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<h4>About Us</h4>
<p>The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. For more information please see our web site at <a href="http://www.coinbooks.org" title="http://www.coinbooks.org" target="_blank">coinbooks.org</a></p>
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<h4>Subscriptions</h4>
<p>Those wishing to become new E-Sylum subscribers (or wishing to Unsubscribe) can go to the following web page <a href="https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum" title="https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum" target="_blank">link</a></p>
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<h4>Membership</h4>
<p>There is a membership application available on the web site <a href="http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_member_app.html" title="http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_member_app.html" target="_blank">Membership Application</a></p>
<p>To join, print the application and return it with your check to the address printed on the application. Membership is only $15 to addresses in the U.S., $20 for First Class mail, and $25 elsewhere. For those without web access, write to:</p>
<p>David M. Sundman, Secretary/TreasurerNumismatic Bibliomania Society<br />P. O. Box 82 Littleton, NH 03561</p>
<h4>Asylum</h4>
<p>For Asylum mailing address changes and other membership questions, contact David at this email address: <a href="mailto:dsundman@LittletonCoin.com" target="_blank">dsundman@LittletonCoin.com</a></p>
<h4>Submissions</h4>
<p>To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, just Reply to this message, or write to the Editor at this address: <a href="mailto:whomren@gmail.com" title="mailto:whomren@gmail.com" target="_blank">whomren@gmail.com</a></p>
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<h4>BUY THE BOOK BEFORE THE COIN</h4>
<br>
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<h4>Sale Calendar</h4>
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.lakebooks.com">July 28, 2009 LAKE</a>
<li><a href="http://www.finenumismaticbooks.com">October 3, 2009 SKLOW</a>
<li><a href="http://www.finenumismaticbooks.com">February 13, 2010 SKLOW</a>
<li><a href="http://www.finenumismaticbooks.com">June 12, 2010 SKLOW</a>
<li><a href="http://www.finenumismaticbooks.com">October 9, 2010 SKLOW</a>
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Volume 12, Number 27, July 5, 2009
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<br><br>
<ul><li><a href='#article1'>
WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM JULY 5, 2009
</a><li><a href='#article2'>
NEW BOOK: THE PATTERN COINAGE OF PETER GETZ BY GEORGE FULD
</a><li><a href='#article3'>
NEW CD BOOK: THE HAXBY STANDARD CATALOG OF UNITED STATES BANK NOTES
</a><li><a href='#article4'>
BOOK REVIEW: A GUIDE BOOK OF WASHINGTON AND STATE QUARTERS
</a><li><a href='#article5'>
CONDER TOKEN COLLECTOR'S JOURNAL SUMMER 2009 ISSUE
</a><li><a href='#article6'>
THE COLONIAL NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2009 ISSUE
</a><li><a href='#article7'>
BOOK REVIEW: GREEK AND ROMAN COINS FROM THE DU CHASTEL COLLECTION
</a><li><a href='#article8'>
MORE ON HENRY MORGAN: A NUMISMATIC DETECTIVE STORY
</a><li><a href='#article9'>
ROYAL MINT ERROR: THE DATELESS 2009 TWENTY PENCE
</a><li><a href='#article10'>
MORE ON WHAT TO CALL A COIN OR MEDAL ARTIST
</a><li><a href='#article11'>
CORRECTION: VICTOR DAVID BRENNER PROFILE
</a><li><a href='#article12'>
MORE ON JAMES D. FOSKETT
</a><li><a href='#article13'>
THE VICTORIAN INTERNET
</a><li><a href='#article14'>
BRENNER ART OF THE MEDAL HALFTONE REPRINTS OFFERED
</a><li><a href='#article15'>
MORE ON THE WATERLOO MEDAL(S)
</a><li><a href='#article16'>
MORE ON U.S. COIN DENOMINATIONS
</a><li><a href='#article17'>
EARTHQUAKE TOKENS AND MEDALS
</a><li><a href='#article18'>
ANA ELECTION RESULTS: CLIFFORD MISHLER ELECTED PRESIDENT
</a><li><a href='#article19'>
ANA EXHIBIT JUDGING COURSE OFFERED: YOU BE THE JUDGE!
</a><li><a href='#article20'>
PROFILE: COMMEMORATIVE COIN DESIGNER ISAAC SCOTT HATHAWAY
</a><li><a href='#article21'>
NEW MEDAL: THE ELIZABETH CROSS
</a><li><a href='#article22'>
AUSTRIA'S SILVER PHILHARMONIC USED TO SKIRT TAX LAWS
</a><li><a href='#article23'>
THE BAROON DOLLAR: NEW LOCAL CURRENCY IN QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA
</a><li><a href='#article24'>
MORE ON THE SILVER DECA COINS OF ATLANTIS II
</a><li><a href='#article25'>
DICK JOHNSON ON LOW-VALUE DEBIT CARDS
</a><li><a href='#article26'>
FEATURED WEB SITE: ROMAN PROVINCIAL COINAGE ONLINE
</a></ul> </div>
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<h3 id = "article1"><a name="article1"> WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM JULY 5, 2009 </h3></a> <img src=" http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3144/2405448807_8d77ee9ab4_t.jpg " width="67" height="100" alt="Wayne Homren" align="left" hspace="5" vspace="5"> We still have 1,233 subscribers - no one new this week.<br><br>This week we open with word of an important numismatic discovery and a new book on the coinage of Peter Getz. <br><br>Next up is a new CD book of a long out-of-print classic on U.S. obsolete currency, and a review of the Whitman book on Washington quarters. Other books discussed are <i>Greek and Roman Coins from the du Chastel Collection</i> and <i>The Mystery Of Henry Morgan: A Numismatic Detective Story</i>.<br><br>On the periodical front was have information about the latest issues of the <i>Conder Token Collector's Journal</i> and <i>The Colonial Newsletter.</i><br><br>New topics this week include earthquake tokens, the new Elizabeth Cross, the Ba
roon Dollar and low-value debit cards. To learn about the craze over the Royal Mint's dateless 20p coins, read on. Have a great week, everyone! <br><br>Wayne Homren <br/> Numismatic Bibliomania Society<br><br>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article2"><a name="article2"> NEW BOOK: THE PATTERN COINAGE OF PETER GETZ BY GEORGE FULD </h3></a> <div class="box"> George Fuld submitted the following press release about a major numismatic discovery to be detailed in his upcoming book, <i>The Pattern Coinage of Peter Getz</i>. -Editor </div> Although known to the Masonic fraternity for years, an artifact, the George Washington ladle, has recently been brought to the attention of numismatists.<br><br>In 1797, President George Washington presented to Congressman Francis Preston a buffalo horn ladle containing a silver specimen of the 1797 Getz Masonic medal, Baker 288. The background for this presentation is told
by a fascinating story now brought to light by members of the Abingdon Lodge #48 of A.F. & A. M. of Abingdon, VA.<br><br>A friendship between two young surveyors, William Preston and George Washington lasted with correspondence that took place until William’s death in 1783. Years later William’s son, Francis, met his father’s friend in Philadelphia, one being the President of the United States and the other the young Congressman from Virginia. Warm relations were established between the two men. As a token of their friendship, Washington had the horn of a buffalo produced as a trophy to Colonel Preston’s skills in hunting and presented it to Francis.<br><br>The horn was made into a ladle about thirteen inches long, and in the bowl was mounted a silver medal. This medal was the famed 1797 Getz Masonic medal, Baker 288 and a copy is shown herewith.<br><br><center> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3687708396/" title="1797 Getz Masonic medal Baker 288 obverse
by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2559/3687708396_78eb447921_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="1797 Getz Masonic medal Baker 288 obverse" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3686906649/" title="1797 Getz Masonic medal Baker 288 reverse by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2482/3686906649_2722298c43_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="1797 Getz Masonic medal Baker 288 reverse" /></a> </center><br><br>Many trials and tribulations occurred with the ladle and medal. It was lent by the family for the Centennial Celebration in Philadelphia in 1876. It was lost or stolen, and eventually recovered and returned in 1879 to Francis’ daughter, Mrs. John B. Floyd. Upon her death in 1879, she bequeathed the ladle to the Abingdon Lodge #48 of A. F. & A. M. in Abingdon, Va. When the lodge was in the process of moving its location in the 1960’s, it was lost ag
ain. Many years passed with no information, but in 1973 Chief of Police of Abingdon, William Phillips learned of its whereabouts and recovered the ladle. When returned, the medal in the bowl and a silver cap from the handle were missing.<br><br>In 2009, the Abingdon Lodge loaned the ladle to the Museum of the Grand Lodge of Virginia in Richmond. There is much more to this story. A complete background of the medal with illustrations is a chapter in the book, <i>The Pattern Coinage of Peter Getz</i> by George Fuld. The new book will be unveiled at the ANA Convention in August, 2009. <br><br>This publication details 22 different silver 1792 Getz patterns, 55 different copper 1792 Getz "cents" and 20 different 1797 Getz Masonic medals. Full backgrounds are supplied on each coin and they are mostly illustrated in color. A full discussion of the unique Getz Large Eagle "pattern", Baker 23 is given as well as the complete story about the Washington ladle. The books will be
sold by George F. Kolbe of Crestline, CA.<br><br><div class="box"> Excited to get in line to buy my copy, I contacted George. Unfortunately, it's still too early for finalized ordering details. Current plans call for a "Pre-Publication" price (yet to be determined), then a "Retail" price, at which copies will be available for twelve months following publication. George adds "It is going to be quite a book." -Editor </div><br><br>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article3"><a name="article3"> NEW CD BOOK: THE HAXBY STANDARD CATALOG OF UNITED STATES BANK NOTES </h3></a> Scott Tappa of Krause Publications writes: <div class="quote"> Ever since coming to work in numismatics, our editors have been saying we need to do something with "The Haxby" work that we put out twenty years ago. Nobody can find it, except for eBay and Amazon where the books are going for more than $700. So we digitized the books and put them
