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<h4>About Us</h4>
<p>The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization devoted to the study and enjoyment of 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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<p>Terry White, Treasurer<br/>Numismatic Bibliomania Society<br />P. O. Box 634, <br/>Canal Winchester, Ohio <br/>43110</p>
<h4>Asylum</h4>
<p>For Asylum mailing address changes and other membership questions, contact Terry at this email address: <a href="mailto:terrywhite5475@yahoo.com" target="_blank">terrywhite5475@yahoo.com</a></p>
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<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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<a href="http://www.newmanportal.org/"
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<h4>BUY THE BOOK BEFORE THE COIN</h4>
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<h4>Sale Calendar </h4>
<p>
<ul>
<!-- <li><a href="http://www.bbnla.com">March 5, 2016 BRYCE BROWN</a> -->
<!-- <li><a href="http://www.lakebooks.com">September 13, 2016 LAKE BOOKS</a> -->
<li><a href="http://www.numislit.com">January 13, 2018 KOLBE-FANNING</a>
<!-- <li><a href="http://www.numisbook.com/">February 18, 2017 CHARLES DAVIS</a> -->
<!--Watch here for updates! -->
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BEGIN TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Volume 20, Number 54, December 31, 2017 </a>
</font>
<br><br>
<ul><li><a href='#article1'>
WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM DECEMBER 31, 2017
</a><li><a href='#article2'>
KOLBE & FANNING’S 2018 NEW YORK SALE LOT VIEWING
</a><li><a href='#article3'>
NEW BOOK: FORGOTTEN COINS 25TH ANNIVERSARY
</a><li><a href='#article4'>
NEW BOOK: CARSON CITY MORGAN DOLLARS, 4TH EDITION
</a><li><a href='#article5'>
EL SITIO NO. 25 PUBLISHED
</a><li><a href='#article6'>
BOOK REVIEW: THE JUDGMENT OF EXPERTS
</a><li><a href='#article7'>
NEWMAN PORTAL ADDS FCCB NEWSLETTER
</a><li><a href='#article8'>
NEWMAN PORTAL SEARCH: “SCHOOL GIRL”
</a><li><a href='#article9'>
EDITOR ROBERT R. VAN RYZIN RETIRES
</a><li><a href='#article10'>
STUNT PILOT COIN DEALER: KEN NICHOLS
</a><li><a href='#article11'>
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: DECEMBER 31, 2017
</a><li><a href='#article12'>
MORE ON THE "MOBILITATE VIGET" VIGNETTE
</a><li><a href='#article13'>
UNSOLVED RIDDLES OF THE CONTINENTAL DOLLAR
</a><li><a href='#article14'>
VOCABULARY TERMS: ALL ABOUT DIES
</a><li><a href='#article15'>
WHY JANVIERS SHOULD NOT BE SCRAPPED
</a><li><a href='#article16'>
ALBERT HIRSCHFELD (1891-1972)
</a><li><a href='#article17'>
HARVEY STACK'S NUMISMATIC FAMILY, PART 8
</a><li><a href='#article18'>
MORE ON BANKNOTE ENGRAVER ROBERT SAVAGE
</a><li><a href='#article19'>
MORE ON THE ROBERT SAVAGE EDWARD VIII PORTRAIT
</a><li><a href='#article20'>
1859-S COINAGE AND TRADE WITH CHINA AND JAPAN
</a><li><a href='#article21'>
TOM BABINSZKI VISITS INDIA
</a><li><a href='#article22'>
SELECTIONS FROM LEGEND REGENCY AUCTION XXV
</a><li><a href='#article23'>
NUMISMATIC NUGGETS: DECEMBER 31, 2017
</a><li><a href='#article24'>
THE ANILLO TOKEN RESTRIKES
</a><li><a href='#article25'>
LSCC AND BCCS AT FUN IN TAMPA
</a><li><a href='#article26'>
NUMISMATIC CAREERS: A CHAT WITH NGC
</a><li><a href='#article27'>
ARTICLES HIGHLIGHT HENRY III GOLD PENNY
</a><li><a href='#article28'>
THE 1934 NAZI-ZIONIST COOPERATION MEDAL
</a><li><a href='#article29'>
NORTH KOREA'S KIM JONG-SUK GOLD COIN
</a><li><a href='#article30'>
NEW YORK CITY CREEPING TOWARD CASHLESSNESS
</a><li><a href='#article31'>
BITCOIN AND THE BANK OF ENGLAND'S CRYPTOCURRENCY
</a><li><a href='#article32'>
MORE CHRISTMAS TOKENS
</a><li><a href='#article33'>
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018
</a><li><a href='#article34'>
FEATURED WEB SITE: NUMISMATIC STUDIES
</a></ul> </div>
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<!-- The E-Sylum v20n54 December 31, 2017 -->
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<p>
<i>
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.
</i>
<h3 id = "article1"><a name="article1">
WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM DECEMBER 31, 2017
</h3></a></h3>
<p>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/33080797740/in/dateposted-public/" title="Wayne Homren 2017-03-15 full"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/768/33080797740_f58fba0009_m.jpg" height="120" align="left" alt="Wayne Homren 2017-03-15 full"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
New subscribers this week include:
Jack Topping, courtesy of Tom Babinszki,
Paul Malone, courtesy of James Contursi,
James Mccartney, and
Ronald Navarrete-Amaya.
Welcome aboard! We now have 3,387 subscribers.
<p>
<b>
Thank you for reading <i>The E-Sylum</i>. 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 with your compliments. Contact me at <a href="mailto:whomren@gmail.com">whomren@gmail.com</a> anytime regarding your subscription, or questions, comments or suggestions about our content.
</b>
<p>
This week we open with Kolbe-Fanning sale lot viewing, two new books, a new periodical and one book review.
Other topics this week include updates from the Newman Portal, editor Bob Van Ryzin, dealer Ken Nichols, collector Albert Hirschfeld, banknote engraver Robert Savage, forget Mark Hofmann, the Anillo token restrikes, and North Korea's new gold coin.
<p>
To learn more about contemporary colonial coin counterfeits, Carson City Morgan Dollars, shearing tokens, charity tokens, the FCCB Newsletter, the "School Girl" pattern, the Eliasberg 1872-CC quarter, New York City small change bills of 1814, die-engraving pantographs, 10,000 bust half dollars, the Silly Head Large Cent, the Henry III gold penny, and the Nazi-Zionist cooperation medal, read on. Have a great week, everyone!
<p>
Wayne Homren
<br/>Editor, <i>The E-Sylum</i>
<br/><br/>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article2"><a name="article2">
KOLBE & FANNING’S 2018 NEW YORK SALE LOT VIEWING
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
David Fanning sends this reminder about lot viewing for January's Kolbe & Fanning New York Book Auction.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<b>
LOT VIEWING FOR KOLBE & FANNING’S 2018 NEW YORK BOOK AUCTION
</b>
<p>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/38904814472/in/dateposted-public/" title="K-F 2018 New York Book Auction"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4641/38904814472_7010fe853c_n.jpg" width="247" height="320" align="right" alt="K-F 2018 New York Book Auction"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Kolbe & Fanning’s 2018 New York Book Auction is coming up soon, being held on Saturday, January 13, 2018 in the Empire State Ballroom I of the Grand Hyatt hotel in Manhattan (109 E. 42nd Street), beginning at 12:30 pm Eastern Time. The sale is being conducted in conjunction with the New York International Numismatic Convention, which is being held at the Grand Hyatt for the first time.
<p>
As always, selected lots will be available for viewing by potential bidders in the days leading up to the auction. Auction lot viewing will be held in the Grand Hyatt’s Plymouth Room on Thursday, January 11 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday, January 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. In addition, lots will be available for viewing on the day of the sale from 9:00 a.m. till noon.
<p>
Due to the venue’s smaller viewing room, we are bringing fewer lots than usual to New York. Generally, only unusual or especially valuable works will be available for viewing, and only representative volumes of multi-volume works. Bidders who wish us to bring a particular lot for viewing are urged to contact David Fanning as soon as possible at df@numislit.com. Every effort will be made to accommodate requests. Bidders are reminded that every lot in the sale is illustrated in the online catalogue at
<a href="https://bid.numislit.com/">
bid.numislit.com</a>. We have just recently added additional online photos, which bidders may wish to consult.
<p>
The full online catalogue is available through Kolbe & Fanning’s online bidding platform at <a href="https://bid.numislit.com/">
bid.numislit.com</a>. To register for the sale online, bidders must go to <a href="https://bid.numislit.com/">
bid.numislit.com</a> and register or sign in. Once you have set up an account, you may browse lots, place advance bids, or participate in the live sale online. The catalogue, featuring highlights from the outstanding numismatic library formed by Chicagoan William A. Burd along with other properties, is also available through the Kolbe & Fanning app, which can be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play Store. Printed catalogues have been mailed to active clients.
<p>
As always, bids may also be placed via post, email, fax or phone. <b>Bids placed via post, fax, or to the Gahanna office phone must be received by Monday, January 8</b>, in order for them to be processed. Bids emailed to David Fanning will be accepted through Friday, January 12. Advance absentee bids may be placed anytime online; live internet bidding will be available during the sale itself through the <a href="https://bid.numislit.com/">
bid.numislit.com</a>. platform.
<p>
Kolbe & Fanning Numismatic Booksellers LLC are a licensed and bonded auction firm in the State of Ohio. For more information, please see the Kolbe & Fanning website at numislit.com or email David Fanning at df@numislit.com. To register for the sale, go to <a href="https://bid.numislit.com/">
bid.numislit.com</a>. We look forward to your participation.
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<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article3"><a name="article3">
NEW BOOK: FORGOTTEN COINS 25TH ANNIVERSARY
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
Author John Lorenzo has published an update to the 1992 Anton book <i>Forgotten Coins of the North American Colonies</i>. Here's an excerpt from the book's Preface.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/25500976048/in/dateposted-public/" title="Forgotton Coins Cover"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4680/25500976048_47bc504356_n.jpg" width="247" height="320" align="right" alt="Forgotton Coins Cover"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Since the initial book on the
<i>Forgotten Coins of the North American Colonies</i> was published in 1992 by Krause Publications there has
been much advancement of these contemporary counterfeits by American & Foreign collectors. This
book is not so much a research exercise into new areas of contemporary counterfeit collecting but a
tribute to an individual who started many people in collecting these coins when at this time in 1992 few
if any collectors thought of collecting contemporary counterfeits.
<p>
A good definition is a definition we used for the <i>Counterfeit Eight Reales</i> book released in September
2014 by Amazon Books. A Contemporary Counterfeit is defined as a spurious coin made to circulate
alongside originals in day to day commerce at the same value, regardless of face value or design type.
See the Definitions section within this book.
<p>
Specifically, the author will discuss the Canadian Blacksmiths, Spanish/American counterfeits (i.e.,
Kleeberg Two Reales and the Gurney/Nichols/Lorenzo Eight Reales), English and Irish Halfpence/Farthing
contemporary counterfeits principally sold in the Stacks 2008 Michael Ringo Collection and other brief
treatments of counterfeits mentioned in the <i>Forgotten</i> Book. The reason I use the word brief as it may
take two or three volumes to address all these advancements. Most of the advancements are seen for
the U.S. Colonial issues in the American Numismatic Society’s <i>Colonial Newsletter</i> in which the serious
student is urged to join the ANS and subscribe to the Colonial Newsletter.
<p>
The book will also address all the Anton-Kesse Plate coins in the book and bring their cataloguing into
modern thinking such as incorporating certain pieces into now accepted counterfeit families such as the
Long-Neck Family of counterfeit British Halfpence. Much of these writings of these new contemporary
counterfeit Families as previously alluded to has been published through the Colonial Newsletter which
is now overseen by the American Numismatic Society.
<p>
The author will be using
the Schettino Classification System (CVS: Clement V. Schettino) within this book from his latest CD which
treats most of the current Families. When William Anton wrote his book in 1992 with Bruce Kesse he
had to go back to D.T. Batty who in 1868 published the work: <i>The Descriptive Catalogue of the Copper
Coinage of Great Britain, Ireland, British Islands and Colonies</i> in his 1886 address to the American
Numismatic and Archaeological Society titled “Counterfeit Halfpence Current in the American Colonies.”
<p>
We then waited almost a century before another great numismatist who as of this writing has past the
centurion age mark Eric P. Newman contributed his classic work at the time “American Circulation of
English Bungtown Halfpence which constituted a chapter in <i>Studies of Money in Early America</i> in 1976.
<p>
Even though great advancements have been made since the days of D.T. Batty and Eric P. Newman in
many ways we have only scratched the surface of the pieces described in the original <i>Forgotten</i> Book
and today. A simple reason would be that the non-regal group has not even established a universal
variety classification system for the British/Irish Families due to their massive numbers and their
inherent complexities.
<p>
Paperback: 352 pages
<br/>Language: English
<br/>ISBN-10: 1981898042
<br/>ISBN-13: 978-1981898046
<br/>Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.8 x 11 inches
<br/>Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
<br/>Price: $65
<p>
<div class="greybox">
The book is available on Amazon.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
John Lorenzo adds:
<div class="quote">
<p>
I purposely REQUESTED high end glossy type paper for this book and color on most coin pictures which many encompass a 1/2 page to mimic all the the different metal alloys such as silver, brass, copper and gold in their TRUE colors based on their respective XRF analyses.
Over 1000+ coins have had individual XRF analyses performed.
</div>
<p>
To read the complete article, see:
<br/>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1981898042/ref=sr_1_5">
Forgotten Coins of the North American Colonies - 25th Anniversary Edition
</a>
(https://www.amazon.com/dp/1981898042/ref=sr_1_5)
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article4"><a name="article4">
NEW BOOK: CARSON CITY MORGAN DOLLARS, 4TH EDITION
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
Dennis Tucker of Whitman Publishing submitted this press release on the latest edition of their book on Carson City Morgan Dollars. Thanks.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/38512166125/in/dateposted-public/" title="Carson-City-Morgan-Dollars_cover"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4686/38512166125_839c9b32bd_n.jpg" width="200" height="320" align="right" alt="Carson-City-Morgan-Dollars_cover"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Whitman Publishing announces the upcoming January 23, 2018, release of the newly expanded, updated, and revised fourth edition of Carson City Morgan Dollars, by professional numismatists Adam Crum, Selby Ungar, and Jeff Oxman. The 160-page hardcover book will be available from booksellers and hobby shops nationwide, and online (including at <a href="https://www.whitman.com/">
www.Whitman.com</a>), for $24.95.
<p>
The fourth edition has been updated with new historical photographs; revisions from ongoing research; current coin values; and market commentary. In addition, it has been expanded with 24 more pages of content, including a photographic gallery of the Carson City Mint with government and other images dating from the 1800s to today; an illustrated study by Q. David Bowers of other coins minted at Carson City; and a historical snapshot of Morgan dollar prices and research from the late 1940s.
<p>
The history laid out in Carson City Morgan Dollars begins with a worker’s accidental discovery of gold in California in 1848—an event quickly followed by the great California Gold Rush. The authors describe the challenges faced by adventurers in the ensuing scramble for precious metal; the Nevada silver boom of the late 1800s; the birth of the Carson City Mint, the struggles to keep it up and running, and its coinage from 1870 to 1893; and related historical topics.
<p>
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</center>
<p>
“Among coin collectors, the Carson City Mint is most famous for its gold pieces and, even more so, its Morgan silver dollars,” said Whitman publisher Dennis Tucker. “Collectors can immerse themselves in the detailed market information and practical advice shared by the authors. And even non-collectors will find it to be a fascinating history book.”
