The E-Sylum v6#37, September 14, 2003
whomren at coinlibrary.com
whomren at coinlibrary.com
Sun Sep 14 19:55:15 PDT 2003
Welcome to The E-Sylum: Volume 6, Number 37, September 14, 2003:
an electronic publication of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.
Copyright (c) 2003, The Numismatic Bibliomania Society.
FUTURE OF MONEY SUMMIT
Dick Johnson writes: "Next month, October 27-29th, in
Denver, Colorado, will gather the greatest thinkers of the
world on the future of money. It will be the largest, and
most expensive, gathering on the subject ever held.
Sponsored by the da Vince Institute, which calls itself
“Colorado’s futurist think tank,” and its principal sponsor,
Forbes Magazine, “capitalist tool,” over two dozen authorities
are planned to speak. The featured speaker is John Naisbitt,
known for his futurist book, “Megatrends.”
The symbol for the summit is a golden-colored medallion. It
is portrayed as a small globe on a triangle superimposed on a
circle with a legend of the world's currency signs intermixed
with basic arithmetic symbols including a percent sign.
“Our grandparents used cash for everything,” states the web
site dedicated to the summit, “Our parents used checks. We're
part of the credit card generation. So what's next?”
The symposium will attempt to answer that question for the
hundreds of firms, nonprofit organizations, banks, think tanks,
financial organizations, and governments, who plan to send their
representatives to the summit. It's not cheap - registrations cost
from $700 to $1500 per attendee.
It's assumed those who attend will come away with lots of
insight on the future of money.
Coins, unfortunately like a little step-sister, are not on the
menu this time. In the world of electronic money, coins are
known as “micropayments,” ideal only for transactions under
$10. The big boys are all the electronic payments with
instantaneous transfer often with multinational involvement.
The future of paper money, however, will be discussed by
Thomas A. Ferguson, director of the U.S. Bureau of Engraving
and Printing (at a time yet to be announced). We expect he will
discuss a lot of anticounterfeiting steps the Bureau has devised
for new currency and some of this new technology implemented
in the redesigned $20 bill, released this week.
The advancement of technology is endemic throughout the
two-day program. “How will money be passed as new
payment technologies emerge in the future?” is perhaps on
everyone's mind. Spending a buck will change in the future.
A lot of crystal-ball gazing will take place at this event to
provide the answer to how that will happen.
“But technology will not be the entire focus of the conference,”
states Fred Kessler, conference sales director. “Applications
are of major interest, how that technology can be used.” It is
an ideal time for entrepreneurs to develop applications for new
forms of payments, he said.
One of the new concepts, to be revealed at the conference, is
the “terra.” This is to be a new world currency. What the euro
is to Europe, the terra will be to the world. Contracts for
payments, say six months in advance, will be for terra, instead
of dollars, yen or other currencies, he stated.
While coins are not on the menu for this conference, a second
such future money conference is already in the planning stage.
Future coins, states Kessler, is definitely slated for that
gathering.
The conference website is: http://www.futureofmoneysummit.com/"
CIVIL WAR TOKEN JOURNAL REPRINT READY
W. David Perkins writes: "The Civil War Token Society
announced in the Fall 2003 issue of The Civil War Token
Journal that "the fifth and six journal reprints" are now
available which cover the years 1987-1996, including a 30
year index. I have the first four volumes in my library, and
have sent my order in already for the fifth and sixth volumes.
For non-members of the Civil War Token Society (CWTS)
the books are priced at $25.00 each, including postage.
Books may be ordered through Jud Petrie, P.O. Box 403,
Freeport, Maine 04032.
Also available in limited quantities are the first four volumes
of reprints. The first four volumes cover journal issues back
to Autumn 1967 (Vol. 1, No. 1). One of the features in Vol. 1,
Issue 1 was titled "Auction Notes" by Robert R. Hailey. A
popular Detroit (my specialty) Store Card is MI 225BL, Dr.
L. C. Rose, who advertised that he "TREATS ALL CHRONIC
FEMAL & VENEREAL DISEASES." The auction price
realized for this token was $22.50, which appears to be a strong
price for the time. I recently noted a high grade specimen of this
Dr. Rose Store Card advertised at $700.00! Another reason to
"buy the book before the coin (token)???"
For questions, pricing or availability on the first four volumes of
reprints, or to order books please contact Jud Petrie, Book
Manager, CWTS at exonumia at aol.com."
CALICO ENGLISH TRANSLATION SOUGHT
Granvyl Hulse, Numismatics International Librarian, writes:
"Is anyone aware of an English translation of Ferran Calico,
Xavier Calico, and Joaquin Trigo's "Monedas Espanolas
desde Felipe IV a Isabel II 1621 a 1868?"
