The E-Sylum v18#48 November 29, 2015
The E-Sylum
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Sun Nov 29 17:45:57 PST 2015
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The E-Sylum
An electronic publication of
The Numismatic Bibliomania Society
Volume 18, Number 48, November 29, 2015
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WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM NOVEMBER 29, 2015
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KOLBE & FANNING 2016 NEW YORK BOOK AUCTION ANNOUNCED
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KOLBE & FANNING'S NUMISMATIC BOOKSELLER #52 PUBLISHED
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NEWMAN PORTAL DIGITIZES EARLY WPNS LEDGERS
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SMITHSONIAN DIGITIZES 270,000 BEP CERTIFIED PROOFS
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NEW BOOK: WOODEN MEDALS OF THE 1876 EXPOSITION
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THE JOURNAL OF EAST ASIAN NUMISMATICS RETURNS
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BOOK REVIEW: THE VERONESE CURRENCY AREA
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AUTHOR'S NOTES: AMERICAN GOLD AND SILVER
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WORLD PAPER MONEY AUTHOR ALBERT PICK PASSES AT 93
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MORE ON ENGRAVED CONFEDERATE TREASURY SOUVENIR COINS
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NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: NOVEMBER 29, 2015
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JOSEPH WHARTON PARENTS MEDAL PROVES ELUSIVE
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THE 1776 NEW JERSEY STATE TREASURY RAID
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ARTICLE CREDITS OLIVER POLLOCK WITH CREATING DOLLAR SIGN
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THOMAS WILSON (1824-1919)
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EARLY HISTORY OF THE WESTERN PA NUMISMATIC SOCIETY
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QUICK QUIZ: WHO IS THIS AMERICAN NUMISMATIST?
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BREEN AND THE INSTITUTE OF NUMISMATIC AUTHENTICATORS
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INTERVIEW: NUMISMATIC LITERATURE DEALER DAVID FANNING
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THE COL. GREEN 1845 PROOF SET
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JEFF GARRETT ON NUMISMATIC MENTORS
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SCRATCHING THE SURFACE: IMPROVISATION IN MEDAL SURFACE TEXTURE
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JOHN OLIVER VIDEO QUESTIONS USE OF THE PENNY
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ISRAEL MUSEUM EXHIBITS UNDERWATER GOLD COIN FINDS
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ROMAN COIN HOARD FOUND IN A WELSH FIELD
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HAMAS SEIZES ANCIENT GOLD COINS DISCOVERED IN GAZA
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1,700-YEAR-OLD GOLD-CARVED RING DEPICTS CUPID
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MORE ON THE LATVIA FIVE CATS FIVE EURO COIN
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MASTER COPPER-BEECH-SMITH’S BADGES
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SELECTIONS FROM NUMISMATIC AUCTIONS SALE #58
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HIGHLIGHTS FROM ARCHIVES DECEMBER 11, 2015 SALE
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CANADA’S NEW GLOW-IN-THE-DARK COIN
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DRAFT GERMAN LAW HINDERS COLLECTORS
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FIRST SCOTTISH BANKNOTE SIGNED BY A WOMAN
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RARE OLYMPIC MEDALS AT AUCTION
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LITTLETON'S DAVID SUNDMAN WINS BUSINESS LEADER AWARD
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MARK TWAIN MUSEUM CELEBRATES NEW COIN
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U.S. MINT TESTS BARCODES ON DIES
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LONDON'S MAGGS BOOKSELLERS IS MOVING TO MAYFAIR
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ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS SCHOOLBOY'S KEW GARDENS COIN FIND
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MORE EXHIBITS OF NUMISMATIC INTEREST AT THE SMITHSONIAN
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D. B. COOPER MYSTERY CONTINUES
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MORE ON PROFESSOR ANDRE’S ALPINE CHOIR
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FEATURED WEB SITE: NATIONAL CURRENCY FOUNDATION
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Click here to read this issue on the web
Click here to access the complete archive
To comment or submit articles, reply to
whomren at gmail.com
WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM NOVEMBER 29, 2015
New subscribers this week include:
Steve Hagan,
David Petree,
Jeffrey Williams,
Herman Blanton,
David Petree, and
Stuart Hanebuth.
