The E-Sylum v11#04, January 27, 2008

[esylum at binhost.com]

Welcome to The E-Sylum: Volume 11, Number 04, January 27, 2008:
an electronic publication of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.
Copyright (c) 2008, The Numismatic Bibliomania Society.


WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM JANUARY 27, 2008

Among our recent subscribers are Colin E. Pitchfork, courtesy of 
John and Nancy Wilson, Tom Harrison and Brad Weaver.  Welcome 
aboard!  We now have 1,116 subscribers.

Following brief notices about NBS dues and show tables, this week
we open with a discussion on the most valuable numismatic books, 
triggered by the recent sale of a book on U.S. MPC for over $100,000.  
Next we have a brief notice on a new book by Eric Newman, and an 
appreciation of numismatic editors by Ray Williams.

Questions this week involve the Brown and Dunn grading guide, 
and a coin dealer named "Brownie".   Follow-ups from last week 
include items on the Castorland medal, Diane Wolf, and the 
rarity of the Adams Academy medal. 

>From the science desk we have articles on counterfeit coin 
detection by sound, and a study about germs on paper money. 
In the news we have reports on numismatic museum exhibits in 
Romainia, and profiles of U.S. Mint artist Susan Gamble and 
Rep. Jose Serrano.   Also, happy twentieth anniversary to the 
polymer banknote!

To learn where the coin tossed by referees in the Super Bowl 
comes from, read on. Have a great week, everyone.

Wayne Homren
Numismatic Bibliomania Society


A NOTE ON NBS DUES PAYMENTS

[A recurring problem relating to NBS dues has appeared once 
again.  It stems from the separation of annual collating 
ballot duties from the ongoing duties of the NBS Secretary-
Treasurer.  As a trusted longtime member David Lange has 
taken on the task of collecting and collating ballots each 
year for the election of officers and voting for best Asylum 
article.   Last year these were mailed to members together 
with dues reminders, and many members replied to the wrong 
address.  -Editor]

Dave Lange writes: "About six weeks ago I received yet 
another dues payment for NBS that should have gone to 
David Sundman as treasurer. I passed this on to a Littleton 
employee at the FUN show, and luckily it did find its way 
to David.

"I can't repeat enough how important it is that the dues 
notices and ballots not be sent to members at the same time, 
when they are supposed to be returned to different persons. 
People just don't read the instructions. I believe the dues 
notices should be sent out at the beginning of the calendar 
year, separate from the election and article ballots."

[If you sent in a dues check that hasn't been processed 
by your bank, you may have sent it to the wrong address.  
Please contact our Secretary-Treasurer David Sundman.  
His contact information is at the end of every E-Sylum 
and on our web site at www.coinbooks.org.  -Editor]


HOWARD DANIEL TO MAN NBS TABLE AT PHOENIX ANA

In an effort to prove that he's not dead yet, Howard A. Daniel 
III plans to man a club table at the upcoming American Numismatic 
Association National Money Show in Phoenix, AZ March 7-9.  He 
will represent the Numismatic Bibliomania Society, Numismatics 
International.  Howard requests that NBS members bring any 
surplus numismatic publications with them so he can give them 
to new and young collectors along with an NBS application form. 
	

NUMISMATIC BOOK FETCHES RECORD PRICE OF $115,000

Fred Schwan writes: "Perhaps there were other books somewhere 
in the Heritage paper money sale at FUN, but there was only 
one important book. It probably went unnoticed by most 
numibibliophiles.  The title of the book was 'Composite, 
Progressive, and Specimens Military Payment Certificates 
Series 692'.  [My thanks to David Klinger for helping me 
locate the lot on the Heritage web site. -Editor]

To view the lot description on the Heritage web site, see:
http://currency.ha.com/common/view_item.php?Sale_No=456&Lot_No=13277

"The book included 72 pages of the subject material. No 
similar book has been previously been reported in private 
hands. The book realized a record price for any MPC item --
$115,000 including juice. I wrote up the full story for the 
current issue of the Bank Note Reporter. Where does $115,000 
stack up in records for numismatic books?"

[Although this item is indeed a book, the value of the 
book derives primarily from the fact that it houses a 
collection of numismatic items – it’s part book, but part 
album.   I would put the Raphael P. Thian album of Confederate 
Currency in this category as well.  It sold in the 1994 Armand 
Champa library sale for $25,300. Like the MPC "book", the 
lion's share of the value was in the notes mounted within.  
These "books" are collections in the form of books.  I wasn't 
sure of any U.S. numismatic book (or album) exceeding the 
Thian record, but George Kolbe set me straight.  -Editor]

George Kolbe writes: "In the John J. Ford library sale, lot 
518, the single volume Colonel Green inventory, brought 
$37,000 hammer; Vols. 1-6 of The Numismatist, bound in one 
volume, sold for $35,000; the 1851 Hart pamphlet brought 
$30,000 hammer (this fully conforms with your main criterion). 
I found these by making a quick scan of the prices realized 
list. There may be others, in Ford, and earlier. Another Hart, 
for example, sold in the Bass library, though I believe it 
brought less.

Recently, an early numismatic book from the library of Jean 
Grolier sold at auction in Europe for around $75,000-$80,000. 
One or two other numismatic books in Grolier bindings have 
sold at auction for over $25,000, I believe. Several years 
ago, Douglas Saville and I bought together at auction a 1517 
first edition of Fulvio's "Illustrium Imagines" (for well 
over your threshold figure) and I placed it privately at 
over $50,000. It was one of only a few printed on vellum. 
I do not know if other numismatic books in this league have 
reached six figures but I would not be particularly surprised."

"The above items derive their value intrinsically, though 
a Grolier binding makes a bit of a difference (the book noted 
above, in a nice 'anonymous' contemporary binding, would bring 
several thousand dollars at most, and vellum vs. rag stock 
enhances Fulvio's value by a factor of ten)."

[A list of the "Top Ten Most Valuable Works of Numismatic 
Literature" would make for interesting reading.  Has anyone 
been keeping track of recent sale records in this regard?  
-Editor]


ERIC NEWMAN'S NEW BOOK ON FUGIO COPPERS

Eric Newman has written a new book on the Fugio coppers.  
An advertisement by Charles Davis in the January issue of 
Penny Wise offers Eric's work 'The United States Fugio 
Coppers of 1787'.  Charlie reports that the book is currently 
at the binders and will be available shortly.  We'll publish 
the full press release once it's issued, and would welcome 
a review from any of our readers once their copy is in hand.  
I'll be ordering one myself.


NEW ZEALAND NUMISMATIC JOURNAL INDEX PUBLISHED

Martin Purdy writes: "E-Sylum subscribers may be interested
to know that the Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand has 
just published a 24-page Index of NZNJ issues 71-85 (1993-2006); 
copies are available for USD 5.00 post-paid. Cash in the mail 
(buyer's risk) c/o the RNSNZ, PO Box 2023, Wellington 6140, 
New Zealand, or USD 5.50 via Paypal to rita at translatelimited.com."


