The E-Sylum v11#16, April 20, 2008

[esylum at binhost.com]

Welcome to The E-Sylum: Volume 11, Number 16, April 20, 2008:
an electronic publication of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.
Copyright (c) 2008, The Numismatic Bibliomania Society.


WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM APRIL 20, 2008

Among our recent subscribers is Mack Martin, courtesy of John 
Eshbach. We now have 1,125 subscribers.

Tony Hine of Toronto writes: "Please wish your daughter a happy 
4th birthday from all the book nuts!"  Tony's note was a pleasant 
surprise and I did pass his greeting on to Hannah.  She turned 
four on Monday but managed to stretch the event into a four-day 
birthday festival: Chuck E. Cheese's for lunch Sunday, cake and 
presents at home Monday, a party at her preschool Tuesday and a 
party at our house with seven of her preschool friends on 
Wednesday.  It was a Princess-themed party (no surprise there!)

This week we open with a press release and review of David Ganz' 
new book. In other literature news, the Canadian Numismatic 
Association holds a numismatic book show, Dick Johnson comments 
on the inclusion of medal listings in the Red Book, and Jim 
Halperin comments on Heritage Auction Galleries exonumia sale 
cataloging.

Dick Johnson's other submissions this week cover the death of 
a sculptor and collector of Renaissance medals, and a new article 
on Paul Manship's medallic ashtrays.  Comments on previous articles 
cover topics such as eliminating smoke odors in books, Yoachum 
dollars, and digitizing numismatic literature.  
 
In the news, there is word of an internal spat at the Philippine 
Numismatic and Antiquarian Society.  To learn who a German coin 
collection thief ran into when he took his loot to a bank, read on. 
Have a great week, everyone.

Wayne Homren
Numismatic Bibliomania Society


NEW BOOK: SMITHSONIAN GUIDE TO COIN COLLECTING BY DAVID GANZ

[Publisher HarperCollins issued a press release for David 
Ganz' new book, Guide to Coin Collecting. -Editor]

>From the change in your pocket to the history of famous silver 
dollars, from understanding mintmarks and pedigree to assessing 
condition and grade, this GUIDE TO COIN COLLECTING gives you 
the historical background, practical knowledge, and expert 
advice you need to begin your coin collection today.

America’s ultimate collector, the Smithsonian Institution, 
brings you the new GUIDE TO COIN COLLECTING.  Written by David 
L. Ganz, the “father of the state quarter program,” this is the 
perfect tool for taking up coin collecting. With great historical 
context, step-by-step explanations, and expert advice from a 
noted numismatics authority, this book guides you through the 
process of starting a collection that no novice or intermediate 
collector should be without. 

The book begins with the history of coin collecting and continues 
with an explanation of how coins are made, the elements of coin 
design, famous coin collectors, and more. Updated for the digital 
age, this guide also features tips on how to make the most of 
current internet resources and auction sites. This is a fantastic 
collecting resource from a true collecting expert. 

Features advice on: 

Starting a collection 
Researching your coins 
Getting essential tools and supplies 
Finding and caring for coins 
Assessing authenticity and value 
Managing and exhibiting your collection 
...and much more. 
  
David L. Ganz, is a nationally-known numismatics expert. He 
is a life fellow of the American Numismatic Society and was 
the 48th president of the American Numismatic Association. 
Ganz also authored World of Coins & Coin Collecting, The 
Official Guide to America’s State Quarters, and The Official 
Guide to Commemorative Coins.

To view an image of the book's cover, see:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/2413543089/


BOOK REVIEW: SMITHSONIAN GUIDE TO COIN COLLECTING BY DAVID GANZ

Publisher HarperCollins sent me a review copy of David Ganz' 
new book, the "Smithsonian Guide to Coin Collecting."  See 
the previous article for details from the press release.  
Here are my first impressions.

The book is a quick and easy read, with just ten chapters in 
154 pages.  This feels about right for a book intended as an 
introduction to the hobby for newcomers.  Most of its glossy 
pages hold one or more color photos of coins.  Most of the 
photos are of high-grade specimens, and seem well-chosen to 
augment the nearby text.  Topics include "The History of Coinage", 
"Tools of the Collecting Trade", "Finding Coins for Your 
Collection" and "Coins of Distinction," a selection of the 
rarest U.S. coins.

Chapter five, "Tools of the Collecting Trade" provides a 
short overview of storage methods such as holders and albums, 
lighting and magnification tools, scales, etc.  The chapter 
also discusses other useful resources such as coin clubs, 
coin shows, numismatic libraries and museums.  The chapter 
includes a photo of the wonderful Harry W. Bass gallery at 
the American Numismatic Association's Edward Rochette 
Numismatic Museum.  

One error I noticed was the inclusion of Pittsburgh's Carnegie 
Museum on a list of "selected museums with extensive numismatic 
displays."  While The Carnegie does have a numismatic collection, 
to my knowledge very little if any of it is displayed.

Chapter seven, "What's It Worth" discusses supply-side 
factors such as mintage, melting and hoards, as well as 
demand-side factors including condition and grading.  It 
doesn't really address the number of collectors seeking 
particular coins, and this feels like a big omission.  This 
is where I think another mention of the State Quarter program 
would be appropriate, since it's responsible for bringing a 
large number of new collectors to the hobby.  One inclusion 
I didn't care for was the table of grading services.  Half 
of these I've never heard of and wouldn't recommend to a 
beginning collector.  The text rightly points out that the 
services can and do differ on the very subjective task of 
grading coins.

