The E-Sylum v10#51, December 16, 2007

[esylum at binhost.com]

Welcome to The E-Sylum: Volume 10, Number 51, December 16, 2007:
an electronic publication of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.
Copyright (c) 2007, The Numismatic Bibliomania Society.


WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM DECEMBER 16, 2007

We have no new subscribers this week - what gives?   Give your 
editor and a friend both a present for the holiday - invite a 
numismatic friend to subscribe.

This week we open with news of the sale of an important 
numismatic library on ancient coinage.   Next we have an 
excerpt from Michael Moran's 'Striking Change' and a review 
of Stephen Mihm's 'A Nation of Counterfeiters".  In numismatic 
literature news from the American Numismatic Association, a 
copy of first illustrated printed numismatic book has been 
donated to the Dwight N. Manley Library.  

Next, Ray Williams reviews the Sotheby catalog for the Washington 
Order of the Society of the Cincinnati Medal, and 'Double Daggers' 
author James Clifford is profiled.  Reviving an old tradition, 
if briefly, Martin Purdy provides an update for the NBS online 
numismatic bibliography, and an E-Sylum reader translates the 
Brongniart Libertas Americana medal letters from French to 
English.

New queries this week involve an 1893 AJN article on Postage 
and Fractional Currency.  In the news, a coin counterfeiter 
is arrested in the U.K., a reward is offered for the return 
of the stolen New Zealand medals, and the the PDSA animal 
cemetery (resting place of Dickin Medal winners), has been 
restored.  

To learn which famous American numismatist could be 'Little 
Wooden Willie', read on.  Have a great week, everyone.

Wayne Homren
Numismatic Bibliomania Society


MALTER GALLERIES TO SELL ALEX MALLOY NUMISMATIC LIBRARY

[Marc Breitsprecher of Ancient Imports Inc. forwarded the 
following announcement on behalf of Mike Malter and Alex 
Malloy.  -Editor]

Malter Galleries Inc. of Encino, California announces our 
Auction 89 featuring the "Unreserved" Alex Malloy Library 
of Numismatic and Ancient Art books. The auction will take 
place on Saturday and Sunday, January 12th and 13th in New 
York City at the Radisson Lexington Hotel, 511 Lexington 
Avenue at 48th Street (across the street from the Waldorf 
Astoria Hotel). The auction features the entire working 
library of long time classical numismatist, Alex Malloy. 
Books will be sold individually and in bulk lots.

A two-week preview by appointment only of the books will 
take place at a private residence located outside of NYC. 
The ancient art books will be sold on Saturday, January 12th 
and the coin books the following day. The entire catalogue 
is available for free on our website at maltergalleries.com 
or in hard copy for $15 postpaid.

To view the auction catalog, see:
http://www.maltergalleries.com/auction/Jan12_08_2.html


EXCERPT: HENRY DUFFY'S FOREWORD TO MICAHEL MORAN'S 'STRIKING CHANGE'

[The December 2007 issue of The Whitman Review (Whitman 
Publishing's online journal) has an article adapted from 
the foreword to the new book by Michael Moran titled 'Striking 
Change: The Great Artistic Collaboration of Theodore Roosevelt 
and Augustus Saint-Gaudens'.  The foreword was written by 
Henry J. Duffy, Curator of the Saint-Gaudens National Historic 
Site in Cornish, New Hampshire.  Below are some excerpts. 
-Editor]

Augustus Saint-Gaudens is a towering figure in 19th-century 
American art and culture. As an artist he changed the course 
of American art, introducing a classical simplicity that 
heralded the later developments of modern art. As a teacher 
he influenced the next generation of sculptors. As an organizer 
of associations and exhibitions he brought a new understanding 
of art to a wide audience. And as a city planner he played a 
significant role in creating the city of Washington, DC, as 
we know it today. 

All of this is well known to art historians, but may not be 
as familiar in the specialized world of numismatics. It is 
for that reason that a new book about Saint-Gaudens and the 
creation of the 1907 gold coinage is not only valid, but welcome. 

The year 2007 is the centennial year of Saint-Gaudens’s death. 
The anniversary has been commemorated in many ways, including 
a feature-length film, exhibitions, and public programs. It is 
appropriate to bring this book to the public in this special 
year. 

Mr. Moran has approached the subject with a fresh look, recounting 
the events surrounding Saint-Gaudens’s design of the $20 and $10 
gold coins, but also placing this accomplishment in the light 
of some other related work. The author’s description of the 
World’s Columbian Exposition medal, the Roosevelt special 
inaugural medal, and the Franklin medal is an added bonus 
for readers.

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.whitmanbooks.com/Default.aspx?Page=55&HTMLName=ReviewGuest_1207

The December 2007 issue of The Whitman Review is online at: 
http://www.whitmanbooks.com/Default.aspx?Page=55 


BOOK REVIEW: A NATION OF COUNTERFEITERS BY STEPHEN MIHM

John and Nancy Wilson write: "At the Fall, 2007 Whitman Coin 
Expo in Atlanta, Assistant Professor of History at the University 
of Georgia Stephen Mihm, gave a  program based on his new book, 
'A Nation of Counterfeiters - Capitalists, Con Men, and the 
Making of the United States'.  It was a fascinating presentation.  
We have many counterfeit obsolete bank notes in our collection 
and learning about whom made them and why is very difficult.  
Very little has been written about early counterfeiting of 
bank notes.  

"This great reference answers from A to Z everything you want 
to know about counterfeiters from the revolutionary war followed 
by the obsolete bank note era; and right up until, and including 
the old large sized notes that circulated in our country from 
1861 to 1928.  This well illustrated, hard bound 455 page 
reference is jam packed with interesting stories, historical 
facts and figures and numerous other things  about counterfeit 
bank notes and there production.  The stories of many of the 
counterfeiters will have you laughing and shaking your head.  
The 48 pages of Notes to the Pages & Sources, along with the 
Index are very useful to the researcher, collector, dealer as 
well as the economic historian.  

"It was a very enjoyable read by a gifted author.  We recommend 
it to not only numismatists but non collectors as well.  It 
lists for $29.95 retail; the publisher is Harvard University 
Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.  

More information on the book can be found at:  
http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog/MIHNAT.html


DWIGHT MANLEY DONATES WORLD’S FIRST ILLUSTRATED NUMISMATIC BOOK TO ANA

[The press release was issued by the American Numismatic 
Association on Wednesday. -Editor]

A rare, 490-year old original copy of the first illustrated, 
printed numismatic book, Illustrium Imagines (“Images of the 
Illustrious”), has been donated to the American Numismatic 
Association by well-known collector, sports agent and real 
estate developer, Dwight N. Manley, of Newport Beach, California. 
The book was printed in 1517 in Rome, Italy, and contains 204 
ornate woodcut illustrations from ancient Roman coins and 
medallions.

