The E-Sylum v10#7, February 18, 2007

[esylum at binhost.com]

Welcome to The E-Sylum: Volume 10, Number 7, February 18, 2007:
an electronic publication of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.
Copyright (c) 2007, The Numismatic Bibliomania Society.


WAYNE'S WORDS

Among our recent subscribers are Karen and Jim Jach of Milwaukee WI, 
courtesy of John and Nancy Wilson, Radford Stearns of Stone Mountain, 
GA, courtesy of Sam Deep, and David Yost.  Welcome aboard!  We now 
have 1,068 subscribers.

This week's issue opens with news of a lawsuit of special interest to 
bibliophiles and authors - it concerns plagiarism and copyrights in 
numismatic auction catalog descriptions.  Next, W. David Perkins shares 
the story of a rare numismatic pamphlet, and the ANA issues a call for 
papers for the Maynard Sundman/Littleton Coin Co. Lecture Series.

In the news this week, media across the country covered the debut of 
the new U.S. dollar coins.  The stories all look alike after a while, 
but a newspaper in Kingston, N.Y. took an interesting local angle, interviewing a Woodstock artist whose designs will appear in the series.  

Also in the news is continued discussion of the possible elimination 
of the cent coin, in the U.S. and now Canada as well.  In the research 
department, two old topics have generated new information, on the extant 
specimens of D.B. Cooper hijacking loot notes and the whereabouts of the 
Robinson S. Brown Conder token collection.  Finally, to learn why the 
B. Max Mehl building is in the news again, read on. Have a great week, everyone.

Wayne Homren
Numismatic Bibliomania Society


NUMISMATIC CATALOG COPYRIGHT CONTROVERSY

The March 2007 issue of Maine Antique Digest has a great article by 
David Hewett on a fracas among coin auction firms over copyrights to 
numismatic catalog descriptions.

"A lawsuit filed in Texas has drawn the attention of the numismatic community. Its resolution may pose problems for the auction industry 
as a whole. 

"On November 7, 2006, Heritage Auction Galleries, Inc. of Dallas filed 
suit against Superior Galleries, Inc. of California, charging copyright 
infringement, unfair competition, and that Superior had flat out stolen 
its printed catalog descriptions relating to coins. Heritage claims that 
Superior “has reproduced and distributed, and is continuing to reproduce 
and distribute, to the public, auction catalogs containing unauthorized 
copies and/or derivative works of the Copyrighted Works that were 
copied and/or derived from Heritage’s own catalogs and/or archives.” 

"The battle between the numismatic heavyweights appears to have been 
provoked by Superior’s hiring of former Heritage cataloger James Jones. 
In 2005 Heritage took Superior to court and alleged trade secret 
misappropriation, but that matter was settled “without any restrictions 
on the former employee’s ability to work for Superior” (according to 
Superior attorney Robert Rickman). 
 
"For example, and to use one of the shorter descriptions cited in this 
lawsuit, consider this from a Heritage catalog listing for a May 3, 
2005, sale: 

“1785 COPPER, Vermont Copper, ‘VERMONTS’. PCGS graded EF 40. Deep, 
glossy chocolate-brown surfaces show minimal wear, just the normal 
irregular strength of detail and modest planchet roughness. Listed 
on page 68 of the 2006 Guide Book.” 
 
"Heritage claims this is how either the same coin, or an identical 
one, was described in the Superior catalog for a September 29, 2006, 
sale: 
 
“1785 COPPER. Vermont Copper, VERMONTS. AU 53 PCGS. RR-2. Bressett 1-A, 
R.2. Deep, glossy chocolate-brown surfaces show minimal wear, just the 
normal irregular strength of detail and modest planchet roughness. 
Listed on page 57 of the 2005 Guide Book.” 
 
"Some of the examples cited in the suit are brief but unmistakably 
similar. 

"Heritage describes a 1798 Flowing Hair dollar: “The centering is 
virtually perfect, and the quality of manufacture is simply as good 
as one could hope to find in a Flowing Hair dollar,” Heritage, 
November 2, 2005. 
 
