The E-Sylum v12#10, March 8, 2009
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The E-Sylum
An electronic publication of
The Numismatic Bibliomania Society
Volume , Number 10, March 8, 2009
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WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM MARCH 8, 2009
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MARCH 2009 ISSUE OF THE BOOKSHELF AVAILABLE
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MARCH 5, 2009 KOLBE AUCTION SALE RESULTS
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NEW BOOK: THE FANTASTIC 1804 DOLLAR TRIBUTE EDITION
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REMINDER: THE COIN COLLECTOR'S JOURNAL SURVEY
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NEW CD: SILVER FEVER: THE COMSTOCK LODE TO THE CARSON CITY MINT
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SUBSCRIBER PROFILE: ALBERTO PAASHAUS
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MERCANTI NAMED 12TH CHIEF ENGRAVER OF THE U.S. MINT
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QUERY: LOCATION OF CIVIL WAR HUNTING PARTY VIGNETTE SCRIP ISSUER SOUGHT
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QUERY: AN INTERESTING SET OF MEDAL ELECTROTYPES
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MORE ON NEGATIVE SHADOW AND SURFACE DISPLACEMENT
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NEW TERM IN NUMISMATICS: WOODGRAIN
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QUERY: REFERENCE ON WWI CITY AND STATE MILITARY SERVICE MEDALS
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HAPPY WHILE UNITED INDIAN PEACE MEDAL PURCHASED BY COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG
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NUMISMATOURIST HOWARD BERLIN ON NUMISMATIC MUSEUMS
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MALAYSIA'S MONEY MUSEUM
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SOUTH CAROLINA SELLS CACHE OF OBSOLETE BANKNOTES
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PRESIDENTIAL FOOD SERVICE COINS
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A JOURNEY THROUGH THE MONKALOKIAN RAIN FORESTS IN SEARCH OF THE SPINEY FUBBADUCK
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PAPER MONEY ARTICLE FOCUSES ON BERKSHARES
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MEXICO CITY MINT STRIKES TOKEN FOR LONDON'S WHITECHAPEL GALLERY
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STANFORD SUIT FREEZES GOLD BARS SLATED FOR EXHIBIT
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MISSOURI COIN CAPSULE SCAM FLEECES INVESTORS
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OPERATION BERNHARD COUNTERFEITER ADOLF BURGER INTERVIEWED
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COMMENTATOR PAUL HARVEY, COIN COLLECTOR, DIED AT 90
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ARTICLE: BANK OF ENGLAND TO PUT RELIGIOUS LEADERS ON BANKNOTES
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COLOGNE, GERMANY TOWN ARCHIVE BUILDING COLLAPSES
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FEATURED WEB SITE: THE E-GOBRECHT ARCHIVES
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WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM MARCH 8, 2009
Among our recent subscribers are
Ruth Wilcoxen, courtesy of Ron Abler,
and Charlene Myers.
Welcome aboard!
We now have 1,216 subscribers.
This week we open with information from numismatic booksellers David Fanning and George Kolbe. Next up is a new book, a "tribute edition" of The Fantastic 1804 Dollar.
Queries this week include an interesting obsolete scrip note vignette, a set of electrotypes of 19th century gems and medals, and WWI military "welcome home" medals.
In the news, we now have a "new" Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint, a Missouri-based coin capsule investment scam, and a state archive sale of confederate-era southern banknotes.
It's been a good weekend in the Homren household. On Saturday Christopher and Tyler picked up a trophies for their 3rd/4th grade basketball team's second place season finish, and Tyler got the Coach's award. Today I took the training wheels off four-year-old Hannah's bicycle, and soon she was off riding on her own like she'd always done it that way. Dad stayed up 'til midnight working on his newsletter, but had fun doing it.
Anyway, to learn about numismatics and the Spiney Fubbaduck, read on. Have a great week, everyone!
Wayne Homren
Numismatic Bibliomania Society
MARCH 2009 ISSUE OF THE BOOKSHELF AVAILABLE
David Fanning submitted the following announcement of his latest numismatic literature fixed price list.
-Editor
David F. Fanning Numismatic Literature has announced the publication of the March issue of The Bookshelf, their latest fixed price list of numismatic literature. The publication has mailed, and should be received by established customers soon if they haven't received it already. It is also available in PDF form on the company's Web site at www.fanningbooks.com. A direct link is: www.fanningbooks.com/Bookshelf1.2Web.pdf.
