The E-Sylum v10#41, October 14, 2007
esylum at binhost.com
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Sun Oct 14 20:22:25 PDT 2007
Welcome to The E-Sylum: Volume 10, Number 41, October 14, 2007:
an electronic publication of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.
Copyright (c) 2007, The Numismatic Bibliomania Society.
WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM OCTOBER 14, 2007
Among our recent subscribers is Anthony DelGrosso, courtesy
of Thomas P. Van Zehl. Welcome aboard! We now have 1,189
subscribers.
This week we open with Russ Rulau's announcement of a supplement
to his “Latin American Tokens” catalog, a reminder of why
numismatists need coin books, and some commentary on the ANA's
Numismatist magazine. Next, despite a lot of speculation on
the whereabouts of John J. Ford's 1783 Nova Constellatio
pattern set, no facts have been unearthed. However, Alan
Weinberg shares his thoughts on other Ford properties not
appearing in the twenty-one Stack's auction sales of Ford's
collection, and John Kleeberg comments on what is (and isn't)
in sale 21, the Western Assay bar offering.
In research requests this week, Jonathan Brecher seeks to
locate some rare medals for inclusion in the second edition
of the Hibler-Kappen "So-Called Dollars" book, and David Ganz
seeks information on 1838-O U.S. half dollars.
In responses to last week's issue, Alan Weinberg, George
Fuld, Neil Shafer and Dick Johnson offer further remembrances
of numismatist and author Arlie Slabaugh, and Harry Waterson
discusses an amusing unissued satirical medal designed by
Laura Gardin Fraser.
Among numismatic news items from around the world are reports
that the new Bank of Scotland notes are being rejected by
vending machines, a 1799 Irish banknote is auctioned, a
Titanic survivor's WWI medals are offered for sale, and a
major newspaper discovers its gold Pulitzer Prize medals
are missing when they turn up for sale on eBay. Have a
great week, everyone.
Wayne Homren
Numismatic Bibliomania Society
RULAU OFFERS SUPPLEMENT TO 'LATIN AMERICAN TOKENS' CATALOG
Russell Rulau writes: "For users of my “Latin American Tokens”
catalog (Iola, Wis., 2000) and for others interested in new
data on the token emissions of those countries south of the
Rio Grande River, I've prepared a supplement which I forward
by email on request.
"The arrangement is not alphabetical but follows the pattern
of the catalog with Mexico first, then Central America and the
West Indies, and finally South America. Within each segment
the nations are alphabetized. Included is a mixture of
newly-reported pieces, new and corrected data on listed pieces,
and a few brief background notes.
"Some of these pieces have previously been reported in Krause
Publications newspapers but are gathered here to refresh
memories after several years.The catalog numbers assigned
fit into their proper order in the 2000 (2nd edition)
reference, wherever feasible. Some surprisingly high prices
are due largely to recent auctions and to Internet sales,
the latter of which are at times scatter-shot due to novice
collectors. Prices paid, though are the new bible!
"Some new discoveries are illustrated, others described as
text. Readers must understand that almost all Latin American
tokens were actually money, at least within the hacienda,
mill, dock or mine that issued them. There was a real need
for these base metal (usually copper or brass) pieces because
the Spanish authorities issued no copper coins at all from
1542 to 1814 in Mexico, and a similar situation existed in
other Spanish viceroyalties.
"A few rare Latin America area Communion tokens are included.
Our gratitude is extended to Messers Kooij, Ryan, Hallihan,
Leonard and Simmons for assistance. To request a copy,
contact me at this address: rviking at athenet.net"
ROMAN GOLD COIN PRICE YEARBOOK 1997/2006 PUBLISHED
Morten Eske Mortensen writes: "The Roman Gold Coin Price
Yearbook 1997/2006 is here ! I am certainly happy to be able
to inform, that the printed 2007 edition of the RCPY GOLD
covering the 10 full calendar years 1996 through 2005 now
is in the hands of the editor and presently being mailed to
those who have ordered it upfront and thus made the project
be realized. Many thanks for your support!
The printing run was limited to 150 copies. The 2007 edition
includes an estimated 9,000 auction results extracted from
around 1,100 international public auctions held world wide
in the 10 full calendar years 1996-2005. An impressive 110+
major auction houses are covered. All results are converted
to U.S. dollars. For a full listing of auction catalogues
presently included in the Databank, see: http://home.worldonline.dk/mem/info/demodatabankROMANcatlist1995to2006.htm. "
For more information, see:
http://home.worldonline.dk/mem/info/citaterRO1997.htm
WHY SHOULD A BEGINNING COLLECTOR READ BOOKS?
In preparation for an article on coin book recommendations
for new collectors, longtime COIN World columnist Col. Bill
Murray asked me and fellow NBS officers John Adams and P.
Scott Rubin for thoughts on the subject. I contributed five
paragraphs, which Bill edited and merged into the final
article. With permission, I'm publishing my original three
opening paragraphs here for comment. I think most of our
readers will agree with the sentiment. I wrote:
Why should a beginning numismatist get some books? They
are many good reasons, but I think that the best reason for
adding books to one’s shelf is the same reason for adding
coins to your collection – because it’s fun! Many people
spend a lifetime building a collection without finding the
need to read books. But if you ask me, they’re missing
half the fun. Coins are objects – they are interesting
and beautiful to see, but alone they’re mute – they
cannot speak.
With books, your coins come to life and will speak to you
in many ways – you will never see your coins in the same
way again. You will know why your coins were created, by
whom and how. You’ll know about the statesmen who proposed
them, the artists who crafted them, what the public first
thought of them and how they used them. You’ll learn about
some of the great collectors who came before you. Through
their words they will speak to you as well, imparting their
knowledge and wisdom across generations. You’ll draw
connections between your coins, recognizing the puzzle pieces
and fitting them together to form the larger picture. You’ll
become far more than “just” a collector – you’ll become a
true numismatist.