Welcome aboard!
We now have 1,904 subscribers.
This week we open with two updates from Kolbe & Fanning, two articles on numismatic digitization, a new book, a revived journal, and one book review.
Other topics include world paper money author Albert Pick, the 1776 New Jersey State Treasury raid, the creation of the dollar sign, numismatic mentors and the Institute of Numismatic Authenticators.
To learn more about Thesaurus Morellianus, Crumbs for Antiquarians, the Western Pennsylvania Numismatic Society, American Arts medals, the undercover barmaid, artist J.S.G. Boggs, Canadian numismatist Thomas Wilson, Col. Green's 1845 Proof Set, the numismatic beer can opener, Sons of (the Copper) Beeches and Prof. Andre's Alpine Choir, read on. Have a great week, everyone!
Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum
KOLBE & FANNING 2016 NEW YORK BOOK AUCTION ANNOUNCED
David Fanning forwarded this press release about the upcoming Kolbe & Fanning 2016 New York Book Auction. Thanks.
-Editor
Kolbe & Fanning’s 2016 New York Book Auction
to Feature the RBW Library
Kolbe & Fanning are pleased to announce that our 2016 New York Book Auction will feature the celebrated RBW Library and other important properties. Focusing on Roman Republican coinage, the RBW Library includes both the essential standard works on the subject as well as many rarely seen and little-known publications. RBW’s collections of antiquarian books, auction catalogues and numismatic offprints add to the utility and comprehensiveness of the library, which had become famous among his fellow collectors.
The sale also includes a fine selection of works on other ancient coins, medieval and modern foreign coins, and U.S. numismatics. Over 450 lots are included in the sale, a PDF of which has been posted on the K&F website at
numislit.com and printed catalogues of which will be mailed to current customers in the next couple of weeks. The sale will take place on Saturday, January 9, 2016, beginning at 12:30 p.m. eastern time, at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in Manhattan in conjunction with the 2016 New York International Numismatic Convention.
Some highlights include the following:
Lot 29: Bahrfeldt’s three-part revision of Babelon on Roman Republican coins
Lot 55: the Duke of Devonshire’s exceptional copy of the 1532 Paris folio edition of Budé’s De asse et partibus eius
Lot 110: the 1517 first edition of Fulvio’s Illustrium images, the first illustrated numismatic book
Lot 142: Hess’s 1912 catalogue of the Count Tolstoï collection of Roman Republican coins
Lot 195: Morell’s 1734 Thesaurus Morellianus, with the rare 1752 continuation
Lot 229: a rare complete run of 23 Rodolfo Ratto fixed-price catalogues
Lot 369: Duby’s extraordinary works on obsidional and French feudal coins, in Louis XVI bindings
Lot 377: Hess’s 1913 catalogue of the Count Tolstoï collection of 19th-century Russian coins
Lot 423: Bushnell’s legendary 1864-66 Crumbs for Antiquarians, including the second edition of his 1859 work on New York tokens
Lot 428: an original manuscript record of Cogan’s 1859 Charles B. Foote sale.
As mentioned above, printed catalogues are being mailed to established clients and a PDF of the catalogue has been posted to the main numislit.com website. In about two weeks, prospective bidders will be able to access the live online catalogue and register to bid through
auction.numislit.com. We will send out a notice when this is available.
As usual, viewing of selected lots will be held in the Library Suite on the 18th Floor of the Waldorf-Astoria in the days leading up to the sale. More information on lot viewing and on participating in the sale will be included in future announcements.
Kolbe & Fanning Numismatic Booksellers LLC is a licensed auction firm in the State of Ohio and is conducting the sale in conjunction with Marissa Russell, auctioneer. For more information, please see the Kolbe & Fanning website at
www.numislit.com or email David Fanning at
df at numislit.com. We look forward to your participation.