"Superior describes the same: “The centering is virtually perfect, 
and the quality of manufacture is simply as good as one could hope 
to find in a Flowing Hair dollar,” Superior, September 29, 2006. 
 
"Several examples of purportedly copied descriptions run to well over 
300 words. Even those with no numismatic knowledge can detect the 
similarities in those descriptions."

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.maineantiquedigest.com/articles/mar07/copyright0307.htm 

[The lawyers will have a field day with this mess.  Statements of fact 
cannot be copyrighted, and a coin is a coin is a coin - if the design 
is the same, the variety is the same, the history is the same, the grade 
is the same, then catalog descriptions by two professional numismatic 
cataloguers aren't likely to differ much. However, as noted in our 
recent discussion about the purpose of auction catalogs, these 
descriptions are not just about the recital of facts - they are 
MARKETING TOOLS.  And marketing material lends itself well to 
creativity.  Or should I put "creativity" in quotes? 

The silver-tongued prose found in so many catalogs is there to peddle 
the merchandise.  As a writer I would slit my throat if I were thrown 
into a room and tasked with coming up with new and novel combinations 
of adjectives to top "deep, glossy chocolate-brown surfaces show minimal 
wear".  Unless I could have fun with it, of course:  "This chocolatey 
turd of a coin is so new it's practically steaming."  But buyers and 
consignors have little tolerance for humor, so it's back to the creative 
puffery desk.  Kidding aside, War and Peace it ain't, but writing auction 
catalog descriptions is hard, even when it's a coin that requires little 
or no research.  Copying another firm's text without credit is the easy 
way out and shouldn't be allowed to pass without comment.  -Editor]


BOOKLET: RELATIVE RARITY OF U.S. SILVER DOLLARS 

W. David Perkins writes: "A few years back I acquired the correspondence 
and notes of the Ostheimers, specialist collectors of the early silver dollars 1798-1803.  There were a few miscellaneous items that were 
included, one that I was not familiar with being featured here.  I 
happened to pull it out and read it again while looking for another item.

"The booklet (pamphlet sized, 17 pages, 8 ½ by 11) is titled Relative 
Rarity of United States Silver Dollars by Clarence J. Hurlbut, 1961, 
Bethesda, Maryland.  The price as listed on the cover was $1.50.  The 
cover is a crème color.  

"Is anyone familiar with Hurlbut or his collection?

"Hurlbut states, "The writer of this booklet has been an amateur 
collector of United States Silver Dollars for several years.  As 
each additional coin was placed in the collection an effort was made
to determine the rarity of that particular coin with respect to other 
silver dollars.  It then became evident that it would be desirable to 
ascertain those years in which the several Mints manufactured coins of 
this denomination."  Hurlbut used as a source for his booklet a 
publication of the U.S. Mint, "Domestic Coin Manufactured by Mints 
of the United States."

"The booklet covered silver dollars 1794 to 1935.  Fitting for today's 
audiences, here is his "Top 10," ranked by number of pieces struck per 
mint records:

" 1839 (300 Pieces) 
  1805 (321)  
  1873-S (700) 
  1878-P Proof (900) 
  1881-P Proof (960) 
  1883-P Proof (979) 
  1836-P Proof (1,000) 
  1882-P Proof (1,097) 
  1852 (1,100) 
  1851 (1300) 
 
"Here's how my specialty, the early silver dollars 1794-1805 were 
listed (1795 was not ranked for some reason it was included with 1794):

" 57. 1794 and 1795 
  44. 1796 
  17. 1797
  66. 1798
  74. 1799
  60. 1800
  37. 1801
  32. 1802
  43. 1803

"The 1884 and 1885 Trade Dollars were not included, nor was the 
1870-S."

"Also - does anyone have a copy of the May 1966 issue of The Numismatist?  
I need a copy of the Shepard article on a new 1798 Dollar Variety (which 
turned out not to be) for an article in the John Reich Journal.  I have 
a copy, but can't find it (too many moves!)."


ANA SUNDMAN LECTURE SERIES CALL FOR PAPERS

A press release issued Thursday reports that "The American Numismatic 
Association is accepting papers on "Communicating Through Money," from 
authors who would like to make presentations at the third annual 
Maynard Sundman/Littleton Coin Co. Lecture Series. 

