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 can go to the following web page Subscribe You may Unsubscribe Here 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 JANUARY 18, 2026

New subscribers this week include: Zach B. courtesy Craig Sholley; Christie Keene, courtesy Carlos Kearns; and Dusty Dragicevic.

Many thanks to Fred Holabird, who gave us a nice recommendation in a note to his email list, resulting in several new subscribers including Donald Bergstrom, Holly Duin, Craig Ganzer, Bob Otto, and Mike Schafer. Welcome aboard! We now have 6,672 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 four new books, one periodical, a review, three obituaries, updates from the Newman Numismatic Portal, and more.

Other topics this week include Martin Luther King Jr. medals, Chinese coin dies, The Company Store, the FUN Show, bicentennial twos, Loye Lauder, auction previews, Admiral Vernon, territorial gold, Nobel Prize medals, and Poland's first paper money.

To learn more about the 1794 Large Cent, America's monetary and political landscape of the late 1800s and early 1900s, enameled coins and love tokens, Bill English, Larry Falater, Lucien Birkler, Fred Lange, the numismatic history of Paraguay, the Tax Collectors, the E-Gobrecht, seignorage, brassage, and Beaver Money, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum

 

NEW BOOK: A YEAR IN COPPER: THE 1794 LARGE CENT

Dave Kahn writes:

A Year in Copper: The 1794 Large Cent; History, Provenance, Attribution
by Robert Powers

$125.00

This book aims to bring together the story of the Mint, how the study of die marriages came about, the history of ownership, and to shed light on prominent historical personalities ranging from well-known to lesser known. It is both practical and narrative—meant to help you identify your coins while also giving a broader sense of the people, processes, and circumstances that shaped them. In short, this book combines all the best aspects of the author's prior ‘cut and dry' variety identification guides, while also offering a great deal of additional perspective for those readers who wish to also ‘enjoy' the who, what, when, where, and why of the coin they are holding in their hand.

For more information, or to order, see:
A Year in Copper: The 1794 Large Cent; History, Provenance, Attribution, by Robert Powers (https://davidkahnrarecoins.com/product/a-year-in-copper-the-1794-large-cent-history-provenance-attribution-by-robert-powers/)

 

NEW BOOK: WHEN COINS WERE KING

When Coins Were King
By: Mike Moran

Whitman Brands™, a leading full-service provider of data, media, and product distribution for the numismatics and collectibles marketplace, announces the official release of When Coins Were King: The Coins, Power Struggles, and Personalities That Defined a Nation, the latest sweeping narrative by award-winning numismatic historian Michael F. Moran. Richly illustrated and deeply researched, this new volume illuminates America's monetary and political landscape of the late 1800s and early 1900s—an era when the gold and silver coins carried in everyday pockets reflected the nation's shifting identity, economic anxieties, and political ambitions.

In When Coins Were King, Moran reveals the fascinating, behind-the-scenes story of how America's coinage emerged from the turbulence of the post–Civil War economy and the discovery of the great Comstock Lode, a gold and silver bonanza that rivaled the California Gold Rush. Drawing on vivid historical accounts, archival material, and hundreds of images, Moran exposes a world of political maneuvering, corruption at the San Francisco Mint, and the ideological battles that shaped U.S. currency.

A central icon in Moran's narrative—and prominently featured on the book's cover—is the legendary 1907 Saint-Gaudens High Relief double eagle, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful coins ever struck by the United States. As Moran explores in captivating detail, its creation became a defining moment in America's artistic and monetary story…so defining this historic design will return in 2026 as part of the U.S. Mint's five-coin "Best of the Mint" series, a modern tribute to America's most iconic coinage (more information available at the U.S. Mint's website). For collectors planning to purchase the 2026 high-relief restrike, When Coins Were King offers the ideal companion volume—providing the historical context, artistic background, and behind-the-scenes drama that shaped the original masterpiece.

Against this dramatic backdrop, Moran's narrative weaves through an unforgettable cast of historical figures: the reform-minded President Theodore Roosevelt; the visionary sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens; populist firebrand William Jennings Bryan; pragmatic statesman Senator John Sherman; and many others who left their mark on America's coinage and economic future. The result is an engaging and accessible portrait of a transformative era—free from dense economic charts and statistics, and instead centered on the human stories that still resonate today.

Moran's new book builds on the groundbreaking work presented in his earlier titles, 1849: The Philadelphia Mint Strikes Gold (coauthored with Jeff Garrett) and Striking Change: The Great Artistic Collaboration of Theodore Roosevelt and Augustus Saint-Gaudens, both celebrated for their compelling research and narrative strength.

Advance Praise

Jeff Garrett—numismatic researcher, co-editor of The Official Red Book, Whitman author, and coauthor of Moran's 1849—praises Moran's new work:

"Michael Moran has a rare talent for turning complex monetary history into a compelling human drama. When Coins Were King brilliantly captures the political intrigue, economic turmoil, and artistic vision that shaped America's most iconic coins."

Dr. Michael Patrick Cullinane—Walton Chair of Theodore Roosevelt Studies at Dickinson State University—adds:

"Moran has transformed economic history from charts and theories into a gripping narrative about power, personalities, and the gold and silver coins that drove it all."

Todd Imhof—Partner and Executive Vice President at Heritage Auctions—hails Moran's efforts:

"Few know the inner workings of Augustus Saint-Gaudens as well as Moran. In When Coins Were King, Moran marshals all the fascinating details that led up to the design of America's greatest coin while putting this effort within the context of its times."

About the Author

Michael F. Moran has been a numismatist since childhood, when his grandfather sparked his interest with Indian Head cents. He is a graduate of Purdue University with degrees in civil engineering and industrial administration and spent a successful career in corporate mergers and acquisitions before devoting himself to numismatic research and writing. His work has earned numerous accolades, including the American Numismatic Association's Heath Literary Award, the Professional Numismatists Guild's Robert Friedberg Award, and the Numismatic Literary Guild's award for Best U.S. Coin Book. He is currently serving his fourth term on the U.S. Mint's Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee and played a leading role in securing Congressional authorization for the 2021 Morgan and Peace silver dollars. Moran also serves on the executive committee of the Theodore Roosevelt Association, where he is treasurer and chairs multiple committees.

Title: When Coins Were King
Author: Michael F. Moran
Foreword: Jeff Garrett
ISBN: 9780794851002
Ebook: 9780794850937
Format: Hardback
Dimensions: 6 x 9 inches
Pages: 520
Retail: $34.95 U.S

For more information, or to order, see:
When Coins Were King (https://whitman.com/when-coins-were-king/)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NEW BOOK: WHEN COINS WERE KING (https://coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n38a05.html)

 

NEW BOOK: COINS OF SAMUDRA-PASAI

The history and coins of Samudra-Pasai and Samudra-Pasai and Aceh on Sumatra

The author of this new book, John Leyten, born May 12th 1937 in Amsterdam, now almost 89 years old and known as a numismatist whose collection area includes Dutch colonies, especially the Dutch East Indies with the associated earliest known numismatic history. He started about 60 years ago with collecting coins of the Dutch Kingdom coins. After a few years his interest turned to collecting Provincial coins from the period 1588-1796. In doing so, he naturally met collectors of VOC coins. This aroused his interest and it became a new area of collecting, with special interest in coins with Arabic inscriptions and the associated Indonesian-Islamic history.

In 2004, his first publication on the gold coins of Samudra-Pasai and Aceh appeared in the yearbook for Coin and Medal Studies, number 91, issued by the Royal Netherlands Society for Coin and Medal Studies in Amsterdam. New information acquired in recent years about the history of the rulers of Samudra-Pasai and Aceh made an update necessary, and this 2025 edition has made this a reality.

BOOK REVIEW.

History, genealogy, Titles and Coins of the Rulers of Samudra-Pasai and Aceh. With an updated catalogue of their coins.

Sub-title: A study defining the rulers of Samudra-Pasai and their genealogy, by combining rulers' coins with their epitaphs. An update of the history and the titles of the rulers of Aceh.

By J. Leyten, January 2025.

In 2004 Leyten published about the golden coins of Samudra-Pasai and Aceh. This release is an update of this publication. In this update, the names, titles, genealogy and history of the rulers of Samudra-Pasai, from about 1265 to 1524, are described in detail as much as possible. Also, a detailed history of the rulers of Aceh from about 1497 to 1903. A comprehensive update of all coins known to date from Samudra-Pasai and Aceh, with detailed descriptions and beautiful, clear, largely black and white images.

The book is divided into four extensive and detailed chapters.

Chapter 1: General introduction to the coins of Samudra-Pasai and Aceh with their description.

Chapter 2: Extensive and detailed description of the history of Samudra- Pasai with the coins they issued.

Chapter 3: Extensive and detailed description of the history of Aceh with an update of the coins they issued.

Chapter 4: A comprehensive update of the existing catalogue of the coins of Samudra-Pasai an Aceh known to date.

The appendix contains detailed descriptions of, among other things, Arabic letters, Arabic script, and examples of deciphering Arabic script on coins. Also added vocabulary with explanations about Arabic texts on coins. Very clear and valuable explanatory numismatic information for the entire content of the book.

RESUME.

In order to place coins on time on which the name of the monarch is mentioned but no year, it is important and necessary to find the genealogy of that monarch. The genealogy of these rulers takes up a large part of this publication, which did not exist before of Samudra- Pasai.

Leyten was the first to succeed in compiling the genealogy of the rulers of Samudra-Pasai. This is Unique; there has never been a publication about it before! He has also corrected the genealogy of the first rulers of Aceh and placed them in the correct order. He was also able to prove that Samudra-Pasai was a Kingdom and not a Sultanate. He has also been able to demonstrate that Aceh began as a Kingdom and after 1607 became a Sultanate.

This book is a must-read for every numismatist and collector interested in the historical and numismatic history of Indonesia, specifically Sumatra with the rulers of Samudra-Pasai and Aceh.

Reviewer: A.J. Lansen. Member of the Royal Netherlands Society for Coins and Medals, E.G.M. P.; A.N.A. Author of: Plantation Tokens of the Dutch East Indies, Paper Money of the Estates on Sumatra, Monetary

Documents of the Netherlands Trading Society and Plantation Tokens of British North Borneo.

• Mail: lansenkil@hotmail.com
• Book details: Paperback, soft cover, 233 pages 17 x 25 cm., English text.
• Author: J. Leyten. Edition: 2025.
• Design: Java Auction.
• Publisher: C.V. Jawa Baru, Trunoyoyo no.60, Bandung 40115 Indonesia
• Sale by : info@javaauction.com and admin@javaauction.com or javaauction.com
• Price: US $ 30,00 postage excluded from Indonesia.

Payment by: PayPal or Bank Transfer

 

NEW BOOK: EARLY ENAMELLED COINS AND LOVE TOKENS

This past summer, I was contacted by a gentleman from Prince Edward Island, Canada. He introduced himself to me by the name of Gordy McCarville and he said he was an avid book writer. He was currently writing a book on enameled coins and love tokens and found my name through the Love Token Society website. Gordy had admired the photos I had on there with women of the Victorian period wearing love token jewelry. He invited me to be a cowriter and asked me to send him photos for the book, both the period photos and photos of coins in my collection. I was pleased to be of assistance. I asked Gordy if he knew of Richard Burdick and the wonderful collection of coin art on the Newman Numismatic Portal. Gordy then contacted Richard and Len Augsburger of the NNP to obtain more photos for the book.

Gordy's reason for writing the book was that the only book on English enameled coins was lacking, particularly with variety among the coins that were covered. That book, called Little Gems, only showed the author's collection and there were big gaps in coverage. In Gordy's book, twelve additional cowriters were brought on board to present a comprehensive coverage of enameled coins as well as Gordy tracking coins on eBay over the years to supplement. Gordy is a collector of English enameled coins and particularly searches out enameled coins from Prince Edward Island. You may have noticed that there is an extra L in the spelling of enameled in the book's title. In Great Britain, enamelled is the correct spelling. Since Gordy is Canadian, with its affiliation with Great Britain, you will see the British spelling throughout the book.

While I do not think that Gordy is heavily into collecting love tokens, he also wanted to give an update to that resource as well. While Lloyd Entenmann's book is full of written information, the photos are very primitive, with some probably even being photocopies of coins from a Xerox machine or the like. Gordy brought the 21st century into a new book about love tokens with color photography of both the obverses and reverses of the coins that he covered. Gordy's book leans heavily on photos and captions of photos so Lloyd's book still has a place in the market for the in depth writing and research that he compiled.

Combining the two types of collectibles, love tokens and enameled coins, also have some overlap and the two share similarities. Engraving is used to make an enameled coin even if it is only using engraving tools to carve out a recess in which to then fill with enamel. Translucent enamel often has underlying engraving to give added interest and many of the enameled coins can have surface engraving on them as well. Enameled coins fall into two main types (possibly three depending on how you view it). The main type is where the coin's original design has been reproduced in enamel. The other type is when the enamel work is of an entirely different design than what was on the coin. Years ago, The Numismatist featured an exquisite enameled scene of a fox with a rabbit on a Morgan dollar (page 117 of this book). The fox/rabbit was the artistic vision of the enameller and was placed on the obverse of the dollar, replacing Liberty's portrait. Enameled initials obviously deviate from the coin's design, being a second type of enameled coin or even a third type if you like. With this type, enameled coins and love tokens meld together into a very decorative monogramed love token.

For more information on Love Token Society, see:
http://lovetokensociety.com/

BOOK REVIEW: CHARMS AND CHARM BRACELETS

Charms and Charm Bracelets: The Complete Guide, was written by Joanne Schwartz and published by Schiffer Books. Love token bracelets seem to be among the earliest of the charm bracelets pictured in the book. There is one chapter dedicated solely to love tokens, but there are also mentions in other chapters. The chapter on "Making and Embellishing Charms" has a subsection on engraving that also delves into love tokens.

Another section on WWII charms shows an engraved coin bracelet made from coins cut into heart shapes. The bracelet is made up of eight coins, all of which are engraved. The final mention of a love token is in a chapter titled, "Hooray for Risqué". Here there is a love token with the engraving, "Kiss and Makeup" and it is accompanied by an engraving of a chaise lounge or day bed image.

Most of the information in the book is spot on, but there are two things I would have changed. The first is a reference to when love tokens were made. It said that love tokens from colonial America could be found in museums but that most love tokens were made from 1876 to 1900. I am wondering if the author is thinking of the Peace Medals that were engraved and presented to the Indians. They are not considered love tokens by definition. I am also wondering what the names are of the museums that house American colonial era love tokens. Perhaps the author is thinking of the early English engraved coins? The text raised more questions than it answered. Also, a number of years ago I did a study on engraved dates on love tokens and I seem to recall that 1874 had a substantial number reported as well. The author's definition is a bit different than our ideas of the Civil War examples and the numbers escalating by the 1870s, 1880s,and 1890s and then slowing down post Columbian Exposition with just a spattering of love tokens in the early 1900s.

