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The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. For more information please see our web site at coinbooks.org

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David M. Sundman, Secretary/TreasurerNumismatic Bibliomania Society
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BUY THE BOOK BEFORE THE COIN


You won't regret it!

Volume 11, Number 47, November 23, 2008

WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM NOVEMBER 23, 2008

Wayne Homren Among our recent subscribers is Gene Wiley. Welcome aboard! We now have 1,219 subscribers.

This week's issue is another whopper. As usual, we open with news related to numismatic literature sales and new books, which this week include Dave Bowers' Colonial book and new editions of Winter's Charlotte Mint book and Kagin's Pioneer Gold book.

Last week's musical quiz drew many interesting responses. New queries this week include interesting circulation finds and the "Omega" counterfeits of 1907 Double Eagles. Show reports include Ray Williams on the C4 convention and Alan Weinberg on Baltimore. To learn how someone could manage to lose a fifty-pound gold nugget, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
Numismatic Bibliomania Society

KOLBE JANUARY 10, 2008 NUMISMATIC LITERATURE AUCTION CATALOGUES AVAILABLE

George Kolbe submitted the following note about the availability of catalogues for his upcoming literature sales #107 and #108. -Editor
I thought that Big E subscribers might like to know that the profusely color-illustrated catalogues of The Twinleaf Library and The Ferdinando Bassoli Library have been printed and will be mailed to our regular clientele in the next several days. New numismatic bibliophiles and/or those not on our regular mailing list may obtain either catalogue by sending $25.00, or $35.00 for both (less than the cost of production), to George Frederick Kolbe, P. O. Box 3100, Crestline, CA 92325. Both color-illustrated catalogues are also accessible at no cost on our web site: www.numislit.com

The public auction sale of the two libraries is being held on January 10, 2009 at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, in conjunction with the New York International Numismatic Convention (NYINC). There are special room rates for convention (and/or auction) attendees but those interested in attending are advised to book their rooms soon. Be sure to mention NYINC for the special rate. A card will be mailed with our catalogues reducing admission for all three days of the convention to $5.00 (normally $10).

STOCKLEY SELLS CHARLTON COIN PHOTOGRAPH ARCHIVE

Numismatic literature dealer Richard Stockley has been offering items from the collection of Mr. James Charlton to customers on his email list. One that I knew would be of particular interest to the right researcher has already found a buyer. -Editor
A box 26 x 40 x 23 cm full of envelopes of coin photographs. These were probably used to illustrate his many auctions and possibly his Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins. There are several hundreds of items. I can't give an accurate description of the contents as I have not gone through them thoroughly. Most of what I have seen are Canadian with some foreign. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for someone who can use this material to acquire such a lot.


Stockley writes:
There were three requests for it - one within an hour and the other two overnight.


He can be reached at this email address: rstockley@videotron.ca .

C4 CONVENTION REPORT: HULL MINT MARKER AND BOWERS COLONIAL BOOK UNVEILED

Ray Williams forward the following report on returning from the recent Colonial Coin Collectors Club convention in Boston. -Editor


It was a wonderful weekend at C4!!!! Many things happening! There was a dedication of an historic Marker for the site of the Boston Mint (Hull & Sanderson) where NBS member John Adams was significant in convincing the Bostonian Society of the historical importance of the operation, people, events and economics of the site. The Bostonian Society is responsible for the placement of historic markers in the area.

Also, Whitman publications, at the request of Dave Bowers, donated a galley copy of Dave's new book on colonials to C4. This work was on display at the C4 Table for the entire convention and attracted a lot of attention (an understatement). It was sold during our annual auction, where the proceeds would go to C4. IT BROUGHT $10K!!!!!

Tony Terranova was the generous winning bidder! And to top this off, I heard Tony say that the book would be donated to the ANS Library this week! Here is the auction description of the galley that was provided at the auction:

The special book that you see here is a one-of-a-kind, full-color advance galley. No other advance galleys will be created or made available to the hobby community. This unique copy has been autographed by Bowers, and comes with a certificate of authenticity from Whitman Publishing. As the Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins takes its place in the canon of numismatic literature, this advance galley will attain the status of a centerpiece for the advanced collector of colonial coinage or rare books.


I personally can't wait for this book to become available to the public. It will be a must-have reference for all that enjoy colonial coins, or who think they might enjoy them.

Rarely has a numismatic book been so eagerly awaited and anticipated. Sylvester's Crosby's Early Coins of America has been the gold standard for over a century - so through and accurate that one newer book has been able to hold a candle to it. 2008 has been a heck of a year for the literature of early American numismatics.

With Bowers' new book (the related new book by Will Nipper (In Yankee Doodle's Pocket), and other new titles on specialized topics (such as Syd Martin's book on The Coinage of William Wood), students of colonial numismatics have never had it so good. And on top of that, 2008 saw a new edition of Eric Newman's Early Paper Money of America. -Editor


NEW BOOK: GOLD COINS OF THE CHARLOTTE MINT (THIRD EDITION) BY DOUGLAS WINTER

Uriah Cho of Zyrus Press forwarded this press release about the latest edition from author Douglas Winter. -Editor
Winter, Gold Coins of the  Charlotte Mint Douglas Winter is regarded today as one of the leading industry experts in U.S. branch mint gold coins. His newest book, releasing in December 2008, is the updated and revised edition of Gold Coins of the Charlotte Mint: 1838-1861. Quoted by Jeff Ambio, author of the Strategy Guide series, as
... a masterpiece from an author who has already demonstrated his expertise on 19th century United States gold coinage on numerous occasions. This new edition is a. definitive study that belongs in the library of all serious numismatic researchers and Southern gold experts.


A significant number of changes and improvements have been implemented into this third edition. Using layout designs similar to his previously released New Orleans and Dahlonega Mint books, this revised edition of the Charlotte Mint book is also easy to follow and more enjoyable to read. High quality full color photos beautifully illustrate every coin and the newly improved die variety section now has outstanding close-up images of many important varieties.

All figures on population, rarity rankings, total values by grade and significant examples have been updated to reflect the latest market information available today, including a complete rarity summary chart at the end of each chapter.

For the historian, two chapters written about the history of the Charlotte Mint by David Ginsburg are included, and finally, Winter.s personal tips and strategies on how to collect C-mint gold coins guide the reader. Whether the collector is looking to buy one or two pieces or to complete a set, Winter.s suggestions offer an invaluable resource no matter what the budget or goal of the collector.