The list includes 100 lots of numismatic literature from around the world, and features a number of moderately priced items in addition to a few highlights. David Fanning can be reached at dfanning at columbus.rr.com.
MARCH 5, 2009 KOLBE AUCTION SALE RESULTS
George Kolbe forwarded the following information about the results of his latest numismatic literature sale.
-Editor
Some highlights from George Frederick Kolbe’s March 5, 2009 numismatic literature auction follow. In part two of the Bassoli library, Battaglini’s 1789 work on the coins of Rimini, from the library of Cardinal Grimaldi, sold for $977 on a $150 estimate and Olivieri & Zanetti’s 1773 work on the coins of Pesaro, estimated to bring $300, realized $891.
In part two of the Twinleaf library, the Breen/Vogel work on 1816-1857 brought $977 on a $150 estimate, Elder’s plated 1908 Wilson sale brought $747 and his 1910 Mougey sale with original plates realized $2,300.
Other highlights included a nice reprint set of Habich on Renaissance medals, which brought $1,380, Du Bois’s rare 1846 Pledges of History, the first work on the coin collection at the Philadelphia Mint, which sold for $1,265; and a little-known 1974 special convention issue of the Red Book. Estimated at $250, it ended up bringing $402.
Kolbe’s next sale is scheduled for June 11th, 2009 and will feature a wide variety of useful and desirable numismatic works. The catalogue will be accessible a month before the sale at www.numislit.com or printed copies may be ordered by sending $15.00 to George Frederick Kolbe, P. O. Drawer 3100, Crestline, CA 92325. Telephone: (909) 338-6527; Fax: (909) 338-6980; Email: GFK at numislit.com.
NEW BOOK: THE FANTASTIC 1804 DOLLAR TRIBUTE EDITION
Dennis Tucker forwarded the following release about a new "Tribute Edition" of what I've always thought to be one of the best books written on American numismatics, The Fantastic 1804 Dollar.
-Editor
Whitman Publishing announces the release of The Fantastic 1804 Dollar, Tribute Edition, by Eric P. Newman and Kenneth E. Bressett.
“In all the history of numismatics of the entire world, there is not today and there never has been a single coin which was and is the subject of so much romance, interest, comment. . . .”
Numismatic impresario B. Max Mehl made this remark back in 1941—and it still holds today.
With all the publicity and honor showered on the famous 1804 silver dollar, the “King of American Coins” remains the hobby’s most celebrated and intriguing rarity.
This new book is a commemorative reissue of The Fantastic 1804 Dollar (1962), the groundbreaking study by hobby legends Eric Newman and Kenneth Bressett. It celebrates the 50-year anniversary of the start of their collaboration.
A complete reprint of the original book is expanded with several new, full-color chapters. The additional material includes:
an afterword describing the dramatic circumstances of the first edition’s publication
an update and remembrance with the authors
a look at the 1947 Red Book’s coverage of the 1804 dollar
an illustrated biography of Edmund Roberts, who took the original “diplomatic gift” 1804 dollars to Asia
a complete registry of known specimens
a list of their present locations
color and black-and-white enlargements of the coins themselves (all three classes)
photographs of the King of Siam Proof set
“The first edition of this classic book has been out of print for years,” said Whitman publisher Dennis Tucker. “Now, with the new Tribute Edition, every coin collector has the opportunity to learn about these fascinating coins, from two of the hobby’s greatest writers.”
The Fantastic 1804 Dollar, Tribute Edition, is 208 pages. It has a hard cover with silver-foil titling. The book is available online at www.WhitmanBooks.com, and in bookstores, hobby shops, and other retailers nationwide. The hardcover retails for $19.95; a Limited Edition (250 specially bound copies autographed by both Newman and Bressett) is available for $49.95.