Lots 29 and 55
Lots 110 and 142
Lots 195 and 229
Lots 369 and 377
Lots 423 and 428
KOLBE & FANNING'S NUMISMATIC BOOKSELLER #52 PUBLISHED
On Tuesday, November 24, 2015 Kolbe & Fanning electronically published issue #52 of the firm's house organ, The Numismatic Bookseller. In addition to articles on bookbinding, upcoming sales, ANA Library Manager David Sklow, Strange Happenings at the Boston Public Library, and part 2 of George Kolbe's Reminiscences of a Numismatic Bookseller, the firm announced prizes for 2016 American Numismatic Association numismatic literature displays.
-Editor
An Early Call for 2016 ANA Numismatic Literature Displays
Kolbe & Fanning is pleased to announce that that we will sponsor a prize for the best numismatic literature exhibit at next year’s ANA summer convention. The 2016 World's Fair of Money will be held in Anaheim, California, August 9–13 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
A $250 credit for books available for direct sale at our website will be awarded to the winner of the best exhibit in American Numismatic Association Exhibit Class 17: Numismatic Literature, Aaron Feldman Memorial. Printed and manuscript (published or unpublished) literature dealing with any numismatic subject. Additionally, other numismatic literature exhibitors will each be awarded a similar $100 credit.
Details about exhibiting should soon be available at the ANA website: www.money.org
A display from the 2015 ANA.
Photo by Wayne Homren, E-Sylum, August 23, 2015
This is great news for the numismatic literature hobby. While we were blessed with a number of excellent exhibits at the 2015 convention, that is not always the case. Any extra incentive to bring exhibitors to the table is a good thing. Along with your New Year's Resolutions this year, consider making a commitment to exhibit in 2016.
-Editor
To read the complete issue, see:
Number 52 • Autumn 2015
(http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=cf5b75ccf12bdf8baee68ee72&id=9a5cb9749f&e=6800aef5a8)
THE BOOK BAZARRE
AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS:
Are your books carried by Wizard Coin Supply?
If not, contact us via
www.WizardCoinSupply.com
with details.
NEWMAN PORTAL DIGITIZES EARLY WPNS LEDGERS
The latest organization to work with the Newman Numismatic Portal is the Western Pennsylvania Numismatic Society (WPNS). Founded in 1878 and still going strong today, WPNS is one of the oldest numismatic organizations in the country. Three early minute and ledger books from the WPNS archives have now been digitized and made available in the Newman Numismatic Portal collection on Internet Archive, at these locations:
https://archive.org/details/wpnsledger1878_1880
https://archive.org/details/wpnsledger1880_1889
https://archive.org/details/wpnsledger1878_1889
Many thanks to WPNS and its President Phil Christ for making these treasures available for numismatic researchers everywhere. The group was very active in the 19th century both locally and nationally, exhibiting coins at the Pittsburgh Expositions of 1878 and 1879, having medals struck by Lovett, corresponding with the major dealers of the day, and building a coin cabinet and numismatic library.
The group met weekly at members' homes. On March 21, 1879 they assembled at the home of Mr. Kelley. After reading and approving the minutes of the previous meeting, "The Secretary reported that the 20c piece of 1878 in sale of March 14th had been purchased for the Society at $4.25."
Mr. Morgan exhibited an uncirculated Cent of 1820 and 1/2 Cent of 1856 in same condition.
Mr. Maynard exhibited fine cents of 1793 (wreath,) 1812 and 1814 and Half Dime of 1846.
Mr. Gies exhibited 3 dollars of 1797 and a 1794 Half Dollar
Mr. Kelley exhibited his fine collection of coins.
Another ledger book records the Society's purchases for its coin cabinet and library. Above are listings of acquisitions in 1888 of auction catalogs and bound volumes of the American Journal of Numismatics.
These handwritten records were meticulously kept by Secretary George Rode and other officers. The handwriting can take some getting used to, but there is a lot of great information and many great stories in here. Your patience will be rewarded. So have a look!
For more information on WPNS, see the WPNS History article elsewhere in this issue.
SMITHSONIAN DIGITIZES 270,000 BEP CERTIFIED PROOFS
This week I had a nice conversation with Jennifer Jones, who supervises the Division of Numismatics at the Smithsonian Institution.