on four CDs to try and replicate the original work. <br><br>Hopefully this will allow people who have wanted to use this reference the chance to do it for a more affordable price. We’re really excited about this, and hope it goes over well with collectors! </div><br><br><div class="box"> Below is the press release for the new CD book. -Editor </div> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3687112017/" title="Haxby CD set by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2461/3687112017_7c4128f448_m.jpg" width="206" height="240" align="right" alt="Haxby CD set" /></a> More than 20 years after its original release, the <i>Standard Catalog of United States Obsolete Bank Notes 1782-1866</i> is once again available from Krause Publications, now as a four-CD set. <br><br>With copies of the original four-book set nearly impossible to find and very costly to acquire, a large number of collectors have been without this all-inclusiv
e and exceptionally detailed resource -- until now. In an attempt to bring James A. Haxby’s renowned reference to more collectors of U.S. bank notes, the numismatics team at Krause Publications has put together this phenomenal four-CD set, priced at $249.99.<br><br>"We are very excited to release the Haxby work in digital form," said Scott Tappa, numismatics publisher at Krause Publications. "If you own the four-book set, we hope these discs help you enjoy obsolete bank notes in an entirely different way. If this is your introduction to the work, prepare yourself for hours and hours of enjoyment and education."<br><br>This modern-version reissue of Haxby’s history-making work includes the entire volume in four Mac and PC-compatible CDs. While much has changed in the world and the hobby since this premiere resource was first published, and many of the prices may fall outside what a collector could expect to find in today’s market, there is no substitute for the historical det
ails and identifying details found in the standard resource on U.S. obsolete bank notes.<br><br>Arranged alphabetically by state/territory and organized by bank name and cross referenced with bank branches, each section includes engraver imprint details, versions of notes, date of issue and hundreds of detailed photographs. The CD-pdf format allows users to search each disc using keywords or a handy index, and enables users to enlarge the pages up to 400% to provide a closer view of details and descriptions of notes. Plus, collectors can print select pages of listings, or notes by state to take to shows or club meetings. <br><br>Discover the excitement and intrigue of U.S obsolete bank notes again, or for the first time with this modern-day reissue of the legendary leader in obsolete bank note references.<br><br>For more information visit <a href="http://www.shopnumismaster.com/product/US-obsolete-bank-note-cds/us-paper-money"> www.shopnumismaster.com/product/US-obsolete-b
ank-note-cds/us-paper-money </a><br><br><div class="box"> So what does this mean for the price of the hardcopy sets? They've been dropping recently in anticipation of the electronic version, but what will the new price level be? The publisher isn't reissuing them in hardcopy form so there should still be a market from those who prefer having the hefty catalogs on their shelf for reference. </div><br><br>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article4"><a name="article4"> BOOK REVIEW: A GUIDE BOOK OF WASHINGTON AND STATE QUARTERS </h3></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3687681394/" title="Bowers Washington State Quarters by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3571/3687681394_f1087acd11_m.jpg" width="164" height="240" align="right" alt="Bowers Washington State Quarters" /></a> What better time than the Fourth of July weekend to review a book about
the 50 States quarter series? Actually, it’s more than that - <i>A Guide Book of Washington and State Quarters</i> by Q. David Bowers covers all the Washington quarters from 1932 to date. A few weeks ago I reviewed another book on the State Quarter series, <i>A Pocketful of History</i> by Jim Noles. About the Noles book I wrote: <div class="quote"> Numismatists should be warned that it's a non-traditional numismatic book - there's nary a word about mintages, proof or uncirculated strikes, silver planchets, mint errors, etc., and David Ganz' role in promoting the concept is given only a passing mention. </div><br><br>This Official Red Book publication from Whitman fills that gap, adding all the requisite numismatic information on the series, and more. The review copy I have at hand stops with the 40th quarter in the series, South Dakota. I’ll have to pick up a newer edition someday. Curiously, I can’t find a publication date for this book in any of the usua
l places, but I have to assume it was in 2006. Lord, am I that far behind in my reading?<br><br>Anyway, the 288-page paperback lists for a modest $19.95 retail price. Images are in both black and white and color. Throughout are tables neatly listing mintages, certified grade populations and market values. <br><br>As expected, the book does illustrate the major known varieties such as the 1941 Doubled Die obverse and the 2004 Wisconsin "Extra Leaf" versions. A little under half of the book is devoted to the State Quarter series, with the rest covering the "original" Washington quarters – their history, design, die changes, minting and grading<br><br>The State Quarter portion is neatly organized into sections for each state with subsections covering the history and specifics of the chosen design. Interesting numismatic sidelights are provided in a subsection on "Numismatic Aspects" of each state. Here Bowers mentions and sometimes pictures other state related items s
uch as civil war tokens, medals and paper money issues. The New Hampshire section illustrates a turnpike token featuring a design used as the inspiration for the state’s "Old Man of the Mountain" quarter.<br><br>I enjoyed the book and look forward to the updated version. Numismatic literature doesn’t have to be about only the old, rare and valuable coins – new issues are just as deserving of a scholarly treatment, and what better time to write such a book than in the present, when the coins are new and all of the players involved in their creation are still available to tell their stories.<br><br>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article5"><a name="article5"> CONDER TOKEN COLLECTOR'S JOURNAL SUMMER 2009 ISSUE </h3></a> Editor Mike Grogan forwarded information about the summer 2009 issue of the Conder Token Collector's Journal, the official publication of the Conder Token Collector's Club (CTCC). The club is f
or collectors of 18th century British tradesmen's tokens, or "conder tokens".<br><br>Contents of the issue include: <ul> <li> <i>Token Tales: James Sketchley, Freemason</i> by R.C. Bell <li> <i>Recent Academic Literature</i> by Tony Fox <li> <i>The Library,Conclusion</i> by Richard Samuel <li> <i>Four New Varities of Camac Tokens</i> by Gregg Silvis <li> <i>2009 Seattle Congress Program</i> by Bill McKivor <li> <i>Token Congress Photographs</i> by Eric Holcomb </ul><br><br>For more information on the CTCC, see: <a href="http://conderclub.homestead.com/"> http://conderclub.homestead.com </a><br><br><center> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3558/3677068760_7988e7ddcf.jpg" width="500" height="250" alt="Conder Token Cat Dog" /> </center><br><br>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a><
/div><h3 id = "article6"><a name="article6"> THE COLONIAL NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2009 ISSUE </h3></a> <div class="box"> Editor Gary Trudgen submitted this description of the contents of the latest issue of <i> The Colonial Newsletter</i>. The <i>Empire Topics</i> images are taken from the copy in my library (Issue No. 7, August-September 1959). -Editor </div> The August 2009 issue of <i>The Colonial Newsletter: A Research Journal in Early American Numismatics</i> (CNL) has been published. As a reminder, the subscription price for 2009 has been significantly reduced. The rates are: $25 per year for ANS members and $40 per year for non-ANS members. Take advantage of this price reduction and contact the ANS to subscribe.<br><br><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3680440032/" title="CNL 2009-08 14-84A Fig1_2X by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3576/3680440032_d35ff556dd_m.jpg" width="240" height="118" align="r
ight" alt="CNL 2009-08 14-84A Fig1_2X" /></a> This issue starts with a paper that discusses the 1784-dated imitation British halfpenny known today as Batty 3826 or Vlack 14-84A. This coin is considered by many to be of American origin primarily because of its crude design. <br><br>Byron Weston carefully reconsiders the many aspects of this coin and argues that it is no different than many other British-made counterfeit halfpennies. Byron reviews what has been previously written about the coin, he provides many illustrations to support his discussion, and he introduces a new counterfeit halfpenny variety that appears to have been made by the same counterfeiting gang that produced Vlack 14-84A.<br><br>Byron references a little-known 1959 article by Eric Newman which has been reprinted in this issue for the enlightenment of our readers. The reprint follows Byron's paper and was first published in Empire Topics by Q. David Bowers.<br><br><center> <a href="http://www.flick