LAKE BOOKS
Our 97th mail-bid sale of numismatic literature features
selections from the library of John T. Hamilton III, Part Two
(and other consignors)
Highlights include:
Lot B8 - Jess Peters' sale of Ray Byrne's collection of Coins, Tokens
and Medals from the West Indies - hardbound
Lot E7 - British Numismatic Society -1908 - Journal - hardbound
Lot E9 - Canadian Numismatic Journal - 1956 - Volume I - hardbound
Lot E18 - T. Eypeltauer - Corpus Nummorun Regni Mariae Therisiae
hardbound in green cloth
Lot E22 - M. Greenwood - ...In Search of the Spiny Fubbaduck
Lot E47 - Dec,1885 - Royal Asiatic Society Journal
Lot F16 - the four-volume set of Haxby's U.S. Obsolete Bank Notes
Lot H80 - a three-volume set of George Williamson's Trade Tokens
Issued in the Seventeenth Century
Lot I5 - a Special Presentation Edition of The Invasion of Louisville
bound in red leather by Alan Grace and presented to George Fuld
The closing date of the sale is March 24, 2009 at 5:00 PM (EDT) and
the catalog may be viewed at
www.lakebooks.com/current.html
REMINDER: THE COIN COLLECTOR'S JOURNAL SURVEY
As we noted a couple weeks ago, Leon Majors is undertaking a survey of copies of the Coin Collector's Journal. Leon writes: ' I've gotten about a dozen responses" so far.
E-Sylum readers and NBS members alike are encouraged to participate. If you have an examples of this great publication in your library, please take a moment to complete the short survey form and submit it to Leon at
h.majors at comcast.net
Thanks. -Editor
To access the survey form on the NBS web site, see:
Coin Collector Journal Survey
(http://www.coinbooks.org/ccjlog.html)
NEW CD: SILVER FEVER: THE COMSTOCK LODE TO THE CARSON CITY MINT
Edited by Bob Van Ryzin, Silver Fever is a new electronic book published by Kruase Publications.
-Editor
It may be nearly 150 years since discovery of The Comstock Lode, the first major U.S. deposit of silver ore, was officially made public, but the story of the Comstock mines and miners, and coins of the Carson City Mint is a timeless tale.
The innovative and entertaining CD Silver Fever: The Comstock Lode to the Carson City Mint features the colorful story of the silver strike on the Comstock, information about the historic Carson City Mint, details about how the ore was extracted, and insight into the dangers the Comstock miners faced.
In addition, this MAC and PC compatible CD contains:
In-depth features about the history, lore and collecting of Carson City's gold and silver coins
Pricing for all coin series and designs struck by the Carson City Mint
For more information, or to order, see:
Silver Fever: The Comstock Lode to the Carson City Mint CD, The Comstock Lode to the Carson City Mint
(www.fwmagazines.com/product/1535/77)
SUBSCRIBER PROFILE: ALBERTO PAASHAUS
New subscriber Alberto Paashaus submitted the following notes on the power of the slogan, "Buy the Book Before the Coin".
-Editor
Thanks a lot for your very nice welcome as a subscriber of The E-Sylum.
I have been checking other issues from the newsletter since 2004, when I first heard "buy the book before the coin". By that time I was a compulsive reader and coin collector, but both addictions never crossed the same path until a day in London Coin Fair in Bloomsbury, February of 2004, when I was told those magical words (I was an exchange student there - I am from Brazil currently living in Portugal - and, if I am not wrong, I heard it from Del Parker, an American Dealer).
"Buy the book before the coin" is something definitely strong. You might not feel that much in America, where most of the dealers cultivate the feeling of having books surrounding them for reference or at least as a nice decoration - but they are there! Unfortunately, that doesn´t happen back in Brazil, which explains a lot the very limited issues of old reference books very important to understand its numismatic history, one of the most important in the world.
Now I am a very proud owner of an almost 100% read library of about 600 books, counting the magazines and bulletins, that expands almost every week with a new addition for the last two years, when I started dedicate myself to a proper book collection on Brazilian Numismatics.
Books and documents range from the 17th Century works up to our days, with many rarities, as an almost complete Meili collection (just one to go - people say you become a powerful collector when you get all his 7 works from the series Numismatisch Geldwessen and Numismatisch Samlung - just like on those Japanese cartoons - I couldn´t help it!).
This year is the year for books (my coin collection purchases will remain in "slow motion" in 2009) and I intend to write something this year on Brazilian Numismatics Books for a Portuguese Bulletin and I will surely have it translated and submitted here at The E-Sylum. I hope I can help you guys with anything you might need!
We're very glad to have Alberto with us, and we'll look forward to his reports on Brazilian numismatic literature. If any of our readers have or know of works on the topic, I'll pass the information on to him.
