The E-Sylum v20n19 May 7, 2017
The E-Sylum
esylum at binhost.com
Sun May 7 17:59:03 PDT 2017
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The E-Sylum
An electronic publication of
The Numismatic Bibliomania Society
Volume 20, Number 19, May 7, 2017
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WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM MAY 7, 2017
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NEW BOOK: 2018 U.S COIN DIGEST, 16TH EDITION
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NEW BOOKS: THIRD REICH MEDALS AND HONORS
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REVISED BOOK: THE BANKOTE BOOK
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RED BOOK RECOLLECTIONS: DAVID LANGE
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IMAGE-BASED ROMAN COIN IDENTIFICATION
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TEICHMAN INDEXES VIRGIL BRAND LEDGERS AT ANS
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NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: MAY 7, 2017
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U.S. MINT INTERVIEW ON APOLLO 11 DESIGNS
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BRENNER'S 1895 ONE DOLLAR COIN DESIGN
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VOCABULARY TERM: DIAPER
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WILLIAM PENN BROWN (1841-1929)
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CONRAD MOWER NIELSEN (1922-2008)
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THE BRITISH MUSEUM MONEY MATTERS EXHIBITION
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SELECTIONS FROM NUMISMATICA ARS CLASSICA #99-100
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ERIC P. NEWMAN INTERNET 3 SALE RESULTS
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LEGEND REGENCY AUCTION XXI HIGHLIGHTS
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LORD ST. OSWALD 1794 DOLLAR OFFERED
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STACK'S BOWERS MAY 2017 WORLD ONLINE AUCTION
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NUMISMATIC NUGGETS: MAY 7, 2017
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AZERBAIJAN MEDIEVAL BRONZE COIN HOARD FOUND
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MORE ON THE G. ERICHSON COUNTERSTAMP
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MORE ON GUY FAWKES AND THE GUNPOWDER PLOT
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AMERICA'S WWI ENTRANCE MEDALS
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CHAMPION PAPER COMPANY MEDALS
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OHIO TRUMP INAUGURAL MEDAL OFFERED IN SILVER
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AUSTRIA UNVEILS MIKROKOSMOS SILVER NIOBIUM COIN
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QUIDS ON THE SKIDS: ERROR POUND COINS APPEAR
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NOTES ON EMPEROR NORTON'S PRINTERS
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INTERVIEW WITH CRANE CURRENCY CEO DEFALCO
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COLLECTOR DISPLAYS BERMUDA BANKNOTES
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INDIA BANKNOTE BAN VICTIM SEEKS HELP
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DIGITIZING ONE OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST BOOKS
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COIN ART BY STACEY LEE WEBBER
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FEATURED WEB PAGE: THE WATERLOO MEDAL DIES
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Click here to read this issue on the web
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To comment or submit articles, reply to whomren at gmail.com
WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM MAY 7, 2017
New subscribers this week include:
Jan Valentine, courtesy of Jim Neiswinte;
Keemboh Alcaraz,
Joao Almeida,
Aritz Arantzegi Areitio,
Minor W Anderson,
Bill Bone,
Steven Bron,
Andrew Briton,
Ron Caris,
Andres Collazosm,
Kamil Coskun,
Ken Denham,
Gunter Gerstner,
Mario Grana,
Jerry Hook,
Matija Horvat,
Mohamed Ibrahim,
Miskell John,
Bharat Kadge,
Cheang Wai Keong,
Werner Kober,
Joseph Kutta,
Yale Lansky,
Mark Lee,
Calum McLean,
Anton Menshikov,
Carlos Mariano,
Frederic Minguet,
Rafal Nogowczyk,
Alexey Novikov,
Calogero Saieva,
Monique Salmon,
Alexey Semakov,
Simon Sui,
Adam Work, and
Hyunchul Yoo.
Welcome aboard! We now have 3,224 subscribers.
Many of our new subscribers were kindly referred to us by
Owen Linzmayer of San Francisco, CA, publisher of The Banknote Book. See the article later in this issue for more information on Owen's book.
Please also welcome our newest advertiser, Legend Rare Coin Auctions. Be sure to thank and support all of our sponsors whenever the opportunity presents.
Thank you for reading The E-Sylum. If you enjoy it, please send me the email addresses of friends you think may enjoy it as well and I'll send them a subscription with your compliments. Contact me at whomren at gmail.com anytime regarding your subscription, or questions, comments or suggestions about our content.
This week we open with four new books, one revised book, recollections on the Red Book, and new tools for identifying Roman coins and locating coins in the Virgil Brand collection ledgers.
Other topics this week include Victor Brenner's 1895 dollar coin design, Apollo 11 coin design, Bermuda banknotes, banknote maven CM Nielsen, auction highlights, the Lord St. Oswald 1794 dollar, Guy Fawkes, and the butterfly silver niobium coin.
To learn more about diaper dies, the polo pound, tinnies, calendar medals, curved coins, Philippine guerrilla notes, the Aurelian Aureus, bit math, Standard Silver patterns, the Pistrucci Waterloo medal, and the Imperial Government of Norton I, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico, read on. Have a great week, everyone!
Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum
NEW BOOK: 2018 U.S COIN DIGEST, 16TH EDITION
Another new edition was announced by Krause Publications this week.
-Editor
Easy to use and easy to understand, the 2018 U.S. Coin Digest is the most comprehensive color guide to United States coin issues on the market. Providing professionally vetted values, complete coin listings, detailed coin images and unique "lay-flat" book design for no-sweat searches, U.S. Coin Digest is a superb reference for both the beginner and expert collector.
Inside you will find:
All U.S. coin issues
Real-market coin values
2,000 color images
11 grades of coin condition
Bullion coins
Private Gold coins
Mint and Proof sets
Commemoratives
Coins of Hawaii, Philippines and Puerto Rico
Colonial and Early Coinage
Errors and varieties
Whether sorting through a jar of coins or appraising a massive collection, U.S. Coin Digest is the ideal reference for the job.
Author/Speaker/Editor David C. Harper, Editor; Richard Giedroyc, Market Analyst
Format Spiral Bound
ISBN 13 9781440247965
Number Of Pages 320
The book is available as an eBook as well.
-Editor
For more information, or to order, see:
2018 U.S. Coin Digest, 16th Edition
(http://www.shopnumismaster.com/2018-us-coin-digest-16th-edition)
NEW BOOKS: THIRD REICH MEDALS AND HONORS
Frank Draskovic, President of the California Medals and Honors Society, recommended these titles from Joe Cassidy & Chrys Alexander on commemorative pins, badges and related tokens issued under Germany's Third Reich. Thanks.
-Editor
Third Reich Tinnie Collecting - Tinnies is the generic name for small commemorative pins and badges. While the name implies these badges are made of tin, that is not always the case. The designers used all available materials: metal, wood, porcelain, clay, cloth, leather, and paper. Tinnies (Tagungsabzeichen), or Day Badges, commemorating an event have been around for as long as organizers have felt a need to give or sell a remembrance of their event. Today, T-shirts or caps are the most common items issued as souvenirs of an event.