<p>
Mark Twain, William Jennings Bryan, “Silver Dick” Bland, Kit Carson, the Donner Party, Abe Lincoln, Brigham Young, and other famous Americans make their appearances in the story of the Carson City Mint. Another “main character” is not a person but a gigantic hoard of coins: millions of Treasury-bagged Carson City silver dollars brought out of storage in the 1970s and sold to lucky collectors by the General Services Administration. The authors describe the government’s sales of these coins, and their dramatic effects on the hobby.
<p>
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<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/38512165285/in/dateposted-public/" title="Carson-City-Morgan-Dollars_pg-097"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4692/38512165285_6cb2a5c955_n.jpg" width="214" height="320" alt="Carson-City-Morgan-Dollars_pg-097"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/38512164945/in/dateposted-public/" title="Carson-City-Morgan-Dollars_pg-129"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4590/38512164945_9bc420e196_n.jpg" width="211" height="320" alt="Carson-City-Morgan-Dollars_pg-129"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>
Carson City <i>Morgan Dollars</i> gives detailed advice on ways to collect and enjoy these popular coins:
<p>
<li>
Each coin-by-coin entry has a chart of values in Mint State grades, listing prooflike (PL) and deep-mirror prooflike (DMPL) values separately.
<p>
<li>
Each “generic” (non-VAM variety) coin has a “By the Numbers” chart, which gives its original mintage, researcher Leroy Van Allen’s published estimate of the quantity in the GSA hoard, rarity rankings for GSA and non-GSA examples, and other useful facts. “Overall Rarity” is the total number of coins estimated to exist for the issue, based on the number found in the GSA hoard, the number certified by professional grading firms PCGS and NGC, the authors’ personal observations of the market, insider information, and auction records.
<p>
<li>
A “Condition Census” provides the most reasonable acquisition grade for most collectors. (“Though it isn’t always possible to acquire the highest-graded coins in GSA holders,” the authors note, “it’s still desirable, and fun, to attempt to do so.”)
<p>
<li>
“Collector Insights” summarize useful background information on each coin.
<p>
<li>
“Variety Notes” supply valuable information on the many die varieties known to exist for Carson City Morgan dollars in GSA holders.
<p>
<li>
A “Collector’s Checklist” includes space for collectors to record their purchases and write notes about their coins.
<p>
<li>
Illustrated appendices further set the Carson City Mint’s silver dollars in the context of American history and the rare-coin market.
<p>
<li>
An index allows the reader to quickly search for terms—from Adams Brick Works to Brigham Young—relating to the Carson City Mint and its silver dollars.
<p>
The book’s forewords were written by <i>Coin World</i> editor-at-large Steve Roach and numismatic historian Q. David Bowers, the “Dean of American Numismatics.” Roach calls Carson City Morgan Dollars “a worthy introduction for the new collector and a necessary volume for the specialist,” and Bowers recommends it as a “combination of American history, numismatic research, market reporting, census data, and collector insight.”
<p>
<i>Carson City Morgan Dollars</i>, 4th edition
<br/>
By Adam Crum, Selby Unger, and Jeff Oxman; forewords by Steve Roach and Q. David Bowers
<br/>
ISBN 079484524X
<br/>
Hardcover, 6 x 9 inches
<br/>
160 pages
<br/>
Full color
<br/>
Retail $24.95 U.S.
<br/>
Online at
<a href="https://www.whitman.com/store/Inventory/Detail/Carson-City-Morgan-Dollars-4th-Edition+079484524X">
https://www.whitman.com/store/Inventory/Detail/Carson-City-Morgan-Dollars-4th-Edition+079484524X
</a>
<center>
<a href="http://www.stacksbowers.com/News/Pages/PressReleases.aspx?ArticleID=210" title="Stacks-Bowers E-Sylum ad 2017-12-31 Anderson sale"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4682/39329832362_bc05f732c2_o.jpg" width="600" height="600" alt="Stacks-Bowers E-Sylum ad 2017-12-31 Anderson"></a>
</center>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article5"><a name="article5">
EL SITIO NO. 25 PUBLISHED
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
Nicolás Santerini submitted this English summary of the contents of the latest issue of <i>El Sitio</i>. Thank you!
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/39356793081/in/dateposted-public/" title="El Sitio No.25 cover"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4684/39356793081_bdb33faf30_n.jpg" width="251" height="320" align="right" alt="El Sitio No.25 cover"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Number 25 of <i>El Sitio</i>, the electronic magazine of the <i>Instituto Uruguayo de Numismatica</i>, corresponds to the December 2017 edition and has 30 pages containing two feature articles plus the usual information and news sections.
<p>
The first article, by Horacio Morero Ferrero, is part of a series on “Identifying ranch tokens”, and concentrates on shearing tokens from <i>Estancia Los Merinos</i>, a large sheep ranch established in 1863 and owned by the British-controlled River Plate Company.
<p>
<div class="greybox">
Sample illustration below.
-Editor
</div>
<br/><br/><br/>
<p>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/24492949347/in/dateposted-public/" title="El Sitio No.25 image"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4735/24492949347_0a16114ce9_n.jpg" width="280" align="left" alt="El Sitio No.25 image"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The second numismatic article, by Hugo Mancebo Decaux, deals with the Prizes awarded by the Mercantile College of the Consulate of Montevideo between 1829 and 1838, and in particular the medals for academic merit given the year 1831.
<p>
A complete account of the “Jornadas Uruguayas de Numismatica 2017” is given in the information section. This Numismatic Convention was held at the Holiday Inn Hotel, in Montevideo, Uruguay, on October 13th, 14th and 15th 2017 and was very well attended. Also, an exhibition of Montevideo Jockey Club medals held at the Maronas racing course is reported and two new numismatic publications are reviewed, a booklet on identifying Macuquina silver pieces by Juan Manuel Trejo, and a new issue of the <I>Revista Numismatica</i> magazine, edited by Nicolas Santerini.
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/27580493759/in/dateposted-public/" title="Jornadas Uruguayas de Numismatica 2017"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4684/27580493759_80269f8e5a.jpg" width="500" height="298" alt="Jornadas Uruguayas de Numismatica 2017"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
The complete issue can be viewed online (in Spanish) here:
<a href="http://iunuy.org/flop01/wp-content/uploads/elsitio/ElSitioNº25.pdf">
http://iunuy.org/flop01/wp-content/uploads/elsitio/ElSitioNº25.pdf
</a>
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</center>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article6"><a name="article6">
BOOK REVIEW: THE JUDGMENT OF EXPERTS
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
Emily Isakson of the American Antiquarian Society published a blog article this week reviewing a great book with a numismatic connection. <i>The Judgment of Experts: Essays and Documents about the Investigation of the Forging of the Oath of a Freeman</i> by James Gilreath discusses the strange case of master forger Mark Hofmann. In addition to the Mormon documents described in the article, Hofmann was a numismatic
ne'er-do-well who created very convincing counterfeits of rare Mormon paper money. Even expert Joe Rust, author of the reference book, <i>Mormon and Utah Coin and Currency</i> was fooled.
I was in the audience when Joe gave a great talk on the Hofmann forgeries at an American Numismatic Association convention.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/27574585739/in/dateposted-public/" title="Judgement-of-Experts"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4727/27574585739_c33408cb51_n.jpg" width="230" height="320" align="right" alt="Judgement-of-Experts"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
My interest in forgery stems from a college course that touched upon forgeries in early Christian texts. AAS has only furthered my interest in frauds as I began to look for forged items in the AAS collection. I quickly discovered that fraudulence is not an unheard of phenomenon throughout history. First in my search, and with the help of Assistant Curator of Manuscripts Ashley Cataldo, I was directed to look into the curious, and unbelievable, case of Mark Hofmann (1954–). His story is one that could fit into the plot of a dime novel or fictional tale.
<p>
Mark Hofmann was a book collector and missionary turned forger and murderer in the mid-1980s. Several of Hofmann’s earlier forgeries purported to be documents of historical importance to the Mormon Church. In 1985, Hoffman showed a New York dealer a small broadside called The <i>Oath of a Freeman</i>. It had been long reported that a printing of the <i>Oath</i> was done in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1638/39. This would likely be the first thing printed in America north of Mexico, though no surviving copy was known to exist.
<p>
The broadside was offered to the Library of Congress for $1.5 million but ultimately the offer was declined because no conclusive evidence of the document’s genuineness could be found. The <i>Oath</i> was then offered to the American Antiquarian Society, who offered $250,000 with a number of stipulations requiring the dealers to try to establish the broadside’s authenticity at their own expense and to supply information about the owner of the <i>Oath</i> and its provenance. At this point negotiations ended.
<p>
Now that the sale had fallen through, Hoffman, heavily in debt, was desperate to free himself. In an effort to mislead authorities, he planted bombs which killed two people. He was severely injured when a third bomb accidentally exploded in his car. Subsequent investigations uncovered the forgeries and led to Hofmann’s conviction. He is now well known as a murderer and forger, yet his faked items have found a market of their own, some selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
<p>
What I became most interested in after reading about The Oath of a Freeman was the idea that some forgeries could yet have found their way into the AAS collection. With further exploration, I learned that the collection already contained forgeries, frauds, and even counterfeited materials ranging from vouchers, money, and checks to pirated papers, forged signatures, and even portraits. Still, there’s a question of whether or not AAS knew these items were frauds when they were acquired. (Discussions of these materials can be found in the AAS blog series “Fraud Week.”)
<p>
<div class="greybox">
Isakson includes a helpful link (reproduced below) to materials in the AAS collection related to forgery and counterfeiting.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
Beyond these two examples, interesting still are all of the other materials in the AAS collection related to forgery and counterfeiting, such as counterfeit currency, forged letters and other fakes, and books on counterfeiting and hoaxes. But how does one accurately decipher whether or not something is a forgery? Nowadays, there are many ways to figure out what’s a fraud and what is genuine—namely advanced scientific methods such as ink and paper testing and handwriting analysis. Conversely, however, technological advances have allowed forgers and counterfeiters to create even more realistic duplicates.
<p>
Forgeries have a long history, which is one of the reasons why it can be so difficult to tell what is truly real. But to all those historians and collectors out there, don’t worry—fakes can still turn out to be important pieces of history nonetheless. Here at AAS, our frauds have a special place in the collections. After all, they may have shaped the way that history, and the world, both was and is perceived.
<p>
To read the complete article, see:
<br/>
<a href="https://catalog.mwa.org/vwebv/search?searchArg=forgery&searchCode=SUBJ%2B&recCount=10&searchType=3&page.search.search.button=Search">
materials in the AAS collection related to forgery and counterfeiting
</a>
(https://catalog.mwa.org/vwebv/search?<br/>searchArg=forgery&searchCode=SUBJ%2B&recCount=10<br/>&searchType=3&page.search.search.button=Search)
<p>
To read the complete article, see:
<br/>
<a href="http://pastispresent.org/2017/good-sources/forging-history-making-it-and-faking-it/">
Forging History: Making It and Faking It
</a>
(http://pastispresent.org/2017/good-sources/forging-history-making-it-and-faking-it/)
<p>
To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
<br/>
<a href="http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v05n19a08.html">
MARK HOFMANN FORGERY FOUND?
</a>
(http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v05n19a08.html)
<br/>
<a href="http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v05n51a07.html">
NEW HOFMANN BOOK
</a>
(http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v05n51a07.html)
<br/>
<a href="http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v06n01a05.html">
MARK HOFFMAN BOOK
</a>
(http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v06n01a05.html)
<br/>
<a href="http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v07n23a15.html">
HOFMANN BOOK: THE POET AND THE MURDERER
</a>
(http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v07n23a15.html)
<br/>
<a href="http://coinbooks.org/esylum_v08n44a20.html">
FORGER MARK HOFMANN, TWENTY YEARS LATER
</a>
(http://coinbooks.org/esylum_v08n44a20.html)
<center>
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</center>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article7"><a name="article7">
NEWMAN PORTAL ADDS FCCB NEWSLETTER
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
The latest addition to the Newman Numismatic Portal is the Fractional Currency Collectors Board Newsletter. Project Coordinator Len Augsburger provided the following report. Thanks.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/39341687282/in/dateposted-public/" title="2014 Winter FCCB NEwsletter cover"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4687/39341687282_48f1950e1d_n.jpg" width="249" height="320" align="right" alt="2014 Winter FCCB NEwsletter cover"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Fractional Currency Collectors Board (FCCB) has contributed their newsletter for the years 1983-2014 to the Newman Portal. The inaugural issue deals with the usual housekeeping items (dues, club meeting logistics, etc.) but also includes the lifeblood of any specialty periodical – a new variety discovered, and a rare item appearing in the market. Production values parallel the rise of desktop publishing, and by the mid-1990s the newsletter boasts a well-illustrated professional appearance. Robert Kravitz also his contributed his reference on the subject, <i>A Collector’s Guide to Postage & Fractional Currency</i>, in addition to a series of Collector’s Guide updates and a number of fixed price lists. FCCB member Len Glazer contributed the auction sale catalogs and fixed price lists of his firm Fractional Currency, Inc. Newman Portal acknowledges Jerry Fochtman for coordinating this large addition to NNP, as well as Robert Kravtiz and Len Glazer for their related co
ntributions.
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/24549462447/in/dateposted-public/" title="Collector s Guide to Postage and Fractional Currency - Edition 1 - 2005-Cover-page-001"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4646/24549462447_845c394b65_n.jpg" width="247" height="320" alt="Collector s Guide to Postage and Fractional Currency - Edition 1 - 2005-Cover-page-001"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/27638356969/in/dateposted-public/" title="Kravitz 1st Catalog - 2000 - Cover-page-001"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4733/27638356969_76bbc7f676_n.jpg" width="247" height="320" alt="Kravitz 1st Catalog - 2000 - Cover-page-001"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/38493794505/in/dateposted-public/" title="1980 Glazer Fractional currency FPL cover"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4596/38493794505_711843c4de_m.jpg" height="270" align="right" alt="1980 Glazer Fractional currency FPL cover"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<div class="greybox">
At Jerry's request I dug thru my library and located the Len Glazer fixed price lists. The 1980 one has a delightful cut-out cover which mimics a U.S. encased postage stamp, one of my collecting specialties. You can't duplicate that digitally. It's a great collectible and I wish I'd kept my copy in better shape.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<br/>
Link to FCCB Newsletter on Newman Portal:
<br/>
<a href="https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/publisherdetail/523621">
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/publisherdetail/523621
</a>
<br/>
Link to Robert Kravtiz’s <i>A Collector’s Guide to Postage & Fractional Currency</i>:
<br/>
<a href="https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/539489">
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/539489
</a>
<br/>
Link to Kravitz’s fixed price lists:
<br/>
<a href="https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/publisherdetail/523618">
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/publisherdetail/523618
</a>
<br/>
Link to Fractional Currency, Inc. auction catalogs:
<br/>
<a href="https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/auctioncompanydetail/510774">
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/auctioncompanydetail/510774
</a>
<br/>
Link to Fractional Currency, Inc. fixed price lists:
<br/>
<a href="https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/publisherdetail/523617">
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/publisherdetail/523617
</a>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article8"><a name="article8">
NEWMAN PORTAL SEARCH: “SCHOOL GIRL”
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
Project Coordinator Len Augsburger offers observations related to content being searched for on the Newman Numismatic Portal. This week's search term is “School Girl”.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/39361068021/in/dateposted-public/" title="School Girl pattern obverse"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4680/39361068021_fe112635a7_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="School Girl pattern obverse"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/39361068031/in/dateposted-public/" title="School Girl pattern reverse"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4593/39361068031_69e3b411f7_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="School Girl pattern reverse"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
This week a Newman Portal user searched for “school girl,” referring to George Morgan’s pattern dollar of 1879. The earliest use of this term appears to be in the New York Coin & Stamp sale of the Doughty collection (1891), in which an example sold for the extraordinary price of $71.00. This is an important collection of U.S. patterns, 175 pieces in total. The copy scanned by the Newman Portal, from the American Numismatic Society, has this section priced and named. R. Coulton Davis’s earlier catalog of the U.S. pattern series, appearing in the Coin Collectors Journal (1886) doesn’t refer to “school girl” but instead includes a lengthy description of this youthful rendering of Miss Liberty. The Adams-Woodin pattern reference (1913), uses the term “Schoolgirl,” and, once in a standard reference, such a name is likely to stick. Today the issue is highly prized – illustrated here is an example sold by Heritage in January 2009 for $115,000.
