The E-Sylum v9#21, May 21, 2006

[esylum at binhost.com]

Welcome to The E-Sylum: Volume 9, Number 21, May 21, 2006:
an electronic publication of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.
Copyright (c) 2006, The Numismatic Bibliomania Society.


WAYNE'S WORDS

Among our recent subscribers are Robert Kanterman, David Marsh, 
Mike Ringo, Nelson Wolbert, Robert Davis, Horacio Morero, President 
for Instituto Uruguayo de Numismatica, courtesy of Jose Luis Rubio, 
and William Shamhart, courtesy of John Eshbach.  Welcome aboard!  
We now have 908 subscribers, a new record.

We open as always with news and updates on numismatic literature.  
This week we begin with a note on Karl Moulton's latest fixed price 
list and a peek into the contents of his upcoming book on Henry Voigt.
By popular demand we also have another installment from Barry Jablon
recalling his days as a Gimbel's department store coin dealer. 

In the news, we have word that the Senate Banking Committee has 
approved the San Francisco Mint commemorative coin bill.  If passed 
into law, surcharges from the sale of the coins will help restore 
the Mint building and open a new American Money and Gold Rush Museum 
to be run by the ANA.   Other news articles published this week 
concern topics as varied as the Order of the Bath ceremony and 
souvenir coins of the Syttende Mai festival (what are they? Read on!)

In response to earlier queries we have more information on the 
numismatic writings of Georges Bataille and the case which once 
contained the five 1913 Nickels.  We also have another book review 
(this time Daughtrey's "Looking Through Lincoln Cents") and a web 
site review (coinarchives.com).  Reader comments on both are welcome.  
Much more awaits in this issue - Have a great week, everyone.


Wayne Homren
Numismatic Bibliomania Society


JOEL MALTER ANCIENT COINAGE LIBRARY SALE

NBS President Pete Smith writes: "Joel L. Malter will be selling 
his extensive numismatic library out of his home in Camarillo, 
California, on June 4 & 5, 2006.  Malter said that his impending 
75th birthday prompted him to dispose of the library while he is 
still living. It includes more than 2,500 volumes related to 
ancient numismatics. A catalog can be viewed on his company website 
www.maltergalleries.com.  There is an article about the sale in 
the May 29, 2006 Coin World, pages 112-113."

To view the catalogs, see:
http://www.maltergalleries.com/auction.htm 


MOULTON MAY 2006 NUMISMATIC LITERATURE FIXED PRICE LIST PUBLISHED

Karl Moulton has issued his May 2006 Numismatic Literature Fixed 
Price List.  In his foreword Karl writes: "This fixed price list 
is strong in all areas of American numismatic literature.  There 
are numerous hardbound catalogues available, including some scarce 
early copper sales by Superior.  Also, check out one of the finest 
offerings of Max Mehl sales..."

Karl adds: "Recently I was contacted by a television producer and 
asked to provide some images and background history about early 
U.S. Mint operations.  The show "Modern Marvels" will present 
another installment about American money in the near future on the 
history channel.  He related that present day employees of the 
Treasury Department had very little information to provide -- and 
that it was painfully slow in arriving, and incomplete in its 
coverage.  I related that the government doesn't have that much 
U.S. Mint history available, nor do they have staff to accommodate 
background requests.  That's because it's all in numismatic 
literature -- which they don't have!"


RESERVATIONS BEING TAKEN FOR MOULTON'S VOIGT BOOK

Also in his May 2006 price list, Karl Moulton publishes the table 
of contents for his upcoming book and begins accepting reservations.  
He writes: "For those interested in the early Federal issues, a new 
225-page book, "Henry Voigt and Others Involved with America's Early 
Coinage", will be coming out soon.  The table of contents is included 
on the last page of this list.  Estimated price is around $75 and 
you can reserve a copy (or two) by sending your name and address to 
numiscats at aol.com."

The book has seventeen chapters on topics such as Voigt's early 
travels, work at the U.S. Mint and his 1793 Daily Ledger.  One 
chapter covers engravers of early American coinage, another the 1793 
Yellow Fever epidemic and its affect on the Mint.  Specific coins 
addressed include the 1792 Half Dismes, the 1793 copper pieces, 1794 
No Stars copper pattern dollar and the 1804 silver dollars.  Two 
chapters cover the enigmatic "E" and "L" counterstamped quarters of 
1815 and 1825.  This should be an eagerly anticipated book for all 
U.S. numismatists - get your orders in!


WHITMAN PUBLISHING GATHERING PAPER MONEY IMAGES IN MEMPHIS

Dennis Tucker writes: "Whitman Publishing will be set up at the 
Memphis Paper Money Show in June. Dave Bowers will be on hand 
with an optical scanner to capture images of federal currency, 
1861 to date, for possible use in upcoming Whitman books.  If 
you have any rarities in the regular series or among National 
Bank Notes, bring them along and look for Dave Bowers at the 
Whitman booth!"
 
 
ABEBOOKS LINKS UP WITH PERSONAL LIBRARY WEB SITE

Ken Schultz writes: "Thank you for the great job you continue 
to do as editor! I can't tell you how greatly appreciated all 
of your hard work is! 
 
This week LibraryThing.com and ABE.com announced the latter is 
taking a 40% stake in the former. I can't recall seeing anyone 
in NBS writing about their experience with LibraryThing.com. I 
was not familiar with the site until the announcement today -- 
I do hit ABE at least weekly.  After a little browse and read 
of its FAQ, I thought it was intriguing enough to bounce to you. 
Perhaps Tom Fort has an opinion on this site since he has 
graciously made his incredible E. Tomlinson Fort "Memorial" 
Library available on the NBS web site."

[Actually, Jeff Reichenberger mentioned LibraryThing in the 
E-Sylum late last year (v8n48, November 13, 2005), although no 
one has given us a review of their experience with it.  Jeff 
wrote: “I stumbled onto a web site that might interest some of 
our fellow 'philes: Librarything.com

You can catalog your personal library, share it or
keep it private, categorize, tag, and otherwise set it
up just the way you want it.   Up to 200 books is free,
Unlimited entries for $10/year, $25/lifetime. Enjoy!”