There are many rewards awaiting the knowledgeable numismatist.
When coins speak to you, true value, importance and rarity
become instantly recognizable. It’s like having a pair of
magic spectacles – wear them and suddenly the world becomes
clear. When others look at coins they will merely see coins.
With your improved vision you’ll see far more – a superb
strike, an unusual variety, a design flaw, an underpriced
rarity or overlooked gem. Read books, have fun, and prosper.
You’ll be glad you did.
NOTES ON THE OCTOBER 2007 NUMISMATIST MAGAZINE
A number of folks have commented to me about the improved
quality of the American Numismatic Association's 'Numismatist'
magazine. Having gone through a number of format and focus
changes in recent years it's inevitable that some would have
been disappointed as familiar features disappeared or morphed
into something new. But good things come to those who wait.
The Numismatist staff has continued to address comments and
suggestions and the current product is quite nice.
Anyway, ANA members should be sure to check out (among other
things) George Fuld's article on 'Waldo Newcomer: Collector
Extraordinaire', Rich Bottles' neat piece on coins encased
in celluloid buttons, and David Lange's opinion column on
the state of the U.S. Mint's commemorative coin program.
Editor Barbara Gregory's 'Editor's Desk' column is illustrated
this month with a great caricature sketch of her. I emailed
her asking, "So who’s the artist who drew the picture for your
column? Well done. I also loved the juxtaposition of the
Frankenstein photos (p35)." She writes: "The artist was Bill
Bogos (www.BillBogos.com); it is definitely the best caricature
I’ve had. Regarding the “quarter shrinker,” we just happened
to find the Frankenstein poster, which mimicked Hickman nicely.”
Under the heading "Stranger Than Fiction", Eric Brothers
contributed a Halloween article titled "Frankenstein Meets
the Quarter-Shrinker'. Subscribers may recall the December 3,
2006 E-Sylum item about Bert Hickman, a retired electrical
engineer who enjoys using magnetic force to smash coins to
roughly half their normal size. Gregory's pairing of Hickman's
photo with a Frankenstein movie poster is a delight.
Also, page 63 sports a photo that E-Sylum readers may also
appreciate - the mahogany coin cabinet that once stored Waldo
Newcomer's gold coin collection was discussed in an exchange
in April this year. Ron Guth (who contributed to the article)
wrote: "I drooled when reading George Fuld's description of
Waldo Newcomer's coin cabinet. I've been a big fan of all
things Waldo for quite some time. In my humble opinion,
he is one of the great, unsung heroes of American numismatics."
[I was been sipping a glass of Cabernet as I wrote this the
other evening, and thought I'd share the great typo I caught
- "good thongs come to those who wait", which I think was a
quote from Bill Clinton when he was Governor of Arkansas.
-Editor]
MAKING SMALL CHANGE SMALLER: HOW TO SHINK COINS FOR FUN
http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v09n49a39.html
WALDO NEWCOMER'S COIN CABINET
http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n15a21.html
WALDO NEWCOMER INFORMATION SOUGHT
http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n16a15.html
WHAT OTHER JOHN J. FORD NUMISMATIC PROPERTIES AWAIT?
Last week I inquired about the whereabouts of John J.
Ford's 1783 Nova Constellatio pattern set. I've heard
several speculations, but there has been no word from
anyone associated with Stack's. All the rest of us can
do is wait and wonder.
Alan V. Weinberg writes: "In the last E-Sylum you inferred
from reading Larry Stack's preface to catalogue XXI (the
ingot sale), that there'll be no further Ford collection
auction catalogues. It may be more accurate to say that
there are no further 'scheduled' sales."
The following segments, known to me, are still intact in
the Ford collection and simply not scheduled for auction
at this time:
* The reportedly finest known collection of "pseudo-Low"
(proven, documented Hard Times Tokens but not listed by
Lyman Low in his classic reference)
* Hard Times tokens, allegedly a group more valuable than
the "official" Hard Times Token Ford collection auctioned
by Stack's in Chicago
* one of, if not the finest, collections of DeWitt/Sullivan
-listed political tokens and medals
* reportedly over 500 political ferrotypes (small campaign
tintypes, usually encased for wearing during early campaigns
from Lincoln - Garfield)
* superb selections of rare Sutler tokens, Western Indian
and Post Trader, and territorial trade tokens
* a collection of earlier Lincoln tokens and medals including
many rarities
* a collection of earlier Lafayette tokens and medals including
many rarities
"Despite numerous inquiries to Stack's concerning the above
collections, there have been no specific explanations forthcoming.
It is a total mystery to token and medal dealer Steve Tanenbaum,
myself and others who have repeatedly inquired. Speculations
range from assumptions that Stack's doesn't want to deal with
such 'low value' material (unlikely due to the significant
value of much of the above and the fact that Stack's is now
auctioning single lot, common so-called dollars in their main
sales, to speculation that taxes are already too high on the
Ford estate, to reports that certain segments yet unsold are
of personal interest to members of the Ford Family - quite
likely as Ford's son-in-law Brian reportedly collects political
campaign tokens and medals.
"Other unsupported stories that some of these segments have
been sold or will be sold intact privately to interested parties
or 'farmed out' to other auction houses is baloney in my opinion.
So there may be more Ford 'treats' down the line -
just not now."