Pre-order this book today from bookstores nationwide, Amazon.com or your local coin shop. Also available from Zyrus Press: PO Box 17810, Irvine, CA 92623. Phone: (888) 622-7823. Web: Stay up-to-date! Visit www.zyruspress.com. E-mail: info@zyruspress.com.

Gold Coins of the Charlotte Mint . 3rd Edition
Published by Zyrus Press, Inc. of Irvine, California (www.zyruspress.com)
Publication Date: December 2008
Binding / Size: Paperback / 7x10
Photos / Illustrations: 150+ full color images
Pages: 196
Suggested Retail Price: $39.95

For more information, or to order from the publisher, see: Gold Coins of the Charlotte Mint: 1838-1861 (http://www.zyruspress.com/goldcoinsofthecharlottemint1838-1861.aspx)

KAGIN SEEKS INPUT FOR 2ND EDITION OF PRIVATE GOLD COINS AND PATTERNS

In the latest issue of The Brasher Bulletin, the official journal of the Society for Private and Pioneer Numismatics (SPPN), author Don Kagin published an article seeking member advice on aspects of the upcoming 2nd edition of his standard work, Private Gold Coins and Patterns of the United States. At my request, Don forwarded the article for reprinting here.

Our recent discussions of advice for numismatic authors are timely - many of Don's questions are the same ones most numismatic authors must deal with. What do you think, readers? -Editor
As we prepare for the much needed update of this reference work, we would like to invite your input on how to make this a better work. To begin, we will be asking you a few questions (mainly concerning questions about the catalog portion of the book); some of which we grappled with 30 years ago in compiling the first edition.

Here are a few questions to get your creative juices started. You can also add your own questions. Please feel free to email, call or just chat with us at an upcoming coin show about your ideas.

Whitman publishing has tentatively scheduled publication in 2010; but that really does not give us much time to implement needed changes (especially color plate coins). So please contact us as soon as possible. Your contribution will be noted in the upcoming edition. Thank you. Don

1. Should we change the name of the book to .Pioneer Gold and Patterns of the United States.. Or to another name?

2. Should we include foot(end) notes which will require another 10 or so pages? We left this out of the first edition.

3. Since there will be a number of changes to the pattern section of the book, we tentatively plan to renumber by company as before, allowing for new discoveries and by adding a .P. before each number. Should we also use the P designation for Restrikes and Fantacies, etc. or use separate prefix letters for them? Your thoughts?

4. Do you agree with the chronological die order of the Bechtler coinage? If we decide that, for instance, K7 came before K6 or K9 before K8, do we change the K numbers around (please keep in mind some grading company pop reports and even some tags are keyed into our current grading numbers)?

5. Do you agree with our current edition.s rendering of what is the obverse and reverse die for the Bechtlers? Other references disagree, including one which believes the name Bechtler should be the determining factor for the obverse die.

6. It has been determined that a few pieces should not be in the main section of the book. One, like the USAO #3 is not a separate variety but a tooled coin not available to examine 30 years ago. Should we completely renumber the rest or just leave out this number?

7. Do we completely renumber those series such as USAO to accommodate every die variety such as a .small 7. vs. .Large 7. as does Breen? Should these be new .a. numbers? Or put another way, What should constitute a new number vs. a sub letter e.g. (a) vs. a sub number e.g. [(1)]?

8. In the pattern section we think the latter designation of sub numbers should be for those coins that have been gilt and the subletters for designating either Plain or Reeded Edge. Or should we use subletters just for designating different medals, or both?

9. Many L.E. slugs have missing letters on edges, upside down impressions, or upside down .50. or even clashed dies. How should we designate these, or should we just mention that they exist?

10. Do you believe that the Moffat $20s should be numbered with the USAO pieces or under Moffat or both?

Please keep in mind that while we want this book to be as accurate and comprehensive as possible we want this to be simple to use. That is why we placed companies in alphabetical order within the three gold rushes, rather than chronological order. We also plan to add a chapter on pioneer coins found on shipwrecks; and to add pedigrees under the plate coins. Of course we will also modify rarity figures.

"L.E" means "Lettered Edge" and USAO is the United States Assay Office. Here are some of my thoughts:

1. NO - do not rename the book. How could it be a second edition if the name changes? The suggestion stems from the fact that items other than coins (such as ingots) are included. I would suggest dealing with this by adding a subtitle to the new edition

2. As Meg Ryan's character in When Harry Met Sally said, I say YES, YES, YES! to footnotes and endnotes. I don't care if a book is a little thicker - it's practically useless without notes on the research that went into it.

6. I'd leave out obsolete numbers and keep the remaining designations intact wherever possible. For thirty years collectors have been using the reference. Drop numbers and add new ones if you have to, but avoid CHANGING old numbers at all costs. -Editor


THE BOOK BAZARRE

DAVID F. FANNING NUMISMATIC LITERATURE focuses on numismatics and related areas from all times and places. We seek consignments of choice material for future auctions and fixed price lists. To discuss options, contact David Fanning at dfanning@columbus.rr.com. Our Web site is available at www.fanningbooks.com .



ADNA G. WILDE JR. (1920 - 2008)

The American Numismatic Association published this press release on the passing of numismatic researcher Adna Wilde, best known for his work on Lesher Referendum dollars. -Editor
Adna Wilde Retired Lt. Col. Adna G. Wilde Jr., former president, Board member, executive director, treasurer and parliamentarian of the American Numismatic Association, died on the morning of Nov. 17 in Colorado Springs. He was 88.

"This is a sad time for our Association," ANA President Barry Stuppler said. "Adna will be remembered as one of the most important leaders in our history. Everyone who knew him respected him for his kindness, professionalism, and service to his country. He was the finest gentleman I've ever known, and he will be deeply missed."

A member since 1947 (Life Member 232), Wilde served as executive director from 1968-72, governor from 1973-79, vice president from 1979-81, president from 1981-83 and treasurer from 1983-2008. He received the Farran Zerbe Memorial Award in 1985, the Medal of Merit and Exemplary Service Award in 1991, the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998, and Presidential Awards in 1994, 1998 and 2008. He received the inaugural award named in his honor, the Adna G. Wilde Jr. Award for Excellence, this October.