r.com/photos/coinbooks/3687194821/" title="Bowers Empire Topics No7 by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3600/3687194821_77f94cb343_m.jpg" width="164" height="240" alt="Bowers Empire Topics No7" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3687998288/" title="Newman Empire Topics article by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2611/3687998288_bd4252272b_m.jpg" width="156" height="240" alt="Newman Empire Topics article" /></a> </center><br><br>Next, we are pleased to welcome a new author, Max Spiegel, to the pages of CNL. Max writes about his investigations into the origin of Bermuda's hogge money. In He explores the possibility that Charles Anthony, the chief engraver at the Royal Mint in London from 1599 until his death in 1615, may have engraved the dies and privately minted hogge money for the Somers Isles Company. I won't spill the beans concerning what Max has
determined. You will need to read Max's interesting and well-written paper to discover his conclusions.<br><br>Our final submission, in the form of a Technical Note, comes from Clem Schettino concerning a non-state coinage What'sIt?. Up to now, all known What'sIt?s have been re-engraved stated coppers.<br><br><center> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3679625853/" title="Hogge Money 6d by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2545/3679625853_bfbf5d8639.jpg" width="500" height="251" alt="Hogge Money 6d" /></a> </center><br><br>CNL is published three times a year by The American Numismatic Society, 75 Varick St., 11th Floor, New York, NY 10013. For inquires concerning CNL, please contact Megan Fenselau at the preceding postal address or e-mail fenselau@amnumsoc.org or telephone (212) 571-4470 ext. 1311.<br><br>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article7"><
a name="article7"> BOOK REVIEW: GREEK AND ROMAN COINS FROM THE DU CHASTEL COLLECTION </h3></a> <div class="box"> Thursday on his blog, <i>A Gift For Polydektes</i>, Ed Snible published a review of <i>Greek and Roman Coins from the du Chastel Collection</i> by Callata˙ & Heesch. With permission, here are some excerpts. -Editor </div> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3686079052/" title="chastel_cover by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2670/3686079052_a821ac7498_m.jpg" width="170" height="240" align="right" alt="chastel_cover" /></a> I recently won a copy of <i>Greek and Roman Coins from the du Chastel Collection</i> (Callata˙ & Heesch, Spink: London, 1999). Originally published at Ł60.00, it's now remaindered for Ł20 (about $33) from Spink. I got mine on eBay from Charles Davis who still starts auctions below wholesale.<br><br>It's a well-researched and well-made catalog of mostly Greek coins. The 41 p
lates are great. The 819 coins, collected by count du Chastel are all exceptional. Unfortunately in numismatic publishing, mere quality does not translate into sales. It's hard to compete with free color dealer catalogs. The best book in a category, such as Roman Republican Coinage (still in print at $490!) or Roman Provincial Coinage can move copies at high prices, while the second-best book doesn't move at all unless heavily discounted.<br><br>du Chastel is great but it's best feature is the superb dust jacket. The dust jacket photograph, by Stephen Sack, is the best I've ever seen on a coin catalog. It's an extreme closeup of the reverse of a sestertius of Nero, featuring the emperor on horseback. Sack manages to get an 8" picture out of the center of a 35mm coin that looks like an artistic masterpiece of detail and patina and light.<br><br><center> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3685270641/" title="chastel closeup by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on F
lickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2487/3685270641_979d74ccf0.jpg" width="400" height="353" alt="chastel closeup" /></a> </center><br><br>The image isn't photoshopped. My understanding is that he spent months looking at hundreds of worn bronzes with interesting patinas under a microscope looking for the textures and images that eventually make it into his work.<br><br>Sack had a show of his fine-art coin photography at the British Museum. The catalog, Metal Mirror: Coin Photographs by Stephen Sack is mind-blowing. Although I missed the London premiere I saw the pieces at Ariel Meyerowitz Gallery in New York. Very impressive.<br><br>I believe the Ariel Meyerowitz Gallery is gone but a few of Sacks' coin works can are available on VCoins, like this peacock and this goddess.<br><br>I can't afford a €4,000.00 picture of a peacock no matter how much I might want it, though. I bought a second copy of the catalog intending to dismember it and mount several images in 8
x10 frames. I couldn't bring myself to take the blade to the duplicate catalog, though!<br><br>To read the complete article, see: <a href="http://digitalhn.blogspot.com/2009/07/greek-and-roman-coins-from-du-chastel.html"> Greek and Roman Coins from the du Chastel Collection </a> (http://digitalhn.blogspot.com/2009/07<br/>greek-and-roman-coins-from-du-chastel.html)<br><br> <div class="ctabox"> <center> <h4> THE BOOK BAZARRE</h4> </center> <b>DAVID F. FANNING NUMISMATIC LITERATURE</b> sells rare, antiquarian and out-of-print works from all times and places. For more information, see the firm's Web site at <a href="http://www.fanningbooks.com"> www.fanningbooks.com </a>.<br><br></div><br><br>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article8"><a name="article8"> MORE ON HENRY MORGAN: A NUMISMATIC DETECTIVE STORY </h3></a> <div class="box"> Andrew Wager is the author of <i> THE MYSTERY OF HENRY MORGAN: A NUMISM
ATIC DETECTIVE STORY</i>, a book profiled earlier in <i>The E-Sylum</i>. I contacted him, and he has the following offer for E-Sylum readers in the U.S. who'd like to get a copy of the book. He attached a review of the book from Coin News and a promotional leaflet. -Editor </div> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3257196716/" title="Wiger Henry Morgan by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3397/3257196716_386e96ff65_m.jpg" width="150" height="211" align="right" alt="Wiger Henry Morgan" /></a> Shipping to the States costs me about Ł6 or Ł7 but I would be prepared to subsidise this for readers of your newsletter as I am keen to encourage more people in the States to get hold of it. So far Bill Mcivor took six copies over but has I understand sold all these. <br><br>The cost would therefore be Ł22 including postage (normally 19.99 retail not including post) if ordered directly from me. Payment could be by Paypa
l or sterling. My email address is <a href="mailto:barkhams@btinternet.com"> barkhams@btinternet.com </a>.<br><br>Phil Mernick in his kind comments about me got the true identity of Morgan wrong which he was doing from memory of my talk: I have encouraged, so far successfully, reviewers not to reveal Morgan's identity so as to make the book a better read like a detective story when "who did it" is revealed at the end.<br><br>To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see: <a href="http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v12n06a16.html"> QUERY: THE MYSTERY OF HENRY MORGAN: A NUMISMATIC DETECTIVE STORY </a> (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v12n06a16.html) <br><a href="http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v12n07a07.html"> MORE ON THE MYSTERY OF HENRY MORGAN: A NUMISMATIC DETECTIVE STORY </a> (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v12n07a07.html)<br><br>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article9"><a name="article9"> ROYAL MINT ERROR: THE DATEL
ESS 2009 TWENTY PENCE </h3></a> <div class="box"> The biggest news of the week seems to be the dateless coins accidentally released by the Royal Mint. Several E-Sylum subscribers, including Charlie Davis and Dick Hanscom forwarded articles. Here are excerpts from a few of the several articles published this week. -Editor </div> A rare error at the Royal Mint means that tens of thousands of the coins produced earlier this year don't have 2009 stamped on them. Coin experts say the lack of a date makes them worth Ł50 each, and potentially much more in future.<br><br>The blunder occurred after a redesign of the 20p piece. The Mint does not know exactly how many undated coins were produced and released into circulation, but estimates range between 50,000 and 200,000. This is the first undated British coin to enter circulation in more than 300 years - the last occasion was 1672, when Charles II was on the throne<br><br><center> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coi
nbooks/3673978296/" title="UK Dateless 2009 20 Pence by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2565/3673978296_2d32bc94e4.jpg" width="468" height="210" alt="UK Dateless 2009 20 Pence" /></a> </center><br><br>The Royal Mint's usually impeccable quality control somehow slipped up and the so-called 'mule' escaped into circulation. A 'mule' is a coin that has mismatched sides - a reference to the mule being a mismatch of a horse and donkey. The change of the 20p design<br><br>However, thousands of coins were minted using the old version of the Queen's head, which does not have the year date, and the new version of the tails side, which also does not have a date.<br><br> To read the Daily Mail article, see: <a href=" http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1196176/Have-20p-worth-50-pocket-Royal-Mint-error-results-undated-coins.html"> Have you got a 20p worth Ł50 in your pocket? Thousands of undated coins produced in Royal Mint
blunder </a> (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1196176<br/>/Have-20p-worth-50-pocket-Royal-Mint-error-results-undated-coins.html)<br><br> <div class="box"> Why sell to a coin dealer for Ł50 when someone on eBay will pay more? Other articles note that the coins have apparently traded on eBay for much higher sums. I wonder if these are legitimate transactions or shill bidding designed to boost the price level by others who have some to sell. -Editor </div> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3685113419/" title="Subway 20 Pence pic 2. by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3566/3685113419_273dc980af_m.jpg" width="240" height="100" align="left" alt="Subway 20 Pence pic 2." /></a> PEOPLE across Southport will be scouring for loose change after a student from Kew found a rare 20p coin – which could be worth more than Ł7,000!<br><br>Amy Cowperthwaite, who works at Subway on Eastbank Street, found the coin