To read the original E-Sylum article, see:
http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v08n48a06.html 


KOLBE'S 100TH SALE

George Kolbe's four-part 100th sale catalogs feature not only 
a fabulous array of numismatic literature lots, but some very 
interesting and well-written foreword material about the beginnings 
of George's business, the transformation of the U.S. numismatic 
literature market, the inception of NBS and thoughts on sale 
consignors Alan Meghrig and John W. Adams.  With George's permission,
Here are some excerpts:

By Joel Orosz: "When historians of the future turn their attention 
to the rise of the numismatic literature market in the United 
States, they will find that the early days of that history are 
tied inextricably to the career of one man: George Frederick Kolbe. 
Not because Kolbe was the first numismatic literature dealer, nor 
even the first major dealer of this ilk. Not because he wrote the 
definitive reference book on the topic, nor because he amassed 
the greatest personal collection. Not because he has held more 
sales than any other numismatic bibliopole, although in fact, that 
is a true statement. Rather, Kolbe’s place in U. S. numismatic 
literary history—indeed, his status as indistinguishable from that 
history—lies in the fact that his catalogues, the 100th of which 
you are holding in your hands, comprise in their entirety the most
comprehensive annotated bibliography of the literature of 
numismatics of all nations, and all times."

By George Kolbe: "The American numismatic literature market was in 
its infancy. Frank and Laurese Katen’s 1971 sales of the marvelous 
American numismatic library formed by George J. Fuld were an 
awakening. In the same year in Great Britain, David Edmunds, 
issued the first of many “John Drury” catalogues featuring 
antiquarian numismatic books and setting new bibliographical 
standards; ones which remain unsurpassed. In 1969, Douglas Saville 
joined the book department of the venerable London numismatic firm 
of Spink & Son Ltd. Soon rare and out of print numismatic books 
became a focal point and Spink was (and is) at the forefront of 
the market.

This flowering of interest became apparent to me when, after a 
brief hiatus, I issued a fixed price list in the early 1970s and 
received multiple orders for most everything in it. This led to 
our first auction sale, held on February 28, 1976. It too, was 
a success. In less than a decade, what seemed a pleasant diversion 
had become the vehicle for a career."

By George Kolbe: "In the early 1980s, after a stint running the East 
Coast headquarters of the family business, Alan moved to Laguna 
Hills, California. This was shortly after I moved my offices to 
Mission Viejo. We were practically next door neighbors! During this 
period I was regularly buying libraries and scarcely would a day 
pass without multiple parcels of individual books arriving at 23881 
Via Fabricante, Suite 511. AB Bookmans Weekly was the internet of 
the day and our advertisements there and elsewhere soon gained us 
a loyal cadre of book scouts who were constantly “quoting” desirable 
numismatic books of all kinds. A number of important libraries were 
also purchased outright in the early 80s, including those of Charles 
M. Johnson, Stewart P. Witham, and Dr. Kenneth Sartoris.

Into this maelstrom (at least it seemed so to us, particularly in
retrospect), Alan Meghrig leaped with undisguised glee. Sometimes 
he would visit two or three times a week."

By Joel Orosz: "It is hard to overstate the impact of Kolbe’s Ninth 
Sale. The publicity it garnered drew new collectors to the literature 
hobby as nothing before it had. This influx gave a critically important 
and preternaturally timely boost to the infant Numismatic Bibliomania 
Society, co-founded just the year before by Jack Collins, the man who 
paid the long dollar for the Chapman Catalogue in that sale, and by 
George Kolbe. And Kolbe nurtured those new members by serving as 
President of the infant society and editor of its whimsically-christened 
journal, The Asylum. The success of the Ninth Sale also broadened the 
marketplace, providing openings for dealers such as Cal Wilson, 
Charles Davis, and John Bergman to hang out their shingles... It is 
not an overstatement to say that the modern history of U. S numismatic 
literature began on June 12th, 1981, in Los Angeles when the hammers 
fell on the Essex Institute’s literary holdings."

By Joel Orosz: "Numismatists love hierarchies, as anyone who has ever 
pored over a grading scale or a condition census can attest. It is 
not only coins, however, that they rate in rank order; they even 
turn such judgments on themselves. Mere “hoarders” are at the bottom 
of coindom’s caste system, with “investors” a notch above, and 
“collectors” one rank higher. The air becomes more rarified as we 
ascend to the level of “numismatist,” for this title combines 
learnedness with acquisitiveness.  The apex of the pyramid is 
usually reserved for “connoisseurs” who fold a strong aesthetic 
sense into their scholarship. John W. Adams, however, rates an 
appellation that hovers above the apex, that of “tastemaker.”

A tastemaker is that rare combination of discerning eye, avid heart, 
scientific brain, and speculator’s stomach, a person who sees beauty 
others ignored, falls in love with the shunned, unlocks the secrets 
of the obscured, and boldly leads knowing full well he may not be 
followed. Robert Adam was such a tastemaker 250 years ago, when he 
taught the English speaking world the glories of Greek and Roman forms 
in architecture and interior design. Bernard Berenson was the art
world’s tastemaker a century ago when he transformed the way in which 
paintings are collected. John W. Adams has been a numismatic tastemaker 
in three fields: numismatic literature, provenance, and medals. And, 
like Adam and Berenson, he has freely shared his knowledge with the 
world."

[Congratulations to George on his 100th sale, and many, many thanks 
as well.  -Editor]


SAN FRANCISCO MINT COMMEMORATIVE BILL GOES TO SENATE FOR VOTE

According to a joint press release issued May 18 by the American 
Numismatic Association and the San Francisco Museum and Historical 
Society, "The Senate Banking Committee today approved a bill that 
authorizes the U.S. Mint to strike two commemorative coins to 
raise funds to transform the Old Mint building in San Francisco 
into a museum that will showcase city history and numismatics. 
The full senate is expected to vote on the measure on next week; 
it has already been passed in the House of Representatives.

The San Francisco Old Mint Commemorative Act instructs the U.S. 
Mint to issue one $5 gold coin and a $1 silver coin with images 
emblematic of the Old Mint, also known as “The Granite Lady.” It 
is the first time U.S. commemorative coins will be produced to 
raise funds to benefit an historic mint building. A total of 
600,000 coins will be minted, 100,000 in gold and 500,000 in 
silver.