Wilde was elected to the ANA Numismatic Hall of Fame in 2002, was named ANA Numismatist of the Year in 2005 and received the Numismatic Ambassador Award from Numismatic News in 1995.

Wilde was born in Vicksburg, Miss., on Oct. 1, 1920, and graduated from The Citadel in 1943. After college, he joined the Army, and was wounded in combat in Italy during World War II. He moved to Colorado Springs in 1945 and served as an officer in the Army, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before coming to the ANA in 1968.

An accomplished numismatist, he was known most notably for his research of Lesher Referendum dollars and Stone Mountain commemorative half dollars. In his first year as executive director, Wilde and Ed Rochette were instructors for the first Summer Seminar. Enrollment the first year was 17 for the week-long educational event; Summer Seminar has since expanded to two weeks and attracts over 400 students each year.

"The ANA benefited from Adna's expertise for 40 years," said Executive Director Larry Shepherd. "He inspired countless young collectors, and provided a steady hand through good times and bad. His legacy will help guide the Association for generations to come."

To read or leave comments, see: Adna Wilde Memorials (http://www.money.org/ana_custom/adnaWildeMemorial/memorials.cfm)

John and Nancy Wilson write:
It was with heartfelt sadness that we learned of Adna's passing. Adna G. Wilde Jr. was one of the most honorable numismatists we have ever known. During our entire terms of service on the ANA Board from 1987 to 2005 we were privileged to have Adna as Treasurer and Parliamentarian of the Association.

This knowledgeable and thoughtful man helped us greatly during our terms of service to ANA. When he recently stepped down as Treasurer and Parliamentarian of the ANA, that was a very sad day for us. No one looked after the ANA in regards to finance and procedure as he did. When Adna talked, Board members listened and almost always agreed with him.

He was a close friend who we always asked for advice in Board meetings as well as other times. He was a leader who served as an example to all of us. His service to our Country in the U. S. Army was also commendable where he achieved the rank of Lt Col. This coin club officer and worker, collector, author, speaker and exhibitor will always be remembered by everyone who crossed his path.

All of our prayers and thoughts to his wife Joan and their family. We have made a donation to ANA in his memory. Rest in Peace Adna, as your passing will be mourned by those of us who loved him so much. With deepest sympathy, John and Nancy Wilson, Volunteers and Life Members of ANA


Howard A. Daniel III writes:
He always had a smile on his face and a kind word whenever we met, no matter the circumstances. He came from the "old school" of always being an officer and a gentleman and he carried that into civilian life and the ANA. I know there will be a welcoming salute for Adna in that part of heaven reserved for old soldiers. Goodbye for now old friend.


I have met Adna on multiple occasions, for the last time at this year's ANA convention in Baltimore. He was a fixture at the ANA for decades, and will be missed. -Editor


MISHLER ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR ANA PRESIDENCY

American Numismatic Association governor Clifford Mishler has announced his candidacy for the organization's office of President. At my request he provided the following thoughts on the organization and its numismatic library. -Editor
Clifford Mishler It is my view that the ANA backbone is comprised of four delivery services for the membership.

1) The Numismatist
2) The convention venues
3) The Summer Seminar
4) The circulating library

Given the present budget constraints under which the ANA is operating, as it reaches to achieve balanced budget performance (a pursuit which is likely to be complicated by the troubling economic times presently being experienced across the country), it must focus available assets on these four areas of delivery.

Yes, the ANA also offers an impressive Money Museum, but it can provide only a narrow range of service to the membership. And, it also sponsors a range of meritorious educational outreach programs, none of which are self-sustainable financially, with the benefits thereof being difficult, if not impossible to track.

Accordingly, it is my belief that we must concentrate our efforts towards enhancing the service and impact of the four backbone areas indicated. Being chartered as a non-profit, educational organization, whose purpose is to encourage the study and collecting of money in its many forms and related items, these four backbone areas are ideally suited for providing the ANA and the greater hobby community with the greatest bang for its buck.

We must assure that The Numismatist serves the broad spectrum of membership interests, that the convention venues serve to provide maximum exposure for the membership and participating dealers, while exposing the allure of the hobby to the novice and developing higher levels of enthusiasm among those already possessed of a degree of captivation with the hobby, that the Summer Seminar sessions serve to build and broadcast the knowledge quotient level within the hobby, and that the (Dwight N. Manley) circulating library serves to provide the membership with the ultimate research resource to serve their needs.

While I have never been a heavy user of the ANA library myself, I have long been an avid reader of, and advocate of the availability of published numismatic references and literature, going back to my very first .resource,. the 1950 .Annual Catalog. of the Tatham Stamp and Coin Co. that I received when making my first coin purchase.

By the mid-1950s, while still in high school, I had managed to build a personal reference library that probably numbered three or four score books and pamphlets, occupying perhaps three feet of shelf space, a reasonably respectable resource in those days.

By 1958 I was embarking upon a career of contributing to the published resource base of the hobby, beginning with the self-publication of a study with an ungainly title; 1958 United States and Canadian Commemorative Medals and Tokens. After continuing similar annual compilations for the next five years, in 1963 I embarked on a 40 year career in association with Krause Publications, with my reference resource becoming the ever expanding company library.

What I learned in the process is that one can never have too many resources, nor too much information at hand. Thus, I feel that it is vitally important that the ANA continue to develop and expand its circulating library and services to serve the ever expanding needs of its membership and the greater hobby community.

The library must be comprehensive in nature. Its services must change with the times, fully embracing the evolving electronic world. Of paramount importance, it must always be user friendly. As one of the four backbone units of the organization, the ANA library is deserving of appropriate assignment of physical, personnel and financial assets that are in keeping with the significant role it plays in the success of the organization and the greater hobby community.

I'm sure many E-Sylum readers have similar thoughts on the need to maintain a comprehensive and accessible ANA library. I would encourage the ANA members among us to carefully consider the positions of all candidate when voting - the library can use our support. -Editor


DECEMBER 2008 ISSUE OF THE NUMISMATIST PUBLISHED

Numismatist 2008 December The December 2008 issue of The Numismatist from the American Numismatic Association has been published. The lead article is by David Vagi on the coins of the Twelve Caesars, with fabulous photographs by John Nebel. Also in the issue is an article by Roger Durand on on counterfeit St. Nick notes, a piece on the U.S. Half Cent by R. W. Julian, and one by Greg Leslie on the final coin in the U.S. Mint's state quarter series. Gotta love the title: Hawaii Five-O.