in the till, when she came into work for her eight-hour shift on Tuesday morning.<br><br>A rare error at the Royal Mint means that tens of thousands of the 20p coins produced earlier this year don’t have 2009 stamped on them.<br><br>Coin experts at the London Mint Office say the lack of a date makes them worth Ł50 each, but auction site eBay has seen thousands of people posting their rare coins, hoping to make a mint, with one fetching the hefty price of Ł7,100.<br><br>Team leader Amy said: "My mum had shown me an article about the coins in the paper and when I went into work the next morning, I thought it would be funny to see if we had any.<br><br>"I must have only searched about two bags when I found one without the date. We searched about Ł150 of bags but we didn’t find any more."<br><br> To read the complete Southport Visitor article, see: <a href="http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/southport-news/southport-southport-news/2009/07/03/southport-student-hopes-to-cash-in-
with-undated-20p-coin-101022-24060496/"> Southport student hopes to cash in with undated 20p coin </a> (http://www.southportvisiter.co.uk/southport-news/<br/>southport-southport-news/2009/07/03/southport-student-hopes-to-cash<br/>-in-with-undated-20p-coin-101022-24060496/)<br><br><div class="box"> A more balanced article appeared in <i>The Independent</i> -Editor </div> It was an offer which had people across the country rummaging in their pockets for loose change: a specialist dealer in rare coins willing to give Ł50 to anyone who sent in a 20p piece minted without a date.<br><br>But it turns out that the seemingly generous offer, which had Britons scouring their wallets and purses in the hope of finding one of the elusive coins, is one that savvy consumers should refuse.<br><br>Several specialist coin dealers told The Independent yesterday that the 20p pieces could be worth up to Ł300 within five or 10 years, especially if they were kept in good condition and turn o
ut to be particularly scarce.<br><br>The Ł50 offer was made by a privately owned company called the London Mint Office, which has no connection to the Royal Mint.<br><br>Chris Perkins, a coin specialist and author of the book Check Your Change, said he first became aware of the faulty 20p pieces at the end of 2008, but that they had largely escaped the attention of the general public until now. He owns two of the coins himself, for which he paid between Ł30 and Ł40 each, but added that their future value depended "on the hype" surrounding them.<br><br>"What I expect the London Mint Company will do is hype it up massively and then start knocking them out for Ł100 or Ł150," he said. "Poor old ladies who don't know much about it will be ones that buy them."<br><br>To read the complete article, see: <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/why-20p-in-the-hand-may-be-worth-163300-1724456.html"> Why 20p in the hand may be worth Ł300 </a> (http://www.independent.
co.uk/news/uk/home-news<br/>/why-20p-in-the-hand-may-be-worth-163300-1724456.html)<br><br>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article10"><a name="article10"> MORE ON WHAT TO CALL A COIN OR MEDAL ARTIST </h3></a> Regarding Dick Johnson's essay on what to call an artist who creates coins or medals, Harry Waterson writes:<br><br> I found your E-sylum article very informative. It is a problem I have been wrestling with vis-a-vis Julio Kilenyi. I found this in an interview with Kilenyi in the Dec. 25th, 1937 issue of THE NEW YORKER. The interviewer ended his profile on this note: <br><br> <div class="quote"> Mr. Kilenyi regrets that there is no adequate English word to describe his calling. In French there is "medailleur," but in English "medallist" is generally taken to mean a winner of medals, which he thinks peculiar. </div><br><br> In this vein, I have wondered if your publication THE ART MEDALIST was your att
empt to add a new word to the language. Your editorial in the first issue did not explain the derivation of the title. However, the caption to the picture on the front page offered a clue. Frank Elescu and Mico Kaufman were identified as sculptors and William T. Louth, President of Medallic Art Co. as a medalist. So context identified Louth as the maker of the medal after the sculptors were done.<br><br>To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: <a href="http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v12n26a12.html"> VOCABULARY WORDS: WHAT DO YOU CALL A COIN OR MEDAL ARTIST? </a> (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v12n26a12.html)<br><br>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article11"><a name="article11"> CORRECTION: VICTOR DAVID BRENNER PROFILE </h3></a> <div class="box"> Numismatic researcher David Lange, author of <i>The Complete Guide to Lincoln Cents</i> was cited in a newspaper article we quoted last week profiling coin designer Vi
ctor David Brenner. Lange submitted the following corrections to the article. -Editor </div> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3661588088/" title="Brenner Victor David by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2582/3661588088_f9c820a89d_m.jpg" width="240" height="175" align="right" alt="Brenner Victor David" /></a> I read the snippet about Victor Brenner which referenced my book, and I want to correct a few errors. This is the only one of my Complete Guide books which has never been updated, despite any claims by the current publisher and book dealers. There has never been more than one edition (1996), though it has gone through various printings, each one a bit poorer than the previous. As I have no interest in updating this title, I'm hoping that it will simply go out of print at some point.<br><br>In the nearly fifteen years which have passed since I wrote that book, some of the biographical information on Br
enner has been refuted (there's that word again). I believe it was Bob Julian who exposed the falsehood of Brenner having been born Viktoras Barnauskus. It appears that he was always Victor Brenner, though I suspect that the European spelling would have been Viktor. <br><br>The article contained another obvious error in that Charles Barber did not retire; he died still in office in 1917. That was stated correctly in my book, and the author of the article cited must have just assumed that he retired. The tale of Brenner being imprisoned for making a duplicate seal and having to escape to America is almost certainly nonsense and should be stored in the same locker as Washington's chopping down of the cherry tree.<br><br>To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: <a href="http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v12n26a08.html "> NEWSPAPER PROFILES COIN DESIGNER VICTOR DAVID BRENNER </a> (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v12n26a08.html)<br><br><div class="box"> Newspaper writers are notorio
us for getting their facts wrong, something which I guess is inevitable when working under deadline pressure. I'm glad Dave came forth to set us straight on those stories. But where in the world did they come from? How do you just make up a name like Viktoras Barnauskus? -Editor </div><br><br>Dave Lange adds: <div class="quote"> The story still being rehashed by many writers today was published in, I believe, 1929. I'm not at my office where I have my article scrapbooks, but I remember Bob Julian outing some Lithuanian-American's account published in <i>The Numismatist</i> that year in which the author turned Brenner into some kind of Lithuanian-American folk hero. In a pre-internet era I simply repeated this material myself, something I will never do again. </div><br><br>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article12"><a name="article12"> MORE ON JAMES D. FOSKETT </h3></a> Regarding our questions about th
e first librarian of the American Numismatic Society, Pete Smith writes: <div class="quote"> In <i>American Numismatic Before the Civil War</i>, Bowers has a chapter on the Foskett collection. Total personal information on Foskett comes down to this, "In his time, Foskett was well known in New York City. In the oyster business at 104 Third Avenue, he lived at 116 Stanton Street," <br><br>A James D. Foskett apears in the 1850 U.S. Census in New York City. He was born around 1830 in Massachusetts. He would be young to sell a coin collection in 1859, but still ten years older than cataloguer Augustus B. Sage.<br><br> The 1870 U. S. Census has the same James D. Foskett living in Suffolk. Massachusetts. The name James Foskett, without a middle initial, is common enough to be difficult to research. </div><br><br><div class="box"> Foskett remains an enigmatic character on the numismatic scene, but perhaps someday more will be known. -Editor </div><br><br>
<div class="box"
align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article13"><a name="article13"> THE VICTORIAN INTERNET </h3></a> Regarding the Optical Telegraph mentioned last week, Bob Knepper writes: <div class="quote"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3666825198/" title="Chappe Optical Telegraph by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2174/3666825198_a7ab2e6270_m.jpg" width="177" height="240" align="right" alt="Chappe Optical Telegraph" /></a> A more complete coverage of the "telegraph" systems before the electrical telegraph is in <i>The Victorian Internet</i> by Tom Standage (ISBN 0-425-17169-8). Per the suggestion of a friend, I borrowed and read it.<br><br>Rather than the telegraph arms having 9,999 possible positions to define the individual words, most of the many different systems transmitted digits via arm positions, flags, etc. and then a multidigit number defined a word in a codebo