<p>
Link to New York Coin & Stamp Doughty sale on Newman Portal:
<br/>
<a href="https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/auctionlots?AucCoId=26&AuctionId=513829&page=25">
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/auctionlots?AucCoId=26&AuctionId=513829&page=25
</a>
<p>
Link to July 1886 <i>Coin Collectors Journal</i>:
<br/>
<a href="https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/512354?page=129">
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/512354?page=129
</a>
<p>
Link to Adams-Woodin <i>United States Pattern, Trial, and Experimental Pieces</i>:
<br/>
<a href="https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/512406">
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/512406
</a>
<center>
<a href="http://www.hlrc.com" title="HLRC E-Sylum ad06 Buying"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4461/37203369814_c117d5bfe2.jpg" width="600" alt="HLRC E-Sylum ad06 Buying"></a>
</center>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article9"><a name="article9">
EDITOR ROBERT R. VAN RYZIN RETIRES
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
Krause Publications editor Bob Van Ryzin is retiring 31 years with the firm. His last article, an editorial for <i>Numismatic News</i> was published on December 28, 2017.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/24497357877/in/dateposted-public/" title="Robert R. Van Ryzin"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4726/24497357877_2f3ac34eaf_o.jpg" width="216" height="296" align="right" alt="Robert R. Van Ryzin"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Even though I have often written long feature articles—sometimes covering 10 pages or more—one of the things I figured I would never be able to write on a regular basis was an editorial such as this. That’s because I feared I would have nothing to say, or that I couldn’t come up with something worthwhile for it on time.
<p>
Therefore, it was generally the last thing I did before an issue went to press, whether it be for <i>Coins</i> magazine (for which I’ve been writing one every month for 20+ years) or for its sister publication, i>Bank Note Reporter</i>, which I also edit. But, somehow, I’ve managed, and I hope readers have enjoyed at least some of my efforts.
<p>
So here goes for one last time. After 31 years with the firm, having been blessed to have as my profession what was also my passion, I have decided to retire.
<p>
I began collecting coins in 1976 after purchasing a copy of Coins off a newsstand in the university town in which I then lived. What attracted me was a headline on the cover of Coins that related that a certain modern Lincoln proof cent was worth $17 or so. This, plus the fact that I had a stash of some old coins, and friends who were avid collectors, encouraged me to buy the magazine.
<p>
Soon I was reading everything I could find on the topic. I put together four double-row boxes of coins, including the coins from my stash, and marked and graded each coin as best I could.
<p>
I then started attending small coin shows, where I began by buying Franklin half dollars. These I chose because of the series being a bit older and in silver and because they were inexpensive and that’s all I could afford. My 1949-S Mint State-65 Franklin with full bell lines cost me just $60.
<p>
I joined Krause Publications in December 1986 as a staff member of <i>World Coin News</i> and began contributing articles to this publication shortly thereafter. My first in this magazine was not on Franklins, but on Kennedy halves.
<p>
I have also had stints on <i>Numismatic News</i>, including serving for a period as its managing editor, and as editor of Coins’ former sister publication, <i>Coin Prices</i>. Along the way, I’ve written five books and lots of articles relating to U.S. coins, with a smattering of pieces on U.S. paper money.
<p>
Though I started collecting attracted by the thought of making a profit, I came to love the history behind the coin more than its market value. Having completed a master’s degree in history prior to joining Krause Publications, I was always keen on U.S. history and research, and these publications were a perfect match for my interests.
<p>
I will forever be grateful to those who hired me and for the chance to have worked with and for many of the hobby’s luminaries here at Krause Publications including, of course, Chet Krause, and plan to continue to be active in the hobby.
<p>
Thanks to the readers for your loyalty and to the feature contributors and the staff here in Iola for your help over the years. It’s greatly appreciated.
<p>
Happy collecting.
<p>
<div class="greybox">
Bob has been a fixture in the hobby and at our conventions for so many years I've forgotten when we first met in person. Always professional, always ready to help.
Congratulations on a great career, and good luck with your next ventures!
-Editor
</div>
<p>
To read the complete article, see:
<br/>
<a href="http://www.numismaticnews.net/article/one-time-last-editors-letter-completes-long-journey">
One more time: Last editor’s letter completes a long journey
</a>
(http://www.numismaticnews.net/article/one-time-last-editors-letter-completes-long-journey)
<center>
<a href="http://www.Numisbook.com"
title="Charles Davis ad01">
<img src=
"https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7376/13906702326_89b590289b_o.jpg"
width="590" height="257" alt="Charles Davis ad01" /></a>
</center>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article10"><a name="article10">
STUNT PILOT COIN DEALER: KEN NICHOLS
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
Last week Pete Smith asked, "Can anyone identify the mystery coin dealer sitting on the wing of a moving aircraft? Hint: He was a coin dealer after retiring as a stunt pilot." The only response (and it was correct, of course), came from author Q. David Bowers, who kindly shared his notes on Kenneth L. Nichols.
Pete Smith combined his own research with Dave's notes and submitted this article. Thanks, everyone!
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/27494045949/in/dateposted-public/" title="Mystery Coin Dealer Stunt Pilot"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4590/27494045949_23a3000675_n.jpg" width="320" height="252" alt="Mystery Coin Dealer Stunt Pilot"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
<b>
Kenneth L Nichols (1902-1974)
</b>
<p>
Kenneth L. Nichols was born in Victor, Colorado, on October 7, 1902. His father worked for the
A. B. Bumstead Co. of Lesher Dollar fame. Ken joined the Navy at age 16 and served on
submarines including the U. S. S H-3. After World War I he took flight training and worked as a
stunt pilot.
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/24528416697/in/dateposted-public/" title="Black Cats"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4641/24528416697_700fd34cfc_o.jpg" width="450" height="362" alt="Black Cats"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
In 1924 he joined two others to form a Union of stunt pilots called “The Black Cats” to perform
at air shows and do stunts for the movies. This group grew to be called “The 13 Black Cats.”
They wore a circular white patch with a black cat and the number 13. The group was somewhat
fluid with pilots coming and going. Each of the pilots had a name with thirteen letters including
“Fronty” Nichols.
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/39393931881/in/dateposted-public/" title="Nichols Card"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4596/39393931881_97ec25300c_n.jpg" width="320" height="184" alt="Nichols Card"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
Nichols was co-pilot for Walter Waterman who won the Air Transport Race at the National Air
Races in Cleveland in 1929. They flew in a Bach tri-motor. The company closed shortly after the
victory.
<p>
Nichols learned to ice skate and got a job with Sonia Henie’s Ice shows and later the Evelyn
Chandler ice show. He learned to do tricks on a unicycle and a tricycle.
<p>
During World War II he worked for the U. S. Navy as an inspector at Lockheed.
<p>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/24528416497/in/dateposted-public/" title="Nichols Encased 001"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4733/24528416497_0c12e75fb9_m.jpg" width="237" height="240" align="right" alt="Nichols Encased 001"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Having survived the life of a stunt pilot and unicycle rider, Nichols took on management of the
Cottage Waffle Shop on Balboa Island, California, with his son, Gene. They were coin collectors
and exhibitors who offered a few coins for sale at the counter of the waffle house. Later they
became coin dealers with the firm of K & G Coins in Costa Mesa, California. With assistance
from Abe Kosoff, Ken and Gene helped establish a coin exhibit at the Newport Balboa Savings
and Loan Association. In 1962 Ken was elected vice president of the Professional Numismatic
Guild (PNG).
<p>
Coin dealer B. Max Mehl died in 1957. The company name was sold to George Justus who
moved operations to Costa Mesa, California. In 1959 the officers for the company were K. L.
Nichols, President; Gene Nichols, Vice President, M. L. Justus, Secretary, and A. Kosoff,
Treasurer. The Mehl name was used in advertisements through July of 1966.
<p>
Gene died of brain cancer in 1960 and Ken gradually retired from the coin business. He died of a
heart attack in Laguna Hills, California on September 27, 1974.
<p>
Dave Bowers adds:
<div class="quote">
<p>
he regularly made the news in his younger days (before I knew him).
He was a very warm, friendly guy!
</div>
<p>
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
<br/>
<a href="http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n53a08.html">
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: DECEMBER 24, 2017 : Quick Quiz: Stunt Pilot Coin Dealer
</a>
(http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n53a08.html)
<center>
<a href="http://bestpricecoins.com/product-category/banknotes/special-numbers/" title="Best Price Coins E-Sylum ad10 Fancy Serial Numbers"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4569/38753823472_cd30e769ac.jpg" width="600" alt="Best Price Coins E-Sylum ad10 Fancy Serial Numbers"></a>
</center>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article11"><a name="article11">
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: DECEMBER 31, 2017
</h3></a>
<p><b> Bob Leuver on Tom Noe </b><br/>
Bob Leuver writes:
<div class="quote">
<p>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/25402440868/in/dateposted-public/" title="Coingate"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4589/25402440868_933b21aee9_m.jpg" height="280" align="right" alt="Coingate"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Having spent 16 years in the foreign service and civil service, I understand, but not empathize, with political retribution. My understanding was sharpened as I interacted with the Congress and was able to plumb the the inherent code of political power. I could cite so many examples to which I was privy.
<p>
Tom Noe did receive a sentence within the law. Was it an excessive sentence? I have always thought so and did write a letter earlier asking for a pardon. Tom overturned the political balance, at least for several years, in Ohio. The <i>Toledo Blade</i> and the authors, who “uncovered” Tom’s crime took particular delight in promoting a sentence that might equate with treason. And, I doubt if the paper and authors will back off now.
<p>
Tom is a political captive!
</div>
<p>
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
<br/>
<a href="http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n53a02.html">
NEW BOOK: COINGATE
</a>
(http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n53a02.html)
<p><b> Bob Leuver on Trump's Challenge Coin </b><br/>
Bob Leuver writes:
<div class="quote">
<p>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/25490865938/in/dateposted-public/" title="Trump Challenge Coin"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4643/25490865938_60b0af5629_m.jpg" height="280" align="right" alt="Trump Challenge Coin"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“To the victor’s belong the spoils!” Trump has been assailed by many names and psychological epithets, particularly that of a narcissist. I think the current presidential medal bespeaks the narcissistic value that the press and his "enemies" tend to heap on him. But, there are aspects of that medal that are relevant to the politics of today and the change that Trump has accomplished in international relations and domestic programs. No matter your political persuasion, this medal, for the sake of history, will in twenty years, be historically memorable, whereas other presidential medals will fade as historical, and be only noteworthy to numismatists.
</div>
<p>
<div class="greybox">
Well, ya gotta admit it's different, and I have to agree with Bob that in the future the Trump challenge coin will be an interesting collectible. I also wonder how collectors will store them - the odd size and shape will require a special holder. How soon until one of the third party grading services slabs one?
<br/><br/>
Thanks for your notes!
-Editor
</div>
<p>
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
<br/>
<a href="http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n53a20.html">
TRUMP UNVEILS CHALLENGE COIN
</a>
(http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n53a20.html)
<p><b> Brasher Doubloon Novel Brings $10,000 </b><br/>
Joel Orosz writes:
<div class="quote">
<p>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/25522575988/in/dateposted-public/" title="The High Window by Raymond Chandler"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4640/25522575988_fda3240e03_n.jpg" height="260" align="right" alt="The High Window by Raymond Chandler"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Every year-end, the American Book Exchange (ABE) tallies up the list of their most expensive sales. Although it didn’t quite make the top 20 list, <i>The High Window</i>, by Raymond Chandler, sold for $10,000, more than a first edition of Dickens’ <i>A Christmas Carol</i>. (See the third and fourth entries under “More Notable Sales” on the linked article). The plot of <i>The High Window</i> turns around the theft of a Brasher Doubloon. Indeed, when the novel served as the basis for a movie, the film was entitled “The Brasher Doubloon.”
</div>
<p>
<div class="greybox">
Thanks. Here's a link to the article.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
<br/>
<a href="https://www.abebooks.com/collectibles/most-expensive-sales/2017/">
AbeBooks' Most Expensive Sales of 2017
</a>
(https://www.abebooks.com/collectibles/most-expensive-sales/2017/)
<p><b> More on the Eliasberg 1872-CC Quarter </b><br/>
Saul Teichman writes:
<div class="quote">
<p>
With regard to the pedigree on the Eliasberg 1872-CC quarter which supposedly came from Isaac Excell, the pedigree in the catalog was incorrect. Clapp actually purchased the Gem Unc piece at the Wetmore sale along with many other CC pieces including the 1870-CC quarter as noted in the named copy on the Newman portal.
</div>
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/25525363468/in/dateposted-public/" title="Wetmore sale carson City coinage lots"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4638/25525363468_6681d4c2d2.jpg" width="500" height="114" alt="Wetmore sale carson City coinage lots"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
If Clapp had purchased one previous to the Wetmore coin from Mr. Excell, it was not the one sold in the Eliasberg sale.
<p>
The B.G. Johnson invoices do show Unc 1872-CC quarters.
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/39396937311/in/dateposted-public/" title="B. G. Johnson invoices 1872-CC quarters"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4645/39396937311_b0215173c0.jpg" width="500" height="63" alt="B. G. Johnson invoices 1872-CC quarters"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
My quess is the Mehl-Kelly listing which is noted as a Col. Green coin when Mehl had it, was earlier in the Prominent American (Granberg) auction and is likely the piece later in the Norweb collection, probably among the CC mint coins the Norwebs purchased in 1954 which appear to be ex H.M. Budd. The Kagin coin is likely an AU example by today’s standards.
<p>
<div class="greybox">
Saul provided the above image from the Newman Portal as well. Thanks!
-Editor
</div>
<p>
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
<br/>
<a href="http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n53a11.html">
ISAAC EXCELL (1846-1925)
</a>
(http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n53a11.html)
<p><b> More on Charity Tokens </b><br/>
"Etienne LePen" writes:
<div class="quote">
<p>
Charity tokens were very common among Jewish Organizations, especially the wearable types (to show that one has given).
<p>
In the charity-money range, Jewish orgs had several forms of receipts for payments. One in particular – the Kollel certificate (Kollel being a sort of Yeshiva-School or Madras, dare I say), were so common and so acceptable as payment, that the Czar (or more localized officials) would accept them as tax payments.
<p>
Also attached is one of these Charity Chits (small value of 25 Bani=Romania) from the Satmars (city of Satu Mare, as Hasidic Dynasties would usually take their names from the Cities they served), which was both in Hungary and Romania at different times.
</div>
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/27620312039/in/dateposted-public/" title="Charity Token (1)"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4734/27620312039_78404c191b_n.jpg" height="280" alt="Charity Token (1)"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/27620312129/in/dateposted-public/" title="Charity Token (2)"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4645/27620312129_341f8697a9_n.jpg" height="280" alt="Charity Token (2)"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/39367332822/in/dateposted-public/" title="Charity Token (3)"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4594/39367332822_51a17449e0_n.jpg" height="280" alt="Charity Token (3)"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/39367332702/in/dateposted-public/" title="Satmar25baniOBV"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4639/39367332702_8ebbe4901b_o.jpg" height="280" alt="Satmar25baniOBV"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
<div class="greybox">
Thank you!
