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whomren at coinlibrary.com
whomren at coinlibrary.com
Sun Sep 15 19:30:03 PDT 2002
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Welcome to The E-Sylum: Volume 5, Number 37, September 15, 2002:
an electronic publication of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.
Copyright (c) 2002, The Numismatic Bibliomania Society.
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MEDALLIC ARTS "RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD"
MEDAL SERIES SOUGHT FOR RESEARCH
Dick Johnson writes: "For a research project on the patinas
of art medals, the former foreman of the finishing department
at Medallic Art Company for nearly two decades has agreed
to be interviewed. He was the one who created the many
patinas to be put on selected art medals, including The Society
of Medalists issues, for art medals made by this firm in the
1950s thru 1970s. He is going to reveal how these patinas,
and previous Society issues, were created. We have a
complete set to show him to ascertain these patinas.
In addition, he created all the patinas for the Presidential Art
Medal series, The Great Religions of the World, issued
1971-1973 all by sculptor Ralph J. Menconi and struck by
Medallic Art Company. Each of the 25 medals in the series
had a different color patina. But it appears most people
ordered only their own religion; we have been unable to
locate a complete 25-medal set.
We need to borrow (or purchase, if necessary) a complete
set of these 25 medals. Or if the owner would like to bring
these to the interview (in southern Connecticut) they would
never be out of sight (and he or she could learn of this
important information). The interview is scheduled to take
place Friday afternoon, October 25, 2002.
E-Sylum readers often perform miracles in locating unusual
numismatic items. I hope someone can help in this very
important research project. Please contact me at:
dick.johnson at snet.net or call (860) 567-0431 day or night."
NEWFOUNDLAND McAUSLANE TOKEN APPEARANCES
Darryl Atchison writes: "Recently while reading Hoare Auction
sale no. 72 (Jan. 2002), I noticed that they had a notation
referring to nine auction appearances of this exceptionally rare
token. I have accounted for six of these, as follows:
1) Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge - Murdoch collection -
July 1903
2) Lyman Low - Frank Benson Sherman collection -
July 1904
3) Wayte Raymond - W.W.C. Wilson collection -
Nov. 1925
4) Max Mehl - William Forrester Dunham collection -
June 1941
5) New Netherlands et al - A.N.A. sale -Aug. 1952
6) Jeffrey Hoare Auctions - sale no. 72 - Jan. 2002
The cataloguer of the Hoare sale states that other
appearances in the Nov. 1926 and Nov. 1927 W.W.C.
Wilson sales also by Wayte Raymond. Also they refer to
a [P.M.] Wickham collection sold in 1947 but they do not
mention the auction house which ran the sale.
Could our readers please check their copies of the
Raymond sales for Nov. 26, Nov. 27, and also May
1928 to verify if specimens of this token were indeed in
those sales? It seems incredible that Wilson could have
had as many as 50% of the suspected population of these
tokens.
Also, if anyone has information on the Wickham sale I would
be pleased to hear from them.
Just to be absolutely sure of ourselves, I am talking about
Breton 956 which is the McAuslane token from Newfoundland
and not the McAusland token which is from Prince Edward
Island. Thank you, once again for your assistance."
MORE ADVENTURES WITH RARE COINS
I've spent some more time with Dave Bowers' new book,
"More Adventures With Rare Coins". It is one of the few
numismatic books that is much more than a reference - it
is a book for reading from cover to cover.
As a collection of chapters on disparate topics, it lends
itself well to the furtive, piecemeal reading habits of many
of us living in today's time-sliced, cellphone world.
It's hard to pick just one favorite "Adventure", as the
chapters are labeled. There are many reasons to like
each. As a longtime collector of U.S. encased postage
stamps, I enjoyed #41, "Drake's Plantation Bitters."
As a collector of counterstamped U.S. coins I also
greatly enjoyed #39, "Little Billboard of a Bygone Era"
and #27, "The Numismatic Legacy of Yankee Robinson"
Number 42, "The 'Too Classic' 1915-S Panama-Pacific
$50" is another gem. I was delighted to see the photo
of Farran Zerbe's "Money of the World" exhibit booth.