"Six authors will be selected to make presentations August 9 at the 
ANA's World's Fair of Money in Milwaukee. Selected presenters will 
receive a $250 honorarium. 

"Submissions, which are due April 30, should be abstracts of 500 words 
or less, and include an introduction, methodology and sources, and 
discussion sections. Abstracts will be evaluated based on originality, 
persuasiveness and relevance to the topic. 

"Lectures will focus on how money serves as a means of communication 
now as well as throughout history. Priority will be given to papers 
that emphasize new research and scholarship. 

"For more information or to submit an extract, e-mail brunner at money.org, 
call 719-482-9872 or write: Lane J. Brunner, Ph.D., Deputy Executive 
Director, Museum, Library and Research Services, American Numismatic 
Association, 818 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903."

[Many E-Sylumites are numismatic authors and researchers; please 
consider sharing your knowledge on the topic with others at the 
convention and in the published papers.  "Communicating Through Money" 
is a broad theme which could encompass a myriad of interesting research 
themes, such as statements of sovereignty, images of Liberty, Security 
and military power, wartime propaganda, etc.   Feel free to use our 
forum to float ideas and develop concepts.  -Editor]


U.S. DOLLAR COINS DEBUT

Articles appeared this week in newspapers across the country announcing 
the rollout of the new Presidential dollar coins.  Typical of the 
treatment was this article from USA Today:

"Commuters bustled past the unveiling in New York City at a Grand 
Central Terminal event replete with marching music and a George 
Washington re-enactor. 

"Crowds of collectors and the curious lined up in the station's 
cavernous, chandelier-adorned Vanderbilt Hall to exchange their 
paper Georges for metallic ones.

"'I think it's cool because we get to see a coin with the first 
president on it', said 7-year-old Jack Garbus, an avid coin collector 
and second-grader from Valhalla, N.Y., who was taking advantage of a 
school snow delay to be at the event.

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/2007-02-15-dollar-coins-released_x.htm 

Here's another example, from the San Francisco Chronicle:

"Jack Beymer, a rare-coin dealer in Santa Rosa, agreed that the new 
dollar could be a hit with the younger set. 

"'It's kind of an educational thing,' he said. 'I think it will bring 
new people to the hobby. With the quarter, a lot of grandmothers came 
in and bought quarters for their grandchildren with the maps. They'd 
come in every time a new state came out. It formed a regular attraction 
for coins in general.' 

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/02/15/DOLLAR.TMP 


U.S. MINT COIN DESIGNER: JOEL ISKOWITZ

The Daily Freeman of Kingston, N.Y. published an article February 14th 
about a local artist who's had designs accepted for U.S. coins, including 
the reverse of the American Eagle platinum bullion coin and upcoming 
designs for the new Presidential dollar series.

"Joel Iskowitz says Millard Fillmore, the nation's 13th president, 
deserves to be on a coin. And he's going to have a chance to design it.

"Iskowitz, a Woodstock artist, is one of the master designers for the 
U.S. Mint submitting illustrations for use in the presidential $1 coin 
series the U.S. Mint is beginning this year.

"The mint's lengthy review process chose Iskowitz's John Adams and James 
Madison coins, both of which are to be released this year. The Adams coin 
is due in the spring, with Madison coin coming in November.

"Iskowitz, an illustrator who has designed stamps and foreign coins, 
first got involved with the U.S. Mint in 2005 as part of its Artistic 
Infusion Program. He now is one of seven master designers left in the 
program who submitted designs for this batch of the coins.

"Besides designing the Adams and Madison coins, Iskowitz submitted a 
George Washington design that made it through the first review but 
eventually was beaten out by a design from U.S. Mint senior sculptor 
Joseph Menna. Iskowitz said he later came to the conclusion that 
Menna's design was, indeed, better."

