The E-Sylum v14#52 December 18, 2011

Sun Dec 18 20:36:09 PST 2011

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The E-Sylum

  An electronic publication of
  The Numismatic Bibliomania Society

Volume , Number 52, December 18, 2011
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WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM DECEMBER 18, 2011
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KOLBE & FANNING’S ONLINE BIDDING AND LOT VIEWING OPTIONS
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SKLOW MAIL BID SALE # 15 CATALOG AVAILABLE
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NEW BOOK: STANDARD CATALOG OF WORLD COINS 1601-1700, 5TH EDITION
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SURVEY: INSTITUTIONAL NUMISMATIC LIBRARIES OF THE WORLD
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READER THOUGHTS ON JOHN ESHBACH 
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QUIZ ANSWER: THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIST
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HOW VALUBLE IS THE COLLECTION FOUND IN THE PASSAU LIBRARY?
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NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: DECEMBER 18, 2011
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MORE ON IRRADIATED DIMES
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DOLLAR COIN PRODUCTION VIRTUALLY HALTED
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SOME IN CONGRESS CONSIDER ELIMINATING THE PAPER DOLLAR
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DICK JOHNSON  ON STEEL COIN LEGISLATION
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KLAN KREED COIN
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KOLBE-FANNING 2012 NEW YORK SALE LOTS: NEWLIN, PERKINS
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THE 1766 PATTERN ROUBLE OF CATHERINE II
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VIKING COIN FIND IN LANCASHIRE, ENGLAND
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DAYTONA COUNCILMAN SPENDS REAL FAKE CASH
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MORE ON THE OCCUPY MOVEMENT DOLLAR BILL
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THE CIA BAY OF PIGS COUNTERFEITS
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U.S. HALF DIME CIRCULATION IN CUBA
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BRASHER DOUBLOON SELLS TO HEDGE FUND
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HOW TO BECOME A BIBLIOMANIAC
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THE LIBRARY THAT LOOKS LIKE A BOOKSHELF
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FEATURED WEB PAGE: WHICH CHARPENTIER MADE THAT MEDAL?
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Click here to read this issue on the web

WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM DECEMBER 18, 2011

In our Christmas Eve issue December 24, 1998, I wrote:

  Your scribe is proud to report that his son 
  Christopher Knobel Homren was born at 1:54pm Friday, 
  December 18th, weighing in at 8 lbs, 10oz, 21 inches. 
  Mom and baby are fine and resting at home for the 
  holidays.  Dad's still kind of bewildered and thinking, 
  "please kid, get your own books to color in..."

Well, today my firstborn turned 13 and he's nearly as tall as me.  Playing basketball this morning he repeatedly smoked me, at times just taking the ball out of my hands as I tried hopelessly to make a shot past him.  All I could do is laugh.  Mom calls him "Sasquatch".  This issue is dedicated to a fine (and tall)  straight-A student, Christopher.  You've made Dad proud.  Happy birthday!

Among our new subscribers this week are 
Gaylord Allen,  Chris Vandall  and Burt Clark, courtesy of Bob Neale, 
Barbara Bonous-Smit, 
M. Savinelli, and
Gil Menendez,.
Welcome aboard!
We have 1,483 email subscribers, plus 167 followers on Facebook.

This week we open with updated from two numismatic booksellers, word of one new numismatic book and a survey of institutional numismatic libraries.

Other topics this week include The American Numismatist periodicals, Irradiated Dimes, politics and U.S. coins and paper money, and U.S. Half Dime circulation in Cuba.

To learn more about Obsessive Hoarding Disorder and How to Become a Bibliomaniac, the Klan Kreed Coin, the CIA's Bay of Pigs Cuban counterfeits, and the Library That Looks Like a Bookshelf, read on.
Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
 Numismatic Bibliomania Society

KOLBE & FANNING’S ONLINE BIDDING AND LOT VIEWING OPTIONS

David Fanning forwarded this press release about free online bidding and armchair lot viewing options in Kolbe & Fanning’s 2012 New York book sale.
-Editor

Kolbe & Fanning Numismatic Booksellers will be holding their 2012 New York Book Sale at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City on Saturday afternoon, January 7. As a Kolbe & Fanning regular, you may have already received a copy of the printed catalogue, but we wanted to bring to your attention some additional news.

As in the past, a PDF version of the catalogue is available from the Kolbe & Fanning website at www.numislit.com. The PDF is handy for searching for items by keywords or when your copy of the catalogue is not conveniently at hand.