Manley purchased it for $8,050 in the November 1, 2007, rare 
Book auction conducted by George Frederick Kolbe of Crestline,
California. In the catalog, Kolbe described the book as “... 
Of unparalleled importance, being only the second numismatic 
Book ever published, and the first printed book substantially 
Illustrating coins and medals ... A handsome publication, truly 
one of the greatest landmarks in the history of numismatic 
literature.”

“This generous gift is unquestionably one of the most treasured
volumes in any numismatic library collection,” said ANA Acting
Executive Director Ken Hallenbeck. “This becomes the oldest
numismatic book in the world’s largest numismatic lending library. 
It is a terrific addition to the ANA’s Dwight N. Manley Library.”
In 2003, the ANA Library was named in honor of Manley when he
gratefully donated $250,000 to the Association as way of saying
“thank you” for the $400 scholarship he received as a teenager 
in 1980 to attend an ANA Summer Seminar session.

“This book needs to be available to scholars. There are fine
reproductions that have been produced in recent years, and one
already is in the ANA Library, but there is no substitute for 
viewing and studying the real thing. When I saw an original 
edition was available, I immediately thought about buying it 
and donating it to the ANA,” Manley said.

“The book represents the beginnings of the science of numismatics,” 
said Douglas Mudd, curator of the Edward C. Rochette Money Museum. 
“Andrea Fulvio took the first steps towards making numismatic 
information available to scholars and collectors by linking 
information about ancient coins and medals to illustrations of 
the pieces. This connection to the ancient world of Greece and 
Rome was a key component of the Renaissance. In the process 
Fulvio also managed to create a new collecting area — that of 
numismatic
literature!”

Illustrium Imagines was written by Fulvio and the illustrations 
are attributed to Ugo da Carpi of Venice, Italy, an acquaintance 
of preeminent Renaissance artist Michelangelo. The 204 white-on-
black woodcuts show medallion-like portraits of Roman rulers 
within elaborately drawn borders. The 120 leaves of the book 
were rebound apparently in the 1700s with a spine lettered 
in gilt.

“The suburb, expressive woodcut portraits were based on the 
ancient Roman coins and medals in the collection of Jacopo 
Mazzocchi, the book’s printer,” Kolbe explained.  The book 
will be displayed in a special ANA Library exhibit during 
Summer Seminar 2008, June 21 – July 4. The first-known printed 
numismatic book, De Asse et Partibus Eius, a scientific study
of Roman metrology and coinage written by Guillaume Budé in 
1514, did not contain illustrations.


ANA JOURNAL CANCELED

It's Good News / Bad News from the American Numismatic 
Association on the numismatic literature front.  Tim L. 
Shuck of Ames, IA writes: "I received a letter Monday 
indicating cancellation of the 'ANA Journal: Advanced 
Studies in  Numismatics'. From the letter:

"Unfortunately, member interest and author participation 
in 'ANA  Journal' were not as strong as we had hoped. In 
addition, continued  production was not feasible given 
current budgetary and staff resources. However, plans are 
under way to compile and make available the papers presented 
each year as part of the Maynard Sundman Lecture Series 
at the ANA World's Fair of Money.

"The letter, from Managing Editor Andy Dickes, continues 
with options for how to handle the unused portion of the 
subscription. I'm not entirely surprised at this, as I 
recently read an article (in Coin World, I think) indicating 
the dearth of subscribers, high expenses relative to income, 
and possibility of cancellation. If I recall correctly I was 
one of fewer than 200 with a paid subscription. 

I don't have enough history in numismatics to put this loss 
more broadly in perspective, but I enjoyed and learned from 
the issues I received."

[Numismatic history is littered with publications that start 
off with good intent only to fizzle for one reason or another.  
I was also a subscriber to the defunct publication, hoping to 
show some support and add another good periodical to my library 
holdings.  I'm keeping mine, but it will be interesting to see 
how complete sets are valued in the numismatic literature 
aftermarket. -Editor]


REVIEW: SOTHEBY LAFAYETTE GOLD ORDER OF THE SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI

Ray Williams writes: "I do so look forward to The E-Sylum 
every Sunday!  Thank you!  I read and reread Alan Weinberg's 
review of the Sotheby hardbound catalog for the Washington 
Order of the Society of the Cincinnati Medal, and his post 
seemed to have a mildly negative twist.  I was fortunate to 
obtain a copy for my library and I'm thrilled with it!  

"I don't specifically collect Medals, but I do own a few.  
My interests are in colonial coinage, and all my colonial 
collecting friends have a passion for the history of this 
time period.  All medals have a place in numismatics and 
this one is no exception.  Although I won't be attending 
the auction  because of work obligations and the lack of 
resources to bid on this item, I will be anxiously awaiting 
a call from a friend to tell me how the auction proceeded.

"Alan describes the humble appearance of the box containing 
the medal, as not being worthy of its contents.  The box is 
just a side piece of history connected to the medal and I'm 
just thrilled that something as perishable as this container 
was preserved for more than 200 years.  He also makes comment 
that, 'Numerous pertinent documents are also pictured giving 
the casual reader the impression that the documents accompany 
the medal. That is not true and one must carefully read the 
footnotes to these documents' pictures to see the documents 
are housed in historical societies and don't accompany the 
Cincinnati badge.'  

"I think most reading the catalog would realize immediately 
that these were only historically related to the medal and 
not part of the sale.  But then again, Charles Davis finds 
it necessary in his eBay lot descriptions of books, to warn 
potential bidders that only the book is for sale, not the 
coins pictured on the pages!

"Alan, in his closing paragraph, thinks the medal won't sell.  
I think it will sell and will bring a strong price!  It is a 
great piece of American History with a direct connection with 
one of my personal heroes - George Washington."

[Ray offered to wager Alan that the medal would sell, betting 
a sandwich at the Carnegie Deli before the next Stack's auction 
that they both attend.  I forwarded Ray's note to Alan, who 
responded: "Change it to the Stage Deli near Carnegie's. Much 
better food and the crowds there prove that." 

Well, the lot sold Tuesday evening for $5,305,000.  So it 
looks like Ray will be eating a fine sandwich and Rev. Spooner 
is eating crow.

Alan had also predicted that if the item sold, it would NOT 
go to a buyer in the numismatic fraternity.  Ray bet dessert 
that it would.  So who was the buyer?  The New York Times 
published a report Wednesday on the outcome of the auction.  
Here are some excerpts.  -Editor]

A gold medal that was created for George Washington and 
presented to the Marquis de Lafayette was auctioned at 
Sotheby’s in Manhattan on Tuesday for a record $5.3 million, 
and will remain in France after residing there for 183 years. 

The enameled patriotic badge was bought by the Fondation 
Josée et René de Chambrun at the Château La Grange, Lafayette’s 
historic home 60 miles east of Paris.

The medal will be available to the public by appointment at 
Chateau La Grange “as soon as Sotheby’s gets it there,” he 
said, adding that “the Fondation would be happy to make the 
medal available on temporary loan to Mount Vernon, so the 
American public can see it as well.” 

The hammer price of $4.7 million after the spirited 11-minute 
auction — to which Sotheby’s added its premium or commission — 
“was astonishing, 10 times the record public price for a medal,” 
said Ute Wartenberg Kagan, executive director of the American 
Numismatic Society in Manhattan. 

