"I'm one of the newer subscribers to the E-Sylum. First off, I just wanted to say that I am so glad that I subscribed! Every issue has a lot of interesting material, so thank you very much for all that you do.

"Second, I wanted to specifically thank you for discussing Rusty Goe's presentation that he recently did. While I didn't attend that one, I did attend a presentation he did at the Nevada State Museum (the former Carson City Mint) a few years ago. That presentation sounds like it was similar to the one he just gave. I live just outside Carson City and visit the museum often. I have all of Rusty's books and he even autographed one of them for me. It's nice to see any kind of coverage related to the Carson City Mint and its coins."

Glad you're enjoying it. Numismatics is an endlessly interesting topic. -Editor

"I am sad to report the passing of Alan Cox of Cardiff, Wales, on 9 April 2025. Mr. Cox and his brother Noel authored The Tokens, Checks, Metallic Tickets, Passes and Tallies of Wales. Volume 1 was released in 1994 and Volume 2 in 2012. These serve as the standard works on all types of Welsh tokens since 1800.

"Alan will be sadly missed. He was always a big help with research questions.

"Noel Cox passed in 2021."

Thank you. Sorry to hear the news. An earlier article discusses the Cox books. -Editor

"S.H. Chapman sold the Arthur Sargent collection on June 20, 1913. In the catalog preface he notes that Sargent was from Boston but had been living in Europe for a few years and intended to continue living there. The American Foreign Service reported that Arthur Hewes Sargent who was born in Boston on December 26, 1856, died in Paris, France on March 20, 1932. Do any readers know if this is the same Arthur Sargent whose collection Chapman sold?"

Can anyone help? -Editor

"I have a rather unusual token that I can't figure out and wonder if the readers of the E-Sylum can help me out.

"It's an American half-dime encased in a Chinese 20 cash coin from the early 1900s. The counterpunched text on it reads NORCO-VODKA / FOR GRIPE SAKE and 25 / КОПѢЕКѢ.

"It apparently was meant to represent 25 kopecks in some manner. The word "kopeck" is rendered with a letter that was made obsolete in 1917, but was commonly spelled in this manner on coins before then.

"I could not find reference to Norco Vodka anywhere on the internet, nor Grip Sake (assuming that references an alcoholic drink). The fact that different punches had to be combined to mimic cyrillic letters suggests to me that this wasn't made in Russia. I'm tempted to say it's related to Chinese/Russian trading from the early 1900s in the same manner that tea bricks that bear Chinese and cyrillic lettering on them were, but that's speculation on my part."

Wow - very interesting piece. Can anyone help? Thanks. -Editor

"I am interested in locating information on a counterstamped 1787 British shilling. I have been searching for a while and am unable to find anything. I have attached photos of the coin as well as the notes on the holder it came in. Apologies for the reverse photo, it's not very clear, but the counterstamp is on the obverse. Any assistance you could provide would be appreciated. Thank you."

Scott was referred to us by Peter Preston-Morley of the British Numismatic Society. Can anyone help with this "Crowned F" counterstamp? Here's one related piece I found in a 2019 Geoffrey Bell sale. -Editor

Undated Crowned F countermark on a 1723 George I British Halfpenny Dump Issue. Very Fine, the host coin with a light but even roughness, but with everything visible. The countermark is sharp at the base of the obverse, the coin thick enough to not show much flattening on the side opposite. When this type of countermark first appeared it was assumed to be a previously unknown French Colonies issue, but a number of specimens appeared in a short period of time, and all were over various British copper coins – not exactly the type of coin that would be welcomed in France or its colonies, which were at war with England for much of the previous few centuries! Today it is thought that these were likely produced in the early 20th century to fool collectors. The present example is from the Mike Ringo collection.

These two counterstamps look different, and Scott's piece is silver. Thoughts? -Editor

"I'm watching The Chelsea Detective (Great Britain) Series 3, Episode 3. The plot is based around an Edward VIII sovereign found on the Thames by mudlarks. They show several pictures of the coin."

Thanks. It's always fun to track coin appearances in television and movies. See "About This Issue" at the end of this issue for my notes on coins appearing in a just-released movie. -Editor