The other discrepancy was in a caption of a coin. It said it was pin pinched but I disagree with the author's evaluation. It appeared like normal engraving to me. All in all, any new book in our library on love tokens is a great addition. There is such a small group of love token collectors that appreciate anyone making the effort to include us in numismatic references.

PERIODICAL: TAMS JOURNAL JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2026

The TAMS Journal
V66, N1 | January-February 2026

Articles

The Mining Empire of John Cleveland Osgood
David E. Schenkman

The Earliest Tokens of the West Caicos Sisal Company
Eric Schena

Formosan Black Bear Medal
James Contursi

The 1897 M.C.B. Convention Badge
David E. Schenkman

An Unusual Christmas Gift
Eric Schena

General News/Pleas (starting on page)

Columns

From the President
James Brokamp

Fingers on the Keyboard
Greg Burns

Token and Medal Trailblazers
Pete Smith

This & That
Harry Waterson

American Token Manufacturers & Their Agents
David E. Schenkman

Counterstamp Corner
Greg Bennick

Sixty Years Ago in TAMS
Greg Burns

So-Called Dollar Stories
Je? Shevlin

Mavericks
Ryan Kordziel

Society News and Reports

Secretary's Report
Donna Moon

From the Bookshelf
Peter Irion

General News/Pleas (starting on page)

Etceteras

Advertisers Index

TAMS Marketplace

TAMS Membership Application

Writing for The TAMS Journal

Info for Advertisers

Fingers on the Keyboard

For more information on the Token and Medal Society (TAMS), see:
https://www.tokenandmedal.org/

WILLIAM ENGLISH (1923–2026)

William "Bill" English, one of Ontario's most respected and enduring numismatists – and considered an icon by many within the hobby – died Jan. 14, 2026, at age 102.

A lifelong collector, mentor and error specialist, English was a central figure in organized numismatics in Ontario for more than six decades.

Born Feb. 4, 1923, English was just shy of celebrating his 103rd birthday.

English played a key role in the formation of the Waterloo Coin Society in 1959, serving as its inaugural president from 1959 to 1960 and returning to the role again in 1970. His contributions to the club were later recognized when he was named Life Member No. 2.

He was also among the small group of collectors who helped establish the Ontario Numismatic Association in 1962. English served as ONA president from 1967 to 1969 and held the distinction of being Charter Member No. 2 and Life Member No. 3.

English remained active in both organizations until his death and could regularly be found attending regional events such as the Cambridge and Paris coin shows, where he continued to engage with fellow collectors. English continued to attend Waterloo and Brantford coin club meetings through the fall of 2025 and remained active on the coin show circuit into the spring of 2025, driven by his enthusiasm for the hobby and time spent with fellow collectors.

To read the complete article, see:
William ‘Bill' English — A pillar of Ontario numismatics (1923–2026) (https://canadiancoinnews.com/william-bill-english-a-pillar-of-ontario-numismatics-1923-2025/)

LAWRENCE B. FALATER (1935-2025)

Lawrence B. Falater, age 89, of Hillsdale, passed away Saturday, December 6, 2025, at Hillsdale Hospital. He was born on December 10, 1935, in Detroit to Louis and Mary Louise (O'Connor) Falater. Larry married Delphine Rozmary on June 11, 1960, at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Harper Woods, Michigan, and she preceded him in death on February 1, 2024.

Larry attended Servite High School and graduated from De LaSalle Collegiate High School in Detroit. He received his bachelor's degree in business from the University of Detroit. For over 25 years, Larry worked as a financial analyst for Chrysler Corporation. He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Hillsdale, and the Knights of Columbus. Larry had a lifelong passion for numismatics, a hobby that began as a young child when his father gave him his first Indian head cent.

He was life member #307 of the American Numismatic Association, charter member of the Michigan State Numismatic Society, Paper Money Collectors of Michigan, Society of Paper Money Collectors, Civil War Token Society, and former member of the Detroit Coin Club, and the Grosse Pointe Coin Club.

Survivors include four children, Joe, David (Linda), Denise, and Paul (Michelle); eleven grandchildren, Sarah, Matthew, Andrea, Nathanael, Maggie, Clare, Leah, Veronica, Sophia, Justin, and Elizabeth; ten great-grandchildren, Luke, Henry, Declan, John, Bennett, Mary Anne, Aurora, Margaret, Elisabeth, Catherine, and one great-granddaughter on-the-way.

In addition to his beloved wife, Del Falater, Larry was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, Fred (Carlyn) Falater.

MPC Gram editor Fred Schwan writes:

Scott Winslow writes:

On the Paper Money Forum, DepressionScripGuy (Rod) writes:

To read the complete article, see:
Lawrence B. Falater Passes (https://www.papermoneyforum.com/post/lawrence-b-falater-passes-13774360)

It was a great honor, bringing fond remembrances, to join 5 other Michigan State Numismatic Society members at the Mass of Christian Burial for Larry Falater December 10, 2025 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Hillsdale, MI, with Fr. David Reamsnyder officiating. The funeral was held on what would have been Larry's 90th birthday.

Born in Detroit in 1935, graduating from De La Salle Collegiate and the University of Detroit, Larry experienced the growth and expansion of the City of Detroit as part of the "greatest generation" as defined by author Peter Jennings. Married to Delphine Rozmary in 1960 they began their family of four children and Larry's career in Detroit at Chrysler during the years of Iacocca's successes.

His obituary description included the following phenomenal numismatic path: "Larry had a lifelong passion for numismatics, a hobby that began as a young child when his father gave him his first Indian head cent. He was life member #307 of the American Numismatic As-sociation, charter member of the Michigan State Numismatic Society, Paper Money Collectors of Michigan, Society of Paper Money Collectors, Civil War Token Society, and former member of the Detroit Coin Club, and the Grosse Pointe Coin Club."

The family moved to Hillsdale, MI, and many readers of this tribute will remember weekend swap meets, private sales and periodic bid-by-mail auctions sent to his loyal friends. Some surely remember the "World Headquarters" on Bacon Street in Hillsdale.

My relationship with this true numismatist began through his annual summer trips to Michigan's Upper Peninsula to "look under rocks" for the often-elusive local national bank notes, mining scrip and stock certificates for his collection and for sales to his growing list of loyal customers.

About 10 years ago, as he learned of my knowledge of and passion for mining scrip, Larry inquired if I would be interested in meeting Chester Krause of Iola, WI, and Judy Davis of Copper Harbor, MI. These two individuals, with similar Upper Peninsula paper interests, began a scrip cataloging endeavor which melded into a stalled book project. Chet, Judy and I became an author trio and published Michigan Mining Scrip (Right) amidst the pandemic debacle of 2020.

The Gelwicks-Falater relationship continued to grow with many trips from Monroe to Hillsdale as Larry's days of longer drives were ending. Many memories were transferred and now I was the "youngster" looking "under Upper Peninsula rocks" for new material. Larry seemed to cherish the days I arrived with something unique to show the veteran collector.

This past week I have recalled three vivid memories from Hillsdale visits. Once, Larry called me to visit at their farmhouse instead of at his World Headquarters as Delphine's own medical challenges had accelerated. At that visit I purchased several rare Monroe obsolete bank notes which he knew I needed for my personal collection. One week from that visit I got the call that they had both survived a devastating homestead fire.

The next visit, in a small Hillsdale apartment, I dove into Larry's $3 banknote collection consisting of one note from most of the 60-plus Michigan obsolete banks with remainder notes. I was able to scan each of those notes for a future article. It was also during this visit that I learned of his common trend to collect one note from each respective bank in Michigan and not collect one of each variety or denomination. He was fascinated by this set of $3 notes!

Our final joint project came upon my insistence that Larry let me present a simple exhibit at the MSNS annual show, displaying his unique collection of the 21 of 22 national banks which included "Detroit" in their titles (as highlighted in prior issues of The MichMatist). While developing the exhibit, I was remiss in not recording our conversations pertaining to the pedigree of each note. "This note from Wally Lee, these notes from Paxton and Verhoven, and this note from Grinnell, who really was tough to deal with!" An unforgettable experience - and Larry could tell the back-ground stories of most of the bank president and cashier signatures from his personal exposure to many of the bank associates from his years living and working in the Detroit metropolitan area.

Not to be forgotten were Larry's passions for both automotive and mining stock certificates, as re-called by MSNS member Steve Bieda: "In addition to my numismatic interests, I have always been fascinated by the history of the American Auto Industry; I formerly served as Chairman of Motor Cities National Heritage Area and often sought out old auto stock certificates through Larry. Larry was a specialist in this field as well: he authored a book on the subject, entitled American Automotive Stock Certificates, which is an excellent resource on this collecting specialty and, to my knowledge, a pioneering book in this field."

Larry's journey and lifetime numismatic achievements are representative of the demographics of the 60 years of Paper Money Collectors of Michigan of which he was a charter member.

To read the complete articles, see:
Lawrence B. Falater Obituary (https://www.eaglefuneralhomes.com/obituaries/Lawrence-B-Falater?obId=46586294)
Lawrence B. Falater (https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/lawrence-falater-obituary?id=60224646)

LUCIEN LOUIS BIRKLER (1940-2025)

Lucien Louis Birkler, 85, of West Haven, CT., passed away peacefully on December 22. He was born on November 24, 1940, to Lucien L. Birkler of Lugano, Switzerland and Marianne (Guarino) Birkler of New Haven. Lucien is survived by his wife, Randall Gerhing. He was the nephew of the late George Mazza and Lynn (Guarino) Mazza, Helen Guarino and Dr. Albert Dautrich and Rita Guarino and her husband Andy Ackers. Lucien was also predeceased by Christian B. Blom, III, his business partner of over 50 years and longtime friend. He would also like to recognize his confirmation Godmother Sister Joseph Agatha. He leaves behind several close relatives in Switzerland.

Lucien was a graduate of Saint John's Evangelist and Notre Dame High School in New Haven. He graduated from Providence College in 1962 and from Catholic University School of Law in 1967.

From 1959-1961 he attended the Stan Kenton Jazz Clinic held at the University of Indiana. There he gained his love for jazz music and met many renowned trumpet players.

Lucien was managing director and later owner of M and M Numismatics, in Washington D.C., a subsidiary of the Swiss Company Munzen und Medaillen.

Lucien, a prominent coin dealer, was the founder of the New York Sale in 1997, which went on to be the umbrella for M&M Numismatics and several other world class coin associates.

He also was the majority owner of the Chalet de la Paix, a prominent French/Swiss restaurant in Washington, D.C. area which received national acclaim for exquisite cuisine.

He was a lifetime member of The American Numismatic Association, American Numismatic Society, Mory's Association and the Knights of Columbus.

To read the complete articles, see:
Lucien Louis Birkler Obituary (https://www.keenanfuneralhome.com/obituaries/obituary-listings?obId=46894775)
Lucien Louis Birkler 1940 - 2025 (https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nhregister/name/lucien-birkler-obituary?id=60524602)

For more information on The New York Sale, see:
http://thenewyorksale.com/the-group/

Kerry Wetterstrom writes:

To read the complete article, see:
Lucien Birkler, †2025 (https://www.sixbid.com/en/blog/lucien-birkler-%e2%80%a02025/)

MARTIN LUTHER KING MEDALS AND COINS

Martin Luther King Medals & Coins

In 2014, a Congressional gold medal was posthumously award to Martin Luther King Jr. and Corretta Scott King. King was assassinated April 4, 1968, and the numismatic recognition was overdue. It was not for lack of trying. The front page of Coin World, April 24, 1968, noted that William S. Moorhead (D-PA) introduced a bill (H.R. 16532) authorizing a gold medal for King's widow. A similar bill (H.R. 16533) was raised the same day by Thomas L. Ashley (D-OH). Neither became law, this would wait until the 2014 authorization for the King gold medal (Public Law 108-368).

Coin World, on May 8, 1968, further reported a congressional proposal to issue one million commemorative half dollars as a tribute to King. This too went nowhere, although the 2014 Civil Right Act silver dollar depicts intertwined flames that reflect the freedom of education, the right to vote, and the freedom to control one's destiny, themes drawn from Martin Luther King's activism.

Link to "Congressional Gold Medal for the Kings," E-Sylum 6/29/2014:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/periodical/17530

Link to Newman Portal search results for "Martin Luther King":
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/searchwithterms?searchterm=martin%20luther%20king

VIDEO: RARE CHINESE COIN DIES

A rare set of Chinese coin dies made by Otto Beh has been donated to the Kunstmuseum Halle in Moritzburg, Germany. Michael Chou of Champion Auctions donated the dies after working with the Kuenker Auction firm in Europe. Ulrich Kuenker describes how the dies surface and how they ended up being saved. Speaker: Ulrich Kuenker, General Manager, Kuenker Auctions.. Running time: 5:51. From the 2016 World Money Fair.

To watch the complete video, see:
Rare Chinese Coin Dies Saved to Museum in Germany. (https://youtu.be/wTEY-fsiOSM)
Rare Chinese Coin Dies Saved to Museum in Germany. (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/540383)

THE COMPANY STORE BULLETIN

Last 30 October 2025, I bought a copy of the hardcover book "Scrip - Trade Tokens Issued by United States Coal Mining Companies and Company Stores" (hardcover, 22.8x28.9 cm; vi, 370 pages) compiled by Stuart Elliot Brown, Jr. (1916 – 2004). It was published in 1978 by Virginia Book Company (Berryville, VA). The scrip tokens were used from the 1870's to the early 1950's.

On the bibliography section of the book (page 350), appears a reference to "The Company Store" bulletin issued for the first time in November 1966. It was a mimeographed and stapled bulletin published by Fred Lange, aka "Cole S. Cuttle" containing about 6 pages per issue.

According to a Fred Lange's letter, "The Company Store" Bulletin was closed for inventory and repairs. It was noted that the mailing list of 500 was more than Fred could underwrite without a regular membership fee.

Fred Lange was responsible for selecting the logo for the cover of the book "Edkins' Catalogue of Coal Company Store Scrip" (1977) which is the official NSCA logo. On the "Scrip Talk" of February 1978, Fred Lange (aka Cole S. Cuttle) wrote: "look for past issues of "Scrip Talk" to have some value in years to come. I wish I had kept back issues of "The Company Store" - they are collector's items now".

Fred Lange alias Cole S. Cuttle was created from "Coal Scuttle", an indication of his main interest in coal mine tokens. Fred Lange was a member of the Token and Medal Society (1968, TAMS #1518) and the American Vecturist Association (1971, AVA # 1042) when he was living in Moorestown, New Jersey.

In "The Fare Box" (an American Vecturist Association) of January 1981, page 3, it was commented that Fred, in his last years, moved down to Hollins, Virginia. He had bought a home in Florida and was planning to move there in March 1981, but his heart, always weak in the last years, finally gave out.

I couldn't find any electronic copies of "The Company Store" Bulletin in The Newman Numismatic Portal (nnp.wustl.edu), so I think it is a very rare publication.

