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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 27, 2025

New subscribers this week include: Stuart Williams, who found us on Flickr (here's his Flickr account). Welcome aboard! We now have 7,252 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 the Fred Weinberg numismatic ephemera collection, three new books, updates from the Newman Numismatic Portal, museum exhibits and more.

Other topics this week include Mint Director David Rittenhouse, "Supernote" counterfeits, Castorland jetons, military currency, error coins, the coins of Islam, the power of cash, Ray Williamson, John Gaines, Renaissance medals, and banknote designer Walter Shirlaw.

To learn more about San Francisco Mint lantern slides, the Rumford Prize medal, the 1795 Mint Report, Bank Note Printer Test, Promotional, and Advertising Sheets, Harry James, Alan Cox, the "Crowned F" counterstamp, Ram Tolani's money museum, John Ford and Walter Breen seeing the S.S. Central America gold ingots for the first time, the 1792 Copper Disme, and Brian May's coin guitar picks, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum

 

HOLABIRD OFFER WEINBERG NUMISMATIC EPHEMERA

Lot 3284: Last Will & Testament of David Rittenhouse, First Director of the United States Mint
David Rittenhouse (1732-1796) was an astronomer, inventor, clockmaker, mathematician, surveyor, treasurer of the State of Pennsylvania and the first director of the United States Mint.

In 1768, Rittenhouse was elected to membership in the American Philosophical Society. He served as librarian, secretary, and after Benjamin Franklin's death in 1790, he served as president of the society until 1796. He was one of the few Americans who belonged to the Royal Society of London.

In 1786, Rittenhouse built a new Georgian-style house on the corner of 4th and Arch streets in Philadelphia, next to an octagonal observatory he had already built. At this house, he maintained a Wednesday evening salon meeting with Benjamin Franklin, Francis Hopkinson, Pierre Eugene du Simitiere and others. Thomas Jefferson wrote that he would rather attend one of these meetings "than spend a whole week in Paris."

Rittenhouse was treasurer of Pennsylvania from 1777 to 1789, and with these skills and the help of George Washington, he became the first director of the United States Mint. On April 2, 1792, the United States Mint opened its doors, but would not produce coins for almost four months. The first coins were made from flatware that was provided by George Washington on the morning of July 30, 1792. The coins were hand-struck by Rittenhouse, to test the new equipment, and were given to Washington as a token of appreciation for his contributions to making the United States Mint a reality.

Signed by David Rittenhouse, witnessed by Benjamin Smith Barton and T. Thomson.

Lot 3279: Dahlonega Mint Superintendent Patton Letter Group, 1854-5

A group of previously unseen letters from Dahlonega Branch Mint Superintendent Julius Patton to Jonathan Slocum regarding Patton's investment and guidance regarding copper mines they own at Ducktown, Tennessee. Patton was the Dahlonega Branch Mint supt from 1853-1860, ultimately replaced by Lincoln appointee George Kellogg, from whom we described a major correspondence archive years ago, now at the North Georgia University in Dahlonega. The Mint lasted barely another year, when the Civil War broke out and the Mint closed.

Here, we learn Patton had outside interests in metal production. This particular group of correspondence is very important, because it is from the first period of serious production at Ducktown, and involves a potential major player in the superintendent of a US branch mint.

Lot 3275: San Francisco Mint Glass Slides
12 lantern slides in very good condition. Six of the mint, two of the earthquake and one very rarely seen panoramic view. All in good condition. Three in boxes.

Lot 3276: Letter from Frank A. Leach Superintendent of the San Francisco Mint 1907-1909
This two page letter addressed to his son; Frank A. Leach describes land examinations and tests for gold in Northern California with poor results. Place settings as Rock Creek, Dix Mine, Forest Hill are mentioned. On Mint of the United States at San Francisco letterhead dated 1908. Folded, light crease at upper right corner. Perfectly legible two page document of California gold history with Frank Leach's signature bold lower right. 8 in. X 10 in.

Lot 3285: Mint Director Patterson Letter re Rumford Medal, 1839
This letter is an important discovery of a January 19, 1839 letter written to Daniel Treadwell regarding the Mint paying $400 to "Mr. Furst" for the dies to the Rumford Medal. Patterson states that the head die is "advancing rapidly." Patterson notes that an additional $50 will be charged for the "preparing, turning, hardening of the dies in the collar and its striking". Patterson himself advanced Furst $100 because of "the usual Improvidence of artists" (got to love that quote! -fh) and Patterson is requesting reimbursement.

In 1839, James Jackson was the president of the Academy of Arts and Science in Massachusetts. Treadwell (1791-1872), an American inventor (story too long for this description) was also an important scientist associated with the Academy. He was chair of the Rumford Professor at Harvard from 1834-1845, and thus ultimately would have been in charge of the awarding of this incredibly important medal.

The Rumford Prize was conceived in 1796 by Benjamin Thompson who gifted the Society with a $5000 endowment for the award to be given to advancements in heat and light. It is one of the oldest and unarguably most important scientific prizes in America. The prize was so restrictive, that rule changes were made in 1832. The very first award was given in 1839 to Robert Hare for a oxy-hydrogen blowpipe. The first awarding of this prize resulted in the Society contracting with the US Mint for a "gold-silver medal", the very subject of this important letter.

It is unknown if the original, first medal, subject of the dies mentioned in this letter, still exists. The few recipients of this important prize include Thomas Edison and Enrico Fermi.

A parallel society was formed in Britain, and that group also awards a Rumford Medal to recipients, but it is not associated with the US medal.

This is a one page letter, folded, sent from Philadelphia. It bears a red wax seal on the reverse, though Patterson did not use a seal bearing any identification.

Lot 3295: Collection of U. S. Mint Reports 1795-1877
Published by order of the House of Representatives, annual reports on the State of the Mint (and what further measures are necessary to render the institution more beneficial).

Thirty two reports from 26 different years between 1795 and 1877. Year and (# pages): 1795 (15); 1797 (8); 1800 (contained in four page broadside edition of The Daily Advertiser published March 5, 1801, New York); 1802 (11); 1804 (7); 1816 (8); 1818 (10); 1819 (2 pieces: 6 & 4 pages); 1821 (2 pieces: 16 & 27 pages); 1829-30 (5); 1830 (27); 1831 (2 pieces: 3 & 29); 1832 (3); 1837 (10); 1838 (2 pieces, 4 pages); 1839 (60 pages); 1840 (10); 1841 (8); 1854 (2 pieces: 31 & 8); 1855 (20); 1862 (38); 1866 (40); 1867 (44); 1868 (42); 1871 (48); 1877 (61).

Lot 3326: Thomas Wyatt 1852 Letter Regarding Medals
Handwritten letter by Thomas Wyatt inquiring about receipt of American medals, including a Jefferson Medal. He even illustrated the size of the medals he sent. The recipient is unknown.

Lot 3340: Coins Coinage and Bullion by DuBois 1851
"New Varieties of Gold and Silver Coins, Counterfeit coins, and bullion; with mint values" by Jacob R. Eckfeldt and William E. Du Bois, assayers of the mint of the United States. Published by George P. Putnam, 155 Broadway. Hardbound, 80 pages plus 1852 Merchant and Banker's Almanac. To which is added "Pledges of History," a brief account of the collection of coins belonging to the Mint." Overall good condition, some tears to the edge binding.

Lot 3346: Annual Report Of Director Of Imperial Mint Japan
1874. The third annual report from Japan on the Imperial Mint, 1874. In plastic protective sleeve. Complete w/blue cover, binding is no longer holding, 32 pages. Some pages have sticky notes attached. In over all good condition, except for binding missing.

Lot 3347: 1804 Dollar Manuscript Written in 1904
Handwritten 4 x 7 inch pages labeled "1904 Manuscript." 14 pages of Discussion and investigation into the famous 1804 silver dollar. Discusses the thirteen known examples. Although no author could be discovered, it is a well written piece of numismatic journalism. More research is needed to discover the source.

For the complete sale, see:
The "Mint State" Americana & Numismatics Auction (2025 May) (https://holabirdamericana.liveauctiongroup.com/The-Mint-State-Americana-Numismatics-Auction-2025-May_a72190)

PHILADELPHIA MINT MEDAL DEPARTMENT, 1856-1868

This is an important documentary discovery from the Fred Weinberg Collection. It was a 6 x 7"notebook of about 50pp (100) of which 17pp were used (34pp of front and back), with numerous little paper notes on scrap, including notes on a gold bullion Mint receipt. The covers are no longer present.

This book was misidentified in a 2008 article in the Rare Coin Market Report. It is unmistakably a record of the Philadelphia Mint's Medal Department.

The book contains notes of expenses and orders from the Medal Department from 1856-1868, thus one must assume it is in the hand of the same clerk employed throughout. Our clerk here divided up the book into various sections annually: "Simple orders"; Requisitions Sanctioned", "Bills approved and signed by the authority of the Director".

Within these annual sections are found fascinating entries, many containing information not known previously. A number of these entries tell us quite a bit about the Medal Department, which first operated April 1, 1854 under the Coining Department. The "old medal press" is described by Burdette in From Mine to Mint (2013), p325. A number of the entries in this book directly relate to that press, inclusive of a bill to Morgan & Orr, press manufacturer, for "forging dies." (1/1/1857). Wm Eckfeldt ordered "bags and rings" for the press. Interesting orders include ordering "red chalk for the Medal Dept.", "50 oz. aluminum to the medal dept., 2 gals of white wine vinegar, 594 bushels of charcoal, "date punch, new copper strips", "iron casting to protect the screw press from water (4/19/1856) ; "one medal milling machine" ordered from David Gilbert (1/30/1860); "magnifying glasses" from McCallister (2/17/1858)

Many of the Medal Department engravers are mentioned including Barber, A. C. Paquet ("small figure punches"); "Engraving loupe for M. Paquet" ordered from Isaac Schaitman (4/10/1858), Geo. Eckfeldt

Numerous specific medals are mentioned: "castings for the Japanese medal" from Morgan and Orr (5/19/1860); there is much on the special gold Cyrus Field Medal designed by Wm Barber. "Letter punches for the Field Medal" (12/31/1867)

This is a priceless previously unrecorded record of great significance to US medal collectors.