For the first time, we will be offering free live internet bidding for this auction via the-saleroom.com. Also, every lot is illustrated in this version of the catalogue and the illustrations can easily be enlarged. Through the-saleroom.com, you may register to bid in the auction, and you may leave absentee bids to be executed by the-saleroom.com staff who will attend the auction. In addition, you may watch the auction take place in real time and directly participate in the live event via your computer. While we have offered this service before, this year we are offering it at no additional cost to bidders. The usual terms apply, but no additional fees will be incurred by bidders who participate through the-saleroom.com. 

To register to participate in the online auction, go to the-saleroom.com and create an account (a credit card will be necessary to bid in the sale, though other forms of payment may be used). You will find Kolbe & Fanning listed in the directory of auction houses. The online catalogue is easy to navigate and, as previously mentioned, every lot is illustrated. 

The following link should lead directly to the catalogue:

www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/george-frederick-kolbe/catalogue-id-2852516

SKLOW MAIL BID SALE # 15 CATALOG AVAILABLE

David Sklow forwarded this press release noting that the catalog for his February numismatic literature sale is now available.
-Editor

DAVID SKLOW – FINE NUMISMATIC LITERATURE
MAIL BID SALE # 15 CLOSING FEBRUARY 11, 2012
IS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE AT OUR WEB SITE.

Handbook of U.S. Coins, by Yeoman, Hewitt and Green, several first editions 1942. 

Handbook of U. S. Coins, by Yeoman, Hewitt and Green, editions 2nd through 13th including over date/overprint fourth and ninth editions. 

Rarely seen autographed fifth edition Handbook of U.S. Coins, signed by Author Charles E. Green.

The large working worldwide library of a dedicated west coast dealer, some very nice surprises! 

1908 first Membership Directory of the American Numismatic Association. 

1913 second Membership Directory of the American Numismatic Association 

1917 third Membership Directory of the American Numismatic Association.

Unique 1883 edition of Andrews, used and annotated by B. Max Mehl as a mockup for his 1924 reprint of the work. 

Ken Lowe's deluxe hardbound 100th anniversary edition of Rare Coin Review Copy No. 23. 

Armand Champa’s Numismatica Americana 1991 deluxe leather version, ex: Denis Mendelson. 

Unique prototype full green leather bound mockup by Alan Grace [1985] to exhibit his binding techniques to Champa. 

Frossard thirty-seventh sale Oct 1884, thick paper, plated. 

Frossard Monograph on 1793-1857 Cents & Half Cents, 1879, 9 plates. 

Frossard, Numisma 1983 reprint super deluxe half leather limited numbered edition No. 3 of 4. 

Gengerke’s American Numismatic Auctions 1990 eighth edition super deluxe half leather limited numbered edition No. 3 of 6. 

Unique prototype hardbound textured green cloth black mockup for Gengerke’s eighth edition. 

Rare three volume set of bound auction catalogs one thru ten of The Money Tree limited numbered editions No. 1 of 7. 

Scott & Co. 40th sale catalog March 1882, plated. 

Smith, A. M. Coin Collectors of the U. S. Illustrated Guide, Volume one complete 1880-1881. 

Smith, Pete American Numismatic Biographies 1992, half leather super deluxe limited numbered edition No. 3 of 4. 

1946 Davenport, Iowa Rare three piece convention medal set of the American Numismatic Association, Bronze, Silver & Gold medals in original box. 

1975 Los Angeles, Ca. Rare American Numismatic Association convention medal in gold, limited numbered 74 of 161.

1976 New York, N.Y. Very Rare American Numismatic Association convention medal in gold, limited numbered 24 of 41. 

1987 scarce Casa de Moneda de Mexico and American Numismatic Association 63mm five ounce silver medal. 

Unique mockup [by Fivaz & Stanton] working copy of the Cherrypickers guide second edition used to create the third edition. 

Run of Official ANA Convention medal sets all in original holders or boxes 1969 to 1992, 1996-1999. 

Never offered for sale before, the newly awarded ANA Presidential Award Medal 76mm. inscribed to Rollie Finner. 

The fabulous working library concerning Medals & Tokens of Russ Sears, containing many limited editions. 

A long run of Yeoman’s Red Book 1947-2002, including many special editions.

 Convention and Banquet photographs of the American Numismatic Association, 1947, 1948, 1953, 1954, 1958, 1971. 

Dr. Josef Brettauer, Medicina in Nummis 1937 catalog. 

Keith Davignon, Contemporary Counterfeit Capped Bust Half Dollars, full leather super deluxe presentation limited numbered edition No. 5 of 5. 