The American Money and Gold Rush Museum will occupy approximately 
9,000 square feet.  The American Money and Gold Rush Museum will 
be developed in partnership with the American Numismatic Association 
(ANA), which will help create exhibits, conduct research and 
operate the museum."


CAPT. COOK'S ENDEAVOR WRECK FOUND?

Arthur Shippee forwarded some links from The Explorator Newsletter.  
Several news outlets picked up a story about the possible discovery 
of the wreckage of The Endeavor, the 18th century vessel explorer 
Captain James Cook sailed on his epic voyage to Australia.  No word 
yet of any coin finds.

"Researchers with the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project said 
they believe the four ships, and two others previously discovered, 
are part of a 13-vessel transport fleet intentionally sunk by the 
British in Newport Harbor in 1778 to keep French ships from landing 
to aid the Americans' drive for independence.

Using historical materials and sonar, the archaeologists discovered 
the ships in Narragansett Bay, within a mile of Newport, Rhode 
Island's shoreline."

"It may take years to fully investigate the shipwrecks found so far, 
Abbass said.

Historically, the finding is significant because it helps tell the 
story of the siege of Newport, marking France's first attempt to 
aid the American insurrection against the British."

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/05/16/sunken.ship.reut/index.html 


ON GEORGES BATAILLE

Regarding my query last week about George Bataille (who worked 
at the Cabinet des Médailles in the Bibliothèque Nationale in 
Paris), George Selgin writes: "Bataille (1897-1962) was certainly 
a Marxist, but as far as I know no one has ever accused him of 
being a numismatist! His interests, apart from eroticism, were 
philosophy, ethnology and psychoanalysis.  Like many French writer-
intellectuals (and French people generally, come to think of it) 
he probably didn't take his day job all that seriously.  French 
literature happens to be a hobby of mine, hence this reply."

Hadrien Rambach writes: "I sold three copies of Bataille's main 
numismatic article some time ago. Here is how I then described it:

An exceedingly rare and important offprint: Georges BATAILLE 
(1897-1962), “Les Monnaies des grands Mogols au cabinet des 
médailles”, Aréthuse, October 1926 and January 1927. Quarto, 32 
pages and 3 plates. Original green wrappers.

This is a very rare offprint of the periodical Aréthuse (29 
published issues, 1924-1930). It consists, in one single volume, 
of an article published in the issues 13-14 of October 1926 and 
January 1927. 

This is only the second or third work to have been published by 
Bataille, who was then a curator of the French Coin Cabinet. It 
is then only that his celebrity expanded, for example with Histoire 
de l'oeil in 1928. According to Denis Hollier (Against Architecture: 
The Writings of Georges Bataille, 1989), some of Bataille’s comments 
in this text about the Mogols rulers show already Bataille’s interest 
for erotic excesses and sacrificial violence. Bataille is really 
one of the “écrivains maudits” of France at that time. 

The web-site Pegasos, from Finland, gives very good information on 
Georges Bataille, with a biography by Petri Liukkonen
(http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/bataille.htm). 

The Boston book dealer Lame Duck Books used to have a copy of this 
offprint for sale at $ 2,500 and the librarie Walden (Caen) now 
offers one at $ 2,800."


A SILVER COINAGE PROPOSAL

Ralf W. Böpple of Stuttgart writes: "On the discussion on rising 
prices of metals, I have come across the following:  There is a 
rather "unique" proposal to battle with rising metal prices in 
coins. An organization in Mexico is lobbying for the government 
to re-introduce a circulating silver coin by monetizing the silver 
"Libertad" one-ounce bullion coins, that is, make them legal 
tender at an established value in Mexican pesos. 

Obviously, if silver prices rise, there will come the famous moment 
in which the Libertads will be melted for their bullion content. 
The clever countermeasure: the Banco de México should raise the 
official peso value of the coin every time the silver price comes 
close to the denominated value.

This may be a solution to save the penny: the U.S. Government 
could simply declare that the official value of the cent be two 
cents from now on. I leave it to the readers to decide for themselves 
on the economic, political and social consequences of such a monetary 
regime.

Information on this can be found at www.plata.com.mx Many documents 
on this site are in English, a brief overview of the whole idea can 
be seen under http://www.plata.com.mx/plata/plata/comHSP56aimp1.htm "

[Such a proposal is not unheard of.  Until 1857 foreign coins were 
legal tender in the United States, and passed at the value of the 
bullion.  At the height of the Civil War specie panic, as coinage 
disappeared following a rise in the price of silver, one of the New 
York newspapers proposed a similar scheme.  I found this editorial 
while researching microfilmed newspapers of the era.  I don't have 
my file handy, but do recall that the proposal stated that

the 10 cent coin shall pass for 12 cents
the 25 cent coin shall pass for 30 cents
the 50 cent coin shall pass for 60 cents
-etc-

-Editor]


KERENS, TEXAS GOLD HOARD INFORMATION SOUGHT

Dave Ginsburg writes: "Through the good offices of fellow 
Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC) member, Len Augsburger, 
I've received copies of 11 pages from the Secret Service gold 
investigation files concerning the 1947 discovery of $1,775 in 
gold coins on a farm in Kerens, TX (which is about 70 miles 
southeast of Dallas).  While I'm pleased to say that the Curator 
of History at the Smithsonian informed the Mint Director that 
the coins were "of recognized special value to collectors of 
rare and unusual coin" and the Secret Service, when informed of 
this, allowed the finders to keep the coins, I'd like to find 
out more about the hoard.
 
I'm reliably informed that the hoard isn't mentioned in Dave 
Bowers' American Coin Treasures and Hoards (1988), nor is it 
mentioned in John Kleeberg's article on the 1936 Hull, TX hoard 
(American Journal of Numismatics #11, 1999).  A quick search in 
the Bass Numismatic Periodicals Index didn't reveal any articles 
that obviously concerned a hoard found in Kerens.
 
The hoard was discovered in the spring of 1947 on a farm owned 
by A.L Bain.  It consisted of 166 coins (57 double eagles, 19 
eagles, 88 half eagles and two quarter eagles) dated between 
1834 and 1866.  Somewhat to my surprise, the hoard contained 25 
Civil War-era (1861-1865) double eagles (almost evenly divided 
between Philadelphia [13] and San Francisco [12]) - plus one 
1866-S double eagle; while none of the eagles were dated later 
than 1856 (or 1857) and none of the half eagles were dated later 
than 1861.  One of the quarter eagles was an 1861 and the other 
was an 1866.  Only one eagle and one half eagle were from San 
Francisco - 1854-S and 1855-S, respectively, while 12 of the 
half eagles were Classic Head (1834-1838).
 