ok. Although as the E-Sylum article said, the systems were fast compared to previous communication, the staffing requirements made them expensive and they were almost exclusively for government use. </div><br><br> <div class="ctabox"> <center> <h4> THE BOOK BAZARRE</h4> </center> I am looking for nice clean (preferably new) copies of the May 25, 2003 Doctor Lee coin auction catalog by Superior. Bob Yuell <a href="mailto:Robyue@aol.com"> Robyue@aol.com </a>.<br><br></div><br><br>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article14"><a name="article14"> BRENNER ART OF THE MEDAL HALFTONE REPRINTS OFFERED </h3></a> <div class="box"> George Cuhaj forwarded this information about an interesting set of prints he produced as a fundraiser for the American Numismatic Association library. -Editor </div> The ANA library has received a set of 30 reprints made from seven of the original halftone letterpress cuts from V
ictor Brenner's 1910 privately published work <i>The Art of the Medal</i>. One illustration shows Brenner standing sculpting a bas-relief at an easel, two show him working at his engraver's bench, and another of him operating a large screw press. The other illustrations include two Janvier machines and a die/hub view. The images are generally 6x6 or 7x8, and are printed with wide margins on coated stock. There may be (read this as will) some ink setoff on the backs.<br><br><center> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3679650221/" title="ArtMedal002 by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2650/3679650221_aa19a9daa4_m.jpg" width="176" height="240" alt="ArtMedal002" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3680463904/" title="ArtMedal005 by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2652/3680463904_175bc54b47_m.jpg" width="195" height="240" alt="ArtMedal005" /></a
> </center><br><br>The group of 7 reprints were made in an edition of 30, as a donation to the ANA Library Fund by George Cuhaj and printed on an old letterpress in Waupaca Wisconsin. (See George at the press and other photos on his Facebook page - George Cuhaj)<br><br>E-Sylum readers can purchase a set by sending an 80.00 check made out to ANA, and mail it to Ryann Scott, ANA Librarian, 818 N. Cascade Ave. Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80903.<br><br>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article15"><a name="article15"> MORE ON THE WATERLOO MEDAL(S) </h3></a> <div class="box"> Last week's item on a "Waterloo Medal" being put up for auction befuddled a number of readers, and rightly so. -Editor </div><br><br>Pete Smith writes: <div class="quote"> Thank you for finding a way to include an illustration of Pistrucci's Waterloo Medal. However, it does not fit the facts of the story. Pistrucci's medal is described
in <i>British Historical Medals 1760-1960</i> by Lawrence Brown. The medal was not available until 1849 so it would not have been given to soldiers "after the battle." Providing one to "all ranks" would have required tens of thousands of medals. On pages 210-211 of the Brown book is a reproduction of the prospectus for the Pistrucci medal. It was offered in copper to anyone with two Pounds, two Shillings to spend. No mention is made of giving any to the soldiers. There are dozens of medal related to Waterloo. One may have been a campaign medal. but it was not the Pistrucci Medal. </div><br><br>Darryl Atchison writes: <div class="quote"> I was surprised when I read this morning's issue of the E-Sylum to the point of nearly falling out of my chair. You know how there is a tiny bit of information that for some strange reason remains firmly lodged in your brain which refuses to be dislodged by other bits of "useless" information. While, such is the case with the Wa
terloo medal which you so aptly describe in this morning's issue. Without a doubt this is Pistrucci's handsomest production <br><br>However, I could not understand where this medal came from nor how the family could claim that their ancestor had been awarded the medal. Pistrucci worked on the illustrated "Waterloo medal" for over three decades and it is unquestionably the legacy of his lifetime's work with the Royal Mint. <br><br>It is my understanding, however, that the dies that Pistrucci finally produced were deemed to be too large to strike from without risk of damaging them. Electrotypes were prepared of the Waterloo medal but this was sometime in the 1850s. I do not know whether any proof or specimen pieces were struck from the dies but there were definitely no pieces struck for presentation. <br><br>Sadly what has happened here is a mixup in photographs. There is a military decoration known as the "Waterloo medal" which was issued with a suspension loop an
d ribbon. The medals were presented to all ranks who had served at the battles of Ligny, Quatre Bras and Waterloo from June 16th - 18th, 1815. Clearly it is an example of this decoration which the family are putting up for auction and not one of Pistrucci's pieces. <br><br>Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but this is simply an editorial mixup. I wouldn't let this bother you too much. It made for interesting reading and prompted me to go and relearn a bit more about both Waterloo medals again. <br><br>Keep up the great work. I look forward to reading The E-Sylum every Monday morning. </div><br><br><div class="box"> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3687940496/" title="Waterloo Medal 1815 by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2624/3687940496_fcb26b931e_o.jpg" width="157" height="170" align="right" alt="Waterloo Medal 1815" /></a> William Smith also wrote in questioning the illustration. The editorial
mixup in this case was all mine – the original article didn’t have an illustration of the piece in question, and I grabbed an image of the Pistrucci Waterloo medal from the E-Sylum archives. Oops – my mistake. Thanks for setting us straight. Darryl noted that images of the OTHER Waterloo medal are readily available on the internet. Here's one image I found, and Darryl confirms this is the likely type of Waterloo medal being auctioned. -Editor </div><br><br>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article16"><a name="article16"> MORE ON U.S. COIN DENOMINATIONS </h3></a> Regarding the statement that "The United States' earliest "real coins" (silver and gold) did not carry a denomination", David Gladfelter writes: <div class="quote"> This conclusion does not follow from the denominational values shown on the edges of the first half dollar and dollar coins, or on the pattern half dismes and dismes, which I had ov
erlooked. Instead, it appears that whether or not a denominational value was to be placed on our first coins was an arbitrary decision of the chief coiner and/or engraver. Of course, the smaller the coin, the less room for a denominational value on either side or on the edge.<br><br>I did check the Mint Act of April 2, 1792. It calls for placement of a denominational value only on the copper coins (sec. 10), but does call for certain devices and legends on all coins (ibid.) Other than that, it was up to the chief coiner to cause coins to be minted "according to such regulations as shall be prescribed by this or any future law," and up to the engraver to prepare dies "with the proper devices and inscriptions" (sec. 3). <br><br>Designs incorporating denominational values (and all required devices and legends) could have been prepared for all silver and gold coins, but they were not, with the exceptions noted above. Later acts did require denominational values to be placed on a
ll coins, together with additional inscriptions (e.g. "In God we trust"). </div><br><br> To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: <a href="http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v12n26a14.html"> MORE ON U.S. COIN DENOMINATIONS </a> (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v12n26a14.html)<br><br>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article17"><a name="article17"> EARTHQUAKE TOKENS AND MEDALS </h3></a> <div class="box"> The July 2009 issue of the <i>Alaskan Token Collector</i> features a nice article by editor Dick Hanscom on a very unusual topic: earthquake tokens and medals. Dick kindly sent me a copy of the text. Some excerpts and an image are republished here. -Editor </div> Back in May, one morning about 5:30, we were jolted awake as the house shook. Jan and I kind of looked at each other, said "earthquake" and went back to sleep. It obviously wasn’t big enough to do any damage, and it was just too early to get up. Since t
hat initial jolt, there have been 3 or 4 more that could be felt at our house over a span of a couple weeks. <br><br> Earthquakes are extremely common in Alaska. Most are not felt, but are recorded by sensitive instruments. The ones we felt at the house were only 3+ according to the newspaper. That is quite small to shake the whole house, so I went on line to the Alaska Earthquake Information Center (http://www.aeic.alaska.edu/Seis/recenteqs/index.html) to see where the epicenters were. They were 1 to 3 miles SE and SSE of Ester, a small bastion of liberalism 10 miles outside of Fairbanks. <br><br> Our house overlooks the Ester valley, so I knew we were close. A customer who works at the Geophysical Institute at UAF studying volcanoes came in. While he is a volcanologist, he is in close contact with the people who study earthquakes. I showed him on a map where we live, and he said that we were pretty much on top of the epicenter, about a mile or so away.<br><br> There hav
e been over 50 quakes on this previously little known fault line since before the first one that we felt. All but a few went unnoticed by the general population. They have since died down, but if they start up again, I may have a seismometer installed at the house by the folks at Gee-Whiz, as our location makes nearly a perfect triangle with two others they have in the field.<br><br> And with the shaking going on, I thought it would be a good time to note the 45th anniversary of the "big one" in 1964. There were several medals and tokens struck making note of this massive quake. This earthquake, originally rated at 8.4, has been re-evaluated and placed at 9.2, the seconded largest ever recorded (http://www.aeic.alaska.edu/quakes/Alaska_1964_earthquake.html).<br><br> The most common earthquake medal is shown below. This was made in cupronickel (both bright and oxidized), bronze and brass. I have to believe it was also made in silver, but I have not seen one. It is 40mm and