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/12/nyregion/12medal.html

[So there you have it - the medal sold for a princely sum to 
a buyer outside the numismatic field. Ray Williams adds: "A 
non-numismatic buyer, so we're even. I'll buy the cheesecake 
and Alan will buy the sandwiches."  -Editor] 

  CATALOGUE: SOTHEBY LAFAYETTE GOLD ORDER OF THE SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n50a07.html


DOUBLE DAGGERS AUTHOR JAMES CLIFFORD INTERVIEWED

[An interview with James Clifford, author of the numismatic 
novel 'Double Daggers' was published this week.  In it he 
discusses his work and his next book.  Here are some excerpts.  
-Editor]

How would you describe your creative process while writing 
this novel? Was it stream-of-consciousness writing, or did 
you first write an outline? How long did it take you to 
write it?

  I would describe it as haphazard. Double Daggers was a 
  challenge to write because it is set in four different 
  time periods: the Roman Empire, The Crusades, World War II 
  and New York City in the present. But the characters in each 
  time period are similar, at least in their motivations, 
  flaws, and obsessions.

  The book took about three years to finish but that includes 
  many stops and starts and even months of not working on it 
  at all. Double Daggers took me a little longer to write than 
  others because of the research that was necessary do to the 
  different time periods in history. 

What type of book promotion seems to work the best for you?

  My books are fiction but I have numismatic elements to them 
  so I have a bit of a niche market. We do a lot of targeted 
  marketing through mailers and placing ads in trade magazines. 
  I also have booths at coin shows and I spend a lot of time 
  trying to come up with non-traditional ways to sell my books. 
  An example of the non-traditional market that has worked for 
  me is that a relative of mine owns an auto-repair center 
  and they sell a couple hundred copies of my books ever year. 

Do you have another novel on the works? Would you like to 
tell readers about your current or future projects?

  Double Daggers is my second novel and I just finished a new 
  one that I am excited about. 

  The story is about what happens when a successful family 
  man who has more cracks underneath his surface than a 
  shattered mirror collides with a Cherokee curse, a fortune 
  in gold coins stolen before the Civil War and the discovery 
  of his family’s darkest secrets — Ten Days to Madness. 

  The book is set over ten days and like Double Daggers it 
  is a work of fiction with a numismatic element to it. In 
  Ten Days to Madness the chief character discovers a diary 
  written by one of his ancestor and the diary makes him 
  obsessed with finding an ancient burial cave in the 
  Appalachian Mountains that, according to his ancestor, 
  contains a fortune in Bechtler gold coins. 

To read the complete interview, see:
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/12/14/171029.php


NEW ZEALAND / PACIFIC NUMISMATIC BIBLIOGRAPHY

For a number of years Larry Mitchell compiled a General 
Numismatic Bibliography for NBS.  Sections were published 
one at a time here in The E-Sylum, then posted to the NBS 
web site.

Martin Purdy writes: "An update to the NZ/Pacific bibliography 
listing attached.  It doesn't claim to be exhaustive - it's 
simply a list of those titles on my shelf other than those 
already included in the NBS website listing, so there will 
obviously be many more besides these that can be added in 
due course. I hope readers find it of some use."


Andrews, Arthur (as per listing, but original printing 1921)

Bertrand, John (ps.): New Zealand Coin Catalogue, 1st ed. 
1965, AH & AW Reed, 1965

Canterbury Branch of the Royal Numismatic Society of New 
Zealand: They Made Their Own Money, the Story of Early 
Canterbury Traders & their Tokens, RNSNZ (Cant’y) 1950

Carter, M & J: New Zealand Milk Tokens, Catalogue and 
Appendices, The Authors, 2006

Chappell, NM: New Zealand Banker’s Hundred, Bank of 
New Zealand 1861-1961, BNZ, Wellington 1961

Coates, Alan: The Old New Zealand Money 1933-1967, 3rd 
revised ed. 2005, The Author.

Cresswell, John C.M.: Collecting Coins and Medals, 
Whitcombe and Tombs 1973

Cresswell, John C.M.: Numismatists of 20th Century 
Auckland, The Author, 2005

Cresswell, John C.M., and James B. Duncan: Teutenberg, 
A Master Engraver & His Work, Mintmark Publication, 
Numismatic Society of Auckland 2007

Cummings, E.J. (ed.): Renniks Australian Coin & Banknote 
Values, 21st ed., Renniks, NSW 2004

Doak, W.: The Elingamite and its Treasure, Hodder & 
Stoughton 1969

Foster, D.J.: Foster’s Catalogue of New Zealand Coins 
and Tokens, Epping Duplicating & Printing Service, ND 
(c. 1966)

Gartner, John: The Australian Coin Catalogue, 7th ed, 
1975 (“Complete Coinage of Australia, New Zealand, New 
Guinea, Fiji”), Hawthorn Press, Melbourne

Greig, R.M., H. Robinson & W.W. Woodside: Australian, 
New Zealand Communion Tokens and Miscellaneous Series, 
Hawthorn Press, Melbourne 1964

Griffin, R.H.: Bank of New Zealand Banknotes 1861-1934, 
BNZ, Wellington 1987

Hanley, T., and W. James: Collecting Australian Coins, 
KG Murray, Sydney, ND (c. 1966)

Heyde, G.C.: Renniks Unofficial Coins of Colonial 
Australia and New Zealand, Renniks, S. Australia, 1967

Holder, R.F.: Bank of New South Wales, a History 
(2 vols), Angus & Robertson, Sydney 1970

Lampard, William H.: Catalogue of NZ Coins, Tokens, 
Bank Notes, Royal 

Numismatic Society of NZ 1981 (published as a special 
oversized edition of the NZ Numismatic Journal, vol. 
16 no. 1 (60))

Lester, Roy S.: Fully Illustrated Guide to New Zealand 
Coins and Varieties, 1st ed. 1967, Consolidated Press 
Holdings, Wellington 1966

McNeice, R.: Coins & Tokens of Tasmania 1803-1910, 
Platypus Publications, Hobart 1969 

Mitchell, Howard: ‘Premier’ New Zealand Coin & Banknote 
Catalogue, 2007 edition, Philatelic Distributors Ltd, 
New Plymouth

Morel, L.G.: Medallic Commemoratives of New Zealand 
1865-1940, 2nd ed., New Century Press 1996

Morel, L.G.: Supplement to Medallic Commemoratives of 
New Zealand 1865-1940, 2000 

New Zealand Numismatic Society (now the RNSNZ): 
Transactions, 3 vols., Wellington 1931-36, 1936-41, 
1941-47

Numismatic Society of Auckland Inc.: The Duodecimal 
Coinage of New Zealand 1933-1965, A Series of Talks 
Given to Enlighten those Too Young to Remember, 

NSA, Supplement to “Mintmark”, ND (c. 2001)

O’Connor, V.: Whitcombe’s Guide to Decimal Currency 
in New Zealand, Whitcombe & Tombs 1965