I'm presuming the hoard was buried in 1866, since there was only 
one 1866 double eagle, but four 1865 double eagles and four 1864 
double eagles.
 
In his letter to the Secret Service, Mr. Bain says that the coins 
were examined by Mr. W.A. Philpot, Jr. (described by the Secret 
Service as the Secretary of the Texas Bankers Association and a 
collector of rare coins), but that he did not sell the coins to 
him at that time.  Mr. Bain also states that he has secured a bid 
from an unidentified coin dealer and hopes to obtain a bid from 
"Mr. Hoffecker of El Paso soon and probably other coin dealers 
and collectors."
 
I'll begin my research by contacting the Kerens historical society 
and/or public library, of course, but in the meantime, I'd be 
overjoyed (and grateful) to receive any information that any of 
my fellow E-Sylum subscribers have regarding this hoard, including 
information about Mr. Philpot, Mr. Hoffecker, etc.  I'd really be 
interested to know if the coins appeared at auction at the time, 
too.  Any speculation about how the coins got to Texas in 1866 
would be welcome.  (Since the transcontinental railroad wasn't 
completed until May 1869, I'd really like to know how the San 
Francisco double eagles got there!)
 
I'd be happy to provide an inventory of the hoard or a copy of 
the correspondence, if anyone's interested."


BARRY JABLON AND THE OLD MARINE

Continuing his series of reminiscences about his days working 
at the Gimbel's department store coin shop, Barry Jablon writes: 
"One of the purchases I made which was not as amazing as the 
1793 Liberty Cap cent or the 1895 proof silver dollar in terms 
of value, but was huge in terms of quantity took place in the 
same time period as the others, that being between 1957 and 1962. 

We had a policy at Gimbel's Coin Dept. that we wouldn't go out 
of the store to make purchases or even quote prices. I imagine 
it had something to do with insurance. One day, I took a call 
in the department from an elderly gentleman who told me he was 
a retired Marine Corps Master Sergeant. He said that he lived 
alone in an apartment in a not-so-nice section of Philadelphia, 
and he had read that we purchased coins. He needed money and had 
some coins to sell. I checked it out with Mr. Kraus and he was 
not in favor of me going to the man's apartment. However, after 
Mr. Kraus spoke to him on the phone he said he was leaving it up 
to me. I was either sixteen or seventeen at the time and, from 
what I can remember, pretty fearless.

Anyway, the gentleman lived in a three room apartment, decorated 
with all of the souvenirs he had collected in his travels around 
the world with the Marines. He wanted to know if I would buy any 
of these from him but, since I knew nothing of their value, I 
declined. He then took out several paper bags of foreign coins. 

My smile quickly faded when I saw hundreds of common German, 
Italian, Japanese and other foreign coins fall on to the card 
table we were sitting at. These were the foreign coins that Dick 
Johnson referred to which he saw Ernie Kraus working with on his 
visit to Coins and Currency, Inc. We sold them for .25 each from 
a large box in the case at Gimbels. 

The old Marine read my face well. "Not too much there of value 
is there son?" he asked. I told him there was not and was about 
to push myself away from the table and drive home with nothing 
to show for my time when the old guy told me to wait a minute 
and went in to the other room. He came back with two large cloth 
bags bulging with coins. "How about these?" he asked. "They're 
not as nice as the foreign coins I've collected but they are 
older. Maybe they're worth something." 

He then dumped onto the table over two hundred flying eagle cents. 
They were in anywhere from V.F. to A.U. condition and even in the 
old days of the 1950's, would command a nice premium. The old man 
told me that his father and grandfather had collected these coins 
and he didn't think they were worth too much because, unlike his 
foreign coins, aside from two different dates, they were all the 
same. I was thrilled that I would be able to bring the old man 
some decent money when I came back to pick up the coins. 

It was as were pushing the coins back into their bags that I 
decided to ask the magic question. "All of these coins are 1857 
and 1858. You wouldn't happen to have any with an 1856 on it?  
He came back about five minutes later carrying a small yellow pay 
envelope. He then rolled onto the card table one 1856 flying eagle 
cent in what we used to call "mishandled proof" condition. When I 
told the old Marine that I would bring him a check for $1,200.00 
the next day, he started to cry. "Are you sure you won't get into 
any trouble paying out that much money son?" the old man inquired. 

When I assured the old guy they everything would be fine, he 
hugged me and then hugged me again when I returned the next day 
to pick up the coins and give him his money. Of course, Ernie Kraus 
and the Friedberg's were very happy, but I really felt good about 
what I had been able to do for the old marine."


WHAT DRIVES A NUMISMATIC WRITER?
 
Dick Johnson writes: "I read a review this morning about a book 
recently published by Knopf -- "A Writer's Life" by Gay Talese. 
Some quotations by the famed writer impressed me.
 
It's not a biography, apparently, it tells instead why the author 
is driven to write. Talese was asked to explain one of his comments. 
"You wrote that, for you, producing prose is like a patient passing 
a kidney stone. Why is writing so painful?"
 
He answered, in effect, that he is dissatisfied with what he does, 
that he does it over and over again and again. He attempts to attain 
a higher level of workmanship by doing it a second, or third time, 
or more times, that made him one of the great rewriters, if not 
writer, of the time.
 
That's sure true. I have rewritten some of my things as many as 
forty times. Even these brief paragraphs for E-Sylum I reread six 
or eight times. Often changing something to improve the flow of 
words, to correct a fact or to catch some damn misspelling.
 
Why so driven? I think it's a respect for the reader. In numismatics 
it's a respect for the collector. Numismatic authors want to provide 
the information they have learned to other collectors. But for 
goodness sake, make it easy to read, to understand. Too much 
numismatic writing is pretty dry.
 
I think the greatest sin in numismatics, however, is rushing into 
print too fast. One of my favorite books is "The Art and Craft of 
Coinmaking" by Denis Cooper. In corresponding with the author I 
learned he was dissatisfied with the published book because it was 
rushed into print in time for a coin convention. It's full of 
errors and even part of the manuscript was omitted he tells me.
 