ALL HAIL THE NUMISMATIC EDITORS

[Ray Williams of the Colonial Coin Collectors Club posted 
the following note this week on the Yahoo colonial coins 
group, following a discussion of new books on U.S. Colonial 
numismatics.  I'd like to second his motion - this group of 
editors has done an absolutely marvelous job of publishing 
top-notch research on this area.  -Editor]

The quality of our reference material is due both to the 
authors AND the editors. Although we approach authors, 
congratulate them, get them to autograph our books... we 
need to appreciate the contribution of the editors. These 
are not guys that just sit down and check for spelling and 
punctuation mistakes - they review content and all aspects 
of publications. So I would like to thank some editors 
publicly:

Mike Hodder, Angel Pietri and Dan Freidus, for being past 
editors of the C4 Newsletter which brought a small group 
of colonial enthusiasts into the organization we have today. 
The C4N has gradually grown to what it is today, under 
your direction!

Syd Martin and Roger Siboni, current editor and associate 
editor of the C4 Newsletter. I don't have the words to 
describe the product that we've all been receiving in our 
mail boxes - you all receive it and I'll just let it speak 
for itself. Thank them when you see them! 

Al Hoch, Jim Spilman and Phil Mossman, for being past editors 
of the Colonial Newsletter (CNL). CNL has been the platform 
for colonial numismatic information since the 1960s. A 
complete set of CNL, either in paper or on CD, is a prerequisite 
for any colonial numismatic library, placed right next to 
your Crosby.

Gary Trudgen is the current editor of CNL, which is being 
published three times a year by the American Numismatic Society. 
I have had the pleasure to work with Gary (and many on this page) 
and I can say that he puts 100% inhis work. Gary's enthusiasm 
and dedication are evident in every issue! 

Lastly, we have Lou Jordan, Phil Mossman, Jim Rosen and Gary 
Trudgen - the editors who worked on C4 publications, including 
Syd's Wood's Hibernia book. They are currently editing another 
work in progress. These guys make it happen! I could go through 
several pages about what they do, but the quality of the books 
C4 publishes would not be what it is without these guys. 

Now there are other people in the hobby that deserve recognition, 
such as Dave Bowers, Ken Bressett and many others, but I just 
wanted to address the people involved with C4 and CNL today. 
I'm always scared that I missed someone, so if I have, please 
forgive me. The next time you're at a C4 Convention and get 
a book autographed, look around, find the editors and ask 
them to autograph it too.

My personal thank you to all the editors, past and present, 
that work so hard! You guys make it happen!!! You guys ROCK!!! 


CANADIAN HISTORICAL MEDAL SERIES PUBLICATION STATUS SOUGHT

A reader writes: "In the August 13, 2006 E-Sylum, Bob Gilbert 
wrote that he wondered about the delay in releasing Volumes 
2 and 3 of the Canadian Historical Medals by Charlton Press.  
I reviewed all issues of E-Sylum since that date, but did 
not find the answer.  I am still waiting on my own order."

[I'm not sure if we ever got an answer to this query.  Is 
anyone familiar with this publication or have a contact at 
Charlton Press?  -Editor]

  CANADIAN HISTORICAL MEDAL SERIES PUBLICATION STATUS SOUGHT
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v09n33a07.html


CHARLES HOSCH PUBLISHES NUMISMATIC WEB SITE

E-Sylum reader Charles R. Hosch of Marietta, GA writes: 
"I've created an Internet site which provides descriptions 
of coin designs plus complete specifications for various 
series of world coins and bank notes, plus many other items 
of numismatic interest.  

"The address is www.hoschcoins.com and contains many topics 
including: ANA Convention Badges & Medals; World Coin 
Designers, Modelers and Engravers; Commemorative World Bank 
Notes; World Gold Proof Sets (1901-); Scandinavian Commemorative 
Coins; Austria and Germany Commemorative Coins (1945-); Israel 
Gold Commemorative Coins; Switzerland Commemorative Coins 
(Including Shooting Festival Commemoratives, 1842-); 

"Great Britain Gold Coins (1901-); Great Britain Maundy 
Coins (1822-); Great Britain One Pound Coins (1983-); 
Sovereign Military Order of Malta Modern Coins (1961-); 
Coats of Arms on Coins of the World (1701-); National 
Coats of Arms on World Bank Notes (c.1800-); Numismatic 
Theme Commemorative Coins [Tabular Listing]; Olympic Games 
Commemorative Coins and other Perennial Games [Tablular 
Listing]; 

"Reigning Monarch Portraits on World Paper Money (1961-); 
World Commemorative Banknotes; Canada $100 Gold Coins; 
Canada Commemorative Dollars; New Zealand Silver One Dollar 
Coins; Austria Maria Theresa Thaler; Netherlands 50 Gulden 
Commemorative Coins (1982-1998); Netherlands Proof Gold 
and Silver Ducats (1985-); Royal Visit Commemorative Coins 
[Tabular Listing]; Ibero-American Coin Series; Coins 
Commemorating the States and Provinces of North America; 
World Commemorative Coins (Selected Countries); and many 
other topics.  NOTE: There are no coins for sale on this site."

To visit the Hosch web site, see:
http://www.hoschcoins.com 


QUERY: COIN CATALOG DESCRIPTION COPYRIGHT LAWSUIT

Ed Snible writes: "Did the coin description copyright 
lawsuit between Heritage and Superior ever get resolved?  
As reported last year (e-Sylum v. 10 #7) Superior cataloger 
James Jones was accused of describing coins using flowery 
language he had previously composed when cataloging for 
Heritage.  What kind of flowery language did the judge use 
when composing his verdict upon this squabble?

  NUMISMATIC CATALOG COPYRIGHT CONTROVERSY
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n07a02.html

[Good question - I haven't heard any more about this.  
Can any E-Sylum readers fill us in?  -Editor]


QUERIES: BROWN AND DUNN GRADING GUIDE, DEALER "BROWNIE"

NBS Life member #4 Joseph D. McCarthy writes: "One of 
the books that I pick up copies of whenever they are offered 
is the U.S. Coin Grading Guide by Brown and Dunn.  I have 
noticed in the early editions, which seem to have many 
printings, that the books came in different widths, different 
heights, and different numbers of pages.  Is there any 
reference work that has been compiled on the book?  Does 
anyone know about the different versions?"

On a separate topic Joe adds: "Years ago I stopped in New 
Jersey along the Delaware River and talked for a while with 
an ex-coin dealer named "Brownie" - does anyone know him and 
what became of him?  He told me he had hired a fellow to be 
his shop manager while he was away at shows.  Once after 
returning from an extended show trip he learned that the 
fellow had taken everything he had and fled.

"Brownie" told me about the time a collector he knew stopped 
in on the way back from a convention in Philadelphia and 
proudly showed off the 1856 Flying eagle cent he had acquired.  
The collector asked if "Brownie" had ever seen one.  Brownie 
turned to another gentleman who was in the store at the time 
and with a wink asked what he thought of it.  Reaching into 
his coat pocket the other gentleman said, "Gee, it looks 
just like these three I have".  He then told me that the 
gentleman was a representative for a very well known collector 
from Baltimore (if I remember right)."  