looks like a Wendells product.<br><br><center> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3686100124/" title="Alaska Earthquake Medal ak06b7 by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2627/3686100124_e4aa80fa8e.jpg" width="500" height="238" alt="Alaska Earthquake Medal ak06b7" /></a> </center><br><br><div class="box"> The article pictures and lists other earthquake medals and tokens, but Dick notes the list is likely not complete. Let us know if you're familiar with any others. -Editor </div><br><br> <div class="ctabox"> <center> <h4> THE BOOK BAZARRE</h4> </center> <b>DAVID SKLOW - FINE NUMISMATIC BOOKS</b> Sale #8 is scheduled for October 3rd 2009. Sale #7 closed June 13th 2009. Prices realized have been posted on my web site. <a href="http://www.finenumismaticbooks.com">www.finenumismaticbooks.com</a>. PH: (719) 302-5686, FAX: (719) 302-4933. EMAIL: <a href="mailto:numismaticbooks@aol.com"> numismaticbo
oks@aol.com</a> <br><br></div><br><br>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article18"><a name="article18"> ANA ELECTION RESULTS: CLIFFORD MISHLER ELECTED PRESIDENT </h3></a> <div class="box"> The results are in. Congratulations to Cliff Mishler, who handily won the election for the presidency of the American Numismatic Association. Cliff is one of several E-Sylum subscribers and contributors on the ballot, listed here alphabetically. -Editor </div><br><br><ul> <li> President: Clifford Mishler <li> Vice President: Thomas G. Hallenbeck </ul><br><br>Governors: <ul> <li> Joseph E. Boling <li> Jeff C. Garrett <li> Chester L. Krause <li> J.P. Martin <li> Walter A. Ostromecki
<li> Scott T. Rottinghaus <li> Wendell A. Wolka </ul><br><br>Unsuccessful Candidates for Governor <ul> <li> Michael L. Ellis <li> Brian E. Fanton <li> Alan Herbert <li> Paul Hollis <li> Thomas A. Palmer, Jr. <li> Jeffrey Swindling <li> Michael S. Turrini </ul><br><br>To read the complete press release, see: <a href="http://www.money.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&CONTENTID=14769&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm"> CLIFFORD MISHLER ELECTED ANA PRESIDENT </a> (http://www.money.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home<br/>&CONTENTID=14769&TE
MPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm)<br><br>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article19"><a name="article19"> ANA EXHIBIT JUDGING COURSE OFFERED: YOU BE THE JUDGE! </h3></a> Exhibiting will be one of the truly educational dimensions of the ANA World's Fair of Money to be held in Los Angeles, August 5-9. A number of E-Sylum readers will bring their prized material to that show to educate other collectors as well as the public. Some exhibit non-competitively, but the majority of exhibitors are driven by their competitive juices to vie for numismatic honors on behalf of their holdings. <br><br>Some of you are the very judges who evaluate exhibits for first, second, and third place prizes as well as the several other awards, including the prestigious Howland Wood Best in Show honor. Chief Judge Sam Deep asks the rest of you to consider joining with the current group of experts in their respective field who will umpire ov
er 100 exhibits this year. Judges are quite literally a dying breed and our hobby needs your help. <br><br> Sam offers a two-hour course on Wednesday at 10AM in LA that will ready you for the job. After practicing your skills on a few of the exhibits, you and he can then decide whether it's a calling that you will continue at future conventions. Email Sam at deepsam@aol.com with your questions or to sign up for the Judge's Familiarization and Certification Program next month.<br><br>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article20"><a name="article20"> PROFILE: COMMEMORATIVE COIN DESIGNER ISAAC SCOTT HATHAWAY </h3></a> <div class="box"> This week Southsider magazine of Lexington, KY published a great profile of Isaac Scott Hathaway, designer of the Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver commemorative half dollars, produced from 1946 to 1954. -Editor </div> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coin
books/3676432723/" title="Isaac Scott Hathaway by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2578/3676432723_a192c6f15b_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" align="right" alt="Isaac Scott Hathaway" /></a> His classmates called him "Big Boots" because he had no shoes and wore his father's Army combat boots to school.<br><br>Isaac Scott Hathaway was born April 4, 1872, the son of a Civil War veteran, Robert Elijah Hathaway, who had proudly served as a member of the United States Colored Troops. When Hathaway was only 2 years old, his mother, Rachel Scott Hathaway, died, and the children were raised by their father and grandparents.<br><br>At the age of 9, Hathaway stated that he would become the sculptor of busts of "famous Negroes" after he found none displayed in a gallery.<br><br>Hathaway frequently visited the Thoroughbred race and trotting tracks in Lexington, not to bet on the horses but to draw and paint them. A news article in 1897
listed the horses he had painted for wealthy patrons of the industries. Only one of the paintings is known to have survived: one of Queen Ban, completed in 1896.<br><br>After graduating in 1891, Hathaway became a teacher at Keene in Jessamine County – a profession that he continued until his retirement in 1966. All the time he taught, he also pursued his other passion – creating busts of famous African Americans and placing them where people could see them. Hathaway received advanced training in the arts at the New England Conservatory in Massachusetts and the Cincinnati Art Academy. He returned to Lexington after his studies and began perfecting his skills. In 1900, he opened his first studio of sculpture in that chicken coop behind his birth home.<br><br>He requested and was granted permission to take the death mask of Cassius Marcellus Clay, famed Kentucky emancipationist and former United States Ambassador to Russia; he later created a heroic-sized bust.<br><br>Near the
end of 1907 Hathaway moved to Washington, D.C., where he and other partners founded the Afro-Art Company. During his Washington years, he produced 12-inch busts of Paul Laurence Dunbar, Booker T. Washington, Bishop Richard Allen and Frederick Douglass. His work of the time period was cited in "The Artists of Washington, D.C. 1796 – 1996," by Virgil E. McMahah.<br><br>In his lifetime, Hathaway produced over 100 busts and masks of African Americans in all disciplines. His sculptures are at scattered in public institutions across the country, as well as in private collections.<br><br>Hathaway is the only African American to be commissioned by the United States Mint to design the molds for two commemorative coins honoring great African Americans: Booker T. Washington, educator and president of the Tuskegee Institute, and George Washington Carver, educator and scientist at Tuskegee – both of whom Hathaway personally knew. The coins were produced from 1946 to 1954. Hathaway's ach
ievement as the only designer of two coins now stands as a record of 63 years.<br><br><div class="box"> I'm not sure what record the article is referring to. Was he the only sculptor to design two different commemorative coins? That may have been true in 1954 (although I haven't researched this), but today multiple artists have credits for more than one commemorative design. -Editor </div><br><br>To read the complete article, see: <a href="http://www.southsidermagazine.com/Articles-c-2009-06-29-87989.113117_Big_Boots_pulls_himself_up.html"> "Big Boots" pulls himself up </a> (www.southsidermagazine.com/Articles-c-<br/>2009-06-29-87989.113117_Big_Boots_pulls_himself_up.html)<br><br>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article21"><a name="article21"> NEW MEDAL: THE ELIZABETH CROSS </h3></a> <div class="box"> Queen Elizabeth has created a new medal in her name, to be presented to families whose loved ones died
in the course of duty. -Editor </div> By deciding to give her name to an honour commemorating members of the Armed Forces who have died in the service of their country, the Queen is following a family tradition that dates back more than 150 years. Her great-great-grandmother gave her name to the Victoria Cross, her father his to the George Cross, each of them establishing a legacy that would live on long after their death.<br><br>They are not just any honours, however. The introduction of each of these awards, and the decision by Victoria, George VI and now Elizabeth to lend their names to them, reflects a series of fundamental shifts in society’s attitude to duty, sacrifice and the role in our national life played by both the Armed Forces and the civilian population.<br><br><center> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3685475281/" title="Elizabeth-medal_582980a by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2578/36854
75281_f9fd8ff513.jpg" width="385" height="185" alt="Elizabeth-medal_582980a" /></a> </center><br><br>Hard though it may be to imagine now, before the Victoria Cross there was no gallantry medal for anyone below the rank of major, or a captain in the Navy.<br><br>Officers of the appropriate rank were awarded the Companionship of the Order of the Bath: the rest got nothing.<br><br>Victoria recognised the valour of the other ranks, George VI the gallantry of civilians facing a war on the home front: now Elizabeth has chosen as her legacy the recognition of the sacrifice made by families whose loved ones have died in the course of duty. While the initiative came from the defence chiefs, the Queen played an active part in the discussions, and it was her suggestion that it be called the Elizabeth Cross.<br><br>That she should be so involved is entirely in character; not only is she the only living monarch to have served in uniform in the Second World War — she was in the ATS — bu