Reserve Bank of New Zealand: Money and Banking in New 
Zealand, Harry H. Tombs Ltd. 1963

Robb, Alistair: Banknotes of New Zealand, a catalogue 
of every paper banknote used, The Author, Wellington 1999

Robb, Alistair: Coins, Tokens & Banknotes of New Zealand, 
The Author, Wellington 1976

Robb, Alistair: Catalogue of the Trading Bank Notes of 
New Zealand, draft copy, Wellington 2006

Robinson, H.A.: Auckland Tradesmen’s Tokens, Numismatic 
Society of Auckland, 1960

Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand Inc.: New Zealand 
Numismatic Journal (periodical publication, 1947 to date, 
ISSN 0028-8527)

Skinner, Dion H: Renniks Australian Commonwealth Coinage 
Guide, 2nd ed. 1964, Renniks, S. Australia 1964

Skinner, Dion H: Renniks New Zealand Coinage Guide, 1966 
ed., Renniks, S. Australia 1965

Skinner, Dion H: Renniks New Zealand Coin and Banknote 
Values, Renniks, S. Australia, ND (c. 1982)

Squire, R.B.: Coin Catalogue New Zealand Australia New 
Guinea Fiji (“Standard Catalogue of British South Pacific 
Coins”), 2nd ed., Aug. 1966, World Wide Stamp & Coin 
Supplies Ltd., Wellington

Stocker, Dr Mark: ‘Coins of the People’: the 1967 New 
Zealand Decimal Coin Reverses, in: BNJ 2000 (v. 70), 
pp. 124ff.

Stocker, Dr Mark: ‘The Numismatic Birth of the Dominion’: 
The 1933 New Zealand Coinage Designs, Royal Numismatic 
Society of NZ 2005 (published as a supplement to NZNJ no. 
82, ISBN 0-476-01614-2)

Tye, J.R.: The Image Maker – The Art of James Berry, 
Hodder & Stoughton 1984

Williams, M. & G. Shea, Bread Tokens of New Zealand, 
Queensland Numismatic Society, ND (c. 2006)

de Young, Scott: The Decimal Banknotes of New Zealand 
1967-2000, The Paper Issues, PJ Symes, Canberra 2000

To access the NBS bibliography, see:
http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_biblio.html

To view the current New Zealand numismatic bibliography page, see:
http://www.coinbooks.org/club_nbs_biblio_mo_new_zealand.html


QUERY: THOMAS CUNNINGHAM ARTICLE SOUGHT

Jerry Fochtman writes: "I've got a small, bound copy of a 
reprint of Thomas Cunningham's article on Postage and Fractional 
Currency that was in the Vol. XXVII, No. 4 April, 1893 issue 
of the "American Journal of Numismatics".  It's bound in black 
hardboard covers with the paper title and the name of Thomas 
Cunningham in gold lettering on the cover.  Inside is a 
bookplate for Henry Brand's library and on the cover page 
it is autographed "Compliments of Thomas Cunningham".  I 
received it in an auction where it was sold by an elderly 
gentlemen who received it from the William Philpott library 
after he passed away.  

"In the process of trimming the pages of the article for 
mounting, it was trimmed too tight on the edge, cutting off 
some of the letters, enough to make it difficult to determine 
the word at the end of the sentence.  So while I have this 
wonderful autographed item in my library, I would like to 
obtain a digital, or good photo copy of the complete original 
article to place with this original bound version.

"Thus far I've not been able to locate any example of the 
specific issue that contained the original published article.   
I've been offered a complete set of American Journal of Numismatics, 
but the price exceeds my resources.  So if anyone happens to 
know where I can borrow a copy to scan, or perhaps can assist 
me in getting a copy I would appreciate it.  Thanks!"

[I would suggest the American Numismatic Association library –
they can provide photocopies of any Numismatist article, 
and they may have that issue of AJN even if they don’t have 
a full set.  Check the subject files as well as the shelves – 
when I was there many years ago they had a file cabinet 
with copies of various articles, and I think I first read 
this one there. -Editor]


ROBERT E. HECHT AND HESPERIA ART

Regarding Robert E. Hecht and price lists from Hesperia Art, 
R. Craig Kammerer of Basking Ridge, NJ writes: "Kerry Wetterstrom 
is correct about Bob Hecht. Bob supplied Hesperia Art with coins 
& antiquities in the 1960’s which were marketed thru a William 
H. Allen Bookseller, Walnut Street in Philadelphia, as I have 
some of his lists and actually have visited there many years 
ago, with the proprietor’s name of a George Allen. They also 
had fabulous classical books and often, some collection for 
sale. George kept want lists on 3 x 5 “ index cards and would 
send you a post card when a wanted item came into stock.

"I have not tried to find the store in many years, though it 
looks like George Allen died in 1997, as there is a book 
entitled the History of William H. Allen Booksellers by George 
Allen, 1917-1997.

"Sometime about 1985, I did ask George about whether he would 
publish any more Hecht lists, but his answer was definitely no."

  MORE ON ROBERT E. HECHT
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n50a20.html


BRONGNIART LIBERTAS AMERICANA LETTERS TRANSLATED TO ENGLISH

Last week I asked if one of our readers could offer assistance 
in translating from the original French letters referenced by 
Karl Moulton in recent book.  Karl noted that "The Brongniart 
letters definitely need to be properly translated to English."

Reader François Velde of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago 
Research Department came through with the following translations:

Sunday Sep 22, 1782

Sir,
I have finally received two sketches of rather large medals 
from the sculptor I had the honor of mentioning to you.  I 
have also asked a friend of mine who is a painter to draw 
the same subject and I think he has done rather well.  On 
which day do you wish us to go to Passy to have the honor 
of presenting the works to you?  Or if your business calls 
you to Paris and you took pains to come to my home, you would 
find everything assembled for you by giving me a day's notice.
The only favor I ask is that you embarrass yourself in no way, 
too happy that I am if I have helped your ideas in any way.

http://www.franklinpapers.org/franklin/yale?vol=38&page=086&ssn=001-00-0826 

Thursday Jan 23, 1783

I have the honor of sending to Mr Franklin two new proofs 
of the medal, noting that the head is not quite as perfect 
as it should be, that the serpents held by the child will 
be larger and better drawn; moreover the engraver put "intans" 
instead of "infans" and this spelling mistake shall be 
corrected.  I have the honor of reminding Mr Franklin that 
he had promised what he shall have inscribed on both sides 
at the bottom of the medal, and this matter alone prevents 
its completion.

http://www.franklinpapers.org/franklin/yale?vol=38&page=643&ssn=001-00-0826 

Friday Jan 31, 1783

M Brongniart has the honor of sending his respects to Mr 
Franklin and begs him to let him know if he was given Friday 
of last week [=Jan 24] two new proofs of the medal, and among 
others that of the head of Liberty.