During the Third Reich, these souvenirs were tinnies. The Third Reich brought tinnie design and use to its highest point, issuing them for many and varied events. Each tinnie is a work of art, often designed by a master craftsman. They show the activities of the Third Reich and the history of Germany in a small package. The book has almost 3,100 color pictures of tinnies on 410 pages and translates the text of each tinnie from German into English.
Donation Badges, Pins & Pendants of the Third Reich - When the Nazi regime took control of Germany in 1933, individual charitable organizations conducted their own street collections. These organizations typically gave each contributor a token of thanks for their generosity. Desiring to bring these disparate charitable organizations under State control, the regime designated the Winterhilfswerk des Deutschen Volkes (WHW) as the State charitable organization and started to exert control over these other charitable groups.
The smaller organizations had street collections with the accompanying tokens until about 1936, when they were folded into the Nationalsozialistische Volkswohlfahrt (NSV) (National Socialist People’s Welfare Organization). The larger groups, such as the Deutsche Jugendherbergwerk (DJH) (German Youth Hostels) and Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK) (German Red Cross), were able to hold onto their identity and continued to have collections throughout the war, usually once a year. The other organizations tended to be special interest groups supporting a particular cause or agenda. The book has 1,200 different items in over 1,150 color photos on 316 pages.
Winterhilfswerk Street/House Collections & More – A Collector’s Guide - As dedicated collectors, we worked diligently to assemble our individual collections of the tokens given for donations to the German street and door to door charity drives organized by the Winterhilfswerk (WHW) organization. When we first started collecting WHW pieces, we did it without any reference materials. As time went by, we realized the need for a guide to our collections to know what we had, what we needed, and the relative value of these items.
The references we found available were very informative, but they were naturally written in German. As English speakers with a limited knowledge of the German language, the use of these books often was difficult. As our collections progressed we found many other WHW collectors searching for an English language WHW guidebook. As the years passed and our wish for someone to publish a book in English went unfulfilled, we decided it was up to us to make our own wish come true. The next step to go through, the “If we had it our way we would . . .” process, was simple. The first feature would be color pictures. The second feature would be an index that told us where we could find a particular pin or set of pins without having to thumb through lots of pages. The third feature would be a large format so the pictures and print would be easier on the eyes.
This book does not contain pictures of every variant of every piece. It does contain at least one variant of every National WHW (598 different pieces) issued by the WHW street collections program from 1933 to 1944. By 1945, WHW collections and token distributions had ceased. Also contained are at least one variant of the paper door plaques (42 pieces) issued by the WHW door to door collection program between 1933 and 1940, WHW postcards, WHW stamps, and a WHW collection can. The total number of different items shown in this book is over 800, with over 550 color pictures on 132 pages.
For more information, or to order, see:
www.winterhilfswerk.com
REVISED BOOK: THE BANKOTE BOOK
Many thanks to Owen Linzmayer for promoting The E-Sylum in his Friday email message to followers of his digital publication The Banknote Book. Here's the complete text.
-Editor
If you're not already on The E-Sylum mailing list, subscribe today. It's a free weekly newsletter edited by Wayne Homren for the Numismatic Bibliomania Society, though you don't have to be a member to subscribe. The newsletter goes out by email every Sunday night to over 3,000 numismatic bibliophiles, researchers, and collectors around the world. Topics are all over the numismatic map, and most people find something of interest each week. Banknotes are frequently a topic along with news on a wide spectrum of numismatics and numismatic personalities.
Currently 252 chapters of The Banknote Book have been published as individual high-resolution PDF files. This represents a total of 3,890 pages covering 39,000 types and varieties.
Revisions to the following have been published in the past week:
Brazil (added listing for B874d)
British North Borneo (added listing for B106d1/2)
British West Africa (added Font Varieties table for B108p)
European Monetary Union (added listings for B111e3, B111m3, B111v3, B111w3, B111z3)
French Somaliland (added illustration for CCD signature 3; added listings for B128ap, B129ap, B301ap)
Laos (updated prices throughout)
Netherlands Antilles (added listings for B221bs, B222bs, B226i, B227h, B228h)
Pakistan (added listing for B231o)
Poland (added listing for B859b)
Qatar (added listing for B217b)
South Sudan (added listing for B111b)
Vanuatu (added listings for BNP202, BNP203, BNP204)
West African States (added listing for B120He)
spreadsheet (added New 2017.04.29 sheet)
If you've previously purchased any of the above chapters, you are entitled to free revisions of your content for a period of one year following your purchase.
If you like what you've seen so far, please spread the word by telling others about The Banknote Book, but do not share or sell your PDFs. The Banknote Book is copyrighted and unauthorized distribution is piracy.
And remember, if ever you spot an error or omission, or if you have a suggestion for improvement, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Owen W. Linzmayer
P.O. Box 40159
San Francisco, CA 94140-0159
For more information, or to order, see:
http://banknotebook.contentshelf.com/shop
RED BOOK RECOLLECTIONS: DAVID LANGE
On May 3, 2017 Coin Update published the latest article in its series on the long history of Whitman Publishing’s Guide Book of United States Coins, also known as the Red Book. This segment comes from Dave Lange, research director for Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC), Red Book contributor, and author of numerous numismatic books.
-Editor
I received my first Red Book, the 22nd edition, for Christmas in 1968. Until that time I’d been using the Blue Book as my one-volume numismatic library. At the age of 10, I was only just becoming aware of the difference between the two. I had already begun to memorize the mintages and values for my favorite coins, such as Lincoln cents and Buffalo nickels, and my acquisition of this new and more powerful tool only added to my hobby enjoyment.
About 15 years later, I began to assemble a complete set of Red Books, a project which took me two years or so. The fifth edition was the toughest one, then as now, and I had to buy this and the first edition from numismatic literature dealers. I managed to find most of the others from a variety of sources, such as used book stores and coin club book sales, and putting the set together cost me much less than it ultimately was worth.
I’ve been present to receive nearly all of the special commemorative editions of the Red Book distributed during ANA conventions, though sadly I missed out on the first one, at the 1986 Milwaukee gathering, because of a work-related commitment. At the 1987 ANA convention in Atlanta, I had R.S. Yeoman sign my first edition, as well as the then-current 41st edition. The following year, at the ANA Summer Seminar in Colorado Springs, I again asked Mr. Yeoman to sign my new Red Book, released that very day, and I snapped a photo of him signing a copy for the person ahead of me in line. Little did I know that this would be among the last occasions that he would perform this satisfying ritual, for Dick Yeo (as I later learned his real name was) passed away not long afterward.
As a serious collector of the United States coinage for the Philippines, I was frustrated by the fact that these historic issues were not included in the Red Book. Having come to know editor Ken Bressett fairly well, I repeatedly asked him when these could be added to the lineup, and he assured me that they would whenever the page count permitted a new signature to be added to the book. This time came in 1998, and it was my honor to write the introduction to this series, which has appeared ever since. Coins from my own collection were the plate pieces for this chapter, though a few images have been replaced with sharper ones since then.
I’ve continued on as a contributor to the Red Book in a number of small capacities since that time, and I’m very pleased to see how the book has been expanded and greatly improved in recent years. It goes to show how a good thing can indeed continue to get better with age.
Dave's recollection first appeared in A Guide Book of the Official Red Book of United States Coins by Frank J. Colletti. The Philippine coin photos have largely been upgraded to color images.