JOHN KLEEBERG ON THE FORD INGOT SALE
John Kleeberg writes: "You said you would welcome comments
about the Ford XXI catalog, containing Western Assayers’
Ingots. You also ask about pieces that one would have
expected to be part of the Ford Collection, which were
not covered in the auction catalogs. This is particularly
true of the ingots. It is clear that the collection has
been carefully culled.
"This can be demonstrated most clearly in the case of a
purported Wells Fargo bar, which Ford mentioned in the
Legacy interview:
Q: “What are some of the great rarities that you own?”
A: Ford: “I have a monetary assay ingot that I think is a
fabulous piece. It is dated 1854 and was made by Wass, Molitor
and Company for Wells Fargo Bankers, and is so marked. In
addition to that, there is the Internal Revenue tax stamp
indicating that it was reassayed subsequent to June 30, 1864,
when they put a bullion tax on ingots to help pay for the
Civil War.”
"A photograph of this piece is in Donald H. Kagin's 'Private
Gold Coins and Patterns of the United States' (1981), p. 308.
This piece has been excluded from the Ford auctions.
"And there are a lot of other pieces, which one might have
expected to be in Ford’s collections, which were not part of
the auction. A few years ago Alan Herbert said that Ford
owned the Blake & Co. $50 ingot (Kagin p. 281). That has
not popped up. Ford is said to have formed a complete set
of coins of the United States Assay Office of Gold of 1853
– but no $20 coin of 900 fine has been auctioned. It was
precisely that fineness and denomination that was produced
in massive quantities as part of the phony “Franklin Hoard.”
"There have been no Mexican gold bars. There have been no
U.S. Mint bars of 1865 with a false provenance to the Brother
Jonathan, even though Ford stated that he received back a
number of them after he stopped displaying some of his pieces
at the Bank of California. There have been none of the common
bogus gold bars such as F. G. Hoard, Star Mining Company,
Eagle Mining Company, the gold Knight bars.
"Now this culling is, to my mind, very praiseworthy.
Every time another fake gold bar enters the stream of
commerce, a whole new chain of victims is created; so I do
not want to see fake gold bars sold further. The catalog
was put together with much research and thoughtfulness, and
I am flattered that some of my own research is explicitly
cited (on page 8 and in lot 3517), although by some oversight
the website where this research may be found is not listed
in the bibliography on page 98 – that website is
http://www.fake-gold-bars.co.uk.
"I would, however, have gone further in culling the
collection and would have excluded all the gold bars.
The Wiegand gold bars are the most convincing among the
gold bars – there the forger did a superb job – but a careful
examination shows that even those cannot be genuine. There
is one Wiegand gold bar that is clearly bogus (lot 3549),
which has a curly top numeral seven that appears nowhere
else in Wiegand’s work. Now inside the O of Ozs, on the
right side, there is a raised hickey on lot 3549. This is
visible on the photographs in the catalog, and it is very
clear when examining the bars in person, which I did on
October 10th. The raised hickey within the O appears on
all the Wiegand gold bars: lots 3547, 3548, 3549, 3558
(silver bar), and 3559. Since all these bars punchlink to
3549, none can be genuine. Three of these bars are
explicitly traceable to Paul Gerow Franklin, Sr. (1919-2000)
in the provenance.
"We know from other sources that Paul Gerow Franklin,Sr.,
made fantasies. Lot 203 of Ford II (May 2004) described a
“1962 Washington Counterstamp,” and adds in the description,
“As struck in January, 1962 by Paul Franklin, Sr., one of
two given to Ford and Bashlow, the third retained.” Another
source is the New York Times of July 11, 1943, when Franklin
was arrested for draft evasion, and it was mentioned that
he already had a conviction for counterfeiting. A Franklin
provenance is not one to inspire confidence.
"So it seems to be the case that a not insignificant number
of the bars that Ford owned are not being auctioned, and they
are not being auctioned because the catalogers do not have
confidence in the genuineness of the pieces. This is admirable,
but it would be more admirable still if all the cards were to
be put on the table and we could know exactly which pieces
the catalogers now consider to be dubious. That would help
greatly to clean up the huge mess left behind by the
activities of Paul Franklin’s “Massapequa Mint.”
[When Kleeberg states that some ingots "are not being
auctioned because the catalogers do not have confidence in
the genuineness of the pieces.", this is only speculation.
Everyone can read between the lines and come to their own
conclusions, but there are many reasons for pieces not
coming to auction. As with the unnauctioned Ford 1783 Nova
Constellatio set and the several unauctioned Ford collections
mentioned above by Alan Weinberg, the ingots Kleeberg
described are likewise not currently scheduled for auction.
But without confirmation from the Ford family or Stack's,
the rest of us can only speculate on the reasons, which
could be many and varied.
In the end the marketplace may be the final arbiter of
consensus on the authenticity of the questioned ingots.
The sale estimates exhibit a markedly split personality -
the ranges are wide enough to drive a convoy through.
What are the cataloguers trying to say with estimated
value ranges of "$700 to $9,000"? or "$1,000 to $15,000"?
Why waste ink printing ranges so wide? They seem to be
aimed at two different audiences - Believers and Skeptics,
with the high end for those who believe an ingot is genuine,
and the low end for the skeptics willing to buy what to
them would be an interesting precious-metal paperweight
for their desk.
I expect the high-end estimates will prove in many cases
to be conservative; the interesting thing to see is how
many of the ingots realize far less than their high-end
estimate. If any of our readers attend the sale, please
send us a report on the action. -Editor]
HISTORY OF COIN GRADING VIDEO OFFERED
David Lisot writes: "A new DVD entitled 'History of Coin
Grading' with Ron Guth is now available from Coinvideo.com.