Numismatic books, like the objects themselves, are long-lasting, 
often still in use decades later. Authors, take your time. Do a 
workmanlike job. Like Talese does, REWRITE."


SOUVENIR COINS OF THE SYTTENDE MAI FESTIVAL

The Capital Times of Madison, WI published an article this 
week on the "coins", buttons and other souvenirs  of Syttende 
Mai, the local annual Norwegian Constitution Day festival. The 
article discusses the collector value of coins from past years, 
and a demonstration of Viking coin making at this year's event.

"Krumkake is best eaten on the spot, not kept as a Syttende 
Mai remembrance.  For collectors, a button or coin is a better 
souvenir of Stoughton's annual homage to all things Norwegian.

For more than 40 years, festival organizers have commissioned 
artists to produce commemorative Syttende Mai coins and buttons.

Some past coins and buttons are now of significant value. This 
year's versions cost $10 and $5, respectively. The buttons are 
admission to many weekend events.

But they aren't the only metal being shaped this Syttende Mai.

During the festival, local metal artist Bill Howard, his staff 
and students from Howard Academy for the Metal Arts will be 
demonstrating 12th century Viking coinmaking.

Visitors are promised a pewter coin to take home with a Viking 
ship on the front and a dragon on the back."

Gary Brenz, a local bookstore owner and Syttende Mai coin 
and button collector, says the most valuable coin is from 
1966, worth about $150. Brenz says a full set of 42 coins 
could cost up to $400. John Plunkett, another local collector, 
prices a full set higher, at up to $650.

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/index.php?ntid=84208&ntpid=1


BOOK REVIEW: DAUGHTREY'S "LOOKING THROUGH LINCOLN CENTS"

Perhaps I should call the E-Sylum book review section "Looking 
Through Numismatic Literature."  This week I spent some time 
looking through Charles D. Daughtrey's book, "Looking Through 
Lincoln Cents: Chronology of a Series (Second Edition).  
Published in 2005 by Zyrus Press, the 333-page paperback covers 
the wide realm of die varieties of the longest-lived of American 
coin designs, the Lincoln Cent.

It's obvious that the author indeed spends a lot of time "looking 
through Lincoln Cents"  Chapter 5, "Efficient Sorting" is devoted 
to enabling readers to separate large numbers of mixed coins by 
date and mintmark with the least amount of effort.  "The most 
efficient method I have found ... involves a slight paradigm shift 
from the conventional method of sorting by decade first, then year, 
then by mint."  Having sorted coins in exactly that "conventional" 
way for years, I was curious to learn the author's solution.  
Because the cent has been produced for so many decades, it turns 
out that some time and effort can be saved by first sorting by the 
last digit of the date, then the next-to-the-last digit, etc.  A 
short chapter, but one offering a very practical bit of advice.

The author notes in his preface that "this book is not an 
exhaustive attribution guide for all Lincoln cent die varieties.  
It is, rather, an attempt to provide a general overview of the 
series, year by year." For a more complete reference, the author 
suggests his web site, www.coppercoins.com. 

The book and web site are a great example of online/offline synergy, 
with each medium providing what is does best - the book is indeed a 
handy, uncluttered guide to the basic die varieties, and the web site 
is an ever-expanding archive of greatly detailed information and 
images which would be impossibly unwieldy in book form (although as 
noted in earlier E-Sylum issues, the author has embarked on a process 
of publishing his complete work in loose-leaf format).  

The book opens with a brief description of the die-making process.  
Chapter 1, at three pages, is far too brief to adequately cover the 
topic, but does serve as an appropriate introduction to beginning 
variety collectors.  The book does not, however, indicate where to 
look for more information on die making, and the bibliography lists 
a scant seven books.  However, most of the information in the book 
originated with the author, so the dearth of references is not a 
major shortcoming.

Other early chapters explain the basics of doubled dies, grading 
and the author's Lincoln Cent die variety attribution system. The 
major chapters divide the series into three eras: The Early Years, 
1909-1933, Modern Wheat Cents 1934-1958, and the Memorial Cents 
1959-2004.  

At the heart of the book are the countless microphotographs of 
coins with closeups of the key features for each listed variety.  
One can only imagine how differently the classic works of numismatics 
would have been written had such photographs been so inexpensive to 
create and publish in decades past.  What would Clapp have published?  
Or Newcomb?

I'm not a variety collector myself, so I cannot make an authoritative 
evaluation of the book's accuracy, but it is obvious that the author 
has a deep familiarity and affection for the topic.  There is no 
better reason to write a numismatic book, or to read one.  I'm glad 
to have it in my library, and hope to refer to it with my sons someday 
if they pick up the urge to "look through Lincoln cents".  

One point the author makes I can agree with wholeheartedly.  He states 
"It is my opinion that all 1922 "no D" Lincoln Cents are common, grease 
filled or worn out dies, and that none of them should have ever gained 
the attention or the value they currently demand." (p93)

In the concluding chapter, "Advice To Collectors", the author notes 
"I have but scratched the surface into what I believe to be one of 
the most fascinating, yet tedious hobbies I have ever encountered.... 
I have spent 25 years looking for the elusive doubled dies and 
repunched mintmarks.  In that time, I have found countless valuable 
varieties.  But there are still a number of them I have been searching 
for throughout that 25 years and still have not found." 

This is an honest and fitting summary of the numismatic niche that 
is die variety collecting: tedious indeed, but a fascinating and 
never-ending byway of our hobby.  I'll look forward to an updated 
edition if and when the Lincoln cent takes its final bow from the 
stage.

See the publisher's web site for more information:
http://www.zyruspress.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=6&HS=1 


BANK DONATES FUNDS FOR NEWBURYPORT PERKINS BUILDING

Dick Hanscom forwarded the latest article about the Jacob Perkins 
building in Newburyport, MA:

"A bank founded 152 years ago will donate $200,000 to help historians 
save a landmark city building where some of the nation's first currency 
was printed.

The donation from the Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank will allow 
the Historical Society of Old Newbury to purchase the 200-year-old 
Fruit Street building that was home to the state's first mint.

Inside this historic workshop, 19th century inventor Jacob Perkins 
created a steel-engraving process used to make currency that was 
adopted across the East Coast."