To read the complete lot description, see:
US Mint, Medal Dept. Clerk's Record Book, 1856-1868 (https://holabirdamericana.liveauctiongroup.com/US-Mint-Medal-Dept-Clerk-s-Record-Book-1856-1868-196515_i56377969)

For the complete sale, see:
The "Mint State" Americana & Numismatics Auction (2025 May) (https://holabirdamericana.liveauctiongroup.com/The-Mint-State-Americana-Numismatics-Auction-2025-May_a72190)

 

NEW BOOK: PROMOTIONAL SHEET & TEST NOTES 2025

The Catalog of Printers Promotional Sheets & Test Notes - 19th Edition

The Reference for Bank Note Printer Test, Promotional, and Advertising Sheets & Notes

Covers all test, advertising, promotional, color samples house notes, titled vignette sheets, stock samples, greeting cards, and calendars for firms involved in the production of bank notes.

 

Released March 2025

• Hundreds of back light, UV (ultraviolet), close up, and sharp angle images to show security features present. All trademarked security terms shown, with a definition and firm using feature in the expanded Glossary. Now in 2025, there are 298 features from Active to Zebra.
• Current valuations in uncirculated condition for all notes. Now includes valuations of notes with brochures when available.
• IN PDF (Adobe Acrobat) 143 MB file on CD, thus much lower shipping fees! FREE shipping for email download option!
• 1,373 pages (81 more pages than 2023!) LARGER than the Standard Catalog of Paper Money (Pick) catalog!
• 7,630 COLOR NOTE IMAGES (381 more than 2023), where feasible imaged enlarged for detail
• Attributing 3,643 (164 new this issue) notes documenting all sub-varieties, such as date, logo, address, color, material, security device differences, and others. With sub-varieties, there are 6,341 cataloged notes - up 310 from the last issue.
• All 297 known printer firms producing test notes (12 new firms attributed!), including Printer's test, house and advertising notes from the 1820's forward. The catalog also includes any firm used to produce bank notes, including security ink, security paper mills, polymer producers, holographic and other security devices, and banknote design firms.
• Images of 95+% of each test note set.
• Only English language test note catalog.
• Only current test note catalog.
• Bookmark feature. ALL test note issuing firms are bookmarked, standard on all catalogs sold.
• Table of Contents lists Firm, number of unique cataloged notes, number of sub-varieties and comments. Also shows the alpha catalog designation for each test note variety.
• Instructions for converting the PDF file to read on KINDLE
• As with all PDF files, the entire catalog is searchable with a word or phrase. Common names of test notes added to aid search, such as "blue bird", "Lord Nelson", "Lupo", "Pushkin" or "Avantgarde".
• Cross reference "family trees" of all firms that formed the American Bank Note Company and Thomas de la Rue.

For more information, or to order, see:
http://currency_den.tripod.com/testnotes/order.html
2025 eBook Catalog Printers Promotional Sheets & Test Notes 19h Ed, 1373 pages (https://www.ebay.com/itm/205357561210)

NEW BOOK: SUPERNOTE

"Supernote" is a counterfeit $100 bill so undetectable, it threatens to destroy the entire global economy. One United States Secret Service special agent crossed international borders from the Iguazu jungle in Argentina and Paraguay, to casinos in Moscow, safe houses in Beirut and the back allies of Phnom Penh to unravel the distribution routes of the DPRK, Hezbollah, PLO, PFLP and IRA all supporting their lethal operations with Supernote funds. Special agent Ross Garrett's investigation culminates in arresting one of the world's most wanted fugitives and dismantles the infamous Supernote criminal enterprise, unbeknownst to a world oblivious to just how close it otherwise came to global financial chaos.

SBN-13: 9781665764353
Publisher: Archway Publishing
Publication date: 01/27/2025
Pages: 386
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 1.25(h) x 9.00(d)

To read the complete article, see:
(https://coinweek.com/new-book-tells-story-of-multi-year-investigation-into-supernote-counterfeit-ring/)

For more information, or to order, see:
Supernote (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/supernote-jim-davidson/1146809591)
Supernote (https://www.amazon.com/Supernote-Jim-Davidson/dp/1665764368)

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
THE IRA, NORTH KOREA, AND "SUPERNOTES" (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v08n44a15.html)
IS NORTH KOREA TO BLAME FOR $100 "SUPERNOTE" COUNTERFEITS? (https://coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n20a28.html)

NEW BOOK: THE POWER OF CASH

It seems quixotic that we should resist the pull of electronic payments and digital banking and get back to using cash. Why would we give up the ease of swiping our cards or tapping our phones in favor of clammy banknotes and fiddly coins? In "The Power of Cash," Jay Zagorsky, who teaches at Boston University's business school, asks us to fight the lure of a cashless economy and stand up for the green.

Mr. Zagorsky's conversion to cash came when he served as an unpaid adviser for a Boston Federal Reserve survey of how people paid for things. He helped design and implement the survey from 2010 to 2018, a period when many Americans were shifting from paying in cash to using electronic payments for even their most mundane daily purchases.

In 2015, he reports, 17.1% of Americans said they did not carry cash. By 2022 that number had more than doubled to 34.6%. Among 18-to-34-year-olds the number not carrying cash went from one in four to almost one in two. The author notes a similar shift in the use of ATMs. Visits to bank machines peaked in 2009 with about six billion withdrawals. By 2021 the number of ATM withdrawals had fallen to less than four billion.

Germany still loves cash. A 2021 survey found that only 4% of Germans did not carry cash, and 30% said cash was their preferred method of payment despite their access to all the modern digital-banking systems.

But so what? Does it make any difference if we zap and ping rather than use cash and coins? Perhaps we should roll it even further back to cowrie shells. Mr. Zagorsky believes cash still matters and his argument falls under three broad categories.

First is the case for national security. Mr. Zagorsky observes that "a cashless society stands on three legs: a continuous and stable supply of electricity, communication networks working all the time, and secure computers." What happens if an earthquake strikes, or a foreign enemy takes down the communication and banking systems? In the ensuing chaos and darkness, the author writes, those with cash will survive and those without will be left waving their plastic into the wind.

Second is the personal-finance case. We know that when people spend cash, they tend to feel the cost of their purchase more acutely than when they pay electronically. Handing over notes triggers a different set of reactions in the brain than merely swiping a card. We feel the loss more, and become more attached to what we buy when we pay in cash. Banks and credit-card companies know this, and encourage us to swipe because we are likely to spend less carefully.

Finally, there is the social-justice case. The unbanked poor still depend on cash, as do people who beg for money on the street. Cash does not require an immigrant or tourist to read transaction documents in a foreign language. It also cannot be arbitrarily cut off by autocratic governments.

As he builds his argument for cash, Mr. Zagorsky offers a brief history of the rise of personal credit. The prevalence of plastic is relatively new. Five years after Neil Armstrong returned from the moon in 1969, he applied for a Diners Club card. He was rejected for not having enough income. Today, offers flood into our inboxes offering cards designed for every kind of financial situation.

To read the complete article (subscription required), see:
‘The Power of Cash' Review: When Paper Beats Plastic (https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/the-power-of-cash-review-why-dollars-make-sense-a1529a31)

For more information, or to order, see:
The Power of Cash: Why Using Paper Money is Good for You and Society (https://www.amazon.com/Power-Cash-Using-Paper-Society/dp/1394299915/)

To read the complete article (subscription required), see:
‘Our Dollar, Your Problem' and ‘King Dollar': The Currents of Currency (https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/our-dollar-your-problem-and-king-dollar-the-currents-of-currency-e83fc6b5)

For more information, or to order, see:
King Dollar: The Past and Future of the World's Dominant Currency (https://www.amazon.com/King-Dollar-Future-Dominant-Currency/dp/0300270968/)
Our Dollar, Your Problem: An Insider's View of Seven Turbulent Decades of Global Finance, and the Road Ahead (https://www.amazon.com/Our-Dollar-Your-Problem-Turbulent/dp/0300275315/)

HARRY N. JAMES (1946-2025)

Scott Douglas, President of the Canadian Association of Token Collectors (CATC) writes:

From a Canadian Coin News article:

To read the complete article, see:
Token scholar Harry James leaves lasting legacy (https://canadiancoinnews.com/token-scholar-harry-james-leaves-lasting-legacy/)

HOW TO IDENTIFY CASTORLAND JETONS

Chester Sullivan Publishes on the Castorland Jetons

The Guide Book overview of the Castorland jetons notes "These medals, or ‘jetons,' are dated 1796 and allude to a proposed French settlement known as Castorland in Carthage, New York, at the time of the French Revolution. They were given to directors of the colonizing company for their attendance at board meetings. Copy dies are still available and have been used at the Paris Mint for restriking throughout the years. Restrikes have a more modern look; their metallic content (in French) is impressed on the edge: ARGENT (silver), CIUVRE (copper), or OR (gold)."

Chester Sullivan has recently published a paper that details seven types of the Castorland pieces and includes a census of significant examples. Most significantly, the work separates initial strikes (100 pieces in bronzed copper, 673 examples in silver, three types) from medals struck later (four types, though still with the original dies).