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


JAMAICA'S WORTHLESS COINS

Ian A. Marshall writes: "The recent discussions regarding those pesky 
low value coins that are good for nothing more than making change has 
reached a point of ridiculousness here in Jamaica where I am just 
finishing a winter sojourn. There are 10c & 25c coins in circulation 
here & with the current exchange rate to the $U.S. being around 67 to 1 
they are not even much use as change. On any day I go out and walk a 
little in the malls or the streets of New Kingston I find numerous mint 
coins of both denominations strewn all over the ground. Even in a country 
as poor as this, people simply throw them away often as soon as they get 
them. I would hate to think of the amount of money the government wastes 
here by making them & putting them in circulation."
     

CANADIANS CONSIDER ABOLISHING CENT COINS

Dick Johnson writes: "The Desjardins Group, a financial services 
organization in Canada, issued a 12-page report this week (February 
15, 2007) that came to the conclusion that Canada should abolish the 
cent coin.

"This is similar to a recommendation by Chicago Federal Reserve Bank 
chief economist François Velde published in the February issue of Chi 
Fed Letter that this should transpire in the United States as well. (Reported here in E-Sylum, January 28, 2007).

"The Canadian report revealed the limited usefulness of the cent in an 
expanding economy, that Australia and New Zealand had already abolished 
both the cent and five-cent coin without problems, and continuing the 
use of the cent in Canada is costing at least $130 million a year, just 
over $4 per person.

"Their solution in Canada (as proposed in the U.S. and that which has 
taken place in other countries) is to round off to the nearest multiple 
of five cents after abolishing the cent. It also noted that it was a 
false claim that all retail firms would round off to their advantage 
in a competitive retail climate.

"'Consumers would benefit from the elimination of these costs,' stated 
the report, 'while private sector businesses would, in terms of margin, 
neither realize gains nor suffer losses in the long term.'

"The well-organized and detailed report by the financial services 
organization is supported by testing a model of the function of money, 
a historical review of the use of the cent in Canada since its introduction 
in 1908, and a 44-item bibliography. The latter was also supplemented by 
four web sites in the banking and minting fields.

"The Toronto Star carried a news item of the report on the day of 
publication and noted the report’s statement: "the figures show clearly 
that the one cent coin is not very useful and that consumers hoard or 
throw it away rather than deposit it and put it back into the 
distribution system."

"The full text of the Desjardins report is located at:
http://www.desjardins.com/en/a_propos/etudes_economiques/actualites/point_vue_economique/pve70215.pdf 

"The Toronto Star news article is at:
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/182143 "

  FRANCOIS VELDE'S STUDIES ON SMALL CHANGE   
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n04a12.html


CANADIANS RESPOND TO ABOLISHING CENTS

Dick Johnson writes: "Just how did Canadians react to the suggestion 
proposed by the Desjardins Group report to stop using the cent? The 
Toronto Star published 36 responses. Seven out of ten favored abolishing 
the coin.

"Three of the 25 who favoring abolishing related how they had lived in 
or visited Australia and experienced no problems without the cent. One 
reported the same in Finland. Another favorable comment stated "they 
cost more than their value to produce. Surely we should be directing 
our human and financial resources to a more productive area."

"Another: "This makes unbelievable sense. Pennies are a wasteful relic 
of the past ... wasting millions of dollars in production and storage 
costs. It's time for the penny to go."

"Those opposing the abolition of the cent recounted the unsustained 
mantra that it would cost more in the rounding off process. One voice 
related perhaps the only valid reason for keeping the cent coins: "Of 
course not! I love the true symbol of Canada... the Maple leaves."

"This story in the opinion section of the Toronto Star is located at:
http://www.thestar.com/article/182209 "


ROBINSON BROWN'S CONDER TOKEN COLLECTION INTACT

About a year ago Peter Koch wrote: "Does anyone know what became of 
Robinson (Robbie) S. Brown's magnificent Conder tokens (the British 
Provincial Token-Coinage of the 18th Century)?  Robbie's collection 
is said to be among the most extensive (not surprising) ever assembled 
of this classic series. I have seen no mention or public auction of 
this collection. Before this collection is dispersed it would be forever 
a tragedy not to catalog and or publish a book on this fantastic 
collection."