-Editor
To read the complete article, see:
Red Book Recollections: David W. Lange
(http://news.coinupdate.com/red-book-recollections-david-w-lange/)
THE BOOK BAZARRE
SHIELD, LIBERTY HEAD, BUFFALO, JEFFERSON. . . . .
The 3rd edition of Whitman Publishing’s MEGA RED (the Deluxe Edition Guide Book of United States Coins) includes a 314-page illustrated feature on nickel five-cent pieces from 1866 to date, covering 545 varieties, in-depth coin-collecting history, data, pricing, market analysis, and more! Get your copy for $49.95—online
at
Whitman.com
, or call 1-800-546-2995.
IMAGE-BASED ROMAN COIN IDENTIFICATION
As part of the Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE) project, the ANS has released an online image-based Roman Coin identification guide. Check it out!
-Editor
The American Numismatic Society (ANS) is pleased to announce a new interface for Online Coins of the Roman Empire (OCRE), which allows non-specialists, hobbyists, collectors, archaeologists, and others to browse Roman Imperial coins by image for free online. People can compare the coins in their collections or those coins recovered from archaeological excavations against diagnostic specimens in OCRE. The OCRE project received $300,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) in 2014.
The "Identify a Coin" interface works on any device, from computers to tablets to smart phones. Users can begin browsing Roman Imperial coinage right away, or can filter results by portrait, material, and even legends, which includes the ability to enter all or part of a legend as well as marking illegible characters. The portraits are listed chronologically, first by dynasty, and then by personage within the dynasty (including empresses and children). In many cases, examples of portrait images are available in gold, silver, and bronze varieties, as well as worn examples that one may encounter with stray finds or excavation. More than one material may be chosen, which is useful for later Roman coinage, when severe wear makes it difficult to distinguish between what Roman Imperial Coinage has designated as "silver," "bronze," or "billon." By clicking the left and right arrows below the image, it is possible to scroll through available portraits, which may show several phases o
f portraiture, such as Nero, who grew from a teenager into adulthood over the course of his reign.
OCRE’s "Identify a Coin" tool is one of the most complete depictions of numismatic Imperial portraiture online, and the ANS hopes that it will also prove itself a useful art historical tool to trace the development of Roman portraiture from the Augustan period through the Soldier Emperors to the Tetrarchy until the end of the Roman Empire.
Ethan Gruber, the ANS’s Director of Data Science, created the interface, and ANS Curatorial Assistant Disnarda Pinilla identified all of the portraits used in the tool. The ANS’s Associate Curator, Gilles Bransbourg, has overseen the OCRE project from its inception. Although primarily drawn from the ANS’s permanent collection of Roman Imperial coins, other specimens are included from the Münzkabinetts in both Berlin and Vienna, as well as from the Fralin Museum at the University of Virginia.
To access the ORCE identification tool, see:
http://numismatics.org/ocre/identify
To read the complete press release, see:
New Image-Based Roman Coin Identification
(http://numismatics.org/newocreinterface/)
TEICHMAN INDEXES VIRGIL BRAND LEDGERS AT ANS
The latest additions to the Newman Numismatic Portal are Saul Teichman's Indexes to the Virgil Brand Ledgers. Project Coordinator Len Augsburger provided the following report.
-Editor
Saul Teichman Indexes Virgil Brand Ledgers at American Numismatic Society
The Virgil Brand ledgers at the American Numismatic Society (ANS), an inventory of one of the most important American collections, are a frequently consulted resources at the ANS library. The main ledger acts as a summary of the entire collection, while the 23 secondary ledgers provide additional detail on each coin. The Newman Portal and the ANS previously collaborated on the scanning of these ledgers, which, in total, describe over a hundred thousand items. Now that this material is accessible online, Saul Teichman has meticulously created an index that details several thousand of the most significant pieces listed in these massive, oversized volumes.
The result is eight finding aids, each dedicated to a specific area – Carson City coinage, colonials, early U.S. gold, medals, patterns, proof gold, U.S. rarities, and territorial coinage. These indexes illuminate the acquisitive, insatiable nature of Brand, whose middle name might well have been “Duplicate.” Why settle for a single 1827 quarter when you can have nine of the 18 known? Teichman has generously made these indices available through the Newman Portal, and collectors and researchers alike may now more easily search for provenance clues that could extend the story of a coin back into the 19th century.
Thanks, Saul!
Len provided the following images as examples of the provenance tracing process.
-Editor
1. Acquisition of 1827 25c listed in the Brand ledgers, #10436, purchased in 1893 at $150.00
2. Same coin offered in the Chapman sale of the Petry collection 5/8/1893 (Chapman bid book copy from Hamelberg library)
3. Virgil Brand identified as winning bidder (“Red”), from the Chapman bid book
Link to Virgil Brand Ledger indices on Newman Portal:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/archivedetail/513927?Year=2017&displayAmt=50
Saul's efforts are exactly the sort of volunteer "crowdsourcing" efforts the numismatic community can provide to enhance the utility of materials made available by the Newman Portal. Thank you!
Saul Teichman adds:
There are large data gaps in what is presented, especially for Colonials (over 1500 pieces are missing and this is not an area of expertise for me) and probably patterns as the Dr Hall, Wurtzbach and Brenner purchases are not itemized in the journals.
I am hoping some of this data is available in the Brand papers and invoices that have not yet been published on the Newman portal.
The one for medals is primarily US gold medals, although I do note the two Richardson oval Indian Peace Medals purchased in the Hunter sale and the Stickney Season medal set that appeared in the Bowers & Merena Brand II sale.
The early gold includes a listing of journal #s for the Bechtlers, which I did not bother to itemize in the Territorial section – I only highlighted major purchases (bulk purchases) in that one.
If anyone finds errors or can provide updates to these listings they should send them to me at saul.teichman at ey.com.
I am certainly no expert on colonial coins, for example, so I could easily have made mistakes in this listing.
Another sort of crowdsourcing involves scouring the community for the source materials themselves - not all resources are found in major repositories like the ANS and Eric P. Newman numismatic libraries.
Len reports getting a request for Randolph Zander fixed price lists. Zander was based in Alexandria, VA. A group of his publications was sold in Remy Bourne's 14th numismatic literature sale (and thanks to Remy for allowing his sales to be digitized by the portal, enabling this discovery).
Lot 463 in that sale contained 175 of Zander's early world coin price lists and mail bid sales issued beteen 1955 and 1975. Could anyone lend these to the Newman Portal for digitization? Is there a known current copyright holder?
Thanks.
-Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
https://www.archive.org/stream/publicauction142001bour#page/n61/mode/2up
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: MAY 7, 2017
More on Calendar Medals
Duane Feisel submitted these notes on calendar medals.
-Editor
Over the years I have seen many different types of calendar medals, the earliest dating to the Columbian Exposition 1892-3. Typically perpetual calendar medals relate to a range of years, such as this one:
But this very unusual perpetual calendar (even labeled as such!) pertains only to the days/dates for a single month!
Both of these perpetual calendars will be offered in my upcoming exonumia auction closing to advance bidding on June 24. Copies of the auction listing when it becomes available can be requested at collector.ca at frontier.com.