Kevin Andersen wrote in the "Scrip Talk" of June 2015 (page 2): "my wife, Ginni, and I spent many weeks and untold hours scanning the only known complete archive of Scrip Talks (from the Walter Caldwell Library) from 1965 through 1994 (176 issues) in their original color, including the complete run of Cole S. Cuttle's "The Company Store" (1966 - 1968). Scanned in PDF format onto one DVD, I have these available for $25 postpaid. You can view these on your computer or print from it. Also included is a searchable index to assist with finding articles in this collection".

This is the information I could gather about "The Company Store" Bulletin issues:

Fred Lange born in New York, 12 April 1913 and was the son of Oscar Lange (1882-1961) and Lillian Brown (1884-1981). Fred married 20 October 1941 to June Dair Lange (1916-2013).

Henry Frederick Lange or David Lange (alias Cole S. Cuttle) died 01 January 1981 in the Roanoke Hospital due to coronary artery disease at 02:00 AM. His last occupation was as an engineer in the structural plastics industry. On NSCA's publication "Scrip Talk" of March 1981, appeared a tribute to Fred Lange prepared by R. R. Tippy.

On 08 May 1981, the National Scrip Collectors Association's Executive Committee established "The Fred Lange Outstanding Member Award" for the member who has made significant and outstanding contributions to the growth and development of NSCA over the past ten years ("Scrip Talk", June 1981 and February 1998).

Bibliography.

• Smith, Pete. American Numismatic Biographies. 04 July 2021. Familysearch.org

Dave Schenkman adds:

 

THE NUMISMATIC HISTORY OF PARAGUAY

The Numismatic History of Paraguay (NHP) Facebook page has announced the free public release of a digital compilation dedicated to the history of the Guaraní currency. The archive brings together studies on coins and banknotes, iconography, printing errors, minting processes, and key historical contexts. The archive is the result of the work of researcher Raúl Olazar. He is a specialist in monetary and symbolic history and administrator of NHP.

The collection includes the Proclamation to Charles IV (1790), and the first Paraguayan gold coin (1867). Also, the cent coins issued between 1900 and 1908, and detailed symbolic analyses of the Gs. 50,000 and a misprint on the Gs. 2,000 banknote.

Historical figures also feature prominently. The compilation provides information on personalities such as Don Carlos Antonio López and Bernardino Caballero, represented on the Gs. 5,000 banknote and the Gs. 500 coin respectively. It also covers banknote iconography, cut or countermarked coins (known as the Patacón paraguayo), and medals from the War of the Triple Alliance.

More recent materials explore the animal world as depicted on Paraguayan banknotes. As well as the stories behind the imagery printed on them. The Google Drive also includes an introduction to notaphily, with a focus on the first individual ever portrayed on national banknotes.

The Numismatic History of Paraguay emphasises that downloading and using these documents is entirely free of charge. Researcher Raúl Olazar states that he is open to questions from any interested party. He also reiterates his commitment to the preservation of Paraguay's historical and cultural heritage.

Raúl Olazar has devoted over six years to studying Paraguay's monetary history. During this time, he has developed several social media platforms, including a YouTube channel, an X account, and a Facebook page for the Numismatic History of Paraguay organisation.

The researcher has published two books: The History of Metal Coins in Paraguay (2021) (Historia de la Moneda Metálica en el Paraguay), and Private Currency in Paraguay – History Through Exonumia (2025) (Moneda Privada en el Paraguay – La historia a través de la exonumia). The latter was presented at the 5th International Convention of Historians and Numismatists in Rio de Janeiro in 2025, where it was sold and delivered in person to attendees.

To read the complete article, see:
Free Digital Archive Unveils The Numismatic History Of Paraguay And The Guaraní Currency (https://asunciontimes.com/culture/paraguayan-history/free-digital-archive-unveils-the-numismatic-history-of-paraguay-and-the-guarani-currency/)

NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JANUARY 18, 2026

Thoughts on the Semiquincentennial Circulating Coin Designs

John Ostendorf of Hot Springs Village, AR writes:

Wayne Pearson writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
SCARINCI INTERVIEW: UNCHOSEN 2026 COIN DESIGNS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n02a20.html)

Better Artists, Better Coins
Wayne Pearson writes:

Wayne adds:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
MINT SEEKS ARTISTIC INFUSION PROGRAM ARTISTS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n02a21.html)

More on the Augustus B. Sage Photo
Regarding the newly discovered Augustus B. Sage photo, American Numismatic Society Francis D. Campbell Librarian David Hill writes:

 

The new photo's discoverer adds:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
AUGUSTUS B. SAGE PHOTO FOUND (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n02a09.html)

"Tax Collectors" Painting Offered

Marinus van Reymerswaele's Tax Collectors belongs to a celebrated group of satirical compositions that secured the artist's reputation as one of the most incisive commentators on civic vice in sixteenth-century Netherlandish painting. Set within a wood-paneled interior, two deliberately unflattering figures, lavishly dressed yet morally compromised, are absorbed in the mechanics of financial record-keeping. One bends over a ledger, pen poised mid-entry, while his companion rakes a heap of coins toward himself. Their exaggerated physiognomies, coupled with the compressed space and conspicuous materialistic clutter transform an ostensibly mundane bureaucratic task into a pointed allegory of avarice.

The composition is known in numerous versions, attesting to its enduring popularity. Reymerswaele and his workshop appear to have produced multiple replicas of the successful composition, with the prime version generally identified as the panel in the Musée du Louvre (inv. no. RF 1973 34), distinguished by its freehand underdrawing. Such repetition underscores the market demand for these pointed moralizing images. Often mischaracterized as money changers, the figures instead represent tax collectors, officials remunerated by a percentage of the revenues they extracted, making them emblematic targets for critiques of bureaucratic and legalistic greed. In Reymerswaele's hands, the apparatus of accounting becomes a vehicle for social satire, exposing the corrosive effects of corruption beneath the veneer of civic order.

To read the complete lot description, see:
Follower of Marinus van Reymerswaele Tax Collectors (https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2026/master-paintings-sculpture-antiquities-part-ii/tax-collectors)

Arce's Doubloons Book Launch
Peter Preston-Morley writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NEW BOOK: ARCE'S DOUBLOONS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n02a04.html)

 

2026 FUN SHOW ATTENDANCE EXPLODES

Len Augsburger writes:

In an email to clients, dealer David Kahn writes:

In an email to DLRC clients, John Brush writes:

For more information about the Florida United Numismatists and their Summer FUN show in July, see:
http://www.funtopics.com/

 

LSCC SEEKS E-GOBRECHT EDITOR

LSCC Seeks E-Gobrecht Editor

Launched as an electronic newsletter by Bill Bugert in 2005, the E-Gobrecht delivers news and updates to Liberty Seated aficionados on a monthly basis. Paul Kluth succeeded Bill in 2020 and has significantly expanded the reach of the publication. The publication has won literary awards from the American Numismatic Association and today serves a large collector base.

Paul has indicated an intention to step down as E-Gobrecht editor in early 2026, and the club is searching for an individual to assume the E-Gobrecht editorial responsibilities. Please reach out to LSCC President Len Augsburger (leonard_augsburger@hotmail.com) should you have any interest.

LSCC thanks Paul for his service in this role and wishes him well in his future endeavors. Paul expects to stay active in numismatics and always welcomes visitors to the Adam Good Tavern in Taneytown, MD, which he operates. We also acknowledge Bill Bugert for his vision in recognizing the need for such a publication, and for his 15-year tenure as the E-Gobrecht editor.

For more information on the Liberty Seated Collectors Club, see:
https://lsccweb.org/

VOCABULARY TERM: SEIGNORAGE

Seignorage. A profit from the manufacture of coins; the difference between the face value and the total cost of production including the cost of bullion or material and the cost of striking. When all coins were no longer struck in precious metals – gold and silver – and became clad tokens, the amount of seignorage increased dramatically. Historically when orders for coins were given to private minters, the cost for striking the coins was called brassage, as one shilling for every 12 struck.

To read the complete entry on the Newman Numismatic Portal, see:
Seignorage (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/dictionarydetail/516725)

BICENTENNIAL $2 BILLS

I begin this week with a discussion of Bicentennial $2 bills. In 1976, the Treasury Department issued a new series of two-dollar Federal Reserve Notes with a green seal on the front and the Declaration of Independence on the back. With the portrait of Thomas Jefferson on the front, it was announced that they would be issued by banks on Jefferson's birthdate, April 13.

In an example of mass hysteria, collectors and dealers affixed 13 cent stamps to the notes and rushed to their Post Office to create a "first date cancellation." These became an instant collectible and dealers were happy to provide them for their customers. Sets were made up for the twelve federal reserve districts and offered for a premium.

There were variations of the theme. State stamps were placed on the notes which were then cancelled in the state matching the stamps. Some were cancelled over Bicentennial stamps. A second round were made with a July 4, 1976, cancellation.

This is a contrived collectible field with a very limited secondary market. Thousands of pieces were made and thousands remain available by the dealers who handle them.

Having established two-dollar bills with a postal cancellation as collectible objects, I jump back to my interest in association items. I put four of these on my scanner to serve as examples.

1. Signed by Matt Rothert (1904-1989), ANA President 1965-1967. This was cancelled at the American Numismatic Association Mid-Winter Convention in Little Rock on March 11, 1988. The stamp is an Arkansas Centennial stamp.

2. Signed by Virgil Hancock ANA President 1975-1977. This was cancelled over a block of four Bicentennial stamps. The cancellation date is unreadable.

3. Signed by Stephen Taylor, ANA president 1987-1989, while he was ANA president. Signed at the National Silver Dollar Convention on November 10, 1988. The four notes shown are all from the Stephen Taylor collection so he signed the note for himself.

4. Signed by Ed Rochette, ANA president 1991-1993. Signed at the 101 st Anniversary Convention of the American Numismatic Association, in Orlando, Florida, on August 12, 1992. The green stamp is the Numismatics stamp. The red stamp is for the settlement of Florida.

I noticed that the four notes are all of different lengths. I can't explain that.

In this collection are three other ANA presidential signatures on notes not shown. These include David L. Ganz (1994). Kenneth Bressett (1993) and Kenneth Hallenbeck (1987).

There are more than two dozen notes in the Taylor collection. Other signatures include:

• Aubrey Bebee, collector, Colorado Springs, 1988
• Adeline Bebee, wife of Aubrey, Colorado Springs, 1988
• Cynthia Granby Baker, Denver Mint Superintendent 1988-1989. Broadmoor 1989
• Harry Clements, Director of the BEP 1979-1983, Memphis 1982
• Philip Diehl, Director of the Mint 1994-2000, Portland 1993
• Frank Gasparro, Chief Engraver at the Mint 1965-1981, Cherry Hill, NJ 1986
• Stella Hackel, Director of the Mint 1977-1981, Cincinnati 1990
• Jay W. Johnson, Director of the Mint 1999-2001, Philadelphia 2001
• Marcel Jovine, coin designer (1987)
• Elizabeth Jones, Chief Engraver at the Mint 1981-1990, Cherry Hill, NJ 1986
• Bob Leuver, Director of the BEP 1983-1988, (1991)
• Katherine Davalos Ortega, Treasurer of the United States 1983-1989, Milwaukee, 1986
• Donna Pope, Director of the Mint 1981-1991, Boston 1992
• Patricia Verani, coin designer (1987)
• R. S. Yeoman, numismatic author, Colorado Springs, 1988

Many of the notes include cancellations from an ANA convention. It is likely that the cancellation was done first with the signatures written in open spaces at some later time.

This group, collectively, represents the government officials that Taylor met through his ANA connections. In my opinion, the intact collection is worth more than the sum of its parts.

I thought about adding to the collection but decided to leave the collection as created by Taylor.

I have hundreds of autographs collected since 1982. Unfortunately, they are not all in the same place. That is a typical problem with my collection. There are also signatures I can't read. In some cases, I printed the name on the back of the card. In many cases, I have no idea who signed.

The earliest ANA presidential autograph I can find is Grover Criswell. I have many but not all of the ones since then.

If I may offer some advice, don't use me as an example. If you have items in your collection that you can't find, you may as well not have them.

LOYE L. LAUDER (1911-1964)

A few months ago, I had the good fortune to purchase the silver 103-EE Betts Fantasy "Fugio Pattern," ex Loye Lauder, in the November 2025 Stacks Bowers Showcase Auction. While I'm sure I've seen Mrs. Lauder's name before as there are numerous early US pieces with her provenance, the name did not register at the time. The brief biographical sketch at the beginning of the catalog gives a solid appreciation of Loye's numismatic focus and what she had accomplished in such a short time:

Unlike the over-the-top hyperbole in many auction catalogs, a review of her coins shows that Loye had a great eye and appreciation for both quality and rarity. Her sale started off with five very rare Sommer Islands "Hogge Money," the second of which is just one of three known. The seventh coin in the auction was the NE sixpence, Noe-2, Red Book plate coin.

In the federal series, she had every Red Book rarity, often in quite high grades. Her collection ended with numerous high-grade proof and pattern Indian Head cents, along with a Lincoln cent die trial, 1909-S VDB, 14-D, and a couple Matte Proofs. And her catalog photograph showed a stunningly elegant woman. I simply had to know more about her.

Loye "Betty" Lark was the daughter of the prominent New York City lawyer, Charles T. Lark. She was born in 1911, had two older brothers, and lived in Hackensack, NJ. She attended upper-class boarding schools and graduated from Columbia University. She was the Chairman of Volunteer Service for the American Red Cross of Bergen County and served with the Red Cross through World War II. She is not related to the Lauders of cosmetics fame as widely misreported.

Loye was a born collector. In her early 20s it was reported that she had dozens upon dozens of bone china and glass dogs. A comment on her collecting from the Feb. 23, 1937 issue of the Bergen County Record reveals a true collector's soul, "She advances no good reason for collecting those toy dogs which overflow her bedroom, except that it amuses her to do it and harms no one."

In 1941, she married her first husband, Allison Laytham, then Vice President and heir to the Laytham Iron and Steel Works in Patterson, NJ. When Allison died in 1956, Loye became president of Laytham Steel and remained so until her passing in 1963, even though she had remarried outside of the Laytham family. She must have been a truly extraordinary businesswoman to not only succeed her husband in the 1950s, but to remain in control of a male-dominated industry.

In 1957, Loye married George Lauder III, a prominent yacht builder and racer. George was the grandson of George Lauder, a billionaire Scottish iron and steel engineer, who was a friend and partner of Andrew Carnegie. Newspapers of the time report that the Lauders often wintered in Miami, sailing their yacht and deep-sea fishing in the Gulf Stream.

Once again, there is no family connection between the Scottish Lauders and the family of cosmetics renown. The Lauder fortune came from Carnegie Steel.

Loye never had any children, but she was stepmother to George's daughters from a previous marriage. And in an interesting turn of fate, Loye was related by marriage to Gene Tunney, the heavyweight boxing champion from 1926 to 1928. Tunney had secretly married George's sister, Polly Lauder, in 1928. While the newspapers billed it as the love story of the decade, the family (excepting George and Loye) apparently had a fit. Nonetheless, Polly and Gene remained married until their deaths.