This week I received an email from one of Robbie's sons, Mac Brown.  
He writes: "I happened to Goggle Dad's name and found that people 
were wondering what happened to the collection.  Since I am not in 
the coin circles I would appreciate it if you let the word out that 
the collection is not lost, just appreciating. If anyone has questions 
I can be reached at Mac_Brown at B-F.com"

ROBINSON S. BROWN CONDER TOKEN COLLECTION INFO SOUGHT
http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v09n08a22.html 

THE ROBINSON S. BROWN CONDER TOKEN COLLECTION
http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v09n09a30.html 


WINDOW SNAFU HAUNTS B. MAX MEHL BUILDING RENOVATION

The Fort Worth, TX building constructed and occupied by numismatic 
promoter extraordinaire B. Max Mehl was in the news this week as a 
result of a controversy over newly installed windows:

"Ray Boothe figured the situation was as clear as, well, glass. The 
Fort Worth architect and real estate developer, who specializes in 
renovating historic structures, was restoring the Mehl Building on 
the Near South Side. Needing new windows, he found some that looked 
like the old ones, got approval from the appropriate city departments 
and commissions, installed them as a last part of the $2.4 million 
project, and was moving with his partners to start marketing the 
historic property to tenants.

"The cause of all the furor? Boothe’s windows are made of solid wood 
and look similar to those installed 80 years ago, but they have an 
aluminum veneer. It was that thin aluminum covering that Fort Worth 
historic preservation officer Julie Lawless got an anonymous tip about 
last fall. She oversees renovations and compliance of buildings within 
historic districts.

"Technically, aluminum-clad windows don’t fit the guidelines of that 
historic district, as set by the neighborhood in 1990. They state that 
exteriors must be “wood and masonry” and “typical of the style and period 
of the structure and adjacent structures.”

"The thin coat of aluminum is holding up the re-use of one of Fort 
Worth’s more significant buildings. It was constructed for famed 
numismatist, B. Max Mehl, America’s most famous coin dealer in the 
first half of the 20th century, whose clients included Winston Churchill 
and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The three-story building is also an early 
work of famed Fort Worth architect Wiley G. Clarkson, who designed the 
downtown federal courthouse, Trinity Episcopal Church, Sanger Brothers 
Department store, and numerous residences in Ryan Place and Rivercrest."

To read the complete article. see
http://www.fwweekly.com/content.asp?article=4620 

[So who among our readers has actually been in the Mehl Building 
- anyone?  -Editor]
                                                           

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG COINS AND CURRENCY WEB SITE

Joe Lasser writes: "Erik Goldstein of Colonial Williamsburg has 
created an exceptional website “Coins & Currency in Colonial America” 
which presents the coins and paper money of our American Colonial 
Period starting with the copper Santo Domingo pieces (1502-4) and 
ending with our Revolutionary money (1775-83).  

"The presentation provides the historical background for each major 
type and photos of significant examples.  It allows viewers to zoom 
into the photos to obtain greater detail of any illustrated piece and 
it also provides access to additional information through activating 
highlighted words in the basic text.  It’s outstandingly effective as 
an instructional text.  The content and quality of the presentation 
will capture any numismatist’s or historian’s attention.

"Yes, my wife and I assembled virtually all of the pieces now resident 
at Colonial Williamsburg, but Erik Goldstein and the other members of 
the CWF staff have done a remarkable job in bringing the collection to 
life as an instructional teaching vehicle, thereby providing anyone 
and everyone with a better understanding of American history."  

The site can be accessed by:   http://www.history.org/history/museums/coinExhibit/

Access it.  It will provide you with a stimulating hour of 
intellectual activity."

[Many thanks to Wendy Joseffy of Littleton Coin Company for 
typing and emailing Joe's letter for publication. -Editor]


UGLY CLEOPATRA COIN IN THE NEWS

Newcastle University's recent discovery of a coin of Cleopatra in 
their collection spawned articles around the world this week playing 
up the point that the coin shows that the beauty of Hollywood films was 
in fact butt-ugly.  The Guardian was one of the papers that picked up 
the story:

"Two of history's most famous Valentines are gently debunked today by 
analysis of an exceptionally well-preserved Roman coin, which gives the 
lie to the fabled beauty of Cleopatra and the manly features of her 
lover Mark Antony.