-Editor
THE BOOK BAZARRE
DAVID F. FANNING NUMISMATIC LITERATURE
sells material relating to numismatics from all times and places. To download our latest fixed price list, The Bookshelf, please go to
www.fanningbooks.com
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MERCANTI NAMED 12TH CHIEF ENGRAVER OF THE U.S. MINT
Scott Barman's February 28th Coin Collector's Blog picked up on a welcome piece of information I'd missed among the U.S. Mint's recent announcements.
-Editor
Buried within the hype of the Ultra High Relief Saint Gaudens Double Eagle and all of the other news of the day was that during the ceremony for the opening of the UHR exhibit at the Philadelphia Mint was the announcement that John Mercanti would be the 12th Chief Engraver of the US Mint.
Mercanti, who was previously the “Supervisory Design and Master Tooling Development Specialist,” has been working for the US Mint since 1974 and has been responsible for the design of some of the Mint’s most spectacular coins of the last 35 years. Mercanti worked under Chief Engravers Frank Gasparro and Elizabeth Jones.
After Jones retired in 1990, the US Mint abolished the position of Chief Engraver. After 19 years, Director Edmund C. Moy has decided to bring back the position and offer the job to the Mint’s most experienced and accomplished engraver. Mercanti deserves the honor to join this elite group:
Robert Scot 1793-1823
William Kneass 1824-1840
Christian Gobrecht 1835-1844
James Barton Longacre 1844-1869
William Barber 1869-1879
Charles Edward Barber 1879-1917
George T. Morgan 1917-1925
John R. (Ray) Sinnock 1925-1947
Gilroy Roberts 1948-1964
Frank Gasparro 1965-1981
Elizabeth Jones 1981-1990
John M. Mercanti 2009-present
Congratulations to John Mercanti on a well-deserved (if long overdue) honor, and thanks to Scott for passing the news along.
I later learned from someone in the audience at the event that the news came as a surprise to Mercanti; Moy stated that the approval came from The White House to remedy this longstanding slight.
-Editor
To read the original blog post, see:
Mercanti Named 12th Chief Engraver
(coinsblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/mercanti-named-12th-chief-engraver.html)
QUERY: LOCATION OF CIVIL WAR HUNTING PARTY VIGNETTE SCRIP ISSUER SOUGHT
Steve Whitfield writes:
A favorite piece of scrip has a great vignette of a Civil War period hunting party. Bird dogs, game birds and three men and a woman have lunch of meat and wines laid out on a blanket. I have been unable to determine the actual location of the issuer - can anyone help? The New York scrip book
(New York State Scrip and Private Issues by Gordon L. Harris, 2001)
indicates Buffalo, NY, but that is where Sage & Sons, Inc produced the note, not the location of Bloomers Hotel & Restaurant.
Can anyone help identify the location of the issuer? It is a nice vignette. One of my favorite series of books (and yes, I have a lot of favorites) is Roger Durand's Interesting Notes series about obsolete U.S. currency. The three volumes of Interesting Notes About Vignettes is a wealth of information about artworks used on paper money.
I was unable to locate information about this particular vignette, but bibliophiles might want to look for notes with the vignettes of Oglethorpe at Christie's Sale of Dr. Johnson's Library (vol III, p118) or Literature by Asher D. Durand (vol II, p39).
-Editor
QUERY: AN INTERESTING SET OF MEDAL ELECTROTYPES
Web site visitor Ken Bachmann found our earlier articles about galvanos and provided images of some interesting items in his possession. They're too small to be galvanos, but looked to me like splashers or electrotypes of medals.
Ken writes: "These items were purchased from an estate an hour outside Toronto, Canada. The owners were of European descent and said the items had been passed down from their father. The collection itself was stored loosely in a box with other documents and miscellaneous items. The focus of the acquisition was a collection of WWI correspondence from a front line soldier."
Below is a link to a slide show of the both sides of each of the 48 pieces.
-Editor
I asked Christopher Eimer about these. He writes:
These appear to me to be 19th century electrotypes, mostly of 16th century and later gems, but I also recognize those of Benjamin Franklin and a 19th century Papal medal.