While Loye had an amazing life, she sadly passed away from a heart attack on Sept. 28, 1964, at just 53 years of age. Since her collection was not auctioned until nearly 20 years after her passing, we can only presume that George kept her collection out of memory for her until just three years before his own passing. Perhaps it took him that long to let go or perhaps he knew his health was declining and he wanted to see her coins get new homes before he died.

Loye's coins brought serious money for the time and today her scarce and rare pieces sell for tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars. She had a great eye and left us way too soon.

Author's note: Many thanks to Julia Casey for finding several interesting tidbits about Loye. Julia and I had a great time emailing back-and-forth with our finds.

To read the complete sale catalog on the Newman Portal, see:
A Collection of Early United State and U.S. Colonial Coins, formed by Loye L. Lauder, Greenwich, Connecticut (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/auctionlots?AucCoId=513061&AuctionId=529329)

HERITAGE: NYINC WORLD AND ANCIENTS

Cleopatra VII of Egypt and Marc Antony, as Rulers of the East (37-30 BC). AR denarius (20mm, 3.24 gm, 12h). NGC Choice XF 4/5 - 4/5, flan flaw. Alexandria, 34-32 BC. CLEOPATRAE-REGINAE•REGVM•FILIORVM•REGVM, diademed and draped bust of Cleopatra right, seen from front, stem of galley prow below / ANTONI•ARMENIA•DEVICTA, bare head of Marc Antony right; Armenian tiara behind. Crawford 543/1. Sydenham 1210.

Cleopatra VII, the last queen of Ptolemaic Egypt, succeeded to the throne alongside her younger brother in 51 BC. The resulting succession crisis led to her seeking support from Rome, thereby becoming Caesar's lover. She assembled an army and, with Roman reinforcements, took back her throne. In 47 BC, she had a child whom she named Ptolemy Caesar - it is unknown whether Caesar was the child's father, but she claimed that he was. She married a different brother of hers and ruled with him until his death in 44 BC. Following Caesar's assassination and the Battle of Philippi, Marc Antony called upon Cleopatra to explain her role in the aftermath of Caesar's assassination. He was captivated by her and returned to Alexandria, leaving behind his wife and children in Italy. She gave birth to his twins, Cleopatra Selene and Alexander Helios, in 40 BC. Antony had intentions to rule vast swaths of land with his young family, and Octavian took issue with this, so they engaged in a propaganda war that escalated to military battles. In the midst of a battle, Marc Antony received false news that Cleopatra was dead - she had simply retired to her mausoleum. He fell on his sword and supposedly had himself carried to Cleopatra and bid her to make peace with Octavian before dying. Cleopatra then ended her own life. Although Suetonius claimed that she died by asp bite, other Roman writers such as Strabo, Plutarch, and Cassius Dio said that she poisoned herself.

To read the complete item description, see:
Cleopatra VII of Egypt and Marc Antony, as Rulers of the East (37-30 BC). AR denarius (20mm, 3.24 gm, 12h). NGC Choice XF 4/5 - 4/5, flan flaw. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-republic/ancients-cleopatra-vii-of-egypt-and-marc-antony-as-rulers-of-the-east-37-30-bc-ar-denarius-20mm-324-gm-12h-ngc-choice-xf-4-5-/a/3130-36069.s?ctrack=200071&type=bodylink-1+-coinworld-picks-3130-NYINC-tem011426)

JUDAEA. Samaria. Neapolis. Caracalla (AD 198-217). BI tetradrachm (26mm, 12.07 gm, 12h). NGC XF 4/5 - 3/5. AD 215-217. AVT KAI AN-TONINOC C?, laureate, cuirassed bust of Caracalla right, seen from behind / ?HMAPX ?? V?ATOC T•?, temple complex atop Mt. Gerizim; all within linear border supported by eagle standing facing, head left, with wings spread, wreath in beak. Prieur 1700. Bellinger 337. Extremely rare.

To read the complete item description, see:
JUDAEA. Samaria. Neapolis. Caracalla (AD 198-217). BI tetradrachm (26mm, 12.07 gm, 12h). NGC XF 4/5 - 3/5. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-provincial/ancients-judaea-samaria-neapolis-caracalla-ad-198-217-bi-tetradrachm-26mm-1207-gm-12h-ngc-xf-4-5-3-5/a/3130-36057.s?ctrack=200071&type=bodylink-2+-coinworld-picks-3130-NYINC-tem011426)

PAEONIAN KINGDOM. Lycceius (ca. 359/6-335 BC). AR tetradrachm (22mm, 12.75 gm, 4h). NGC Choice AU 4/5 - 4/5. Laureate head of Zeus right; dotted border / ????-?I??, nude Heracles crouched left, left arm wrapped around the neck of the Nemean lion, brandishing club in right hand; bow and quiver in lower right field. SNG ANS 1019.

To read the complete item description, see:
PAEONIAN KINGDOM. Lycceius (ca. 359/6-335 BC). AR tetradrachm (22mm, 12.75 gm, 4h). NGC Choice AU 4/5 - 4/5. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-paeonian-kingdom-lycceius-ca-359-6-335-bc-ar-tetradrachm-22mm-1275-gm-4h-ngc-choice-au-4-5-4-5/a/3130-36021.s?ctrack=200071&type=bodylink-3+-coinworld-picks-3130-NYINC-tem011426)

French Protectorate. Ranavalona III silver Specimen 5 Francs 1895 SP62 PCGS, KM-XM3, Lec-37. Mintage: 25. Crowned, veiled portrait of the Queen / RAMODOMAMDRIANIMPOINIMERINA (rose) MADAGASCAR (horse). Crowned heart over the petals of the Royal Poinciana (national flower)with large "R" dividing date. A wonderful creation by Pinches & Co. for the curious Dr. Reginald Huth. Struck from a particularly paltry mintage of just 25 pieces, this pieces boasts alluring cerulean and dove tones, perfectly framing the last sovereign of the Kingdom of Madagascar, Ranavalona Manjaka III.

Ex. Archipelago Collection (Heritage Auction 61284, November 2022, Lot 99398); Heritage Auction 3046 (April 2016, Lot 30299)

To read the complete item description, see:
French Protectorate. Ranavalona III silver Specimen 5 Francs 1895 SP62 PCGS, (https://coins.ha.com/itm/madagascar/madagascar-french-protectorate-ranavalona-iii-silver-specimen-5-francs-1895-sp62-pcgs-/a/3130-36397.s?ctrack=200071&type=bodylink-4+-coinworld-picks-3130-NYINC-tem011426)

Castile. Alfonso VIII (1158-1214) gold Morabetino SE 1250 Safar (AD 1212) MS62 PCGS, Toledo mint, Fr-101, Vives-2038. An enchanting gold piece from the Kingdom of Castile, an important entity in the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. This issue cites, in Arabic, Alfonso as the Prince of the Catholics and the Pope of Rome as the Emir of the Church of the Messiah.

To read the complete item description, see:
Castile. Alfonso VIII (1158-1214) gold Morabetino SE 1250 Safar (AD 1212) MS62 PCGS, (https://coins.ha.com/itm/spain/castille/spain-castile-alfonso-viii-1158-1214-gold-morabetino-se-1250-safar-ad-1212-ms62-pcgs-/a/3130-36507.s?ctrack=200071&type=bodylink-5+-coinworld-picks-3130-NYINC-tem011426)

Umayyad. temp. al-Walid I (AH 86-96 / AD 705-715) gold Dinar AH 89 (AD 707/708) MS67 NGC, A-127, Fr-11. 4.29gm. The sole-finest certified example of a Year 89 al-Walid I Dinar and the first Umayyad Dinar that Heritage has ever encountered in a MS67. A supreme example of the type, destined to be a highlight of the Islamic Dynasties coinage in this sale.

To read the complete item description, see:
Umayyad. temp. al-Walid I (AH 86-96 / AD 705-715) gold Dinar AH 89 (AD 707/708) MS67 NGC, (https://coins.ha.com/itm/islamic-dynasties/islamic-dynasties-umayyad-temp-al-walid-i-ah-86-96-ad-705-715-gold-dinar-ah-89-ad-707-708-ms67-ngc-/a/3130-36382.s?ctrack=200071&type=bodylink-6+-coinworld-picks-3130-NYINC-tem011426)

HERITAGE: ADMIRAL VERNON COLLECTION

1739 Admiral Vernon Medal, Porto Bello, Adams-PBvi-25-OO, R.6 -- Damaged -- NGC Details. AU. Ex: Admiral Vernon Collection. Copper alloy. 33.6 mm x 25.5 mm oval format. Other examples of this interesting variety are holed at 12 o'clock including the sole gold Admiral Vernon medal in the British Museum. This example has a carefully filled hole and a small indent above the sword point accounting for the NGC Details grade. The otherwise sharp and essentially Choice About Uncirculated surfaces feature original light-brown surfaces and excellent visual appeal.

To read the complete item description, see:
1739 Admiral Vernon Medal, Porto Bello, Adams-PBvi-25-OO, R.6 -- Damaged -- NGC Details. AU. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/betts-medals/1739-admiral-vernon-medal-porto-bello-adams-pbvi-25-oo-r6-damaged-ngc-details-au-ex-admiral-vernon-colle/a/63335-92127.s?ctrack=200071&type=bodylink-1b-coinus-picks-63335-Admiral-tem011326)

1739 Admiral Vernon Medal, Porto Bello, Adams-PBvi-24-NN, R.6, AU55 NGC. Ex: Admiral Vernon Collection. Copper alloy. 38.0 mm. This Choice About Uncirculated example of a relatively available variety shows a speckling of gray obverse color on the overall brassy copper surfaces. There are no meaningful marks to mention other than a tiny, rectangular planchet void floating high above the baton tip. A significant design change in the Porto Bello series is the appearance of unenclosed obverse and reverse legends -- diagnostic for the 24-NN variety, as is an oversized exergue on the reverse. Aged partial luster remains on both sides. PBvi-24-NN is listed as R.6 in the Adams-Chao reference but is likely rarer, possibly approaching R.7 or higher. The variety was missing from the John Adams collection, and the ANS coin is only VF.

To read the complete item description, see:
1739 Admiral Vernon Medal, Porto Bello, Adams-PBvi-24-NN, R.6, AU55 NGC. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/betts-medals/1739-admiral-vernon-medal-porto-bello-adams-pbvi-24-nn-r6-au55-ngc-ex-admiral-vernon-collection-copper-alloy/a/63335-92126.s?ctrack=200071&type=bodylink-2b-coinus-picks-63335-Admiral-tem011326)

1739 Admiral Vernon Medal, Vice Admiral, Adams-NLv-2-B, R.8, AU55 NGC. Ex: Admiral Vernon Collection. Adams-Chao Plate Coin. Copper alloy. 33.3 mm. Bewigged Vernon portrait facing right on the obverse; large ship under full sail (presumed to be Vernon's flagship Burford) on the reverse. This is the second listed No Location variety in Adams-Chao, considered R.8 at the time (2010) and still believed very rare. The piece displays excellent detail befitting the Choice AU grade, while deep walnut-brown and ebony patina characterizes each side. The surfaces, especially the fields, exhibit some granularity, though much is due to the cast nature of the planchet. XRF Composition (per Sedwick, 2022): 68.21% copper, 18.03% zinc, 11.81% lead.
Ex: From Eimer in 3/2004; John Adams Collection; Sedwick (5/2022), lot 1158.

To read the complete item description, see:
1739 Admiral Vernon Medal, Vice Admiral, Adams-NLv-2-B, R.8, AU55 NGC. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/betts-medals/1739-admiral-vernon-medal-vice-admiral-adams-nlv-2-b-r8-au55-ngc-ex-admiral-vernon-collection-adams-chao-plat/a/63335-92001.s?ctrack=200071&type=bodylink-1b-coinus-picks-63335-Admiral-tem011326)

1739 Admiral Vernon Medal, Porto Bello, Adams-PBvi-7-H, R.7 -- Private Countermark -- NGC Details. XF. Ex: Admiral Vernon Collection. The Adams-Chao Plate Coin. Struck in silver. 12.10 grams. 32 mm. A small "w" counterstamp below the exergual date is most likely unrelated to the designer of this variety, which is unique among the Porto Bello pieces. The obverse also appears in the Fort Chagre type (FCv-16 and FCv-17), although the FCv-16 obverse is signed "I M" rather than "T B" as seen here. All silver Admiral Vernon medals are rare overall, but especially among the Porto Bello issues, with only five examples reported. Glossy old-silver color provides excellent eye appeal and the few obverse rim indents are of little concern. The NGC holder mistakenly indicates silvered copper alloy, but this medal is confirmed as silver in all previous appearances and by recent spectral electronic analysis.
Ex: Spink's Auction (11/1981), Phillip Flannagan Collection (Bowers and Merena, 11-12, 2001), lot 5223; The John W. Adams Collection; Sedwick (11,2020), lot 1235.

To read the complete item description, see:
1739 Admiral Vernon Medal, Porto Bello, Adams-PBvi-7-H, R.7 (https://coins.ha.com/itm/betts-medals/1739-admiral-vernon-medal-porto-bello-adams-pbvi-7-h-r7-private-countermark-ngc-details-xf-ex-/a/63335-92088.s?ctrack=200071&type=bodylink-2b-coinus-picks-63335-Admiral-tem011326)

1739 Admiral Vernon Medal, Porto Bello, Adams-PBv-44-UU, R.6 AU53 NGC. Ex: Admiral Vernon Collection. Copper alloy. 36.4 mm. This reverse deteriorated quickly, with most examples of the variety showing a die break through SHIPS on the reverse border and die bulging through the date. The present AU example smooth, problem-free brass-chestnut surfaces with sharp definition and little wear.

To read the complete item description, see:
1739 Admiral Vernon Medal, Porto Bello, Adams-PBv-44-UU, R.6 AU53 NGC. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/betts-medals/1739-admiral-vernon-medal-porto-bello-adams-pbv-44-uu-r6-au53-ngc-ex-admiral-vernon-collection-copper-alloy-3/a/63335-92067.s?ctrack=200071&type=bodylink-3b-coinus-picks-63335-Admiral-tem011326)

STEPHEN ALBUM RARE COINS AUCTION 54

The firm's CEO Joseph Lang notes: "The coin market has been very robust and our consignors as well as our bidders have been eager to contribute to and participate in our highly successful auctions. Our current auction has a wide array of interesting items that our clients have come to expect to see in our sales".

Featured collections in the auction include:

• The Kenneth A. Bovenkamp Collection of Ottoman Coins
• The Ismail al-Imam Collection of Fatimid Glass Weights
• The Dr. Dirk Löer Collection of Chinese Coins
• Mexican Cap and Ray 8 Reales from The Bob "Swamperbob" Gurney Collection

Lot viewing is available by appointment at the firm's offices in Santa Rosa, California.