t she has also had a long and close involvement with the Armed Forces.<br><br>From Cyprus to Northern Ireland, from the Falklands to Afghanistan and Iraq, conflicts both home and overseas have been, in the words of one aide, "at the forefront of her mind throughout her reign".<br><br>The Queen has, over the years, heard many moving stories of the deaths of servicemen and women, the aide said. "This is her legacy."<br><br>To read the complete article, see: <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6620202.ece"> Elizabeth Cross follows a tradition that started with Crimean War </a> (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6620202.ece)<br><br><div class="box"> An article in <i>The Telegraph</i> notes that some families have mixed emotions about the honor and how it is delivered. -Editor </div> The new medal, which will be issued from August, has been received with mixed feelings by Mrs Smith. On the one hand, she thinks it is "a lovely gesture", b
ut she would have appreciated learning about it through the Ministry of Defence, rather than from her father.<br><br>The MoD says that by August it will trace all next of kin of those killed as far back as 2000; everyone else should apply. "But they have all my details now," says Mrs Smith, "so why haven't they been in touch? It seems pretty shambolic to me."<br><br>Tony Philippson, whose son James was killed when he was ambushed in Afghanistan in 2006, heard about the Elizabeth Cross through a text message from his son's Colonel. "I got the text about an hour ago," he said. "I don't really know anything about it. I don't suppose it really matters that they consult me, but it would be nice to to learn about it before it is in the newspaper."<br><br>To read the complete article, see: <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5724472/The-Elizabeth-Cross-Is-it-too-little-too-late.html"> The Elizabeth Cross: Is it too little, too late? </a> (www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uk
news/5724472/The-Elizabeth-Cross-Is-it-too-little-too-late.html)<br><br>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article22"><a name="article22"> AUSTRIA'S SILVER PHILHARMONIC USED TO SKIRT TAX LAWS </h3></a> <div class="box"> In recent weeks we've mentioned various schemes to use high-value bullion coins with low nominal face values to skirt tax laws. The latest scheme in the news involves the "Silver Philharmonic" coin from Austria. -Editor </div> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3691877037/" title="Austrian Philharmonic by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2566/3691877037_4512a4bf77_o.jpg" width="180" height="180" align="left" alt="Austrian Philharmonic" /></a> Hot tip for German investors: an Austrian silver coin that can be smuggled legally. It's music to the ears of Germans who bank in Austria. But how long can the party last?<br><br>The object o
f desire is 37 millimetres in diameter and made of .999 fine silver. On one side, the coin shows an organ, its country of origin ("The Republic of Austria") and its face value: €1.50 ($2.12). On the flipside: "Vienna Philharmonic Silver" and a few musical instruments from the world famous orchestra.<br><br>The coin, known to numismatics as the "Silver Philharmonic," could well drive Germany's already harassed Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück over the edge. Because the ounce of silver is a hot tip among German investors -- and a means of discretely transferring untaxed funds back home.<br><br>The story of its success has to do with a funny little contradiction: As a means of payment with a value of €1.50, the coin can be used to buy a beer. But nobody in his right mind will take it to the pub in the first place because the exclusive silver piece is worth -- depending on the price of silver --somewhere between €11 ($16) and €14 ($20), and costs that much at the teller's window
.<br><br>It's this difference between the face and market values of the coin that makes it so attractive in the context of international money transfers. The coin manages -- astonishingly -- to circumvent currency import regulations. A person travelling from Austria to Germany is allowed to bring €10,000 ($14,000) into the country without having to declare it at customs. So that person can bring more than 6,000 Philharmonic coins over the border and in doing so, bring home, with each trip, more than €110,000 ($156,000) of his hidden Austrian treasure.<br><br>To read the complete article, see: <a href="http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,633772,00.html"> A New Austrian Coin Trick </a> (http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,633772,00.html)<br><br>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article23"><a name="article23"> THE BAROON DOLLAR: NEW LOCAL CURRENCY IN QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA </h3></a> <di
v class="box"> Philip Mernick of London forwarded this information about a new local currency in Queensland, Australia - the Baroon Dollar. -Editor </div> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3676359659/" title="Baroon Dollar logo by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3555/3676359659_5b9b520ae7_m.jpg" width="240" height="120" align="right" alt="Baroon Dollar logo" /></a> The Baroon Dollar is a community or complementary currency launching in August 2009, which will be redeemable for goods or services within the Blackall Range and Sunshine Coast Hinterland region of Queensland, Australia. It is an initiative of Sustainable Maleny and the Australian Institute for Community Currencies Inc - a non-profit community organisation.<br><br>Baroon Dollars are gift certificates or payment vouchers. You will be able to buy the Baroon Dollar from this site or distribution centres across the Sunshine Coast Hinterland. Whe
n you buy a Baroon Dollar you’ll be buying a gift certificate from the Australian Institute for Community Currencies Inc which is redeemable for goods and services across the Hinterland. Baroon Dollars are not a replacement for the Australian dollar, but a complementary tool to support the local economy and to raise awareness of the need to buy locally.<br><br><div class="box"> Darren Mitchell of the organization promoting the dollars emailed Philip and several other collectors (see below). Maybe I'm just one of those people who'd never want to join an organization that would have me as a member, but when something is marketed at collectors I instinctively turn up my nose - it smells like profiteering and promotion rather than a genuine community-based effort. Still, the Baroon Dollar is another example of the local currency movement that deserves to be documented and preserved. -Editor </div><br><br>Darren Mitchell writes: <div class="quote"> We are a non-for-profi
t community group in Australia, the Australian Institute for Community Currencies Inc and are preparing to launch Australia's first paper dollar-backed local currency in the Sunshine Coast hinterland region. Named the Baroon Dollar, we will be producing collectors edition sets, with the possibility of a commemorative token in August/September 2009. Within the next month collectors of complementary currencies and tokens will be able to pre-order at our website www.baroondollar.org </div><br><br>The designs of the notes are being kept under wraps. From the Baroon Dollar blog: <div class="quote"> A great selection of prominent local artists have offered to supply artwork to be the face of the Baroon Dollar - the hinterland's new comunity currency. Steve Demmasson of Sahitya Graphics based in Maleny is currently working on designing the 1,2,5,10 and 20 Baroon Dollar notes ready for a launch in August. </div><br><br>Philip recommended this article about the currency - here's
an excerpt. <div class="quote"> The old dairy farming town of Maleny in Queensland's Sunshine Coast hinterland, perched lushly on the Blackall Ranges, now attracts tree changers, hippies, artists and weekend tourists.<br><br>In 2004 Maleny locals made headlines for trying to stop the construction of a Woolworths on the banks of the town's Obi Obi Creek, which was a platypus habitat.<br><br>After long stand-offs, they lost that battle and the supermarket was built.<br><br>But this time they have taken on a bigger opponent and have decided to hit back at the global financial crisis.<br><br>They are going to print their own money.<br><br>The Baroon Dollar - named after Lake Baroon near Maleny - will be printed and sold at local, independent businesses to encourage locals and visitors to keep buying up locally. </div><br><br>To read the complete article, see: <a href=" http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/10/2594106.htm"> Money worries: town prints its own </a> (w
ww.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/10/2594106.htm)<br><br>For more information, see: <a href="http://www.baroondollar.org/"> The Baroon Dollar </a> (http://www.baroondollar.org/)<br><br>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article24"><a name="article24"> MORE ON THE SILVER DECA COINS OF ATLANTIS II </h3></a> A few weeks ago I asked about the coins issued by the "Atlantis II" group. <div class="quote"> Werner Stiefel, an upstate New York pharmaceutical manufacturer, convinced a small gang of eager young libertarians to help him build a ferro-cement boat called "Atlantis II" in 1969. This vessel was supposed to sail down to the Caribbean, where the crew might grab some land in disputed territories such as Anguilla or the Silver Shoals near Haiti, or just use the ship as a staging ground to build some artificial concrete land. <br><br>The schemers had their own silver coin, dubbed the "deca"; they got some press i