Similarly, I was fascinated to see the photo of the
Philadelphia Mint exhibit at the Columbian Exposition of
1893 in #28, 'The Story of the 1892 Columbian Half
Dollar
Dave's done it yet again - the book is a gem and a true
service to numismatics. May he have the longevity of
Florida numismatist Bob Hendershott (104 and going
strong). I suspect that no matter how many years Dave
continues to research and write about numismatics, he'll
never run out of interesting topics. -Editor
NUMISMATISTS PLAYING "WHERE'S WALDO"
Steve Pellegrini writes: "In Luigi Pedalino's 'Numismatist'
article about philanthropist Peter Cooper, he includes a large
group photo taken in front of the Cooper Union. The
occasion is the 1907 dedication of Saint-Gaudens'
memorial statue of Cooper. The author states in the photo's
caption that sculptor Saint-Gaudens is present somewhere
in that large crowd. Of course I was immediately curious
to see if I could find the artist's exact location. Naked eye,
magnifying glass and 17x loupe were all of little help although
I did think the aspect and stance of a slight figure standing at
the left of the monument's pediment seemed eerily familiar.
The figure is attired in a European cut suit and hat far more
stylish than his rather dowdy academic neighbors.
Remembering the digital kiddy-cam microscope I'd recently
bought on an E-Sylum tip, I decided to use it for a (much)
closer look. Sure enough, there stood the dapper
Saint-Gaudens standing directly at the west corner of the
monument with his arm raised in a "here I am" wave -- at
least it appears that way to me. Did anyone else with too
much time on his or her hands bother to search for
Saint-Gaudens in this photo?"
FICTITIOUS COINS
Andy Lustig writes: "I picked up a neat book this weekend,
"Manuel Du Commerce" by Pierre Jeanrenaud, published in
1859. It's a bankers’ guide to the coinage of the world, with
illustrations, weights and fineness. I don't suppose it's much
of a bibliomaniacal treasure, but it does have some pretty
cool coin drawings, my favorite being an 1831 Capped Bust
Dollar! It reminds me of another book I saw a while back
that contained an illustration of a 1793 Flowing Hair Dollar.
Naturally, this all leads me to wonder what other fictional
coins are illustrated in similar works. Perhaps our gang would
like to compile a list?"
[Sounds like fun. The Evans' "History of the U.S. Mint"
playfully included an illustration of an entire tray full of
1804 dollars. Although that many of them don't exist, it is
a "real" coin. I also recall that some editions of the Heath
Counterfeit Detectors illustrate specimen notes which never
saw circulation. Other examples, anyone? -Editor]
PRESENTATION PIECES, SPORTS AND NOVODELS
In response to Kavan Ratnatunga's query, Howard A. Daniel
III writes: "NCLT (Non Circulating Legal Tender) coins
(and notes) are frequently produced in Southeast Asia in
large to low numbers. For those NCLT made in very low
numbers and often in other than "normal" metals or paper,
the term "Presentation Pieces" is frequently used for them,
and they were made going back a couple of hundred years
in Southeast Asia.
But then there are some very low numbers of pieces made
by employees for their personal profit and they are called
"Sports". I do not know when this name was developed,
but they are often found in price lists and auction catalogs
as "official" errors. But most of the modern Southeast
Asian "errors" are really sports. I hope the above has not
confused anyone."
Steve Pellegrini adds: "on reading Kavan Ratnatunga's query
about a more precise term for the Lankan restrikes he
describes, the term 'Novodel' came immediately to mind.
Novodels were special coins produced by the Russian Royal
Mint in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. They were
struck on demand for sale or presentation to favored collectors.
These favored collectors were almost exclusively of the
Russian aristocracy. As one would expect of a Russian Count
or Duke with a hole in his Whitman Folder he would present
the Mintmaster with an order for whatever date, denomination
and composition of coin he desired. If the dies were extant,
fine, if not, new ones were cut. If the coin in question were
so rare that nobody remembered or ever knew how it looked,
then an approximation was produced. Many Novodels were
struck of rare dates in off metals, some were of dates which
had never existed, but which the noble collector felt should
have existed. The characteristic most Novodels shared (aside
from rarity) is whimsy. It appears that in the area of
manufactured rarities the Russian Mint put even the
Philadelphia Mint in far the shade."