The program was videotaped at the recent Long Beach Coin &
Stamp Exposition in Long Beach, California. The lecture was
delivered in conjunction with the public display of the
Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) Grading Set, a
collection of every grade of several series of coins from
AG3 through MS67. Ron is the president of PCGS and gave an
overview of how grading has developed over the years
culminating with third party grading in the 1980's. A
video clip of Ron discussing the grading set is available
free of charge on Cointelevision.com."
SO-CALLED DOLLAR MEDALS SOUGHT FOR REVISION OF HIBLER-KAPPEN BOOK
In a follow-up to Dick Johnson's note in E-Sylum v10#5
(February 4, 2007), Jonathan Brecher writes: "Earlier this
week I received first proofs of the second edition of
"So-Called Dollars," by Hibler and Kappen, and the other
editors and I are very pleased with what we see. It looks
like we're on track for distribution in the first part of
next year.
"Even as we try to get things wrapped up, there are still
several dozen medals that we have not been able to locate
in any form. If any E-Sylum reader is able to provide
photographs of any of the following HK listings, we would
be most grateful, and we would certainly provide credit
in the printed book. You can contact us at
info at so-calleddollars.com.
HK-number Date Description
7 1853 Police-All Nations Dollar
33 1876 Siloam M. E. Church Dollar
34 1876 Cumberland St M. E. Church Dollar
35-36 1876 Baptist Sunday School Dollar
62-64 1876 Centennial Fountain - Scrolls
73 1876 Abraham Lincoln Dollar
143-143a 1884-5 Mardi Gras Dollar
143d 1884-5 N.O. Fire Dept. Semi-Centennial
167a 1893 Bird's Eye View Dollar
257 (1894) State Seal - Facts of SF
352a 1908 US Navy World Voyage, Octagonal
434 1915 U. S Grant Hotel Dollar
480 1939 Lord's Prayer $ Catholic
502 c1949 Sacramento Dollar
521 1958 Murray Co. Dollar
522 1958 Norman Co. Dollar
524 1958 State Bar Assoc Dollar
607 1886 26th Ann. Fair at St. Louis
617a 1890 Schuylkill Co. CW Monument.
625 1892 Buncombe Co. Centennial
636 1896 Dayton Centennial
657 1911 Minneapolis Civic Celebration
660 1912 California Admission Day
664 1915 Chicopee 25th Anniv.
675 1930 Boston Tercentenary
715 1960 Jackson City Hall
727 c1959 Olivia Spring Home Show
742a 1951 Virtue Bros. Manufacturing
769 1901 John G. Fee
803-804c 1908 Taft Gold Basis Dollar
826 1933 Pedley Ryan Type V Dollar
863d c1876 Perseverando / April 11th Dollar
864 c1876 Eagle & Heron Dollar "
QUERY: 1989 VINTAGE AUCTIONS SALE PRL: 1838-O HALF DOLLAR PRICE SOUGHT
David L. Ganz writes: "I am researching the 1838-O U.S.
half dollar and have hit a blind alley. Vintage Auctions
had a 1989 sale in which an example of the coin (lot 202,
probably the Anderson DuPont Specimen) was sold. I have a
copy of the catalogue, but no prices realized list. Can
anyone tell me what the piece sold for?
Also, the Charles Besson specimen of the 1838-O half is
mentioned by Karl Moulton in his Fall/Winter 2007 numismatic
literature catalogue (p33, in his description of the December
1880 Besson sale), but I find no subsequent reference to the
coin. Would anyone have an idea which of the dozen-odd coins
known today is believed to be the Besson specimen? Thanks."
MORE ARLIE SLABAUGH REMEMBRANCES
Alan V. Weinberg writes: "If Arlie Slabaugh contracted
meningitis in 1941, allegedly inducing his deafness, how
does that explain his speech being that of a child-contracted
deafness? In 1941, Arlie would have been about 20 and his
speech would have been long perfected. Perhaps George Fuld,
his longtime friend, can clear up this discrepancy? Like
Cliff Mishler, I fondly recall the 'notebook conversations'
at shows that I had with Arlie."
George Fuld writes: "I knew Arlie for about 50 years.
Although I never discussed it with him, I assumed his
handicap persisted from he was an infant. Sorry I can't
be more helpful."
Neil Shafer writes: "With regard to my dear friend for many
years, Arlie, he and I met many times at various conventions
where we always found a great deal to 'talk' about; he was
always ready with note pads and we wrote page after page
together. I became aware of his position with Numismatic
Scrapbook shortly after joining Whitman in 1962, and it
was clear he had a lot to do with the great success of that
magazine. Lee Hewitt had a real numismatist working as
typesetter and author (and often as ghost-writer) for quite
a number of years. I wonder of Lee ever really appreciated
what he had with Arlie. In any case I shall surely miss
him and his very high degree of broadly based numismatic
scholarship and knowledge."
Dick Johnson writes: "Lee Hewitt told me this about Arlie
Slabaugh. John and Nancy Wilson mentioned Arlie worked for
Lee on the Numismatic Scrapbook beginning in 1954 in last
week's E-Sylum. Lee said Arlie would write articles --
with maybe some notes but no typed text -- right at the
Linotype. Setting an article in hot type! That's confidence!
"Arlie was a crackerjack Linotype operator. But I cannot
imagine writing an article in one shot. Pow! That's it.
Not when I have to rewrite everything a dozen times. But
to compose everything in your mind and set the text in
type where it must be letter perfect the first time --
context, grammar, syntax, Linotype technical requirements,
keyboard strokes -- in addition to the text you are typing
-- all that in your mind at the same time!
"Perhaps his deafness was an asset as a Linotype operator.