Some highlights from the sale follow:

ANCIENTS - ROMAN EMPIRE: Titus, as caesar, 77-78 AD, AV aureus (7.11g), Rome, 77-78 AD, RIC-954 (Vespasian), laureate head right, T CAESAR IMP VESPASIANVS // Rome seated right on two oval shields, holding spear in left hand, eagle flying to each side, small she-wolf and twins to right, COS VI, small graffito on reverse, Strike 5/5, Surface 2/5, NGC graded Fine, ex Roma Auction 9, Lot 628
Estimated at $2,500 to $3,000

To read the complete item description, see:
ANCIENTS - ROMAN EMPIRE: Titus, as caesar, 77-78 AD, AV aureus (7.11g), Rome, 77-78 AD, RIC-954 (https://www.sarc.auction/ROMAN-EMPIRE-Titus-as-caesar-77-78-AD-AV-aureus-7-11g-Rome-77-78-AD-NGC-Fine_i58959510)

ISLAMIC - ARAB-SASANIAN: 'Abd al-Malik b. Abi Shay(kh), fl. 692, AR drachm (2.68g), APRShT (Abarshahr, = Nishapur)), AH72, A-29, clipped down to slightly below the post-reform Umayyad standard, clear name, mint & date, stylistically identical to the first known example (sold in our Auction 17, lot 104, back in 2013, now Zeno-128271) but struck from a different pair of dies, VF, RRRR
Estimated at $15,000 to $20,000

To read the complete item description, see:
ISLAMIC - ARAB-SASANIAN: 'Abd al-Malik b. Abi Shay(kh), fl. 692, AR drachm (2.68g) (https://www.sarc.auction/ARAB-SASANIAN-Abd-al-Malik-b-Abi-Shay-kh-fl-692-AR-drachm-2-68g-APRShT-Abarshahr-Nisha_i58959576)

ISLAMIC - ASSASSINS AT ALAMUT (BATINID): Muhammad III, 1221-1254, glass weight (16.10g), A-1921W, larger than usual format for an Islamic glass weight with a diameter of 38mm, with the elegantly engraved legend 'alâ / al-dunya wa'l-din / muhammad bin al-hasan / al-mawla al-a'zam, green, mostly translucent, with some light patina; completely unknown and a majestic example, VF to XF, RRRR, ex Ismail al-Imam Collection
Estimated at $15,000 to $20,000

To read the complete item description, see:
ISLAMIC - ASSASSINS AT ALAMUT (BATINID): Muhammad III, 1221-1254, glass weight (16.10g) (https://www.sarc.auction/ASSASSINS-AT-ALAMUT-BATINID-Muhammad-III-1221-1254-glass-weight-16-10g-VF-XF_i58960005)

BRITISH INDIA: Victoria, Empress, 1876-1901, AR 1/2 rupee, 1877(c), KM-491, S&W-6.169, type A/I, Calcutta Mint, a wonderful bright lustrous mint state example, incredibly rare in this state of preservation, PCGS graded MS64, the single finest graded example by PCGS and only one graded higher by NGC, ex Puddester Collection
Estimated at $20,000 to $25,000

To read the complete item description, see:
BRITISH INDIA: Victoria, Empress, 1876-1901, AR 1/2 rupee, 1877(c) (https://www.sarc.auction/BRITISH-INDIA-Victoria-Empress-1876-1901-AR-1-2-rupee-1877-c-PCGS-MS64_i58960176)

WORLD COINS - TRANSYLVANIA / HUNGARY: Leopold I, 1657-1705, AV 5 ducats (17.31g), Nagybánya, 1803, KM-A257, ÉH-977b, H-1295, mount expertly removed, still an attractive lustrous example of this large gold issue, PCGS graded AU details
Estimated at $6,000 to $8,000

To read the complete item description, see:
WORLD COINS - TRANSYLVANIA / HUNGARY: Leopold I, 1657-1705, AV 5 ducats (17.31g), Nagybánya, 1803, KM-A257, ÉH-977b, H-1295 (https://www.sarc.auction/HUNGARY-Leopold-I-1657-1705-AV-5-ducats-17-31g-Nagyb-nya-1803-PCGS-AU-details_i58960766)

WORLD COINS - CEYLON: Dutch, AE 6 stuiver (1/2 larin) (65.74g), Colombo, ND (1660-1720), KM-21, Scholten-1288a, Passon-53.4, dump style bar, St within leafy wreath at left end of bar and VI in similar wreath at right end of bar, repeated on the reverse, letters DXCII (Roman for 592) written in museum ink on one side, noted as circa 1660-1720 on the NGC label, described as circa 1712 on the Lakdiva website, an item of the utmost rarity that almost never comes up for auction, NGC graded VF30 BN, RRR, ex Taisei-Baldwin-Gillio Auction 19, February 23, 1995, Lot 48; ex Dick Ford Collection
Estimated at $9,000 to $12,000

To read the complete item description, see:
WORLD COINS - CEYLON: Dutch, AE 6 stuiver (1/2 larin) (65.74g), Colombo, ND (1660-1720) (https://www.sarc.auction/CEYLON-Dutch-AE-6-stuiver-1-2-larin-65-74g-Colombo-ND-1660-1720-NGC-VF30-BN_i58960985)

CHINA - XIN DYNASTY: Wang Mang, 7-23 AD, AE gold key money (35.12g), H-9.12, yi dao ping wu qian (one knife worth five thousand) with the words yi dao written in gold inlay, minor encrustation, graded 85 by GBCA Grading Company, a lovely example of this rare and popular type! XF, ex Zhao Quanzhi Collection
Estimated at $8,000 to $10,000

To read the complete item description, see:
CHINA - XIN DYNASTY: Wang Mang, 7-23 AD, AE gold key money (35.12g), H-9.12 (https://www.sarc.auction/XIN-Wang-Mang-7-23-AD-AE-gold-key-money-35-12g-XF_i58961150)

The firm is currently accepting consignments for its forthcoming auctions in 2026.

Please see www.stevealbum.com for more information.

STACK'S BOWERS: STACK COLLECTION GOLD COINS

1824/1 Capped Head Left Quarter Eagle. BD-1. Rarity-5. MS-61 (PCGS). CMQ. A dramatic rarity in the early quarter eagle series, a remarkable Mint State survivor from a mintage of just 2,600 pieces. Both sides show splendid cartwheel luster over reflective fields, with a prooflike character that remained from the initial preparation of these dies throughout the duration of the short production run. Even light yellow gold surfaces show a faint light green hue, enriched by coppery toning on the central obverse device and around the obverse periphery. Trivial friction is seen, with some horizontal lines across the portrait and some abrasions in the obverse fields, but the circles of spinning luster remain unbroken and undimmed. The strike is well centered and firmly rendered, though the area of the central reverse device left of the shield shows its usual softness, caused by an alignment opposite the highest points of the obverse portrait. A few little abrasions are seen on the rim, including at 9 o'clock on the obverse and a tiny nick above U of UNITED on the reverse. Three pinprick marks around O of OF on the reverse are probably the best markers for provenance study, as few other contact marks are consequential enough to appear in a photograph. The freshness and visual appeal are unmatched at this grade level, as in-hand inspection will impress upon those interested. Free of abuse or damage inflicted during its useful life as a coin or during its far longer career as a collectible, this piece offers outstanding value for an early gold connoisseur.

It's been a remarkable nine years since we've sold an 1824 quarter eagle. The last, a PCGS AU-58, sold in our auction of March 2017. We have not offered a Mint State example since the September 2015 Pogue II sale, when a PCGS MS-63 brought $70,500. With just 50 to 60 pieces known from a mintage of 2,600, this ranks as one of the most elusive dates in the entire quarter eagle series. This piece has eye appeal and provenance to complement its rarity, making it one of the most desirable examples of this issue extant.

Provenance: From the James A. Stack, Sr. Collection. Earlier from our (Stack's) sale of the J.F. Bell (Jacob Shapiro) Collection, December 1944, lot 91.

To read the complete item description, see:
1824/1 Capped Head Left Quarter Eagle. BD-1. Rarity-5. MS-61 (PCGS). CMQ. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1LCLFH/18241-capped-head-left-quarter-eagle-bd-1-rarity-5-ms-61-pcgs-cmq)

1854-S Liberty Head Quarter Eagle. VG Details--Mount Removed (PCGS). On behalf of the James A. Stack, Sr. Collection, Stack's Bowers Galleries is pleased to present an eminently collectible example of a numismatic classic. The first quarter eagle issue from the San Francisco Mint, and one of the rarest of any denomination from that facility, the significance of the 1854-S has been confirmed by its inclusion in the fifth edition (2019) of the influential reference 100 Greatest U.S. Coins by Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth, in which it is ranked 93.

Struck during the first year of coinage operations at the "Inconspicuous Gold Rush Mint," as described by Nancy Y. Oliver and Richard G. Kelly (2014), the history of the 1854-S is closely linked to that of the California Gold Rush. As such, our story begins with James Wilson Marshall's now famous discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California on January 24, 1848. With the onset of the California Gold Rush that year, both private and public interests moved quickly to convert the new riches into a usable, transportable form of wealth. Bars or ingots were preferred for long-distance shipment of high value deposits, but coins served both in the expanding local economy and in commerce beyond San Francisco. Locally produced private coins began turning up outside of the California gold regions as early as the summer of 1849, when the New Orleans Picayune reported seeing a new coin that was "about the size of a $5 U.S gold piece, but it is not so handsome." The new private half eagle seen in New Orleans was coined by Norris, Gregg & Norris, and within a few years numerous private minting and assaying firms were serving Gold Rush California.

To read the complete item description, see:
1854-S Liberty Head Quarter Eagle. VG Details--Mount Removed (PCGS). (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1LCLH3/1854-s-liberty-head-quarter-eagle-vg-details-mount-removed-pcgs)

1879 Four-Dollar Gold Stella. Flowing Hair. Judd-1635, Pollock-1833, JD-1. Rarity-3. Gold. Reeded Edge. Proof-65 (PCGS). CAC. CMQ. Beautifully designed, rare in all grades, and supported by an intriguing backstory, the 1879 Flowing Hair Stella is a coin of which numismatic legends are made. The James A. Stack, Sr. Collection delivers one of the finest examples at the Proof-65 grade level that we have ever had the privilege of bringing to auction.

The story of the four-dollar gold Stellas of 1879 and 1880 begins with the desire in certain government circles to create an international coinage system that would be readily recognized and accepted throughout the world. Although it had surfaced earlier, this idea gained its greatest momentum in 1879 through the efforts of John A. Kasson, the United States' minister plenipotentiary to the Austro-Hungarian Empire and a former chairman of the Congressional Committee on Coinage, Weights and Measures. Kasson urged the federal government to consider creation of a four-dollar gold coin as the basis for a new international monetary system. In Kasson's opinion, a four-dollar gold coin struck in the United States Mint would more closely approximate in value the more widely used and accepted gold coins of several European countries, including Austria's 8 florins, the Dutch 8 florins, France's 20 francs, Italy's 20 lire and Spain's 20 pesetas.

Provenance: From the James A. Stack, Sr. Collection. Housed in a Stack's 32 W. 46th Street envelope prior to certification.

To read the complete item description, see:
1879 Four-Dollar Gold Stella. Flowing Hair. Judd-1635, Pollock-1833, JD-1. Rarity-3. Gold. Reeded Edge. Proof-65 (PCGS). CAC. CMQ. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1LCLIE/1879-four-dollar-gold-stella-flowing-hair-judd-1635-pollock-1833-jd-1-rarity-3-gold-reeded-edge-proof-65-pcgs-cac-cmq)

1798 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle. Small Eagle. BD-1. Rarity-7. AU-53 (PCGS). CAC. CMQ. With a total survivorship of just seven coins, the 1798 Small Eagle $5 is an iconic issue, one of the all-time classic gold rarities struck at the First Philadelphia Mint. This precise example was once the most valuable coin in the world, a fact that made it the focus of headlines nationwide in June 1912, after it sold for a then-shocking $3,000 in Henry Chapman's auction of the George H. Earle, Jr. collection.

A new example of this rarity turned up in 2000, offered as lot 1290 in the June 2000 Ira and Larry Goldberg sale. At the time, John Dannreuther identified it as the Atwater coin, a provenance we agreed with in writing when cataloging the Pogue specimen in 2015. Though the Atwater plate is not of great use, B. Max Mehl noted that Atwater purchased his coin from the 1912 Earle sale, where a superb photographic plate illustrates this coin perfectly. The June 2000 Goldberg coin and the Atwater coin share an aspect that, a decade ago, your cataloger used as confirmation that those two coins were the same, namely a struck-through atop the second T of STATES that left a nearly round depression. With this coin in front of us, it's plain that the Atwater coin went to James A. Stack, Sr. and has been in the collection since (still in the 1946 Atwater sale envelope!). Interestingly, that struck through characteristic is seen on both coins, meaning that the same piece of detritus was clinging to the reverse die when both coins were struck, suggesting that they were struck nearly (or exactly) one after each other.

Considering the abbreviated mintage of just a few hundred coins, it's perhaps not surprising that two of the survivors were struck in close sequence to each other. The Dannreuther-Bass book suggests a likely run of 300 to 600 coins, with the now obsolete Small Eagle reverse apparently pressed into emergency service. This is the very last use of a Small Eagle die, the only half eagle variety to use a Small Eagle reverse after 1797, and also (as pointed out by Dannreuther) the sole 13 star obverse / Small Eagle reverse variety in the entire half eagle series. Further, rather than requiring a book and a magnifying glass to attribute, this variety is as naked-eye as can be, making it a focal rarity for advanced gold enthusiasts.

Provenance: From the James A. Stack, Sr. Collection. Earlier from Mr. John Butler, "a druggist, of Burlington, New Jersey" about 1900; Butler's son, by descent; George W. Earle, Jr. Collection; Henry Chapman's sale of the George W. Earle, Jr. Collection, June 1912, lot 2339; Henry Chapman; Col. James W. Ellsworth Collection; Wayte Raymond, as part of the Ellsworth Collection, en bloc, 1923; William Cutler Atwater Collection, 1925; Atwater Estate, 1940; B. Max Mehl's sale of the William Cutler Atwater Collection, June 1946, lot 1612. Plated in The Standard Catalogue of United States Coins by Wayte Raymond, 18th (and earlier) editions, 1957, p. 140.

To read the complete item description, see:
1798 Capped Bust Right Half Eagle. Small Eagle. BD-1. Rarity-7. AU-53 (PCGS). CAC. CMQ. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1LCLJD/1798-capped-bust-right-half-eagle-small-eagle-bd-1-rarity-7-au-53-pcgs-cac-cmq)

1828/7 Capped Head Left Half Eagle. BD-2. Rarity-8. MS-64+ (PCGS). CAC. CMQ-X. One of the most amazing discoveries in the James A. Stack, Sr. Collection. This is not only the finest recorded example of this date, nor simply one of six known 1828/7 half eagles extant, it is also the finer of two known specimens from these dies. It was unpublished and unidentified until it recently emerged from the Stack Collection, where it has been since 1944.