Images: Castorland medal in gold, Paris Mint restrike, PCGS MS64. Heritage 2015 FUN, January 7, 2015, lot 3056, realized $3,760.

Link to How to Identify the Seven Types of Original-Dies Castorland Jetons on Newman Portal:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/booksbyauthor/556055

 

VIDEO: EVOLUTION OF MILITARY CURRENCY

Sundman Lecture Series William Myers The military has been an integral part of the world's greatest civilizations, and when it became a full-time occupation, soldiers needed to get paid. Military currency goes back to the ancient Romans, who had traveling mints that produced coins for troops. As society became more complex, so did the system of payments, and eventually led to a broad field of numismatics. William Myers is an Army Reservist and has served two tours in Iraq and was able to collect and study AAFES POGs while deployed. This has led to an interest in other aspects of military numismatics.

In this video you will hear and learn:

• Evolution of the military and how payment developed
• How military payment was used in ancient Rome
• Sutler tokens used during the Civil War
• How chits developed and were used
• Tokens used on overseas bases
• Post exchange tokens
• World War II military issues used by Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Britain, and the United States
• Creation of Military Payment Certificates and why they were successful but finally discontinued after Viet Nam
• AAFES POGS used after 9/11 and finally Eagle Cash debit cards

Speaker(s): William Myers.

To watch the complete video, see:
Evolution of Military Currency (https://youtu.be/YiWsuWhQycw)
Evolution of Military Currency (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/557327)

NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: APRIL 27, 2025

New Reader's Comments
Brian Reed writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
RUSTY GOE SPEAKS ON THE CARSON CITY MINT (https://coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n15a09.html)

Author Alan Cox Has Passed
Yosef Sa'ar writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NEW BOOK: THE TOKENS OF WALES (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v17n20a07.html)

Query: Arthur Sargent
Mark Borckardt writes:

Norco Vodka Encased Half Dime
Vic Agha writes:

A Counterstamped 1787 British Shilling
Scott Drummond writes:

 

To read the complete lot description, see:
Undated Crowned F countermark on a 1723 George I British Halfpenny Dump Issue. (https://auctions.gbellauctions.com/Undated-Crowned-F-countermark-on-a-1723-George-I-British-Halfpenny-Dump-Issue_i33009594)

The Chelsea Detective Mudlark Coin
Joe Onishchuk writes:

CONECA TO OFFER ERROR & VARIETY EXAMINATION

CONECA, the international error coin and variety club, will be offering free examination of error and variety coins to collectors at educational tables at coin shows across the United States throughout this year.

The club, whose name stands for "Combined Organizations of Numismatic Error Collectors of America," is the largest coin specialty club in the United States and has actively been educating collectors about mint error and variety coins for the last five decades.

At their coin show tables, different members of the CONECA Board of Directors and other error / variety enthusiasts (each with different areas of specialty as available) will offer free examination to collectors who bring coins from their collection to the show with questions.

CONECA is devoted to education about errors and varieties and will not be buying or selling coins at their tables. The club requests that collectors have an idea of what they are asking about on the coins they bring to the shows, to allow for as many collectors as possible to have a chance to have their coins examined. The show schedule is as follows:

CONECA decided to begin having a table at the Central States Numismatic Society show in Schaumburg, April 23rd-26th 2025, held at the Schaumburg Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 North Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg, IL 60173. More info at https://www.csns.org/.

There will be a CONECA table at the Spring Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists (PAN) show May 29th-31st, 2025. The show will be held at the Monroeville Convention Center, 209 Mall Blvd, Monroeville PA, 15146. More info at https://pancoins.org.

CONECA always has a table at the summer FUN show and will once again this summer, July 10th- 12th, 2025, in Orlando Florida at the Orange County Convention Center, 9800 International Drive, in Hall WC, Orlando Florida. More info at http://www.funtopics.com.

There will also be a CONECA table at the World's Fair of Money, August 19th through 23rd 2025 in Oklahoma City at the Oklahoma City Convention Center, 100 Mick Cornett Dr., Oklahoma City OK 73109. More info at https://www.money.org/worldsfairofmoney.

In addition, CONECA board members are occasionally available to offer educational programs about error and variety coins, both virtually and in person, to local coin clubs nationwide. Please inquire if interested: minterrors@gmail.com.

CONECA can be found online at https://conecaonline.org

 

NICKLE GALLERIES COINS OF ISLAM EXHIBIT

COINS OF ISLAM
January 6-April 26, 2025

Coins of Islam explores the rich and diverse history of Islamic coinage, tracing its evolution from the 7th century to the height of the Fatimid Dynasty and beyond. Islamic coins served as more than currency; they were symbols of power, faith and propaganda, and canvases for exquisite artistic expression. From the earliest coins inscribed with Arabic script and influenced by Byzantine and Sasanian designs, to the intricate calligraphy and bold patterns of later dynasties, these artifacts reveal a dynamic interplay of faith, culture, and authority.

The exhibit reveals how Islamic coins reflected the artistic and intellectual achievements of their time, featuring messages of unity and power. This display provides a unique lens into the artistic, political, and cultural heritage of the Islamic world, offering a testament to centuries of innovation and creativity.

Curated by Marina Fischer
With assistance from Ahmad El Bukhari
From the Nickle Numismatic Collection, Nickle Galleries

Islamic coins have a rich and fascinating history that spans centuries and reflects the diverse cultures and civilizations that have shaped the Islamic world from the early days of Islam in the 7th century to the present day.

Islamic coins have been used as a means of exchange, a symbol of power and authority, and a reflection of the artistic and cultural achievements of the Islamic world. The history of Islamic coins begins with the emergence of Islam in the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century. The first Islamic coins were based on the existing Byzantine and Sasanian coinage that was in circulation in the region at the time. These early coins were inscribed with Arabic script and featured symbols and motifs that reflected Islamic beliefs and practices.

As Islam spread throughout the Arabian Peninsula and beyond, Islamic coinage began to evolve and take on new forms. The Umayyad caliphs, who ruled from 661 to 750, introduced gold and silver coins that featured inscriptions in Arabic and images of the caliph on one side and religious symbols on the other. These coins were minted in large quantities and were used to fund the vast expansion of the Islamic Empire.

The Abbasid caliphs, who succeeded the Umayyads in 750, continued the tradition of Islamic coinage and introduced new designs and motifs that reflected the cultural and artistic achievements of the Islamic world. Abbasid coins featured inscriptions in Arabic and Persian as well as images of animals, human figures and geometric patterns. These coins were highly valued for their artistic and aesthetic qualities and were used as a means of trade in exchange throughout the Islamic world.

Islamic coinage reached its pinnacle of excellence during the rule of the Fatimid Dynasty in Egypt which lasted from 909 to 1171. Fatimia coins were renowned for their intricate designs, bold calligraphy and striking use of colour. Many of these coins featured images of the Fatimid caliphs as well as depictions of animals, birds and other natural elements.

To read the complete exhibit brochure, see:
Coins of Islam Exhibition Brochure (https://www.academia.edu/128543808/Coins_of_Islam_Exhibition_Brochure)

RAM TOLANI'S DUBAI MONEY MUSEUM

To say I was surprised would be putting it mildly. I've visited a fair number of coin and currency exhibits and museums, but I completely flipped over this one in Dubai.

How often do you come across a coin that celebrates one of the most iconic tales from Arabian Nights, of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves? Struck in pure silver, it features the legendary scene where Ali Baba overhears the thieves visiting the secret cave where their treasure is hidden. It's legal tender in Niue, a small island nation in the South Pacific, and one of just 3,000 ever minted.

Then there's a gold coin engraved with none other than Michael Schumacher, commemorating the legendary F1 driver's track triumphs. You'll also find coins featuring beloved characters like Cinderella, Superman and Batman. There's even an adorable one of Winnie the Pooh. All legal tender. There are even coins shaped like keys, axe heads, plates, and rough metal fragments.

The museum in Dubai houses over a tonne of coins — some dating back to 2 BC — from nearly every nation in the world. The museum is also home to rare stamps, pens, precious stones and carpets, but more on that later.

Enter the majestic villa in Dubai's Nad Al Sheba, and you will be stepping into a world of ancient civilisations, bygone countries, and untold stories. All meticulously catalogued in the private collection of one man: Ram Tolani.

A successful businessman, financial expert, author and speaker, Ram's penchant for collecting began in 2008 following a stroke he suffered on the eve of his daughter's wedding. "I was so overjoyed that I guess the massive surge in emotions triggered the stroke," he tells me when we meet in the majlis of his house.

This health scare forced the Dubai-based business magnate to step back from his insurance enterprise.

"Unable to do much work immediately after surgeries and physiotherapy, I felt a deep void in my life," recalls the septuagenarian who thrives on being busy at all times. While recovering and during a conversation with his son Sanjay, he shared his childhood memories, and his love for collecting coins.

Sanjay reignited in his father the childhood passion that would not only aid Ram's rehabilitation but also redefine his legacy. During a visit to his father's ancestral home in India, Sanjay discovered a small tin of coins that Ram had left behind when he had moved to Dubai more than half a century ago. Among them was a coin that dated back to Emperor Akbar's time - Ram's first brush with Mughal grandeur. "There was a certain magic in holding it," Ram recalls. "Even as a child, I knew this was more than metal."

With time now on his side, Ram immersed himself in the world of numismatics, transforming a youthful interest into a profound vocation.

To start with he began participating in auctions with Sanjay, who now manages the insurance business and has expanded it several fold. "One of the first coins Sanjay got for me was from the Perth Mint, which was marking its centenary," Ram recalls. He points to another coin from Australia — a 1kg limited-edition silver coin engraved with a kookaburra, that he also sourced from Down Under.