Thanks. There's a great deal of variety to be found in this sub-specialty.
-Editor
To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
VOCABULARY TERM: CALENDAR MEDAL
(www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n17a16.html)
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: APRIL 30, 2017 : More on the Perpetual Calendar Medal
(www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n18a09.html)
On Banknote Quote Punctuation
Concept design
Final design
Regarding the punctuation (or lack thereof) on the Churchill quote on the new Five Pound note,
Arthur Shippee writes:
Another factor: how much ink is saved by omitting QM, period, & comma? Maybe a lot!
I doubt that - I'm sure it was aesthetic concerns - the design looks nice without the quotes. While required in print I don't know that artists should be held to the standards and norms of print. For example, Lincoln's second Inaugural address is inscribed on the walls of the Lincoln Memorial, and it's not contained within quotes.
-Editor
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
BANKNOTE CHURCHILL QUOTE DRAWS CRITICISM
(www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n18a29.html)
1931 Carnegie Hero Medal
Dave Schenkman writes:
My wife
Joanne and I were watching Antiques Roadshow, no doubt a rerun, and they featured a Carnegie medal awarded, along with a $1000 check, in 1931. The “expert” placed a value of $4,000 on the medal (which was bronze); seems a bid high…
That is quite high for a bronze example - they usually sell in the mid three figures. I looked online for a reference to the episode and found it right away - it was from the 2014 season.
-Editor
To watch the episode online, see:
1931 Carnegie Hero Medal
(www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/season/19/chicago-il/appraisals/1931-carnegie-hero-medal--201406A19/)
U.S. MINT INTERVIEW ON APOLLO 11 DESIGNS
Robert Pearlman's collectSPACE publication interviewed April Stafford of the U.S. Mint about the upcoming design competition for the Apollo 11 moon landing commemorative coins. Here's an excerpt - see the web site for the complete article.
-Editor
collectSPACE spoke with April Stafford, chief of the Mint's Office of Design Management, to learn more details about the 2019 Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Design Competition.
collectSPACE (cS): Why a design competition over an in-house designer? The provision for the contest was written into the bill that authorized the commemorative coins. Was that something suggested by the Mint to Congress?
April Stafford: The Mint does not suggest or request that provisions be added to a bill. The U.S. Mint is required to administer all programs according to legislation enacted by Congress and signed into law by the President.
Accordingly, the sponsor of the Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act added the competition provision, which lawfully requires that the Mint execute the program as so.
cS: How does this design competition differ, if at all, from past competitions held by the Mint?
AS: The structure of the competition is similar to those the Mint has recently held.
During Phase One, which is open to the public from May 1 through June 29, artists will submit three to five samples from their existing portfolio, along with contact information. This can be uploaded to the Mint's website. The portfolios will be evaluated by an expert jury. From there, the jury will choose no more than 20 artists to take part in Phase Two.
What is different with this competition is that during Phase Two, finalists only need to submit a two-dimensional digital design. Recent competitions have required or suggested a three-dimensional model be part of the entry.
For this competition, a three-dimensional model will not be accepted due to the complexity of sculpting on a curved basin. Also of note, those invited to take part in Phase Two will be paid a stipend of $500.
cS: On average, how many entries have been received in prior two-phase competitions?
AS: The Mint does not disclose the number of responses for past competitions. But we have been very pleased with both the quantity and quality of the entries.
cS: What is special about the four coins in the Apollo 11 50th anniversary commemorative program?
AS: All four Apollo 11 coins are curved, which, given the subject matter, will make for very engaging artistic designs. Also special is that this is the first time in recent years that a U.S. Mint commemorative coin program has more than three coins.
Finally, the fourth coin in this program is a 5 ounce version. The U.S. Mint has never produced and offered a curved 5 ounce coin in its history, so that will add to the excitement as well.
cS: The U.S. Mint advises on the competition website that artists should resist basing their designs on photos. Since NASA imagery (e.g. the photos taken on the moon) is in the public domain, can they be used for inspiration?
AS: The design of the coins' obverse (heads side) should be emblematic of the United States space program leading up to the first manned moon landing.
Inspiration for this program, and all coin designs for that matter, can be taken from photos, video, audio, personal memories or anything that inspires an artist. However, the design must be the artist's original work and not be based on pre-existing work, whether it is in the public domain or not.
It's also important to note that the designs may not include the name or depiction of any living person – including an astronaut – even with permission.
AS: The U.S. Mint will not be sharing publicly the designs submitted by the finalists. However, the legislation for this competition requires that the designs be reviewed by the two federal advisory committees — the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) and the U.S. Commission on Fine Arts. As these committees hold public meetings, the designs will be released to the public on the date of those meetings.
The submissions will be released anonymously; the names of the submitting artists will not be released.
cS: The jury comprises members of the CCAC and Fine Arts Commission, as well as a U.S. Mint representative. Notably absent is someone from NASA or someone who has direct knowledge of space history. Will there be such a person or persons who will assist the Mint and/or jury to ensure historical accuracy?
AS: Yes, there will be subject matter experts available to advise the jury on historical and technical accuracy during the judging process. In fact, the legislation stipulates the Mint work with the Administrator of NASA or a designee on the reverse for this coin. The Mint plans to leverage this expertise also for a review of the obverse design.
For more details, see the 2019 Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Design Competition website:
https://www.usmint.gov/news/design-competitions/apollo-11
To read the complete article, see:
US Mint launches public art competition to design Apollo 11 moon landing coins
(www.collectspace.com/news/news-050117a-apollo11-50th-anniversary-coin-design.html)
To read the U.S. Mint Press Release, see:
United States Mint Launches Public Design Competition for Program Marking 50th Anniversary of Apollo 11
(www.usmint.gov/news/press-releases/united-states-mint-launches-public-design-competition-for-program-marking-50th-anniversary-of-apollo-11)
BRENNER'S 1895 ONE DOLLAR COIN DESIGN
David Hill, the
Francis D. Campbell Librarian at the
American Numismatic Society, published an article on the society's Pocket Change blog May 5, 2017 about an early model of a U.S. dollar by sculptor Victor David Brenner of Lincoln cent fame. Here's an excerpt.
-Editor
I was working on an article about George Kunz and the redesign of United States Coinage (ANS Magazine, 2017/1) when I came upon an interesting coin design in the ANS vault. It was an electrotype model of a U.S. dollar by Victor David Brenner, made about fourteen years before his actual contribution to the redesign of U.S. coinage, the iconic and ubiquitous Lincoln cent (1909). His was one of twenty-five dollar designs submitted for a competition in 1895, part of an organized effort at improving the nation’s much maligned coinage that was ostensibly carried out by several private art groups but was in reality undertaken mostly by two: the National Sculpture Society (NSS) and the ANS. The NSS showed real commitment to the cause, putting up all of the prize money: $300 for first place and either $100 or $200 for second (accounts vary). This was big money in 1895; first prize would be comparable to about $8,000 today.
Given that coins are small sculpted pieces used by nearly everyone, the promotion of high quality coinage was a natural undertaking for the NSS. The group was founded in 1893 to promote quality sculpted art to the masses. To help fulfill its civic-minded goals, it opened its membership to non-sculptors—administrators, businessmen, and others that might help the cause. Kunz, Tiffany’s resident gem expert, joined the group in its first year. He also joined the ANS in 1893, and it appears that he was the primary agent at both groups promoting coinage redesign, apparently with the backing of an influential party in Washington.