Mr Franklin has seemingly forgotten to send to Mr Brongniart 
what he wishes to have put at the bottom of the medal on each 
side, and this holds back the engraver who wishes to complete 
this work."

http://www.franklinpapers.org/franklin/yale?vol=38&page=698&ssn=001-00-0826 

Karl Moulton asked me to relate his thanks to François. 
He adds: "I think these will be useful and repeated rather 
often by future researchers."

  KARL MOULTON ON HIS 'HENRY VOIGHT AND OTHERS' BOOK
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n50a11.html


MCA ADVISORY OFFERS FORUM FOR LIBERTAS AMERICANA DISCUSSIONS

NBS President John W. Adams doubles as editor of the MCA 
Advisory, the official journal of the Medal Collectors of 
America.  John writes: "The Libertas Americana debate between 
Eckert and Moulton is an important one, but it is difficult 
to follow when the comments are separated.   I would suggest 
that they and anyone else who is interested (myself included) 
state their arguments in the same space at the same time along 
with rebuttals.  Readers can then conveniently decide for 
themselves. I would like to offer the February issue of the 
MCA Advisory as a venue for the discussion."

[Other club journals as always welcome to reprint E-Sylum 
articles with proper acknowledgement, and I agree that the 
MCA Advisory would be a good forum for continuing the 
discussion.  Contributors can contact John at this address:
John.Adams at CanaccordAdams.com.  -Editor]


A ONE-PAGE HENRY COOK COIN CIRCULAR

Regarding the 1869 Henry Cook Coin and medal Circular I 
wrote about last week, Numismatic Bibliomania Society 
Secretary-Treasurer Dave Sundman writes: "Coincidentally, 
on my desk I have a Henry Cook one page listing COIN CIRCULAR 
that I purchased from Charles Davis at the summer American 
Numismatic Association convention in Milwaukee.  This was 
produced by Henry Cook when he was at 47 Waltham Street in 
Boston, circa 1890 at the end of his career.  The piece 
expresses very similar sentiments, perhaps a bit more 
emphatically:

  In conclusion I would here give a little advice to the 
  inexperienced.  Pay sno regard to the many priced list 
  of coin, etc. that are put in circulation by the coin 
  dealers.  They are but advertising claptraps, and cannot, 
  from the very nature of the business be of any weight 
  either with buyer or seller.  Every collector or dealer, 
  if honest, will tell you that no estimate can be formed 
  of the value of coins, Medals, Antiques, etc. without a 
  personal inspection of the piece or article of which 
  his opinion may be asked.

  HENRY COOK'S COIN AND MEDAL CIRCULAR
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n50a14.html

[This is an age-old problem which continues today.  How 
many dealers out there ask callers if they could hold the 
coin closer to the phone so you can get a better look at it?  
Even with electronic images, amateur photos are rarely good 
enough to make even a cursory estimate of an item's 
attribution and value.  -Editor]


QUERY: GEORGE WASHINGTON'S AWARD FOR JOHN STEWARD

[An article published last Sunday in an Annapolis, MD newspaper 
has me puzzled.  What is meant when it says that "General 
Washington had a silver coin cut by order of the Continental 
Congress"?   See the excerpt below.  -Editor]

"Stephen Steward's son John joined the Maryland Line in 
February of 1776. He was one of 32 survivors of the famous 
unit that held at the Battle of Long Island, saving George 
Washington's army. He served in virtually every battle from 
then until Yorktown.

"General Washington had a silver coin cut by order of the 
Continental Congress, equal today's Congressional Medal of 
Honor, honoring John Steward's valor at the Battle of 
Stony Point.

"Mr. Hall has a copy of the letter Washington wrote to 
Stephen Steward noting his son's bravery."

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi-bin/read/2007/12_09-40/TOP


WILLIAM H. WOODIN'S POLITICAL JOURNEY AND MUSICAL TALENT

Leon Worden writes: "My thanks to Pete Smith, Thomas P. 
Van Zeyl and Marc Charles Ricard for the replies to my 
query about William H. Woodin, FDR's first Secretary of 
the Treasury.
 
"It's interesting to think of Woodin running for Congress 
in 1898 as a Republican, considering the economic policies 
he would develop 35 years later. I mean, I know there were 
a (very) few Silver Republicans -- though probably not in 
Pennsylvania -- just as there was a smattering of Gold 
Democrats, but assuming Woodin was with the majority of 
Republicans on the issue, it would be fun to know what 
he had to say about the gold standard as an 1898 politician!
 
"Woodin was quite the renaissance man; as for his musical 
talents, my little collection of 'Woodin ephemera' includes 
several pieces of sheet music including the full orchestration 
of his 'Franklin D. Roosevelt March.'
 
"Republican my foot. :-) "

Pete Smith writes: "I mentioned that William Woodin is one 
of my pet projects. I enjoy learning about numismatists 
who have great accomplishments in other areas. I doubt if 
most E-Sylum readers know of Woodin's accomplishments as 
a composer.
 
"Under the name Will Woodin, he composed music for 'Raggedy 
Ann's Sunny Songs' with illustrations and text by Johnny Gruelle. 
Although I have been aware of this for years, I have not found 
out how the two creators got together. I suspect they were 
friends.  

"In addition to Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy, one of Gruelle's 
characters was 'Little Wooden Willie.' I doubt if the similarity 
to Will Woodin was coincidental. Somehow I find the concept 
of Little Wooden Willie amusing."

  WILLIAM H. WOODIN'S 1898 CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n50a22.html


U.K. MAN ARRESTED FOR COUNTERFEITING MILLIONS OF POUND COINS

[The BBC reported that a man suspected of counterfeiting 
fourteen million one pound coins has been arrested.  Here 
are some excerpts.  -Editor]

A counterfeiter who produced fake £1 coins with an estimated 
total value of £14m, has been jailed for five years. Marcus 
Glindon, 37, from Enfield, north London, made the coins over 
seven years from a workshop near his home. 

When officers raided his home and nearby business, MG Engineering, 
in March they found machines used to manufacture coins and 
counterfeit dies. 

Of the estimated 14 million coins, 2.5 million were completed 
while the remainder were left blank, due to be finished off. 

It is thought that at one stage he was making 10,000 to 12,000 
coins per day and was paid about £2,000 in cash a week by 
the two men. 

The Royal Mint said it would be extremely difficult for members 
of the public to differentiate between legitimate coins and 
the fake ones Glindon had produced. 

To read the complete article, see:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7144549.stm


ISRAEL DROPPING LOWEST DENOMINATION COIN, ADDING NEW 2 SHEKEL PIECE
 
Dick Johnson writes: "Israel has done something with its 
coins that the United States should do: Issued a higher 
denomination coin and drop the lowest. Wise move. The Bank 
of Israel introduced a 2-shekel coin last Sunday, December 
9, 2007.
 
"It is all part of a well-devised plan, first started with 
the abolishment of the 1-agorot coin in 2005, the lowest 
denomination then in circulation (I wrote of this in The 
E-Sylum at the time: vol 8, no 8, article 13). The plan 
continues with a survey of Israeli citizens last summer. 
 