In his Money Museum column, curator Douglas Mudd discusses the creation of the ANA's new exibit A House Divided: The Money of the Civil War.

One short article I'd like to mention covers a current exhibition at the Denver Art Museum. Houdon from the Louvre displays portrait busts by French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon, including two that served as models for U.S. coin designs: George Washington (1786) and Benjamin Franklin (1778).

Washington Bust by Houdon Franklin Bust by Houdon


Editor-in-Chief Barbara Gregory forwarded the following items of interest to E-Sylum readers. -Editor


NEWCOMER COLLECTION
George Fuld's recent study, "A Summary of Rarities from the Newcomer Collection," is now available online in its unedited form exclusively at www.money.org. ANA members can read the document by clicking on the magazine cover in the lower left corner of the ANA homepage and accessing the "Members Only" site. (ANA members can request a "Members Only" login name and password by e-mailing membersonly@money.org.)

AUTHORS WANTED
The mission of the ANA's official publication, THE NUMISMATIST, is to educate and provide a forum for the interchange of ideas. It serves as a refreshing review for the experienced collector and as an introduction to essential concepts for the less experienced. The staff and contributing editors of THE NUMISMATIST welcome the opportunity to review well-written, well-conceived articles displaying original, documented research. Collectors/researchers are invited to submit manuscripts on any numismatic topic, in particular United States coins. Authors of articles published in the magazine receive $.12 per word, with bonuses available to those who provide usable photographs or illustrations and/or furnish material for photographic reproduction.

For author guidelines, visit http://www.money.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=
Home&CONTENTID=5540&TEMPLATE=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm
or contact Editor-in-Chief Barbara Gregory, 719-482-9831, bgregory@money.org.

GUEST EDITORIALS INVITED
Share your numismatic views with readers of the hobby's premier magazine, THE NUMISMATIST. Direct your 575-625 word "Guest Editorial" to Editor-in-Chief Barbara Gregory, 719-482-9831, bgregory@money.org.

QUIZ ANSWER: NAMING THOSE TUNES ON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SCRIP NOTES

Last week I asked if anyone could name the tunes displayed on two District of Columbia scrip notes illustrated in Dick Doty's book, America's Money, America's Story. Our readers came through in spades, providing some very interesting historical background. -Editor


DC Music Store scrip


Len Augsburger was the first to respond. He writes:
The first tune is the Star Spangled Banner, and the second is Yankee Doodle.


Ben Keele writes:
It took my wife (a PhD student in music theory) about 30 seconds to identify the first tune as the Star-Spangled Banner and the second tune as Yankee-Doodle.


James Higby also responded with those choices. Both are correct, although the true answers are a little more nuanced. Tom Kays had the right idea last Tuesday when we looked at the images of the notes. When others suggested these names for the tunes, he quickly added "actually, the tunes may really be the earlier colonial-era songs these were derived from."

Remember, these notes were printed in 1837, nearly two centuries ago. What we know and recognize today may greatly resemble something known in that era, but a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then.

Ron Haller-Williams of the U.K was the only non-American to offer an answer. He writes:
The half-bit note shows "The Star-Spangled Banner", though some versions split up the first note in the sequence (into a dotted quaver and a semiquaver).

The one-bit shows "Yankee Doodle" (verse "Father and I ...", not the refrain "Yankee ..."). Some versions have an extra quaver in front so as to be able to give 2 syllables/notes to the word "father"; also, the second group of 4 notes is sometimes a bit higher than shown here.


Arthur Shippee also noticed that something wasn't quite adding up. Regarding the second of the two notes, he writes:
I would propose this: If you transpose the middle two notes in the second measure up a third (D, C# up to F#, E), you get Yankee Doodle Dandy. So, I think there was a misprint, unless there was an alternative version. As the first note has an extra note at the beginning, I guess misprints are not hard to imagine.


But was it a misprint? Paul Schultz also noted the differences from the modern versions of the songs. He writes:
The two tunes on the notes in the November 16th E-Sylum are of course the Star Spangled Banner and Yankee Doodle. However, neither are written exactly the way we seem to hear them most often today. The national anthem usually has the initial sylable "Oh" as a dotted eighth followed by a 16th note, or two 16th notes, not a single quarter note like on the bill. Also, the two eighth notes on the bill are usually rendered as a dotted eighth and sixteenth.

For Yankee Doodle, the second measure usually has the 4 notes as D F# E A, but this note has D D C# A.

A question for music historians -- are these earlier versions and therefore are they more accurate towards the originals as played many years ago? Were variations in the music common in the era that the bills were printed?


Roger Burdette writes:
The 6-1/4 cent scrip includes one of many versions of the English song "To Anacreon in Heaven," The music was composed by church organist John Stafford Smith. This melody was later used for Francis Scott Key's poem "The Star Spangled Banner." The 12-1/2 cent scrip includes "Yankee Doodle."


E-Sylum readers never cease to amaze me in their breadth of historical knowledge, and I'm humbled in your presence. Several others noted this precursor to The Star Spangled Banner, including Carl Honore, George Huber and Bob Evans. Bob writes:
When I saw the tune on the 6 1/4 cent note illustrated in last week's (11/9) eSylum, I immediately recognized it as the opening of "To Anacreon In Heaven," which was adapted for Francis Scott Key's poem "The Star Spangled Banner" to comprise our national anthem.

I found this note thoroughly charming, and I was previously unaware of such a piece. I note that it is written in the key of D major, an arrangement in which only a deep alto or a high (almost heroic) soprano (or tenor) would be able to carry both the lowest and highest notes of the tune successfully. (The high notes in a D major arrangement are well into my falsetto range.) However, it does fit nicely on the treble staff, which is probably why this key was chosen.

The second note illustrated (the 12 1/2 cent) shows a version of the opening of "Yankee Doodle," also very charming.


So what the heck is an Anacreon? When they taught that in school, I must have been daydreaming about the pretty girl in the next row. Forgive me, but according to Wikipedia...

The Anacreontic Song was the official song of the Anacreontic Society, an 18th-century club of amateur musicians in London who gathered regularly to perform concerts. The song is commonly (albeit incorrectly) referred to as "To Anacreon in Heaven", which is not the title, but rather the opening line of the lyrics. These barristers, doctors, and other professional men named their club after the Greek court poet Anacreon (6th century BC), whose poems, "anacreontics", were used to entertain patrons in Teos and Athens. His songs often celebrated women, wine, and entertaining, and today can be considered eroticism.