The dollar designs that were submitted for the competition were displayed at an exhibition of ancient and world coins and medals at the American Fine Arts Building on 57th Street in New York City. The show was curated by the ANS and was intended to show historical examples of quality artistic coinage. Brenner did not win. First prize went to Albert Jaegers, specifically for the eagle on his reverse. Albert Randolph Ross came in second, for his obverse showing Liberty and a turkey. The prizes had no official standing and the two artists would play no role in the actual coinage redesign that began a decade later.
To read the complete article, see:
VICTOR DAVID BRENNER’S DESIGN FOR A U.S. DOLLAR
(http://numismatics.org/pocketchange/victor-david-brenners-design-for-a-u-s-dollar/)
VOCABULARY TERM: DIAPER
Dick Johnson submitted this entry from his Encyclopedia of Coin and Medal Terminology. Thanks.
-Editor
Instead of a blank die early die makers occasionally used a die with a substitute design when proving a new die when its mated die was not available. Each die maker had his own diaper die design.
Diaper.
A design of repeated elements, usually fitting within one another to form a consistent pattern that occupies the entire flan of a struck numismatic piece. As a medallic design it is monotonous and generally lacks any relationship to the opposite side of the struck piece. The practical use of a diaper die is to replace a blank die or jack die during proving, where it indicates a design is intended to appear on that side but perhaps is not yet ready. As such a diaper design indicates the piece is a die trial. The term derives from the name of a cloth with such a textured pattern first made during the Renaissance.
CLASS 04.4
Reference:
S5 {1974} Stafford and Ware, 73.
I can't say I've ever encountered this term in my entire life as a numismatist. Thanks, Dick! Now I'll know what I'm looking at when I encounter one of these strikings.
-Editor
Looking for the meaning of a numismatic word, or the description of a term? Try the Newman Numismatic Portal's Numismatic Dictionary at:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/dictionary
WILLIAM PENN BROWN (1841-1929)
John Lupia submitted the following information from the online draft of his Encyclopedic Dictionary of Numismatic Biographies for this week's installment of his series. Thanks! As always, this is an excerpt with the full article and bibliography available online. This week's subject is stamp, coin and paper money dealer William P. Brown.
-Editor
William Penn Brown (1841-1929), was born on December 12, 1841, in Assam, India, son of Rev. Nathan Brown, Jr., (1807-1886), a missionary native of Vermont and Eliza Whitney Ballard (1807-1871), a native of Massachusetts. His early years were lived with his missionary parents in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
He is considered the first American stamp dealer who began in 1859, though he considered himself second to James Brennan. He was a dear friend of John Walter Scott and introduced him to philately and in 1860 helped him with finances sufficient enough to open a stamp business.
In 1859, at City Hall Park, New York City, William P. Brown began to sell postage stamps at a stand. He was inspired by previously selling the foreign stamps mailed to him on envelopes from foreign correspondents to the postal clerks who wanted to collect them. They were not alone. There was an interest in the general population. Crowds used to gather in the corridors of the old Post Office, Nassau and Liberty Streets, to buy and exchange stamps. It is possible that to avoid congestion in a public building the crowds were asked to move outside and conduct their affairs off the premises.
Some have recently speculated that George Hussey, owner of the Special Message Post, and one of his letter carriers James Brennan were the first two stamp dealers in America. It may be. It seems virtually impossible to ascertain as to the day and hour who was the very first stamp dealer in America. In a more sober approach, without splitting hairs, it is safe to say that George Hussey, James Brennan, and William P. Brown began dealing about the same time. William P. Brown erected a small stand at the Park and sold postage stamps discovering the market and demand was bigger than one could have guessed. The rest is history.
In 1860, Brown expanded his business of stamp dealing to include a full array of U. S. and foreign coins, medals and tokens.
In 1870 he lived with his parents and sister Elizabeth in Jersey City, New Jersey. Brown was an innovative pioneering curiosities, coin, and postage stamp dealer, and publisher of De Kuriositi Kabinet (Sept 1870 – Aug 1871), with orthography based on The American Philological Society changed title to Curiosity Cabinet which ran until October 1884; Tiffany No. 20. Kuriositi Kabinet was printed in some text that Ebenezer Locke Mason, Jr., identifies as Old Saxon revived by the American Philological Society in the 1860’s, a pseudo-precursor to Esperanto (1887).
Brown purchased 16,000 foreign coins from Mr. King of London cited in Mason's Coin and Stamp Collectors Magazine, Vol. V, August (1871) : 127,
Brown was a donor in 1878 to the ANS library.
Ebenezer Locke Mason, Jr., mentions visiting Brown's stamp & coin shop in the beginning of May, 1879 after stopping in at Bangs & Co., attending the Michael Moore coin auction sale catalogued by Ed Cogan. Apparently, during that visit he was given an advertisement from Brown to have Mason publish it in his next issue of Mason's Coin Collectors' Herald.
E. F. Gambs, a coin and stamp dealer at St. Louis, Missouri, [later at San Francisco, California] wrote a letter to Ebenezer Locke Mason, Jr., which he published in his magazine and titled the letter : "The 1802 Half Dime," Mason's Coin Collectors' Herald, Vol. I, No. 3, December (1879) : 26a-c. Gambs says he discovered the finest 1802 Half Dime in the country about October 1877. He wrote to both John W. Haseltine and William P. Brown sending them rubbings. Each replied informing him the same thing that the best price had was at the Ed Cogan auction of the E. Harrison Sanford sale on November 27, 1874 held at Bangs & Co., New York, realizing $47.50.
Since Gambs was already a frequent customer of Brown he sent the coin to him on approval by registered mail specifying his lowest acceptable price. Brown promptly paid him the asking price of $25.00. Gambs said he was very pleased until he learned that Brown sold it at auction and realized $147.50. However, Brown graciously wrote to Gambs immediately after the sale and generously gave him an additional $25.00 in credit.
His 4th floor office, Room 37, on Nassau Street, which he shared with a Mr. D. P. Lindsley, was destroyed by a fire that broke out at 10:12 pm on January 31, 1882 putting him out of business for a while.
On March 20, 1882, John Walter Scott, sold the 600 lots of coins remaining of the stock of William P. Brown from the fire. Scott wrote a "large and valuable assortment of American and foreign coins, the entire remainder of the stock saved from the great fire in the Porter building, the property of the well known dealer William P. Brown." "In many respects this is the most peculiar lot of coins ever offered at public auction."
He died December 30, 1929. He was 88 years old.
To read the complete article, see:
BROWN, WILLIAM PENN
(https://sites.google.com/a/numismaticmall.com/www/numismaticmall-com/brown-william-penn)
CONRAD MOWER NIELSEN (1922-2008)
Ken Berger submitted this article about Philippine numismatics specialist CM Nielsen. Thanks!