QUERY: SAN FRANCISCO ASSAY OFFICE DEPOSIT INFORMATION SOUGHT
 
Dave Ginsburg writes: "In reviewing the Mint Annual Reports 
from the 1820s to 1861, I've noticed that while they contain 
deposit and mintage information for the five US mints and the 
New York Assay Office, there isn't any information regarding 
the activities of the Assay Office in San Francisco, which 
operated from 1851 to 1853.  However, Don Kagin, in his Private 
Gold Coins and Patterns of the United States, states that the 
Assay Office made monthly reports to the Secretary of the 
Treasury and his book contains an illustration of a page of 
a report from the National Archives.
 
"Does anyone know if any deposit or mintage information from 
the Assay Office in San Francisco has been published?"


DAVID SUNDMAN ON NUMISMATIC EXHIBITING

NBS Secretary-Treasurer David M. Sundman sent the following 
note to Alan Weinberg in response to his submission in last 
week's E-Sylum:

I really enjoyed your comments in regarding the FUN show and 
your non-competitive exhibit in the January 20, 2008 E-Sylum.  
I wasn’t able to make the FUN show, so I missed it.  I agree 
with Wayne’s comments that collections should be shared, and 
non-competitive exhibiting is a good option.  I am sure your 
efforts and the nice mention in the E-Sylum will inspire 
other collectors to follow your lead.

  ALAN WEINBERG AND THE JANUARY 2008 FUN SHOW
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n03a10.html
 

CAPTAIN HERNDON IN NUMISMATICS

[On an unrelated matter I put dealer Wayne Herndon from 
my northern Virginia numismatic group in touch with Alan 
Weinberg this week.  Alan was curious (as was I) to learn 
if Wayne was related to Captain Herndon of the S.S.
Central America.  Alan has an example of the Herndon medal 
in his collection.  Below is Wayne's reply.  -Editor]

"All of the U.S. Herndons are believed to be related and 
are descendants of emigrants from the early 1600s.  The 
only exceptions are believed to be some former Herndon 
slaves who took the Herndon name upon emancipation (as 
was apparently quite common at the time).   One researcher 
identified Thomas Herndon, 23, as having sailed on October 
13, 1635 for St. Christopher's aboard the Amitie.  Other 
researchers believe John and Rhodes Herndon were the original 
emigrants having come in the early 17th century, one to 
Virginia and the other initially to North Carolina before 
also moving to Virginia.

As one can imagine, documentation from the 1600s is quite 
scarce and difficult to establish reliable lineages.  The 
first Herndon for which there is an authentic record is 
William Herndon who patented lands in St. Stephen's parish, 
New Kent County, Virginia in February 1674.  In 1677 he 
married Catherine Diggs, the youngest daughter of Edward 
Diggs, (Governor of Virginia in 1655).

Captain Herndon was a sixth generation descendant of William 
Herndon.  I am an eleventh generation descendant of William 
Herndon.  While we are both descendants of William, we are 
from separate branches.  Beyond William, the only descendant 
common to us both is William's son Edward.

Captain William Lewis Herndon had only one child, Ellen 
Lewis Herndon.  Ellen married Chester A. Arthur but died 
before he became president. Following the sinking of the 
Central America and Captain Herndon's heroic death, there 
was quite an outpouring in the D.C. area and a number of 
things happened to memorialize him, including a the naming 
of Herndon, VA.  

The Arthur connection nearly provided the Herndon family 
with another connection to numismatics.  Had Ellen lived 
to become first lady during Arthur's tenure as president, 
she would have been eligible for depiction on a first spouse 
$10 gold coin.  However, the legislation provided that for 
presidents who were unmarried or widowed, a contemporaneous 
depiction of Liberty would appear on the coin.  Arthur alone 
was subject to a second exception in the legislation.  
Instead of Liberty, the act provides for suffragist Alice 
Paul to grace the coin.  This is somewhat curious as Alice 
Paul was not even born until the last few months of Arthur's 
presidency.

Here's a funny story. I visited the S. S. Central America 
exhibit at the Atlanta ANA several years ago.  The exhibit 
was part of a promotion to market the recovered gold and 
it was heavily staffed with salespeople to speak to anyone 
and everyone who visited the impressive exhibit.  As part 
of the promotion surrounding the exhibit, they also had a 
descendant of the first mate on hand to meet and greet.  

I was predominately interested in the exhibit from a 
numismatic standpoint being only a distant relative of 
Captain Herndon at best.  So I wasn't thinking of Captain 
Herndon when I walked up to see the exhibit.  As I approached, 
one of the attendants greeted me with his name.  Out of habit, 
I responded with my name. It seemed as if I had no more than 
spoken my name than I was shoved up against the descendant 
of the first mate and someone was yelling for a photographer. 
The promotion-minded folks running the exhibit were all over 
the opportunity to photograph the two 'relatives' together.


LESTER MERKIN CASTORLAND HOARD

The title of the John W. Adams article in the next Asylum 
"The Story Behind the Castorland Jeton" reminded Alan V. 
Weinberg of the story of an old hoard.  He writes: 
"Approximately 35 years ago Lester Merkin told me, at the 
time confidentially, that the original French Family of 
the Castorland medal  issue still had many hundreds of the 
original in silver and was leaking onto the market several 
pieces each year. Lester was handling them. So there may 
be a hoard of hundreds of Castorland original silver strikings 
out there in Europe."

  LATEST ASYLUM ISSUE IS ON THE WAY
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n03a03.html
 

DIANE WOLF REMEMBERED

David L. Ganz writes: "Here's a little known personal 
story about Diane Wolf.  In the 1980's, at Long Beach, 
I was at the Hyatt with my wife and then young son, Scott, 
who must have been about five or six, and is now 26.  As 
kids are wont to do, he was running around the lobby as I 
registered, slipped on the tile, fell, and started crying.  
Diane was also registering; she knelt with one knee on the 
floor, leaned over Scott, and said things would be all right, 
calming him.  I knew her only as Commissioner and a coinage 
redesign advocate, finding out only later about her advanced 
degree in education.  That day, she was Scott’s (and my) hero." 
 
Dick Johnson writes: "I remember Diane Wolf. She often came 
to New York City coin shows and she stopped by our booth a 
time or two. She also came to my little office in Danbury 
in the late 1980s. I don't know what influence she thought 
I could have for her cause of redesigning American coins, 
but perhaps she was trying to gain supporters one person 
at a time.
 
"The opinion of her I created in my mind at that time is 
confirmed by the biography recently published on her death. 
I surmised she was a rich girl with lots of free time in 
search of a cause. Self appointed, she chose changing the 
design on circulating coins.  A harmless cause, perhaps 
it was one she must have thought was obtainable. 
 