With some organizational assistance from Peter Huntoon, the division
recently completed a project to digitize 270,000 Bureau of Engraving and Printing certified proofs of currency, bonds, revenue stamps, and other intaglio products, and they hope to make all of these images available on-line at high resolution within the next couple of years. Already over 46,000 high-resolution scans of Series of 1875, 1882 and 1902 national bank note images have been uploaded to the Smithsonian website.
Certified proofs are printer's proof sheets submitted to officials for approval before full-scale printing proceeds.
Here's an earlier Smithsonian blog article about the project.
-Editor
Have you ever seen a box full of money—well, not exactly, money, but certified plate proofs? What about stacks of boxes? Stacks on stacks? Unless you're a regular in the National Numismatic Collection vault, chances are you haven't seen anything like it. Over the course of one week, these boxes were opened up, their contents digitized, and now their content is going online for all to see—and help transcribe. Intern Peter Olson interviewed some of the staff responsible for opening this trove to the masses.
All week, staff from across the Smithsonian have been stopping by the National Numismatic Collection area to see a unique process called "rapid capture digitization" in action. The Numismatic Collection team is working in partnership with the Smithsonian's Office of the Chief Information Officer's Digitization Program Office and the National Currency Foundation. It allows collections specialists to gather visual, textual, and other data from museum objects quickly and make all this available digitally at a very high quality level.
That may not sound impressive until you compare the speed of rapid capture to traditional methods, in which a single scan might take 20 minutes. It would take months to complete what was accomplished in just a week.
While the demonstration room was full of computers and cameras, the process isn't just a technical one.
"It's an education process," says Jennifer Jones, chair and curator of the Division of Armed Forces History, which includes the National Numismatic Collection. "It's to show what's possible and to get these [proofs] to the public." But these objects aren't just available for looking—in this project, the public has a very special chance to interact with these proofs through the Smithsonian Transcription Center, where anyone can volunteer five minutes or five hours to transcribe text and information about the objects to create and enhance their online records.
This is a big step for a Smithsonian museum. "We don't often let incomplete data out, but we are for transcription," continues Jones. Giving the public a chance to help complete these records opens up a whole new world of volunteer opportunities for museum lovers.
The transcription volunteers are an integral part of this process.
"There are about 2,800 regular volunteers," says Dr. Meghan Ferriter, project coordinator for the Smithsonian Transcription Center. These volunteers are capable of transcribing and reviewing 60-700 pages per week, with a record volume day of 215 pages transcribed. Once transcribed, collections information becomes far more searchable and useful to researchers and the general public.
"Our volunteers believe in helping the Smithsonian." Feritter continues, "We are continuing to evaluate quality, but we are positive and comfortable that our volunteers are making trustworthy transcriptions. This quality is absolutely crucial and we are learning more everyday by collaborating with our volunteers. Transcriptions make collections more accessible to both researchers and the public. With these projects, we are increasing the detail of Smithsonian collections by actually creating collections records—all through special access to these rarely exhibited proof sheets via the Transcription Center."
This entire process is designed for rapid turnaround. How rapid?
"We're seeing a turnaround of about 36 hours. From the vault shelf to the public, that's the approach." says Ken Rahaim, still image program officer with Smithsonian Digitization Program Office.
"As soon as it's live, volunteers jump into the project." says Dr. Ferriter. The transcribers even tweet with each other to swap tips and share successes.
The pace truly is impressive given the quality of the work. These images are captured at 80 megapixels and create images with resolution of 690 pixels per inch. This allows intricate designs of only 20 microns thickness to be captured and analyzed or simply marveled at by a numismatist. When given the chance to examine an image, I could zoom in a seemingly infinite amount and still have a crisp image to study.
In the end, 3,069 proof sheets were captured. That's "20 boxes and represents sheets from seven different states," says Hillery York, a collections manager in the Numismatic Collection.
Perhaps even more impressive than the number and speed of captures was the sense of inspiration among Smithsonian staff who visited the demonstration—many of the over 140 staff who visited walked back to their offices pondering how they'd use rapid capture digitization in their own work.
Are you interested in historical currency? How about botany or historical writings? Help the Smithsonian out by volunteering with the Smithsonian Transcription Center. More photos of this pilot project are available on Flickr.
To read the complete article, see:
Get money! (Digitized and transcribed, that is)
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