"That survey, conducted by Dr. Mina Tzemach, states most 
Israelis welcome the new 2 shekel coin. According to public 
opinion, its introduction will diminish the existing gap 
between NIS 1 (one New Israeli Shekel) and NIS 5 coins. 
This will facilitate the daily transactions and bring more 
efficiency in coin handling.
 
"Note well the word 'efficiency.' Rounding off retail prices 
and abolishing coin denominations of low denominations creates 
greater efficiency in commerce. It also creates a demand for 
larger value coins to maintain a balance of the correct number 
of circulating denominations. (What's the ideal number of 
denominations? Count the number of coin compartments in cash 
registers in that country! Don't go over that number!)  
 
"The next step in Israel's coin system plan is to abolish the 
5-agorot coin (comparable to U.S. 5-cent piece).  A statement 
accompanied the announcement of the new 2-shekel coin:  'The 
next change in Israeli currency might be to abolish the 
unpopular 5-agorot coin, as a majority of Israelis do not 
appreciate receiving it in change.'
 
"In addition to Israel, Australia, New Zealand and a number 
of Scandinavian countries have eliminated their lowest 
circulating coin denomination.  Canada is just about to 
abolish their cent coin. When will the U.S. Treasury officials 
realize the inevitable -- it will be necessary to abolish 
the U.S. cent!
 
"Eliminating the cent will lead to greater efficiency in 
American  commerce.  (And create a demand for higher 
denomination circulating coins to maintain that efficiency.)
 
"The Israeli news story gives details on the design and 
designer of its new 2-shekel coin:
-http://www.israel-times.com/business/2007/12/israel-a-new-2-shekel-coin-see
s-daylight-3478/


ARTICLE PROFILES WAYNE SAYLES AND STATE DEPARTMENT ANCIENT COIN LAWSUIT

[Dick Johnson forwarded an article from the Kansas City 
Star about Wayne Sayles and the lawsuit filed by ancient 
coin collectors against the U.S. State Department.  Here 
are some excerpts.  -Editor]

Heads, Wayne Sayles is overreacting. Tails, the State 
Department is.

Sayles, a south Missouri coin collector and dealer, is 
suing the Washington bureaucracy. He insists its unprecedented 
decision to restrict imports of ancient coins of Cyprus is 
“a major offensive” against collectors like him.

In July, the State Department banned Cypriot coinage dating 
from the end of the sixth century B.C. (when Rome was a small 
town and the Jews were abducted by the Babylonians) to 235 A.D.

At a ceremony in Washington, Undersecretary of State Nicholas 
Burns said the move would help Cyprus battle “those who would 
plunder its heritage and seek to sell that heritage illegally.”

Dealers and curators must now worry that the government can 
detain any coin that looks Cypriot, which puts the burden on 
the importer to prove that an obol or tetradrachm was outside 
of Cyprus before the July ban went into effect. Without 
documentation or provenance, which most coins lack, coins 
could be seized even if they’ve been away for centuries.

Sayles, a Gainesville man who has been collecting for 40 years, 
is particularly interested in Roman provincial coins of the 
city of Anazarbus in Cilicia, part of what is now southern 
Turkey. His wife, Doris, likes to collect coins from the 
Phoenician city of Dora on what is now Israel’s coast.

Not a Cypriot coin between them. So why 
?

“In a world where globalism is not just a trend but an 
irreversible fact of life, how can anyone justify turning 
America into an island of prohibition for something as 
innocuous as a common coin?” asked Sayles, head of the 
Ancient Coin Collectors Guild, an advocacy group for private 
collectors and independent scholars that he founded in 2004.

To press his case, Sayles has lined up backing from Sen. Kit 
Bond of Missouri. “It’s easy for governments to just say 
‘stop everything,’ but that just doesn’t make any sense,” 
Vartian said. “Foreign governments, quite correctly, are 
worried about people plundering stuff. But they tend to 
respond to those things by hitting the fly with the 
sledgehammer.”

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/394858.html


LORD ASHCROFT OFFERS REWARD FOR RETURN OF STOLEN VICTORIA CROSSES

Jim Duncan of New Zealand writes: "Lord Ashcroft has very 
kindly put up NZ$200,000 as a reward for the return of the 
New Zealand medals.   Our Prime Minister is a little concerned 
that offers of big money may suggest 'copy cat' robberies with 
a view to a fat reward in the future.
 
"But I think in this case we need some inducement for return.   
I think we are all smarting from the humiliation at this time."

  VICTORIA CROSS COLLECTOR: LORD ASHCROFT
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n50a27.html

  VICTORIA CROSS MEDAL THEFT GENERATES OUTRAGE IN NEW ZEALAND
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n50a28.html


REPLICA VICTORIA CROSS SET GIVEN TO NEW ZEALAND MUSEUM

"The rare war medal heist at Waiouru Army Museum has had 
an encouraging sequel.

"The family of one of the Victoria Cross heroes who lost 
their medals in the burglary a week and a half ago have 
presented the museum with a historic replacement set.

"They're called the Victoria Cross 'family set of medals' 
and belong to second world war hero Keith Elliot,' says 
Elliot's son, Doug Elliot.

"They were specially made for him by former Prime Minister 
Sir Keith Holyoake.

"Elliot wore them to official functions, over the last 25 
years of his life, while the originals lay on display at 
the army museum.

"'These were the same set that we used at his military 
funeral in 1989 and I have great pleasure to bring these 
back to the museum', says Elliot.

"Colonel Raymond Seymour says this is a tremendous offer 
by the family, at this difficult time, to bring the medals 
to the museum and offer them up as a replacement set.

"The replicas will stand in for the originals, stolen 
from the museum 11 days ago and so far are unrecovered."

To read the complete article, see:
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/536641/1501822


NEW ZEALAND MUSEUMS LOCKING UP MEDAL COLLECTIONS

[In light of the recent high-profile theft, other museums 
are stepping up their protection for similar medals.  
-Editor]

"Up to 60 medals have been taken out of their cases at 
Tairawhiti Museum and locked in a vault, in the wake of 
the medal theft from Waiouru Army Museum earlier this month. 

"The Gisborne museum boasts New Zealand's largest collection 
of medals obtained by the Maori Battalion. 

"Tairawhiti Museum director Monty Soutar said the displayed 
medals were priceless and it would have been irresponsible 
to not take action after medals were stolen from Waiouru. 

"'We have taken them out and are putting in replicas,' 
he said. 

"Gisborne medal specialist Tom Walsh will make replicas 
of the key medals. 

"'He is one of the top 10 medal specialists in the country. 
We are really lucky he lives down the road,' said Dr Soutar.

"All original medals have been taken away to a vault."

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/Default.aspx?s=3&s1=2&id=cf3e926e83174c9ebfb
0d6b6cfe55385


DICKIN MEDAL HERO PADDY THE PIGEON HONORED

[We're written before about recipients of the Dickin Medal, 
designed to honor animals who bravely serve in battle.  
Medal winners are back in the news this week. -Editor]

"A County Antrim pigeon who received a medal for his war-time 
bravery is being remembered at a special ceremony in England. 
Paddy the pigeon was bred in Moyleen, Carnlough. 