CONVICT LOVE TOKEN BOOK AVAILABLE
Regarding a book discussed a few issues ago, Philip Mernick
writes: "The book "Convict Love Tokens : The Leaden
Hearts the Convicts Left Behind," referred to in the E-Sylum
of August 17 is still available from the co-author Tim Millett for
12 pounds plus postage (free within UK). He can be
contacted at tim at timothymillett.demon.co.uk."
ANYONE KNOW WHAT "ABOKELPS" IS?
Eric P. Newman writes: "You get wonderful answers to
strange questions asked by your constituency, so I would
like to ask a question.
I am confronted with the word ABOKELPS. It is written in
English during the 1670-1680 period in Turkish-controlled
Syria and Palestine and refers to Lyon (Lion) Dollars which
were trade coins minted by the Netherlands provinces and
circulating in the Mediterranean areas. The word is probably
misspelled and should be ABOKELB which in Arabic, which
I am advised means father dog or grand dog and probably
refers to the rampant lion insignia on the coins. I believe that
the coins are sometimes referred to in English as dog dollars.
The letters P and B are pronounced similarly and could have
been easily mixed up in translation. The S at the end may be
an English indication of plural. Would readers be nice enough
to guide me to literature or knowledge as to this matter? I
would be very grateful."
SWEDES REJECT THE EURO!
Dick Johnson writes: "Citizens of Sweden voted Sunday to
reject joining with the rest of Europe to convert to the Euro
currency. Sweden continues a policy of indifference,
isolationism, stubbornness (pick one) that goes back for
more than 400 years.
When the rest of Europe adopted the Gregorian calendar
(over the Julian) Sweden refused to do it their way. This
took place for most European countries 1582-1587 (the
German Protestant States and Denmark held out until 1700).
There was a difference of eleven days between the two
calendars. The rest of Europe did it all a once. Sweden
chose not to, and made the change by dropping leap year
days for the years 1700 to 1740.
Swedes are going to do it THEIR way no matter what
(three-quarters of my great grandfathers came from Sweden).
The news story at: http://www.iht.com/articles/109957.htm."
[My grandfather was Olof Gustav Homren, so I'm part
Swedish, too. I guess I like to be different, too. -Editor]
U.S. AUCTION SALES
Len Augsburger writes: "Regarding the catalog compilation
project, Darrell Low and myself currently have a series of
articles in the Gobrecht Journal covering significant auctions
of seated coinage by denomination since 1985 (further info
on the publication is at http://www.numismalink.com/lscc.html).
Should anyone attempt a similar undertaking for other series,
I would recommend also classifying sales by the number and
quality of the plates."
W. David Perkins writes: "Per your and Denis Loring's
"E-Sylum Challenge," I'll take a shot at the four best sales (in
my opinion) for early silver dollars 1794-1804. I actually listed
five sales, as the Ostheimer collection was sold in two sales,
one in 1968 and the other 1975:
Haseltine Type Table Sale - November 28-30, 1881. The sale
of John W. Haseltine’s personal reference collection of early
silver dollars
Important as it is the first extensive date and die variety
collection ever sold at public auction, the “Haseltine Reference
Collection.” No plates. Some varieties disposed of prior to
the sale are listed in the back of the catalog (1794 H-1; 1795
H-8; 1802 H-7 and 1804 H-1). B. Max Mehl reprinted
the Type Table in 1927. Introduced "Haseltine (H) Numbers."
[as many NBS members know, Haseltine published this
classification without credit to J. Colvin Randall]"
Peter Koch writes: "In last week's (Sept. 7th) E-Sylum edition
Denis Loring posed the possibility of listing the most significant
auction sales held of American series of coins, tokens, and
specialties. Denis' suggested list was a large cafeteria from
which to dine. It included some forty collectible series: from
Massachusetts Silver and other Colonials; copper, silver and
gold U.S. Mint products; Territorial and California Gold; to
Hard Times and Civil War tokens; and for dessert the list
rounded out with Errors.
It's a wonderful idea and challenge. Simply including Errors
could theoretically double the size of the list, but that's for
another day. We've been working, on and off the last year
or so, on just such a list for two of my favorites: Half Cents
and Hard Times tokens.
We certainly don't want to make more of it than it is, but
soon after diving into a project like this one can sense the
mild tremor of debate. A listing of "significant" Large Cents
catalogues we might recommend to this publication may be
slightly different from a list appearing in EAC's Penny-Wise.
Are you practical or poetic? Hardcore or hardbound in love?