"The society has long eyed the mint building, not only for its 
historic value, but also for its location. The mint building is 
situated behind the society's headquarters, the Custom House 
Museum."

"When we're done, the building will look the way it did 200 years 
ago," Mack said.

The society is also seeking money from national foundations and 
other sources to help turn the building into a museum."

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.ecnnews.com/cgi-bin/05/ntstory.pl?sec-News+fn-nmintsave-20060515-


In a note posted to the Yahoo Colonial Coins mailing list this 
Week (responding to an item in last week's E-Sylum), Jim Spilman 
writes: "Dave Bowers is quite correct.  The building facing Fruit 
street was Perkins' residence.  The three story building at the 
rear of the house was an engraving and printing plant built 
specifically for that purpose and operated by his brother Abraham. 
The engraving & printing plant backed up to Otis Place just off 
Garden Street and State Street.  They did a tremendous business 
in bank note and check printing.  There was never any consideration 
that it would be a mint site. 

The premier study on Jacob Perkins is "Jacob Perkins. His Inventions, 
His Times, and His Contemporaries" by Grenville & Dorothy Bathe. 1943, 
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania. A limited edition of 200 
copies.  See pages 30-35 plus illustrations of the house, a map of
locations, and discussions of the financing of the plant.   See 
also CNL pages 499 and 1001."  

Dick Hanscom adds: "Perhaps Mr. Moulton or Mr. Bowers would like to 
write a letter to the editor of the Newburyport Daily News concerning 
the building."  Dick himself contacted the Historical Society of Old 
Newbury, forwarding a copy of our recent E-Sylum discussion.  The 
society is aware that the "Mint Building" appellation is a misnomer. 

Curator Jay S. Williamson responded: "The Jacob Perkins engraving 
plant on Fruit Street has always been referred to as "The Mint Building" 
by locals although there is no evidence of coinage being struck there. 
It was built in 1808 by Jacob and his brother Abraham for the purpose 
of engraving and printing Massachusetts bank notes."
  

MORE ON THE ORIGINAL HOLDER FOR THE 1913 LIBERTY NICKELS

Saul Teichman writes: "With regard to the eight-coin case which 
contained the five 1913 Nickels, Howard Spindel's reply is not 
correct.  The description below is from correspondence between 
Eric P. Newman and myself: 

The copper composition pattern five cent was in the leather case 
when I first saw it about 1942 on a trip to New York City. The 
case has and had 8 punched holes in two lines of 4 each and plastic 
(celluloid acetate probably) slide-in protectors on both faces. 
That coin holder was attached to the back of the case and was closed 
over on each of the 4 sides by flaps of leather. The top flap has 
a snap to close it over the other flaps. It was specially made for 
the coins it held. I know nothing of its prior history other than 
a report that it was shown in Chicago in 1920 at a numismatic 
convention. 

Whether Sam Brown or someone else had it made or not would be 
speculation on my part but Colonel Green would not have had it 
made as he had so many numismatic and other collectibles of real 
importance and did no special mounting other than having acetate 
holders for paper money in standard loose leaf binders and standard 
Wayte Raymond coin holders. 

The original contents of the case consisted of the five Liberty 
head 1913 nickels, a 1913 Type I Indian head nickel without the F 
initial of the designer, a regular 1913 Type I Indian head nickel, 
and the copper composition Type II 1913. The three pieces in the 
holder are apparently legitimate and added to make the 1913 Liberty 
Heads appear legitimate."

George Fuld examined Newman's 1913 coin holder in 1960 at his 
vault.  He remembered it as having only six spaces, so I asked 
Eric for confirmation and to learn if there was a second case. 

Eric writes: "The case is in our possession and has been for 65 
years. It was exhibited with the five 1913 Liberty Head Nickels 
when they were assembled a couple of years ago. It now contains 
the original normal uncirculated 1913 Indian Head Type II nickel 
and the unique uncirculated copper composition 1913 Indian Head 
Type II nickel. 

The copper piece has darkened somewhat over the 65 years it has 
been on hand and has been in an acid free manilla envelope during 
that period.  The case remains in nice condition. It has four 
openings in the top row and four openings in the bottom row, each 
row having the original cellulose acetate sliders to cover the 
coin openings on the top and bottom of each row. The sliders have 
not noticeably deteriorated.  I do not recall seeing another coin 
case constructed in that form. If there are other questions your 
readers may have I will try to answer them. Keep your E-Sylum as 
a great stimulant to numismatic inquiry, reports, responses and 
research."
 

SOUTH KOREA UNVEILS NEW BANKNOTE

According to an article in the Korea Times "The central bank 
Thursday unveiled the final design of a new 10,000-won banknote 
with some 20 features designed to prevent forgery. The bank plans 
to issue the new 10,000-won notes early next year, along with new 
1,000-won notes."

"Like the new 5,000-won and 1,000-won notes, the new 10,000-won 
notes will come in a smaller size than the current ones. The new 
10,000-won bill is 0.8 centimeter smaller in width and 1.3 
centimeter smaller in length. The bill is 0.6 centimeters wider 
than the new 5,000-won note, but exactly the same in length."

"Among new anti-forgery features introduced on the new notes is 
a hologram that is seen in different colors and shapes depending 
on the angle it is seen from. The bank also used special inks, 
which make letters and pictures on the notes appear in different 
colors from different angles."

To read the complete article, see:
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200605/kt2006051817180610440.htm 


NEW ZEALAND COINAGE REFORM CORRECTION

Martin Purdy offers the following corrections to Dick Johnson's 
submission regarding recent changes to New Zealand's coinage 
reforms: "The 5c coins are still in circulation, and will be until 
31 October 2006.  1 and 2-cent coins were last struck in 1988 and 
were demonetised in 1990 (or 91? - I can't remember).  The 10, 20 
and 50-cent coins are indeed being struck, but won't be introduced 
into circulation until the end of July.  I believe the new coins 
have a steel core, but the 10c will be bronze coated, while the 20 
and 50c coins will be Cu-Ni coated.  The $1 and $2 coins have never 
been copper-nickel.  They're aluminium-bronze.  

Dick wrote that "The dime is now the lowest coin in circulation," 
but that won't be the case until after October. Martin adds "And 
we never call ten-cent coins "dimes".  That's a US/Canadian thing."