Singapore provided him with more pieces for his collection when he attended an auction there and acquired a set of Chinese coins in gold and silver, each featuring zodiac symbols.

In just over a year, Ram's dedication saw his collection register ringing with over 250,000 coins and 60,000 currency notes. Among his cherished acquisitions are those that span centuries and continents, featuring coins from the Mughal era, ancient Mohenjo-daro, and colonial currencies from Indonesia and India.

Though his collection is housed privately, its purpose is public. "Anyone can visit this museum," he says. "I particularly like for school children to come and visit so they get to see a slice of history."

The museum is a magnet for collectors, historians, and the merely curious, even as traders estimate his collection to be valued over $50 million. But for Tolani, it's not about the money. "This is not an investment. It's not even a hobby anymore. It's my identity." And what of the future? "I hope this collection lives beyond me," he says. "I hope it continues to teach, to inspire."

To read the complete article, see:
Inside Dubai's hidden memory museum (https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/inside-dubai-s-hidden-memory-museum/ar-AA1DAWz1)

VOCABULARY TERM: REPUNCHED, REPUNCHING

Repunched, Repunching. The use of the same, or a new punch, during the original diesinking, or the use of any punch a second or subsequent time. During the making of a die by hand diesinking, each letter is formed by separate letter punches (or with logotypes of several letters on the same punch) by the tapping of the punch with a chasing hammer into the face of the die. When the punch has not been driven deep enough, the diesinker may reposition the punch (hopefully in the same letter depression) for another blow or two. In a sense the repunching of a letter (or number) makes it deeper within the die, thus taller in the struck piece from that die. Infrequently, if the diesinker has not positioned the punch exactly in the same location, the previous letter is faintly visible, slightly offset from the repunched letter form on the struck piece.

Or, if the diesinker realized he choose the wrong punch, or placed it incorrectly (as upside down), he may attempt to save the die by correcting the letter or figure and tap the punch with the chasing hammer another blow. He does this until he feels the punch is deep enough within the face of the die. This does greatly obliterate the first punch depression, but there is most often the faint outline of the first form. This is how overdates and overletters are formed.

Repunching may occur at any time after first formed, even before a restriking as a tooling to reuse the die again, to sharpening up the letters, or say, correcting or updating a date. It can also be used to strengthen inscriptions on dies that have been extensively polished or lapped as part of maintenance and repair. See punch, pencheon.

To read the complete entry on the Newman Numismatic Portal, see:
Repunched, Repunching (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/dictionarydetail/516631)

RAYMOND HOWARD WILLIAMSON (1907-1997)

Raymond H. Williamson was mentioned in two previous articles about M. W. Hanchett and Charles W. Foster. Can any E-Sylum reader predict who will be my topic next week?

Ray Williamson was born in Eagle Grove, Iowa, on April 5, 1907. His parents were Solon Howard Williamson (1864-1957) and Ruth Agnes Cooler (1875-1960). His father was in the real estate and insurance business.

Ray began collecting coins at age 10. His Eagle Grove mentor was Claude C. Birdsell. Ray was also interested in amateur radio and had a licensed amateur station from 1921 to 1926 and licensed commercial station 1926-28.

Ray married Hazell Letts (1907-1999) in Scotia, New York, on May 3, 1930. They were married for 67 years.

He graduated from High School in Eagle Grove in 1924. Ray received a B. S. in electrical engineering from Iowa State University in 1928. He got his Masters Degree in electrical engineering in 1935 from Union College in Schenectady, New York.

His career was with General Electric from 1928 to 1971. While in Syracuse, he was manager of engineering administration for communication products. He was also a scoutmaster there from 1929 to 1944. He was a charter member of the Empire State Numismatic Association in 1949. He was elected president of the Syracuse Numismatic Society in 1952.

He moved to Lynchburg, Virginia, in 1954 to be an electronics specialist. He had an assignment to the Panama Canal Zone in 1936 and 1939 for the installation of very high-power naval radio-telegraph transmitter. He had another assignment to Milan, Italy, in 1950.

Williamson was chairman of the FM Broadcast Engineering Committee from 1942 to 1953 to formulate and promulgate industry standards. He was a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, secretary of the Electrical Board of Lynchburg during 1971 to 1980 and a member of the Elfun Society, a social organization within G.E.

Ray joined the American Numismatic Association in April 1943 as member 9482 while living in Scotia, New York. He moved to Syracuse in 1944. He joined the American Numismatic Society in 1949 and became a Fellow in 1957.

In 1955, Williamson was chairman of a joint atomic test committee for the Federal Civil Defense Administration. He witnessed an atomic bomb test at the Nevada test site. There he represented G. E. to observe the effects on communication equipment. He later reported that a TV set survived the test in a brick building 4700 feet from the blast.

Williamson was not the author of a book. He was well respected for his research and articles appearing in various publications including Coin World, The Colonial Newsletter, The Numismatist and Penny-Wise. He also contributed frequent letters and an occasional book review.

During 1953-54, Williamson did extensive archival research. He gathered material that he proposed as a Source Book of American Numismatics. This was shared with some other researchers but, unfortunately, never published.

Williamson specialized in the collection of U. S. Large Cents. He was charter member #54 of Early American Coppers (EAC) and consigned his collection to the EAC sale in 1983. His article on "*Collecting U. S. Large Copper Cents" appeared in The Numismatist for June, 1949. In discussing the literature, he mentioned a book soon to be published by Dr. William H. Sheldon. This was followed the next month with an article, "*Large Cents that Survived."

Williamson contributed "The Cent Collectors' Forum" to The Numismatist in 1949-50 but was not credited as author. This was reprinted with credit in the Penny-Wise issue of September 15, 1968. The feature was revived by Walter Breen in 1957.

William H. Sheldon's 1949 publication of Early American Cents became the foundation for a new generation of collectors. Williamson's 1949 articles for The Numismatist, his review of the Sheldon book, "The Cent Collectors' Forum" and the 1949 Charles W. Foster auction all added building blocks to that foundation.

His article on "*A Visit to the U. S. Mint in 1812" appeared in The Numismatist for January, 1951. The article recounted the story told by George Escoll Sellers. At the time of publication, Williamson was in Milan.

Other articles in The Numismatist were:

• "*Paul Revere and the First U. S. Mint" December 1950.
• "*The Coinage of the First U. S. Mint" April 1951.
• "The Franklin Press Token" December 1956. For this he received a second place Heath Literary Award.
• "More on the Franklin Press Token" November 1957.

*Five of these articles were reprinted in the anthology United States Large Cents 1793-1857 compiled by Warren A. Lapp and Herbert A. Silberman.

Williamson contributed these articles to Penny-Wise:

• "Research on the Origins of the 1839 "Silly Head" and "Booby Head" Cents" May 15, 1973.
• "The Second Mickley Medal" July 15, 1974.
• "Reflections on Dr Sheldon" November 15, 1977.
• "Copper for Early American Cents" March 15, 1984.
• "Numiscrutiny: Some New Mileage from an Old Article" May 15, 1988.

Williamson served on the U. S. Assay Commission in 1968 and participated with the Old Time Assay Commission. He served on the board of directors for the Historic Lynchburg Foundation and as treasurer of the Lynchburg Museum Society Board. He also served on the city electoral board.

Williamson did extensive research into Lynchburg history. He was the author of "Lynchburg (VA) City Paper Money of 1862" in America's Currency published by ANS in 1985.

He was a member of the Civil War Round Table, president (1958) of the Lion's Club and a member of the Masons.

Williamson provided an autobiography that was published in Penny-Wise in 1977. He died at Lynchburg Baptist Hospital on December 13, 1997.

Williamson's Source Book of American Numismatics was shared as a manuscript but never published. Does any E-Sylum reader have a copy or know where it can be located?

I came across an unexpected source while doing research for this article. I had forgotten about an obituary I wrote for Williamson that was published in the March 15, 1998, issue of Penny-Wise. I did not know him well. I have the vague recollection of sharing a cab with him during an EAC convention more than forty years ago.

I will conclude with a piece of EAC trivia. The line of thirteen stars has been traditionally used in Penny-Wise to separate articles.

 

TREASURE TALK WITH BOB EVANS, EPISODE 3.2

As I have discussed before, apart from a brief and not-too-serious involvement with hobby coin collecting in boyhood, I knew very little about numismatics other than what I had gleaned from guides and references in the Columbus Public Library. This was my state of my numismatic knowledge just prior to seeing the Garden of Gold and becoming its Curator. After another year of library books, I was eager to share what I had found with any knowledgeable numismatist. Finally, it was time.

I selected and curated a few dozen pieces that I transferred to Christie's vault in New York, so there was a full scope of what we had recovered, conveniently available at a reputable location in New York for viewing by experts and media. The records show that among the US issued coins there were 48 double eagles ($20,) 4 eagles ($10,) and one quarter eagle ($2.50.) There were also representatives of the fascinating privately minted gold coinage of the years just prior to the 1854 opening of the San Francisco US Branch Mint.

There were two of the Octagonal $50 classics from Augustus Humbert, the US Assay of Gold in San Francisco, and one round $50 from Wass Molitor & Co., along with seven $10 coins and one $5 from the various pioneer mints. There were a couple foreign coins, a Sovereign, and a 10-Thaler piece from Hanover (Germany.) The treasure at Christie's included many lustrous mint-state coins, looking like they had been made yesterday, never touched or circulated, except to be packed into boxes and shipped to New York. The treasure's coins were obviously an historically important time capsule of commerce. I remember sitting with James, watching the wonder in his eyes as I unpacked one mint-state marvel after another. We often laughed in amazement.