Is it gallant personalities and hot gold stamping, or die state
3.5 and diagnostic photography? Of course, we'd like the
best of both worlds. Nothing new, we want it all. It's a minor
problem we faced when collating our "SASHTt" list,
significant auction sales of Hard Times tokens. The
work-in-progress list by the way, that we distributed to a
handful of significant dealers recently at ANA Baltimore. The
usual drill of listing auctions simply containing the most varieties
in a specific series is nice but not enough. We found ourselves
having to go all the way back attaching at least a brief
background to each sale. There's more than you first think.
Actually, the SASHTt list grew out of frustration. Catalogers
will often cite pedigree, if applicable, but without identifying the
sale / catalogue. If trying to unearth the important Robert Vlack
Collection of HTts one would have to know it was nestled within
B&M's Andrew Alexander Collection sale of November '96.
Or to track a specimen from the large Chester Krause Collection
a collector would need Presidential's Hard Times Sale book of
March, '99-yes, we know Krause's HTts were sold by private
treaty but a smaller number of pieces made their appearance in
this PCAC sale. In any event, for what it's worth:
For Half Cent collectors we come down on the side of
practicality, thus recent Superior Galleries catalogues get the
nod. In terms of detailed descriptions, diagnostic plates,
current catalogue availability, and in no small part the
collaboration of McCawley and Grellman, specialists can be
fairly comfortable in feeling they are using state-of-the-art
presentations with this trio.
Dr. Wallace Lee Collection, May, 2003; Bill Weber
Collection, June, 2002; and the classic February, 1992 sale
of Roger S. Cohen Collection. This catalogue was a stand-alone
sale, the entire book was the Cohen HC collection. Not many
are produced like that. Sans M&G, every lot was given royal
treatment with most lots plated, every one sized with its grains'
weight. The book is usually available at a premium-price. To
complement the above, and generally available for less than
$100 each: Stack's 1963 Fixed Price List of Joseph Brobston's
HC collection reprinted a few years ago (may still be available
from Stack's); Roger Cohen's second 1982 edition of American
Half Cents--The Little Half Sisters; and Ron Manley's 1998
The Half Cent Die State Book-1793-1857.
For suggestions to Hard Times aficionados:
While we subscribe to "today's research is better than research
on the same topic from fifty years ago" an emotional
recommendation for New Netherlands' May, 1953 sale with
its elegant run of Low (HT) numbers must be made. Imagine
John Ford and Walter Breen working together in the same
room ready to conquer the world. Crafting tight, eloquent
descriptions of the classic American series of HTts. Ford has
always had a warm spot for the series... "collect what they don't
have a lot of." NN catalogues are a quick-moving read,
conversational, and get a lot of information packed into one
sentence-and not afraid to take a stand. Over the years, the
catalogue has appeared on most short lists of recommended HTt
literature; we'll gladly join the fold. Stack's vibrant November,
1988 offering of Herbert M. Oechsner's Collection commands
a premium whenever it appears. Wide range of varieties,
exquisite high grades, and attachments back to Adams, Miller
and Tilden. Of more recent vintage, the second Gilbert Steinberg
HTt Collection sold by B&M November, 2002 can be
proclaimed a classic reference for the specialist. Not many
varieties were missing from this collection. High quality, multiple
specimens, elusive rarities, and well written by knowledgeable
cataloguers who enjoyed and respected the series. The book's
introductory pages reveal John Kraljevich was lead in
showcasing the Steinberg Collection "...in a manner we hope
you will find to be interesting as well as enticing." Indeed!"
1909 MONTREAL ANA CONVENTION PHOTO HELP SOUGHT
Darryl Atchison writes: "For the past week or so David Sklow
and I have been trying to identify the individuals in the 1909
(Montreal) A.N.A. convention photo. The photo appears in
Volume 2 of John Adams text "United States Numismatic
Literature" page 68. We have identified about 25 of the people
in the photo.
We feel that some of our readers may know who some of the
remaining people are but readily admit we will never be able to
name them all. However, some of the people we still need to
name look fairly distinctive so we think some of the readers may
be able to help us. The people we need to identify are:
1) In the front row, left hand side - the elder gentleman standing
immediately beside the young boy
2) The first gentleman seated immediately next to the elderly
gentlemen noted above.
3) In the front row, on the far right hand side - the two
gentlemen standing furthest to the right.
4) In the second row - the gentleman just left of centre who i
holding a hat over his chest.
5) In the back row, left hand side - the elderly gentleman with
a pointed beard and mustache who standing beside the
lady wearing a black hat (Mrs. John Henderson).
6) In the back row - the three gentleman standing on the
right of the gentleman standing in the centre who is wearing
the light suit.
7) The woman standing on the far right hand side in the back
row.
Also, if anyone knows the first name of Mrs. Farran Zerbe or
Mrs. Waldo Moore, please let me know.
For your information, we have already identified the following
people in the photograph (in no particular order).