Elder May 1920 sale of the Miller Collection, Rosa Americana’s 1992 reprint with 28 plates produced from full size negatives, bound limited numbered edition No. 23 of 50. 

Fey & Oxman’s The Top Morgan Dollar Varieties: The VAM Keys, full leather super deluxe limited numbered edition No. 50 of 100. 

R. W. Julian, Russian Silver Coinage 1796-1917, quarter leather super deluxe limited numbered edition No. 2 of 24. 

Glenn R. Peterson, The Ultimate Guide to Attributing Bust Half Dollars, quarter leather super deluxe limited numbered edition No. 3 of 40. 

Q. David Bowers bound set of the Niles Register 1811-1843 

Nicolas Tindal, 1751 A Summary of Mr. Rapin de Thoyras’s History of England, [elephant folio].

CATALOGS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST
DAVID SKLOW – FINE NUMISMATIC BOOKS
P.O. BOX 6321
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80934
TEL: (719) 302-5686
FAX: (719) 302-4933
finenumismaticbooks at aol.com
www.finenumismaticbooks.com

NEW BOOK: STANDARD CATALOG OF WORLD COINS 1601-1700, 5TH EDITION

This week Krause Publications announced the 5th edition of : Standard Catalog of World Coins 1601-1700.
-Editor

The Standard Catalog of World Coins 1601-1700 is now available from Krause Publications.

Edited by George Cuhaj and Tom Michael, this fifth edition presents some of the fastest-rising retail values for world coins. Economic factors have continued to drive collector interest and push prices for these classic coins higher and higher.

The fifth edition Standard Catalog of World Coins 1601-1700 features:

Updated values for all coin listings

Substantial changes in value for most European coinage

Additional listings and value changes for German states

Expanded listings for Italian states and the Netherlands

Complete revisions for India, Iran and Iraq

Full value updates for Austria, Hungary and Transylvania

Special auction quotes for many rare coinage types

With information compiled by over 200 experts worldwide, this book features collector coins, sets, trial strikes, patterns, token issues, etc. with nearly 300,000 accurate coin prices in up to 5 grades and 22,500 quality images including hundreds of improved images for easy identification.

For more information visit 

www.sellcoinbooks.com/world-coin-books/standard-catalog-of-world-coins-1601-1700
.

SURVEY: INSTITUTIONAL NUMISMATIC LIBRARIES OF THE WORLD

Barbara Bonous-Smit, Head of Reference and Serials at
Queensborough Community College, 
City University of New York, is circulating a survey of institutional numismatic libraries around the world.
Barbara is a new E-Sylum subscriber and writes: "I'm familiar with your newsletter and organization via working at the ANS as the assistant librarian.".  Please complete the survey if it applies to you, or forward the information to anyone you know who is associated with a numismatic library.
Thanks.
-Editor

I am conducting a study on numismatic libraries and I am writing to ask your help.  The study is part of an effort to learn more about numismatic libraries and to create a directory of numismatic libraries in the United States and around the world, since no directory currently exists. I am sure many interested in numismatics will find such a directory of great value, including numismatists, numismatic scholars, historians, archaeologists, coin collectors and dealers, librarians, other researchers, and the general public. I would appreciate receiving your input so that the result will assist me in the creation of the Directory of Numismatic Libraries and truly reflect characteristics of numismatic libraries. 

Your answers to this questionnaire are completely confidential. Concerning the survey procedures, I am using SurveyMonkey for the purpose of collecting data for this survey. Of course, participation in this survey is strictly voluntary. However, you can help me very much by taking a few minutes to answer the survey available at:  

www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=QWeVlvrCEhfxmyeG8J_2fyCw_3d_3d
. 

Please feel free to send any additional information about your library, such as a brief history, for inclusion in the directory.  Any submission may be edited by the author.  Submission of this information is voluntary and will not impact in any way the outcomes of this research.

This study does not present any risks and you will not be compensated for participating. You may skip any questions you don’t want to answer and you may stop answering questions at any time without penalty.  I intend to retain your responses, and any information you provide will not be destroyed.

After the study is completed, a summary of the demographic and characteristic findings will also be published as an article. The article will also contain an appendix with a geographical listing of only the names of numismatic libraries.

You will have an opportunity to check the information about your library in the directory before it is published. You will also receive a copy of the article before it is published. Before the results are published as a directory or article, you will be free to make any changes/correction to your library’s entry or request deletion of your library’s entry in the Directory of Numismatic Libraries and in the appendix of the article.