To view a complete slide show, see:
www.flickr.com/photos/coinbooks/sets/72157614731090778/show/
MORE ON NEGATIVE SHADOW AND SURFACE DISPLACEMENT
Regarding negative shadow and surface displacement toning effects, Ron Thompson writes:
I thought I would add my two cents worth on the discussion. I don't think it is an either or situation, I think both Dick Johnson and Pete Smith are right.
First, I believe the big central voids in the dies are filled and then, as the pressure continues, the metal continues to flow to fill the last voids at the extremes. This would be the highest points as well as the edges. If Dick has any process sets I sure he can confirm that some of the last areas to be filled are the edges.
If too much pressure is applied the metal flows out of the joint between the dies and the collar and we get the wire rim effect.
To me, none of this really explains the negative shadow effect. My guess is that the higher areas (the numbers, letters etc) and the raised rim protect that lower narrow surface area from exposure, sort of like sunglasses protect the areas around the eyes from sunburn.
However, while that may somewhat explain it, that doesn't explain the lack of toning due to exposure to the air. There may be some micro electrostatic or magnetic field created by the final flow of the metal between the small low area and the surrounding high points that in essence repels oxidizing particles and this field may be protected by the high areas on either side of it. Anyway, it certainly is interesting.
In his March 7th blog A Gift For Polydektes, Ed Snible referenced Dick Johnson's E-Sylum submission on this effect. He writes:
This effect reminds me greatly of an effect on Roman coins discussed on Moneta-L back in 2004.
The most detailed explanation on Moneta-L came from a post by Robert Kokotailo of Calgary coin. I wonder if this is the same effect?
I'm glad to have a name for it! (If it is the same phenomenon.) The name most popular on Moneta-L was 'ghosting', which is also a technical term in numismatics for clashed die errors that leave a 'ghost' of the type on one side upon the other.
Ed included in his blog the above Roman coin image from Warren Esty's web page.
-Editor
NEW TERM IN NUMISMATICS: WOODGRAIN
Dick Johnson submitted these thoughts on a new term in the numismatic lexicon.
-Editor
Several mentions have been made in the blogs recently of a new term applied to the surface of Lincoln cents: woodgrain. The term is apt. The illustrated surface of an 1981-D cent does indeed look like the graining in wood.
While this may be considered an anomaly of toning, instead it is an anomaly of the metal composition. It is an error in mixing of copper and zinc. What you see on the surface are streaks of copper alternating with streaks of zinc. The metal in the blank is not one homogeneous mixture as it should be to form one uniform color; it exists even after rolling, blanking and striking. The surface shows this streaking.
The Denver Mint in 1981 was pushing through 5.37 billion cents in a year's time. Some shortcuts were taken whether the Mint was buying its strips from outside suppliers or formulating their own coinage metal and rolling it themselves. The metal did not get mixed properly to achieve that homogeneous (all alike) composition before any manufacturing process.
The formulation at the time was 19 parts copper to one part of zinc (this was a year before the copper coated zinc used for cent coinage since 1982). Mixing zinc and copper throughout is not easy and I have the greatest respect for those craftsmen and metalworkers who accomplish this.
The melting points are different -- zinc at 785 degrees Fahrenheit, copper at 1220 degrees F. If you are not careful the zinc can burn off before it is adequately mixed with molten copper. Takes a lot of skill. Streaks result from not thoroughly mixing the batter.
To read the blog article, see:
1981D woodgrain cent
(http://www.cointalk.com/forum/t49005/)
Thanks again Dick, for another illuminating submission. I'll keep an eye out for one of these cents - interesting!
-Editor
QUERY: REFERENCE ON WWI CITY AND STATE MILITARY SERVICE MEDALS
Steve Pellegrini submitted the following query. Can anyone help locate references on these medals?
-Editor
I've been having a surprisingly tough time trying to locate a book on a certain aspect of my medals collection. I collect medals from World War I; not military decorations or awards but rather commemoratives, memorials, portraits, propaganda medals, etc. This last year or so I have become interested in collecting the many postwar 'thank you for your service'
medals issued by a great many U.S. cities, towns and states. Most were awarded to American vets on their homecoming in 1919-1920.
In all the books in my library I can't find even a whisper about these State and City type medals. Searching Online gets similar results except for info about the national rainbow ribboned Allied Peace & Victory medals that each of the participating countries issued at the armistice.
James Earl Fraser designed ours. But I think these Victory medals have to be considered national military service awards. -- If any of our E-Sylum readers can steer me towards a reference dealing with the civilian medals given by cities and states I sure would appreciate the help.