ESSAIS AND PROVAS
This week, Kavan Ratnatunga adds: "The non-english words
"essais" and "provas" are used in Krause without definition.
Do they have precise numismatic meaning, and are they the
same or in some way different from these terms - ?
Pattern - official design that did not go into production.
Trial - coin with some Test mark identifying them as a Test
piece. A uniface strike also indicates it obviously a Trial
OMS - off-metal-strike of a regular coin in circulation
with no other markings
I could not figure why "essais" and "provas" are Trial or OMS,
or different. Krause as usual does not seem to be consistent."
CITY DIRECTORIES -- PART II.
Dick Johnson writes: "Last week I wrote that the best way to
glean numismatic information from city directory research is to
create "strings" about a person or business -- to search a run
of directories by year until you can identify when a listing starts
and when it stops.
This week let's talk about where to find city directories. If you
live within commuting distance of seven American cities, you
are, indeed, fortunate. For in each of these cities is a large
collection of city directories.
* In Washington DC are three such libraries: the Library of
Congress, the DAR library, and the National Archives.
* In Worcester Massachusetts, the American Antiquarian
Society library has a collection that might even surpass all
others. A bibliography was once compiled of all early
American city directories, AAS had all those listed, save
eight.
Other cities with large collections:
* Salt Lake City, the Family History Library.
* Boston, the New England Historic & Genealogical Society
library.
* New York City, the New York Public Library.
* Chicago, the Newberry Library.
* Fort Wayne, Indiana, the Allen County Public Library.
Almost every large city library has a run of their own city's
directories, and perhaps a neighboring large city or two.
State libraries usually have all for the cities in their state.
Only rarely will you be able to use original bound volumes.
Most all will furnish either microfiche or microfilm rolls. You
will have to learn how to use the reader machines for each
of these. Modern readers have a photocopy device attached.
Find a page, center it on the screen, drop a coin in the device
and seconds later you have a photocopy of the photographed
image (other libraries have an honor system, they will accept
your count and payment).
Granted, you are two generations away from the original, and
all the streaks from years of use of the film will be reproduced
as well. But you do get an image, and that saves you from
manual copying. I learned to carry a roll of quarters and a
notebook to record exactly what I was looking for and note
which entries I had checked (or photocopied).
Learn to thread the microfilm into the machine yourself
(generally the fiche and rolls are self-service). For rolls start the
machine at slow speed even if you want something at the end
of the roll. If you jam the film, ask for help from the attendant
(don't try to fix it yourself). You never want to break the film
(this requires a splice or to replace the roll).
This is how a pair of researchers compiled the most useful
book on early American Artists (up to the Civil War): George
C. Groce and David H. Wallace. Their book, "The New-York
Historical Society's Dictionary of Artists in America" published
by Yale University Press, 1957.
From learning the "strings" of artists in both city directories
and business directories they next went to Census records,
and then other sources. From all this they could glean dates
of birth and death, then added as much biographical data
they found or deemed useful for such an artist directory.
What does that directory have to do with numismatics?
Plenty. I have found 246 of the artists listed in G&W
engraved coins or medals, or prepared their designs
(and are included in my directory of American artists of
coins and medals). All the early die engravers are included,
all the mint engravers, all the engravers at private firms.
It is very accurate information in G&W (I have found only
one transposed date!).
Here is what the authors say about city directories:
"Probably no single source has provided more artists'
names than the directories of towns, cities, counties,
states, and regions, of which the first appeared in Boston,
New York, and Philadelphia shortly before the end of the
18th century. In some cases directories provide the only
information we have, while in others they provide a fairly
reliable chronological and geographical framework on
which to hang otherwise unrelated information from
other sources."
Next week I will discuss further numismatic use of
data from city directory research."
FUTURE OF U.S. COINAGE
Dick also pointed out an article from the September 10,
2002 issue of The New York Times. The article discusses
collector attitudes toward new coin designs. Dick writes:
"The thought that comes to me is: numismatics does not
speak with a unified voice. Ask a dozen numismatists and
you get a dozen different viewpoints. And I am not satisfied
with any statement the American Numismatic Association
states (which should be the voice for all of us in the field).