J.C. Mitchelson, William Poillon, Edgar Adams, Cora
Henderson, John Henderson, Ludger Gravel, Theophile Leon,
R.W. McLachlan, Howland Wood, L.A. Renaud (and his wife),
Mr. & Mrs. Farran Zerbe, Ben Green, Dr. B.P. Wright, James
Reid, S.H. Chapman, H.O. Granberg, Elmer Sears, P.O.
Tremblay, W.W.C. Wilson, Eugene Courteau, Thomas Elder,
F.G. Duffield, Stephen Nagy, D.A. Williams and Mr. & Mrs.
Waldo Moore
My email address is atchisondf at hotmail.com. Thank you for
your help."
A NOTE ON PLAGIARISM
Alan Roy writes: "I was a victim of plagiarism a few years ago.
At the time, I maintained a website for the now defunct Hamilton
Coin Club. Included in the site was a brief article I wrote as an
introduction to Canadian numismatics. A few weeks later, I was
surprised to find the article publish verbatim in the Canadian Coin
News. I contacted the editor, and he offered to pay me for the
article."
THE NEW CURRENCY'S HIDDEN AGENDA
Len Augsberger writes: "On the September 9 show, David
Letterman discussed the new peach colored $20 notes,
suggesting that the government was changing the color to
distract us from the fact that we had less of them, apparently
a reference to the President's speech requesting additional
funding for the Iraqi conflict."
HISTORY DETECTIVES
Numismatic researchers should feel at home watching a new
television series titled "History Detectives." The series was
discussed in an article in the August 17, 2003 Washington Post.
"When she was first told the proposed name for the new PBS
program, Columbia professor Gwendolyn Wright thought it
was "a little glib." But now she's happy to be one of the
"History Detectives."
"The first time I heard the title, I didn't want to say it," said the
professor of architecture, planning and preservation. "But I
generally came to like it. It became a way of suggesting that
doing history is fascinating, that it's using your mind." It
suggests, she said, "the ways you go through things, pick up
things that are tangential to what you're looking for."
"The premise of the show is a simple, open one that offers a
wide variety of historic investigations. The show's four
detectives are presented with some historical riddle -- an
unverified historic claim, a mysterious artifact of unknown
significance or one for which significant claims are made.
What follows are adventures in research, with trips to
locales involved, visits to any number of archival preserves
and consultations with experts from many fields."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A55591-2003Aug13?language=printer
[The one-hour show aired Mondays at 8 p.m. It debuted July
14, and ran through Sept. 8. I only learned about it recently
during a web search. HAve any of our readers seen the show?
-Editor]
COINS LOSING FAVOR AT CASINO SLOTS
Dick Johnson writes: "International Game Technology, a
major manufacturer of slot machines, will be telling visitors
to their booth at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas
beginning Tuesday, that use of coins in slots is becoming passé.
They are showing 150 flashy new slot machines at the gambling
trade show, most of which are cashless.
Instead of coins, time honored for use in slot machines as
well as vending machines, parking meters and public
telephones, they are replacing these with cards. "The player
uses a card that works like a debit card," states the advance
news story, "subtracting losses and adding winnings. IGT can
command a higher price for these machines than coin-operated
ones."
LaVere Redfield is rolling over in his lumpy grave on this
news (PS, he took some silver dollars with him!) The story
is at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58402-2003Sep11.html"
DUMB BANK ROBBERS
Nolan Mims writes: "The other day while browsing in a local
bookstore, I came across a volume called "ROBBING BANKS"
by L. R. Kirchner, and, having a penchant for banking history,
had to purchase it. One of the chapters was entitled "The
Dunces" and was filled with stories of dumb bank robbers.
One of my favorites was the guy who robbed a small town
Texas bank located right outside a military base. He
approached the teller's cage with .45 automatic in hand and
ski mask on his face and demanded all the money. He left with
$9,000 in his bag and was captured within 15 minutes because
of a flaw in his plan of operation. He was wearing his military
fatigues with his name and unit patch on them. Local law
enforcement and military police simply went to his barracks and
arrested him, recovering all the loot from the robbery. He was
dumbfounded that the police caught him after his brilliant
scheme."
FEATURED WEB PAGE
This week's featured web page is on the U.S. Twenty-Cent
Pieces 1875-1878. The page is from an educational section
on the commercial web site of The Old Coin Shop of
San Diego, CA.
http://www.oldcoinshop.com/coinhistory/20c-1875-78.htm
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
the web site. To join, print the application and
return it with your check to the address printed
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write to W. David Perkins, NBS Secretary-Treasurer,
P.O. Box 212, Mequon, WI 53092-0212.
For Asylum mailing address changes and other
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address: wdperki at attglobal.net
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