And then there were those fabulous gold bars! I stored ten ingots there, a full suite, including at least one from each of the five different assayers, in a variety of small sizes.

Among the bars we deposited at Christie's were a full suite of the five assayers. Blake & Co., Kellogg & Humbert Assayers, Harris, Marchand & Co., Henry Hentsch, and Justh & Hunter.

James Lamb was a rookie at US Numismatics (and so was I.) Christie's, with its world-wide reputation, venerable clout, AND representing the SSCA treasure, had no trouble calling in a couple of the "big guns" of numismatics, John Ford and Walter Breen. These were top experts, happy to be summoned to examine the top treasure.

John Ford

Ford arrived that morning at Christie's in a tailored suit, looking like a typical successful New York businessman. He had the air of a professor, his confidence supported by long decades of experience. He seemed very sure of himself, while James and I brought the gold into a conference room. Ford only spent an hour looking over the assemblage, showing some interest in the fact that the US Mint products were such high-grade material. There were examples of double eagles both conserved and unconserved, to show the before and after of my curatorial process, which seemed to wow everyone who saw the results. He lingered over a particularly high-grade pioneer $10, commenting about its late die state, something I didn't understand yet. He nodded knowingly as he examined the bars, but a look of concern fell across his face, and he really made very few comments. "Ah, yes. Justh & Hunter. Blake & Co." He made one comment about one of the high-purity ingots, a Henry Hentsch bar, probably being a "proofing piece." I didn't know then what he meant. I'm not exactly sure that I know now. Whatever he meant, he was wrong, and the SSCA treasure said so.

Now I look back on this meeting with half a lifetime of hindsight. In 1989, I was a numismatic novice, attending a "Master Class" with one of the Masters. I was a little disappointed that Ford did not enthusiastically accept what to me was obvious, that there was a standard form that every single assayer and ingot followed, markings that indicated Assayer, Serial Number, Weight, Purity, and Dollar Value. I can see now that this did not conform to the pieces he "discovered" in the 1950s, and this probably disquieted him. Seeing a genuine Blake & Co. ingot, and real Justh & Hunter pieces, the universe shifted for John Ford that morning, and he didn't like it.

Walter Breen

James was cautious, as he discussed the impending arrival of Walter Breen to the Christie's New York office. In our introductory meetings and communications, we had scoped each other out. Neither of us were big city elites, although both of us were perceptive, well-cultured, and well-educated: the young scientist from the American Midwest and the young numismatist from the North of England. But, bringing someone as culturally edgy as Walter Breen into the "high society" of Christie's? That required some measure of caution.

Just as with John Ford, I knew very little about the man prior to meeting him. Mere months before I had been toiling at sea, fully occupied with the enormous organizational and curatorial task at hand. I had little time to research the resumés of the experts before meeting them. With Breen, a little reading revealed the extent of his authorship, and I looked forward to showing the treasure to a man of such wide experience. Another Master Class with another Master.

So, the day after the strange, formal, reserved meeting with John Ford, I looked forward to meeting Walter Breen. James explained, somewhat cautiously, that Walter might look like "a street person." I assured James that this would not bother me. It didn't. True to expectation, Walter was dressed in loose-fitting pants (they might have been jeans) with a loose light brown tunic as a top. His long hair and long bushy beard gave him all attributes of a "hippy," but he skipped the tie-dye for this occasion.

After greetings and opening remarks, James and I brought the treasure into the conference room for Breen's examination. We started with the coins, since that was really Breen's specialty. He was immediately impressed with the high-grade and with coins that were "fresh," and he requested different setting with better light, so he could have a close look. James set him up in a small side office with a good examination lamp. Walter asked for a little time, he figured a couple hours, and he began scrutinizing the gold with the three-part magnifier (three different powers) that hung on a lanyard around his neck.

... James asked me if we should show Walter some bars. We left Walter poring over the coins and went to get ingots out of the safe.

James reached out to him with a bright shiny ingot, Kellogg & Humbert No. 554. It was 38.68 ounces, stamped with the names of two of most prominent of the California pioneer coiners. The men had been essential in the world of the San Francisco economy and finance in the years before the Central America sank. Coins they made were well-known in numismatic circles. Breen had two $50 octagonal "slugs" from Augustus Humbert sitting on the desk in front of him as James handed him the ingot.

"Here, Walter. What do you think of this.".

There was a brief silence while the man who had seen everything looked startled, maybe a little confused. He perused the bar with the lowest power on his magnifier pendant. Then he looked wistfully into the distance, then back at the gold without the magnifier, as he pondered the famous names stamped into the shine.

He spoke softly, almost stunned, "Holy shit."

To read the complete article, see:
Treasure Talk: Episode 3 Part 2 The treasure's public debut: (https://finestknown.com/treasure-talk-episode-3-part-2the-treasures-public-debut/)

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)
TREASURE TALK WITH BOB EVANS, EPISODE 3.1 (https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n15a16.html)

 

MORTON AND EDEN RENAISSANCE MEDALS, PART III

Tom Eden of Morton & Eden writes:

"I first became a collector by temperament and inclination; I then became a collector by choice and through knowledge; I am now a collector through love and inner necessity." —John R. Gaines, Preface to the Sotheby's sale of his collection of drawings, 1986

Leon Battista Alberti's notion that "a man can do all things if he will" defines the essence of the Renaissance man: one who is driven by curiosity, versatility and creativity. It is also an apt description of John Gaines: a clear-eyed businessman, analytical geneticist, visionary, collector, and philanthropist who endowed the Gaines Center for the Humanities at the University of Kentucky, once served on the Trustees' Council of the National Gallery of Art and has been inducted into the Horse Racing Hall of Fame.

Gaines held a somewhat unusual pair of university degrees; one in English, the other in genetics: humanist and scientist. The latter informed his thinking and strategy as a thoroughbred horse breeder, in which his successes were legendary. His vision for horse racing was revolutionary and his creation in 1982 of the annual Breeder's Cup, has become, as he hoped, the greatest horse-racing event in the world, where champions race champions. And in designing the winner's trophy for the Breeder's Cup, John Gaines, the humanist, revealed himself. For the model he chose the remarkable écorché bronze of a trotting horse by the Mannerist sculptor Giambologna.

As John Gaines himself admitted he was a dedicated, if not addicted collector, a self-professed "acolyte at the altar of beauty". During his long career as a collector, he focused on the finest, whether it be a great ancient Roman bronze or sixteenth century tapestries, and his crowning achievement must be his collection of Master Drawings, which included works by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, D ürer, Rembrandt, Seurat, van Gogh and Picasso, to name a few. When sold in 1986 these works brought unprecedented prices, and many ultimately found their way into important museum collections.

Toward the end of his life, it was with the same passion that John Gaines began collecting Renaissance medals and plaquettes. His focus, as ever, was on beauty not quantity. Shortly following his death, in 2005 Morton & Eden sold the first two portions of his collection, for what were then record prices. A number of the highlights in those sales entered the two other great collections of medals then being formed in the USA, those of Stephen K. Scher and Lawrence R. Stack, as well as the Mario Scaglia collection in Italy, now in the Carrara Institute, Bergamo.

The contents of this sale represent the third and final portion of the John R. Gaines collection, which, in addition to a further group of mainly Italian medals and plaquettes, contains a particularly rich section of the works of Guillaume Dupré, as exemplified by the cover illustration of this catalogue.

To read the complete catalog, see:
https://www.mortonandeden.com/upcoming/

 

HERITAGE AUCTIONS: WORLD AND ANCIENT COIN SIGNATURE SESSION

German States: Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. Karl I "Mining" Taler 1752-IBH MS61 PCGS These Brunswick Mining Talers have seen increased popularity in recent years and for good reason. Departing from more regulated Taler designs, these reverse designs have an undeniably whimsical presentation, appearing like a scene from an illuminated manuscript. The example here is "illuminated" to some degree, with polychromatic tone peppering the fields, an attribute not all that common for the type.

To read the complete item description, see:
German States: Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel. Karl I "Mining" Taler 1752-IBH MS61 PCGS (https://coins.ha.com/itm/german-states/brunswick-wolfenbuttel/german-states-brunswick-wolfenbuttel-karl-i-mining-taler-1752-ibh-ms61-pcgs-/a/3123-31205.s)

India: Mysore. Tipu Sultan 2 Rupees AH 1200 Year 4 (1785/1786) AU58 NGC. It is such a pleasure to handle this larger format Double Rupee type, the extra real estate on the flan really lending itself to the calligraphic expression of the motifs. The David Fore pedigree speaks for itself, being one of the most impressive cabinets of British coins to be offered at public auction. Appearances follow suit, as blazing luster and acute precision resound.

To read the complete item description, see:
India: Mysore. Tipu Sultan 2 Rupees AH 1200 Year 4 (1785/1786) AU58 NGC. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/india/mysore/india-mysore-tipu-sultan-2-rupees-ah-1200-year-4-1785-1786-au58-ngc-/a/3123-31246.s)

Italy: Papal States. John IX (898-900) Denaro ND (898) AU55 NGC Curious type from a tumultuous papal cycle, when five different popes held the position between the death of Pope Formosus in 896 and the death of Pope John IV in 900. The reverse here references Emperor Lambert of Spoleto, presumably dating this Denaro before his passing in 898. This is the only example certified at NGC and certainly one of the most attractive examples to reach public auction. Historical intrigue aside, the lengthened obverse portrait is somewhat amusing and will be enjoyed amongst collectors of European hammered coinage.