As a reviewer I feel almost obligated to point out shortcomings 
in a book.  As a longtime collector (and certified smartypants 
as E-Sylum Editor), I could point out many places where more 
could be said on a topic, but that is not the purpose of a book 
for beginners.  While there is always room for more, Ganz' book 
seems to represent a good balance of brevity, breadth and depth.  
Any book that mentions Harry Bass, John Pittman and Ed Frossard 
is OK by me.

There are some internal inconsistencies perhaps worth mentioning.  
For one, coin supplies and storage and inventory programs are 
discussed in both chapter five and chapter nine, "Managing Your 
Collection."  For another, the 1933 double eagle is described on 
page 2 as "America's Rarest Coin" but later on page 130 the Switt 
hoard of ten examples of the coin are mentioned.  Eleven examples 
outside the Smithsonian certainly makes a rare coin by any measure, 
but not the rarest.

I was disappointed in a few of the photographs.  The table of 
contents shows five proof state quarters on each page, but parts 
of the designs are cut off.  This may have been the designer's 
intention, but I found it distracting, particularly the top 
coins on each page which have part of the state name obscured.  
Finally, the cover photo seems dull and bland, particularly in 
comparison to the photos inside.  The cover stock isn't as glossy, 
leaving the image looking flat. The assemblage of coins looks 
decidedly unreal, and not in a good way - it seems Photoshopped.  
It took me a few minutes to realize the strangest aspect of it - 
the coin sizes are all out of proportion, with silver dollars, 
buffalo nickels and Large Cents all about the same diameter.  
Maybe this was intentional too, but it has a jarring effect.

While the book does discuss price appreciation and investing, 
I give the author credit for correctly noting that coin prices 
don't always go up.  He uses the Hawaiian Quarter as an example, 
noting that the coin which sold for as little as $19 in 1969 
rose to over $2,000 in 1980 and later fell back to $500 or so.

Many authors have tried their hands at writing beginner
books, and each one has its own flavor.  This is a perennial 
genre, though - the hobby continues to grow and change over 
time, and even beginner books quickly get outdated, leaving 
room for updates.  Ganz' book is a fine starting point for 
the beginning collectors of the class of 2008.  Its retail 
price is $19.95 and it is available at Barnes & Noble and 
Amazon.

Ganz adds: "The Bass exhibit photos that you refer to are, 
in my opinion, the finest photos ever taken of a museum 
display. The photographer is John Nebel (who is still as of 
this writing is being sued by the American Numismatic 
Association). It required permission from the Bass Foundation, 
the ANA and a cast of characters... but is worth it." 

[John Nebel is among the most talented and generous people 
I know in this hobby, and E-Sylum readers owe him a great 
debt whether they realize it or not.   John graciously allows 
the NBS web site and E-Sylum archive to be hosted gratis on 
his computer server in Colorado, and volunteered his time 
and programming ability to write the software which creates 
the web pages for each individual E-Sylum article.  He has 
also been working with us to create a new and much improved 
NBS web site.

The ANA's lawsuit against Nebel and a group of former ANA 
employees is a travesty.  It never should have been filed 
in the first place, and once done, should have been quickly 
settled or withdrawn.  The former board deserved to be voted 
out for allowing it to happen.  It's a time and money sink 
for all involved and I hope it finally comes to a resolution 
soon.

Now back to numismatics - The book's cover and press release 
refer to Ganz as "the father of the state quarter program," 
and the hobby owes a great deal to him and others such as 
Rep. Michael Castle who made this wildly successful program 
a reality.  A newspaper article published this week illustrates 
how the program has helped attract many newcomers to the hobby.  
Here are some excerpts. -Editor]

Steven was five years old when he discovered a handful of coins 
I had left on the kitchen counter when I emptied my pockets at 
the end of the day -- a couple of quarters, a dime and a nickel 
and half a dozen pennies. 

But one of the quarters looked different than the others, 
and it caught his eye. 

"Dad, what's on the back of this one?" he asked, holding 
it up for inspection. 

Steven's quest to collect all the state quarters began that 
day. And he's getting closer. 

There's now a wooden frame in the shape of the United States 
hanging on the wall of his bedroom. The frame has a place 
for each of the fifty state quarters, and they're all filled 
except for the five coins to be released in 2008. 

Oklahoma has eluded him so far, but it's not for lack of 
trying: Carla's coin purse and the coins I leave in the cup 
holder in my car are fair game in the search for the elusive 
quarter. 

Steven is already looking ahead to the release of the 50th 
coin ... Hawaii ... later this year. He's asked if we can 
celebrate once his collection is complete, and I was surprised 
that he even KNEW the word "luau". I'm pushing for a pineapple 
pizza and a Don Ho album. 

But his interest in coins has grown beyond state quarters, 
and his collection now includes a couple of Kennedy half dollars, 
some bicentennial quarters, the Susan B. Anthony silver dollars 
the Tooth Fairy left and an odd collection of foreign coins ... 
Deutschmarks, Francs, pesos, pesetas, shillings and a couple 
of Canadian pennies. 