The connection with Anacreon, along with the "drinking" nature of the lyrics, have caused many people to label "The Anacreontic Song" a drinking song. The chorus certainly suggests Bacchanalia with its lyrics "And long may the sons of Anacreon intwine the myrtle of Venus with Bacchus' vine." In all probability some drinking did occur at Society meetings, but the primary purpose of the Society (and its song) was to promote an interest in music.[citation needed] This absence of an official connection to drinking did not keep the song from being associated with alcohol, as it was commonly used as a sobriety test: If you could sing a stanza of the notoriously difficult melody and stay on key, you were sober enough for another round.


For a somewhat educational (and bizarre) YouTube rendition, see: Anacreon (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5JZXTb5ABg)

U.S. MINT IMAGES AT THE PHILADELPHIA RECORD PHOTOGRAPH MORGUE

Len Augsburger submitted the following note about a numismatic research resource useful for those interested in the Philadelphia mint. -Editor
I visited the Historical Society of Pennsylvania recently and located a resource which, while not related directly to what I was doing, may be quite helpful for others. It is the Philadelphia Record Photograph Morgue, which is literally the actual photographs used to produce this newspaper in the 1930s and 1940s. There were about seventy-five images related to Mint activities, including war nickels, assay commissions, launch of the Roosevelt dime, etc. Anyone researching the Mint for this period can likely find some dynamite visual material here!

To access the Philadelphia Record photograph morgue catalog, see: Historical Society of Pennsylvania Online Catalogs (http://www.hsp.org/default.aspx?id=17)

WILLARD WIGEN'S TINY SCULPTURES - A NUMISMATIC CONNECTION?

Dick Johnson writes:
How do you justify the inclusion of the item of the artist creating the micro statues in last week's issue? I see no numismatic connection.


Well, the item was submitted by R.V. Dewey and appeared just after his piece on what he believes to be hidden images engraved on a coin by James Longacre. I believe R.V. meant to show nonbelievers that yes, artists can and do create artwork on an incredibly small scale. That does nothing to prove that Longacre indeed created microimages on coins, of course, but that's one connection to numismatics.

The other connection was mentioned in my introduction - the previous week we'd discussed the "World's Smallest Engraving" (Lord's Prayer on the head of a pin) which wasn't suggested by R.V. but serendipitously appeared that week on the internet. I thought the images were phenomenal and would be appreciated by our readers. These take tiny two-dimensional engraving to the next level - three dimensional sculptures.

I was blown away by the boxing ring on the head of a match. Wigen has developed a unique talent, and must be one of the most disciplined and patient beings on the planet.

Wigen Boxing


To read the earlier E-Asylum article, see: WILLARD WIGEN: THE WORLD'S TINIEST SCULPTURES (http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v11n46a21.html)

By the way, I'd like to again thank John Nebel for his work on The E-Sylum archive on the NBS web site. Our change to the new HTML format broke his program that splits each week's issue into individual web pages. John was able to fix the problem, and the archive is fully up to date again. Links like those above are now once again possible. Thanks! -Editor


Kolbe 2008 Jan 10


DEFINITIONS: PREMIUM PLACED ON PRECIOUS METAL POSSESSION

Last week Tom Kays asked, "Is there a formal name for the premium placed on precious metal possession?" Tom noted the difference between futures prices paid for silver contracts vs actual delivery and possession of the metal. Dick Johnson writes:
There are two terms that can be used for the precious metal increased value: markup and the word used in the sentence, premium, but perhaps bounty should be chosen because you have to pay the bounty plus the metal value to receive delivery.

Private mints must also pay a processing fee from metal suppliers. It they want delivery of blanks of prescribed gauge and diameter instead of sheets or strips they must also pay a blanking fee.

Interestingly there is a coin word for just the opposite of this meaning, the antonym is agio -- a deduction from the face value of a precious metal coin because it is worn. When coins of gold or silver were valued for a transaction as in international trade -- irrespective of what country or authority issued them -- they were weighed to determine the exact value of the metal. No fiat coins were accepted then.


WHEN THEY LOST CALIFORNIAS BIGGEST GOLD NUGGET

Speaking of precious metal possession, if you have some, try not to lose it. The following article written by SPPN member Jim Vallier was originally printed in the Gold Nugget Museum Newsletter (Spring 2008) and reprinted in the latest issue of SPPN's Brasher Bulletin. With permission I'm reprinting it here, too. -Editor
How could anyone lose a gold nugget weighing over fifty pounds? As incredible as it may seem, in April 1859 the biggest gold nugget ever found in North America was lost by one of its owners.

When Willard & Smith returned from buying supplies in Oroville, and after their initial surprise wore off, the three partners decided to sell the nugget. Weatherbee and Wright hitched up an old buckboard in the early hours of the morning on April 18th, and headed for Oroville, twenty-five miles away.

The rickety old buckboard jogged and bounced over rocks along the rutted road. When they finally arrived in Oroville, to their horror they discovered the gold nugget was gone.

In a panic Willard and Wright jumped back into the wagon and retraced their route. More and an hour later they came around a curve and in the road was the burlap sack with the giant nugget in it. Breathing a sigh of relief, they grabbed up the nugget and returned to Oroville.

The immense nugget was shipped from Oroville to the mint in San Francisco and melted down.

This article first appeared in the August 1990 issue of .True West. magazine. Since it appeared, I have talked to many history buffs, and no one had ever heard of this particular happening. I have tried to contact the author, Richard Bauman, but as yet have been unsuccessful. If anyone can supply us with additional information concerning this event, we would be most grateful.

It's a great story, but is it true? Do any of our readers have a clue - can it be verified? -Editor

QUERY: 1907 SAINT-GAUDENS $20 "OMEGA" AND "BROKEN G" COUNTERFEITS SOUGHT

R.V. Dewey is in search of examples of two unusual coins to photograph for research. Can our readers locate examples or provide more information on their background?
Although I have several irons in the fire, I am presently doing research on the infamous Saint-Gaudens inspired, $20.00 gold coin. The first coin I am interested in is the Roman numeral 1907 .Omega. version and the second coin is the .Liberty Head. 1907 Arabic numeral $20.00 gold coin with the break in the top portion of the letter .G. in the word God. I would welcome any and all photographs of these two coins.