"My belief at the time was that all five coins bore 
portraits of famous Americans. People are interested 
in people, ergo, I thought that the existing portrait 
coin designs were satisfactory. I was certainly a candidate 
for Diane Wolf to convert. But she never changed my mind 
to her cause.
 
"At our office meeting she appeared overdressed, as always, 
in designer clothes. Perfect makeup and coiffure, with 
ample jewelry. Her band-box appearance tended to reinforce 
her wealthy status. How out-of-place she was in our workroom 
office of rolled up sleeves for medal cataloging. I was 
polite, however, listened to her pitch and received her 
literature. As a lobbyist, I thought, she was more show 
and less substance.
 
"She was quite knowledgeable, though, about coin design 
limitations, but not so about coin designers. I think we 
chatted about Victor Brenner and what she would like to 
see on the cent.
 
"After years of such activity, with Congress, the Treasury 
Department and apparently anyone who would listen, I believe 
she realized continued effort was futile. She seemed to drop 
from the numismatic scene."
  
  U.S. COINAGE REDESIGN ADVOCATE DIANE WOLF 1954-2008
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n03a06.html


ON THE RARITY OF THE ADAMS ACADEMY MINT MEDAL

Alan V. Weinberg writes: "The Adams Academy medal bought 
by jonathanb is .900 fine gold as are all gold medals 
struck at the U.S. Mint. This fact was not mentioned in 
the Coin World coverage of the eBay find and so most readers 
may have assumed the medal was 14kt or less as are the vast 
majority of gold school medals.  

"As to the medal's rarity: In 50 yrs of collecting medals, 
I've never seen another Adams Academy medal, and it is not 
represented in the John Sallay  collection of American school 
and academic awards. John Sallay (of Weston, Mass) has been 
the #1 collector and researcher/author on American school 
medals ever since he was a Harvard student many decades ago. 
I've known him since then. John was not aware of the eBay 
sale and was beside himself for missing it. I can say that 
had John been aware of the medal's eBay sale, it would not 
have gone to anyone else, plain and simple."

  ADAMS ACADEMY U.S. MINT MEDAL DISCOVERY
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n03a13.html
 

MORE ON THE DRAKE MAP MEDAL AND THE MERCATOR PROJECTION

Alan V. Weinberg writes: "On the Sir Francis Drake's Voyage 
world map medal: I had the pleasure of examining a near mint 
prooflike white metal specimen in its original approx 2" x 2" 
red plush case of issue at Dave Wnuck/John Agre's table at 
FUN.  Its singular defect was slight rim oxidation.  Priced 
at a mere $1500 it puts to shame 'rare' Morgan dollars and 
double eagles that sell for 100 times as much. 

"I'd seen and handled these medals before, but this was only 
the 2nd or 3rd I've seen in its original case. This medal 
has always been one of my favorites and fits well into either 
an American or Foreign numismatic collection. I distinctly 
recall that approximately 40-45 years ago in either an early 
Numismatic News or Coin World there was an announcement of 
an original silver hand-engraved Sir Francis Drake's map medal 
(pictured in the article) selling in London at auction for 
$50,000 US. I cannot recall if a  buyer was mentioned. Dave 
Bowers and contributors to his and co-author Katie Jaeger's 
"100 Greatest American Medals and Tokens" book recognize the 
rarity/desirability of the original silver hand-engraved 
Drake's map medal by listing it as #99 with no value - such 
"low" ranking only because the medal is so rare and obscure 
few know of its existence and so could not nominate it in 
Bowers' survey. 

"Whether the silver medal is unique or not, I don't know - 
the Bowers/Jaeger book implies it is not.  At $50 grand some 
40-45 yrs ago, one would think it is. I'd guess their book's 
photograph came from the British Museum, as did a few others."

[The specimen offered by Wnuck/Agre is what initiated this 
thread of discussion.  Bowers/Jaeger book states that there 
are nine examples known in silver. -Editor]

Alan Weinberg adds: "I am aware of only that single $50 grand 
specimen of the silver medal selling 40-45 yrs ago. For me, 
this is one of the most desirable historical medals. Should 
one appear at auction today in decent condition, I'd speculate 
a price well north of $250K would be realized. I find it very 
hard to believe there is anything approaching 9 extant, indeed 
even 3 or 4."  

Bill Malkmus writes: "A comment in the last E-Sylum (taken 
from a web page) jolted me like chalk on a blackboard. In the 
segment on the Drake voyage map medal, the quotation was made: 
"In 1569, Mercator unveiled his famous projection, a new way 
of making a map that was designed to show accurate distances 
between various points."

"I have no doubt that you will get numerous comments on this, 
but just in case everyone else thinks the same, and waits for 
others to comment, let me state: The Mercator projection 
shows accurate bearings between points, but famously distorts 
distances increasingly (and indefinitely) towards the poles. 
(The quote above was taken accurately from the website named, 
but is unexpectedly in error.)

"Ironically, the Wikipedia site, which has been frequently 
(and fairly) badmouthed, seems to have a very careful and 
lucid description of the projection, at least on a quick glance."

  ANOTHER DRAKE'S VOYAGE MAP MEDAL
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n03a20.html


ATLANTIC MAGAZINE ONLINE ARCHIVE OPENED

[In a note published January 22, 2008, The Atlantic magazine 
announced its move to free distribution of its back issue 
archive.  I'm not sure how likely it would be to find numismatic 
content there, but in a publication dating back to 1857, you 
never know - there just might be a gem waiting to be discovered, 
perhaps a story on famous sculptors of the day mentioning their 
work at the U.S. Mint.  -Editor]

Beginning today, TheAtlantic.com is dropping its subscriber 
registration requirement and making the site free to all visitors. 

Now, in addition to such offerings as blogs, author dispatches, 
slideshows, interviews, and videos, readers can also browse 
issues going back to 1995, along with hundreds of articles 
dating as far back as 1857, the year The Atlantic was founded. 

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200801u/editors-note


ROMAINIAN MUSEUM NUMISMATIC COLLECTION

[An article on the History Museum in Sibiu, Romania was 
published on the web Wednesday.  It includes a discussion 
of the museum's numismatic collections.  Below are excerpts 
from the article.  -Editor]

Part of the Brukenthal Museum, the History Museum in Sibiu 
is hosted - how appropriate - inside the Old City Hall, a 
magnificent building, which has proven to be the best choice 
for the prestigious institution. 

The History Museum has several large and rich collections, 
divided into several chronological and thematical departments, 
such as weapons and armours, medals, Romanian coins and bills, 
archaeology and others. It is simply amazing to discover step 
by step the history of the region, by means of tens of thousands 
of exhibits, many of them presented in the permanent collection. 

In the coins collection, for example, we find over 60.000 
coins and medals, from all around the world. Samuel von Brukenthal 
himself managed to amass about 17.000 coins and medals in his 
life time, from ancient ones to then-contemporary. Over the 
decades the collection has been enriched with other rare examples, 
both discoverise from archaeological sites and donations from 
other collector. Dacians, Roman Greek Austrian, German, you name 
it, and it's here. Of great importance is the selection of 
Transylvanian coins, especially those out of gold and silver, 
as well as the Eastern European collection. 