-Editor
</div>
<p>
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
<br/>
<a href="http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n53a14.html">
1904 Beirut Charity Token
</a>
(http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n53a14.html)
<center>
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</center>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article12"><a name="article12">
MORE ON THE "MOBILITATE VIGET" VIGNETTE
</h3></a>
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/38392800535/in/dateposted-public/" title="Mobilitate Viget ferryboat"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4595/38392800535_58b5143ca9_n.jpg" width="320" height="318" alt="Mobilitate Viget ferryboat"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
Tom DeLorey writes:
<div class="quote">
<p>
The boat on the ferry boat chit has neither a side paddle wheel nor a stern paddle wheel, which implies either that it has a screw propeller or that the engraver was woefully incompetent. Assuming it has a screw propeller, that dates it to after 1835, when the first patents for such were filed in England. From what Wikipedia says, the concept did not gain acceptance until 1839, which dates it further.
<p>
Any chance it ran up the Hudson River to Albany, or even (though less likely) on the Erie Canal? I know nothing about it, but for some reason my first impression was that it was a canal boat.
</div>
<p>
Julia Casey writes:
<div class="quote">
<p>
I came across an explanation in: <i>New York City Small Change Bills of 1814-1816</i> by Eric P. Newman in the <i>Proceedings of the Coinage of the Americas Conference at The American Numismatic Society</i>, New York City, 1985.
</div>
<p>
<div class="greybox">
Here's a lengthy excerpt from the article.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
DeWitt Clinton, Mayor of the Corporation of the City of New York, announced to its Common Council on
August 29, 1814 "that there was at present existing in this City a great pressure for small change" and he
urged "the issuing by this Corporation of notes of small amount to obviate this difficulty."
The silver and
copper coins which customarily were used by the public in the markets and stores had been withdrawn from
circulation by merchants and banks because of uncertainties arising by the continuation of the War of 1812.
Accordingly a sum of $5,000 in small change notes was authorized, backed by the faith and credit of the
Corporation of the City of New York, the highest denomination not to exceed 12 1/2 cents. On September
12, 1814, John Pintard was selected to sign the bills, and the amount was increased from $5,000 to $25,000
with denominations of 25 and 50 cents also approved.
<p>
The circulation of small change bills was so successful and well accepted by the public that the Common
Council approved $25,000 more on November 21, 1814, and another $50,000 on December 26, 1814, raising
the total to $ 100,000 by the end of the year. This was just the beginning.
<p>
With denominations ranging from 1 cent to 75 cents, one-half million bills had to be printed, cut apart and
signed. On December 26, 1814, Thomas Franklin was authorized to join John Pintard in signing the bills.
At the same time a fund for the redemption of the bills was created; the fund to be added to as bills were
issued and to be invested by the Finance Committee and the Comptroller in interest bearing securities...
<p>
The wear and tear on small change bills used by the public primarily in the food markets was substantial.
The dirt from handling grain, produce, poultry, animals and meat, the conduct of business on unpaved streets
in snow and rain, and the stuffing of small paper money into pockets of buyers and sellers resulted in the
money rapidly becoming dirty, torn, unreadable or worn out. Within two and a half months after the bills
were first authorized, arrangements were approved for the city to receive worn out bills and to cancel them.
The condition in which the known examples of bills are usually found attests to the difficulty of keeping
reasonably clean, undamaged bills in circulation.
<p>
Backs were printed only on
the 4, 6, 9 and 12 1/2 cent denominations. The denominations of 12 1/2 cents and below are first dated
December 26, 1814. Bills of 25, 50 and 75 cent denominations had been issued dated September 12, 1814,
which was the date of authorization of the 25 and 50 cent bills, but the 75 cent bill was not mentioned
in the Council minutes until November 20, 1815, which was over one year after the 75 cent bills were in
circulation. Whether this omission of authorization was an error in transcription is unimportant as no one
complained. The bills of 25, 50 and 75 cents were printed on bank note paper and were about 5 inches wide
and 2 1/4 inches high. They had blank backs and contained both a printed plate number and a handwritten
serial number. All denominations of bills were signed by hand in ink by an authorized signer, of which
there were eventually four.
<p>
The denominations on bills of 12 1/2 cents or less are printed vertically on each side of the face of the bill,
reading upward on the left side and downward on the right side. For this vertical portion each denomination
has a different type font. Only 9 and 12 1/2 cent bills have denominations printed on their backs.
<p>
The printers named on the small change bills were T. & W. Mercein, 93 Gold Street; T. & J. Swords, 180
Pearl Street; and J. M., 25 Van Dam Street, all of New York City. The only identification of J. M. located
in New York City directories of the period is "Miller, John, carpenter, 25 Van Dam." The known plate
letters on the bills of 25 to 75 cents range from A to S (including Dd) so that a substantial number must
have been printed on one sheet. The observed printed dates on small change bills are September 12, 1814;
December 26, 1814; July 3, 1815; January 3, 1816; and July 1, 1816. The size of the 12 1/2 cent and under
denominations of the July 1, 1816 issue is slightly smaller than the size of prior similar issues, being about
2 3/8 by 1 5/8 inches and the layout of the text also differs slightly from prior issues.
<p>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/39380325481/in/dateposted-public/" title="1814 New York City scrip Four Cents"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4591/39380325481_8a4e1a17ce_n.jpg" width="208" height="320"align="right" alt="1814 New York City scrip Four Cents"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<b>The Decorative Backs</b><br/>
The insignia and mottoes on the backs of the small size notes of 4 to 12 1/2 cents are true "folk art."
The development of steam navigation on the Hudson River is featured on the back of the 4 cent bills with
an illustration of a steamboat and the motto MOBILITATE VIGET (It thrives through speed);
<p>
<div class="greybox">
So, it's not a ferry boat ticket after all, but small change scrip.
<br/><br/>
It's truly miraculous how <i>E-Sylum</i> readers can come up with spot-on answers to the most obscure numismatic questions imaginable. It's as if we have an angel in heaven looking out for us. Thanks Tom, Julia, ... and Eric!
-Editor
</div>
<p>
To read the complete article, see:
<br/>
<a href="http://numismatics.org/digitallibrary/ark:/53695/nnan115544/pdf">
http://numismatics.org/digitallibrary/ark:/53695/nnan115544/pdf
</a>
<p>
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
<br/>
<a href="http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n53a08.html">
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: DECEMBER 24, 2017 : Ferry Boat Ticket Information Sought
</a>
(http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n53a08.html)
<center>
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</center>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article13"><a name="article13">
UNSOLVED RIDDLES OF THE CONTINENTAL DOLLAR
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
I'm been on the road for a couple weeks traveling with my family and haven't been able to keep up with all my numismatic reading. The January issue of the American Numismatic Association's publication <i>The Numismatist</i> has an article relating to our earlier discussions on the origin of the 1776-dated Continental Dollar coinage. Reader Bob Leonard submitted these thoughts. Thanks.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
The January 2018 issue of <i>The Numismatist</i> has an article by Erik Goldstein and David
McCarthy, “The Myth of the Continental Dollar,” which makes the same arguments for the
Continental Dollar being issued in 1783 as I did in my <i>E-Sylum</i> post,
<a href="http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n45a21.html">
READER THOUGHTS ON CONTINENTAL DOLLAR ORIGINS</a>. They add, however,
that on April 2, 1783, Robert Morris, Superintendent of Finance of the United States, noted that
the initial Nova Constellatio pattern he received was “the first that has been struck as an
American Coin”—further evidence that the Continental Dollar was not made before then (p. 53).
<p>
David McCarthy is particularly concerned that Continental Dollars not be given priority over the
1783 Nova Constellatio 500-unit (“quint”) pattern that he identified as the “First American Coin”
in a profusely-illustrated (and convincing) article in the August 2017 issue of <i>The Numismatist</i>,
written by him with editorial assistance from Donn Pearlman. So he might be considered biased;
not so Erik Goldstein, Senior Curator of Mechanical Arts & Numismatics.
at the Colonial
Williamsburg Foundation. In any case, their arguments are solid.
<p>
But many mysteries remain. Here are some unanswered questions about the Continental Dollar:
<p>
<li>
Is the ornamental edge on some Continental Dollars found on any other medals or coins?
<p>
<li>
Was the Continental Dollar struck after or before the tin 1783 Treaty of Paris medal with the
same error regarding the placement of the states?
<p>
<li>
Who was E.G.?
(Erik Goldstein, in a private email, agrees with me that it was likely someone either British or European)
<p>
<li>
Who made the Continental Dollars?
<p>
<li>
Were they presented to an influential American for acceptance as an American coin? If so, who?
<p>
<li>
Were they restruck for sale to British collectors?
<p>
The impressive Continental Dollar is a highlight of any fine collection of 18th-century American
numismatics. All students of Colonial Era currency crave answers to these questions.
<p>
<div class="greybox">
Here are links to just a few of our earlier articles on the topic. The first one is the one referenced by Bob Leonard. The last one includes multiple links to earlier discussions.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
To read earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
<br/>
<a href="http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n45a21.html">
READER THOUGHTS ON CONTINENTAL DOLLAR ORIGINS
</a>
(http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n45a21.html)
<br/>
<a href="http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n44a13.html">
ROB RODRIGUEZ ON THE CONTINENTAL DOLLARS
</a>
(http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n44a13.html)
<br/>
<a href="http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n43a12.html">
ONGOING THOUGHTS ON THE CONTINENTAL DOLLAR
</a>
(http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n43a12.html)
<center>
<a href="http://www.fredweinberg.com/" title="Fred Weinberg ad02"><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7321/28103804441_53b4006a78_z.jpg" width="600" height="300" alt="Fred Weinberg ad02"></a>
</center>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article14"><a name="article14">
VOCABULARY TERMS: ALL ABOUT DIES
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
Dick Johnson submitted this item about his <i>Encyclopedia of Coin and Medal Terminology</i>, noting that more terms have the word Die in them than any other. So here's the list. Thanks!
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<b style="font-size:24px"> Die Terms </b>
Since coins and medals are formed of metal, the metalworking field has a large number
of terms with Die in their name. There are 61 such terms. Numismatists use these terms
and have added terms of their own in describing and conversing on coins and medals.
There are 37 such numismatic terms. Both categories are necessary and included in the
<i>Encyclopedia of Coin and Medal Technology</i>.
<p>
To find the full entry of any term – like the one on Jack Die in last week’s <i>E-Sylum</i> – see
the Newman Portal under Dictionary.
<p>
<b>
Metalworking Terms</b><br/>
Back Die,
Bar Die,
Blank Die,
Blanking Die,
Broken Die,
Canceled Die,
Cast Die,
Clashed Dies,
Coining Dies,
Collar Dies,
Combination Die,
Corroded Die,
Copy Die,
Cracked Die,
Die Adjustment,
Die Alignment,
Die Blank,
Die Block,
Die Camber,
Die Cavity,
Die Clearance,
Die Draw,
Die Erosion,
Die Forging,
Die Life,
Die Mold,
Die Number,
Die Set,
Die Shoe,
Die Wear,
Die Vault,
Diebreak,
Die-cast,
Diechip,
Diecutting,
Dieshell,
Dieshift,
Diesinking,
Diestock,
Diework,
EDM Die,
Embossing Dies,
Forming Die,
Gauge Die,
Insert Die,
Intaglio Die,
Jack Die,
Machined Die,
Master Die,
Open Face Die,
Progressive Dies,
Proof Die,
Rusted Die,
Shattered Die,
Starting Dies,
Stock Die,
Striking Die,
Sunken Die,
Tool and Die Work,
Transfer Die,
Working Die,
Year Die
<p>
<b>Numismatic Terms </b><br/>
Blundered Die,
Broken Die,
Cameo Die,
Chipped Die,
Common Die,
Die Adjustment Strike,
Die Bulge,
Die Retention,
Die Clash,
Die Flaw,
Die Forged,
Die Line,
Die-linked,
Die Retooling,
Die Scratch,
Die Stamped,
Die State,
Die Trial,
Die Variety,
Diecrack,
Filled Die,
Hinged Die,
Mated Dies,
Misaligned Die,
Nonsense Die,
Obsolete Die,
Polished Die,
Proper Die,
Service Pin Die,
Refurbished Die,
Retouched Die,
Rim Diebreak,
Rocker Die,
Roller Die,
Rotated Die,
Tipped Die,
Worn Die
<p>
<b>
Looking for the meaning of a numismatic word, or the description of a term?</b> Try the Newman Numismatic Portal's Numismatic Dictionary at:
<a href="https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/dictionary">
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/dictionary
</a>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article15"><a name="article15">
WHY JANVIERS SHOULD NOT BE SCRAPPED
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
Dick Johnson offers these thoughts on the gradual disappearance of analog die-engraving pantograph machines. Thanks.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
In my ongoing research of die-engraving pantographs, particularly the
Janvier, I have learned an increased number of mints around the world
have mothballed their Janviers or similar machines. They are being
replaced, of course, by computer engraving.
<p>
The old “clay and plaster” models are being replaced by the new
technology of computer design and computer-controlled milling of dies
and hubs. Victor Janvier is turning over in his grave. We can sympathize
with him, but we cannot fault technological advancement.
<p>
Janvier’s engraving machines dominated minting and coining in
virtually every mint in the world for the 20th century! All other
engraving machines (transfer lathes) and techniques pale in comparison,
Save one: hand engraving. But engraving by hand was tedious and time
consuming and could only create one size die at a time. The Janvier
pantograph was the machine to have.
<p>
Yet today engraving machines stand idle in storage until they are sold to
used machine dealers. Senior coin and medal artists miss using them and
the technology they employed. They recognize, however, they must
adapt to the new technology or be left behind.
<p>
Granted, computer design and milling are accomplished in a third of the
time or less. As mints are grinding out new coins at an increased pace,
the computers are absolutely necessary. Mints now are factories, guided
by tight cost controls. Accountants rule.
<p>
There is, however, a subtitle difference in the artistic look of coins and
medals produced between the two techniques. For years no one, it
seems, could pinpoint what that difference was. Only recently it has
been stated in words. These should be emblazoned on a sign in every
mint director’s office:
<p>
<center>
<b>
Clay and plaster models are analog.
<p>
Computer generated models are digital
<p>
Analog is better artistically.
</b>
</center>
<p>
Why? Analog relief in models is a smooth, continuous surface. Digital’s
surface relief is composed of super tiny rough planes. To the human eye
the difference is nonexistent. To the trained eye the difference is evident.
The effect is subtly more artistic.
<p>
Give a commission to an experienced medallist, even a fine artist, with
ample time to form a design to the best of his or her creative ability, then
modeled – yes, in clay and plaster – and a die cut of that model on an old
fashioned Janvier and you will have a superb coin or medal with all the
fine detail the artist demanded. The result will be an immensely superior
piece in contrast to a production line model.
<p>
Before the last Janvier is disposed, one should be retained to create an
occasional highly artistic coin or medal. Accomplished medallists should
be commissioned – with ample time – to prepare their clay and plaster
models to be processed on that lonely Janvier. It aids in creating a better
design.
<p>
Mints can grind out computer-generated models as they must. But please
don’t overlook an occasional super artistic piece. Don’t let this rare art
form drift into meritocracy.
<p>
Also, what should be done with those additional Janviers? Instead of
disposing them to used machinery dealers, why not sell them to
medallists who could use one in their own studio. There is a strong
precedence for this. In the past it was medalists who made their own
bas-relief reductions. William Wyon was one of these, he owned several,
even while he was a Royal Mint engraver.
<p>
But please, don’t scrap those Janviers.
<p>
<div class="greybox">
Dick's quite correct. The audio industry has been learning these lessons, with quite a significant subset of modern audiophiles migrating to "old fashioned" analog vinyl records for their higher sound quality.