If you wish to remain anonymous; that.s fine, you have my word! I need some help with accurate, first hand information! In a perfect world, I would hope someone could put these two coins in my hands to photograph. The end result will be Macro images of these coins that I will gladly share for all to enjoy! Maybe even an accompanying article, with fresh information, to go with the photographs.

Any files on these coins you may have, I would like to read. Any personal information you may possess would be invaluable. Are you aware of anyone, anywhere with exclusive knowledge of these coins? (Collectors, Secret Service agents or any person(s) with first hand knowledge).

Can anyone please answer any or all of the following questions?
  • (1a) .Who. identified the .Omega. symbol?
  • (1b) the broken G?
  • (2) What years?
  • (3) Is the weight right on both coins?
  • (4) Are they both 90% gold, 10% copper: SEM-EDX tested?
  • (5) Did the U. S. Government declare these coins counterfeit?
  • (6) If so, when?
  • (7) Were or are they being confiscated?
  • (8) If they are being confiscated, are they being melted, or.?
  • (9)Are they legal to own / possess? .They. say over 20,000 1907 Roman numeral .Omega. coins exist.
  • (10) How did .they. come by that number?
  • (11) When and where do you believe these coins were made?
  • (12) Can anyone put these two coins in my hands to personally photograph? Lastly; what questions should I have asked, that I have omitted?
My email address is RV@FaroukFlyer.com . Thank you in advance. Everyone have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving.

The ANACS web site has a few images of the "Omega" coins. Click on the photos to see full-size versions on the Flicker web site. -Editor


1907 Omega The high relief MCMVII dated pieces are also noteworthy as a target of one of the most infamous counterfeits ever known, the work of the mysterious .Omega.. Several diagnostic characteristics may help identify an example of one of the highest quality forgeries ever produced. The maker of these pieces, who has never been identified, signed his work. A tiny symbol .Y. that resembles the Greek letter omega may be found inside the eagle.s claw. Two patches of distinctive tooling marks are found on the obverse, in the hair to left of Liberty.s face and on the ray directly above the first M of the date.


1907 Omega2 1907 Omega3


IS SKYJACKER D.B. COOPER ABOUT TO BE UNMASKED?

Joseph D. McCarthy forwarded these interesting notes relating to the mystery of skyjacker "D. B. Cooper" who disappeared on Thanksgiving eve 1971 by jumping out of the airborne plane with a parachute and a $200,000 cash ransom. "Cooper" was never found, although some notes traceable to the ransom paid to Cooper were discovered. Slabbed notes from that discovery were auctioned earlier this year. -Editor
D.B. Cooper police sketch Funny that the recent edition of E-Sylum included reference to D.B. Cooper. Because of my stroke I have been going to therapy for the past two years. It is a free service offered by the hospital. For the past year I have occasionally seen a woman who also uses the facilities. We have talked. Now the short story.

Her neighbor was married to a man who was a member of the Air Force (retired), and local police force. The word is that she has been told that there is supposed to be an announcement around Nov. 24th about the "Case/Situation".

A Portland, OR attorney who has been doing research on the D.B. Cooper incident for quite awhile has stated that fingerprints from her dead husband, on file with the military and police departments, match the ones of D.B. Cooper. In addition, a photo of the man was picked out by a stewardess who was on the flight.

The F.B.I. has been keeping mum until recently. The man was known to have a gambling habit, but not much to support it. A son by an earlier marriage states that he went as a young boy on trips with his father that included stops at banks where he took money from safe deposit boxes. There is more, but the full facts could be out soon.

Judge Carter and Emilia Earhart may never be found, and with the trail gone so cold I doubted D.B. Cooper would ever be found, either. But if the stories John reports are true, perhaps we will soon have some more answers on this fascinating decades-old case.

I have one question, however. If the suspect indeed spent notes from the ransom over the years, why haven't any been found? The only notes traceable to the ransom to date are the ones found in 1980 by an 8-year-old boy digging a fire pit along the Columbia River west of Vancouver.

With the Where's George serial number tracking site and years of FBI investigations, I would think that if "Cooper" managed to survive his parachute jump, then notes he spent would have been found before now. Perhaps the FBI has been sitting on evidence. Has anyone else heard anything about this case? -Editor


QUERY: MAVERICK SCRIP NOTE OF LAFAYETTE

Dennis Schafluetzel forwarded this query. -Editor
Tom Carson and I are working on at book on Tennessee scrip book because most of it has not been cataloged. We identified a maverick - a piece of scrip from Lafayette; no state is printed on the note. It's a ten cent scrip for Frank's Restaurant (printed), signed Rueben H. Frank(?) Oct 27. 1862 "Secured by Money in Safe" Pay bearer 10 cents when presented in sums of one dollar or more. No vignettes. Printers design across left side.

The piece was sold by R. M. Smythe auction (#272 lot 3647 in Memphis 7/7/2007) from the Schingoethe collection as was cataloged in Tennessee. There is Lafayette, TN in Macon County but the local historian cannot find a record of Frank's Restaurant or the signature Reuben H. Frank during the period. Signature is weak.

I checked the obsolete books I have (SC, TN, AL, AK, MS, FL) and the GA obsolete website and did not find it. If you recognize it let me know. My email address is dennis@schafluetzel.org

QUERY: NUMISMATICALLY SIGNIFICANT CIRCULATION FINDS

Londoner David Powell writes:
I.ve just had some interesting correspondence with someone who went to his local grocery store recently and got a Wisconsin Civil War token, dated 1863, in his change. As the piece lists in Fuld at rarity R7, I reckon he has done rather well.

My own best experience was when I was a schoolboy c.1962/63 and found, on the ground outside a London Underground station in not exactly the most salubrious part of London, an 1853 Victoria farthing of the old, large copper type demonitized in 1869.

Best I have heard of for age is the story about a guy who, on going to a coin fair here in London, received a denarius of the Roman emperor Maximinus {235-238 AD} in his change from the taxi driver. The latter was obviously trying to pass it off as a five pence. I have also heard of someone getting a 1709 Queen Anne halfcrown in their change, although I can.t remember the details.

Just wonder whether you might care to invite your readership to contribute other similar stories as to what other unlikely pieces they have found in ordinary circulation?