"He was decorated for being the first bird to fly back with 
news of the D-Day landings in Normandy in World War II. 

"Paddy is one of 62 animals who received the PSDA Dickin 
Medal, the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross, for 
bravery in the war. 

"He received the PDSA Dickin Medal on 1 September 1944 
for recording the quickest time to return with information 
from the D-Day landings at Normandy on 6 June that year 
while he was serving with the RAF. 

"Dogs, horses, pigeons and a cat received medals because 
they helped save thousands of lives in the war. 

"They are buried at the PDSA animal cemetery in Redbridge, 
Ilford and all are being remembered at a special ceremony. 

"Veteran military personnel who served with the animals 
will stage a march past and a bugler will sound the Last Post. 

"A fly-past by pigeons will commemorate the 32 birds who 
were honoured for their bravery. 

"Paddy's medal was sold to a pigeon fancier for almost £7,000 
at an auction in Dublin in September 1999." 

To read the complete article, see:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7141013.stm


DICKIN ANIMAL HERO CEMETARY RESTORED

"Recipients of the PDSA Dickin Medal, recognised as the animals' 
equivalent of the Victoria Cross, were afforded full military 
honours during an event to mark the restoration at the charity's 
animal cemetery at Ilford, Essex. The cemetery contains the 
graves of a dozen recipients of the award, which has been 
bestowed 62 times since its inception in 1943.
   
"The Ilford cemetery also contains the remains of 3,000 other 
military animals and family pets. It was restored with the 
help of a National Lottery grant.

"PDSA director general, Marilyn Rydström said: 'Many lives 
were saved as a result of the courage and dedication to 
duty of the animals buried at Ilford.

"'Sadly, over the years, the animal graves had weathered 
and broken.

"'So we decided to embark on the restoration project as a 
mark of respect for the PDSA Dickin Medal recipients and 
the 3,000 other military animals and family pets buried there.' "

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/12/14/narmy414.xml


VIEWPOINT: CIRCULATING COINS DESERVE QUALITY DESIGNS

[Citizens Coin Advisory Committee member Gary B. Marks 
authored a great Viewpoint article on circulating coin 
designs which was published this week on Numismaster.  
Here are some excerpts.  -Editor]

At the FIDEM Art Medal World Congress held in Colorado 
Springs this past September, Mint Director Edmund Moy 
gave what is clearly one of the most important and visionary 
speeches ever delivered by a mint director. Moy boldly 
announced his intent "to spark a neo-renaissance for coin 
design and achieve a new level of design excellence."

Recognizing that the nation's currency "is part of what 
defines America," Moy spoke of how Saint-Gaudens' 1907 
Double Eagle had so successfully used allegorical 
illustration to beautifully capture America's feelings 
about itself and its aspirations for the future at the 
turn of the 20th century.

Moy expressed his hope that "the world would reflect back 
100 years from now and say that the beginning of the 20th 
century was great, but the 21st century was even better." 
Bravo! As an American patriot, a life-long coin collector 
and a lover of art, I applaud Moy's visionary call for 
renewed greatness in American coinage design.

Moy sees opportunities to "raise the bar of design excellence 
in American coinage and medallic art" within a modern rendition 
of Lady Liberty on his own Mint director's medal, upcoming 
designs for the American Eagle platinum proof coin series, 
the 2008 American Bald Eagle commemorative program and 
various medals. 

Moy can count on me to stand with him in striving for his
visionary and worthwhile goals. And, I suspect that coin 
collectors and medallic art fans throughout the United 
States share my support of Moy's efforts. But as we work 
to "raise the bar," let's also take the renaissance beyond 
the confines of the commemorative collector and precious 
medals investor and out to the American people at large. 
Let's introduce inspiring allegorical imagery to the masses 
through our circulating coinage. Let's revolutionize our 
circulating coins with modern depictions of "Lady Liberty," 
"America" and other creative allegorical images. Truly, if 
the world will look back 100 years from now and recognize 
the beginning of the 21st century as a "renaissance" in 
coinage design, it will be largely because the design 
revolution was taken to the American people. Only when a 
new image of Lady Liberty shows up in change at the grocery 
store check-out, rattles into the coin return of the vending 
machine, or is slid under the teller's window to a surprised 
and delighted bank customer will the "world" take notice and 
recognize the neo-renaissance of American coinage. 

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.numismaster.com/ta/numis/Article.jsp?ad=article&ArticleId=3512


U.S. MINT CITIZENS COINAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SEEKS NEW MEMBERS 

[Don't like the latest U.S. coin designs?  Want to make a 
difference?  Here's your chance.  According to a Tuesday press 
release, "The United States Mint is seeking applicants for 
appointment to the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC).  
The terms of two CCAC members will expire in February 2008 -- 
one for a member representing the interests of the general 
public, and one for a qualified numismatic specialist.  The 
application deadline is January 31, 2008.  The United States 
Mint will review all applications and will forward recommendations 
to the Secretary of the Treasury for appointment consideration.  
-Editor]

"The CCAC was created to advise the Secretary of the Treasury 
on the selection of themes and design proposals for circulating
 coinage, commemorative coins, bullion coinage, Congressional 
Gold Medals and other medals.  The CCAC also advises the 
Secretary with regard to the events, persons, or places to 
be commemorated by the issuance of commemorative coins, as 
well as the mintage levels and proposed designs of commemorative 
coins. 

"The CCAC is composed of 11 members:  one specially qualified 
in numismatic collection curation; one specially qualified in 
the medallic arts or sculpture; one specially qualified in 
American history; one specially qualified in numismatics; 
three individuals representing the interests of the general 
public; and four individuals recommended by the Leadership 
of both the House of Representatives and Senate.  CCAC members 
serve terms of four years and are Special Government Employees; 
therefore, they are subject to various applicable conflict of 
interest laws and ethics regulations."

To read the complete press release, see:
http://www.usmint.gov/pressroom/index.cfm?action=press_release&ID=853


NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN CASHES IN TWENTY YEARS WORTH OF WISHING WELL COINS

[An article from Portsmouth, NH tells how a twenty-year 
hoard of coins was recently cashed in.  Too bad melting's 
illegal - the pre-1982 cents might have generated more than 
face value for the town.  -Editor]

On Saturday, the Prescott Park Board of Trustees, with the 
help of Boy Scout Troop 181 of Rye, packed up and transferred 
a stockpile of pennies, nickels, quarters and dimes that had 
been thrown into the four fountains in the riverside park with 
the hope a wish might come true.

Michael Warhurst, the superintendent of Prescott Park, said 
he and the staff clean out the change from the fountains on 
a regular basis and had been storing them in five-gallon buckets 
for years. Almost entirely made up of pennies, it's estimated 
this chunk of change had been collecting for more than two 
decades.

Brad Lown, one of the trustees that oversees a number of city 
trust funds, said he and a fellow board member discovered the 
coins in a park storage facility.