Also of interest is the collection of Romanian money bills, 
put together in the interwar period and further completed after 
1990, the oldest exhibits being some mortgage bills from 1877. 
It is a history of the Romanian coins starting with the beginning 
of the 20th century, and every type of coin and bill are presented 
here, in great quality, that would make the envy of every collector. 
The visit at the museum end with yet another interesting department, 
the textile collection, with many pieces from the collection put 
together by the Baron Samuel von Brukenthal, as well as several 
donations made by local guilds and associations or collectors. 

To read the complete article, see:
http://recomandari.artline.ro/2_606_The_History_Museum_in_Sibiu_24815.html


QUERY: CHESS LEGEND BOBBY FISHER'S GOLD COINS

Last week chess legend Bobby Fisher died, and that reminded 
me that we had an unanswered E-Sylum question about the gold 
coins Fisher received in payment for an important match against 
Boris Spassky in 1992. Was Fisher paid in gold bullion?  Were 
they ordinary gold coins or commemoratives related to the match?

To read the original article on Fisher's gold coins, see:
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3265

  CHESS LEGEND BOBBY FISHER'S GOLD COINS SOLD
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v09n34a24.html 


MORE ON MILITARY PAYMENT TOKENS (POGS) FOR IRAQ

Regarding last week's item from Paul Sherry about military 
payment tokens used in Iraq, Joe Boling writes: "These are 
pogs, the token coinage issued by AAFES (Army and Air Force 
Exchange Service). They are not cardboard, but plastic. See 
www.aafespogs.com for complete information about them. There 
have been ten emissions so far. See also 
http://www.aafespogs.com/publications/By%20Bill%20Myers.htm 
for a series of articles by Colonel (Doctor) Bill Myers about 
them. Myers won the best of show exhibit award at FUN two 
years ago with an exhibit of pogs, and gave a numismatic 
theater program on them at this year's convention."

Tom Michael of Krause Publications writes: "I read in the 
E-Sylum a report of new military chits, tokens, or what we 
called in the Middle east Book, pogs.  We made a very 
comprehensive list of all military pog style tokens up to 
the date of publication for 'Coins & Currency of the Middle 
East' and since then George Cuhaj has been keeping up with 
new issues in the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money - 
Modern Issues book. 

"Eventually I think George intends to move them to the 
Specialized Issues volume, but for now you can find full 
listings of Military pogs in our SCWPM- Modern Issues."

  MILITARY PAYMENT TOKENS FOR IRAQ
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n03a15.html


ARTICLE ON SUSAN GAMBLE'S MODELS FOR THE NEW BALD EAGLE COINS

Another female bald eagle might have her talons on his 
heart, but rest assured, the love story between George and 
Martha is not quite over.

The products of their union, their eaglets, are pictured on 
a gold coin released this week by the U.S. Mint as part of 
a three-coin set honoring the national bird.

When the coins went on sale last Tuesday, there was no mention 
of George and Martha or of the construction workers on the 
Woodrow Wilson Bridge project who named them. But follow the 
artist's initials on the coins, S.G., to Arlington County 
resident Susan Gamble, and her muse is clear.

"It just seemed they had to be immortalized, or at least I 
had to try," said Gamble, who used photographs of the eaglets 
to design the coins.

A master designer for the Mint and a self-described "bit 
of a tree hugger," Gamble received the assignment for the 
coins early last year and said her thoughts immediately 
drifted to George and Martha.

The pair had lived on Rosalie Island, on the Maryland side 
of the bridge, since the 1990s but made national headlines 
two years ago when a younger female, making a move for 
George, attacked Martha, seriously injuring her. Martha 
recovered at a rescue center in Delaware and made her way 
back to George but was euthanized months later after flying 
into a tree or power line.

Gamble said that what struck her most about the birds' 
story was the irony of their situation: that humans were 
responsible for their dwindling numbers but were also trying 
to help them. She remembered hearing that when Martha was 
injured, bridge workers would leave fish for George.

Gamble's designs are on two of the three coins in the set, 
and the eaglets appear on the $5 gold coin, which costs more 
like $300. On the coin, a young bald eagle stretches its 
wings as a sibling looks on from the same branch. Gamble 
said the scene was modeled from two of Spears's photographs.

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/21/AR2008012102
158.html


NUMISMATIC NEWS ARTICLE PROFILES REP. JOSE SERRANO

[In a recent article Numismatic News Editor Dave Harper 
profiles Rep. Jose Serrano, D-N.Y., the most senior member 
of Congress of Puerto Rican descent.  Serrano was instrumental 
in passing the bill expanding the 50 states quarter program 
to include the District of Columbia and the five insular 
territories: American Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, 
Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands and the Commonwealth 
of Puerto Rico.  Serrano also had a hand in the congressional 
gold medal awarded to singer Frank Sinatra. The article is 
available on the Numismaster web site - some excerpts are 
below.  -Editor]

State quarters are now expanded from 50 states to include 
the District of Columbia and the five insular territories: 
American Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Commonwealth 
of Northern Marianas Islands and the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico. The nine-year-old program (2008 makes what would have 
been its 10th and final year) has a new lease on life.

Year 11 was signed into law by President George W. Bush on 
Dec. 26, 2007, while aboard Air Force One en route to 
Crawford, Texas. The measure was part of the omnibus spending 
legislation that tied Congress up in knots since Thanksgiving. 
The territorial quarter measure, though important to some 
special interest groups, was incidental.

Section 622 of the 1,235-page bill is the operative one for 
collectors. It contains a mere 756 words in the context of 
a bill that contains some 279,154 words in all. But the words 
are those that residents of Washington, D.C., have sought to 
hear for 10 long years. Surprisingly, the leader to the 
promised land was not Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., 
a longtime advocate - but a New York congressman, Rep. Jose 
Serrano, D-N.Y.

How the coin provision remained in, together with the restoration 
of "In God We Trust" to the obverse of the Presidential dollars 
- removed from the rim of the coin - may have as much to do 
with the resignation of Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., on Dec. 18 
as anything else.

Some sources suggest that Lott has been the anonymous hold 
behind the expansion of the state quarter program - to make 
sure that the Marianas labor and immigration policies did not 
change. There are almost a thousand Google references to Lott 
and the Marianas, a 14-island chain in the Pacific.

This marked the sixth time the coin proposal had been before 
Congress for a vote, but the first time that it passed both 
houses. It has passed the House in each Congress, staring 
with the 106th in 2000. It never made headway in the Senate.

"When the District and the four insular areas were inadvertently 
left out of the 50-State Commemoration Coin Program Act, we did 
not see any reason to hold everyone else up. We thought that 
the act should proceed so that the 10-year period for 
incorporating states could go forward because we had the 
assurance of the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle) that 
D.C. and the insular areas would indeed be included. I knew 
he would keep his word. There was never any doubt about that."