HAPPY WHILE UNITED INDIAN PEACE MEDAL PURCHASED BY COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG
One of the medals in the recent Stack's sale of John W. Adams' Indian Peace Medal collection has found a home in a museum - Lot 5059, the State of Virginia. Happy While United Medal, 1780.
-Editor
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation has purchased what it calls an extremely rare medal dating to Thomas Jefferson's term as Virginia governor.
"The Virginia Indian Peace Medal is a priceless addition to the Colonial Williamsburg collection," says Erik Goldstein, curator of numismatics and mechanical arts, in a news release.
"It is an integral part of Virginia history that acknowledges and honors the Native American allies of Virginia's infant revolutionary government."
Produced by order of Jefferson in 1780, the "Happy While United" medal commemorated an alliance between the region's native tribes and the commonwealth.
Silver versions were presented to important tribal members, while bronze versions were cast for nonnative recipients. None of the silver medals survive.
The medal will be exhibited at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum at Colonial Williamsburg starting March 28. The foundation did not list the purchase price of the medal.
To read the complete article, see:
Colonial Williamsburg acquires extremely rare medal
(www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1615909)
To read the complete Stack's lot description, see:
State of Virginia. Happy While United Medal, 1780.
(http://www.stacks.com/lotdetail.aspx?lsid=AN00000673&asid=&lrid=AN00116589)
The Colonial Williamsburg collection includes dozens of other Indian peace medals ranging in date from the 1660s through 1908, including colonial, British and American Presidential issues.
-Editor
NUMISMATOURIST HOWARD BERLIN ON NUMISMATIC MUSEUMS
Howard Berlin submitted these thoughts on numismatic museums, which he has been visiting around the world.
-Editor
I’d like to add my two euro cents on this topic from a different slant. Since my retirement, I have traveling around the world, chronicling my visits to museums that have coin exhibits in my “World Destinations” column for WorldWide. Wayne has dubbed me the “numismatourist.” I have been very fortunate to be able to travel, on my own dime mind you, while picking up loads of frequent flyer miles on British Airways. I am not independently wealthy and I have not been told that have only one year to live.
In the last five years I have crossed the Atlantic 50 times, visited almost 40 museums in 11 countries. The museums range from a virtual one man show such as Eric Newman’s money museum on the campus of Washington University (my alma mater) in St. Louis, city museums throughout Europe, to large museums like Berlin’s Bode Museum.
in 2008 alone, I visited the British Museum (for the umpteenth time), Monnaie de Paris, The Nationalmuseet-Royal Collection of Coins and Medals (Copenhagen), The National Museum-The Royal Coin Cabinet (Stockholm), Bank of Canada Currency Museum (Ottawa), Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Balzekas Lithuanian Museum (Chicago), National Museum of Scotland (Edinburgh), HBOS on the Mound (Edinburgh), Hunterian Museum (Glasgow), Manchester Museum, and the Hamburg Museum. Eventually all these will be written about in future WorldWide Coins columns.
The purpose of my column is twofold. I realize that not everyone is able to travel extensively and independently as I do. So, I try to give my readers the experience of these museums they would otherwise never have the opportunity to visit. For those readers who might be visiting that particular city, the column makes them aware of the museum and its exhibits.
If it were not for these museums, I wouldn’t have a column to write, telling my readers about the treasures that are on display. Many of the city museums focus on the local history and integrate numismatics into their exhibits which, for me, adds a bit to the overall experience.
As a former exhibitor in ANA, national, regional, and local shows, I now personally like to examine the manner in which the coins and banknotes are mounted and displayed in museum exhibits. Also, I get to meet some pretty important people – museum directors and curators, often leaving with gifts of pamphlets and books.
I would like to ask a question of E-Sylum readers. I am considering writing a book, called, “The Numismatourist: A world-wide travel guide to the museums, mints, and other places of interest for the numismatist.” So far I have cataloged over 80 locations, such as museums and mints whose exhibitions or tours are open to the public in North and Central America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Australia. Private university collections are not included. Many of these I will have visited but for others, the information will be obtained from other sources.
