin collector with a focus on major mint error coins and US counterstamps. He is on the board of both CONECA and TAMS and enjoys having in-depth conversations with prominent numismatists from all areas of the hobby. Have ideas for other interviewees? Contact him anytime on the web or via instagram @minterrors.

John Nebel
Numismatist, photographer, and ANS Board member and Fellow John Nebel of Boulder, CO helped the ANA and other clubs like NBS get online in the early days of the internet, hosting websites gratis through his Computer Systems Design Co. To this day he hosts some 50 ANA member club sites along with our coinbooks.org site, making the club and our E-Sylum archive available to collectors and researchers worldwide.

Bruce Perdue
Encased coinage collector (encasedcoins.info) Bruce Perdue of Aurora, Illinois has been the volunteer NBS webmaster from its early days and works each week to add the latest E-Sylum issue to our archive and send out the email announcement.