And I'm pretty sure he's the only kid in his class who brought 
a handful of Euros for show-and-tell, then explained to the 
other first graders how much they're worth and where they're used. 

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?a=3373
72&z=28 


BOOK PREVIEW: BOWERS' ENCYCLOPEDIA ON COLONIAL AND EARLY AMERICAN COINS

Dennis Tucker of Whitman Publishing writes: "In other news:  
Q. David Bowers has submitted to Whitman his manuscript for a 
monumental new encyclopedia on colonial and early American coins 
and tokens. This is a massive and detailed work that was started 
from scratch (not building on previous works). It gathers Bowers'
own vast knowledge of the subject as well as all the latest 
research and insight from colonial-coin experts around the 
country. 

"The book will be illustrated in full color with thousands of 
images, and is projected to land around the 500-page mark. Many 
E-Sylum subscribers have contributed their time and talent to 
the manuscript, sharing their collections for study and photography, 
offering feedback and opinions, etc. This is going to be the 
magnum opus of the colonial field."

[Move over, Sylvester, there's a new kid in town!  -Editor]


MEDALS FIND THEIR WAY INTO THE RED BOOK
 
Discussing the latest edition of the classic reference, A 
Guide Book of United States Coins, Dick Johnson writes: "The 
American Arts Medals, gold bullion medals issued by the U.S. 
Mint in the early 1980s, were priced and illustrated for the 
first time in the new 62nd 2009 edition of the Red Book  just 
published. Also the Libertas Americana Medal, débuted in last 
year's edition, appears this year as well in a beautiful 
illustration.
 
"Medals in the Baedeker of United States coins!
 
"These are not the first medals to be so recorded in the 
vastly popular rubric-covered Guide Book. Previously a handful 
of medals of Colonial issue were listed. They bore no 
denomination but some actually circulated in the coin-starved 
Colonies.  
 
"Could this be a trend for the future?  If the criteria for 
the Red Book is objects created by the United States Mints, 
what's next?  Bronze Congressional Medals? The gold versions 
are bestowed to the recipients where bronze specimens from 
the same dies are sold to the public - a very democratic move 
by the U.S. Mint. The custom goes back all the way to George 
Washington.
 
"Then how about the official U.S. Presidential Inaugural 
Medals? A gray area?  Some were struck by the Philadelphia 
Mint, but more often than not these are produced by private 
medal firms for two reasons:  expediency and flexibility.  
Elections are held in November, medals are needed for the 
Inaugural ceremony in January. The Mint cannot move that fast, 
nor can it provide the many varieties, sizes and packaging 
options that private mints can.
 
"I inquired of Red Book editor Ken Bressett.  He replied: 
'Adding medals to the Guide Book is not a coming trend. 
[However] we are still pondering over what to do with the 
'First Spouse' medals, now that their bullion coin counterparts 
are listed in the book.  All such pieces are there to guide 
and educate the public.'

"For decades collectors have asked me to compile a 'Red Book 
of Medals.'  It can't be done for several reasons. Award medals 
are often inscribed to recipients, in effect creating a unique 
medal. Some award programs are half a century old. Do you list 
fifty unique medals, some of which may never come on the market? 
Second, medals don't circulate, so no need for multiple condition 
prices. Third, the quantities issued are nowhere near those of 
coins. Thus they are held by fewer collectors, don't come on the 
market as often, thus less need for a price listing.
 
"Frankly a 'Red Book of Medals' would only help antique dealers 
who occasionally discover a medal or two in an estate. I like 
watching them squirm when they realize they sold a medal to a 
collector at a fraction of its worth. Or they sit on a medal 
they can't sell for decades because they overpriced it. They 
just don't know how to price medals correctly. These dealers 
should get an appraisal from a medal dealer who knows the current 
market and the potential for any given medal."


CANADIAN NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION CONVENTION BOOK SHOW

Serge Pelletier writes: "A Numismatic Book Show will be held 
at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Ottawa, Ontario on July 17, 2008 
from 1:00 to 4:00 PM. A Canadian first, it is part of the 
activities of the 2008 Canadian Numismatic Association 
Convention held there July 17-20, 2008.

"Confirmed participants so far include: the Bank of Canada, 
who has published four books in the recent years; Canadian 
Coin News; Eligi Consultants, publisher of 'The Canadian 
Dictionary of Numismatics' and 'The Standard Catalogue of 
Canadian Municipal Trade Tokens'; Greg Ingram, author of 
several book of Canadian colonial tokens; Harry N. James, 
author of several book of Ontario merchants tokens; Yvon 
Marquis, author of several French language book; and 
Jean-Pierre Paré, author of 'Les banques au Québec'.

For more information, please contact me at serge(at)eligi.ca."


JAMES HALPERIN ON HERITAGE AUCTION GALLERIES EXONOMIA SALES

Responding to Alan Weinberg's earlier comments, E-Sylum 
subscriber Jim Halperin (co-chairman of Heritage Auction 
Galleries) writes: "For the record, Harvey Gamer is a talented 
and honest expert. We like, trust, and admire Harvey and all 
of us at Heritage have great respect for his knowledge. 
Unfortunately, as Harvey himself said, there were communication 
issues. Fortunately for us, Harvey has agreed to continue to 
help us with our exonumia consignments.