I envision such a travel guide having a trim size around 5” x 8” which is small enough to be placed in a pocket, purse, or small travel bag. In addition. Each venue would fit on it own page and have at least one picture – that of the outside of the building, so the reader will have visual idea of what it looks like when looking for it. If there is a outstanding coin that is one of the “highlights” of its collection, it could be added to fill up any needed space with the text so that each venue has its own page.
The text would give a concise description of the venue and what the visitor would expect to see. It would also include information as to its address, telephone number(s), web site, and hours of operation. I would also like to include icon symbols representing features such whether or not the venue is handicapped accessible, photography is permitted, admission fee, or if multi-language audio-guides are available. If there is an admission fee, I would not specifically quote it (in the local currency) as it as it could be subject to change.
Like other authors have written here, one of the major numismatic publishers has “passed” on this idea, citing insufficient numbers, etc. I have written 31 books (all with noted publishers) and although I’m not crazy about self publishing/print on demand, I would consider it as a last resort. I would like any feedback from E-Sylum readers if you think you such a book is a worthy project (no commitment to buy anything). You can reach me at
numismatourist at yahoo.com
with any comments or suggestions.
I think such a book would be wonderful to have, even if one isn't planning a trip any time soon. I'll buy one!
-Editor
MALAYSIA'S MONEY MUSEUM
I don't think Howard's been to this one yet. A post this week on a
paper money blog discusses the Money Museum Malaysia, which is scheduled to open in a new home in May 2009.
-Editor
I believe many of our collectors are not aware of the existence of the Bank Negara Malaysia's Money Museum. Or even some are aware but many of them have yet to pay a visit to this Money Museum. Personally, I have visited this Money Museum, which was located at the BNM building at Jalan Dato Onn, several times before it was announced to be closed on 2 July 2007 for its upgrading works.
Over the century, the Bank Negara has managed to build up a collection of various kind of Malaysian old money tokens, rare coins and currency notes. With the introduction of Money Museum by Bank Negara Malaysia, the public was given an opportunity to view and enjoy the BNM's currency collection.
The BNM's numismatic collection has covered the area of Malaysian currency items comprising of primitive money, barter trade currency, pre-colonial Malay State money, colonial period money, independence period money and not forgetting the BNM issuance currency.
The main objective of the Money Museum is to serve as a permanent repository for the Malaysian numismatic heritage through the study and preservation of items related to the historical development of currency system in Malaysia. The museum has provided a permanent display of coins, bank notes and other monetary items evolved over the various phases of Malaysian history.
Since the closure of Money Museum in 2007, the BNM has increased the pace of constructing a new home for Money Museum. The new Money Museum and Art Gallery of Bank Negara Malaysia is going to re-open with a brand new outlook in May 2009.
To read the complete article, see:
Money Museum Malaysia
(malaysianbanknotes.blogspot.com/2009/03/money-musuem-malaysia.html)
SOUTH CAROLINA SELLS CACHE OF OBSOLETE BANKNOTES
Museums do sell property, and in these tough economic times numismatic items are prime candidates for deaccquisition. One southern state is dipping into its archives to dispose of confederate-era obsolete paper money.
-Editor
The S.C. Department of Archives and History is hoping that the sale of some 150-year-old banknotes will generate new money for the cash-strapped agency.
The surplus property division of the S.C. Budget and Control Board has listed the Civil War-era money for sale on eBay. For instance, the starting bid for a canceled $4 bank note — issued from the Bank of the State of South Carolina, which collapsed during the Civil War — starts at $150.
The Bank of the State of South Carolina was one of the few banks of the era operated by a state; it was founded in 1812.
“With the state budget cuts, we’ve lost about one-third of our budget in recent years,” said Charles Lesser, senior archivist for the department. “We’re in very dire budgetary times. This is one way, an imaginative way, of keeping our heads above water. And we’re making space (in the vault). Every little bit helps.”
Should any history buffs be offended by the sale, Lesser was quick to reassure that the state is not selling off any original, precious or last-remaining items from the department’s vault.
He estimated that, at one point, the department had some 1 million sheets of canceled banknotes, if not more.
“The notes were supposed to be destroyed in the 1880s but they were not,” Lesser said.
To read the complete article, see:
State sells Confederate-era cash to raise money
(www.charlestonbusiness.com/news/26791-state-sells-confederate-era-cash-to-raise-money)
PRESIDENTIAL FOOD SERVICE COINS
Numismatics and food are my two favorite diversions. Here’s a story that combines both. In earlier E-Sylum articles we discussed Presidential Challenge Coins. This news item from North Carolina introduces something new to me - Presidential Food Service "Coins".