If you have any questions or comment about this study, I would be happy to talk with you. You can call me at (718) 281-5010 or e-mail me at: BBonoussmit at qcc.cuny.edu or Dr. Paul Marchese at (718) 631-6690 or via e-mail at: pmarchese at qcc.cuny.edu. 

Thank you very much for helping me with this important study. Your contribution is greatly appreciated.

READER THOUGHTS ON JOHN ESHBACH 

Greg Heim writes:

Lisa and I were saddened to hear of the passing of John Eshbach.  It was a pleasure working with him when we were judging exhibits actively at the summer ANA Conventions from 1994-2004.  I am sure that is Pennsylvania-area friends and his family are going to miss him as well

Howard A. Daniel III writes:

I was greatly saddened to read about the passing of John Eshbach.  He was one of my many mentors in numismatics.  

It was often after I posed a numismatic question in The E-Sylum or elsewhere that I would be contacted by John with an answer or someone else to talk to for the answer.  He was a strong silent type of man, so when he spoke, he had something of importance to say and was not just talking to hear himself.  He was the ultimate gentleman and I will miss talking with him at future shows, but I think he will be there with us in spirit.

David Lange submitted this remembrance of John Eshbach. Thanks!
-Editor

I was saddened to learn of the death of John Eshbach, though not too surprised. He looked frail when I saw him at the Pittsburgh ANA Convention. John was the very definition of someone who contributed endlessly to the hobby, and his passing is a real loss.

Among the many tributes to John that I've seen there's been no mention of one particularly interesting facet of his hobby activity. For a time he manufactured and sold superb coin display holders under the brand name Showcase by Eshbach. I was a customer for these holders during the few years in which they were available, and I grew to admire them for both their attractiveness and numismatic accuracy.

The Showcase is a rigid display consisting of a screw-assembly stainless steel frame and two panels of glass. Underneath the glass is a foam plastic mounting with pre-punched openings for coins, and between this insert and the glass is a clear, printed sheet. The plugs for the openings were left in place until a coin was acquired, at which time it lifted out easily. This feature eliminated glaring holes in the collection while it was growing. The Showcase line included many holders for date-and-mint sets of most USA and Canadian coins, as well as type sets for some other countries. These made every collection look like a museum exhibit, and they also provided pretty good protection for the coins.

In 1980 I bought the three Showcase holders which comprised a complete USA type collection, less the gold issues. These made such a beautiful display that I was asked by the Director of the Old San Francisco Mint Museum to loan my type set for display there, and we were in the midst of making these arrangements when the museum abruptly closed in 1993. I'm attaching a scan of the first holder, Plate 1. The foam plugs remain in place for the few coins I was lacking, though it's hard to see them in the scan. I'm also attaching a scan of the certificate which accompanied each holder. Somewhere I have the Showcase printed catalog, but I couldn't find it without tearing up half the house.

When I attempted to order more Showcase holders from John in the late 1980s, he said that the whole enterprise had been discontinued. I pressed him as to why he would stop selling such a fine product, and he muttered something about a lawsuit. I gathered that someone had been injured, perhaps by broken glass, but I could see that it was a sore subject he didn't want to discuss. I brought up the matter again a few years later, but it still rankled him, and he never did give me the whole story.

My Showcase type set holders are retired now, but I still consider them an important, albeit peripheral, part of my coin album collection. They also stand as a fine tribute to a remarkable individual.

I don't recall seeing these holders before.  Do any other readers have one of them?
-Editor

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:

JOHN R. ESHBACH: 1921-2011

(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v14n51a05.html)

QUIZ ANSWER: THE AMERICAN NUMISMATIST

In last week's item about Paul Hollis' book American Numismatist I asked:

What other work of numismatic literature has the title American Numismatist ?

George Kolbe writes:

Isn't there an inaccuracy in the above query dealing with pluralization, to say nothing of the absence of the most common word in the English language (used four times in the present sentence alone, or six if you include the parenthesized text)?   ;-)

It was more fun leaving out the definite article; Pete Smith's note is a case in point.
-Editor

Pete Smith writes:

Dr. George Heath published a newsletter with the title, "The American Numismatist."  He quickly shortened this to just "The Numismatist."

Several years ago Gail Baker recruited me as a judge for one of her quiz games at the ANA. This was shortly after the ANA journal was shortened to Numismatist. There was a question about The American Numismatist.  I announced that Heath changed the name to appeal to a younger demographic. A few people got the joke.