<br/><br/>
As a student of the history of business and technology, I know that older technologies rarely disappear completely, but instead come to address new niche markets. Television didn't kill radio and the Internet hasn't killed off print publications. So I agree that mints and the minting industry in general should absolutely retain its equipment and expertise for analog production even if it is only for a small subset of output. Medallists, museums, historical societies and even mechanical engineering schools could be fine homes for the Janviers that aren't retained for specialty production uses.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
Dick Johnson adds:
<div class="quote">
<p>
I asked Heidi Wastweet to comment on my article on Janvier machines destruction. Heidi is an experienced sculptor specializing in relief sculpture. She is currently president of American Medallic Sculpture Society, and a member of the U.S. Mint’s Citizens Advisory Committee. Her comments follow (italics mine).
</div>
<p>
Heidi Wastweet writes:
<div class="quote">
<p>
You say clay and plaster is being replaced by computer design. Indeed, engraving machines are becoming nearly obsolete, but clay and plaster is not. It is perfectly compatible with the new digital technology. Your article implies that if a person wants the more artistic hand sculpted plaster model (and I fully agree with you that <i>it is still superior to digital sculpting)</i> they then have to find a Janvier machine to cut it on. I still do all my models in plaster and I have no trouble getting dies cut with the new CNC milling technology. In fact I personally prefer it. Here’s why ...
<p>
When Janvier machines first came into use, the models were all galvanos. They were perfect and durable but time consuming to make. Then came the invention of epoxy. It was a cheap and easy substitute for galvanos and soon all the mints were using it. The trouble was that the stylus of the Janvier would wear down the less durable epoxy models and the finished die lacked sharpness. Today, I don’t know of a single source for getting galvanos made. Maybe you know someone?
<p>
To truly make the most of these old engraving machines, the dedicated craftsman would need to also bring back the galvano.
<p>
In the absence of galvanos, the laser scanners are doing a fine job. They scan directly off the plaster without any damage at all. From there the computer then drives the die engraving [milling] with precision. In the wrong hands, a Janvier can produce a terrible quality die, while the CNC is more idiot-proof.
<p>
The downside is that the expense of the digital system vs the cost of a Janvier keeps it out of the hands of the individual artists and minters. I think it would be nice to let those old machines go to the small shops who want to keep it alive.
<p>
Thanks for the great read. I’m glad to see someone bringing up this topic.
</div>
<p>
<div class="greybox">
Thanks, everyone. Great info on an important topic.
-Editor
</div>
<center>
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</center>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article16"><a name="article16">
ALBERT HIRSCHFELD (1891-1972)
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
John Lupia submitted the following information from the online draft of his book of numismatic biographies for this week's installment of his series. Thanks! As always, this is an excerpt with the full article and bibliography available online. This week's subject is Albert Hirschfeld, who was involved in a dispute over post-1933 dated gold coins.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
Albert Hirschfeld (1891-1972), was born September 6, 1891 at Ribben, Germany (then Prussia), son of Solomon Hirschfeld (1852-1927) and Lina Levine Hirschfeld (1854-1924). He came to America on September 27, 1913 settling at first at Galveston, Texas. He began a career in America as a jeweler.
<p>
He and his wife Lena were great patrons of the arts and museums establishing the Albert & Lena Hirschfeld Charitable Trust incorporated at Dallas, Texas. For fifteen years he was the president of the San Antonio Museum Association and chairman of the board of the Witte Museum. He also served on the boards of the San Antonio Symphony and the San Antonio Art League. Among his charitable organizations he served o the board of Madonna Neighborhood Center, the Guadalupe Community Center, Goodwill Industries, and the San Antonio Association for the blind.
<p>
In March 1963 he donated 560 coins to the Witte Museum, San Antonio, Texas, which he kept in the Museum safe for years. In the collection 194 coins were foreign. Among them 46 coins were minted after 1933. The Witte Museum, was established in 1926 under the charter of the San Antonio Museum Association. The Witte Museum is located next to Brackenridge Park, San Antonio, Texas, on the banks of the San Antonio River.
<p>
On August 13, 1963, three months and nine days prior to the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy United States Customs officers entered the Witte Museum with warrants to seize 21 gold coins of the 46 minted after 1933 they claimed were illegally imported into the United States under the provisions of the Gold Act of 1933 signed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The seized coins were minted in Mexico, Switzerland, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Peru, Bolivia, Syria, Dominican Republic, Luxembourg, Rumania, and Turkey. Dr. William A. Burn, Director of the Witte Museum protested and appealed to the public to write the Vice-President petitioning the 21 gold coins be returned.
<p>
He died of a heart attack on April 8, 1972. He was buried on April 11, 1972, at Congregation Agudas Achim Cemetery, North Palmetto Street, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas.
<p>
<div class="greybox">
Interesting - I wasn't aware of this before. Does anyone know anything about the disposition of this case? Were the coins ever returned?
-Editor
</div>
<p>
To read the complete article, see:
<br/>
<a href="https://sites.google.com/a/numismaticmall.com/www/numismaticmall-com/hirschfeld-albert">
HIRSCHFELD, ALBERT
</a>
(https://sites.google.com/a/numismaticmall.com/www/numismaticmall-com/hirschfeld-albert)
<p>
<center>
* * * * *
</center>
<p>
The entire inventory of the Lupia Numismatic Library is for sale. Individual items will be available before the remaining archives are broken up into parcels sold at philatelic auctions in the U. S. and Hong Kong. Check
<a href="http://www.numismaticmall.com/">
NumismaticMall.com</a> frequently as dozens of new items with estimates will be posted daily until everything is sold.
<p>
All inquiries will be given prompt and courteous attention. Write to:
<a href="mailto:john@numismaticmall.com">
john@numismaticmall.com
</a>.
<div class="ctabox">
<center>
<h4>THE BOOK BAZARRE</h4>
</center><b>OVER 500 NUMISMATIC TITLES</b>: Wizard Coin Supply has over 500 numismatic titles in stock, competitively discounted, and
available for immediate shipment. See our selection at <a href="http://www.WizardCoinSupply.com">www.WizardCoinSupply.com</a>.
</div>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article17"><a name="article17">
HARVEY STACK'S NUMISMATIC FAMILY, PART 8
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
Harvey Stack's latest Stack's Bowers blog series focuses on growing up in a numismatic family. Here's part 8, published December 27, 2017.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/24637674818/in/dateposted-public/" title="Stack Numismatic Family Teens"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4552/24637674818_5bbedd17ed.jpg" width="500" height="208" alt="Stack Numismatic Family Teens"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
By 1950, we in the coin business had seen many changes. The post-war period brought many coins from overseas to our shores. Servicemen who were in the war returned home with packages and in some cases duffle bags of coins. Museums and private collections were destroyed by the war and among the ruins were coins scattered about. Many of these came to our shores and were sold. Those that were silver and gold had intrinsic value, and those of obvious scarcity and rarity had more value. So in a few years the market here in America was flush with coins from all ages, ancient to modern times.
<p>
In addition, the U.S. Mint made several new commemoratives. One was for the State of Iowa, in 1946, and this issue spurred interest in classic commemorative half dollars, the 47 different issues struck from 1892 to 1939. Collectors flocked to add them to their sets. Also from 1946 to 1951 a series of commemorative half dollars honoring Booker T. Washington was struck each year at all three U.S. mints, and in 1951 the Carver-Washington commemorative half dollars were struck, also at three mints. These were issued until 1954. Again, the more designs offered the more the interest grew.
<p>
In 1950, the U.S. Mint decided to start issuing Proof sets containing coins of each denomination from the cent to the half dollar. Proof set production had been suspended due to the war after 1942, and none were struck until 1950. The new sets were sold for $2.10 each, which included 91 cents in face value. Reasonably priced, for sure!
<p>
Also starting in 1946 the U.S. Mint issued a newly designed dime with the portrait of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. These were struck at three mints and became favorites of new collectors who sought them out in change. The same thing occurred when the Benjamin Franklin half dollar was issued starting in 1948. These series gave collectors the opportunity to start with the very first years a design was issued.
<p>
All of these things contributed to growing interest in collecting coins and the collector base expanded. Of course, the nation’s economy improved after the war and more people had money to pursue numismatics.
<p>
All this increased demand for service at Stack's and we expanded the staff to be able to serve all. Many collectors came to Stack’s, mostly on weekends, to help sort coins, catalog them, and also learn more about areas they were interested in.
<p>
The business demanded many different skills and a certain level of flexibility. It was important to take advantage of opportunities as they came up. My uncle, Joseph, hated to drive so when he got a call from an old bank in Bridgeton, New Jersey, he got my father, Norman, to drive him there. The bank had been established in 1830. When they arrived at the bank they were shown bags of silver coins that, according to the banker, had been there since 1836 or so. In the bags they found hoards of half dollars dated before 1837, the date when the design was modified, the edges milled, (rather than lettered) and the weight of the coins reduced. It seems the early bankers had decided to save all the earlier half dollars that came in the bank, thinking their higher weight might make them more valuable later on. Joe and Norman bought over 10,000 specimens from the banker, as the numismatic value in 1950 was quite a bit greater than the silver content. So they paid the banker, thanked hi
m for calling, and the two drove back to New York, where the rest of us in the store were amazed.
<p>
These half dollars were sorted first by date, by grade and by obvious varieties, and were placed in 2 x 2 envelopes with the date and grade on the outside. We started to offer these for sale in our price lists and auction sales. No one could believe how many we had; it was a great numismatic find. Al Overton, a dealer, collector and author who specialized in these coins, visited Stack's a number of times, to review the issues prior to 1836 and record many of the varieties that showed up in this hoard, He later included these in his important reference book on early half dollars.
<p>
<div class="greybox">
What a great haul! Amazing.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
To read the complete article, see:
<br/>
<a href="http://www.stacksbowers.com/News/Pages/Blogs.aspx?ArticleID=2792">
Growing up in a Numismatic Family Part 8
</a>
(http://www.stacksbowers.com/News/Pages/Blogs.aspx?ArticleID=2792)
<center>
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</center>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article18"><a name="article18">
MORE ON BANKNOTE ENGRAVER ROBERT SAVAGE
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
Last week Ondrej Tucek asked for information regarding banknote engraver Robert Savage. Here are some reader responses.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
Gene Hessler writes:
<div class="quote">
<p>
Savage is listed in my book <i>The Engraver's Line</i> (TEL), however, his year of death is 1943. Savage gave up his supervisory position to Edwin Gunn in the mid-1920s, but continued to engrave for ABNCo to the time of his death.
Savage is also mentioned in Mark Tomasko's <i>Images of Value, The Artwork Behind US Security Engraving 1830s-1980s</i>.
</div>
<p>
John Lupia writes:
<div class="quote">
<p>
As a fellow art historian and admirer of Alphonse Mucha here is a biography on Robert Savage, the foremost engraver in American history.
</div>
<p>
Robert Savage is one of the most distinguished American engravers of all time. He engraved postage stamps for several countries, bank notes and paper money for more than 31 countries, and corporate bonds, and stock certificate vignettes during his tenure as an engraver - becoming Chief Engraver of the Picture Engraving Department of the American Bank Note Company (ABNC).
<p>
To read the complete article, see:
<a href="https://sites.google.com/a/numismaticmall.com/www/numismaticmall-com/savage-robert">
SAVAGE, ROBERT
</a>
(https://sites.google.com/a/numismaticmall.com/www/numismaticmall-com/savage-robert)
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/27638464349/in/dateposted-public/" title="Savage photo 200dpi (1)"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4732/27638464349_4983081d3e_n.jpg" width="350" alt="Savage photo 200dpi (1)"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<br/>Image courtesy Mark Tomasko
</center>
<p>
Mark Tomasko writes:
<div class="quote">
<p>
Robert Savage (1868-1943) is widely considered the finest bank note picture engraver of the twentieth century. He worked at American Bank Note Company for 52 years, from 1891 to his death in 1943. He was head of the picture engraving department at ABN in the early twentieth century but gave up the title in 1923 to Edwin Gunn, his longtime colleague (and almost his equal) though he continued to engrave for American to the end of his life. He never retired.
<p>
Some of his best portraits include Sun Yat-sen, appearing on countless Chinese bank notes; the gypsy girl on the Mexican 5 peso note of 1925 into the 1930s; Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg on notes from the 1930s-1940s; Slavia on the Czech 100 korun note; and the vignette "France" from artwork by A. E. Foringer. There are countless other fine engravings. For a lengthy list of some of his work, see Gene Hessler's <i>The Engraver's Line</i> and the accompanying supplement.
</div>
<p>
<div class="greybox">
See the next article in this issue for
Mark Tomasko's notes on the Robert Savage portrait of Edward VIII. Thanks!
-Editor
</div>
<p>
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
<br/>
<a href="http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n53a13.html">
BANKNOTE ENGRAVER ROBERT SAVAGE INFO SOUGHT
</a>
(http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n53a13.html)
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article19"><a name="article19">
MORE ON THE ROBERT SAVAGE EDWARD VIII PORTRAIT
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
Mark Tomasko also submitted these notes on the Robert Savage portrait of Edward VIII. Thanks!
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/24549549037/in/dateposted-public/" title="Savage Prince of Wales 116 200dpi (1)"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4692/24549549037_90ef5227dd_n.jpg" height="240" alt="Savage Prince of Wales 116 200dpi (1)"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<br/>ABOVE: Prince of Wales 116; BELOW: King Edward VIII 116A
<br/>Images courtesy Mark Tomasko
</center>
<p>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/24549549107/in/dateposted-public/" title="Savage - King Edward VIII 116A 200dpi (1)"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4692/24549549107_e16e815705_n.jpg" height="240" align="right" alt="Savage - King Edward VIII 116A 200dpi (1)"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Readers might be interested to know that the Robert Savage portrait of Edward VIII was originally done in 1934 for the first $5 Bank of Canada note. The die proof (see scan) reads "HRH Prince of Wales/Bank of Canada/XV-116." When the $5 note was awarded to British American BN, the portrait was not used. However, when the 1937 series notes were being prepared, $1 models (paste-ups) were made using XV-116. Simultaneously, however, the XV-116 portrait was being redone by Savage, using a darker background, (see pencil notation on XV-116 proof, "background same as King Geo") becoming XV-116A, labeled "King Edward VIII" (see scan). Walter Allan, the great Canadian bank note researcher, published two heavily illustrated articles on the 1935 and 1937 issues of the Bank of Canada in <i>The Canadian Paper Money Journal</i> illustrating four photographs of $1 models using Edward VIII (in the 1994 Journal article on the 1937 Series).
<p>
The tintype illustrated in last week's article looks like another photograph of a model similar to Figure 5 (without the tint) of Allan's 1994 CPMJ article. I am puzzled by the term "photographic tintype proof;" it appears to simply be a photograph of a model, of which Allan illustrates four examples in his article. Those are paper photographs, but it's not evident what the significance of a positive tintype is (tintypes are usually reverse images) versus a paper photograph. I know the use of regular (reverse image) tintypes.
<p>
In any case, Robert Savage's The Prince of Wales/King Edward the VIII portrait twice came close to being used by the Bank of Canada and twice was not used. The first time, ABN/CBN did not get the order for the $5 denomination in 1934. The second, and final time, the abdication of King Edward VIII in late 1936 made the portrait obsolete. It appears that no master die of a $1 note using the Edward VIII portrait was ever made, and hence no proofs. We can only enjoy the photographs of models of the proposed note.
<p>
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
<br/>
<a href="http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n53a18.html">
UNISSUED EDWARD VIII NOTES HIGHLIGHT REGINA SHOW
</a>
(http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n53a18.html)
<center>
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</center>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article20"><a name="article20">
1859-S COINAGE AND TRADE WITH CHINA AND JAPAN
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
Researcher Dan Owens submitted these notes on the 1859-S coinage and trade with China and Japan. Thanks!
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/38689952984/in/dateposted-public/" title="1859-S Seated Half"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4647/38689952984_ae1e049273_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="1859-S Seated Half"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/39367725812/in/dateposted-public/" title="1859-S Rev"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4682/39367725812_669e847b6e_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="1859-S Rev"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
<b>
1859-S Liberty Seated Coinage; Miscellaneous Research Passages.