-Editor
It was business as usual at Broaster Chicken & Ribs Friday, until a woman clad in a dark suit arrived.
The woman ordered more than five slabs of ribs, manager Bonnie Belaney said, and wanted the meat cut off of the bone and served with extra sauce.
"We accommodated her, but when she got ready to leave, she gave us a coin,'" Belaney said.
Upon closer inspection, Belaney realized the coin said "Presidential Food Service for the White House."
Friday was the day that President Barack Obama visited the area for a speech at Camp Lejeune. The president landed at MCAS Cherry Point Friday morning in Air Force One, took Marine One to Camp Lejeune for a speech to Marines there.
But he apparently had a few White House aides already on the ground doing some reconnaissance maneuvers - at least for local cuisine.
White House spokesperson Gannet Tseggai confirmed the presidential sampling of not only Broaster Chicken, but said an aide was also dispatched to Smithfield's Chicken and Barbeque.
On Friday, a woman entered Smithfield's and went to the counter and asked where she could sit five to seven people, general manager Ken Davis said.
After ordering barbeque, beans and potato salad, she left the restaurant, but not before shaking his hand and passing along a coin that Davis assumed was a tip. He told her he couldn't take it. She told him she had to leave it.
"When she left, I looked to see what she gave me. It was a gold coin that said ‘Presidential Food Service for the White House'," Davis said.
To read the complete article, see:
Local restaurants get presidential visit
(http://www.enctoday.com/news/restaurants_62796_jdn__article.html/broaster_usual.html)
A JOURNEY THROUGH THE MONKALOKIAN RAIN FORESTS IN SEARCH OF THE SPINEY FUBBADUCK
Regarding lot E22 in Fred Lake's 97th sale - this unusually-titled book was discussed in The E-Sylum back in April, 2002. Here's a reprint, this time with an image of the book's cover.
-Editor
The question about the book, "A Journey Through the
Monkalokian Rain Forests in Search of the Spiney
Fubbaduck" by Cobwright drew several responses.
Thomas P. Wolf writes:
"it is indeed real... It was limited to
125 copies, & I have 2 of them... The one I have at hand
is #9 of 125... I have no idea what the title means, if anything...
It's actually referred to as Evasives 1993..."
Allan Davisson writes:
"Cobwright? Of course the reference
exists. I have copy 90 of 125. It is a xerox copy, an 11 size,
bound with the kind of black plastic gripper spine students
use to hold term papers together. It is an extensive (and
essential, if you like this series) list of evasions. The author is
the proprietor of Coins of Beeston and can be seen in various
guises in the photos of token folks at the front of the Withers
reference, BRITISH COPPER TOKENS, 1811-1820.
There will always be an England (and Wales) -- where would
we be without them in this otherwise overly serious world?
(I have been reading one of Bill Bryson's accounts of British
travel--this reference is obviously an expected and perfectly
natural product of this island.)
Bob Lyall writes:
"I have forwarded a copy of this email to
Mr Cobwright (regarding evasions) who I can assure you is a
real person. He has an abiding passion (and knowledge) for
"evasions" and I leave it to him to contact you. I expect he has
emerged from his Rain Forest now that Spring is here, in search
of the Spiney Fubbaduck Monkalokian. He sometimes lectures
on the topic of evasions to an attentive and discerning audience
of British Paranumismatic collectors at our annual Token
Congress."
To read the original E-Sylum article, see:
COBWRIGHT FOUND
THE BOOK BAZARRE
DAVID SKLOW - FINE NUMISMATIC BOOKS
Sale #7, is set for June 13th 2009, Consignments include a library of U.S. Copper literature: The personal library of a former numismatic literature dealer with many one-of-a-kind deluxe items! And much more!
numismaticbooks at aol.com PH: (719) 302-5686, FAX: (719) 302-4933. Visit our web site: www.finenumismaticbooks.com.
PAPER MONEY ARTICLE FOCUSES ON BERKSHARES
Fred Reed has a very thorough and well-illustrated article in the March/April 2009 issue of Paper Money, the official journal of the Society of Paper Money Collectors. (Fred has been the editor of that fine publication for many years).
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