David Gladfelter writes:

Why, that venerable periodical started up by Dr. George W. Heath in September-October, 1888, and now known as “The Numismatist” (formerly “Numismatist”).

For extra credit: At the time there was another periodical with the title “The American Numismatist”, published in Paterson, N. J., but that one folded after a year or so.

Your question was almost too easy for us inmates.

American Numismatic Society librarian Elizabeth Hahn  writes:

I was reading through the latest E-Sylum and always enjoy the little quizzes that you include at the end of some articles. When time permits, I like to try and answer them. Your latest question caught my eye, namely, you ask "What other work of numismatic literature has the title American Numismatist ?" A quick look at the ANS Library collections reveals that there were two early periodicals with that title. Both claim to be monthly publications for coin collectors, although one comes from Paterson, N.J., and the other from Saco, Maine. I've attached a photo of each for reference.

 The American Numismatist, Patterson, NJ 1886
 The American Numismatist, Saco, ME, 1901

Thanks, everyone!  As Dave Bowers noted in his American Numismatic Association Centennial History, apparently George Heath was initially unaware of the New Jersey periodical published by C.E. Leal.  Leal's journal continued for 12 issues, though December 1887.  Beginning with Vol 1, No 2, heath shortened the name of his publication to The Numismatist.
-Editor

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:

NEW BOOK: AMERICAN NUMISMATIST

(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v14n51a03.html)

THE BOOK BAZARRE
DAVID SKLOW - FINE NUMISMATIC BOOKS offers Mail Bid Sale No. 15 on 
February 11, 2012, including:

1908 first Membership Directory of the American Numismatic Association.

www.finenumismaticbooks.com.
PH: (719) 302-5686, FAX: (719) 302-4933.  EMAIL: numismaticbooks at aol.com. USPS: Box 6321, Colorado Springs, CO. 80934. Contact me for your numismatic literature needs! 

HOW VALUBLE IS THE COLLECTION FOUND IN THE PASSAU LIBRARY?

Leon Sarayan forwarded this article which has some more information on that old coin collection discovered in a library in Bavaria.
-Editor

Dating back from the years between the Roman Empire and Napoleon's rule, initial Internet research has revealed that the coins are worth a "low six-figure sum," Wennerhold said. Experts must now determine their exact value. The most valuable pieces will likely turn out to be decorative medals from the Baroque era, Wennerhold estimated.

The coins were probably forgotten because their value was underestimated by past library workers, Wennerhold told DAPD. "None of the current workers here knew that these coins existed," he said.

Library janitor Höls said she frequently goes to the fourth-floor archive -- where old furniture and even a stuffed crocodile are also stored -- in order to retrieve books for library patrons. The wooden box containing the coins was even periodically dusted by library employees without an inkling as to what was inside, Wennerhold said.

This week the Passau state library plans to release photos of each coin on its homepage. Next year they will be put on display as part of the library's anniversary celebration. Founded in 1612 as part of a Jesuit college, the library claims to be home to one of the oldest book collections in Germany.

When I read this article last week I was curious about how they'd come up with their estimate of the value of this collection.  It seemed high to me, but without images or  an inventory it's difficult to dispute.  The above article included a few images and states that the library will eventually put more photos on line.  Ursula Kampmann, writing in Coins Weekly takes everyone in the media to task for not digging further before publishing the quoted figure.
-Editor

The international media loved that news! While cleaning a store room, a curious concierge opened a little wooden box and found a “treasure” composed of 172 coins and medals; its value was estimated generously at a six-digit figure in Euro.

Now, the state library Passau publishes these coins in an exemplary manner on the Internet. And everybody is able to see for himself, what’s the real value of these coins. Concerning the financial aspect the impression might be somehow disappointing. The original estimate is much too high. A five-digit figure is much more reasonable. (If the silver medals are tin, which could be indicated by the little dot of copper in the exergue, it will be even less.) But does that really matter? It is much more important, what kind of a collection has survived!

Before the secularization, the prince-bishopric Passau was one of the most powerful bishoprics in Germany. I am sure, that these coins can’t be the showpieces from the collection of a prince-bishop, which were thought to be worth taking the risk of saving them from being confiscated!
The state library Passau suggests it might have been the collection of a Jesuit, which served as teaching material. But is there any system in that collection?

We should not overlook the fact that the 18th century was the century of collectors. A happy coincidence has delivered us the collection of an average collector of the 18th century. Once there must have been tens of thousand collections like this. The true value of this collection is that it was not – like all the other small collections – dispersed and sold, but survived as collection!

If you want to see the coins of the collection, click here:

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