<br/>Dan Owens
</b>
<p>
<b>1859-1860</b><br/>
In 1859-1860, silver was received on deposit at the San Francisco Branch Mint if it was to be manufactured into refined bars or Seated dollars. If its intended purpose was for
other coins it was purchased. This was reflected in the <i>Register of Silver Bullion Deposits</i> under the category of remarks.
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/39367731722/in/dateposted-public/" title="Fine Bars Purchase Dollars"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4738/39367731722_69a7a0fe45.jpg" width="500" height="271" alt="Fine Bars Purchase Dollars"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
<b><i>The Sea Serpent</i></b><br/>
To give the reader a better glimpse of the treasure trade with China, I took a detailed look at the sailing ship <i>Sea Serpent</i> which cleared San Francisco on February 21st, 1859, with
a significant amount of treasure bound for Hong Kong via Honolulu. A number of Chinese and American commission merchants had shipments below her decks consisting of gold bars, Mexican dollars, gold coin and dust, silver bars and surprisingly $10,000 in U.S. silver coin consigned to banker B. Davidson.
<p>
Perhaps he was testing the waters so to speak, with U.S. silver dollars or more than likely he was trying to unload excess silver half dollars. On her previous voyage to Hong Kong
the Sea Serpent returned with goods like tea, sugar and rice.
<p>
<b>The <i>Onward</i> and the <i>Page</i> carried 68,000 Seated Half Dollars to Japan</b><br/>
Two notable examples of Seated half dollars being shipped to the Orient include the Clipper barque <i>Onward</i> which sailed from San Francisco on September 3rd, 1859, for Japan with $22,000 in American half dollars (44,000 pieces) and the schooner <i>Page</i>
which sailed on the 5th for Hakodadi, Japan with $12,000 or 24,000 American half dollars.
<p>
Hakodadi, Japan was the site of the Custom House, where American silver coins were
exchanged for Japanese silver coins which in turn were used by the American merchants
directly in their trade with Japan.
<p>
I expanded my search to include the years 1860 and 1861 and found strong evidence of
their continued appearance in Japan. Not surprisingly, these pieces always seemed to
trade at a discount or at times were only accepted for harbor dues and duties.
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<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article21"><a name="article21">
TOM BABINSZKI VISITS INDIA
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
<i>E-Sylum</i> reader Tom Babinszki recently visited India and wrote about his experience in his December 20, 2017 <i>Blind Coin Collector</i> blog. Here's an excerpt.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
It started about a year ago when I was first asked to do some work in India. After much preparation, I spent almost two weeks in Bangalore, and some days in Visakhapatnam and Pune. In general, I try to prepare for my trips by reading about the place I’m going to. Sometimes I do very poorly, but I tried to take India seriously.
<p>
I talked with people, read some articles, and books. My favorite was Ervin Baktay’s book about his three stay in India. This Hungarian orientalist spent three years in India between 1926 and 1929. It is almost a century later now, but the concepts were interesting, and in case of such a rich and ancient culture, or should I say cultures, a hundred years should not matter much. It was fascinating to read about the different religions and how they coexist together in India. Baktay’s book was the most helpful throughout my trip. I of course, also prepared numismatically, which wasn’t as easy as it seemed originally.
<p>
I started by contacting as many places as I possibly could research. Coin clubs, coin stores, online forums. I am disappointed to say, aside from the Falcon Coins Gallery in Bangalore, nobody got back to me.
<p>
The next difficulty was learning about Indian coinage. There are some materials out there, but the information is vast, and is hard to find. The best resource I found was the Mintage World site. I wrote about it last year. They have quite a bit of materials about the different Indian states, sultanates and historical periods.
<p>
It was my first time visiting India, it is a fascinating country. I really enjoyed talking with the people, exploring the culture and the food. But as always, work was first priority.
<p>
I was surprised to find that the hotel didn’t have coins. I went to the bar just so that I could pay with cash, I had beers in the minibar, and I was way too tired, but I couldn’t miss a chance to get some coins on the first day. However, instead of coins for change, I got more money back in bank notes. When I asked for change, in English, because all the people knew English at the hotel, they told me they didn’t have any, I had to go to the bank. So much about collecting…
<p>
On my first free evening, where else could I go, I visited the largest local coin store, the Falcon Coins Gallery, the only place who wrote back when I contacted them. I called an Uber and got there in about 15 minutes.
<p>
Coincidentally, it was The feast of St. Eligius, the patron saint of numismatists, as I found out that day from my friend on Twitter. He sure made my day…
<p>
It felt like a regular shop off the street, it wasn’t hard to find. One of the owners, Mr. Parekh set down with me at the table and showed off some interesting Indian coins. I tried to moderate my purchase, first of all probably it wasn’t the cheapest place, as it was a high end store, and there is no need to buy everything at the same time, especially that I didn’t even know about most of the coins. The history of coinage in India is just vast. However, I have to say, the prices were very reasonable, and Mr. Parekh’s knowledge about the coins was amazing. I would have paid just to be there. It was interesting to touch some of the Indian coins I have read about, and a few more I never knew existed. I bought a variety of coins, in particular trying to get ones which are easiest to feel.
<p>
Mr. Parekh showed me some nice old coins, but mostly we looked at the ones from the last two centuries.
<p>
I got two books, one about the coinage of Karnataka, which is the state where I was staying, and a general introduction to the coins of India. Probably the best thing I can get from a country’s visit.
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/24488849457/in/dateposted-public/" title="COINS by Gupta book cover"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4687/24488849457_6e77f9d1ba_n.jpg" width="200" height="320" alt="COINS by Gupta book cover"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/24488849267/in/dateposted-public/" title="Karnatuka Coins book cover"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4726/24488849267_a4aa1f0ffe_n.jpg" width="201" height="320" alt="Karnatuka Coins book cover"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
After I made the payment, they offered a tea, and called Mr. Kirti M Parekh, who is the father of the gentleman whom I was working with. he is the president of the Karnataka Numismatic Society. We talked a little about collecting and took a picture, all three of us.
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/38645177824/in/dateposted-public/" title="Tom Babinszki in India coin shop"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4642/38645177824_8c33a1dddd.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Tom Babinszki in India coin shop"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
It was the tenth day in the country and I haven’t seen a circulating coin yet. It is time to do something about it. I tried to ask for coins, at the hotel it doesn’t exist, people don’t use it. I haven’t heard coins where people were paying, but it is also true that I haven’t been around cash registers much. I either got food or coffee at work, or it got written up to my room. I’m mostly using bills for tips. I asked around a bit, but nobody had coins. I can’t just leave India without circulating coins if they exist, so today I stopped by the bank on the way from work to pick up a few.
<p>
<div class="greybox">
Tom learned that the bank wouldn't give out individual coins, but would only sell them in bags. He eventually purchased 400 coins.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
Overall, personally, professionally and numismatically, it was a great trip. I came home with a few interesting coins, and I’m looking forward to reading the books I got.
<p>
<div class="greybox">
Thanks for the great numismatic travelogue, Tom!
-Editor
</div>
<p>
To read the complete article, see:
<br/>
<a href="http://blindcoincollector.com/2017/12/20/collecting-in-india/">
Collecting in India
</a>
(http://blindcoincollector.com/2017/12/20/collecting-in-india/)
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<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article22"><a name="article22">
SELECTIONS FROM LEGEND REGENCY AUCTION XXV
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
Here is an excerpt from the press release for the upcoming Legend Regency Auction XXV, followed by five lots that caught my eye.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
Legend Rare Coin Auctions will be conducting its 25th Regency Auction on January 25,
2018 in conjunction with the PCGS Members’ Only Show at the Luxor in Las Vegas. The 349 lot auction
begins with the Ipswich Collection of three cent silvers. From there, the firm presents high grade and
high end quality issues from the early days of the first U.S. mint in Philadelphia to rare key date issues of
popular 20 th century series.
<p>
Lot 21--3CS 1867 PCGS MS67 CAC From the Ipswich Collection
<br/>Lot 28--1/2C 1797 C-1. 1 ABOVE 1. PCGS MS66 BN CAC Ex Missouri Cabinet
<br/>Lot 35--L1C 1793 WREATH VINE AND BARS. PCGS MS64+ BN CAC
<br/>Lot 49--1C 1856 FLYING EAGLE PCGS PR64 CAC
<br/>Lot 99--5C 1916 DOUBLE DIE OBVERSE. PCGS MS64 CAC
<br/>Lot 100--5C 1918/7-D PCGS MS65+ CAC
<br/>Lot 116--10C 1796/5 PCGS MS64+ CAC EX ELIASBERG
<br/>Lot 148--25C 1834 PCGS MS65 CAC
<br/>Lot 181--50C 1812 PCGS MS65+ CAC
<br/>Lot 209--$1 1852 ORIGINAL. PCGS PR65 CAC
<br/>Lot 233--$1 1893-CC PCGS MS64 CAC
<br/>Lot 262-- G$1 1860 PCGS PR65+ CAM CAC
<br/>Lot 271-- $5 1802/1 PCGS MS64+ CAC
<br/>Lot 303-- $20 1920 PCGS MS65
<br/>Lot 345-- $1 1836 J-65. RESTRIKE PCGS PR64+ CAC
<p>
To view these, and all coins offered in the Regency Auction 25, check out
<a href="">
www.legendauctions.com</a> to
register and bid. Catalogs are in production and will be mailed during the second week of January.
Selected highlights will be on display at the FUN show and Legend Auctions will be conducting a special
lot viewing session in conjunction with the 2018 New York International Numismatic Convention on
Friday, January 12 at the Grand Hyatt. For more information, call 732-935- 1168 or email
<a href="mailto:info@legendauctions.com">
info@legendauctions.com</a>.
<p>
<b> Lot 35: 1793 Wreath Cent </b><br/>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/24514150007/in/dateposted-public/" title="1793 Wreath cent obverse"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4595/24514150007_06b6af37fb_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="1793 Wreath cent obverse"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/27602395569/in/dateposted-public/" title="1793 Wreath cent reverse"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4598/27602395569_9399c9697d_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="1793 Wreath cent reverse"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
<div class="greybox">
A classic of classics - who wouldn't want one of these?
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<b> Lot 46: 1839 Silly Head Large Cent </b><br/>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/27602395459/in/dateposted-public/" title="1839 Silly head Large Cent obverse"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4634/27602395459_04d9119c51_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="1839 Silly head Large Cent obverse"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/24514149647/in/dateposted-public/" title="1839 Silly head Large Cent reverse"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4688/24514149647_097f919f97_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="1839 Silly head Large Cent reverse"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
<div class="greybox">
Liberty looks pretty manly on this one. Pretty silly.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<b> Lot 127: 1895-O Barber Dime </b><br/>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/27602395299/in/dateposted-public/" title="1895-O Barber Dime obverse"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4643/27602395299_01676ff454_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="1895-O Barber Dime obverse"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/38671210584/in/dateposted-public/" title="1895-O Barber Dime reverse"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4647/38671210584_abac907886_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="1895-O Barber Dime reverse"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
<b>Lot 181: 1812 Bust Half Dollar O-103 </b><br/>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/27602395529/in/dateposted-public/" title="1812 Bust Half Dollar O-103 obverse"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4681/27602395529_1bbd226e06_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="1812 Bust Half Dollar O-103 obverse"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/24514149777/in/dateposted-public/" title="1812 Bust Half Dollar O-103 reverse"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4640/24514149777_cf9da038da_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="1812 Bust Half Dollar O-103 reverse"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
<b> Lot 322: 1936 Oregon Trail Half Dollar </b><br/>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/38671210524/in/dateposted-public/" title="1936 Oregon trail Half Dollar obverse"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4633/38671210524_7056a82019_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="1936 Oregon trail Half Dollar obverse"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/24514149407/in/dateposted-public/" title="1936 Oregon trail Half Dollar reverse"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4634/24514149407_7ba62be57c_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="1936 Oregon trail Half Dollar reverse"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
<div class="greybox">
One of the most perfectly executed U.S. coins of all time.
A great example of a truly great coin.
-Editor
</div>
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<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article23"><a name="article23">
NUMISMATIC NUGGETS: DECEMBER 31, 2017
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
Here's a selection of interesting or unusual items I came across in the marketplace this week. Tell us what you think of some of these.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<b> Victoria Model Crown </b><br/>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/38684951264/in/dateposted-public/" title="Victoria Model Crown obverse"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4600/38684951264_bb025239e8_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="Victoria Model Crown obverse"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/25522753928/in/dateposted-public/" title="Victoria Model Crown reverse"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4734/25522753928_ca4a8404f8_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="Victoria Model Crown reverse"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
Great Britain - Model Crown Token Victoria
<p>
<div class="greybox">
So just what is a "Model Crown"? I found two others pictured on a Coin Universe forum (link below).
-Editor
</div>
<p>
To read the complete lot description, see:
<br/>
<a href="https://auction.catawiki.com/kavels/15774507-great-britain-model-crown-token-victoria">
Great Britain - Model Crown Token Victoria
</a>
(https://auction.catawiki.com/kavels/15774507-great-britain-model-crown-token-victoria)
<p>
To read the complete article, see:
<br/>
<a href="https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/779818/1848-model-crown">
1848 Model Crown
</a>
(https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/779818/1848-model-crown)
<p>
<b> 1874 Twenty-Five Cents Fractional Note</b><br/>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/38412838125/in/dateposted-public/" title="1874 Twenty-Five Cents Fractional Note face"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4634/38412838125_d103f8cd75.jpg" width="400" alt="1874 Twenty-Five Cents Fractional Note face"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
<div class="greybox">
Nothing special here, just another worn-down old rag. But it was an old worn-out rag just like this one that got me started in collecting money of the U.S. Civil War. It was in a with a box of foreign coins handed down to me by my step-grandfather. A search for information eventually led me to Matt Rothert's WHitman "Black Book" - <i>A Guide Book of United States fractional Currency: An illustrated history and catalog listing with valuations for all issues of postage and fractional currency of the United States, 1862-1876 </i>. The book's short introduction grabbed me hook, line and sinker.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
To read the complete lot description, see:
<br/>
<a href="https://www.pristineauction.com/a1269411-1874-United-States-25-Twenty-Five-Cents-Fractional-Bank-Note">
1874 United States 25¢ Twenty-Five Cents Fractional Bank Note
</a>
(https://www.pristineauction.com/a1269411-1874-United-States-25-Twenty-Five-Cents-Fractional-Bank-Note)
<p>
<b> WWI Grand Duchy of Baden Medal </b><br/>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/39366935762/in/dateposted-public/" title="WWI Grand Duchy of Baden Medal reverse"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4679/39366935762_7a5e5192fd_n.jpg" width="244" height="320" alt="WWI Grand Duchy of Baden Medal reverse"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/25526894408/in/dateposted-public/" title="WWI Grand Duchy of Baden Medal obverse"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4682/25526894408_8bb9737879_n.jpg" width="240" height="320" alt="WWI Grand Duchy of Baden Medal obverse"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
Description: Large presentation medal from Imperial Germany the State of Grand Duchy of Baden. Metal has Imperial logo on one side and Griffon logo on the other. All original with nice details. 3 1/2"
<p>
<div class="greybox">
Impressive medal!