No distractions. Still, that does not detract from this
amazing skill.
"On another occasion, when I visited Franklin Mint, I had
an appointment with an FM vice president and when I showed
up in person he blew me off, wouldn't see me. Not to waste
the trip I asked the receptionist to see Arlie Slabaugh.
'Who?' she asked, 'we don't have anyone here by that name.'
"'Arlie Slabaugh, he is deaf.' 'Oh, Arlie,' then she knew
who I meant. Arlie had long worked for Franklin Mint. But
this was after Joe Segal had left the firm and new owners
had dismissed dozens of people, including Arlie. But as
the archivist at Franklin Mint who had cataloged all Franklin
Mint issues he returned frequently to keep the archives up
to date, as an unpaid activity! That's dedication!
"Just as I was shifting from one foot to the other in
front of the receptionist's desk, who should walk in but
Arlie himself! Surprised to see me -- we had known each
other for perhaps twenty years -- we sat in the reception
area and 'chatted.'
"Arlie could read my lips and I could understand his
guttural speech -- he was not mute -- but occasionally I
could tell he did not understand what I said, so I would
reach for the note pad and clarify my statements. Genuine
numismatist, great writer, longtime collector, fine person,
Arlie we will all miss you. I am glad I got some things
from his library in Charlie Davis' March 2002 auction.
I will long remember Arlie Slabaugh."
NUISMATIC WRITER, EDITOR AND PUBLISHER ARLIE SLABAUGH DIES
http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n39a07.html
REMEMBRANCES OF ARLIE SLABAUGH
http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n40a12.html
COLLECTING OPERATION BERNHARD COUNTERFEIT BANK OF ENGLAND NOTES
Larry Gaye writes: "I read with interest the news of the
upcoming movie 'The Counterfeiters.' I have the Burke book
which I purchased in 1987. Inside the book I keep a five
Pound Bank of England note and a Five Pound Bernhard note
which I purchased as a pair. For the life of me I can't
remember whether I bought the book or the notes first.
"While the Burke book is short it whet my interest so much
that later when I was offered an Operation Bernhard 50 Pound
note, I jumped on it. I cannot wait to see the movie and
only hope it will be released in the US, the story is quite
fascinating and I will secure a copy of the Kruegger book."
[The Burke book Larry mentions is Bryan Burke's ‘Nazi
Counterfeiting of British Currency During World War II’
(San Bernardino, CA, 1987). It's a short book, but very
well illustrated and a great starting point for collectors
interested in the story of the Operation Bernhard notes.
The Kruegger book is ‘Kruegger’s Men: The Secret Nazi
Counterfeit Plot and the Prisoners of Block 19’ by Lawrence
Malkin (New York, 2006). It's the latest book on the topic.
An earlier one is Anthony Pirie's ‘Operation Bernhard: The
Greatest Forgery of All Time’ (London, 1961).
I definitely bought my books first, but jumped at the chance
to acquire some examples during my time in London this summer.
I've started preparing a small exhibit which I hope to display
at the Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists coin show at
the Pittsburgh Expo Mart on Saturday October 27, 2007.
-Editor]
OPERATION BERNHARD FILM RELEASE: THE COUNTERFEITERS
http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n40a16.html
CARSON CITY COIN COLLECTORS OF AMERICA LAUNCH BLOGSITE
Marie Goe of the Carson City Coin Collectors of America
(CCCCOA) writes: "We've just launched the club's blogsite
at www.c4oa.blogspot.com. It's in its early stages of
development and is still rough around the edges, but at
least members and interested collectors can now correspond
with one another. We'll just have to wait and see where
it will lead."
FAKE IT: FRASER'S 1929 AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION MEDAL PARODY PLASTER
Regarding the use of the term "fecit" among artists, Harry
Waterson writes: "Here is a bit of corroboration of the
cocktail talk between Dick Johnson and Joseph Noble. I was
doing some research at the National Cowboy Museum in Oklahoma
City last Spring. The James Earle Fraser & Laura Gardin Fraser
Studio Papers are located there in the Dickinson Research
Center. Among those papers, in box 6, folder 20 entitled
'Peanuts', I found a picture of a plaster model. This model
was a slightly altered version of the reverse of the 1929
American Bar Association Medal by Laura Fraser.
"This reverse depicts a seated nude hooded figure of Justice
holding a sword and a set of scales. This model contained a
few changes to the ABA reverse: The legend JUSTITIA at the
top of the medal was replaced with the word PEANUTS. The
empty scale pans of the Scales of Justice were now occupied
by an elephant and a squirrel.
"At the bottom of the medal the full Laura Gardin Fraser
signature had been added along with the words 'FAKE IT'
right below the signature. I doubt if this bit of medallist
foolery was ever produced. The ABA is not an organization
known for its sense of humor, but I bet it amused James Fraser
greatly. As Dick Johnson noted, this was the use of a homonym
limited to one's peers."
REMEMBRANCES OF JOSEPH NOBLE
http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n40a11.html
ALAN WEINBERG ON THE $5 MILLION 1804 EAGLE
Alan V. Weinberg writes: "As to the $5 million paid for
the 1804 $10 gold concoction made in 1834 - so it sold
$1 million in 2003 and $2.47 million in 2005, a mere two
years ago? This 'cockamamie' or 'Mickey Mouse' (John J. Ford
-isms) fantasy - it's not even a restrike!- has allegedly
doubled in market value every two years? It was not too
long ago that I attended a Superior auction in Beverly
Hills where the entire cased King of Siam set containing
the 1804 dollar and this 1804 $10 gold and other 1834-struck
proof rarities could not reach the $1.8 million reserve price!