"I would like to assure all of our clients and friends that 
any exonumia consignments we receive will be expertly cataloged, 
in our next sale as well as succeeding ones. Harvey was 
instrumental in our entry into that field, but the success 
of Heritage’s Exonumia Department goes far beyond any one 
employee. Numerous people were involved, and happily, Harvey 
will continue to be one of them, as our exonumia consultant."

  ALAN WEINBERG ON HARVEY GAMER AND HERITAGE EXONOMIA SALES
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n14a17.html


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SCULPTOR AND MEDAL COLLECTOR KAHLIL GIBRAN DIES
 
[Dick Johnson submitted the following note about sculptor 
and medal collector Kahlil Gibran. -Editor]

Kahlil Gibran, a painter, sculptor, and collector of Renaissance 
medals died last Sunday (April 13, 2008).  If his name sounds 
familiar you may be thinking of his cousin, the Syrian poet, 
author and mystic (1883-1931) for whom the current artist was 
named.  His cousin wrote 'The Prophet' which sold a million 
copies early in the 20th century when such a feat was notable.
 
Kahlil (born 1922) lived his entire life in South End of Boston 
and infrequently attended Boston coin shows. That is where I 
last met him. We conversed over the years and he often invited 
me to come see his collection. Since he had nothing he wanted 
to sell I politely declined. Now I wish I had, even if I had 
not been able to purchase anything from him.
 
Like his cousin, he was a painter early in his career, but 
unlike his cousin he abandoned it for sculpture. 'Painting 
didn't demand enough of me,' he often claimed. As a sculptor 
he won dozens of awards and many accolades for his works. His 
'Tripod' is at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
 
Also as a sculptor he turned to collecting Renaissance medals 
for their patinas, sculptural and tactile charm. He would often 
apply sculpture techniques for preserving the patina on these 
early medals. One method was a turpentine application. I wouldn't 
recommend this but he swore by it. In 1977 he created his 
medallic self-portrait, and earlier, in 1969, he created a 
half dozen medallic reliefs.
 
He and his wife, Jean English Gibran, wrote a biography of the 
elder Kahlil Gibran. It was published in 1974.

[Below are excerpts from a Boston Globe obituary of Kahlil 
Gibran. -Editor]

Sculptor and painter, inventor and writer, Kahlil Gibran 
nourished creativity since he was old enough to mold clay 
with his hands, sometimes selling for pennies the tiny 
animals he fashioned while sitting on a curb in the South 
End when he was only 4.

"I believe talent is a grace," he told the Globe in 1967. 
"You don't deny it, you don't affirm it. But if you don't 
work at it, you can lose it. The only sin is in squandering 
talent."

Internationally honored for his work, Mr. Gibran was at 
home in many disciplines. From Copley Square to the South 
End and Jamaica Plain, his outdoor sculptures trace a map 
of Boston's neighborhoods. A tripod he designed is part of 
the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New 
York City. His paintings, drawings, and sculptures are in 
galleries, museums, and private collections across the country. 

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/04/kahlil_gibran_b.html


SCULPTURE REVIEW ARTICLE ON PAUL MANSHIP'S MEDALLIC ASHTRAYS
 
[Dick Johnson submitted the following item on a topic 
we've discussed earlier - the unusual medallic ashtrays 
created by Paul Manship.  -Editor]

In 1915 famed American sculptor Paul Manship created the 
first of an unusual adaptation of medallic art -- the 
medallic ashtray. He created a series of 12 of zodiac theme 
among other such ashtrays. 
 
Robert Mueller, a scholar who has studied the work of Manship 
for decades (and is curator at New York's Salamagundi Club), 
has written a fantastic article on these medallic items in 
the Spring 2008 issue of 'Sculpture Review.' Illustrated in 
color, with two displayed oversize, Mueller documents these 
rare issues, a combination of sculpture and medallic art in 
utilitarian form.
 
Manship was a cigar smoker in an age when smoking was widely 
accepted. His medallic ashtrays were popular as gifts. Manship 
turned to Medallic Art Company to replicate his medallic 
creations. I once commented we tried to keep at least one of 
these in the company's New York City's showroom at all times, 
but these were the most stolen item at the firm.
 
Recently, before he died, Sam Pennington ran an article on 
these medallic ashtrays in his Maine Antique Digest (June 
2007, the first of a monthly column on medals). He had a rare 
opportunity as publisher of an antique publication to observe 
-- and collect -- just about anything that turned him on. He 
collected aviation memorabilia and medals. Once he discovered  
medallic ashtrays he was committed. 
 
Sam was impressed by the fact he could acquire an object created 
by Paul Manship, whose sculptural works often sold for hundreds 
of thousands of dollars. Yet he could purchase a Manship medallic 
ashtray for only a few hundred dollars- which he did as often 
as they came on the market.
 
For his M.A.D. article Sam contacted Bob Mueller who furnished 
him with background information on this series. He contacted me 
for the Medallic Art connection and I put him in touch with Hugo 
Greco, the only living employee who remembered casting and giving 
these art objects their impressive patinas. Never produced in 
quantity, they were only made one or two at a time, according 
to Greco. The zodiac were most requested, obviously clients 
wanted their own zodiac symbol. So the number in public hands 
is uneven; it is a major feat that Bob Mueller acquired a full 
set, illustrated in his 'Sculpture Review' article.
 