-Editor
</div>
<p>
To read the complete lot description, see:
<br/>
<a href="https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/-1-c-CAF438DBD9">
Lot 223C: WWI GERMANY GRAND DUCHY OF BADEN MEDAL
</a>
(https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/-1-c-CAF438DBD9)
<p>
<b> 1938 Mooseheart Medal </b><br/>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/39359514302/in/dateposted-public/" title="1938 Mooseheart Medal reverse"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4589/39359514302_b69e470944_m.jpg" height="240" alt="1938 Mooseheart Medal reverse"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/39359514672/in/dateposted-public/" title="1938 Mooseheart Medal obverse"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4635/39359514672_bd9c122c9b_m.jpg" height="240" alt="1938 Mooseheart Medal obverse"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
<div class="greybox">
Fraternal organization medals would make an interesting study. There must be quite a variety of them, yet each would be a finite case study. The problem with documenting medals is the sheer vastness of the field - a divide and conquer approach is required.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
To read the complete lot description, see:
<br/>
<a href="https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/-1-c-7BC4033896">
Lot 387: 1938 MOOSEHEART MEDAL
</a>
(https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/-1-c-7BC4033896)
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article24"><a name="article24">
THE ANILLO TOKEN RESTRIKES
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
While poking around in online listings this week I discovered a curious token set that turned out to be offered by one of our new advertisers, Northeast Numismatics. It was described as an "Anillo 3 Token Restrike Set". While I would normally reach out to one of our regular token experts like Dave Schenkman, I've been retraining myself to check the Newman Numismatic Portal first. There I found a February 1972 <i>TAMS Journal</i> article by Chriss Christiansen (p41-46) with the whole story behind them. Here's an excerpt (minus the detailed token listing), along with photos of the tokens offered by Northeast.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<center>
<b>
FAKE-DIE TRIAL-FANTASY & RESTRIKES
</b>
<br/>Chriss Christiansen, TAMS #1718
</center>
<p>
Much has been said in the past few months, pro
and con, of the batch of tokens that recently came
on the market, and which were sold by Anillo
Industries Inc. of Orange, California.
What are these aluminum chits to be called? This
is anyones prerogative in determining what they
are. The following is a little background data on what has transpired:
<p>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/25422370598/in/dateposted-public/" title="Token Good for One Quart Milk"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4642/25422370598_7613e5cf59_z.jpg" width="248" height="640" align="right" alt="Token Good for One Quart Milk"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
1 — The dies originally belonged to the now defunct
L.A. RUBBER STAMP CO. or L.A.R.S.
<p>
2 — Anillo purchased these dies at an auction of the LARS Co.
<p>
3 _ In order to find out what they had purchased,
they made a Trial Stamping of the dies and
from there were possibly persuaded by a few
well known collectors that enticed Anillo into
stamping out approximately 32 sets, of 3500
tokens to a set.
<p>
4 — TAMS was contacted about running an ad in their Journal, but because of the Policy set
down on Restrikes, refused the Anillo ad,
however, ANA saw fit to accept their ad along
with another minor publication.
<p>
5 — Each token is aluminum, various sizes, all uniface (one-sided) and mostly all from California,
some from Arizona, Texas, New Mexico,
Nevada, Washington and South of the Border.
<p>
6 — They originally sold at $250.00 a set, the
price has recently been lowered to $150.00
and possibly less. Some sets were even donated
for cataloging purposes.
<p>
Some collectors are considering these tokens to
be die-trial pcs. as Anillo tried the dies they had
purchased in the Auction sale. Other collectors are considering them to be fakes as they were made
up and appear to be specious, deceptive and fraudulent.
Some are classifying as fantasy tokens because
some of the tokens were never placed into use,
either because of mistakes on the dies or the order
for the tokens fell thru. Yes, they can also be called
restrikes, one sided only, in a different metal in some cases than what were originally struck by
LARS.
<p>
This batch of tokens has created many hard
feelings among the collectors and dealers, mainly
because they have been passed off as genuine.
Many Auction sales have included them in their
listings, some with the die-trial notations, others are being sold with the explanation they were
found in the old LARS warehouse, and others are being sold outright across the counter and bourse
table as genuine.
<p>
Any comments or questions are invited on any of
these uniface die-trial tokens, which I prefer to call
them, as this is what I was billed for, and a full
listing has been made and documented.
<p>
<div class="greybox">
Ah! So these are uniface pieces, which explains why the lot listing only showed one side of each token. Many thanks to the Newman Portal and to the Token and Medal Society for making their publication available. I otherwise might never have found this spot-on 45-year-old article.
<br/><br/>
But I did reach out to Dave Schenkman next, and he kindly provided these images of several other Anillo restrikes. Thanks!
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/25523948998/in/dateposted-public/" title="Anillo Token1 (1)"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4680/25523948998_8cbbc03c75_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="Anillo Token1 (1)"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/39394150701/in/dateposted-public/" title="Anillo Token1 (2)"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4692/39394150701_44819050f2_m.jpg" width="240" height="231" alt="Anillo Token1 (2)"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/25523948658/in/dateposted-public/" title="Anillo Token1 (3)"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4685/25523948658_119bb58692_m.jpg" width="240" height="232" alt="Anillo Token1 (3)"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/39394150551/in/dateposted-public/" title="Anillo Token1 (4)"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4735/39394150551_fc516eec32_m.jpg" width="240" height="234" alt="Anillo Token1 (4)"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/25523948598/in/dateposted-public/" title="Anillo Token1 (5)"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4591/25523948598_9c8817ffbf_m.jpg" width="237" height="240" alt="Anillo Token1 (5)"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/39394150461/in/dateposted-public/" title="Anillo Token1 (6)"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4688/39394150461_bfcbfbd896_m.jpg" width="240" height="237" alt="Anillo Token1 (6)"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/25523948698/in/dateposted-public/" title="Anillo Token1 (7)"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4736/25523948698_fa931da338_m.jpg" width="240" height="237" alt="Anillo Token1 (7)"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/25523948558/in/dateposted-public/" title="Anillo Token1 (8)"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4687/25523948558_be6dbbab4c_m.jpg" width="240" height="233" alt="Anillo Token1 (8)"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
Dave adds:
<div class="quote">
<p>
On the 1 Manicure piece you can see the L.A. RUB. STP. CO. signature.
</div>
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/38686188364/in/dateposted-public/" title="LA Rubber Stamp signature"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4639/38686188364_ed38c598bf.jpg" width="500" height="168" alt="LA Rubber Stamp signature"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
To read the complete lot description, see:
<br/>
<a href="https://www.northeastcoin.com/popupcontainer.jsp?include=vi&itemKey=zi26_157876504">
Anillo 3 Token Restrike Set
</a>
(https://www.northeastcoin.com/popupcontainer.jsp?include=vi&itemKey=zi26_157876504)
<p>
To read the complete article on NNP, see:
<br/>
<a href="https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/525697?page=42">
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/525697?page=42
</a>
<center>
<a href="https://coins.ha.com/" title="Heritage E-Sylum ad 2017-12-31"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4734/25487045698_d78a71e0e4_c.jpg" width="600" height="800" alt="Heritage E-Sylum ad 2017-12-31"></a>
</center>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article25"><a name="article25">
LSCC AND BCCS AT FUN IN TAMPA
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
John Frost submitted these announcements about events at January's F.U.N. show.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
The Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) and the Barber Coin Collectors' Society (BCCS) have lots planned in Tampa next week at FUN. The two clubs are sharing Booth #1909 on the bourse floor.
<p>
The LSCC will have an exhibit entitled, <i>Collecting Liberty Seated Coins Through the Years</i>, featuring a rare collection of vintage albums and coin boards, with key date coins on display from half dimes through Trade dollars. The LSCC's meeting is Friday January 5th at 9:00 a.m., featuring an educational program entitled <i>The Value of a Dollar during the Civil War</i> by Stephen Petty. Also, LSCC President Gerry Fortin is offering a FUN Seminar entitled, <i>An Overview Of The Liberty Seated Quarter Series</i> on Saturday January 6th at 1:15 p.m.
<p>
The BCCS meeting will be Friday January 5th at 3:00 p.m., featuring an educational program entitled, <i>Collecting Barber Quarters</i> by BCCS President John Frost. There will also be an exhibit of key date, patterns, and error Barber coins at Booth #1909.
<p>
Both meetings are open to visitors, and we invite you to come, and also stop by the exhibit table!
<p>
For mroe information about the two clubs, see:
<br/>
<a href="http://www.lsccweb.org/">
www.lsccweb.org
</a>
<br/>
<a href="http://www.barbercoins.org/">
www.barbercoins.org
</a>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article26"><a name="article26">
NUMISMATIC CAREERS: A CHAT WITH NGC
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
Jack Topping published an interview with Max Spiegel of NGC on his Jet Numismatics blog on December 29, 2017. Here's an excerpt.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
In 1987, a company called the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (“NGC”) was formed in order to provide a specific service to the numismatic community: an honest, trusted third party coin authentication and grading service. Although not the oldest third party group, established 15 years after the founding of the American Numismatic Association Certification Service (“ANACS”) and two years after the Professional Coin Grading Service (“PCGS”), NGC boasts an impressive 39 million authenticated and graded coins as of 2017, their 30th year of operation.
<p>
Max Spiegel, NGC Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, described employment, formal education, and careers in the third party coin grading service in an exclusive interview with JET Numismatics. For young coin collectors, some believe that their collection begins and ends with holding on to coins, placing them in an album, or simply protecting them in 2×2 cardboard flaps, for long term storage. However, the opportunities for younger generations to learn about getting more out of their collection, getting a numismatic education, and even making a career out of numismatics is vast, but unfortunately for the latter, not promoted as it should be.
<p>
As for the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation, their organization is described as a “dream job” for any type of numismatist, according to Spiegel. Spiegel continued to say, “You get to see some of the world’s greatest rarities and you are surrounded by some of the most talented numismatists in the world.”
<p>
For younger generations, many of the numismatists born in the 21st century are nearing the end of the K-12 educational system, and some will be seeking higher education. A difficulty for those considering our hobby as a career path through higher education is finding a degree involving numismatics. Currently, the University of Vienna in Austria offers programs involving numismatics, however for those numismatists seeking higher education in the United States, their options are slim to none.
<p>
When asked about this topic during the NGC hiring process, Spiegel offered an alternative to formal higher education, saying, “We look at numismatic experience and ability more than formal education. Many of our senior graders have decades of experience either as graders or dealers. Many of our junior graders have collected for a number of years and showed an eye for grading.” Spiegel goes on about the junior graders, saying, “They’re now being trained by the senior members of our grading team.”
<p>
For those determined to achieve a college degree, it is clear a degree specifically for numismatics is not necessary. According to Spiegel, “There are a variety of degrees that have a connection to numismatics, including economics, history and art history.” As for his organization, Spiegel said, “When NGC is evaluating prospective graders, however, we seldom consider what they studied in school. We are much more interested in their numismatic knowledge, grading ability and how well they work with our existing grading team. Prospective graders are always tested in a grading room setting before we make a job offer.”
<p>
To read the complete article, see:
<br/>
<a href="https://jetnumismatics.wordpress.com/2017/12/29/numismatic-careers-a-chat-with-ngc/">
NUMISMATIC CAREERS: A CHAT WITH NGC
</a>
(https://jetnumismatics.wordpress.com/2017/12/29/numismatic-careers-a-chat-with-ngc/)
<div class="ctabox">
<center>
<h4>THE BOOK BAZARRE</h4>
</center>
<b> NOW in its SECOND EDITION!</b>
Q. David Bowers’s popular <i>Guide Book of Washington Quarters</i> analyzes each coin, year by year, from 1932 to 1998, and focuses a comprehensive section on each quarter from 1999 to date. The new second edition is expanded to 352 pages. Order your copy for $19.95, online
at <a href="https://www.whitman.com/store/Inventory/Detail/A-Guide-Book-of-Washington-Quarters---2nd-Edition+0794832520">
Whitman.com
</a>, or call 1-800-546-2995.
</div>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article27"><a name="article27">
ARTICLES HIGHLIGHT HENRY III GOLD PENNY
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
The <i>Daily Mail</i> published an article about the rare Henry III gold penny being sold by Heritage Auctions.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/38447289205/in/dateposted-public/" title="Henry III gold penny obverse"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4638/38447289205_ae067d4285_m.jpg" width="240" height="219" alt="Henry III gold penny obverse"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/25455731648/in/dateposted-public/" title="Henry III gold penny reverse"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4680/25455731648_2f5089092d_m.jpg" width="240" height="222" alt="Henry III gold penny reverse"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
The first ever English gold coin that had to be scrapped after a banking blunder meant is was worth less than its weight in gold, is now tipped to sell for £500,000.
<p>
Some 52,000 of the King Henry III gold pennies were struck nearly 800 years ago before it was realised they were too heavy.
<p>
The basic mistake meant the gold it was made from was worth more than the coin itself.
<p>
This made the coins financially unviable as the holders could get more money from melting them down for gold rather than using them as currency.
<p>
Virtually all of them were smelted and were replaced with correctly weighed pennies in 1257.
<p>
Today only eight of the coins exist, with all but three of them held by institutions.
<p>
One of the three in private hands has been put up for sale and is set to fetch £500,000.
<p>
It is being sold by an anonymous collector who has owned it for 21 years.
<p>
Cristiano Bierrenbach, of the numismatic department at US-based Heritage Auctions, said: 'These gold pennies were the first gold coins made in England.
<p>
'King Henry III tried to establish a trade conversion value for a coin to match the Ducat coin which was used on mainland Europe.
<p>
'He ordered the creation of a gold coin for his kingdom to be struck at twice the weight of a silver penny.
<p>
'But the issue was ultimately unsuccessful. The coins had a standard weight of 3.5 grammes but an error was made and the coin was made too heavy, about 4.2 grammes.
<p>
'After that the coin was pulled from circulation and they were melted down and more gold pennies were struck at the correct weight.
<p>
'It is incredibly rare to come across one of these. It is a big ticket item and we expect it to got for higher than the estimate.'
<p>
The coin depicts King Henry seated on a throne wearing robes. He has a scepter in his right hand and an orb in his left.
<p>
The reverse features a long cross and the name Willem on LVND. This is William of Gloucester who was the King's goldsmith and ultimately responsible for the error.
<p>
It is being sold on January 8.
<p>
To read the complete article, see:
<br/>
<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5213041/800-year-old-coin-minted-Henry-III-sell-500-000.html">
</a>
(http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5213041/800-year-old-coin-minted-Henry-III-sell-500-000.html)
800-year-old coin minted by Henry III but then scrapped when blundering officials realised it was worth more as gold than its face value is expected to make £500,000 at auction
<p>
<div class="greybox">
The <i>Mirror</i> covered the story as well. Thanks to David Pickup for forwarding the link.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
To read the complete article, see:
<br/>
<a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/first-ever-english-gold-coin-11753688">
First ever English gold coin worth just a penny will sell for unbelievable amount
</a>
(http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/first-ever-english-gold-coin-11753688)
<p>
<div class="greybox">
And <i>The Sun</i>, too.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
To read the complete article, see:
<br/>
<a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/5216628/first-ever-gold-coin-worth-just-a-penny-could-sell-for-500000-at-auction/">
GOLD RUSH First-ever gold coin that was once worth just a penny could sell for £500,000 at auction
</a>
(https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/5216628/first-ever-gold-coin-worth-just-a-penny-could-sell-for-500000-at-auction/)
<p>
<div class="greybox">
Great publicity for the sale!
-Editor
</div>
<center>
<a href="http://www.coinbooks.org/" title="NBS Do You Love Coin Book card ad"><img src=
"https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1491/24547113454_3df957c3f9_o.jpg" width="525" height="300" alt=
"NBS Do You Love Coin Book card ad" /></a>
</center>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article28"><a name="article28">
THE 1934 NAZI-ZIONIST COOPERATION MEDAL
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
They say politics makes strange bedfellows. I'd never heard of or imagined a "Nazi-Zionist cooperation medal" until I saw this <i>Israel National News</i> item the other day.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/38515306355/in/dateposted-public/" title="1934 Nazi-Zionist Cooperation Medal"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4587/38515306355_93af62ff13.jpg" width="500" height="298" alt="1934 Nazi-Zionist Cooperation Medal"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
Among other things, a rare medal from 1934 called "Nazi in Palestine" will be sold: A medal minted on the occasion of a series of articles "A Nazi goes to Palestine" published in the Nazi journal <i>Der Angriff</i> ("The Attack"). The medal is a memento of cooperation between the Nazi Party and the German Zionist Association, in favor of the joint goal of bringing German Jews to Palestine (the "transfer").