'We were just looking down here and saw the coins and thought 
they ought to be brought to a bank,' he said.

The Prescott Park staff did a rough count and estimate the 
change is worth about $2,400.

The money will be deposited into a fund dedicated to the care 
of the Hovey Fountain, known for its statue. Warhurst said 
besides regular maintenance, the fountain needs some repairs.

While the park staff had the dirty job of collecting the 
coins, scouts Joe and Sam Allen, Chris and Camden Latimer, 
and volunteers Peter and Abigail Lown and Grace Gittell 
scooped four wheelbarrows' worth of dusty pennies into 
plastic bank bags for easier transport.

After the bags were loaded into Brad Lown and troop leader 
Jeff Latimer's cars, the kids carried the bags into Citizens 
Bank, which had agreed to change in the money for the 
organization.

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071209/NEWS/71209
0351


NEW YORK PENNY HARVEST FIELD DISPLAYS 100 MILLION CENTS

[The New York Times published a report on an unusual massive 
display of Lincoln Cents accumulated in a fund-raising effort. 
-Editor]

One million dollars — give or take a few cents — landed at 
Rockefeller Center today. 

Silda Wall Spitzer, the wife of Gov. Eliot Spitzer, joined 
more than 300 elementary and middle school students from 
New York to unveil the “Penny Harvest Field,” an exhibition 
featuring an estimated 100 million pennies, most of them 
collected by children, between Oct. 22 and Thanksgiving.

The pennies have been placed on a pedestrian walkway between 
50th and 51st Streets, and Fifth Avenue and the Avenue of the 
Americas. The Harvest Field, as was explained in a Times 
article by Vincent M. Mallozzi last week, was designed by 
the architect James S. Polshek and sponsored by Tishman 
Speyer, the company that controls Rockefeller Center. It 
will be open free to the public every day from 9 a.m. to 
9 p.m. through Dec. 31.

The exhibit is the culmination of the 17th annual Penny 
Harvest, a national, yearlong education program by Common 
Cents, a nonprofit group that encourages civic engagement 
among young people. 

Early next year, most of the pennies will be returned to 
the students — who, with the help of their teachers, will 
decide which charities to give the money, too. Last year, 
448,768 Penny Harvest students in New York City collected 
$643,840.83 in pennies from their neighbors and relatives, 
and that money went to make 1,361 grants and support 315 
neighborhood service projects. Common Cents anticipates 
similar levels of giving this year.

To read the complete article, see:
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/12/10/making-cents-for-children-at-ro
ckefeller-center/


ON LATE DEATH NOTICES IN THE ANA NUMISMATIST MAGAZINE 

Dave Lange writes: "The November issue of the American 
Numismatic Association's Numismatist magazine included a 
premature death notice for Howard Daniel III. 

"This kind of error works both ways in that a death notice 
may also appear years after a person has passed. Around 1990 
The Numismatist published a death notice for member Clifford 
Bloom of San Francisco. I had known Cliff reasonably well, 
and I knew that he had died five years earlier. Since his 
involvement in numismatics was more than casual, having been 
a member of the Junior Coin Collectors of San Francisco as 
a child in the 1930s and a long standing member of the Pacific 
Coast Numismatic Society until his death, I believed that 
his passing deserved more than just an abrupt notice.

"I wrote a long and detailed obituary for him that I submitted 
to Editor Barbara Gregory in the expectation that this would 
be published in an upcoming issue. Instead, she wrote back to 
me stating that the ANA had only recently learned of Cliff's 
death. As a life member who had no direct heirs, he continued 
to receive his copies of The Numismatist monthly for years 
afterward. It was only then that some family member notified 
the ANA that he was no longer alive, so his death notice was 
published when received."

  MORE ON DEATH NOTICES IN THE ANA NUMISMATIST
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n50a32.html


CRAZY CHRISTMAS GIFT FROM DOWN UNDER: TOKEN/SCREWDRIVER
 
Dick Johnson writes: "Admit it. You have used a coin -- dime, 
cent or other -- on a screwhead when a screwdriver wasn't handy. 
Well, they do the same in Australia. A company there, Lee Valley 
Tools, has capitalized on this practice and created a coin-size 
screwdriver. It has produced something that looks like a coin 
but with a big hole in the center, perhaps so you won't mistakenly 
try to spend it.
 
"Actually it is diestruck. It is going to drive token collectors 
crazy -- it has created a whole new category of tokens!  What 
will exonumismatists call them?  Coin screwers? Coin drivers? 
Token screwers? Screw token drivers?
 
"The company sells a packet of 12 for $8.50 Australian.  Got 
any friends you want to give a 71c gift to?
 
Here's a fancy picture and product description:
http://www.lifehacker.com.au/tips/2007/11/08/coinsized_pocket_screwdrivers.h
tml "


MERCURY DIME SET GIFT TOUCHES A FATHER'S HEART

[As the holidays approach, here is a touching story about a 
son's numismatic gift to his father.  It was published today 
in the Charlotte Observer.  Here are some excerpts.  -Editor]

Frank DeGeorge had no idea what his son down in Charlotte had 
sent him for Christmas. A book of some kind, maybe.

Then he opened it, and it nearly took his breath... And he 
thought: Steve remembered.

The memory came from more than 30 years ago, when Frank 
DeGeorge had a wife and five kids and no money coming in.

He and his brother started a food brokerage, helping small 
companies get their products on the shelves. But the business 
couldn't get off the ground. Frank was staring at a dwindling 
savings account and no money coming in.

He had to sell the Mercury dimes.

He hated to do it. He had collected coins his whole life. 
Steve -- the middle child -- had caught the bug, too. They'd 
go to the bank and swap a $5 bill for 10 rolls of pennies 
and sift through them back home, looking for rare ones like 
miners panning for gold.

The Mercury dimes were the jewels of Frank's collection... 
The money fed his family and paid the bills for a few months. 
Not long after that, the brokerage business picked up and the 
DeGeorges had made it through their toughest times.

Steve, the son who loved coins, went to school and became a 
lawyer. Eventually he moved to Charlotte, where he works for 
the firm of Robinson, Bradshaw and Hinson.

A couple of years ago he was trying to figure out what to 
get his dad for Christmas. Then it came to him. 

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.charlotte.com/local/story/407122.html


FEATURED WEB SITE: COINS OF BRITISH INDIA

This week's featured web site is on coins of British India by 
Dr P V Bharat & Sravanthi.  It was suggested by Roger DeWardt 
Lane, who was impressed by the nice images.  Me, too!

"British India Coins (1862-1947) were stuck under the authority 
of the crown. The new coins minted under the Coinage Act, 1835 
had the effigy of William IV on the obverse and the value on 
the reverse in English and Persian. The coins issued after 1840 
bore the portrait of Queen Victoria. The first coinage under the 
crown was issued in 1862 and in 1877 Queen Victoria assumed the 
title of the Empress of India. We have tried to cover the Uniform 
coinage of this period."

http://www.bharatcoins.com/1.html
 

The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization 
promoting numismatic literature. For more information please 
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