There are four known die varieties of 1828 half eagles: two with 1828/7 overdates and two perfect dates, with a combined estimated population of fewer than 20 coins. The perfect date 1828 varieties, BD-3 and BD-4, are both very rare, rated as Rarity-8 and Rarity-6+ respectively by Dannreuther. The overdate varieties, BD-1 and BD-2, are even greater rarities. We have not offered an 1828/7 half eagle of either variety in any grade since the March 2016 Pogue IV sale - and for good reason. Including specimens of both varieties, there are only six known.

This variety was unknown and unpublished the last time an example of this variety sold (as of this writing, though the discovery coin is slated to sell in January 2026). John Dannreuther first published the variety (as 1828/7 BD-2) in his 2006 Early U.S. Gold Coin Varieties, penned based upon his own research and the work of the late Harry W. Bass, Jr. Despite his Herculean efforts to acquire a complete collection of early gold by die variety (and die state), Harry Bass never owned one of these. At some point before 1996, Andrew W. Pollock III realized that the 1828/7 half eagle offered in our 1955 Baldenhofer sale, our 1962 Wolfson sale, our (Bowers and Merena's) 1989 sale of the Brooks Collection, in addition to appearances in Auction '80 and Auction '88, was actually struck from the reverse die used on the 1828 perfect date half eagles, not the reverse die used on the other 1828/7 half eagles. When that coin was offered in Superior's January 1996 Michael I. Keston sale, it was again cataloged as the same die variety as other known 1828/7 half eagles. That piece, now graded MS-63 (NGC), is the second finest of two known. Its provenance has been tangled with this one over the years, as no one had any idea that a second example of that unique die variety had been hiding in the James A. Stack, Sr. Collection for 75 years!

Provenance: From the James A. Stack, Sr. Collection. Earlier from our (Stack's) sale of December 1939, lot 100; Col. James W. Flanagan Collection, via Stack's, January 1940 (at $845); our (Stack's) sale of the Col. James W. Flanagan Collection, March 1944, lot 1103 (at $925); our (Stack's) sale of the J.F. Bell (Jacob Shapiro) Collection, December 1944, lot 349 (at $1,300).

To read the complete item description, see:
1828/7 Capped Head Left Half Eagle. BD-2. Rarity-8. MS-64+ (PCGS). CAC. CMQ-X. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1LCLKN/18287-capped-head-left-half-eagle-bd-2-rarity-8-ms-64-pcgs-cac-cmq-x)

1899 Liberty Head Half Eagle. JD-1. Rarity-5-. Proof-69 Deep Cameo (PCGS). A leading highlight of the James A. Stack, Sr. Collection, and one of the most significant Proof Liberty Head gold coins of any denomination or date that we have ever had the privilege of bringing to auction. Not only is this the single finest Proof 1899 certified by PCGS, but it is also the single finest PCGS-certified Proof in the entire Liberty Head half eagle series, 1839 to 1908. It is the ultimate Proof type coin of the With Motto design, and would also serve as a focal point in the finest specialized collection of classic U.S. Mint Proof gold coinage.

The mintage for the Proof 1899 half eagle is, ironically, 99 coins, delivered in at least four batches throughout the year. This is a sizeable total for an 1890s U.S. Mint Proof gold issue, but yearly mintages would increase dramatically with the turn of the century as more contemporary collectors became interested in these special coins. Even so, demand for complete Proof sets was strong enough in 1899 that more than half were sold or otherwise distributed that year. Many were subsequently preserved with the utmost care, further evidence of growing numismatic interest in Proof gold coinage during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Provenance: From the James A. Stack, Sr. Collection. Earlier ex Thomas L. Elder's sale of the Lewis C. Gehring, Esq. Collection, August 1921, lot 129; Hillyer C. Ryder; Ryder Estate, February 1928; sold en bloc to Wayte Raymond, May 1945; Wayte Raymond to James A. Stack, Sr., ca. 1947.

To read the complete item description, see:
1899 Liberty Head Half Eagle. JD-1. Rarity-5-. Proof-69 Deep Cameo (PCGS). (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1LCLNQ/1899-liberty-head-half-eagle-jd-1-rarity-5-proof-69-deep-cameo-pcgs)

1911 Indian Half Eagle. JD-1. Rarity-4. Proof-67 (PCGS). CAC. CMQ. The Philadelphia Mint struck 139 Proof half eagles in 1911, John W. Dannreuther accounting for only 80 to 100 survivors in all grades when he published his United States Proof Coins volume on gold coinage in 2018. This is the first of the later Sandblast Proofs in the Indian series, after the Mint abandoned the Satin Proof finish of 1909 and 1910. The decision was taken after a vote among attendees of the 1910 ANA Convention showed that the sandblast pieces were preferred.

Provenance: From the James A. Stack, Sr. Collection.

To read the complete item description, see:
1911 Indian Half Eagle. JD-1. Rarity-4. Proof-67 (PCGS). CAC. CMQ. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1LCLQ0/1911-indian-half-eagle-jd-1-rarity-4-proof-67-pcgs-cac-cmq)

1907 Indian Eagle. Rounded Rim, Periods. MS-67 (PCGS). CAC. CMQ. When it was discovered that Augustus Saint-Gaudens' original design for the 1907 Indian eagle caused problems both in production and stacking, Chief Engraver Charles Barber made modifications to the design that included a more standard rim configuration that permitted stacking. Although Saint-Gaudens had succumbed to cancer on August 3, at his studio in Cornish, New Hampshire, another set of models was made using feedback received from the Mint. Saint-Gaudens' widow, Augusta, sent these revised models to the Mint where Barber reviewed them and stated that "dies made from these models would be a great improvement" over the modified dies he had already prepared. Confusion arose, however, from Acting Mint Director Robert Preston's September 9 order to commence production of the revised eagle for circulation: was this the modified Barber design, additional working dies for which had already been prepared and delivered to the coiner, or that sent to the Mint by Augusta Saint-Gaudens, dies for which Barber had not yet produced? In the event, the Mint commenced production per Preston's order using Barber's modified variety on September 13, eventually striking 31,500 examples in September and October 1907. These are the celebrated Rounded (or Rolled) Rim Indian eagles, which have traditionally been attributed as Judd-1903 and Pollock-1997, although most examples are part of a regular issue that was actually intended for commercial use. Per the uspatterns.com website:

Research by Roger Burdette in the Mint archives has discovered that true patterns for this design do exist and they were struck using a hurriedly made edge collar which has 2 large stars at one end of the tri-partite collar...

2 examples with this edge are in the Smithsonian. It is not known if there are any others.

Provenance: From the James A. Stack, Sr. Collection. Earlier from our (Stack's) sale of the J.F. Bell (Jacob Shapiro) Collection, December 1944, lot 673, where it realized $235, which matches Mr. Stack's cost for this coin as noted in his inventory.

To read the complete item description, see:
1907 Indian Eagle. Rounded Rim, Periods. MS-67 (PCGS). CAC. CMQ. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1LCLRG/1907-indian-eagle-rounded-rim-periods-ms-67-pcgs-cac-cmq)

1911-D Indian Eagle. MS-66 (PCGS). CAC. CMQ. The lowest mintage Indian eagle issue of the With Motto design type, the 1911-D was produced to the extent of just 30,100 pieces. Coinage commenced on April 26, 1911. The bulk of this mintage must have remained undistributed until destroyed through melting in the late 1930s, for the 1911-D is scarce even in circulated grades. Such examples constitute the majority in today's market, Q. David Bowers (2017) estimating their number at 1,000+, and these are obviously survivors of limited circulation in the American West. This issue also saw limited use in the export trade, and we believe than even an estimate of 500 coins is too generous for the 1911-D in Mint State. While the legendary 1907 Wire Rim, 1907 Rounded Rim, 1920-S, 1930-S, 1933, and even the 1911-S are rarer in terms of total number of Uncirculated coins known, the 1911-D is the leading Indian eagle condition rarity in grades of MS-65 and finer.

Although this issue has always been elusive, a small number of Mint State coins did find their way into numismatic hands within a few years of striking. The earliest auction appearance recorded by Q. David Bowers in his 2017 Guide Book of Gold Eagle Coins is lot 903 in B. Max Mehl's May 1921 sale of the Honorable James H. Manning Collection. Another coin cataloged as "Uncirculated" appeared in the great Fort Worth, Texas dealer's November 1939 sale of the William B. Hale Collection, but the two examples included in his November 1945 W.A. Philpott and Henry L. Zander Collections sale were circulated ("About Uncirculated" and "Very Fine"). The earliest offering of a Mint State 1911-D recorded by David W. Akers in his auction survey published in 1980 is the F.C.C. Boyd coin sold as lot 851 in Numismatic Gallery's January 1946 sale of "The World's Greatest Collection."

To read the complete item description, see:
1911-D Indian Eagle. MS-66 (PCGS). CAC. CMQ. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1LCLTW/1911-d-indian-eagle-ms-66-pcgs-cac-cmq)

1933 Indian Eagle. MS-66 (PCGS). Trailing only the 1907 Rounded Rim, the 1933 is the second rarest issue in the challenging Indian eagle series. It is also one of the most famous and eagerly sought issues in all of U.S. numismatics, linked by date to, and sharing much of its history with, the legendary 1933 Saint-Gaudens double eagle. David E. Tripp, author of Illegal Tender: Gold, Greed, and the Mystery of the Lost 1933 Double Eagle (2004) has done in-depth research and written extensively on both issues. He contributed a detailed history of the 1933 eagle to the catalog description for our (Stack's) October 2004 sale of what was then the finest certified example (NGC MS-66, lot 2190). Tripp breaks down the 312,500-piece mintage of the 1933 eagle into six transfers from the coiner's department in the Philadelphia Mint to the cashier: 50,000 coins on January 19, 1933; four additional deliveries of 50,000 coins each between February 3, 1933 and March 3, 1933; and a final delivery of 62,500 coins between the same February and March dates. 312,000 of these coins were sealed in the Mint's Vault F, 12 were destroyed through "special assays", nine were destroyed during the 1934 Annual Assay, 304 examples previously set aside for assay were not destroyed and subsequently returned to the cashier and, from the first 50,000-coin delivery on January 19, 100 were sent to the treasurer for sale to the public. Since those 100 examples were considered as having been issued for circulation, the 1933 eagle thereby gained the important status denied to the 1933 double eagle; the 1933 eagle as an issue became legal to own whereas, much later, the federal government deemed only one example of the 1933 double eagle legal to own.

When Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued Presidential Proclamation 2039 on March 6, 1933, banning both the paying out of gold by official institutions and hoarding of gold, and beginning the recall of privately owned gold, only four of the 100 1933 eagles from the January 19 delivery sent to the treasurer had been sold. A fifth example was released just five days prior to the Presidential Proclamation, as reported in a letter by David Tripp printed in the November 15, 2004 issue of Coin World:

To read the complete item description, see:
1933 Indian Eagle. MS-66 (PCGS). (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1LCLVT/1933-indian-eagle-ms-66-pcgs)

STACK'S BOWERS: STACK TERRITORIAL GOLD

1830 Templeton Reid $2.50. K-1. Rarity-6. AU-58 (PCGS). CAC. The rarity of this issue makes it notable to coin collectors, as its population of fewer than 25 known specimens in all grades puts those who own any Templeton Reid coin into an exclusive club indeed. Lots of things are rare though, and while rarity is necessary, it is insufficient on its own to give a collectible the sort of stature a gold coin struck by Templeton Reid enjoys. Its real importance is historical, and if there were 500 Templeton Reid coins to choose from that significance would be undiminished. Private gold coins are a vital part of America's numismatic story. With apologies to Mssrs. Brasher and Barry, whose golden contributions to the Confederation-era money supply were issued under very different circumstances, the story of private and territorial gold begins with Templeton Reid.

America's first gold rush began in North Carolina in 1799, when John Reed's son Conrad discovered gold on the family farm north of Charlotte. The same geological feature that brought gold to the surface in North Carolina was present in Georgia. When stories began to emerge around 1829 of gold on Cherokee lands in Georgia, new settlers rushed into the area, buoyed by Andrew Jackson's December 1829 State of the Union address, which first detailed his planned Indian removal policy. With the 1830 Indian Removal Act, federal policy blessed what was already happening on the ground in the gold regions of Georgia: abundant new miners drawn by the promises of gold.

Provenance: From the James A. Stack, Sr. Collection. Earlier from Henry Chapman's sale of the Arthur C. Nygren Collection, April 1924, lot 21; Hillyer Ryder Collection; Ryder Estate, February 1928; sold en bloc to Wayte Raymond, May 1945; Wayte Raymond to James A. Stack, Sr., ca. 1947.

To read the complete item description, see:
1830 Templeton Reid $2.50. K-1. Rarity-6. AU-58 (PCGS). CAC. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1LCLW6/1830-templeton-reid-250-k-1-rarity-6-au-58-pcgs-cac)

1849 Moffat & Co. $5. K-4. Rarity-4. MS-63 (PCGS). CAC. CMQ. A distinctively important example, preserved by famed California minter John Glover Kellogg, who worked for Moffat in 1849 as the firm's cashier.

The October 1916 Thomas Elder sale of coins from the collection of John Glover Kellogg was his first consignment from Kellogg's son, but not the last. Hillyer Ryder bought this coin from Elder's sale of March 1924, a catalog headlined THE EDWARD KELLOGG COLLECTION AND OTHERS. The fourth day of the sale was entitled "COLLECTION OF THE LATE EDWARD KELLOGG, Son of Mr. Kellogg, who Struck the Private Gold. SOLD BY ORDER OF THE TRUSTEES." A Proof 1855 Kellogg $50 led off, followed by 14 more lots of private gold coins. Lot 2250 was described as "1849. $5.00 Moffat & Co. Head to left. S. M. V. CALIFORNIA GOLD. About uncirculated. The best one we have had."

Though a few nice examples have sold privately, acquiring a better example at public auction appears to be a once-a-generation endeavor. Hillyer Ryder had already been collecting territorial gold for a decade when he bought this in 1924. Until today, that remains this coin's lone auction appearance.

Provenance: From the James A. Stack, Sr. Collection. Earlier from the personal collection of John Glover Kellogg; Edward Kellogg, by descent; Thomas Elder's sale of March 1924, lot 2250; Hillyer Ryder Collection; Ryder Estate, February 1928; sold en bloc to Wayte Raymond, May 1945; Wayte Raymond to James A. Stack, Sr., ca. 1947.

To read the complete item description, see:
1849 Moffat & Co. $5. K-4. Rarity-4. MS-63 (PCGS). CAC. CMQ. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1LCLZC/1849-moffat-co-5-k-4-rarity-4-ms-63-pcgs-cac-cmq)

1851 Augustus Humbert $50. Lettered Edge. K-2. Rarity-5. 50 DC, 880 THOUS., No 50 on Reverse. AU-55 (PCGS). CAC. CMQ. This is a simply incredible specimen of this important historical coinage, described by Kagin and McCarthy as "the earliest U.S. Government issues in California." The lettered edge $50 slugs were first struck on January 31, 1851, shortly after Augustus Humbert arrived in San Francisco with the necessary tools in hand. The majestic eagle on the obverse was accomplished by America's most highly regarded medalist, Charles Cushing Wright of New York. The reverse die, with its fine engine turned details, resembles watch cases of the era, unquestionably the work of Humbert, a former watchcase maker himself.