-Editor
CM Nielsen - Philippine Collector Extraordinaire
Conrad Mower Nielsen (18 March 1922 - 10 August 2008) was an expert in the field of Philippine numismatics, especially emergency war ("guerrilla") notes. He was better known as CM Nielsen or simply Niel. During his lifetime, he amassed what was possibly the largest private collection in the world. Only the notes held by Museo Sugbu (Cebu Provincial Museum) in the Philippines is believed to be a larger collection.
He was born in Fairview, Utah, and was the youngest of five sons of Carl and Inger Hansen Nielsen. His mother passed away just 12 days after his birth. He enlisted in the civilian pilot training unit of the air corps in December, 1942, at Santa Ana air base, California. He was discharged in 1943, and immediately enlisted in the Merchant Marine. He was awarded the Pacific War Zone Bar, Atlantic War Zone Bar, Mediterranean Middle East War Zone Bar, Philippine Liberation Ribbon and, years later, the Vietnam
Service Bar.
His first numismatic experience was acquiring some "guerrilla" paper money when dropping off supplies from his ship somewhere in the Philippines. Since his ship was frequently in the Philippines, he was able to acquire many pieces and examples of this "guerrilla" money.
He had a secret hiding place, for all his notes and other materials, which was under his house. He had dug out a bunker-like room under one of the bedrooms; in order to enter it, you had to lift up the floor in a closet, go down a ladder and then walk into the closed room. All of the walls were lined with shelves and the boxes were FULL of notes from everywhere in the world, especially during WWII. But most were Philippine guerrilla notes. If he had dumped it on the market, many notes would have lost a lot of value in other collections!
1941 One Peso Philippine National Bank Emergency Circulating Note
>From his research, he wrote the Philippine section in Krause's Standard Catalog of World Paper Money/Specialized Issues in the early 1980's. Unfortunately, he was an exacting and somewhat secretive individual when it came to research and only published a few articles. So, today, much of it remains unpublished and, with his death, is lost forever. Ken Berger, with help from Neil Shafer, Ray Czahor, and Jimmie Steelman, has been attempting to salvage just one small aspect of his research. Luckily, this is possible because right before his passing, his entire collection of war notes, coins, stamps, books and research material was acquired by Ray Czahor of Cookie Jar Collectibles.
1941 One Peso Philippine National Bank Emergency Circulating Note (back)
with an Abuyog, Leyte counterstamp
Ken adds:
Thanks to Howard Daniel for providing the above photo of C.M. Nielsen.
I am still looking for other photos - please let me know if you have one or know where I might find one.
THE BRITISH MUSEUM MONEY MATTERS EXHIBITION
Kavan Ratnatunga of Sri Lanka forwarded a link to the Google online Money Matters exhibition from the British Museum. Check it out.
-Editor
To see the complete exhibit, see:
MOney Matters
(www.google.com/culturalinstitute/beta/u/0/exhibit/0gJSaMG8uxpTIw)
For more information on the exhibit, see:
Money matters
3 June – 9 October 2016
(www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/money_matters.aspx)
SELECTIONS FROM NUMISMATICA ARS CLASSICA #99-100
Shanna Schmidt submitted these thoughts on some lots coming up in the sales by
Numismatica Ars Classica of Zurich. Thanks! I've added links, images, and excerpts from the catalog descriptions.
-Editor
Shanna writes:
Here are just some of the fantastic pieces coming up at the NAC auction on May 29-30. I’ve only highlighted some of the coins. The biggest thing I noticed is that most of the major “star” pieces in ancient numismatics exist in this sale and there are several six figure coins. The only significant coin that it didn’t have from my mind is an EID MAR, otherwise, pretty much everything that gets people excited in Greek and Roman coinage is there.
Auction 99 is the second part of the George LaBorde collection. This group of 50 aureii completes the sale of Mr. LaBorde’s coins. He collected only aureii and purchased several with significant pedigrees which makes the collection very exciting. Here are a few of the notable coins
Lot 5: Galba Aureus
Galba, 68 – 69. Aureus July 68-January 69, AV 7.31 g. IMP SER GALBA CAESAR AVG Laureate head r. Rev. ROMA RENASC Roma, helmeted and in military attire, standing r., holding Victory on globe and transverse spear. C 199. RIC 198. BMC –. Calicó 491 (this coin illustrated).
Extremely rare and in exceptional condition for the issue. A very appealing
portrait perfectly struck and centred on a full flan and an interesting
reverse composition. Good extremely fine
This coin is illustrated on the back cover of David R. Sear’s, Roman Coins and Their Values: Vol. I.
To read the complete lot description, see:
Galba, 68 – 69. Aureus July 68-January 69, AV 7.31 g
(https://sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=3503&category=74072&lot=2914253)
Lot 32: Aurelian Aureus
Aurelian, 270 – 275. Aureus, Cyzicus early 272, AV 4.84 g. AVRELIAN – VS AVG Laureate and cuirassed bust r., with slight drapery on l. shoulder. Rev. P M TR P COS P – P Radiate lion leaping l., holding thunderbolt in its jaws. C –. RIC 159 (Siscia). Göbl Aurelianus, 129An2 and pl. 75 (Roma, this reverse die). CBN p. 416 and pl. 85, 259 (this reverse die). Calicó 4022 (this coin).
Extremely rare and possibly the finest specimen known. An important and interesting
issue with a spectacular reverse type. Virtually as struck and almost Fdc
To read the complete lot description, see:
Aurelian, 270 – 275. Aureus, Cyzicus early 272, AV 4.84 g
(https://sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=3503&category=74072&lot=2914280)
Lot 44: Carausius Aureus
Carausius, 286 -293. Aureus, Londinium October 286-March 287, AV 4.20 g. IMP CARAVSIVS P F AVG Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust r. Rev. PAX CA – R – A VSI AVG Pax standing l., holding olive branch and vertical sceptre. C –. RIC 5. Depeyrot 2/5. Shiel 4. Calicó 4782.
Of the highest rarity, apparently the second specimen known. An unusually
attractive portrait struck on a full flan, minor mark on reverse field
at seven o’clock, otherwise good extremely fine / extremely fine
To read the complete lot description, see:
Carausius, 286 -293. Aureus, Londinium October 286-March 287, AV 4.20 g
(https://sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=3503&category=74072&lot=2914292)
Shanna writes:
Auction 100 is a marvelous sale with countless Greek and Roman highlights. Just a few highlights are lot 24, a signed tetradrachm from Akragas, lot 87, a Naxos tetradrachm, lot 96, a Sicily, Syracuse signed tetradrachm, lot 99, 100 and 102 are three beautiful dekadrachms of Syracuse (two are signed). Lot 126 is a didrachm from Samothrace that comes from the Kunstfreund collection and is from an early hoard.
Lot 134 is an Athens dekadrachm. These normally are not available and authenticity can be questionable. This one is certainly from the hoard that was found in Turkey in the 1980’s. A number of European and American dealers (including my father, Harlan Berk) got parts of this hoard. In the end the Turkish government had all the coins returned and some of them did not make it back to Turkey and were put away. None of this is a secret. It was highlighted in a July 1988 Connoisseur magazine article (I have a copy of the article should you want it). Lot 134 is certainly the coin that my father did not return and was noted in the article. The question of authenticity is therefore very small.
Lot 148 is a fantastic electrum stater that is a duplicate from the Hermitage museum in St. Petersburg.