To read the complete item description, see:
Italy: Papal States. John IX (898-900) Denaro ND (898) AU55 NGC (https://coins.ha.com/itm/italy/papal-states/italy-papal-states-john-ix-898-900-denaro-nd-898-au55-ngc-/a/3123-31251.s)

Judaea: JUDAEA. Yehud Era. Ptolemaic Period (302-260 BC). AR quarter-gerah or quarter-obol (7mm, 0.17 gm). NGC Choice XF 2/5 - 4/5. Yehud Era coins fascinate me. They are tricky to date for several reasons and, as a result, have been the subject of much research and debate. This example has an eagle reminiscent of Ptolemaic coinage, so I am comfortable placing it in the Ptolemaic period. The frequent uniface is, according to Hendin, a product of the size of and the way they were struck – not an intentional choice. We have another example in this session which does have the obverse that goes with this reverse. Yehud coins remind me that there is beauty in mystery.

To read the complete item description, see:
Judaea: JUDAEA. Yehud Era. Ptolemaic Period (302-260 BC). AR quarter-gerah or quarter-obol (7mm, 0.17 gm). NGC Choice XF 2/5 - 4/5. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/judaea/judaea-judaea-yehud-era-ptolemaic-period-302-260-bc-ar-quarter-gerah-or-quarter-obol-7mm-017-gm-ngc-choice/a/3123-31096.s)

Migration Period: POST-ROMAN ITALY. The Lombards. Ca. AD 582-602. AV tremissis (18mm, 1.47 gm, 11h). NGC MS 5/5 - 5/5. This Lombard Kingdom issue is such a charmer. The artistry in ancient coins shows me that nothing is new; just as Celtic coins resemble cubist art, this Lombard coin reminds me of Charlie Brown. I love that the presumably illiterate die engravers tried their best in copying a Byzantine coin which may or may not have been intact – or perhaps they knew what they were doing and made creative choices to deviate from the type they were copying. Their ingenuity and style always bring a smile to my face.

To read the complete item description, see:
Migration Period: POST-ROMAN ITALY. The Lombards. Ca. AD 582-602. AV tremissis (18mm, 1.47 gm, 11h). NGC MS 5/5 - 5/5. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/migration-period/migration-period-post-roman-italy-the-lombards-ca-ad-582-602-av-tremissis-18mm-147-gm-11h-ngc-ms-5-5-5-5/a/3123-31138.s)

Greek: LESBOS. Mytilene. Ca. 454-427 BC. EL sixth-stater or hecte (10mm, 2.54 gm, 12h). NGC Choice XF 4/5 - 4/5 These overlapping female heads took my breath away when I first saw them. If I saw this motif out of context, I would think that it was from some art deco piece. The way that the eye acts as the eye for both women and the features of the two heads perfectly mirror each other, even on a mere 10mm flan, is a testament to the high quality of artisanship that was expected of die engravers in much of Ancient Greece. While the electrum issues of Lesbos are a personal favorite of mine, I'm sure that this issue would be a quality addition to any collection.

To read the complete item description, see:
Greek: LESBOS. Mytilene. Ca. 454-427 BC. EL sixth-stater or hecte (10mm, 2.54 gm, 12h). NGC Choice XF 4/5 - 4/5 (https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/greek-lesbos-mytilene-ca-454-427-bc-el-sixth-stater-or-hecte-10mm-254-gm-12h-ngc-choice-xf-4-5-4-5/a/3123-31044.s)

HERITAGE: THE BRUCE SHERMAN COLLECTION, PART II

More than 100 lots from a collection billed as "one of the most remarkable achievements in numismatics" will be among the top attractions in Heritage's May 4 CSNS US Coins Signature® Auction April 30-May 4.

The Bruce S. Sherman Collection, Part II includes 109 lots in the second installment of the collection of Bruce Sherman, Chairman and principal owner of Major League Baseball's Miami Marlins. Part I of his collection was offered in Heritage's FUN US Coins Signature® Auction in January.

"The same attributes that have helped him succeed in business — passion, deep knowledge and understanding, and a discerning eye — have helped Bruce Sherman build this extraordinary collection," says Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auctions. "He started collecting as a hobby, but as his passion for numismatics grew, so did his collection, until it became world-class."

Among the top items from Sherman's collection is an 1803 Proof Draped Bust Dollar or Novodel, PR66 PCGS that is tied for the finest among just four known survivors. Collectors today know proof silver dollars from 1801-03 as "novodels," which are among the rarest and most valuable issues in the U.S. federal coinage series. Coin dealer Robert L. Astrich purchased it over the counter from an undisclosed source in 1991. Astrich died in 2009 and, if he knew anything more about the source of this remarkable coin, he took the knowledge to his grave. This specimen has only been offered in two previous auctions, most recently at Heritage's January 2013 FUN Signature Auction.

Another highlight from the Sherman collection is a 1792 Copper Disme, Judd-11, MS64 Red and Brown PCGS. CAC that is the finest by a wide margin of just three known examples of an outstanding rarity in the U.S. pattern series. The Mint experimented with reeded and plain edges on the copper dismes of this year, and the plain edge pieces are considerably scarcer. This coin possesses an unbeatable combination of absolute rarity, highest available technical quality, outstanding eye appeal and intense historic interest.

None of the nine examples traced is certified with a higher numeric grade than the 1838-O Reeded Edge Half Dollar, GR-1, PR64BM PCGS in this auction. The 1838-O Reeded Edge half dollar ranks among the most famous of all American coinage issues, comparable in value and rarity to issues like the 1894-S dime and the 1870-S silver dollar. PCGS CoinFacts estimates a surviving population of just 10, from a microscopic original mintage of no more than 20. PCGS and NGC have combined to certify just 12 between them, including an unknown number of crossovers and resubmissions; Heritage has located just nine examples still extant, one of which is housed in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution.

An 1835 HM-5, JD-1 Half Eagle, PR67+ Deep Cameo PCGS. CAC is the finest of just three known examples. Few proof Classic Head half eagles are known, and of those, the example from the Sherman collection that is offered in this auction is believed to be finest, regardless of date. Of the 20 on Heritage's roster, five are museum pieces, including one in the British Museum and four in the Smithsonian.

Another featured collection in the auction is the Pelican Bay Collection, Part I, which boasts the finest assortment of Seated Liberty quarters and half dollars to come through Heritage in the last decade.

Included among the collections highlights is an 1870-CC Seated Quarter AU50 PCGS Briggs 1-A that is the sixth-finest known example of this coveted first-year rarity from the Carson City Mint.

Other highlights from the collection include, but are not limited to:

Many other impressive lots stand among the top draws in the auction. Among the most significant is a 649.15-ounce Justh & Hunter Gold Ingot from The Marcello and Luciano Collection, which is the second-largest ingot from the S.S. Central America ever brought to auction. At 218 mm (nearly 8.6 inches) long, this is the eighth-largest gold ingot by any assayer recovered from the S.S. Central America and one of only 13 in the Colossal Size weight class (500.01 ounces and heavier). It is the sixth-largest Justh & Hunter ingot known.

An 1834 BD-1 Capped Bust Quarter Eagle, MS61 PCGS is the fourth-finest known example. Walter Breen once wrote that most, or perhaps all, known 1834 Capped Bust quarter eagles originated as proof strikes. The example in the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian Institution originated with Adam Eckfeldt and is likely a proof, while another example from the Harry W. Bass, Jr. Core Collection is certified as a proof.

From The Texas Republic Ranch Collection comes a rare high-end 1794 B-1, BB-1 Silver Dollar, XF40, PCGS. CAC that is the Gainsborough specimen of America's first silver dollar. It is believed that 140-150 surviving examples remain in all grades, and the present piece is finer than the majority.

An 1852/1 Humbert Twenty Dollar, MS63 PCGS. K-9, High R-5 is tied for the second-finest certified example. After the Assay Office began issuing fifty dollar ingots in 1851, the contract didn't allow for production of smaller denomination gold coins, which were in high demand in the regional economy. Moffat & Co. requested permission to issue coins in five, ten and twenty dollar denominations in 1851, and after repeated appeals, permission to strike ten and twenty dollar coins was received in February 1852. A small mintage of 7,500 coins was produced in a single day. The majority of the 1852/1 twenty dollar pieces were melted for recoinage. The offered example is a spectacular Select specimen, tied with one other at PCGS for the second-finest certified.

An 1879 Judd-1635 Flowing Hair Gold Stella, PR65+ PCGS is making just its second known auction appearance. The 1879 Flowing Hair stella is one of the most unusual coins in the U.S. gold series, and a rarity that has been coveted by generations of collectors. It is technically a pattern, produced and given to members of Congress as a proposed international trade coin, and its four dollar denomination is also unique in United States coinage. Prior to its last auction appearance, in 2015, this coin was held in private hands for at least six decades.

Images and information about all lots in the auction can be found at HA.com/1383.

LYN KNIGHT APRIL WORLD CURRENCY HIGHLIGHTS

Republica del Paraguay. 103a 200 Pesos L. 1899. Fine. Extremely difficult high denomination. Mountain and farm. Soiling.

To read the complete item description, see:
Republica del Paraguay. 103a 200 Pesos L. 1899. Fine. (https://www.lynknight.com/items/1214505)

Republica del Paraguay. 123a 200 Pesos L. 1907. VG. Very difficult higher denomination. Mountain and farm. Significant contemporary face value.

To read the complete item description, see:
Republica del Paraguay. 123a 200 Pesos L. 1907. VG. (https://www.lynknight.com/items/1214516)

Republica del Paraguay. 124a 500 Pesos L. 1907. VG. Next and highest denomination of series. Thins at upper left; stains at upper right; residue at right center. Scant few exist.

To read the complete item description, see:
Republica del Paraguay. 124a 500 Pesos L. 1907. VG. (https://www.lynknight.com/items/1214517)

Republica del Paraguay-Tesoro Nacional. 1 1/2 Real ND (1856). WBG VF 25. STANDARD CATALOG PLATE NOTE! The initial denomination from the very first republic series; uniface. With counterfoil. WBG terms this "VF 25 tannic acid holes".

