WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY: OCTOBER 25, 2026

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V29 2026 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 29, Number 43, 2026, Article 22

Nummis Nova
Tuesday October 20th was the monthly meeting of Nummis Nova, my Northern Virginia numismatic social group. Daryl Haynor was our host at the Kob Kun Thai restaurant in Oakton. Here's a group shot missing later arrivals Julian Leidman and Steve Bishop.

Clockwise from left: Dave Schenkman, Mike Markowitz, Robert Hoppensteadt, Roger Burdette, Daryl Haynor, Lorne Lavertu, guest Jim Sims, Jon Radel, Wayne Homren, and Mike Packard

I brought my copy of Jonathan Brecher's new book on the 18mm medalets of the U.S. Mint, a new purchase on New Jersey coppers, my own medal for running a local 5K race last month, and my medal from the August Pittsburgh ANA show by medallic artists Jamie Franki and Heidi Wastweet. Finally, I also brought a nice companion piece, a high-quality presentation by Tom Uram for the Sphinx Society, the Pittsburgh club I modeled Nummis Nova on.

2026 Pittsburgh ANA World's Fair of Money® Convention Medal

One last thing I brought was a repeat. The interesting thing about it was how I rediscovered it. Tuesday afternoon I read a new ANA "Collecting Friends" article by Dennis Tucker and Steve Roach. The topic was things (particularly money and other numismatic things) people have found in books. About the same time I was reading a story about artificial intelligence and reached for one of my books to check a reference. Tucked into the front of the book was a Saudi Arabian Five Riyals note that back in April I'd found sitting in a supermarket shopping cart. I was reading Sebastian Mallaby's "The Infinity Machine" at the time, and had left the note inside.

To read the complete Collecting Friends article, see:
Collecting Friends: Money in Books, Part 2 (https://blog.money.org/coin-collecting/collecting-friends-money-in-books-part-2)

John Roots Bitters Advertising Notes
Dave Schenkman had with him a copy of Jeff Shevlin's new book, and gave me three nice Pittsburgh Steelers schedule tokens. He also brought along these advertising notes.

Steve's Beauties and Uglies
Steve Bishop often brings along prettily toned U.S. type coins. He had some 19th-century beauties this month along with a great group of modern error coins. A few of those were downright ugly, but that's what makes them fascinating. These mistakes of the minting process illuminate the harsh realities of the physical manufacturing process so we can all better understand how our coins are made.

The first two are conserved "shipwreck effect" half dollars salvaged from the SS Republic. The first one exhibits a bag impression from years spent on the sea floor resting right up against the cloth bag it was contained in. Nice coins with a great history.

1858-O Seated Liberty Half Dollar SS Republic Bag Impression

Undated Lincoln Memorial Cent Obverse Struck Through Capped Die

1970 Lincoln Cent Obverse Struck Through Capped Die

1998 Lincoln Cent Broadstruck Close Overlap Double Struck

1999 Lincoln Cent Struck Through Obverse and Broadstruck

1999 P Rososevelt Dime Obverse Struck Thru Late Capped Die NGC MS 62

1999 P Roosevelt Dime Obverse Struck Thru Late Capped Die

It was another nice evening of great food, conversation and numismatic fellowship. 'Til next time!

PAN Banquet
On Wednesday my wife Dee and I headed up to Pittsburgh for dinner with my sister. On Thursday afternoon we had a meeting on behalf of Dee's mother. That evening at 5pm we boarded the bus at our hotel heading to the banquet for the Fall 2026 Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists (PAN) banquet at the La Mont Restaurant atop Mount Washington, across the river from downtown Pittsburgh. We were guests of "Mr. 1715 Fleet Society" Ben Costello. Others at our table included Dreama and Bob Hurst of Florida United Numismatists (FUN), Bob Evans of the SS Central America project, Russell Augustin of AU Capital, and Dennis Boggs in his Abe Lincoln outfit. Great company and conversation.

Tom Uram introduced a number of visiting hobby leaders including Kathy Freeland of MSNS, Bob Hurst of FUN, and Dave Heinrich and Mark Lighterman of the ANA (who administered the Oath of Office to new PAN Officers). Andy Masich of the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh History Center gave a short talk about young George Washington's first visit to the area as a young surveyor, pointing out the window to the three rivers and the site of Washington's near-fatal crossing of the Allegheny in 1753.

While running around between meal courses and the program, I spoke briefly with Tom Uram, Frank Tominac, Brad Spak, Larry Korchnak and others. Sorry - no photos of the event. I was in the moment and having a grand time.

Bedford Springs Resort
Nothing more numismatic to report - Friday morning after breakfast we headed out of town again. Our destination was the Omni Bedford Springs Resort. Neither of us had ever been there before, so it was a nice getaway. We'd signed up for the Couples Birch Back Massage "enhanced with rosemary mint arnica oil" and Springs Eternal Facials. I guess my recent manly pedicure was just the gateway drug. Now I'm 68 and fabulous.

At 6pm we had dinner at the resort's Crystal Dining Room. The next morning at ten we took the Historic Hotel Tour.

Mt. Dallas to Bedford Springs railroad baggage check

I kept my ears open for possible numismatic connections, but came up empty except for Treasury officials who stayed there. I don't know if the resort ever issued tokens, scrip or medals. Is anyone aware of any? The closest item I could find online is a baggage check from the Mt. Dallas to Bedford Springs railroad.