The most unusual coin I remember receiving in change was a copper Russian one-kopeck piece. I was collecting from a customer on my paper route, so that was back in the 1970s in Pittsburgh, PA. The coin was passed as a cent. I'm sure our readers can easily top that. What was YOUR most interesting circulation find? -Editor


THE BOOK BAZARRE

DAVID SKLOW - FINE NUMISMATIC BOOKS Sale #6 is set for February 7th 2009. Consignments include: Morris, Robert. THE TWELVE CAESARS: (JULIUS TO DOMITIAN) ILLUSTRATED BY READINGS OF TWO HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN OF THEIR . COINS AND MEDALS. La Grange, KY., 1877, 55pp. 12pls., 4to, original black limp cloth covers, gilt lettering. We are accepting consignments for all future sales. numismaticbooks@aol.com PH: (719) 302-5686, FAX: (719) 302-4933. Visit our web site for sale highlights www.finenumismaticbooks.com



ALAN WEINBERG'S REPORT ON THE NOVEMBER 2008 BALTIMORE COIN SHOW

Alan V. Weinberg forwarded this report on the weekend's coin show in Baltimore. Me, I was watching my sons play basketball on Saturday. But I had my fill of numismatic fun Saturday night opening a shipment of several boxes of numismatic literature. So how did other readers fare at the show? -Editor
I've just returned from the Baltimore coin show. The third largest coin show in the U.S. after the summer ANA and the January FUN show, the activity and atmosphere did in fact reflect the current economic "slowdown". I did not overhear nor was I advised in the hundreds of conversations I had, that any dealer was pleased with the selling activity. Indeed, quite a few dealers commented to one extent or another that sales were pretty dismal, but not disappointing as they all anticipated it. Money was visibly tight. Attendance appeared decent but whether the public was spending is another matter.

That evidently did not impact Bowers and Merena's auction of the recently discovered Sheldon 79 reeded edge "Good" 1795 large cent. Hardly an attractive piece (none are), it opened at $75K and closed at a rousing $350K plus 15% (totaling $402, 500) with phone and multiple floor bidders still over the $200K mark. It's quite an impressive figure , particularly when you realize the finest known VG-7 Sheldon 79 will be auctioned next September by McCawley-Grellman / Goldberg's in the sale of Dan Holmes' legendary large cent collection.

Doug Bird won the S-79 on the behalf of a large cent client. Why would a large cent collector pay $402,500 for a low grade Sheldon 79 when a "much finer" piece will sell next September? 'Cause that finer piece may be sought and bid upon by "Registry collectors" - that was the expressed rationale. These collectors may be prepared to pay more than "purist" large cent collectors.

George Fuld showed me the nearly finished manuscript for the forthcoming Peter Getz 1792 George Washington pattern book and it is impressive with numerous plates, many in color. Excellent research and some real surprises therein. Alan Mehgrig's graphic capability and George Kolbe's publication capabilities are participating in the project, a massive extension and updating of the late Jack Collins' Getz manuscript. This will be some book, appealing to pattern collectors, colonial collectors and George Washington collectors, among others.
Thanks, Alan, for your reports. These kinds of first-person accounts of numismatic events are always welcome in The E-Sylum, particularly when numismatic literature is involved. We'll look forward to George's new book. -Editor


ARTICLE RECOUNTS HOMEBOUND JOURNEY OF 1844-0 EAGLE

A local New Orleans television station ran an interesting story about the journey of the 1844-O Eagle which was brought from Florida to the New Orleans Mint museum for display. -Editor
1844-O Eagle The airport is often about a clutching goodbye, but one day in September it was about a homecoming.

That was the day New Orleans coin collector and dealer Paul Hollis walked through Armstrong International Airport in Kenner, flanked by an armed security guard and a State Police escort. Hollis walked through the airport, carrying in his hand a one-of-a-kind coin, sold at auction two years ago for a price that reached into seven figures.

.Well, traveling with a coin worth millions of dollars is, I mean it.s fun, but at the same time, you.ve got to be a little guarded,. Hollis said.

He arranged to have the coin shown here in New Orleans on loan, and flew to Florida to pick it up from an anonymous collector, then held it tightly in his hands for the next five hours.

.I'm not putting it in my sock,. he joked. .I'm not putting it in my briefcase. I'm going to carry this coin the entire way back to New Orleans..

A short drive later, from the airport to the French Quarter and the Old U.S. Mint, meant the coin was back in the Esplanade Avenue building where it was minted 164 years ago.

.To bring it back here, I couldn't help it. I got goosebumps,. Hollis said.

.I got goosebumps when I landed and when I walked into the New Orleans Mint, to know that that coin.s been brought back over a century and a half later. It was really, really, exciting for me..

Part of the desire for the coin is the mystery that surrounds it. Hollis says it.s so rare that initially it wasn't in any collector books. In 1911, there is one mention, when the secretary of state at the time, William Wooden, sold it at an auction.

But then it disappeared for 90 years.

.And not just off the market where it wasn't available for sale. Nobody really knew about the coin,. Hollis said.

1844-O Eagle display 1844O_10_display


The 1844 "O" proof will be on display at the Old U.S. Mint until January 18, then it goes back to its owner in Florida, tightly in Paul Hollis. hands, the same way it got here.

To read the complete article, see: One-of-a-kind coin returns to New Orleans (http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl112008mlcoin.1d1d5c1d1.html)

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE PROFILES HERITAGE AUCTION GALLERIES

An article in today's Dallas-Ft. Worth Star-Telegram profiles numismatic auctioneer Heritage Auction Galleries. -Editor
They were small change in the beginning. Now, Steve Ivy and Jim Halperin are solid gold.

They are co-chairmen of Heritage Auction Galleries, a Dallas-based auction house with sales of more than $700 million this year. Ivy is a Fort Worth lawyer.s son who graduated from Arlington Heights High. Halperin is an East Coast transplant who, like his business partner, left college without a degree.

They used to be rival coin dealers but merged their operations in 1982 and around 2001 began putting comic-book and movie-poster auctions online. The first movie poster auction, in November 2001, brought in about $960,000. By the fourth auction, sales were $5.2 million. Heritage Auction now occupies more than four floors of wood-paneled office space near Oak Lawn and Maple avenues and has about 375 employees, including experts who appear on PBS. popular Antiques Roadshow. Heritage still sells coins but now also auctions stamps, fine art, movie posters, comic books, jewelry and Americana.