"Two different gold 1787 Brasher doubloons, infinitely
more desirable than the 1804 eagle fantasy, auctioned three
years ago for a bit more than $2 million apiece and are still
available & unsold on the market. One wonders how the
presumably successful businessman who just paid $5 million
for the "1804" gold eagle - after it sold for less than
half that 2 years ago - figures it is now worth $5 million.
Or even half of that! Where's his business sense?"
1804 U.S. TEN DOLLAR GOLD SELLS FOR $5 MILLION
http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n40a19.html
VENDING MACHINES REFUSE NEW SCOTTISH BANKNOTES
An article in The Scotsman reports that "The Bank of
Scotland's new notes are proving a potential headache
for anyone wanting to use them in a vending machine,
including those at the Scottish Parliament.
"The problems are largely due to delays in updating many
vending machines to recognise the new notes. Some older
and cheaper machines may never recognise the cash because
they do not have enough memory to be reprogrammed with a
new set of notes.
"The striking new Bank of Scotland notes were introduced
last month. They feature a metallic security thread, and
the £20, £50 and £100 notes feature holograms and foil
patches. They also have strengthened corners to help
them last longer.
"Nick Bate, managing director of VMC Limited, which makes
the devices used in the Scottish Parliament, said: 'One
of the issues for the cashless industry or any organisation
accepting Scottish bank notes through an electronic validator,
whether that's for car parking, ticketing, vending or catering
functions is when new note designs are released it takes time
for note validator manufacturers to update software. So,
while there may have to be a short period of inconvenience,
the onus lies with the banks to improve the awareness within
the industry of new bank note releases.'
"A spokesman for the Bank of Scotland said: 'We are sorry
for any inconvenience caused. We've been working with
manufacturers and suppliers of vending machines for about
six months to make sure there are no problems processing
the new banknotes. The response has been overwhelmingly
positive. However, as with any notes launch, there will be
isolated instances where machines aren't updated as quickly
as we'd like. We're working with the suppliers in question
to make sure the required software updates are installed
quickly.'"
To read the complete article, see:
http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1641012007
MORE ON THE AMERO: MEXICO'S VINCENTE FOX DISCUSSES TRADE UNION
Andrew W. Pollock III forwarded a new web article on the
"Amero" currency topic. It cites statements by former
Mexican President Vicente Fox confirming a discussion with
President Bush on creating a new regional currency in the
Americas. The statements were made in an interview recently
on CNN's "Larry King Live."
"It possibly was the first time a leader of Mexico, Canada
or the U.S. openly confirmed a plan for a regional currency.
Fox explained the current regional trade agreement that
encompasses the Western Hemisphere is intended to evolve
into other previously hidden aspects of integration.
"According to a transcript published by CNN, King, near
the end of the broadcast, asked Fox a question e-mailed
from a listener, a Ms. Gonzalez from Elizabeth, N.J.: 'Mr.
Fox, I would like to know how you feel about the possibility
of having a Latin America united with one currency?'
"Fox answered in the affirmative, indicating it was a
long-term plan. He admitted he and President Bush had
agreed to pursue the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas
– a free-trade zone extending throughout the Western
Hemisphere, suggesting part of the plan was to institute
eventually a regional currency.
"'Long term, very long term,' he said. 'What we proposed
together, President Bush and myself, it's ALCA, which is
a trade union for all the Americas.'
"ALCA is the acronym for the Area de Libre Comercio de
las Américas, the name of the FTAA in Spanish.
"King, evidently startled by Fox's revelation of the
currency, asked pointedly, 'It's going to be like the
euro dollar (sic), you mean?'
"'Well, that would be long, long term,' Fox repeated.
"Coin designer Daniel Carr has issued for sale a series
of private-issue fantasy pattern amero coins that have
drawn attention on the Internet."
To read the complete article, see:
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=58052
To read the CNN transcript of King's interview with Fox, see:
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0710/08/lkl.01.html
OKLAHOMA COUPLE CREATES 'CHARACTER COIN'
The Tulsa World of Tulsa, OK published a story about a
token created by a local couple to be distributed to people
performing good deeds.
"Ken Grant and Melanie Hasty-Grant came up with the
pay-it-forward-style Character Coin after Owasso city
officials challenged business leaders to create partnerships
to enhance the community.
"'We were thinking about how we could reach out and touch
people one at a time and make it infectious,' Grant said.
"The goal behind the Character Coin is to catch someone
doing a good act and give them the coin, tell them why
and instruct them to do the same.
"'You don't have to perform heroic acts to make a
difference; you just have to be willing to recognize
the good in others and share a coin as appreciation,'
Grant said.
"The couple had 30,000 coins made and hope other communities
and businesses will join in the effort.
"The coins have Owasso printed on them as well as the Web
site where coin receivers can submit their stories.
"'It would be cool if an Owasso coin ended up in Japan,
or if we got one in our hands that had another town
listed,' Hasty-Grant said."
To read the complete article, see:
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=071007_1_A2_hNewc70268
IRISH NEWSPAPER REPORTS ON SPINK SALE OF 1799 NEWPORT'S BANK NOTE
The Independent of Ireland published a short article on the
sale of a rare early Irish note:
"A rare nine bob banknote that was printed more than 200 years
ago has been sold for more than 60 times its value at an auction
in London.
"Despite being stained and tattered, the note... is considered
to be in good condition and sparked feverish bidding at Spink's
auction house earlier this week.
"It eventually sold for €3,125, almost three times its guide
price.
"The banknote was issued by Newport's Bank in Waterford on
December 1, 1799, when the city printed its own money.
"Barnaby Faull, head of the banknotes department at Spink,
said: 'Any Irish banknote from this period is extremely rare.