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.numismaster.com/ta/numis/Article.jsp?ad=article&ArticleId=3709


DIAGNOSTIC COIN 'RING TEST' STUDIED IN JAPAN
 
Dick Johnson writes: "A scientist in Japan, Mototsugu Suzuki, 
a researcher at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s 
Criminal Investigation Laboratory, has developed a way of 
examining coins based on the sound they make. In effect, he 
is studying the veracity of the age-old 'ring test' employed 
by regular citizens and numismatists alike to test genuineness 
of coins.
 
He published his method of testing in 'Forensic Science 
International' -- reported in the January British publication 
'Nature.'  In Suzuki’s method, coins slide down a slope and 
then fall onto a brass block. The sound they make on impact 
is relayed via a microphone to a computer.
 
His study of this acoustic test of coins was brought on by 
a large number of counterfeit 500-yen coins (worth just under 
US$5 each) in circulation. So many were found in cash dispensers 
in 2005 that the coin was temporarily removed from use.
 
Suzuki stated: although the human ear cannot usually tell the 
difference between real and fake, a computer can. Genuine 
500-yen coins showed four distinctive peaks of natural resonance 
frequencies in the 5-20 kilohertz range. This was not the case 
for fakes; some fakes produced only three peaks, while others 
showed four but at different frequencies to genuine coins.
 
For my own comments on ring test for coins I would offer: 
Any small metal object will ring due to its internal structure. 
Thus its alloy, thickness and any gas pockets will affect its 
tone. Both cast and struck coins will ring, but with notes of 
different pitch. A ring test can detect different metal 
compositions, but not minute differences of alloy. 
 
The use of computer analysis of ring tone resonance for one 
coin may be useful but it would not be the same for coins of 
other size, composition or thickness. An extensive database 
of these tone profiles would be required for such full scale 
testing.
 
To read the report in Nature magazine by Daniel Cressey, click on:
http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080122/full/news.2008.518.html

[Thanks also to George Fuld for forwarding a copy of this 
article.  -Editor]


VIRTUAL WORLDS SUFFER REAL COLLAPSE

[In the past we've discussed the virtual currencies of online 
worlds such as Second Life.   For students of financial history 
the lastest news from the online world may seem like déjà vu - 
the abuses and collapse of the Second Life financial system 
clearly echo the abuses and collapse over a century ago in 
the real U.S. financial system.  Too many unregulated banks 
operating without scrutiny provide a ripe environment for 
abuse, and users of the virtual banks have been liberated of 
up to $750,000 in real money.  -Editor]

In the real world, banks are reeling from the subprime-mortgage 
mess. In the online game Second Life, a shutdown of the make-
believe banking system is causing real-life havoc for thousands 
of people.

Yesterday, the San Francisco company that runs the popular 
fantasy game pulled the plug on about a dozen pretend financial 
institutions that were funded with actual money from some of 
the 12 million registered users of Second Life. Linden Lab 
said the move was triggered by complaints that some of the 
virtual banks had reneged on promises to pay high returns on 
customer deposits.

Second Life is an elaborate online world where players 
create new identities for themselves -- images called 
avatars. These avatars can own land, run businesses and 
build homes. And there's a link to the real economy: To 
buy things, players use credit cards or eBay Inc.'s 
alternative payment service PayPal to convert actual U.S. 
currency into "Linden dollars," which can be deposited 
using pretend ATMs into Second Life's virtual banks.

The banks of Second Life were operated by other players, 
who enticed deposits by offering interest rates. While 
some banks paid interest as promised, others used depositors' 
money for unsuccessful Second Life land and gambling deals. 
Under its new banking rules, Second Life says only chartered 
banks will be allowed -- though it isn't clear any real 
chartered banks will operate in the virtual play world.

The shutdown has caused a real-life bank run by Second 
Life depositors. Though some players managed to get their 
Linden dollars out, others are finding that they can no 
longer make withdrawals from the make-believe ATMs. As a 
result, they can't exchange their Linden-dollar deposits 
back into real dollars. Linden officials won't say how 
much money has been lost, but a run on another virtual 
bank in August may have cost Second Life depositors an 
estimated $750,000 in actual money.

"There is not a whole lot that is fake about this," says 
Robert Bloomfield, a professor at Cornell University's 
Johnson School of Management. Mr. Bloomfield's own Second 
Life avatar, named Beyers Sellers, hosts a pretend television 
show in the online game about virtual economics.

Linden announced plans for yesterday's shutdown two weeks 
ago, and since then Second Life players have been streaming 
into the fantasy banks to withdraw their deposits, which 
are convertible into U.S. dollars at a floating rate. 
Yesterday, one U.S. dollar was worth an average of 269 
Linden dollars, its typical exchange rate.

The collapse led to an outcry from depositors at Second 
Life banks. Linden responded on Jan. 8 by announcing the 
broader shutdown, claiming it would "protect our residents 
and the integrity of our economy."

Linden essentially acknowledges that the financial services 
being offered in its virtual society have evolved to the 
point that they need to be regulated in the real world.

>From now on, "proof of an applicable government registration 
statement or financial institution charter" will be required 
of anyone collecting deposits in Second Life, according to 
Linden. The company insists it "isn't, and can't start acting 
as, a banking regulator."

"If this is real money, there is an argument that you need 
to follow real law," says Benjamin Duranske, a lawyer who 
runs the Second Life Bar Association and is writing a book 
on virtual law.

To read the complete article, see:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120104351064608025-search.html


POLITICAL SLOGANS STAMPED ON U.S. MILITARY PAYMENT CERTIFICATES

[The January 24nd, 2008 issue (No. 1587) of the MPC Gram, an 
email newsletter for collectors of Military Payment Certificates, 
published a short article by Jim Downey on advertising slogans 
stamped on MPC notes.  As recently as last week we discussed 
these types of slogans on U.S. paper money, but this was the 
first I'd learned of such stamps on MPCs. Jim's article is 
reprinted here.  -Editor]

Using United States currency for advertising purposes is a 
violation of federal anti-counterfeiting laws. 

Title 18, Section 475 of the United States Code makes it 
illegal to ". . . impress[es] upon or attach[es] to any [such] 
instrument, obligation, or security, or any coin of the United 
States, any business or professional card, notice, or advertisement, 
or any notice or advertisement whatever . . ."  
 
This provision is pretty routinely violated.  I have quite a 
few pieces of US currency which advertise websites and other 
businesses.  Political messages also frequently make their 
way onto US currency particularly in an election year.
 
In the run-up to the election of 1948, the use of MPC for 
political advertising was so pervasive in Japan that the Army 
issued an order recalling MPC carrying political slogans.  An 
article in the March 28, 1948 New York Times indicates that SCAP 
Headquarters issued an order calling in MPC containing political 
slogans supporting and criticizing the candidacy of General 
MacArthur for president.  The article states that most of the 
slogans were supportive of MacArthur and identified that defacing 
MPC in this manner was a violation of federal law

  IN REASON WE TRUST
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n03a17.html


BANKNOTE FLU VIRUS STUDY

[It's not a pleasant thought, but according to a Reuters 
article the banknotes we use and collect can host flu viruses.  
-Editor]

Bank cashiers and others working with large quantities of 
paper currency are vulnerable to catching various types of 
flu from the germs living on notes, a Swiss researcher said 
on Wednesday.