Dick wrote that "All prices are now quoted in multiples of 10 cents 
while the cent remains a "money of account." Martin writes: "No, 
prices can be quoted however you choose to write them.  $15.98 is 
still perfectly legitimate, and that is what you would pay if you 
used a credit or debit card."  As for "transaction price," Martin 
writes: "I've never heard of a fraction of a cent being used as a 
transaction charge since we stopped using 2½-cent stamps sometime 
around 1970.  Final bills will be made out to the last cent, as 
above, but if you pay in cash, the final total will be rounded up 
or down to the nearest ten cents, as appropriate, just as they 
are to the nearest 5 cents at the moment."


COMMENTS SOUGHT ON COINARCHIVES.COM

We don't often repeat a Featured Web Site, but coinarchives.com 
has been mentioned a few times.  It is "a repository of coins 
featured in major numismatic auctions.  It brings together the 
text, images, and prices realized from catalogs issued by some 
of the world's most prestigious coin firms. With this site, you 
can search and view coin lots from a growing database of auctions."

To view previous E-Sylum mentions, see:
http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v05n40a14.html 
http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v07n26a20.html 
http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v07n45a18.html  

The site currently has two sections: Ancient and World coins.  
The Ancient coin archive includes 139,009 items from 170 auctions.  
The World coin archive includes 273,680 items from 202 auctions.  
Auction houses covered include:

    - Argenor Numismatique S.A.
    - Auctiones AG
    - Auktionshaus H. D. Rauch GmbH
    - Auktionshaus Meister & Sonntag
    - Baldwin's Auctions Ltd
    - Classical Numismatic Group
    - Dmitry Markov Coins & Medals
    - Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger
    - Frank Sternberg AG
    - Fritz Rudolf Künker Münzenhandlung
    - Gemini, LLC
    - Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung
    - Heidelberger Münzhandlung Herbert Grün e.K.
    - Hess-Divo AG
    - Leu Numismatik AG
    - LHS Numismatik AG
    - M&M Numismatics Ltd
    - Münzen & Medaillen AG Basel
    - Münzen & Medaillen Deutschland GmbH
    - Numismatica Ars Classica
    - Numismatik Lanz München
    - Spink
    - St. James Auctions Ltd
    - Tkalec AG
    - UBS Gold & Numismatics

A query for "Anton Scharf" matched 42 lots in the 
World database.  A search for "Hitler" yielded 153 items,
"Mozart", 141 and "Platinum", 106. The search results page 
includes a photo of each item (when available).  The photos 
are beautiful, and each search result page makes for a nice 
mini-catalog.

The database is still being updated - the most recent catalog 
included is Auktionshaus H.D. Rauch GmbH Auction 77 on 
2006-04-10, 1028 lots.

Have any of our readers made extensive use of this site?  
Please share with us your experiences.

Try it yourself:
http://www.coinarchives.com/   


LOS ANGELES THE COUNTERFEIT CASH CAPITAL?

According to a May 15 report in the LA Daily News, the counterfeit 
cash capital of the United States is Los Angeles, and a stripper is 
a "savvy business person."  The writer has done a nice job - the 
article is very thorough in covering the subject, and includes 
interviews with both Secret Service and Bureau of Engraving and 
Printing personnel.  Here are some excerpts:

"In her first 25 minutes at a Studio City nightclub, the customer 
ordered two glasses of wine, making each purchase with a $100 bill. 

The club owner noticed right away that something wasn't quite right 
with the bill his employee brought him. It had the magnetic strip, 
and Ben Franklin's face looked good at first glance, but it lacked 
the normal grainy feel of real money. 

"When I looked closer, the face wasn't as clear as it should be," 
he recalled. "The harder I looked at it, the magnetic strip didn't 
look embedded but printed. I had to stare at the thing a good 30 
seconds before I knew it was fake." 

Although most people don't know it, Los Angeles is the counterfeit 
capital of the U.S. In 2005, more than $6 million in counterfeit 
money was successfully passed in the Los Angeles area, and the 
Secret Service seized an additional $2 million before it was ever 
used. 

"The owner called 911, and police arrived just as the customer 
was getting ready to leave. In her car, police found $14,000 in 
fake hundreds, seven stolen Colombian passports and an unloaded 
gun." 

"Just six months ago, a counterfeiting investigation that began 
in Los Angeles resulted in the dismantling of an operating in 
Guadalajara, Mexico, that produced millions of dollars of 
high-quality counterfeit money on an offset press." 

"... the big break came when a savvy business person - a stripper 
who received $400 for a lap dance - recognized the bills as 
forgeries and alerted the police."

"A good counterfeiter is as much an artist as a criminal, and 
they are rarely violent. When Chapa sits down to interview printers, 
the villains are usually excited to talk about their craft with 
someone who appreciates their work." 

"The government plans to introduce new $20s, $50s and $100s every 
seven to 10 years. A team of chemists and scientists is always 
looking for new ways to thwart counterfeiters. 

"Let me tell you, it's a whole lot of fun," said Judith Diaz Myers,
associate director of technology at the Bureau of Engraving and 
Printing. "We wash notes, we crumple notes, we do all sorts of tests." 

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_3823675 


NUMISMATICS: HOW MANY WAYS DO I SPELL THEE?

Roger Siboni writes: "I think Dave Bowers' article on "What's 
In A Word" in the May 29, 2006 Coin World issue is worth noting, 
if not reprinting, in The E-Sylum.  It kind of had an Andy Rooney 
"60 Minutes" feel to it. I really enjoyed it!"

Well, reprinting is a no-no, but a quote of a quote is fair game.  
Dave's column has fun with the plethora of misspellings of the word
"numismatics", and it includes a list of misspellings published 
in the May 1938 issue of The Numismatists by ANA Librarian William 
S. Dewey: numatic, numismatic, nunisatic, munismatic, numismatic, 
pneumatic, numismaitic, numisitic, numismatic, numismatic and more.  

This is a topic we've addressed before in The E-Sylum, and 
coincidentally, this week brings news from Chattanooga, TN of 
yet another spelling bee contestant tripped up by the word: 
"Anne Thompson dazzled listeners Friday afternoon with her 
correct spelling of duplicate. She and Angela Lee made it to 
Round 20, when they got stumped on the word numismatics..."