n Esquire; and they had their own homemade boat. But the ship sank in a hurricane, attention from the Haitian government forced the project into quiet mode (canceling the highly entertaining newsletter Atlantis News), and no new libertarian Atlantis ever arose in the Caribbean. </div><br><br><div class="box"> Oded Paz of the Unrecognized States Numismatic Society was able to provide us with these images of some of the Atlantis II coins. Thanks! -Editor </div><br><br><center> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3689757179/" title="ATLANTIS Kingdom - 1970 DECA - 10 grams .925 silver by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2497/3689757179_4dba14bbf4_o.jpg" width="400" height="190" alt="ATLANTIS Kingdom - 1970 DECA - 10 grams .925 silver" /></a> </center><br><br>To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: <a href="http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v12n24a17.html"> QUERY: THE SILVER DECA COIN OF ATLANTIS II </a> (h
ttp://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v12n24a17.html)<br><br><div class="box"> Oded also forwarded information about some other Atlantis pieces from an earlier era. -Editor </div><br><br><center> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3690563712/" title="ATLANTIS 5 SKALOJ 1933 - Obverse by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3638/3690563712_bb793921f1_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="ATLANTIS 5 SKALOJ 1933 - Obverse" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3690563744/" title="ATLANTIS 5 SKALOJ 1933 - Reverse by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2574/3690563744_157fcd2e0d_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="ATLANTIS 5 SKALOJ 1933 - Reverse" /></a> </center><br><br><div class="quote"> The 1933 5 (bronze) and 20 (silver) Skaloj pieces were possibly dispensed that same year at the Century of Progress International Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. Both co
ins, are dedicated to Christiano I, Prince Regent. I've also seen images of a set of six Skaloj/Dalo stamps from 1935 featuring Queen Marie. <br><br>It is tentatively speculated that the term employed for the coins' denomination may have a linguistic connection to Esperanto: whereby a "skalo" (adding the "j" renders it plural) is a scale of measurement — a system of ordered marks at fixed intervals; a calibrated line; a progressive classification, as of size, amount, importance, or rank (e.g. a wage scale, a musical scale, the scale on a map). </div><br><br> <div class="box"> But wait, there's more! Oded also forwarded information about some modern Atlantis fantasy pieces. -Editor </div><br><br><center> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3691944363/" title="Kingdom_of_Atlantis_2004_$20_Copper_Proof_obv_x150 by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2450/3691944363_7b620e8fe2_o.gif" width="150" height="150" alt=
"Kingdom_of_Atlantis_2004_$20_Copper_Proof_obv_x150" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/3691944403/" title="Kingdom_of_Atlantis_2004_$20_Copper_Proof_rev_x150 by Numismatic Bibliomania Society, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3663/3691944403_7eee84e164_o.gif" width="150" height="150" alt="Kingdom_of_Atlantis_2004_$20_Copper_Proof_rev_x150" /></a> </center><br><br>Oded writes: <div class="quote"> KINGDOM OF ATLANTIS: This coin is the valiant creation of Mr. Edward J. Moschetti (worldproofna@aol.com), the founder/President of the World Proof Numismatic Association (PO Box 4094, Pittsburgh, PA, 15201-0094). They have been a purveyor of these desirable types of coins since 1964, and they carry a fantastic stock of proof coinage. Please write to them and they will mail you any information you request.<br><br>I commend and applaud Mr. Moschetti's decisively bold transition into the designing and minting of his own patterns. I purchased t
he copper MMIV 20 Atlantis Dollars, but there are also a silver and gold 100 Atlantis Dollars. The obverse "features a small girl perhaps one of Poseidon’s children in the foreground with lake and mountains in background." The reverse "features Poseidon, the God of Atlantis along with his mortal wife Cleito standing in front of the Golden Gates of Atlantis." <br><br>Mr. Moschetti would go on to issue additional versions of the popular 20/100 Atlantis Dollars (the obverse being the only side that is markedly different): the 2007 edition features "two Atlantis boatsmen in their outrigger", and the 2009 edition features an "Atlantis woman bathing in a lake, with a waterfall in front of her. A Temple appears on the upper left part of the background."<br><br>Images of Atlantis' coinage can be viewed at the Coin Library of the USNS: http://www.usns.info/coin-atlantiskingdom.html They can also be seen at the Web-site of Mr. Jorge Fernández Vidal: http://www.jfvcoins.com/Producto
s/micronations_english=catAC.html </div><br><br>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article25"><a name="article25"> DICK JOHNSON ON LOW-VALUE DEBIT CARDS </h3></a> <div class="box"> Dick Johnson submitted these thoughts on how low-value debit cards could encroach on coinage. -Editor </div> There is a movement afoot to replace the use of coins in American commerce. We have learned of a firm that is promoting this -- Card Concepts Incorporated of Bensenville, Illinois. They are the enemy of every American coin collector who wants to continue the issuing of American coins in the future. <br><br>They want to replace using coins with a card system and are inching their way into the vending machine industry. Where they have been most successful is in the self-service Laundromat industry. By retrofitting coin-operated Laundromat machines, the machines accept payment by a card (in effect a debit card). At the same lo
cation they supply a kiosk (they call an X-Changer) where you obtain or apply money to a debit card by increments of $5 (lowest amount acceptable) with $5 bills. Thus the use of coins in all denominations are entirely eliminated. We object to this.<br><br> We have no criticism of credit cards. These are generally used for high-value transactions, these are often in odd-cent amounts, accumulated during the month and billed in odd-cent amounts. No problem. Low-value debit cards, on the other hand, are specifically intended to replace the use of coins - a bad precedent for coin collectors. <br><br>The movement using low-value debit cards is insidious, a parasite eating away at the proper use of coins. Laundromats and public use photocopy machines are where these operators have made the greatest inroads. Their use is growing, a little at a time. <br><br>The greatest ill of debit cards is the unused portion. There is always a positive balance, no product delivered or servi
ce rendered to a zero balance -- causing, in effect, dead money! It cannot be used until the next transaction in that location. Never dead money with coins, they are universally accepted by every vendor, by every person in America. <br><br> What can coin collectors do? Do not patronize stores that use debit cards exclusively. Let the management know why. Write letters to the editor. A time honored way is to express your opinion in newspapers. And the most modern way is to hit the blogs. The influence of the internet is increasing. <br><br>Remember, as coin collectors, we have 2,000 years of coin-use heritage on our side. We also have the U.S. Constitution which granted the power of Congress to create coins. They were intended for just such use as at the local Laundromat. <br><br>To see the "face" of the enemy click on: www.laundrycard.com<br><br><div class="box"> Low-value debit cards are only one of many competing micropayment systems. Most have a niche, such as th
e laundry machine market - few are as ubiquitous as coins. They've worked for 2,000 years and won't disappear overnight. But inch by inch, competition is taking hold. My bet is on the mobile phone becoming a wallet equipped to exchange micropayments with vending machines and other devices. <br><br>Dick is curious to learn of other uses of debit cards replacing coins. I learned of an example of the unused portion problem this evening. My father in law discovered a Visa card he'd been given for his 80th birthday - two years ago. <br><br>It had an original $25 value, but now is worthless. After a year, the company starts deducting $3 a month whether the card is used or not. Real cash isn't printed with disappearing ink, and would still be just as good as it was on his birthday. But all he could do was give the card to my daughter Hannah to play with. Let's go shopping (her favorite game with Daddy lately)! -Editor </div><br><br>
<div class="box" align="right"><a
href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article26"><a name="article26"> FEATURED WEB SITE: ROMAN PROVINCIAL COINAGE ONLINE </h3></a> This week's Featured Web site is Roman Provincial Coinage Online.<br><br><center> <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3605/3692910484_82e8b4a339.jpg" width="250" height="243" alt="Roman Provincial Coinage logo" /> </center><br><br><div class="quote"> The aim of the Roman Provincial Coinage series is to produce a standard typology of the provincial coinage of the Roman Empire from its beginning in 44 BC to its end in AD 296/7. The current Roman Provincial Coinage Online project is confined to the Antonine period (AD 138–192), but it is intended that it will form a model for putting other periods online in the future.<br><br>The database is based on the ten most important and accessible collections in the world, and on all published material. It comprises one of the largest collections of images and related inscriptio
ns from the ancient world which is searchable by iconography, place, and time.<br><br>The database contains information on 13,729 coin types, based on 46,725 specimens (9,061 of which have images). </div><br><br><h2> <a href="http://rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk/"> rpc.ashmus.ox.ac.uk </h2> <div class="ctabox"> <img src="http://www.coinbooks.org/global/images/layout/masthead_image_001.gif" border="0" align="center"/> </div> <div class="box" align="right"> <a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a><br><br>
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