Lot 170 is a First Revolt year 5 shekel of which only a handful exist.
Lot 87: Naxos Tetradrachm
Naxos. Tetradrachm, circa 415, AR 17.14 g. Bearded head of Dionysus r., hair bound with stephane adorned with ivy-wreath. Rev. Bearded, naked Silenus, with pointed ears, ruffled hair and long tail, squatting on rock, facing; r. leg raised and l. folded to the side. He turns l. towards cantharus in his r. hand, while holding thyrsos in his l. In l. field, ivy plant creeps upward, behind which his long tail is visible; to r., NAΞION. Rizzo pl. XXX, 1 (this reverse die). Jameson 677 (these dies). Gulbenkian 232 (these dies). SNG Fitzwilliam 1113 (these dies). Dewing 663 (this obverse die).
Very rare and among the finest specimens known of this spectacular and desirable issue.
A wonderful portrait in full Classical style and a very appealing reverse
composition. Perfectly struck and centred on a full flan and with a
magnificent old cabinet tone. Extremely fine
To read the complete lot description, see:
Naxos. Tetradrachm, circa 415, AR 17.14 g. Bearded head of Dionysus
(https://sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=3509&category=74102&lot=2917743)
Lot 102: Syracuse Decadrachm signed by Euainetos
Syracuse. Decadrachm signed, by Euainetos circa 400 BC, AR 42.71 g. Fast quadriga driven l. by charioteer, holding reins and kentron; in field above, Nike flying r. to crown him. In exergue, display of military harness set on two steps and below l., [Α]ΘΛΑ. Rev. ΣΥ – ΡΑ – Κ – [Ο – ΣΙΩΝ] Head of Arethusa (Kore-Persephone) l., wearing barley-wreath, triple pendant earring and beaded necklace. Around three dolphins, while a fourth makes dorsal contact with neck truncation; beneath, EY – AINE. SNG Copenhagen 689 (this reverse die). Dewing 880 (these dies). Gallatin C.IV/R.III.
Rare. A superb specimen of this desirable issue. Struck on a very broad
flan and with a light iridescent tone. Extremely fine
Ex Tkalec sale 8 September 2008, 20.
Coins of the artist Euainetos are among the most exquisite works of art from the ancient Greek world. Of special value are his decadrachms, which must have been distributed widely, for they were influential to artists in regions far removed from the shores of Sicily. It is unlikely that many were exported through the normal channels of commerce, and we might suggest that, much like the staters of Olympia, some were acquired as keepsakes and were carried to a variety of destinations. The decadrachms of Kimon and Euainetos were introduced early in the reign of the tyrant Dionysius I (405-367 B.C.), and those of Euainetos continued to be struck for decades, perhaps even beyond the 360s. We might presume that Dionysus took a personal interest in producing such large coins of fine style to evince his patronage of the arts and to promote the success of his rule.
To read the complete lot description, see:
Syracuse. Decadrachm signed, by Euainetos circa 400 BC, AR 42.71 g.
(https://sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=3509&category=74102&lot=2917758)
Lot 134: Attica Athens Decadrachm
Attica, Athens. Decadrachm, circa 467-465, AR 41.98 g. Head of Athena r., wearing crested helmet, earring and necklace; bowl ornamented with spiral and three olive leaves. Rev. A – Θ – E Owl standing facing, with spread wings; in upper field l., olive-twig with two leaves and berry. The whole within incuse square. ACGC 188. Starr Group II C 61 (this obverse die). Svoronos pl. 8, 14 (this obverse die). Seltman pl. XXI, A 207 (this die). Kraay-Hirmer 358 (this obverse die). Fischer-Bossert The Athenian Decadrachm 28a (this coin).
Extremely rare and of the highest numismatic and historical interest, undoubtedly
one of the most prestigious Greek coins. Metal slightly porous and a die-break
on obverse, otherwise good very fine / about extremely fine
Ex Berk 109, 1999, 191 and NAC 39, 2007, 41 sales.
Athens decadrachms rank high among the prizes of ancient Greek coinage, with few examples existing in public or private collections. The purpose of these massive coins, and their dating, has long excited debate among scholars. In recent years a careful study of hoard evidence has shattered some enduring myths, and these coins are now attributed to a period of perhaps several years in the mid-460s B.C., making them contemporary with the ‘Demareteion’ decadrachms of Syracuse.
To read the complete lot description, see:
Attica, Athens. Decadrachm, circa 467-465, AR 41.98 g. Head of Athena
(https://sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=3509&category=74102&lot=2917790)
>From the Roman section there are numerous coins that are interesting but a few highlights are: lot 374 (P. Clodius M.f. Turrinus aureus), lot 401 a cistophoric tetradrachm of Marc Antony and Cleopatra, lot 460 a sestertius of the Colloseum in Rome, lot 478 which is a fabulously struck Hadrian/divus Trajan aureus. Lot 549 and 555 are two perfect aurei from the Severan dynasty. There are also a few impressive large denomination solidii such as lot 637 (Medallion of Constantine I). Lot 690 is an unimprovable solidus of Procopius. Finally lot 725 is an exceedingly rare solidus Licinia Eudoxia which has a pedigree going back to 1924
Lot 374: Turrinus Aureus
P. Clodius M.f. Turrinus. Aureus 42, AV 8.19 g. Radiate head of Sol r.; behind, quiver. Rev. P·CLODIVS / M·F Crescent surrounded by five stars. Babelon Clodia 16. Bahrfeldt 31. Sydenham 1114a. Sear Imperators 181a. Crawford 494/20a. Calicò 9.
Very rare and in exceptionally good condition for the issue, undoubtedly among the
finest specimens known. Struck on a very broad flan and perfectly
centred. Extremely fine / good extremely fine
To read the complete lot description, see:
P. Clodius M.f. Turrinus. Aureus 42, AV 8.19 g.
(https://sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=3509&category=74103&lot=2918030)
Lot 460: Divu Titus Sestertius
Titus, 79 – 81. Divu Titus. Sestertius 81-82, Æ 25.92 g. Aerial view of the Flavian amphitheatre (the Colosseum); on l., Meta Sudans and on r., porticoed building. Rev. DIVO AVG T DIVI VESP F VESPASIAN Titus seated l. on curule chair, holding branch and roll; around, arms; below, S – C. C 399. BMC 191 note. RIC Domitian 131. CBN Domitian 543. Elkin, NC 2006, p. 217, 9.
Extremely rare, only the eleventh specimen known of this prestigious and important issue,
which is much more rare with Titus as Divo rather than Emperor. A very detailed and
clear obverse composition and a pleasant brown-green patina. As usual
weakly struck on reverse, otherwise about extremely fine / very fine
>From the Aba Neeman collection.
The most famous monument of Italy – if not of all Europe – is the Amphitheatrum Flavium, the Colosseum in Rome. Named after the emperor Vespasian (A.D. 69-79), who began its construction in 71, it was Rome’s first permanent structure of the type, as all such events in Rome had previously been held in wooden structures.
Vespasian was still alive when the first three levels of his colosseum were completed and dedicated in 75. However, the final product – including the fourth and fifth levels, which are clearly represented on this sestertius – was not finished for another five years, at which point it was formally dedicated by his eldest son Titus in June, 80.