Of average 6-inch size, these objects were small sculptures, 
but larger than a typical medal. It gave the artist a larger 
canvas for their medallic creation. Mueller calls Manship's 
ashtrays "deftly modeled... created for the sheer joy of modeling."
 
Pick up a copy of the Spring issue of 'Sculpture Review' at 
better newsstands while they are still available, $7 U.S., $9 
Canada, 8 Euros. You will surely experience a medallic thrill 
with this article.

  MANSHIP MEDALLIC ASHTRAYS MADE BY MEDALLIC ART COMPANY
  http://coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n12a12.html


ELIMINATING SMOKE ODOR IN BOOKS

Joe Boling writes: "On removing odor from books - do NOT put
them out in the sun. Just look at your daily newspaper after 
it has sat in the sun for a few hours."

Robert Rhue writes: "Regarding smoke smell in books, I do 
have a possible solution in response to your query.  A couple 
years ago my daughter broke a jar of pickles in her car, which 
then reeked of garlic.  I loaned her my portable, battery 
powered wardrobe ionizer which I'd bought at Sharper Image 
(recently bought out by Brookstone I think I heard).   She 
put it in her car for a week or two, and walla! Smell gone 
forever.   They also sell bigger units for rooms, which you 
plug in the wall."

Peter Mosiondz, Jr. writes: "Kim Ghobrial laments the smoke 
odor in the books she loaned out. I was at the car wash yesterday 
and saw a neat product on display named 'Odor Out'. It's a mist
aerosol bottle available in 15 scents and claims to take the 
smoke odor out of anything. While I would certainly not attempt 
to spray this product directly on the pages of any book, I 
thought that a simple test on a very cheap book could be in 
order. 

"Perhaps spraying the product on a cotton t-shirt or towel and 
then draping the unsprayed side of the cloth over the book might 
work. Else laying the book (opened) on a shelf or work counter 
and then spraying around (but not on) it might be helpful. I 
did not notice a price on this product but can't imagine that 
it would be much over $5 or so. I would imagine that most car 
washes will carry this or a similar product. 

"Another possibility is laying some moth flakes or moth balls 
along side the book and then covering it with an aluminum 
pan (easily obtainable at Dollar Stores).

"I haven't tried either of these methods since I do not have 
this problem. If I ever loan a book out it is with the clear 
understanding that the borrower or any other household member 
does not smoke. Also, when I buy or bid on books it is with 
the understanding that smoke odor books will not be accepted.  
Hope this helps. Remember to try it first on a cheap book that 
would not be missed."

  QUERY: GETTING SMOKE SMELL OUT OF BOOKS
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n15a19.html
  

NOTES ON CARLING GRESHAM

Dave Bowers writes: "Carling Gresham once wrote me a long 
diatribe about how I was trying to act unduly sophisticated 
and elitist by referring to my firm's productions as catalogues 
(with 'ue') rather than catalogs. I responded that he would 
surely have a quarrel with Wayte Raymond, had Raymond still 
lived, about his 'Standard Catalogue of U.S. Coins,' with New 
Netherlands, which also used catalogue, etc., etc. I then and 
still do think it is nice. However, it is Whitman style not to 
use 'ue,' and who am I to quarrel with the 'Chicago Manual of 
Style'?   I also like theatre, not theater.  But I do say 
'to-may-to,' not 'to-mah-to.' "

  QUERY: ASYLUM EDITOR CARLING GRESHAM
  http://coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n15a09.html


COMMENTS ON THE YOACHUM DOLLAR

Jeff Starck writes: "Am I correct in understanding that 
modern replicas of whatever Yoachum dollar there was, real 
or fake, were struck? 

[The article I quoted last week seemed to state that there 
were modern 'whatevers' made of the Yoachum dollar, struck 
from dies.  If one believes the Yoachum Dollars existed in 
the first place and that the dies were real, then they’re 
restrikes.  Otherwise, I'd say they're fantasy pieces. 
-Editor]

"Coincidentally, or oddly enough, I distinctly remember 
buying the W.C. Jameson book during a 1991 trip to Branson 
with my family. It was at a bookstore in Silver Dollar City. 
It was our second such trip to Branson, and being from Missouri, 
about four hours from Branson, that's where we went on most 
vacations.

"As a 12-year-old just beginning to read Coin World and 
Western and Eastern Treasures (a metal detecting magazine), 
the tales in Jameson's book were captivating.  I just picked 
the book up recently from my "library" and browsed through 
it. The article about the Yoachum silver dollar will send 
me looking there once again! "

Tom DeLorey writes: "I am the world's foremost authority on 
Yoachum Dollars. They are modern-made fantasies. Period.

"Back in 1982 two of them came into ANACS. They had a 
wonderful story that, according to Ozark legends, they 
had been made in 1822 by a trader named Yoachum from native 
silver ore mined locally by the Indians. The submittor claimed 
that according to folklore they had circulated in the Ozarks 
for many years, but he could provide no documentation of this 
fact. Supposedly a hoard of eight had been found in a firepit 
in a cave.