To read the complete article, see:
http://tinyurl.com/gab5s 


NEW ARTICLE ON SCOTT TRAVERS' COIN DROP

Recently we discussed Scott Travers' "Penny drop" Coin Week 
publicity stunt.  The popular press continues to pick up on the 
story.  The latest article comes from The Record of Hackensack,
New Jersey:

"I just wanted to put a little magic into everyday life," said 
Mr. Travers, a rare-coin expert based in New York.

Last month, in Times Square, he gave a practical demonstration 
of the idea by deliberately putting three of his valuable rare 
pennies worth a total of $1,500 into circulation."

"This was in mid-April, on two days, amid a media circus atmosphere 
of photographers clicking and reporters pontificating. The hapless 
vendors, meanwhile, apparently had no idea what was going on. 

"We told them I was a visiting celebrity from Canada," Mr. Travers 
says."

"... he hopes he sparked far more coin mania through his 
much-publicized spending spree in Times Square. He says he's 
gotten more than 3,000 telephone calls from people all around 
the world who want to know whether they've found one of the 
lucky pennies. 

"People get on the Internet," he said. "They call directory 
assistance. I had someone call me from Russia who saw it on 
CNN in Russia."

"If Mr. Travers has not precisely become the Willy Wonka of 
the numismatic world, setting multitudes scrambling for his 
three little golden tickets, he has at least caused countless 
people to be a little more alert to the wonders hidden in 
everyday life."

"Mr. Travers can't help but feel some sympathy for the Times 
Square food vendor who unknowingly accepted the $1,000 coin 
last month – grumbling all the while about the photographers 
who were unaccountably snapping pictures of the exchange."

To read the complete article, see:
http://tinyurl.com/gw8lp

Ken Hallenbeck adds: "I saw Scott Travers on television 
recently being interviewed about TV sales of common coins, 
gold plated ones. etc.  He did a great job in calling a spade 
a spade.  Congratulations to Scott on a job well done.  Too 
bad we can't do much to stop those kinds of rip-offs."   


HAYDEN ROSE: ANOTHER WINNER OF THE CSNS JUNIOR LITERARY AWARD

Regarding last week's item about Samuel Ernst winning the 
Central States Numismatic Society's Daniel Parker Junior 
Literary Award, Bruce Perdue writes: "Hayden Rose (who I 
believe is also a subscriber to The E-Sylum) was the co-winner 
of the award, for his article "The Striking of Religion with 
'In God We Trust' in V53N2 issue of "The Centinel" 

To read his full article, see 
http://www.centralstates.info/ingodwetrust.html
 
Both YN's wrote excellent articles and the committee could 
not decide between them, so both were named co-winners. My 
congratulations to both of these fine young numismatists 
and authors."


ANOTHER ALMOND DELIGHT BOX REPORTED

Neil Shafer writes: "Further to the saga of Almond Delight, I 
also have a box- in fact, I have three boxes, one each for the 
promotions and a minor variety of the world notes issue. (Joe, 
you stole my thunder with the revelation that there were two 
promotions!)  I expect that while eventually locating these boxes 
I also have a tube with two uncut sheets of the ABNC reprints sent 
to me, certainly by request somehow, from some town in Illinois.  
I don't have any idea now just how I came to receive these sheets 
or why someplace in Illinois was the source.  I think the whole 
promotion is interesting enough for a well illustrated article 
that I will try to whip up for my Paper View column in Numismatic 
News which I've neglected for a couple of months."


ORDER OF THE BATH

This week Reuters reported on the quadrennial awarding of 
the famous Maltese cross medals for the Order of the Bath:

"Anyone who thinks pomp, pageantry and arcane rituals have 
disappeared from modern British life should have been at 
Westminster Abbey Wednesday, where Queen Elizabeth oversaw a 
ceremony of the Order of the Bath.

In a rite dating back to at least the 12th century, the Queen 
"installed" eight new knights."

"The knights, all senior figures from the British military and 
intelligence services, had the order's distinctive badge -- a 
silver eight-pointed Maltese cross -- pinned to their robes.

The ceremony happens every four years, and the Queen attends it 
every eight years. It goes largely unnoticed, but this year's 
ceremony came amid growing discontent over the way honours like 
knighthoods are awarded."

"The Order of the Bath gets its peculiar name from its origins 
in the Middle Ages, when knights bathed on the eve of their 
investiture as a symbol of spiritual purification.

A document from 1128 describes how one knight "immersed his body 
in a bath and was afterwards habited by the attendants in crimson 
robes, while a sword was girded about his body and golden spurs 
placed upon his heels."

The order all but disappeared in the 17th century but was revived 
in 1725 by King George I and has been investing new knights ever 
since. It opened its doors to women in 1971."

To read the complete article, see:
http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?storyID=12239203 


THE POWER OF A PENNY

According to an Associated Press story this week, A Flint, Michigan
woman learned the hard way that a single cent can make a big difference, 
at least when it comes to dealing with her local power company.

"It was just a penny, but to Consumers Energy it was enough to cut 
off power in a local home.  Jacqueline Williams, 41, had an electricity 
bill of $1,662.08 and paid all of it, except for one cent. That wasn't 
enough for the power company, which blacked her out for seven hours 
Wednesday. 

The CMS Energy Corp. subsidiary told Williams the power would not be 
turned on until the penny was received. 

"I went down there, paid my penny and got a receipt," Williams said. 
Shortly after, the electricity was turned back on." 

[The woman was behind in her payments and had gotten checks from two 
agencies to augment the money she'd been able to pull together toward 
the bill, but came up one cent short.  The woman and the "penny" she 
used to complete the payment are pictured in the article.  -Editor]

To read the complete article in USA Today, see:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2006-05-17-penny-power_x.htm 


FEATURED WEB SITE: NATIONAL NUMISMATIC COLLECTION

This week's featured web site is suggested by John and Nancy Wilson 
of Ocala, FL, who write: "Although the Smithsonian National Museum 
of American History downsized its numismatic collection to the dismay 
of almost every collector, they still have an excellent web site to 
learn quite a bit about all types of coins and paper money."

http://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/numismatics/ 


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 
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Numismatic Bibliomania Society, 
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