"Far from possessing the classical looks of Elizabeth Taylor, or the 
many other goddesses who have played her on stage and screen, the 
Egyptian queen is shown with a shrewish profile while Antony suffers 
from bulging eyes, a crooked nose and a bull neck.

"'Its other distinction is that it looks as though it was minted 
yesterday,' said Melanie Reed from Newcastle University, whose 
archaeology museum found the 5p-sized coin while researching a 
forgotten 18th century hoard left for years in a local bank. 'The 
profiles in particular are in marvellously good condition. If a 
Roman invader brought it over here, he or she certainly knew how 
to take care of their loose change.'

"The denarius profile clearly emphasises strong characteristics including 
a determined, pointed chin, thin lips which are often associated with a 
sharp nature, and in particular a long, pointed nose. The last has been 
famously central to discussion of what Cleopatra really looked like, 
with Pascal going so far as to write in his Pensées: "Cleopatra's nose, 
had it been shorter, the whole face of the world would have been changed."

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/frontpage/story/0,,2012592,00.html 

David Menchell sent a related article published on AOL and Dick Hanscom 
sent this article from the BBC news:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/tyne/6357311.stm  


CLARIFICATION: SALTUS MEDAL DESIGNER

Nancy Oliver and Richard Kelly write: "Thank you very much for printing 
the story about John T. Raymond and putting the link for his picture 
and short biograpy... it brought the story more to life.
 
"We just wanted to make a short comment on something mentioned in the 
December 17th issue of The E-Sylum. We appreciate the fact that Richard 
Jewel and Roger Burdette noticed that there was a mistake within the 
article we wrote concerning Victor David Brenner printed in the November 
27th issue of CoinWorld. The error concerned the Saltus Medal, and who 
designed it, and we want to set the record straight as to where the 
blame falls.  

"CoinWorld has never provided us with a proof of any article of ours 
prior to publication.  As a result, we are not able to control any 
additions or corrections they may have made to our articles. We try our 
best to provide accurate information in everything we write; but in this 
case, it was someone at CoinWorld who added the photo of the Saltus Medal 
as well as the caption containing the incorrect information. We are glad 
that the record has been set straight, and we always appreciate any 
comment, positive or negative, on what we share with others."  
 

THE GEORGE O. WALTON 1921 ZERBE PROOF MORGAN SILVER DOLLAR

According to an ANA press release, "Two previously unreported, 
historic coins from the legendary collection of George O. Walton – an 
1830’s era Bechtler gold dollar and a 1921 Zerbe proof Morgan silver 
dollar – will be exhibited along with his famous 1913 Liberty Head 
nickel at the American Numismatic Association’s National Money Show 
in the Charlotte, N.C. Convention Center, March 16 – 18.

"'This is an exciting discovery for the hobby. It was previously assumed 
all his coins were sold at a public auction in 1963,' said Douglas Mudd, 
ANA curator of exhibitions.  'Then the four decade’s old mystery about 
the whereabouts of ‘missing’ fifth specimen 1913 Liberty nickel was 
solved in 2003 when the coin literally came out of a family closet, 
and now two more historic coins from his extensive collection are 
reported.'

"On loan from Walton’s heirs, the coins will be displayed in a special 
ANA-created exhibit, “Walton the Collector,” that also will include 
examples of non-numismatic items he collected starting in the 1940s. 
Walton was killed in a car crash in March 1962 while driving from 
Charlotte to Wilson, N.C. to attend a coin show."

"Zerbe proof dollars are named after former ANA President, Farran Zerbe, 
Who convinced Mint officials to produce a relatively small number of 
special proof versions of the 1921 Morgan silver dollars. Slightly 
different proof versions were made at the request of Philadelphia 
coin dealer, Henry Chapman."