Yves Thomas, head of the National Influenza Research Centre 
at Geneva University Hospital, said that flu viruses could 
survive on banknotes from 24 hours up to 17 days.

"Our studies have convinced us that it is possible to catch 
flu from banknotes, but the chances are very, very slim and 
there is no cause for concern among the general population," 
he told Reuters in a telephone interview.

"All the same, bank employees and others who have to handle 
large quantities of notes daily could be at risk," Thomas 
said. "This could be reduced if they wear gloves, or even a 
mask for those who have to examine currency closely."

Scientists have long known that various types of germs and 
bacteria can survive on paper currency, but until now medical 
experts have thought that flu only spread through small 
droplets in airborne transmission.

But Thomas said his team found that some types of flu virus 
could also survive and spread on everyday objects, like 
doorhandles as well as banknotes.

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSL1629940420080116


POLYMER BANKNOTE TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED

[According to a news reports, today is the twentieth birthday 
of the polymer banknote.  Happy Birthday!  -Editor]

The polymer banknote turns 20 on Sunday, with manufacturer 
Securency International celebrating the release of the $10 
note, which was released to commemorate Australia’s bicentenary 
in 1988. Following the success of the $10 note, the Reserve Bank 
released a full series—from $5 to $100 notes—between 1992 and 
1996.

"Polymer banknotes were developed after high quality 
counterfeits of the 1966 Australian decimal paper series 
were detected in circulation.
 
The Reserve Bank worked with the Commonwealth Scientific 
and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to develop 
new banknote material with higher security and improved 
durability.

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.dynamicbusiness.com/news/latest/10-buys-20-years-of-plastic.html


NEW FIND: GOLD COINS OF CARAUSIUS, "EMPEROR OF BRITAIN"

[George Fuld forwarded this item from The Times of London 
about recently discovered gold coins of Carausius.  -Editor]

Two “extremely important” gold coins that shed light on a 
little-known rebel Roman emperor from the 3rd century AD 
have been unearthed by a farmer in the Nottinghamshire and 
Derbyshire area. They relate to the Roman commander Carausius, 
who declared himself Emperor of Britain around 286 or 287 
after the Emperor in Rome ordered his execution. He was 
overthrown in a coup d’état by his finance minister, 
Allectus, in 293. 

The coins were handed in to the Portable Antiquities Scheme 
and moved to the British Museum. The scheme is facing a 
freeze in funding, despite recording more than 314,000 
discoveries that have revealed many new archaeological sites. 
The farmer’s identity is not being revealed because 
archaeologists are to explore the site.

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3241299.ece


ROYAL MARINES MUSEUM REUNITES MEDAL GROUP

[An article published this week notes that a museum was 
able to reunite a group of important medals with their 
accompanying paperwork thanks to an eBay auction. -Editor]

Eagle-eyed curators at the Royal Marines Museum in Southsea, 
Hampshire, have reunited parts of a medal group belonging to 
a Royal Marine killed in World War One, thanks to the 
wonders of eBay. 

The medal group’s original recipient, Private Robert Cosstick, 
of the Royal Marines Light Infantry, was 32 when he died on 
February 3, 1915. His ship HMS Clan McNaughton and all 277 
people on board were lost in storms off the coast of Northern 
Ireland, although the exact cause of the sinking was never 
discovered. 

Private Cosstick’s medal documents had already been donated 
to the museum by his granddaughter in 1995 and finding further 
parts of Private Cossticks' medal group had almost been ruled 
out before the lucky find on Ebay. 

“The museum has always realised it needs to embrace all the 
benefits of the Internet and reuniting this medal group 
against all odds really does highlight this fact,” said 
curator Ian Maine. 

The complete set of Private Cosstick’s medals will now be 
proudly placed on show in the museum’s medal room, which 
already houses an impressive collection of over 8,000 medals, 
including all ten Victoria Crosses earned by Royal Marines. 

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/nwh_gfx_en/ART53371.html


ROBERT HECHT UPDATE: ITALY HAILS RETURN OF DISPUTED GREEK VASE

[In December we discussed coin and antiquity dealer Robert 
Hecht.  Ted Buttrey wrote: "Robert E. Hecht was -- and still 
is, in his 90's -- one of the most important con-men in the 
smuggling of classical antiquities, including coins.  It was 
he who conned the Metropolitan Museum into paying
$1,000,000 for the famous Euphronius vase, "found in Lebanon". 
It was in fact from an Italian grave, and the Museum has now 
agreed to return it to Italy.   According to news reports the 
vase has now been returned.  -Editor]

The krater will now go on display in the "Nostoi: Recovered 
Masterpieces" exhibition inaugurated last month in Rome, 
where nearly 70 ancient artifacts -- most of them returned 
by the J. Paul Getty Museum after a similar deal -- are 
already on show.

"It's a wonderful day for us also. It's a victory for culture 
and art," Mark Smith, cultural attache at the U.S. embassy in 
Rome, told Reuters at the presentation.

"I think that as a result of these agreements that have 
brought these wonderful works back to Italy, American and 
Italian museums are going to be able to cooperate more and 
more closely in the future. So it really is a victory for 
everyone."

The Met had bought the krater from Robert Hecht, an antiquities 
dealer who is now on trial in Rome on charges of conspiring to 
traffic in looted artifacts. The ex-curator of the Getty museum 
is also a defendant in the trial. Both deny any wrongdoing.

To read the complete article, see:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080118/sc_nm/italy_art_krater_dc

  QUIZ ANSWER: ROBERT HECHT AND THE MEDICI CONSPIRACY
  http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v10n49a15.html


ELIZABETH JONES ARCHIVE LOT WITHDRAWN

In the January 6th issue I mentioned a lot in the recent 
Heritage auction (Sale 454, Lot 3430), an "Archive of 
Elizabeth Jones Appointment Documents and Production Artwork".  
I was actually curious about the ownership of some of the 
items, but was hoping one of our readers would comment so I 
wouldn't have to be the lone killjoy.  I was particularly 
unsure that the Mint would have let title pass to a production 
plaster for a U.S. coin.  Apparently there have been questions.  
According to an article by Cindy Brake in the January 28th 
issue of Coin World, the lot has been pulled from the sale 
"pending determination of ownership of several of the items 
in the lot."

  GLEANINGS FROM RECENT NUMISMATIC PUBLICATIONS
 http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n03a11.html


MYSTERY: ROMAN COIN FOUND ON FRENCH SHIPWRECK IN TEXAS

[The Rockport Pilot of Rockport, TX reported on the finding 
of a mysterious coin at an archeological site.  -Editor]

Dr. Jim Bruseth, director of the archeology division at the 
Texas Historical Commission, and deputy state historic 
preservation officer, was the keynote speaker Friday at the 
Texas Maritime Museum speaking about “Mysteries of LaBelle.”