For modern collectors, there is not a single issue that symbolizes the California Gold Rush better than a Humbert $50 slug. They are massive and iconic, recognizable even outside the realm of numismatics, an encapsulation of the dramatic wealth and excess of the Gold Rush era. Though any Humbert slug is desirable, the lettered edge types of 1851 came first and remain the hardest to locate in nice grade. The Kagin-McCarthy book estimates that about 100 specimens of this variety, with the 880 THOUS obverse and no denomination on the reverse, exist today. Most are damaged, many are in institutional holdings, and very few are prettier than this.

Provenance: From the James A. Stack, Sr. Collection. Earlier from the John H. Clapp Collection; Clapp estate, 1942; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, via Stack's; our (Stack's) sale of the H.R. Lee Collection, October 1947, lot 1906.

To read the complete item description, see:
1851 Augustus Humbert $50. Lettered Edge. K-2. Rarity-5. 50 DC, 880 THOUS., No 50 on Reverse. AU-55 (PCGS). CAC. CMQ. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1LCM1K/1851-augustus-humbert-50-lettered-edge-k-2-rarity-5-50-dc-880-thous-no-50-on-reverse-au-55-pcgs-cac-cmq)

1852/1 Augustus Humbert $10 Gold. K-8. Rarity-5. MS-62 (PCGS). CAC. CMQ. Even the most advanced specialists have likely never seen an 1852/1 Humbert $10 like this, as it was last offered well over a century ago. It appears to be one of Hillyer Ryder's earliest territorial gold purchases, acquired from the 1913 sale of the collection of Malcolm N. Jackson. Cataloged by Wayte Raymond during his days at the United States Coin Company, it is now most remembered for its uniform high condition. Based upon Raymond's introduction, he could have seen that coming:

This denomination was first conceived in 1851, but confirmation from Washington that coinage of $10 and $20 "small denomination" could commence didn't arrive until the following year. These were first struck in February 1852, and this overdated die was undoubtedly the first put into service, a match for the 1852/1 $20 coins struck under the same circumstances. It's been over a decade since we've offered one of these in any grade; the last, in March 2014, was graded PCGS VF-20. This denomination saw heavy circulation while these coins fulfilled a desperate need in commerce. The fact that this coin was spared from that is remarkable. We haven't offered an example certified AU or better since 2004.

Provenance: From the James A. Stack, Sr. Collection. Earlier from U.S. Coin Company's sale of the Malcolm N. Jackson Collection, May 1913, lot 378; Hillyer Ryder Collection; Ryder Estate, February 1928; sold en bloc to Wayte Raymond, May 1945; Wayte Raymond to James A. Stack, Sr., ca. 1947.

To read the complete item description, see:
1852/1 Augustus Humbert $10 Gold. K-8. Rarity-5. MS-62 (PCGS). CAC. CMQ. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1LCM2E/18521-augustus-humbert-10-gold-k-8-rarity-5-ms-62-pcgs-cac-cmq)

1853 United States Assay Office of Gold $20. K-17. Rarity-6-. 884 THOUS. MS-63 (PCGS). CMQ. The 884 THOUS issues of 1853 struck by the United States Assay Office were the penultimate gold coins coined in San Francisco before the establishment of the San Francisco Mint, struck before the 900 THOUS type that turned out to be a transition to full Federal control over gold coining in San Francisco. Political maneuvers to kill the Assay Office had resulted in a requirement that future issues be struck in the standard .900 fineness required by Federal law - all well and good for paper pushers in DC, of course, but impossible for the coiners without a ready supply of the parting acids required to refine gold to that level of purity. Dies were made for the new .900 issues, but the refining of deposits to that standard was a non-starter in the beginning of 1853. Of course, the demands of the commercial community of California continued, so the locals determined to strike coins of .884 fineness until a supply of acids became available. According to Kagin and McCarthy, "production of these coins began on February 23, 1853" and continued for only a week or so. Mintages were tiny of both the 884 THOUS $10 and $20 pieces, with modern extant populations estimated to be just a dozen or so for the smaller denomination and perhaps twice that number for the $20s like this one.

This coin, unseen since Lyman Low sold it in 1916, has never appeared on any Condition Census of this type, though it ranks among the very finest known. While acquisition of any specimen of this historic and short-lived issue is a feat, acquisition of a better one is a possibility only in the realms of fantasy.

Provenance: From the James A. Stack, Sr. Collection. Earlier from Lyman Low's sale of May 1916, lot 227; Hillyer Ryder Collection; Ryder Estate, February 1928; sold en bloc to Wayte Raymond, May 1945; Wayte Raymond to James A. Stack, Sr., ca. 1947.

To read the complete item description, see:
1853 United States Assay Office of Gold $20. K-17. Rarity-6-. 884 THOUS. MS-63 (PCGS). CMQ. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1LCM3V/1853-united-states-assay-office-of-gold-20-k-17-rarity-6-884-thous-ms-63-pcgs-cmq)

Undated (1849) Miners Bank $10. K-1. Rarity-5+. MS-62 (PCGS). CAC. CMQ. This coin is a golden example of no good deed going unpunished. When the Miners' Bank was first a going concern in downtown San Francisco in early 1849, they were cashing checks "in gold dust turned out of a bottle with a spoon into a bit of brown paper," according to a contemporary observation reprinted in the 2023 Kagin and McCarthy book. Thinking that coins of standard value might be a bit easier to handle than hand-rolled twists of gold dust, the Miners' Bank moved forward with a plan to create coins from their gold dust deposits. In August 1849, the bank gave a coining contract to the partnership of Kohler and Company, composed of the future state and United States Assay Office assayer Frederick Kohler and fellow New Yorker David Broderick. An attempt to have the Federal authorities at the port accept their coins for duty failed, and the Kohler firm's lack of assaying experience became evident as their productions were first panned by the assayers of the Philadelphia Mint and then by the commercial community at large. The coins did not last long in circulation, and most were melted in short order. Today, most of the known coins show little wear. Two-thirds of the pieces PCGS has certified are graded between AU-53 and MS-60.

Provenance: From the James A. Stack, Sr. Collection. Earlier from our (Stack's) sale of the E.M. Wharton Collection, October 1945, lot 2562.

To read the complete item description, see:
Undated (1849) Miners Bank $10. K-1. Rarity-5+. MS-62 (PCGS). CAC. CMQ. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1LCM4P/undated-1849-miners-bank-10-k-1-rarity-5-ms-62-pcgs-cac-cmq)

1850 Baldwin & Co. $10. K-3. Rarity-6. MS-61 (PCGS). CMQ. In a landscape of designs that largely echo Federal types, mostly amateurishly rendered at best and downright crude at worst, Baldwin's "Horseman" $10 stands out. If it was only a rarity, the coin would still see abundant demand, but the distinctiveness of its designs make this type among the most famous and avidly sought of all California gold pieces. The obverse was inspired by an 1831 print entitled "Californians Throwing the Lasso," published in Narrative of a Voyage to the Pacific and Beering's Straight by F.W. Beechy after a watercolor by William Smyth. The print, and engraver Albrecht Kuner's fine imitation of it, show the typical dress of a vaquero or horseman in Spanish California, the original American cowboys and the etymological origin of the slang "buckaroo." (For a real rarity, try to find a copy of the Numismatic Perspective #2, published in July 2003 by American Numismatic Rarities, where this connection was first published.)

The Baldwin & Company firm rose from the ashes of the coining concern behind the Miners' Bank $10 coins of 1849. Frederick D. Kohler, a New York jeweler, was trying his hand at the assaying trade. Kohler's career was ascendent in 1850, as were his aspirations, and he planned to issue coins in his own name struck from dies engraved by Kuner. Just a single copper pattern of Kohler's Horseman $10 survives, struck from the same obverse as the coin seen here. His plans were aborted, and he sold his business to a pair of fellow New York jewelers named Baldwin and Holman. This fine (and, no doubt, expensive) obverse die was sold with the business, and the newly formed Baldwin & Company employed it on a short run of gold $10 coins sometime after April 1850. The first example reached the assayers of the Philadelphia Mint shortly thereafter, and Eckfeldt and Du Bois determined that the example of this coinage they tested contained $9.96 worth of gold.

Provenance: From the James A. Stack, Sr. Collection. Earlier from B. Max Mehl's sale of the Frederick W. Geiss Collection; February 1947, lot 2189.

To read the complete item description, see:
1850 Baldwin & Co. $10. K-3. Rarity-6. MS-61 (PCGS). CMQ. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1LCM56/1850-baldwin-co-10-k-3-rarity-6-ms-61-pcgs-cmq)

1851 Baldwin & Co. $10. K-4. Rarity-6+. AU-58 (PCGS). CMQ. The typical softness of the 1851 Baldwin $10s underscores the issues the Baldwin operation had with their equipment. The Horseman type required two strikes to bring it up to full relief. While the first edition Kagin reference suggests these were struck from "concave dies," it appears they really just had trouble achieving sufficient striking pressure to fully strike up the central devices. This piece, like all 1851 Baldwin $10s we've seen, was struck just once. Unlike most, it shows a nearly full strike, a remarkable contrast to most surviving examples.

The first appearance we find of an 1851 Baldwin $10 at auction was in Lyman Low's July 1902 sale of the collection of Georg F. Ulex of Hamburg, Germany. Rich with good territorial gold coins (and lots of other rarities), lot 570 was included on a laid-in addendum sheet. Low described the 1851 Baldwin $10 issue, deeming it "extremely rare," but then continuing on at Low-like length: "I find no record in the 409 auction sales that have taken place during the past 19 years, and do not know if a public offering of this piece was made even prior to that time." Low couldn't find one, and we couldn't either.

This specimen first appears on the published record in 1914, when H.O. Granberg of Oshkosh, Wisconsin displayed it at the American Numismatic Society's Exhibition of United States and Colonial Coins. Coins from the Granberg Collection are illustrated on Plates 34 through 36 of the Exhibition catalog, along with one coin on Plate 37. This coin is photographed on Plate 36. The same exact photograph appears again in three different Wayte Raymond publications. First, Raymond used this coin to illustrate his 1931 Private Gold Coins Struck in the United States, 1830-1861, where this coin is plated on page 15. Next, this coin appears in the July 1939 issue of Wayte Raymond's Coin Collectors Journal, a house organ that was both an important journal of its era and a sales vehicle for Raymond's inventory and auctions. This coin is offered with a one-line description on page 75, calling it "Extremely Fine and of the highest rarity" with a hefty retail price of $600, and is illustrated on the following page. The same illustration turns up again in Wayte Raymond's Standard Catalogue, where this piece continues as the plate coin through the famous 1957 18th Edition, which incorporated research and writing by John J. Ford, Jr. and Walter Breen. While Granberg's coins appeared in three B. Max Mehl auctions in the 1910s and a U.S. Coin Company auction of Wayte Raymond's in 1915, some of his rarities transacted privately, and this appears to be one of them.

Provenance: From the James A. Stack, Sr. Collection. Earlier from the collection of H.O. Granberg, who displayed it at the ANS Exhibition of 1914; Wayte Raymond, July 1939; B. Max Mehl's sale of the Frederick W. Geiss Collection; February 1947, lot 2190. Plated in Private Gold Coins Struck in the United States 1831-1860 by Wayte Raymond, 1931 (page 15) and the Standard Catalogue of United States Coins, 1957 and earlier editions.

To read the complete item description, see:
1851 Baldwin & Co. $10. K-4. Rarity-6+. AU-58 (PCGS). CMQ. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1LCM5L/1851-baldwin-co-10-k-4-rarity-6-au-58-pcgs-cmq)

1851 Schultz & Co. $5. K-1. Rarity-6+. EF Details--Repaired (PCGS). The two surest ways to make money in Gold Rush California were to sell miners their supplies or to determine ways to purchase their gold dust. Banking establishments in the Gold Rush regions took on the latter challenge and saw huge sums of money cross their counters. While taking the gold in was easy, turning it into dollars was a greater challenge. The Schultz and Company firm was established to help turn dust into dollars in the most literal way: organized as a foundry firm, a brisk business in making coining dies led to a decision to make dies in their own names while acting as a front for two large local banks. Partner William Garratt, a mechanic from Ohio, was profiled in an 1891 work entitled The Builders of a Great City: San Francisco's Representative Men, and much of what we know about the Schultz & Company operation comes from this source. Formed in October 1850 in partnership with the elusive Judge G.W. Schultz (sometimes Shultz or, as on his coins, Shults), "the firm at the beginning, besides mechanical work, also made all the coin dies in use here in private coining, except those of Mr. Moffat, whose $50 slugs will be remembered by all old-timers."

Little is known of Schultz, but his mining business didn't go too well: in 1855, they were dragged in print by The Butte Record, a newspaper in Chico to whom they owed $18.

The coinage of Schultz and Company also managed to get dragged in the press, during a famous hubbub sparked by the banker James King of William in March 1851. As Kagin wrote, "on the 21st of that month, King sent $180 in face value of Baldwin, Schultz, and Dubosq coins to U.S. Assayer Augustus Humbert to be assayed." Humbert tossed 45 Schultz & Co. $5 coins into his fires and determined that, even including their silver content, they were worth just $4.87 each. The commercial community objected, business sputtered, and the California legislature's act of April 15, 1851 criminalized undervalue private gold coins. The game was up, and the Schultz enterprise was ended.

When Eckfeldt and Du Bois of the Philadelphia Mint published an assay result showing a Schultz $5 was worth $4.97, it was too late. Nearly all Schultz coins were melted, and few survived their useful lives as coins to become collectibles.

Provenance: From the James A. Stack, Sr. Collection. Earlier, from the collection of H.L. Hill, San Francisco; Louis E. Eliasberg, Sr. Collection, ca. 1936; Stack's sale of the H.R. Lee Collection, October 1947, lot 1881.

To read the complete item description, see:
1851 Schultz & Co. $5. K-1. Rarity-6+. EF Details--Repaired (PCGS). (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1LCM60/1851-schultz-co-5-k-1-rarity-6-ef-details-repaired-pcgs)

1849 Oregon Exchange Company $5. K-1. Rarity-5+. EF-45 (PCGS). CAC. CMQ-X. Many Oregonians who traveled to California to seek their fortune in the gold fields returned home bringing with them quantities of nuggets and gold dust. As with their neighbors in California, local money was in short supply and use of gold dust as a medium of exchange was fraught with difficulties. To address this issue, the Oregon Exchange Company was established by several prominent Oregon City residents in early 1849. The obverse of the five dollar coins bears a rustic depiction of a beaver on a log and the initials of the company officers who contributed to the purchase of the coining equipment: Kilborn, Magruder, Taylor, Abernethy, Willson, Rector, Campbell (which was erroneously entered as a G), and Smith. The T. O. - another die engraver error - represents Oregon Territory. This transposition was corrected on the $10 denomination. William Kilborn, the first named, was the highest profile of the founders, serving as treasurer of the Oregon Territory's provisional government.