Should not a study be made of the future of coins and what
denominations are required before we start squabbling
about whose portrait should appear on them? Personally, I
see dropping both the cent and the nickel in a future economy.
But I believe coins should be struck in one, five, ten and
twenty dollar denominations with dime and half dollar fractional
denominations. I suggest coins be created in the same
denominations as paper money, and the portraits for these new
coins should be the same person (not necessarily the same
portrait -- it is a different kind of art -- that the notes bear!
Quarters? Souvenirs of the future!"
Here are a few excerpts from the article by Lynette
Clemetson, headlined "Penny in Their Thoughts: Two
Camps Debate New Look for Coins":
"Change is good. But changing change, as the United
States Mint is finding out, may prove to be tricky business.
The mint wants to make over America's pocket change,
replacing Thomas Jefferson's beloved Monticello from the
nickel with an image of Lewis and Clark's expedition, and
possibly retiring Abraham Lincoln from the penny and
Franklin D. Roosevelt from the dime.
Traditionalists are reluctant. But coin collectors are cheering.
After all, they are the ones who got the debate rolling,
arguing that the United States' coins are boring."
"Some coin collectors have advocated redesigns that
eliminate presidents altogether, in favor of thematic
depictions of liberty and history.
"I'm not trying to put down dead dignitaries, but the public
wants to see something new to stimulate pride and interest,
not just in coins, but in history," said Fred Weinberg,
former president of the Professional Numismatists Guild,
which represents more than 300 coin dealers around the
world. "In the coin fraternity, this is hot news."
The idea has drawn a chilly response from presidential
supporters. The redesign report was originally released a
year ago, in August 2001, but became the focus of debate
this summer when officials at the Treasury Department put
forth preliminary plans for a new nickel that would replace
Monticello with a Lewis and Clark design.
The suggestion stirred the outrage of Virginians.
Representative Eric Cantor, Republican of Virginia, with
support of other Virginia lawmakers and Monticello
enthusiasts, introduced and pushed through legislation in
the House that would allow for a temporary three-year
commemorative redesign, provided that Monticello return
to the coin in 2006."
"WILDMEN" REFERENCE SOUGHT
Bob Knepper writes: "Suggestions will be appreciated of
where to borrow or buy a copy of this book:
"Die Medaillen und Münzen der Wild- und Rheingrafen
Fürsten zu Salm", by Paul Joseph. Original 1914, reprint
1975. This is #9534 in "Numismatic Bibliography" by
Clain-Stefanelli.
I recently discovered that a few of the coins of small
German line Salm-Kyrburg in 1780 have the "wildmen"
which I collect. Some other books list the coins but I
hope this book will give more details. The coins are
rare so I may or may not, be able to buy some, but I
would like to give the details in "Wildmen of the World"
which I hope to sometime publish.
Neither the ANA nor NI have this book. I do not get
to New York to use the ANS. I have not yet queried
European dealers but it was not in some numismatic
literature catalogs. Thank you."
[Bob may be reached at: Bob at Knepper.org The
organizations referenced are: American Numismatic
Association (ANA), Numismatics International (NI),
and American Numismatic Society (ANS).
-Editor]
FROM WORDSMITH.ORG: NUMMARY
Howard A. Daniel III writes that a non-numismatist friend
sent the following definition to him:
"nummary (NUM-uh-ree) adjective. Pertaining to coins
or money. [From Latin nummarius, from nummus (coin).]
"`Originally the nummary Denomination of Silver,' observed
William Douglass, a physician who commented on economic
affairs, seems to have been the same as its Weight ...'"
Elizabeth E Dunn, `Grasping at the Shadow': The
Massachusetts Currency Debate, The New England
Quarterly (Boston), Mar 1998."
The definition came from the Word A Day email from
http://wordsmith.org which we've cited before in The
E-Sylum. He notes that the web site also has a dictionary
"which appears to be VERY extensive." Howard found
this site to be very interesting and that it would be very
useful to him and might be to other NBS members too.