"I had X-ray tests done on them, and they came out almost 
exactly 92.5% silver, 7.5% copper, with a variance of only+/- 
.02% or so, with zero trace elements. In other words, precise 
sterling silver, just as you might get by melting down sterling 
silver spoons or forks.  This is impossible in unrefined 
native ore. 

"I spoke with the submittor, who changed his story to say 
that maybe they were made from melted down British coins. 
I returned the coins with an official 'No Decision' notice, 
and said that unless he could come up with a contemporary 
printed reference to them or a specimen found independently 
of the others we could not certify them.

"About six months later, we received another submission 
from a party in Indiana. There was just one, with the story 
that it was an old family heirloom. I checked our photo records, 
and the new specimen was one of the original two, now heavily 
artificially toned. We returned it without certification.

"I have recently learned that aluminum copies of the Yoachum 
dollars are being sold in the souvenir shop of the 'Silver 
Dollar City' tourist attraction in Branson, Missouri. I might 
speculate that the owners of Silver Dollar City may have been 
connected with the original 'discovery' of them, since the 
discovery and subsequent publicity of a genuine Ozarks silver 
dollar might be expected to help a tourist attraction of that 
name, but I have no proof of such a connection."

Jeff Starck adds: "It should be noted that the bookstore in 
Silver Dollar City was littered with regional books. I would 
give Jameson the benefit of the doubt that he was in on the 
effort to promote a fake treasure."
 
  QUERY: YOACHUM SILVER DOLLAR: APRIL FOOL?
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n15a21.html


QUERY: ORMSBY BANK-NOTE PRINTING METHOD

Arthur Tobias writes: "I hope one of your readers can help me. 
I am continuing my published work to describe the working 
methods of 19th century American bank-note engraver W. L. 
Ormsby. I am currently working on the second in a series of 
articles revealing the 20th century forgeries of his cylinder 
scene engravings for Samuel Colt.

"Ormsby describes his method of engraving a bed piece in steel, 
hardening it, rolling a cylindrical die over the bed piece with 
the transfer press, hardening the die and making bank-note 
plates. I assume the original intaglio bed piece is in reverse, 
so that the intaglio plates are in reverse, so the bank-notes 
themselves are in forward. Am I correct?

"The reason I ask is because Ormsby was able to engrave the 
bed piece for the revolver cylinder scenes in forward, create 
a roller die in reverse, which when hardened created the 
cylinder impression in forward. The third step was the end 
of the process.

"I will appreciate (and certainly credit) anyone illuminating 
the mid-19th-century bank-note process further for me. I have 
a background in fine art etching where the original plate is 
engraved in reverse."


YAP STONE MONEY SEEN ON SURVIVOR EPISODE

Max Spiegel writes: "I don't know if any other E-Sylum 
readers watch Survivor on CBS, but this past week's episode 
featured a trip to the Micronesian island of Yap as the prize 
for the winning team. After taking a quick plane ride, they 
were wined and dined Yap-style. In a few of the scenes, they 
showed several of the famed Yap stones, in varying sizes. 
Although the stones now serve a decorative purpose, they used 
to be one of the more unusual forms of currency. If anyone is 
interested in watching that particular episode of Survivor, 
I believe you can still access it online or on CBS On Demand." 


NUMISMATIC DIARY COMMENTS AND CORRECTIONS 

Canadian Ian A. Marshall writes: "An observation from north 
of your border: the comments in your report on your recent 
Northern Virginia numismatist meeting regarding the fatal 
shooting of Col. Elmer Ellsworth by James Jackson show rather 
clearly how the divisions that caused the American Civil War 
have never fully healed."
 
[Well, the ribbing was all in good fun.  I'm a transplanted 
Yankee myself.  Northern Virginia is a melting pot of people 
from all over.  One doesn't have to travel much farther south 
to find Confederate flags flying, though. 

Speaking of ribbing, I deserve some myself for the errors I 
let slip.  Bill Eckberg noticed that in one instance I referred 
to the Marshall House as the Mansion House, and wrote "defense" 
instead of "defence", which is how the word is spelled on the 
plaque.  The article Bill passed around was not the article 
from the VA Numismatist, but a rewrite with a substantially 
different ending.  -Editor]

  WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY APRIL 8, 2008
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n15a16.html
  

NON-CIRCULATING LEGAL TENDER COINS WITH MULTIPART DESIGNS

Regarding the Royal Mint coin designs, George Cuhaj of 
Krause Publications writes: "What they should have explained 
is that the multi-part design was a first among CIRCULATING 
COINS. The examples on the Chinese pieces cited, are all 
collector oriented commemoratives, or as they used to say, 
non-circulating legal tender (NCLT) coins."

[Well, the Royal Mint wasn't quite so boastful. Their press 
release said only that "This is the first time that a single 
design has been used across a range of United Kingdom coins."  
It was The Independent that said "The coins ... are believed 
to be the first in the world designed to form a unified 
picture when put together.'  -Editor]

Yossi Dotan described the multipart designs on Chinese coins. 
George continues: "Thanks to Yossi for mentioning the 
renumbering of the POC Section, a nice re-enforcement. A PDF 
of the cross reference of old and new, and soon-to-be listed 
issues is available for the asking (from me, at 
george.cuhaj at fwpubs.com).