It is also difficult to find Irish notes of this age in fine
condition, as Irish notes tended to be handled and circulated
much more than some others, for some reason.'"
To read the complete article, see:
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/ninebob-note-from-irish-bank-sells-for-over-83643000-1139576.html
TITANIC SURVIVOR ERNEST WHEELTON'S WWI MEDALS AUCTIONED
"Britain's Liverpool Echo published a story Thursday
reporting that "A rare collection of medals which belonged
to a Liverpool steward who helped launch lifeboats on the
stricken Titanic is up for sale.
"The four World War I medals belonged to first class
steward Ernest Wheelton who survived the disaster which
claimed the lives of 1,500 passengers.
"The lot on internet auction site eBay has attracted 22
bids. So far the winning offer stands at £4,310 The
auction ends on Sunday.
"When the Titanic struck an iceberg late on the night
of April 14 Mr Wheelton was sleeping in his quarters
below deck.
"He was woken by shouting and quickly got dressed and
rushed to the lifeboats.
"After helping three boats leave the stricken ship
29-year-old Mr Wheelton jumped onboard boat number
11 and was rowed to safety.
"After the sinking of the Titanic, Mr Wheelton joined
the Merchant Navy and the Merchant Fleet Auxiliary and
served during World War I.
The lot includes a 1914-15 Star medal, a British War
Medal, a Victory Medal and a Mercantile Marine War Medal."
To read the complete article, see:
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-life/liverpool-lifestyle/2007/10/11/titanic-medal-auction-on-ebay-site-100252-19931299/
The eBay item number is 190159640634. To view the lot, see:
http://www.ebay.com/
NEWBURYPORT CURRENCY FIND CASE CHARGES DROPPED
Dick Hanscom forwarded this article from the Newburyport
Daily News about the case of the roofers who 'found' a stash
of old currency alleged to have been taken a barn in Newbury,
MA where they had been working.
"Larceny charges have been dropped against two men who
originally claimed they found antique currency worth an
estimated $720,000 buried in a Methuen yard two years ago.
"Barry Billcliff of Manchester, N.H., and Tim Crebase of
Methuen were later charged with stealing the money while
working on a barn roof owned by Sylvia Littlefield of Newbury.
"Prosecutors yesterday in Newburyport District Court said
they will no longer pursue larceny charges against them.
That decision comes one month after a judge in Newburyport
said he, too, is unwilling to bring the pair to trial.
"Meanwhile, work moves forward in a civil case, where
Littlefield claims she is the rightful owner of the antique
bills. She has sued Billcliff, Crebase, two of their friends
and the city of Methuen, demanding the bills be returned.
"Claiming herself in charge of the estate of her great uncle
Newell Adams, Littlefield argues that Adams must have hidden
the bills on his farm, where he once operated a cider press
and sold hard cider to locals.
The civil suit is filed in Newbury Superior Court. Lawyers
are expected to decide in February on a trial date."
To read the complete article, see:
http://tinyurl.com/yvq3b9
PAPER MONEY TALE A THEFT COVERUP?
http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v08n18a09.html
NEW CHARGES EXPECTED IN ROOFERS BANKNOTE HOARD CASE
http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v09n13a24.html
NEWSDAY'S PURLOINED PULITZERS: FIRM DIDN'T KNOW GOLD MEDALS WERE MISSING
[Arthur Shippee forwarded a giddy New York Times article
about how three gold Pulitzer Prize medals awarded to
their rival Newsday were discovered up for sale on eBay
when the publisher didn't even realize that they were missing.
Numismatic personalities (and E-Sylum subscribers) Jim Halperin
of Heritage Auction Galleries and Joe Levine of Presidential
Coin and Antique Company were interviewed for the story.
Here are some excerpts. -Editor]
"Newsday’s newsroom got an interesting tip last week: Its
three gold medals for public service journalism had been
listed on eBay and sold at a California auction for a total
of $15,500.
"The online listing had photographs of three gold medals
that certainly looked like the ones won by the paper in 1954,
1970 and 1974, along with an extensive description of the medals
as “three fabulously rare and never before offered gold Pulitzer
Prize medals,” obtained “through an unlikely confluence of
events” originating with a 2001 estate sale on Long Island.
"This jolted Newsday officials and staff members. Their medals,
they believed, had long been locked away in a safe at the
paper’s headquarters (the medals mounted on a plaque in the
executive offices were reproductions).
"Still unsure if the medals listed on eBay were real or
fake, company officials decided to look. The main safe was
opened with a combination, but officials realized they no
longer had a key to a smaller lockbox inside that held the
prizes. A locksmith was called to drill into it, and when
it was opened, the medals were indeed missing.
"“It’s a made-for-newspaper story — the case of the purloined
Pulitzers — but it’s also very embarrassing,” said Bob Greene,
who led the investigative reporting teams that won the 1970
and 1974 prizes. “This is the highest award the Pulitzer
committee gives, one of the most precious things you have
as an institution, and we won three of them and they go and
lose them?”
"Newsday reported in Tuesday’s paper that the medals had
been reported sold. On Wednesday a more detailed article
led with the delicious scene of company officials searching
for their own Pulitzers by breaking into their own safe,
and quoting their own building engineer and accounting
supervisor on details about the room (protected with
surveillance cameras) and the safe (which also contained
petty cash and Newsday gift cards).
"“All those people around as they were drilling into the
safe, it reminds me of Geraldo Rivera breaking into Al Capone’s
vault — and there’s nothing inside,” said Mr. Greene, adding
“Couldn’t they have looked in on them every six months or so,
to see if they were still there?”