Bruseth's knowledge about La Belle and her artifacts is vast. 
He served as project director of the excavation and recovery 
of La Salle's ship, in Matagorda Bay, in 1996-97.

More than one million artifacts were recovered.

He said there were 2,000 gold coins on the ship when sunk, 
but there were none on La Belle when excavated.

There was, however, a Roman silver coin dated AD 69.

“How a Roman coin ended up on a French ship on the coast 
of Texas is a mystery I'll never solve,” said Bruseth.

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.rockportpilot.com/articles/2008/01/23/news/news00.txt


ARTICLE DISCUSSES COINS AND BANKNOTES OF THE PHILLIPINES

[An article published this week in the Manila Standard 
discusses Philippine banknotes and currency laws.  -Editor]

Numismatists (people who collect currency and bank notes) 
are agog over an announcement that in commemoration of the 
centennial of the University of the Philippines, our P100 
banknotes will soon carry an image of the Oblation. The 
Oblation, which is a sculpture of a man with face up and 
arms stretched-wide symbolizing selfless offering of one’s 
self in the service of the country, will be overprinted 
on the P100 banknote. 

Exactly where in the banknote the Oblation will appear is 
still a well-kept secret, but it is something to look 
forward to as it’s been quite sometime since our country 
commemorated a national event through our banknotes.

Also recently, my friends and I got into a little tiff 
with certain establishments over banknotes. Because we 
work with a bank, we are familiar with certain policy 
guidelines related to banknotes. It is disappointing to 
note that even major establishments, such as those in SM 
malls, don’t teach their cashiers basic information on 
handling Philippine banknotes.

Our first tiff happened with a cashier of a restaurant who 
gave us old and worn-out banknotes as change when she had 
new notes in her register. This practice of keeping in 
circulation old, worn-out, smelly notes is something that 
truly does not make sense because the central bank is obligated 
to do it. In fact, it encourages people to return old banknotes 
so that these can be replaced with new, cleaner, crisper notes. 

The standard protocol in major establishments should be to 
collect and keep old notes, rather than circulate these, so 
that these can be deposited at their bank at the end of the 
day. Their bank, in turn, is expected to deposit these old 
notes at the Bangko Sentral. The central bank then keeps 
these for disposal. The standard procedure should be this: 
Use old and worn-out notes to pay for purchases and receive 
new notes as change. Cashiers should keep old notes and not 
circulate these anymore. Those who don’t are simply lazy 
or ignorant.

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=bongAustero_jan23_2008


AN INDIAN TEEN'S QUEST TO FORM A CHILDREN'S COIN MUSEUM

[The Telegraph of Calcutta, India published a story about 
a local boy's quest for a museum to house his collection of 
40,000 coin collection.  -Editor]

Thirteen-year-old Debi Prasad Mangaraj was happy to learn 
that he was closer to his dream of setting up a children’s 
coin museum, but less than what he expected to be. 

The enthusiast coin collector with his heart set on a Guinness 
record would have preferred his own state making the same offer 
to him, especially since he made several attempts to convince 
the Naveen government to help him out. 

But, it was Narendra Modi from the far-flung Gujarat who 
offered him a plot of land (to be identified by him) to set 
up the unique museum. 

The young numismatist has a collection of 40,000-and-odd 
coins, as well as notes of some 130 countries and hopes to 
enter the Guinness record books.

His collection includes coins from Australia, the UK, France, 
Japan and the US, along with coins issued by the East India 
Company in a period between 1800 AD and 1810 AD. 

He also owns pennies belonging to the late 18th and early 
19th centuries and a Peso from the mid-19th century. 

His collection also includes pressed coins of both stone, 
gold and earth with gods and animals, stated to be over 
800 years old.

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080122/jsp/nation/story_8805842.jsp


SUPER BOWL COIN MAKER HIGHLAND MINT PROFILED

[A central Florida television station profiled the Highland 
Mint, a local firm responsible for making the ceremonial 
"coin" tossed to decide the opening kickoff of the Super Bowl, 
American football's championship game. -Editor]

The Super Bowl was set Sunday night, with the wild-card New 
York Giants meeting the 18-0 New England Patriots in the big 
game in Arizona Feb. 3, but the Super Bowl cannot even start 
without a company in Central Florida.

Highland Mint, based in Indian Harbour Beach, makes the coin 
that referees toss to start the game.

It is the 18th year the Space Coast business has made the 
super coin.

The process was more than a month long, and included making 
four possible Super Bowl coins -- one for every scenario that 
could come out of the AFC and NFC championship games.

With the Patriots and Giants in, the official coin was ready 
to be sent to the NFL.

The three alternate Super Bowl coins would be destroyed to 
prevent them from ending up on the collector's market.

After the big game, the coin toss coin will be sent to the 
NFL Hall of Fame, where it will be on display with the 17 
others made here in Central Florida.

Replica coins are already being sold by Highland Mint.

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2008/1/21/super_bowl_coin_made_at_brevard
_county_mint.html

To visit the Highland Mint web site, see:
http://www.highlandmint.com/ 


TWO-YEAR-OLD BARREL FOUND FILLED WITH FAKE GUYANESE CURRENCY

[A news report from Guyana notes the recent discovery of 
an old barrel filled with counterfeit Guyanese banknotes.  
-Editor]

Customs officers yesterday unearthed $14M in counterfeit 
Guyana currency hidden among some items in a barrel which 
had been sitting at the John Fernandes Wharf for almost 
two years now. 

The stunning discovery was made late yesterday morning 
after a decision was taken to open up the barrel which 
was shipped from London through the Harrison Shipping 
Company in May, 2006 to an Essequibo Coast resident. 

According to a Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) statement, 
the counterfeit money and other articles which were sent 
two years ago were discovered during routine duties at 
the city wharf. 

Sources said that the money was in numerous piles hidden 
among items in the barrel which included pens, towels and 
tools. As the customs officers removed the items from the 
barrel, they discovered the money piles. 

To read the complete article, see:
http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article_general_news?id=56537628


BARREL OF CONFDERATE NOTES FOUND IN PETERSBURG, VA

While unrelated, the previous story about a barrel of 
counterfeit Guyanese notes reminds me of something I 
read this week in an article by the late Brent Hughes 
in the January/February 2008 issue of Paper Money, the 
official journal of the Society of Paper Money Collectors.  
In "Collecting Confederate Currency Began Early" Hughes 
writes: "I know of one barrel half full of Confederate 
notes which survived until 1960 when one lucky collector 
happened to discover it in an old grocery store building 
in Petersburg, VA.  Because the barrel was relatively 
light, the store owners over the years had assumed the 
barrel was empty and it sat there for almost a century."


FEATURED WEB SITE: COINS OF PANAMA

This week's featured web site is David S. Plowman's Coins 
of Panama, suggested by NBS president John W. Adams.  

http://www.coins-of-panama.com/


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