To read the complete item description, see:
Republica del Paraguay-Tesoro Nacional. 1 1/2 Real ND (1856). WBG VF 25. (https://www.lynknight.com/items/1213931)

Republica del Paraguay. 37b 50 Centesimos. 29.12.1870. WBG VF 30. Excessively rare type we have not previously offered. STANDARD CATALOG and Mayans PLATE NOTE with two oval handstamps on back. WBG terms this "VF 30 pinholes". Incredible opporunity.

To read the complete item description, see:
Republica del Paraguay. 37b 50 Centesimos. 29.12.1870. WBG VF 30. (https://www.lynknight.com/items/1213940)

Republica del Paraguay. 38b 1 Peso 29.12.1870. WBG XF 40. Excessively rare type we have not previously offered. STANDARD CATALOG and Mayans PLATE NOTE with two oval handstamps on back. WBG terms this "XF 40 pinholes".

To read the complete item description, see:
Republica del Paraguay. 38b 1 Peso 29.12.1870. WBG XF 40. (https://www.lynknight.com/items/1213941?)

Republica del Paraguay. 39b 5 Pesos 29.12.1870. WBG VF 25. Excessively rare type we have not previously offered. STANDARD CATALOG PLATE NOTE with two oval handstamps on back. WBG terms this "VF 25 pinholes".

To read the complete item description, see:
Republica del Paraguay. 39b 5 Pesos 29.12.1870. WBG VF 25. (https://www.lynknight.com/items/1213942?)

Caja de Conversion. 48 10 Centavos 15.3.1874. Fine. Red serial number. Hinge on back. Very scarce.

To read the complete item description, see:
Caja de Conversion. 48 10 Centavos 15.3.1874. Fine. (https://www.lynknight.com/items/1214497)

Republica del Paraguay-Tesoro Nacional. 91 20 Pesos 24.9.1894. WBG Fine 12. Very challenging higher denomination. Arms. Signatures Barrena and Guanes. WBG terms this "Fine 12".

To read the complete item description, see:
Republica del Paraguay-Tesoro Nacional. 91 20 Pesos 24.9.1894. WBG Fine 12. (https://www.lynknight.com/items/1213946)

SEDWICK AUCTION 37 HIGHLIGHTS

While we always stress that numismatics is a hobby, there is no denying it can be financially profitable as well. Why? Obviously, soaring precious metal prices help, but there is more to the story. The answer is that rare old coins, paper money, ingots, and artifacts are limited commodities. They were made in a certain quantity and survived at a certain rate, but that's it: No more will be made. So then it becomes a matter of demand, and when demand is high, there is no limit as to what something rare can be worth.

Our auctions are packed with unique or near-unique items whose current value depends on you, the bidders. Our consignors depend on us to present these coins and artifacts in their best light, but only the bidders can decide the prices. At a time when the world is very concerned about financial matters, this is the time for collectors to put idle money into rare assets.

Shipwreck items are particularly good performers these days. In many cases, certain items are only available from shipwrecks, hence their already limited population is further restricted by whether they were legally commercially recovered, hardly a sure bet these days. That is why original certificates (or those from qualified professionals) are such a big deal.

The other big concern for coins and paper money is quality, which is where third-party certification companies like NGC and PCGS come in. It is not an exact science, to be sure, but just having an unbiased professional opinion about relative quality posted in a public census adds significant value. Anything presented in our auctions with notations like "top pop" or "finest known in the XYZ census" has even more potential value beyond its baseline rarity and demand.

The moral of the story is that we at Sedwick & Associates run a tight ship with academic and ethical integrity, and we bring you the best the market has to offer with the cleanest pedigree and certification possible. Bid with confidence.

Several important collections stand out in this auction, literally from A to Z. Probably the most significant is the Almenara Collection of Colonial Peruvian Gold Coins, including Lima cobs and Potosí bust gold (as the latter mint fell under Peru in colonial times). The run of Lima cob 1 escudos seen here is the most complete ever offered, and the bust series from both Lima and Potosí contain many "finest knowns" and important pedigrees. And at the end of the alphabet you will find the Zbar Collection of Maravillas coins.

You will also find several great offerings of colonial Peruvian silver coins (O'Brien Collection), as well as Colombian colonial and Republic gold and silver (JEAS and Becerra Collections), pillar dollars of most of the colonial mints (Brameld Collection), Mexican cobs (Hubbard Collection), Potosí cob 8 reales plated in the Calbetó reference, Potosí cob 4 reales (Ponte Collection), and even paper money (Busto Collection) from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Disney (yes, Walt Disney World is like its own country).

In addition, there are several important one-off coin trophies scattered throughout that should not be missed, even if you are not a buyer but want to witness numismatic history being made:

As always, we also have many important shipwreck gold cobs, including the following standouts:

Ingots include two massive (each almost 1000 troy oz) Atocha silver bars Class -Factor 1.0 (lots 92 and 93) as well as a 21.5-troy oz gold "finger" bar from the "Golden Fleece Wreck" (lot 85).

But best of all, a showpiece for the ages, is lot 1665, an ornate pendant (reliquary or noble neck-badge) made of gold, diamonds, and emeralds from the Tolosa (1724), a fabulous jewel that appeared in multiple publications in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Many thanks to all our consignors, and best of luck to all our bidders. We hope you find your treasure!

 

EARLY ILLUSTRATION OF A CELTIC MINT

Bob Van Arsdell writes:

This image deserves more attention than it's received. It shows an ancient British mint in operation – and it's in colour no less. It's been around since 1815.

It's creators made one of the few attempts to show what a Celtic mint in Britain looked like. They showed how mint workers made coins and the tools they used.

The image appears as plate XIII in Meyrick and Smith's The Costume of the Orignial Inhabitatants of the British Islands.

Usually, such an image would appear over and over in numismatic publications and everyone would immediately recognize it. One wonders why this one hasn't received wider appreciation.

That it appeared in a costume book might offer some explanation. If it had appeared in Ruding's Annals of the Coinage of Britain instead, it might have become more widely known in numismatic circles. Few would go looking for a numismatic image in a costume book.

....But perhaps something more nefarius happened.

Building an image – starting with nothing

Meyrick (the author) and Smith (the illustrator) understood the task ahead of them. Meyrick, an expert on armour, led the project.

The two men wanted to recreate an ancient mint accurately. More impressively, they described the methodology they used and were careful to cite sources. They sought images as close to the time of the mint as they could find to include in their illustration.

The resulting illustration is a composite of genuine ancient images, using the information available in 1815. In only one instance were they forced to use an inspiration from modern times. No ancient source was available for the mint building. So for that they had to guess.

They were bound to make mistakes – but pressed ahead anyway. However, they had no intention of dreaming things up.

Disassembling the Image

The image is made up of a general scene with two figures. Below, there are two coins. These four elements – scene, two figures, and coins at the bottom – must be assessed separately to appreciate Meyrick's accomplishment.

To read the complete article, see:
Imagining a Mint – a forgotten image? A Spectacular Early Illustration of a Celtic Mint in Britain (https://vanarsdellcelticcoinageofbritain.com/articles-numismatic_ccb3/van_arsdell_2025a_ccb3.html)

PAPER MONEY AS A WEAPON OF WAR

Ships of Britain's massive Royal Navy, the largest in the world, inflicted great damage on American ports, property, and vessels during the years of the Revolution (1775–1783). Perhaps none of those ships wreaked more havoc than HMS Phoenix, and it accomplished its devious work not with a cannon but with a printing press.

The bodies from the battle on Boston's Bunker Hill were buried just days earlier when the Second Continental Congress authorized the printing of paper money. What began with a modest batch of six million in continental dollars turned into a blizzard of several hundred million by the war's end, yielding a steady depreciation and giving rise to the famous phrase "not worth a continental." With nothing to back the money but murky promises to redeem it in precious metal at a future date, Congress didn't need any help to make it worthless, but the British were happy to assist, nonetheless.

"Efforts in war or peacetime to undermine the economies, societies, and governments of adversaries by falsifying their money," wrote John Cooley in his 2008 book Currency Wars, "have proliferated since ancient times." In the 1770s, the British adopted the ruination of the enemy's money as a potent instrument of war.

HMS Phoenix was a frigate, a fifth-rate vessel and among the smallest in London's fleet. Built in 1759, she carried a mere 44 guns. As part of a flotilla, she bombarded New York City in mid-July 1776 before anchoring off Staten Island.

By January 1776, Phoenix had begun counterfeiting continental dollars (mostly 30-dollar bills) and smuggling them onshore to help accelerate the devaluing of the new paper money. Think of it as a miniature Federal Reserve on the sea.

Benjamin Franklin later wrote that the British plan for the American paper currency was

For a year and a half, Phoenix belched out huge quantities of paper money. American forces frequently captured individuals involved in distributing the British counterfeits, especially in the New York area. The British conducted similar inflationary activities from printing presses on land as well, and they counterfeited both continental dollars and local paper money issued by states. "The speed with which prices rose and paper money became unacceptable," Newman writes, "was materially stimulated by British counterfeiting activity."

To read the complete article, see:
Paper Money as a Weapon of War (https://fee.org/articles/paper-money-as-a-weapon-of-war/)

THE ARTIST BEHIND THE EDUCATIONAL SERIES

Walter Shirlaw, among numismatists, is best known for designing the iconic vignette, Electricity Presenting Light to the World, on the face of the 1896 $5 Educational Series note, which is often regarded as the most beautiful in U.S. currency. He is also familiar as the designer of the allegorical vignette, Progress, on the back of the 1901 $10 Bison Legal Tender note. But Shirlaw was much more than a banknote designer and engraver. He was a prominent 19th century American artist and made significant contributions to both American art and numismatic design.