"Sig Gissler, administrator of the Pulitzer Prizes, said, “I
never heard of anything like this happening before.” Of the
21 Pulitzer categories, only the public service category is
awarded as a gold medal. Only one is awarded, and always to
a newspaper, never an individual, he said. In other categories,
the recipient is awarded a certificate, a crystal paperweight
and $10,000.
"Jim Halperin, co-chairman of Heritage Auction Galleries
in Dallas, said the consigner was a coin dealer who said
he had purchased the medals at an estate sale on Long Island
in 2001. He said company policy prohibited him from revealing
the buyer’s name, except to the authorities.
"“We did not suspect anything unusual about the consigner,”
said Mr. Halperin, adding that the verification process for
medals does not place as much importance on pedigree and
previous owners as other items. “People ask, ‘How do you
miss something like this?’ But there’s also the fact that
these medals were only three lots out of a four-day auction
of 12,000 lots: $27 million dollars worth of items.”
"The medals were put up for auction live at a coin show at
the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, Calif. and
were simultaneously available for online bidding on eBay
and the auction house’s Web site. The 1954 award (awarded
to Newsday for exposing racetrack scandals) sold for $7,000.
The 1970 award (for exposing secret land deals on Long Island)
went for $4,500. And the 1974 medal (for a 32-article series
about the heroin trade in Turkey and the United States)
went for $4,000.
"“The 1954 medal was bought by a very well-known collector,
and the other two were bought by a very well-known dealer,”
said H. Joseph Levine, who owns Presidential Coin and Antique
Company in Clifton, Va. He declined to give their names
because he does business with them and said it would be a
breach of client confidentiality.
"Mr. Halperin said, “If they are indeed Newsday’s medals,
I’m confident they’ll get them back.”
"Mr. Mancini said that “in the end, the important thing is
that they are recovered.” And where will they be kept?
"“That we’ll have to figure out.”
To read the complete article, see:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/08/business/media/08pulitzer.html
To listen to a National Public Radio piece on the medal, visit:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15111012
WEB SITE: SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
John and Nancy Wilson of Ocala, FL write: "While trying to
find out some information regarding a certain Doctor we came
across this very useful site on the American Revolution. The
site is: http://www.sar.org/ which stands for Sons of the
American Revolution. We have many items in our collection
from the American Revolution and this site can be very useful
with all the historical information contained on it. Under
the History Link you will find a find a lot of information
regarding this War of Independence. Other links on this site
can also help you with historical information, maps, etc.
WHERE NOT TO STORE NUMISMATIC LITERATURE
Leon Worden writes: "How is contributor Ron Abler able to
keep his bathrooms free of evidence of his numismatic
bibliomania? What's his secret?"
[In most households, numismatic literature would be used
as toilet paper in a pinch. The bibliophile has to keep
his stuff out of harm’s way. -Editor]
ATOMS FOR BITS EXCHANGE PROPOSED
http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n40a17.html
ARIZONA BANK GIVES AWAY GOLD MEDALLIONS
An Arizona publication reported this week on a local bank
which has been giving away gold to new customers.
"Early in 2007, the bank gave away 3-gram (roughly 1/10-ounce)
gold coins picturing a pig to customers who made sufficiently
high deposits or opened Better Banking checking accounts. Now,
through Oct. 31, Chase is offering two sizes of a smiling-pig
collectible gold medallion.
"As with the earlier coin giveaway, the medallions are
available only at one Valley Chase branch, at 74th Street
and McDowell Road in Scottsdale.
"The medallions are popular among many Asians in the Valley
who use them to mark the Chinese autumn-moon festival, said
John Wing, a personal banker. The holiday is a family-themed
occasion when people bake cakes shaped like moons, said Wing,
a 27-year Valley banker who was born in Iowa of Chinese
parents."
To read the complete article, see:
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/1010biz-Buzz1010.html
MAN OFFERS MILLION DOLLAR BILL, WAITS FOR CHANGE
On Tuesday the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported the latest
incident of the attempted passing of a $1 million bill:
"The likeness of Grover Cleveland is on this fake $1 million
bill. Cleveland's portrait is on the genuine $1,000 bill, which
has been out of circulation since 1969. If you're going to
spend counterfeit money, it might help to use a denomination
that actually exists.
"An unidentified man who asked a Giant Eagle cashier to make
change for his $1 million bill learned that lesson the hard
way, Pittsburgh police said Monday.
"The man entered the store on Cedar Avenue in the North Side
shortly before 6 p.m. Saturday. He walked to the customer
service counter, handed over the bill containing the likeness
of Grover Cleveland and asked for change, police Cmdr.
Catherine McNeilly said.
"The cashier refused and called the manager, McNeilly said.
The manager told the man the bill was not real and the man
asked for the bill back. When the manager refused -- telling
the man the store had a policy of not returning counterfeit
money -- the man became enraged and grabbed an electronic
funds transfer machine and slammed it against the counter,
McNeilly said.
"The man then reached for the cashier's scanner gun, and
the manager called police, McNeilly said.
"The $1 million bill seized Saturday might have originated
from a Dallas-based ministry, which last year distributed
thousands of religious pamphlets with a picture of the
bogus bill, police said."
To read the complete article, see:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_531649.html
FEATURED WEB PAGE: LARGE DENOMINATIONS OF U.S. CURRENCY
This week's featured web page is large denominations of
United States currency, from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_denominations_of_United_States_currency
The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization
promoting numismatic literature. For more information please
see our web site at
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There is a membership application available on the web site
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To join, print the application and return it with your check
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Numismatic Bibliomania Society,
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For Asylum mailing address changes and other membership
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dsundman at LittletonCoin.com
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