"As to other China multi-part items, there is a six 20 yuan 
piece set of Ancient Chinese Paintings, from 1998 (same 
obverse) multi part reverse. The four silver and four gold 
(same design) of the Guilin Scenery set of 50 and 20 yuan 
of 1998 (individual obverses, multi-part reverse)."

  ROYAL MINT UNVEILS NEW CIRCULATING COIN REVERSE DESIGNS
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n14a21.html

  OTHER UNIFIED MULTI-COIN DESIGNS
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n15a11.html 
 
  COMMENTS ON THE ROYAL MINT'S NEW CIRCULATING COIN REVERSE DESIGNS
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n15a13.html


COMMENTS ON ELIMINATING THE UK PENNY

Kerry Rodgers writes: "Among the comments on the latest 
Royal Mint's new reverse coin designs was one from Dave 
Lange. He wrote 'There has been talk for years of eliminating 
the UK penny, so where will its portion of the design go?'

"As far as I can establish the 'talk for years' has been 
purely in the mainstream media. I would be happy to be 
disabused if this has some basis in reality.

"I have copies of a number of articles predicting the demise 
of the penny. They span a decade. The all come from British 
newspapers. They are all purely speculative.  The info in 
each is exactly the same as are the arguments, only the by-lines 
change from article to article.  The story is one of many that 
seems to be trotted out whenever there is a slow news day or 
the silly season has arrived in the Britain. 

On each occasion the Chancellor of the Exchequer, a 
spokesperson for the Treasury and another from the Royal 
Mint make statements that this is all news to them. On the 
last occasion some twelve months back the Mint stated that 
as far as they were concerned they had a new penny design 
on the drawing boards - and so it has come to pass.

"I think as numismaniacs we need to be Very Careful in 
citing media speculation as if it had some factual basis, 
let alone quoting it at a once and future date, far removed 
from its original silly season context. If and when the 
penny goeth, let's report that.  It will be an historic 
occasion.  Until then can we ignore the idle gossip from 
edia hacks."

  COMMENTS ON THE ROYAL MINT'S NEW CIRCULATING COIN REVERSE DESIGNS
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n15a13.html

[The April 21, 2008 issue of Coin World has a number of nice 
articles on the new coin designs.  In one of them, John Andrew 
interviews the designer, 26-year-old Matthew Dent and illustrates 
Dent's original design sketch, which went through sixteen revisions 
before final acceptance.   Of note to bibliophiles, Andrew's 
article concludes with this statement: "A book on the redesign 
of the United Kingdom's coinage will be published in the autumn 
and there will also be an exhibition on the design process at 
the British Museum."  -Editor]


TIM SHUCK ON DIGITIZING NUMISMATIC LITERATURE

Regarding our discussion on digitizing numismatic literature, 
Tim Shuck writes: "The concern over whether current data 
formats will survive into the future is legitimate but perhaps 
a bit overwrought. Similar concerns were expressed in the early 
phases of the transition from film to digital photography; that 
is, until it occurred to people that those photo prints in many 
situations weren't all that permanent either.  Uncertainties 
and debate on which digital format, sure, but on whether digital, 
not so much. The benefits of digital, from manipulation to 
storage to access, are simply too great.

"So what about the question of whether today's formats will be 
usable in the future? In a word, maintenance. There seems to be 
a sense that once in digital format those data never need to be 
touched again, derived I suppose from the experience that once 
we own a book we can take it down from the shelf years later in 
basically the same condition. For digital data that perspective 
is a sure path to data loss, as some have already discovered.

"Data need to be maintained just like a house or a car need 
to be maintained. There are other issues but at a minimum if 
you standardize on a data format for digital file storage you 
also need to stay current with that software manufacturer's 
upgrades; and if it happens that the format goes away, follow 
the path recommended by the manufacturer or third-party vendors. 
Periodically test your files, particularly after upgrades; and 
do I need to mention backups?

"As for storage of physical documents, there is a practical 
limit to the amount of space available both personally or 
institutionally.  Saving everything in physical format is, 
I think, not reasonable (probably a heretical thing to say 
on a numismatic bibliophile forum).  

I know many numismatists have significant document libraries, 
which of course is a legitimate personal choice. But life is 
temporary. Will those responsible for your estate be as sanguine 
toward those walls filled with books and literature?

"What's needed is discrimination, 'the quality or power of 
finely distinguishing' as Webster states it. No reasonable 
person would suggest that because the Gutenberg Bible is 
available in digital format it's ok to throw away the original. 
But surely that level of conservatorship is not needed for 
every numismatic periodical, catalog, and book that's ever 
been produced. Choices need to be made, based on experience 
and perspective, on what should be kept as a physical object, 
and what might be better kept (and maybe even be more usable) 
as a digital object. I think the storage constraints will 
force the decision that way.

"Personally, I'm in both worlds. I enjoy reading a book, the 
ones in paper or cloth, because I find that format more 
conducive to contemplative reading. For periodicals, either 
current or past, for reference, and for research I'd rather 
view digital files; and look forward to the day when digital 
documents are more ubiquitous, better quality, and more easily 
used. The cleverness of entrepreneurship will eventually make 
the physical vs digital choice moot, but we're not there yet."