To view the CoinFacts page on 1921 Morgan Dollars, see:
http://www.coinfacts.com/silver_dollars/morgan_dollars/1921_morgan_dollars/1921_morgan_silver_dollar.htm 


DISTRIBUTION OF THE KNOWN D.B. COOPER BILLS

[Last week we reprinted an old E-Sylum item on the D.B. Cooper hijacker 
loot bills.  The reprinted article quoted Larry Lee, then the museum 
curator at the ANA.  Note that Douglas Mudd is the current Curator of 
Exhibitions at the American Numismatic Association.  The following 
additional information on the Cooper bills was provided by Trixie 
Ingram.  -Editor]

The FBI kept about 13 bills, which are still held in evidence storage 
in a sealed package.  The rest of the bills were split evenly between 
finder Brian Ingram and the insurance company.  Each received 137 bills 
although few were completely intact.   The insurance company recently 
gave one of their bills to the FBI agent who handled the case, Ralph 
Himmelsbach.

A Seattle Post-Intelligencer Reporter article interviewing Himmelsbach:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/47793_vanished22.shtml


ANOTHER SQUISHED PENNY COLLECTOR PROFILED

The press seems to like the oddity of collecting things like 
elongated cents.  The latest article on the trend is from 
Fort Wayne, IN:

"Catherine de Leon might be called a coin collector. Specifically, 
she collects pennies. More to the point, she collects squished pennies.

"They are known formally as 'elongated coins,' or EC for short. Some 
people called them smashed pennies, but to de Leon, a mother of two 
who works part time as a pattern maker for Dockers in San Francisco, 
they are squished pennies.

"The coins are the metal fluff of tourist attractions from around the 
world. You feed a penny and two quarters into a machine, turn a crank 
and out pops a squished penny with an engraved image, usually of the 
place you're visiting.

"The penny machines are seemingly everywhere. Dozens line the streets 
of Disneyland and theme parks, aquariums and museums, but you'll find 
them other places, including Red Square in Russia.

"'Once I found the Web site with the other collectors,' de Leon says, 
'I decided maybe I wasn't so crazy.' And the collection, which now 
numbers more than 120, really took off.

"'I'm really attracted to the art work,' de Leon says. 
'It's pretty cool.'

"To learn more, visit the EC Web site at www.pennycollector.com."

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/newssentinel/living/16687647.htm 


ANA BOARD CANDIDATE: CLIFFORD MISHLER

Cliff Mishler has published his position statement for his campaign 
for the Board of the American Numismatic Association:

"The five vital issues that must be addressed to affect the 
revitalization of membership pride and ownership in the organization 
are:

"1) All board deliberations and votes must be conducted on an open 
forum basis.

"2) The requirement for board members, staff and volunteers to be 
signatories of “confidentiality” or similar binding agreements that 
inhibit discussion must be terminated.

"3) Annual budgets must be balanced based on operating income and 
investment income, without pulling from endowment or otherwise 
invested principal.

"4) Full transparency of fiscal performance must be observed; 
operational profit and loss statements with comparisons to budget 
and prior year, accompanied by explanations of deviations up or down, 
must be released on a regular and timely basis.

"5) As staff stability is vital to operational efficiency and quality 
of performance, the recent revolving door personnel pattern at ANA 
headquarters must be arrested."

To read Cliff Mishler's complete platform, see:
http://www.pancoins.org/ 


FEATURED WEB SITE: THE CRIME OF 1873

This week's featured web site is François Micheloud's web site on 
The Crime of 1873.

"What is known in Populist rhetoric of the late XIX century as The 
Crime of 1873 was the demonetization of silver enacted by the Coinage 
Act of 1873. Alexander Hamilton had set the United States on a bimetallic 
standard in 1792 and, with the notable exception of the Civil War, the country had not moved from this system. In practice this was a continuous 
switching from a gold standard to a silver standard. When the legal price 
of gold in term of silver, that is, how many pounds of silver you get for 
one pound of gold, which was set by the Coinage Act at 15 for 1, was 
greater than the market price, then nobody would bring gold to the mint 
and the country would be on a de facto monometallic silver standard.

"The consequences of this technical decision were enormous..."
 
http://www.micheloud.com/FXM/MH/Crime/  


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