<p>
The center of one side sports a Star of David surrounded by the German caption "A Nazi going to Palestine" (<i>Ein Nazi fährt nach Palästina</i>). In the center of the other side is a swastika and the caption "and writes about it in <i>Angriff" (Und erzählt davon in Angriff)</i>.
<p>
At the beginning of the period of Nazi rule in Germany, the Zionist movement tended to cooperate with the line taken by the Nazi regime at the beginning of its path - encouraging German Jewish immigration to Palestine. In the spring of 1933, the Union of German Zionists decided to contact elements within the Nazi party that might support the Zionist cause.
<p>
Kurt Tuchler, a German-Jewish jurist and judge who was a member of the German Zionist Association, appealed to Leopold von Mildenstein, head of the Jewish department of the SD (Nazi and SS Security Service), and asked him to write about the Jewish community in Palestine. In 1933 the two traveled together to Israel with their wives for a month, in order to allow von Mildenstein to be impressed by the flourishing Zionist enterprise.
<p>
On his return to Germany, von Mildenstein published a series of twelve articles accompanied with photographs about his tour of Palestine in the Nazi journal Der Angriff, the organ of Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels. The articles bore the title "A Nazi goes to Palestine." Goebbels issued the medal on the occasion of the article series.
<p>
To read the complete article, see:
<br/>
<a href="https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/239848">
Nazi-Zionist cooperation medal offered at auction
</a>
(https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/239848)
<center>
<a href="http://www.rarelegacy.com/" title="Rare Legacy ad 2016-05-22 Lookout"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7366/26875876090_bbdfbe0b13_o.jpg" width="581" height="775" alt="Rare Legacy ad 2016-05-22 Lookout"></a>
</center>
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article29"><a name="article29">
NORTH KOREA'S KIM JONG-SUK GOLD COIN
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
Dick Hanscom and Arthur Shippee forwarded this <i>BBC News</i> article about a new gold coin mints by North Korea honoring the grandmother of the sabre-rattling Kim Jong-Un, Kim Jong-Suk. Thanks.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/38685294544/in/dateposted-public/" title="Kim Jong-suk gold coin"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4733/38685294544_e19be74218.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="Kim Jong-suk gold coin"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
The birth centenary of "war heroine" Kim Jong-suk is currently being celebrated in a big way there.
<p>
Kim is no ordinary woman though, but the first wife of North Korea's founding leader Kim Il-sung and the grandmother of current leader Kim Jong-un.
<p>
She is believed to have been born to a poor farming family on Christmas Eve in 1917, and is said to have fought with guerrilla forces against the Japanese in the 1930s.
<p>
She died in 1949, aged just 31, and official accounts ascribe her death to the hardships she endured as a guerrilla fighter.
<p>
To mark her birth centenary, North Korean media have been describing her wartime exploits in typically hyperbolic language.
<p>
Kim is not just an "outstanding woman revolutionary" and "the sacred mother of the revolution", "her marksmanship was so marvellous that even her comrades-in-arms used to guess the number of killed enemies by counting empty bullet pockets of her cartridge belt after battles," says a report in the state-run KCNA news agency.
<p>
North Korea says it has released new postage stamps, minted new gold and silver coins, and held cultural performances in her honour.
<p>
<div class="greybox">
Dead relatives aren't a threat to the current ruler, so they can be feted for propaganda purposes and ascribed magical powers. Had his grandmother been still alive, she'd probably have been on the same hitlist as Kim Jong-Un's uncle and half-brother. Sorry, granny - it's just business.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
To read the complete article, see:
<br/>
<a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-42479956">
N Korea marks the birth of Kim Jong-un's grandmother
</a>
(http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-42479956)
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article30"><a name="article30">
NEW YORK CITY CREEPING TOWARD CASHLESSNESS
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
David Gladfelter forwarded this <i>New York Times</i> article about the growing number of business establishments in the city that refuse to accept cash.
-Editor
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<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/38516706605/in/dateposted-public/" title="Two Forks has gone cashless"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4641/38516706605_e6f0123f97.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Two Forks has gone cashless"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>
The other day at Dig Inn, a just-opened lunch spot on Broadway and 38th Street in Midtown Manhattan, Shania Bryant committed a consumer faux pas. She placed her order for chicken and brown rice and yams, and when she got to the register, she held out a $50 bill.
<p>
“Sorry,” the cashier told her. “We don’t take cash.” Not, “We don’t take $50s.” No cash. Period.
<p>
“What?” Ms. Bryant asked.
<p>
The cashier patiently explained. Credit and debit cards were fine, as was the easy-to-download Dig Inn phone app. But the almighty dollar was powerless.
<p>
“I’ve never experienced that before,” said Ms. Bryant, 20, an assistant to a designer. “I guess we’re in new times.”
<p>
Indeed. Cashless businesses were once an isolated phenomenon, but now, similarly jarring experiences can be had across the street at Sweetgreen, or two blocks up at Two Forks, or next door to Two Forks at Dos Toros, or over on 41st Street at Bluestone Lane coffee. In Midtown and some other neighborhoods across New York City, cashless is fast on its way to becoming normal.
<p>
Some people already live in this cashless future. They find nothing strange about paying for a pack of gum with a swipe of a card. If you are one of these people and you are still somehow reading this article, you may be thinking, “What on earth is the big deal?”
<p>
At Two Forks on 40th Street, where the lunch offerings have cheery names like Squash Goals, Kristin Junco, a 34-year-old auditor for the state Education Department, said she had not used cash for about a week and much prefers a cashless establishment to its opposite. “We travel a lot for work,” she said, gesturing to a colleague, “and if they don’t take credit cards that makes things difficult.”
<p>
On the other side are those who were raised to equate credit card spending with taking on debt — something to be avoided whenever possible, and reserved in any case for major expenditures. Those people do things like grab a $5 bill from their purse and run down from their office to the place on the corner thinking that they can buy a snack with it. They will catch on eventually.
<p>
Tim McLoughlin, 59, a writer in Brooklyn, did a double-take when he walked into a Bluestone Lane branch in Dumbo, Brooklyn. “My reaction was ‘Jesus, a New York City restaurant that records all its revenue? How can they stay in business?’ ”
<p>
They can, and do. At Pokee, a poke-salad place in Greenwich Village, cash is treated like a quarantinable substance. “If you have exact change, we’ll take it,” said the woman behind the counter. “We give it to the manager and he puts it in a safe. Because we don’t have a register.”
<p>
“Every day I have an argument with somebody about it,” said a cashier at the Dos Toros on 40th Street, who said she could not give her name because she was not authorized to speak without permission from the company. “I don’t make these rules, you know.”
<p>
Critics have noted that the practice also excludes the unbanked, though, at least so far, the places going cashless are sufficiently expensive ($3 for a coffee, $8 and up for lunch) that the prices alone will turn off most people who lack a bank account.
<p>
But wait, how is this even allowed? Doesn’t the dollar bill say it’s “legal tender for all debts, public and private”? The Federal Reserve’s website says that notwithstanding that language, there is no federal law compelling a business “to accept currency or coins as payment for goods or services.”
<p>
Asked why the $8.71 a customer owes for that Turmeric Sweet Potato Hummus Toast she just ordered is not considered a debt, the Federal Reserve offered a partial explanation, but it begins with the words “for purposes of illustration, and not for attribution to the Fed,” so we cannot share the rest. But a professor at the New York University School of Law who teaches contract and commercial law, Clayton Gillette, laid it out.
<p>
First of all, he said, you do not have a debt until after you receive a good or a service. What about at a sit-down restaurant, where you pay after you eat? “Assuming the restaurant lets you know up front that they don’t take cash, they’re offering to serve you a meal, but they are offering it on their terms,” Professor Gillette said. “If you consume the meal, you’ve accepted the terms of the contract.”
<p>
Still, occasionally, the Luddites win. A couple of weeks ago, Lisa Gaytan, 60, and a friend walked into a Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream store in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. Her friend ordered a vegan chocolate cone. He was told he could not pay with cash. He handed over his credit card. There was a problem with the card reader, or maybe the Wi-Fi. In any case, the machine was down. The cashier apologized and said the ice cream was on the house.
<p>
“My thought was, sometimes the analog world works better than the digital,” Ms. Gaytan said. “We both walked out of there saying ‘That was crazy.’ ”
<p>
David adds:
<div class="quote">
<p>
I think that the Fed is wrong here. The term "legal tender" means that when payment is tendered in a form that a sovereign nation has declared to be legal tender, whether in coins or paper money, the creditor is forced to accept it. (One-cent pieces may not have legal tender status because they may not be put in some toll collection systems.)
<p>
Section 16 of the Act of April 2, 1792 ("the Mint Act") provides that gold and silver coins struck by the U. S. Mint shall be "a lawful tender in all payments whatsoever". It does not define "lawful tender" nor give legal tender status to copper coins.
<p>
The Act of February 9, 1793, gives "legal tender" status to certain gold and silver coins of foreign nations. This act, also, does not define the term "legal tender".
<p>
Section 1 of the Act of February 25, 1862, to "authorize the issue of United States notes ..." provides that the notes issued pursuant to the Act "shall also be lawful money and a legal tender in payment of all debts public and private, within the United States, except duties on imports" and interest upon bonds and notes. Again, the term "legal tender" is not defined.
<p>
I have not looked further into whether sellers (or creditors) are required to accept U. S. coins or currency as payment for merchandise or services rendered. Of course, gold and silver coins no longer circulate. But it looks as if that question may be ripe for a court decision.
</div>
<p>
<div class="greybox">
Well, you can't fight progress. I'm still a fan of cash for multiple reasons, but businesses can make their own choices.
We cashophiles are free to take our business elsewhere until there are nothing but cashphobic businesses left.
<br/><br/>
Meanwhile, it will be interesting to see if court challenges to the practice appear, and how far they rise in the U.S. legal system (or elsewhere in the world).
-Editor
</div>
<p>
To read the complete article, see:
<br/>
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/25/nyregion/no-cash-money-cashless-credit-debit-card.html">
Cash Might Be King, but They Don’t Care
</a>
(https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/25/nyregion/no-cash-money-cashless-credit-debit-card.html)
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article31"><a name="article31">
BITCOIN AND THE BANK OF ENGLAND'S CRYPTOCURRENCY
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
As New York's experience shows, you don't need a fancy electronic currency to go cashless. But cryptocurrencies are having their day in the sun, and will likely play a big part in the financial world of the future.
-Editor
</div>
<p><b> What’s The Point Of Bitcoin? </b><br/>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/24528084527/in/dateposted-public/" title="Bitcoins"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4598/24528084527_1108599db8_n.jpg" width="320" height="144" align="right" alt="Bitcoins"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<div class="greybox">
Arthur Shippee forwarded this half hour <i>BBC World Service</i> program on the past, present, and future of Bitcoin and its technologies.
Thanks. Sounds like a great overview.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
To listen to the complete program, see:
<br/>
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csvsyh">
What’s The Point Of Bitcoin?
</a>
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csvsyh)
<p><b>The Bank of England's Cryptocurrency</b><br/>
<div class="greybox">
Meanwhile, here's an article from <i>The Telegraph</i> about the Bank of England's plans to offer its own cryptocurrency.
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/39397277261/in/dateposted-public/" title="Bank of England Bitcoin"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4725/39397277261_ce33ee8a3e_n.jpg" width="320" height="200" align="right" alt="Bank of England Bitcoin"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Bank of England could green light its own Bitcoin-style digital currency as early as 2018, The Telegraph can disclose.
<p>
A research unit set up by the Bank is investigating the possible introduction of a crypto-currency linked to sterling.
<p>
If approved, a virtual currency issued by the bank would pave the way for a revolutionary shake up of high street banking.
<p>
A Bank of England-issued digital currency would potentially allow British citizens to keep their money - in digital form - with the central bank itself, dispensing with the need for a retail bank. Big-ticket transactions, such as buying a house, could happen in nanoseconds.
<p>
To read the complete article, see:
<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/30/bank-england-plots-bitcoin-style-digital-currency/">
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/30/bank-england-plots-bitcoin-style-digital-currency/
</a>
(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/12/30/bank-england-plots-bitcoin-style-digital-currency/)
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" data-header="false" data-footer="false" data-context="false" href="http://www.RareGoldCoins.com" title=
"DWN E-Sylum ad04"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5825/20937438505_837e8bddc9_z.jpg" width="600" height="300" alt=
"DWN E-Sylum ad04" /></a><script async="" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8">
</script>
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<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article32"><a name="article32">
MORE CHRISTMAS TOKENS
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
Dick Grinolds submitted these scarce Christmas related tokens. Thanks!
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/38691038124/in/dateposted-public/" title="Thomas E. Latimer Christmans token obverse"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4600/38691038124_0c5779d477_m.jpg" width="240" height="240" alt="Thomas E. Latimer Christmans token obverse"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/24533340427/in/dateposted-public/" title="Thomas E. Latimer Christmans token reverse"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4733/24533340427_827c662cc9_m.jpg" width="237" height="240" alt="Thomas E. Latimer Christmans token reverse"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
Best Wishes Christmas 1936, Good Luck // Mayor Of Minneapolis, Thomas E. Latimer. Copper, 31mm Slabaugh-28. A scarce local-to-me token that I have only seen a couple of times in 40+ years in exonumia.
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/39399083801/in/dateposted-public/" title="Farmers State Bank Of Groton, South Dakota Christmas token obverse"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4729/39399083801_a941014f0c_m.jpg" width="238" height="240" alt="Farmers State Bank Of Groton, South Dakota Christmas token obverse"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/24533340557/in/dateposted-public/" title="Farmers State Bank Of Groton, South Dakota Christmas token reverse"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4597/24533340557_6cd499c5ce_m.jpg" width="237" height="240" alt="Farmers State Bank Of Groton, South Dakota Christmas token reverse"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
<p>
Farmers State Bank Of Groton, South Dakota, Merry Christmas // Good For 50c To Open A New Savings Account. Brass, 32mm, the only example that I have seen.
<div class="box" align="right"><a href="#top"><small>Back to top</small></a></div><h3 id = "article33"><a name="article33">
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2018
</h3></a>
<div class="greybox">
Pete Smith submitted these images of postcards with a New Years theme. Thanks, and Happy New Year, all!
-Editor
</div>
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/25528283798/in/dateposted-public/" title="New Years Trade Cards2"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4634/25528283798_993e52c113_c.jpg" width="600" alt="New Years Post Cards2"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/39368375512/in/dateposted-public/" title="New Years Trade Cards1"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4590/39368375512_f1487d2808_c.jpg" width="600" alt="New Years Post Cards1"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</center>
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FEATURED WEB SITE: NUMISMATIC STUDIES
</h3></a>
This week's Featured Web Site is
Antonio M Trigueiros' Numismatic Studies site (Estudos de Numismática).
<p>
<div class="quote">
<p>
Numismatic Studies is a non-profit organization dedicated to edit scientific works published by Portuguese authors on the general theme of Numismatics, although including other similar disciplines, such as Medal Art, Banknotes and Orders and Decorations.
</div>
<p>
<center>
<a data-flickr-embed="false" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/27554288019/in/dateposted-public/" title="Estudos de Numismática logo"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4735/27554288019_b971c6acc3.jpg" width="500" height="80" alt="Estudos de Numismática logo"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<h2>
<a href="http://www.estudosdenumismatica.org">
www.estudosdenumismatica.org
<a>
</h2>
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