  THOUGHTS ON DIGITIZING NUMISMATIC LITERATURE
  http://coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n15a14.html


MOVIE REVIEW NOTES: THE COUNTERFEITERS

Joe Boling writes: "On the movie "The Counterfeiters", 
Steve Feller, Fred Schwan, Danny Spungen and his wife, and 
I went to see it one night during CPMX. I found the numismatic 
content to be fairly sparse and subject to errors. It's really 
a morality play about the inmates and their jailers."

Warner Talso writes: Let me pick a nit with Larry Gaye's review 
of the movie  'The Counterfeiters'.  The review states the 
purpose of Operation Bernhard was to destabilize the British 
Pound.  This was the original idea, but was quickly dropped.  
There is no way the Nazis could have produced enough notes to 
accomplish this purpose. And many in the Nazi government 
objected to the idea.   Rather, the purpose became to create 
hard currency to support the German war effort.  Finished 
notes were graded and sorted into three Classes (wahl).  
Class I, and highest quality notes were used to pay spies in 
neutral nations.  Class II, and next highest quality notes, 
were used to pay SS Units, partisans, and collaborators. Class 
III notes were saved for a possible future plan to drop over 
England.  Class IV were rejects.
 
"As a sidelight, Cicero (Elyesa Bazna), a famous and valuable 
Nazi spy in the British embassy in Ankara, Turkey was paid 
in Operation Bernhard notes.  Cicero was a valet to the 
British ambassador.  He photographed top Secret documents and 
sold them to the Nazis. He was reportedly the highest paid 
spy of the war.   Cicero saved his money and after the war 
tried to set up a business with the notes. The forgeries were 
discovered and confiscated.  Cicero died destitute."

  MOVIE REVIEW BY LARRY GAYE: THE COUNTERFEITERS
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n15a23.html


ON BANKNOTES IN WALES

Regarding banknotes in Wales, Joe Boling writes: "There is 
a long series of private circulating checks issued by the 
Black Sheep Company, dating at least back into the 1960s. 
Of interest is that each piece has an imprinted tax stamp, 
not unlike the stamps printed on US checks of the 19th century. 
The one I used to own was a 2d stamp on a 1969 ten shilling 
'note.' "

  WOULD WALES WELCOME A WELSH BANKNOTE?
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n15a25.html


LINCOLN MEDAL: THOU ART THE MAN

I've commented before on the clever ads of Coin Rarities 
Online (Dave Wnuck and John Agre).  The April 21, 2008 issue 
of Coin World has another amusing one (p38).  Pictured is in 
1861 Abraham Lincoln medal with the inscription "Thou Art The 
Man / President / 1861"  The caption below states "It's a 
tribute to President Lincoln, and a classy thing to yell at 
a golf tournament."

I located a medal of this description in my copy of Zabriskie.  
It's no. 27, "issued by Henning & Eymann.  The illustrated 
piece is signed "A I Henning NY."  The firm's web site indicates 
the piece is DeWitt AL 1860-8.

"Thou Art the Man" is a great phrase.  An Internet search 
turned up an 1844 story of that title by Edgar Allan Poe, 
and a Bible reference: "And Nathan said to David, Thou art 
the man."

To view images of the Lincoln medal, see:
http://www.coinraritiesonline.com/index.php?page=search&task=det_item&item_i
d=1103 


PHILIPPINE NUMISMATIC AND ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY FEUD REPORTED

[I came across this note on the Filipino Numismatist web 
site this week.  Are any of our readers familiar with the 
goings-on at the Philippine Numismatic and Antiquarian 
Society? -Editor]

Recently, I was surprised to know that the Philippine 
Numismatic and Antiquarian Society, the oldest numismatic 
organization in the Philippines is bombarded with political 
controversy. Two factions emerged, a newly set of elected 
officers facilitated the establishment of a new governance 
mostly composed of younger members while the other faction, 
the incumbent officers, who declined to submit to the majority, 
remained and decided to continue their own version of the 
organization. 

So now, there are two Philippine Numismatic and Antiquarian 
Societies. Both are competing against each other and have 
concluded their respective auctions both on same set of dates. 
The incident started when last December, the organization 
held its annual election. Majority of the officers who won 
the election elected their pick for presidency. However, the 
minority of the group did not accept the mandate. Thus, started 
the creation of two organizations. The first one is headed by 
Tomas De Guzman, Jr. or “Temboy” as he is known to fellow 
numismatists. On the other hand, Atty. William Villareal 
leads the other faction and installed himself as president 
otherwise. 

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.filipinonumismatist.com/2008/04/philippine-numismatic-and-antiqua
rian.html 


HAPLESS THIEF DEPOSITS STOLEN COINS WITH VICTIM

"Two days after stealing a rare coin collection, police said 
Wednesday, an alleged thief in Germany took his loot to a 
bank for safe-keeping -- and ended up handing the coins to 
the very man he'd stolen them from.

"The stunned bank teller, an avid coin collector, recognized 
the coins as being the same set that had been stolen from his 
house and called police, said Saskia Schneider, a police 
spokesman for the western German city of Dortmund."

To read the complete article, see:
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/04/16/thief.coins/


FEATURED WEB SITE: THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL

This week's featured web site is the "Official Site of the 
Congressional Gold Medal", suggested by John and Nancy Wilson.

http://www.congressionalgoldmedal.com/ 


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