Shirlaw's journey into the world of currency design began as a banknote engraver for the American Bank Note Company in New York, and later the Western Bank Note Company in Chicago – a career he pursued to help finance his artistic education. By 1861, he had established himself as one of the nation's leading engravers.

Beyond numismatics, Shirlaw concurrently played a key role in shaping American art. His first major work of art was displayed in 1861 at the National Academy of New York City. He also achieved international acclaim for works such as Sheep-shearing in the Bavarian Highlands, which earned "Honorable Mention" at the Paris Exposition of 1878. In addition, he was the founder of the Society of American Artists and its first president. He was instrumental in founding the Art Institute of Chicago and contributed major public artworks, including the dome designs of the Manufactures and Liberal Arts Building at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and The Sciences allegories in the entrance hall of the Library of Congress. As an educator, he taught artist Katherine Dreier, co-founder of the transformative Société Anonyme with Dadaists Marcel Duchamp and Man Ray. Today, Shirlaw's works are held in major institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Cooper Hewitt Museum, and the National Academy of Design.

An exciting trove of his preliminary sketches and pastels are included in our upcoming CSNS US Currency Signature Auction Platinum Session. The auction runs April 29-May 2 with the Platinum Session including these lots on the last night of the auction. These lots come from the estate of Frederick B. Smillie, son of esteemed banknote engraver G.F.C. Smillie, who held prominent roles at various firms before becoming Chief Engraver at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in 1894. At least six members of the Smillie family worked in banknote engraving, with some—most notably James D. and William H. Smillie—also active as professional artists. Both frequently exhibited alongside Walter Shirlaw in juried exhibitions and competitions, suggesting a strong likelihood of personal and professional acquaintance. Given the overlap between artistic and engraving circles of the period, it is plausible that these works were either gifted to the Smillie family or served as early sources of inspiration for banknote design.

A standout piece in this collection is a large work titled Fragment Pastel. Likely created as a preparatory drawing for a mural or decorative panel, this striking pastel exemplifies Shirlaw's signature neoclassical style, reflecting late 19th-century ideals of enlightenment and progress. Notably, the reverse of the piece bears Shirlaw's address at No. 3 Washington Square North, New York City—a building that housed both Shirlaw and fellow banknote artist William H. Low as inaugural tenants in the late 1880s. Over the years, the address became a significant hub for American art, later home to notable figures such as Dennis Miller Bunker, Thomas Eakins, Mary E. Tillinghast, F.W. Stokes (chief artist on Robert Peary's Antarctic expedition), and, most famously, Edward Hopper. In fact, a work by Dennis Miller Bunker will be featured in Heritage's upcoming 2025 May 16 American Art Signature Auction, further connecting this historic address to the legacy of American art.

Another highlight among the Shirlaw works in our upcoming Platinum Session is an untitled sketch of an allegorical subject, likely intended as part of a larger composition or vignette design for engraving. The central female figure, positioned before a stormy backdrop with lightning bolts, suggests a possible early iteration of Walter Shirlaw's allegorical concept for Electricity. This theme would later be fully realized in his celebrated vignette Electricity Presenting Light to the World, featured on the 1896 $5 Educational Series note—one of the most iconic designs in American numismatic history.

In addition, one of the most exciting offerings in this upcoming auction directly linked to the 1896 $5 Silver Certificate is an Ivoryette Cabinet Card Photograph of Annie Wintermuth, dated 1893. An inscription on the reverse, signed by Fred, reads: "Miss Annie Wintermuth of New York City; Original for central figure and face in engraving of Shirlaw's $5.00 'picture note' silver certificate of 1894—5." This note refers to Walter Shirlaw's celebrated vignette Electricity Presenting Light to the World, which appeared on the obverse 1896 $5 Educational Series silver certificate, long regarded as the most beautiful design in the history of U.S. paper money.

The identification of Wintermuth as the model for this central allegorical figure represents a remarkable discovery. While the design has been widely studied for its artistic and allegorical content, the identity of the figure's model has remained undocumented—until now. This cabinet card provides a rare, tangible link between the artistic conception of the note and its real-life inspiration, adding to our understanding of both Shirlaw's process and the broader historical context of the Educational Series.

To complement this offering of artwork is a Fr. 268 $5 1896 "Educational" in PCGS 68 PPQ, which is tied for the finest known. The pairing of the pinnacle of United States Banknote design in the ultimate grade, along with the artwork and history behind the immaculate design, is a numismatic event of its own.

LOOSE CHANGE: APRIL 27, 2025

Fewer Children Are Swallowing Coins

Society's move to cashless payments may have had an unintended positive side effect, surgeons say - fewer children needing operations or procedures to remove swallowed coins.

The Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) experts looked back over hospital records in England since the Millennium.

Procedures to remove foreign objects, including coins, from children's throats, airways and noses saw a "significant decline", of almost 700 cases by 2022.

Historically, coins had accounted for over 75% of objects swallowed by under-sixes, they told a medical journal.

According to the UK Payments Markets Survey, cards began outstripping cash in 2012.

And that is when the researchers say a decade-spanning drop in patient cases began.

To read the complete article, see:
Big drop in child surgery for swallowed objects (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr52g1pjznno)

Hairy Books

Medieval scribes filled volumes called bestiaries with illustrations and descriptions of fantastic creatures. The manuscripts containing representations of these animals also depended on a menagerie of beasts: The covers of these and other volumes were fashioned from the skins of calves, goats, sheep, deer, pigs and, in some macabre instances, humans.

Most of these hides were shorn before they were turned into book bindings. But one set of medieval manuscripts from northeastern France has a peculiar finish: Its weathered covers are covered in clumps of hair.

"These books are too rough and far too hairy to be calfskin," said Matthew Collins, a bioarchaeologist at the University of Copenhagen and Cambridge University and an author of the new study. But identifying the source of the shaggy leather has proved difficult.

While these furry tomes would seem at home in Hogwarts library, they were originally made in the scriptorium of Clairvaux Abbey, a hub for an order of Catholic monks, the Cistercians. The abbey, founded in 1115 in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, was home to one of the largest monastic libraries in medieval Europe.

To read the complete article, see:
The Skin on Mysterious Medieval Books Concealed a Shaggy Surprise (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/science/medieval-books-hair-binding.html)

Information Desk Still Answering Calls

I spent the better part of two days and nights listening to students answer questions at the Foy desk, where phones have been ringing since 1953, when James E. Foy, Auburn's then dean of students, opened the line as a resource for students and then as a service to the public. For just as long, students who sit there have been answering any question asked of them—or at least tried their best.

A day's worth of calls to Foy would look a lot like someone's browser history: What is cefuroxime prescribed for? What's the average cost of an acre of land in Texas? What's the cheapest property in New Jersey? How much is Elon Musk worth? What's the customer service phone number for Costco? How much is a ticket to the Super Bowl? What is watercress? What is that weird smell? Are AirPods Pro 2 waterproof? What do I do if there's a snake in my house?

About 13 million people in the US and 2.6 billion people globally don't use the internet, whether for reasons of availability, desire, cost, or religion. Some may have it but don't feel confident using it. To their callers, who dial from all over the world, these students are the internet. And lucky for callers, these students are remarkably non-judgmental when it comes to the questions they're asked.

To read the complete article, see:
The Alabama Landline That Keeps Ringing (https://oxfordamerican.org/oa-now/the-alabama-landline-that-keeps-ringing)

BRIAN MAY'S COIN GUITAR PICKS

Since Queen's debut album was released in 1973, plenty has been said about Brian May's guitar tone, and rightly so. Yet, while most look to his handcrafted Red Special guitar, alongside a Vox AC30 combo and a treble booster as the secrets to his tone, a Queen expert has pointed out a lesser-known but equally significant element: sixpence guitar picks.

Guesting on the Booked on Rock Podcast to promote his new book, Queen & A Night at the Opera: 50 Years, author Gillian G. Gaar has spoken about the big impact the unusual guitar picks have on his overall sound.

"He didn't like a pick," Gaar explains. "And Brian, being ever so meticulous about this stuff, was saying that the older six-penny pieces, which would probably be a type of pence coin these days, had more nickel in them.

"So, they were a bit softer, and the serrated edge would help him get different tones from the guitar. He always has a stack of older six-penny pieces he could rely on. I think he said people mail them to him as well."

According to Gaar's book, May isn't just after any old coin; he has a very specific criterion any would-be pick needs to meet.

"He said, 'Sixpences expenses are very soft metal, which doesn't hurt the guitar strings. But if I turn that serrated edge at an angle to the string, I can get that kind of articulating percussive, consonant sound,'" the book states.

"‘Before about 1950, they had a high content of nickel. Which makes them really soft. So, I especially like a 1947 sixpence, the year that I was born.'"

The coin is so important to May that he has a custom made "Maydusa" six-pence glued to the headstock of his Red Special. The legend on it reads "Brian May: Back to the Light."

To read the complete article, see:
"He always has a stack of older six-penny pieces he could rely on." Why old coins proved the perfect guitar pick for Brian May (https://www.guitarplayer.com/guitarists/brian-may-six-penny-guitar-picks)

To read the complete item description, see:
Brian May Red Special 2024 Sixpence (https://queenonlinestore.com/products/brian-may-red-special-2024-sixpence)

ABOUT THIS ISSUE: APRIL 27, 2025

For a New York Times review article, see:
The Symbolism in ‘Sinners' (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/26/movies/sinners-symbolism.html)

 

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.