[Interesting word, but as a numismatic bibliophile, I'm even
more interested in the mentioned citation. A web search
found a number of references to the Dunn article, but
unfortunately the text seems to be unavailable, even on
the New England Quarterly web site (see
http://www.newenglandquarterly.org/)
Has anyone read the article, or have access to the journal?
I'll see if offprints or back issues are available from the
publisher. -Editor]
GOING CASHLESS WITHOUT FIRST GOING BROKE
In response to last week's pieces about electronic money,
Stephen Pradier writes: "I am a firm believer in going cashless
and coinless. Back in 1987 debit cards were in wide use on
the West Coast years before they made it over to the East
Coast. I thought it amazing to be able to make a purchase
from your personal bank account with plastic as opposed to
using a credit card.
In Arizona, the debit cards were different colors (from the
same bank), allowing merchants to have some idea of the
customers standing at the bank. Arizona is fairly transient
with tourists and retirees (snowbirds) so a debit card was
more widely accepted than a paper check.
Ever since debit cards were made available on the East
Coast, around 1996/1997, I have never had a red cent or a
greenback on my person. Now I only collect coins and
paper and never spend them.
Plastic money is accepted everywhere -- Colonel Sanders,
the grocery, pizza orders, taxi cabs, the US Post Office
(they even give you cash back if you want it) and most of
all the Internet merchants. Individuals can also accept
plastic or electronic money via Bill Payment services like
PayPal, C2IT, Billpoint, etc. You name it they take it.
Plastic money comes in all kinds of colors and motifs.
Cards produced with your favorite pastime, like Beer
Drinkers, Shooters, NFL, Golf, Birds, Cats, Trees, and
Spider Man to name a few. What's more, you are no
longer limited to a plastic card. They come as Wands,
Key Chains, and New Wave shapes. I have yet to see
a card that had the appearance of money.
It may yet take awhile for the U.S. to go cashless, much
like trying to go paperless. Some people just love the
look, feel and smell of real money."
In the opposite court is David Davis, who writes: "I find
the discussions about the demise of coins and currency
interesting to read or listen to but can't get very excited.
The past prognostications haven't been very reliable and,
while it may be shortsighted, who cares? The coins and
currency I collect was all made over 70 years ago. I am
more concerned with the fact that more firms in many
different fields are either going to or using CDs to replace
catalogs. I like the printed forms and find it inconvenient
to have to go to the computer to look something up. Is
this just another go around on the elimination of paper?
In business computers only added to the paperwork
logjam."
EURO BLISTERS
According to a new study published in a letter to the
journal Nature, Euro coin users may get blisters -
their high nickel content is giving people with allergies
rashes and blisters after contact.
"There's another complaint against some euro coins -- they
cause skin irritation in people who are sensitive to nickel.
Scientists at the University of Zurich studied the phenomenon
by taping one- and two-euro coins to the skin of patients with
nickel allergies. After 48 to 72 hours, all the patients showed
a strong allergic reaction, including redness and blisters.
The researchers say these coins [the two-Euro] cause more
irritation than other coins with similar levels of nickel, and they
think they know why.
The one- and two-euro coins are made with a ring of one
metallic alloy surrounding a central "pill" of another alloy.
Both alloys contain nickel.
When the coins are exposed to sweaty hands, ions flow
between the two compounds, which generates a tiny electrical
charge, and makes both metals corrode faster than they would
by themselves.
The amount of nickel released can be more than 300 times
the levels permitted under European Union regulations. The
scientists confirmed the effect by soaking coins in artificial
human sweat.
The reaction also takes its toll on the coins: They changed
color and showed signs of corrosion."
http://money.cnn.com/2002/09/11/news/international/euro_skin/index.htm
See also the December 2, 2001 E-Sylum (v4n49) for an earlier
item on this topic. -Editor]
FEATURED WEB SITE
This week's featured web site is the American Numismatic
Association's online exhibit of the currencies of Imperial
Russia.
http://www.money.org/musexhibit1.html
Wayne Homren
Numismatic Bibliomania Society
The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a
non-profit organization promoting numismatic
literature. For more information please see
our web site at http://www.coinbooks.org/
There is a membership application available on
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