The engraver went to great effort to represent the Colosseum in detail. Not only are the statues and other ornaments on the exterior shown with considerable clarity, but the interior is well represented down to the smallest features, such as spectators, staircases and what we must presume is the viewing box reserved for the emperor. Flanking the amphitheatre on the right is the Meta Sudans fountain and an uncertain structure that has been identified as the Baths of Titus, the porch of Nero’s Golden House (Domus Aurea), or perhaps a temple.
I've always been fascinated by architecture pictured on ancient coins, and this is the king of the series due to its famous subject. Although we're quite lucky much of the Colosseum still stands, often our only glimpse of ancient structures is from their depictions on coins.
-Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
Titus, 79 – 81. Divu Titus. Sestertius 81-82, Æ 25.92 g.
(https://sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=3509&category=74104&lot=2918115)
Lot 637: Constantine I Medallion of 1 1/2 Solidi
Constantine I, 307 – 337. Medallion of 1 1/2 solidi, Antiochia 326, AV 6.59 g. D N CONSTANTINVS MAX AVG Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust l., raising r. hand and holding globe in l. Rev. CONSTANTINVS ET CONSTANTIVS NOBB CAESS Confronted laureate busts of Constantine II and Constantius II, each wearing consular trabea and holding eagle-tipped sceptre in one hand and globe in the other; in exergue, SMAN. RIC 70. Gnecchi p. 23, 1 and pl. 8, 15. Alföldi 63. Toynbee p. 197. Kent-Hirmer pl. 162, 643. Depeyrot p. 155. Bastien, Donativa, p. 79 note 13.
Of the highest rarity, the finest of only three specimens known of this fascinating
issue. Well struck on a broad flan and about extremely fine / extremely fine
Ex Sternberg XXIX, 1995, 528 (illustrated on the front cover page); Triton I, 1997, 1698; NAC 24, 2002, European Nobleman, 279 and NAC 54, 2010, 616 sales.
Taking a page from the Severan numismatic playbook of the early third century, this fabulous gold medallion serves to illustrate Constantine the Great’s concern for the welfare of the late Roman Empire. It advertises his sons, Constantine II and Constantius II, as Caesars (i.e. junior emperors) who would succeed him when he died and carry on the established administration. In short, the medallion presents an image of dynastic stability and implies a smooth transition of power from one ruler to his sons, thereby sparing the exhausted Roman people of yet another destructive civil war. This was important to emphasize since the Tetrarchic system, introduced by Diocletian and Maximianus to solve the same problem in A.D. 286 was ultimately a failure that plunged the Roman world into a series of civil wars between A.D. 309 and 324. The types here attempt to convince us that the tried and true method of smooth dynastic succession from father to sons would save the day in the end.
The medallion was struck, perhaps not coincidentally, almost 125 years after the dynastic series of Septimius Severus. Constantine the Great’s radiate crown seems to be a deliberate throwback to the third century. This medallion was probably distributed as largesse to the army on the occasion of Constantine’s vicennalia (twentieth anniversary as emperor) celebrations that began in mid-A.D. 325 and continued until the final celebration at Rome in July of A.D. 326. In A.D. 326, Constantine the Great shared the consulship with Constantius II for the first time and it is for this reason that the latter is depicted here wearing ornate consular robes and holding the eagle scepter of office. Constantine II had previously served as consul with his father and therefore also appears in his consular attire to complete the symmetry of the reverse type.
To read the complete lot description, see:
Constantine I, 307 – 337. Medallion of 1 1/2 solidi, Antiochia 326, AV 6.59 g.
(https://sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=3509&category=74104&lot=2918292)
That's a freakishly small hand. For our friends in London, wave hello to Shanna this week as she visits to review auction lots. Here's her note from her Newsletter #15 published May 5, 2017.
-Editor
London trip (May 9-12)
I arrive in London on Tuesday and was fortunate enough to have a good friend put me up (thank you good friend….you know who you are!). I’ll spend a majority of my time viewing NAC lots and I also will pop by and visit my friends at Roma, Sovereign Rarities and London Coin Galleries. Additionally if time permits there is an interesting small sale of coins at Morton & Eden and I will try to get in there to view those pieces.
To visit Shanna's web site:
http://www.shannaschmidt.com/
ERIC P. NEWMAN INTERNET 3 SALE RESULTS
Maureen Levine and cataloguer Bruce Hagen submitted this article highlighting results of last week's Heritage Eric P. Newman Collection Internet Part 3 sale. Thanks.
-Editor
A RESOUNDING SUCCESS FOR
NEWMAN INTERNET PART 3
Last week’s Selections from the Eric P. Newman Collection Internet Part 3 currency
auction drew strong competition, with over a third of the more than 1,000 participants
having successful bids. This unrestricted Heritage Auctions sale realized nearly
$500,000, and 100% of the lots were sold. Several four-figure items joined new cabinets.
Lesser value, but specialized varieties and unusual notes recognized for their
significance, brought surprising results. Eric’s lifelong study of the nuances of
numismatic items, regardless of their commercial value, was once again demonstrated.
A great diversity of genres, series, types, and price ranges were featured. The sale
commenced with over 300 Colonial currency notes. North Carolina continues to be the
most widely collected, and the series has many “sleeper” rarities. The ever-popular North
Carolina April 2, 1776, vignetted notes performed strongly, with the low denomination
notes in demand, even in lesser condition. Recognizing that Colonial contemporary
counterfeits are generally more rare than their genuine counterparts, collectors bid
accordingly.
The specialized section of Early American fiscal loan and financial
documents was very well received, with both unique and unpublished pieces as well as
available types in choice condition often exceeding expectations. A broad range of over
900 Obsolete currency notes were included: Southern Civil War notes tied to military
history brought the strongest prices of the genre; Midwestern Obsoletes, particularly early
territorial and State of Illinois notes, were also actively pursued; and Choice grade,
vignetted notes were also in great demand. The sale results and wide participation are
evidence that currency collecting is very active.
Some highlights from the sale are below
Lot 89170: North Carolina April 2, 1776 $1/16 Vase of Flowers
Extremely rare North Carolina April 2, 1776, $1/16 note
Estimate $500-$1,000, price realized $2,115
I had to do a little math to get my head around this odd denomination. This goes back to the early days of the U.S. dollar, when everyday commerce had been conducted for generations in fractions of the Spanish dollar, which were often physically cut into eight bits to make change. The phrase "two bits" (meaning a quarter) lived into the mid 20th century (when do you ever hear that today)? So one bit (one eighth of a dollar) is half a quarter or 12 1/2 cents. And half a bit is 6 1/4 cents or one-sixteenth of a dollar. Many pre-Civil War obsolete banknotes have the denomination stated as 6 1/4 cents, but very few state it as one sixteenth of a dollar. Great note.
-Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
North Carolina April 2, 1776 $1/16 Vase of Flowers Fr. NC-153f. PCGS Fine 15 Apparent.. ...
(https://currency.ha.com/itm/colonial-notes/north-carolina/north-carolina-april-2-1776-1-16-vase-of-flowers-fr-nc-153f-pcgs-fine-15-apparent/a/241626-89170.s)
Lot 89390: 1780 New-York Treasury Loan Certificate
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