While no effort was made to standardize the alloy, the coiners compensated for this by deliberating making the coins overweight. U. S. Mint assays report that the five dollar coins were valued at $5.50. This helped to guarantee their acceptance, but being worth more than their stated value ensured that the pieces would be taken in at face and melted down for their intrinsic value. It has been estimated that roughly 6,000 of the $5 coins were produced before minting operations ceased in September 1849 when their two crucibles broke and the company decided to disband. "Beaver Money," as the coins were soon nicknamed proved popular in commerce as evidenced by the wide range of grades seen on modern survivors.

Provenance: From the James A. Stack, Sr. Collection. Earlier from the Dr. Russell H. Renz Collection; B. Max Mehl's A Royal Sale, March 1948, lot 3922.

To read the complete item description, see:
1849 Oregon Exchange Company $5. K-1. Rarity-5+. EF-45 (PCGS). CAC. CMQ-X. (https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-1LCM8F/1849-oregon-exchange-company-5-k-1-rarity-5-ef-45-pcgs-cac-cmq-x)

MACHADO GIFTS NOBEL PEACE PRIZE MEDAL TO TRUMP

Speaking to the press after her White House meeting with President Trump on Thursday, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said she had "presented" Trump with her 2025 Nobel Peace Prize medal as "a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom."

"Is it his now?" one reporter asked. Machado did not answer.

Hours later, Trump took to social media to confirm the news. "María presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done," he wrote. "Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you María!"

Before the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded Machado the prize last October, Trump made no secret of his desire to win it himself, saying he just wanted "to be treated fairly" for "stopp[ing] seven wars."

Since then, Trump has not let the issue rest, adding another war to his list (Israel and Hamas) and saying it would be "a great honor" to share the prize with Machado, who indicated ahead of her visit that she would offer it to the president. The Venezuelan activist previously dedicated her award to Trump.

While Trump has now taken possession of Machado's physical medal, speculation about both leaders' intentions recently forced the Nobel Committee to clarify that "a Nobel Prize" — that is, the honor itself — "can neither be revoked, shared, nor transferred to others."

"Once the announcement has been made," the committee declared on Jan. 10, "the decision stands for all time."

In other words, Machado remains the 2025 Peace Prize laureate — regardless of who has her medal.

On Thursday, Machado framed her decision as a symbolic gesture in keeping with Revolutionary War Gen. Marquis de Lafayette giving a "medal with George Washington's face on it" to Venezuelan military officer and statesman Simón Bolívar "200 years ago."

To read the complete article, see:
Machado 'presented' her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump, both leaders confirm (https://www.yahoo.com/news/world/article/machado-presented-her-nobel-peace-prize-medal-to-trump-both-leaders-confirm-224016658.html)

The committee that awards the Nobel Prize said Friday that the physical symbols of the prize — a medal and diploma — can be given away, but the honor itself is "inseparably linked" to the winner.

"The medal and the diploma are the physical symbols confirming that an individual or organisation has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The prize itself – the honour and recognition – remains inseparably linked to the person or organisation designated as the laureate by the Norwegian Nobel Committee," the committee said in a statement.

Several Nobel medals are currently on display in museums around the world, the committee noted. They highlighted seven past winners who chose to give away or sell theirs, including former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, whose widow donated the medal and diploma to the U.N. Office in Geneva following his death in 2024.

"Regardless of what may happen to the medal, the diploma, or the prize money, it is and remains the original laureate who is recorded in history as the recipient of the prize," the committee said. "Even if the medal or diploma later comes into someone else's possession, this does not alter who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize."

The clarification came one day after Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Trump during a meeting in the White House.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
Nobel Prize committee says Machado decision to give Trump award doesn't change who won (https://thehill.com/policy/international/5693556-nobel-prize-medal-ownership/)

In 2022, the Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov auctioned his Nobel Peace Prize for a record-breaking $103.5 million to raise money for Ukrainian child refugees. In 2014, James Watson sold his medal for over $4 million, having been awarded it decades earlier for codiscovering the structure of DNA.

The Nobel Prize has become the focus of an ethical debate about who gets to claim it after María Corina Machado, Venezuela's opposition leader, presented her Peace Prize medal to President Trump on Thursday despite the Nobel Committee's stipulation that the prize cannot be revoked, shared or transferred.

It can, however, be sold for millions of dollars.

Since the 1980s, the Nobel medal has been made with 18-karat recycled gold, according to the Nobel Committee. And, in a few auctions across the prize's history, it has fetched a wide range of prices.

Francis Crick, who was awarded the prize with Mr. Watson, received over $2 million for his medal. The Nobel Peace Prize awarded in 1936 to Carlos Saavedra Lamas, a former foreign minister of Argentina, sold for $1.1 million in 2014.

But not all attempts to sell the medal have brought staggering returns.

The 1994 medal awarded to John Nash for his work in game theory sold for under $1 million in 2019. The 1982 prize awarded to the physicist Kenneth Wilson failed to reach a minimum bid of $450,000 in 2016. And William Faulkner's failed to sell in 2013, after bidding stalled at $425,000, short of the minimum.

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
FRANCIS CRICK'S 1962 GOLD NOBEL PRIZE MEDAL TO BE AUCTIONED (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n09a34.html)
MORE ON NOBEL PRIZE MEDALS (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n10a10.html)
1934 ARTHUR HENDERSON NOBEL PRIZE MEDAL STOLEN (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n14a20.html)
JAMES WATSON'S 1962 GOLD NOBEL PRIZE MEDAL (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v17n49a23.html)
JOHN NASH'S NOBEL MEDAL TO BE AUCTIONED (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v19n36a31.html)
NOBEL PRIZE MEDAL SALE TO BENEFIT UKRAINIANS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v25/esylum_v25n24a27.html)

100-YEAR-OLD ROYAL MARINE GETS D-DAY MEDAL

One of the last D-Day heroes has fulfilled his final wish, after being granted a medal recognizing his role in the historic invasion of June 6, 1944.

Don Butt was presented with the medal last week, more than 80 years since he lived through the horrors of the Normandy landings in France.

The 100-year-old said the medal would ‘complete his life' prompting a race against time to get the French authorities to approve it before he died.

And in an emotional meeting, Don was handed the insignia by the Royal Marines in what his family said was a ‘dream come true' for him.

Don signed up to the Marines when he was 17 and just a year later was part of the landing crew in the first wave at Juno Beach.

Don was in the direct firing line and watched friends and colleagues killed in front of him. He recalls being in the water and clinging to ropes with bombs and bullets flying all around him to enable waves of troops ashore.

For decades he didn't speak about the day and has only recently opened up to family and friends, after living with the mistaken belief that he was "too young" to be entitled to a medal.

After sharing his story with a fellow marine, efforts were made on his behalf to get him the Légion d'honneur from the French authorities.

It was confirmed that his age ‘doesn't matter' but an initial application for his medal, submitted in 2024, was rejected for reasons that were not disclosed.

Following advice from the Ministry of Defense, a second application was submitted last year—and the French authorities were praised by The Royal Marines Historical Society for speeding up the process when the omission became clear.

John Rawlinson, of the Royal Marines Historical Society, who helped Don with his application said: "We are delighted that Don has received his medal, as a young man he was one of the generation who were willing to give all for their country and their friends and families.

"The Royal Marines and the wider Commando community are proud he is one of their family—once a marine, always a marine."

To read the complete article, see:
100-Year-old D-Day Hero Fulfills Final Wish to be Awarded Campaign Medal From France After Helping Liberate Her (https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/100-year-old-d-day-hero-fulfills-final-wish-to-be-awarded-campaign-medal/)

KOSCIUSZKO AND POLAND'S FIRST PAPER MONEY

The last three decades of the 18th century saw Poland, part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, reduced from a large, prosperous country to a fractured region. Three partitions of the country, in 1772, 1793, and 1795, saw the territory annexed by its neighbors, Austria, Prussia, and Russia, and after the last partition, the Commonwealth ceased to exist for more than a century. (Poland would only return as an independent nation after World War I). The straw that broke the camel's back was the Kosciuszko Uprising of 1794, prompting the Third Partition and the complete dissolution of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. This uprising saw the first paper money of Poland issued. Its leader, Tadeusz Kosciuszko, was already a military hero who had played an important role fighting for the Continental Army during the American War for Independence.

Tadeusz Kosciuszko was born in February 1746 in modern-day Belarus, then part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the youngest son of an army officer. In 1765, he enrolled in the Corps of Cadets in Warsaw to begin military training, eventually rising to the rank of captain and staying on as a lecturer. When civil war broke out in the Commonwealth in 1768, not wishing to choose a side, he left the country for France, where, over the next five years, he attended lectures and further developed his military knowledge while also being exposed to Enlightenment ideals. When he returned to Poland in 1774, he was unable to afford an officer's commission in the army and became a private tutor to a wealthy family. This lasted only a short time, and he emigrated once again, first to Saxony, but upon hearing about the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, he sailed for America in the summer of 1776.

Arriving without letters of recommendation, he took engineering exams, and his high marks earned him Benjamin Franklin's recommendation; he soon became a colonel of engineers in the Continental Army. For the next seven years, Kosciuszko played a vital role in establishing fortifications and, particularly, his minute attention to detail in constructing defenses at the Battle of Saratoga greatly helped the Continental Army, assuring victory. His engineering efforts during the Revolutionary War brought him to the attention of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. A close acquaintance later in life, Jefferson praised Kosciuszko as ‘as pure a son of Liberty as I have ever known, and of that Liberty which is to go to all, and not to the few or the rich alone.'

In 1784, still owed back pay from his time in the Continental Army, he returned to Poland. By the end of the decade, poor and in debt, he reluctantly applied for a royal commission, and in 1789, he became a major general. Kosciuszko soon found himself at the forefront of a last, desperate effort to save his homeland. In early 1794, he assumed leadership of the uprising that now bears his name. On March 24, in Kraków, he proclaimed a national insurrection and took command of all Polish forces. With limited resources, Kosciuszko ordered a general mobilization, even arming peasant volunteers with scythes because of a shortage of firearms. This appeal to all social classes paid immediate dividends, most notably at the Battle of Raclawice in April, where Polish forces achieved a symbolic victory that inspired further uprisings across the country, broadening support for the rebellion by promising relief from serfdom and greater legal protections for the peasantry. However, despite early successes and widespread enthusiasm, the uprising was ultimately overwhelmed by superior Russian and Prussian forces. Kosciuszko was wounded and captured in October 1794, and without his leadership, the resistance collapsed. He was imprisoned in Russia, and the Third Partition of Poland ended Polish sovereignty for over a century.

During the early days of the insurrection, from June to August of 1794, the Kosciuszko Uprising led to the issue of the nation's first paper money, Bilet Skarbowy, or Treasury Note. Backed by future taxes and the nation's property (including the silverware from its churches), the first series, dated June 8, was issued in seven denominations, ranging from 5 Zlotych to 1,000 Zlotych, and printed from engraved plates on colored paper in a vertical format. The design of the notes was similar across all denominations, including a blind stamp (often printed on counterfeits) that shows the motto of the insurrection, wolnosc calosc nie podleclosc (freedom, integrity, not submission), and the letters ‘B' and ‘S,' lightly printed (almost like a watermark). The first series was signed and numbered by hand, while the later issues were not numbered. As is often the case with paper money issued in lieu of coinage, hard coin soon traded at a premium over the notes, and the issuance of these notes no doubt would have led to massive inflation had the insurrection been successful. In July and September, with coins rapidly disappearing from circulation, an additional 4 Zlotych note and other lower denominations were also issued.

The Kosciuszko Uprising and the issuance of the nation's first paper money are a reminder of the last concerted attempt to preserve the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Tadeusz Kosciuszko died in 1817 at the age of 71 after falling off his horse in Switzerland, where he lived the last decade of his life. He had appointed Thomas Jefferson as the executor of his will and had stipulated that the proceeds of his American estate were to be used to buy the freedom of Jefferson's slaves. This did not happen, and antebellum politics involving slavery came into play, but it does show Tadeusz Kosciuszko's spirit and beliefs. For much of his life, he believed that liberty was indivisible and that political freedom was meaningless if it did not extend to all people equally. In this respect, his legacy reaches beyond the failed uprising of 1794, reflecting an enduring commitment to Enlightenment ideals that linked national independence, personal liberty, and social justice. Notes from this 1794 issue of Poland thus not only embody the spirit of Poland, but also that of the American Revolution, and the hero that Tadeusz Kosciuszko is in Poland, Belarus, Lithuania, and the United States.

Our Spring 2026 Maastricht Auction includes a number of notes of the historic 1794 issue of Poland from the collection of Kazmier Wysocki, former mayor of Hackensack, New Jersey.

To read the complete article, see:
The Link Between the American Revolution and Poland's First Paper Money (https://stacksbowers.com/the-link-between-the-american-revolution-and-polands-first-paper-money/)

LOOSE CHANGE: JANUARY 18, 2026

The man who voted for Washington and Lincoln

There was once an American who voted for both George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. In this year of the nation's 250th anniversary, you should know his name.

On Friday, Nov. 2, 1792, John Phillips, a 32-year-old farmer from Sturbridge, Massachusetts, cast a ballot to help reelect Washington. That contest was essentially the nation's first popular election for U.S. president. Seventy-two years later, at the age of 104, Phillips left the same family farm in western Massachusetts where he had been born and joined with more than 2 million other men from 25 participating states to help reelect Lincoln as commander in chief of the war-torn nation. "Deacon John" as his neighbors called him, voted in every presidential election during those intervening decades of growing American democracy, except for the pivotal 1860 contest, which he missed because of illness during his centennial year.

To read the complete article, see:
The man who voted for Washington and Lincoln (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/01/12/john-phillips-washington-lincoln-voter/)

Singapore Couple Repair and Sell Antiques

Stepping inside the home of Tan Yan Khim and his wife Molly Yap feels like walking straight into a retro time capsule, one so densely packed that your eyes barely know where to land first.

Nearly every wall of their terrace home in MacPherson is adorned with nostalgic signboards, clocks, old light fittings and vintage advertisements. Old-school furniture fills the space, from kopitiam tables and chairs to well-worn cabinets.

Look closer and you'll spot even more: telephones, film cameras, lamps, radios, cookware and household items from decades past. The collection is so extensive that, in fact, the only modern things you're likely to find in their living area are their air-conditioning units, television and a standing fan.

The 80-year-old Tan first developed an interest in retro items in his late 30s, when he would wander around the old Sungei Road flea market after work, while waiting for his wife, now 74.

With a background in electronics, Tan had the basic skills to identify what could be repaired. Over the years, he has restored vinyl players, jukeboxes and lamps, among other items. The process often required time and patience, but when it worked, the reward was personal.

To read the complete article, see:
This retired couple's home is a retro haven after 40 years of collecting, restoring and selling vintage items (https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/living/retro-home-vintage-collection-restoration-574826)

ABOUT THIS ISSUE: JANUARY 18, 2026

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 pursuing a Master's Degree in Quantitative Economics 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.