Heritage.s sales put it third in the world, behind Sotheby.s and Christies auction houses, spokeswoman Kelley Norwine said.

"I just love being a coin dealer," said Halperin, 56, a twice-published novelist whose books deal with cryonics and a foolproof lie detector that changes not just the justice system but also society. "I love being in business."

He, Ivy and Greg Rohan, another childhood coin maven and now Heritage president, occupy 17th-floor quarters atop the Uptown building. Visitors must wear ID tags and sign in with an attendant who sits behind glass off the black-and-white marble-floored lobby.

To read the complete article, see: Entrepreneurs have built big Dallas auction house (http://www.star-telegram.com/dallas_news/story/1053446.html)

THIRD-PARTY COIN SLABBING IN EUROPE

The 1844-O eagle on display at the New Orleans Mint building is ensconced in a slab. Third-party certification and slabbing has been primarily a U.S. phenomenon, but inroads are being made in the European markets. This NGC press release touts a Geneva auction of Roman coins slabbed by the firm. -Editor
An unprecedented collaboration between a European coin seller and a U.S. certification company is the latest evidence that the international collectible coin market is booming. Numismatica Genevensis SA (NGSA), one of the leading European rare coin auction houses has contracted Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) to certify approximately 300 of the 1,500 pieces, including many ancient coins, being offered in its December 2-3 auction in Geneva, Switzerland.

"Without question this is one of the most impressive sales of ancient coins in recent memory," says David Vagi, Director of NGC Ancients. "The quality is outstanding, and there are some important rarities that will attract serious bidding."

Relatively new to the international collectible coin market, independent third-party certification has become a major factor in the U.S. in determining a coin's value by evaluating and documenting its condition. According to industry resources, the collectible coin market has experienced a near 20-year growth cycle virtually unaffected by broader economic cycles. As a result, coin collectibles have blossomed into a $10 billion dollar industry in the United States. Coin certification is credited for much of that growth.

As coin certification gains traction in Europe, a similar trend is expected and may already be impacting the market based on the recent sale of an NGC certified Russian coin that sold for $2.4 million, a record for a world coin. In May, the world coin Millenia collection, featuring all NGC certified coins, produced record prices realized and overall sales. Both auction and coin certification experts expect the NGSA auction to set several records and establish new benchmarks for graded European coins. Industry experts are anticipating the event to gauge the resiliency of the industry in light of recent global economic events.

The 300 NGC certified coins in the auction include ancient specimens from the Roman Empire, the Roman Imperatorial, the Roman Republic, Ancient Greece and the Celtic region. Other examples from the 1600s to early 20th century originate from Albania, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Denmark, Spain, France, England, Greece, Holland, Italy, Poland, Russia and Switzerland.

To read the complete article, see: Prestigious European Coin Auction Looks to U.S. Experts for Success (http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/
Prestigious-European-Coin-Auction-Looks/story.aspx?
guid=%7BA017F2A7-8387-4C8F-9579-09A025C0D361%7D)

PRESIDENTIAL DOLLARS VENDED FROM U.S. MINT TRUCKS

Dick Johnson submitted this note about the U.S. Mint's efforts to market the new dollar coins. -Editor
Mint Vending Truck At first I thought this was a joke, but here are the pictures. A big green truck that dispenses presidential dollar coins for your paper currency up (to $20) in vending machines built into the side of the truck. The article stated the truck was sent there by the U.S. Mint to Portland, Oregon. Again, I questioned this, but there it was, the mint's seal painted on the truck.

The article lists where the truck will be stationed. It travels from what looks like shopping center to shopping center with three hour layover to dispense its dollars. The public's comments ranged all over the spectrum.

Mint Vending Truck Some chastised the presidential dollar coins because the motto "In God We Trust" was not on the coins (when it is located on the edge). Another complained about losing the paper dollars because now he would have to put fives in strippers' G-strings.

People!

To read the complete article, see: Mint pushes new dollar coin in Portland (http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/11/
the_new_dollar_coin_another_le.html)

PRESIDENT BUSH SURPRISES FOUR WITH PRESIDENTIAL CITIZENS MEDALS

Our outgoing President still has a sense of humor. A Wall Street Journal reporter wrote in his blog this week about how The Prez surprised four people at a medal awards ceremony. -Editor
Presidential Citizens Medal President George W. Bush pulled a rare surprise at a White House awards ceremony on Monday, handing out medals to four people who thought they were there just to help out.

After presenting almost 20 medals for achievements in the arts and humanities, Bush unexpectedly awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal to Bruce Cole, chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities; Dana Gioia, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts; Adair Margo, chairman of the President.s Committee on the Arts and Humanities; and Bob Martin, former director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. A fifth surprise recipient, Anne Radice, didn.t attend and was to receive her medal later.

.As president, I rarely have the opportunity to surprise anybody,. Bush began. .It is tough to be stealthy with a security detail that comprises a 20-car motorcade. That makes me especially pleased to present the President.s Citizens Medal to four outstanding . and unsuspecting . leaders in the arts: Bruce Cole, Dana Gioia, Adair Margo, and Bob Martin.

.Please do not rush the stage,. he added. .Remember the big security detail?.

To read the complete article, see: Bush Surprises Four With Presidential Citizens Medals (http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/11/17/
bush-surprises-four-with-presidential-citizens-medals/)

For more information on the Citizen's Medal, see: Citizens Medal.com (http://www.citizensmedal.com/)

MUSEUM ACQUIRES MEDAL OF NUMISMATIST SIR JOHN EVANS

John Evans An expert on antique coins and descendant of John Dickinson has been honoured in the centenary year of his death. Archivists at The Apsley Paper Trail, the site of Mr Dickinson's mills and the heart of the papermaking industry's history, have acquired a commemorative medal of Sir John Evans.

The distinguished numismatist was the nephew and son-in-law of John Dickinson, who joined the company in 1840 and then managed the firm until his retirement.

The Paper Trail's Michael Stanyon, who recently contributed to a book about John Evans' role in the paper industry and the local community, described him as a 'remarkable man'.

In addition to Sir John's contribution to the paper industry and the local community, he was especially distinguished as an antiquary and numismatist, a collector of ancient objects and coins.

He was president of the Numismatic Society of London, now the Royal Numismatic Society, between 1885 to 1892, and was also a published author. His books, standard in their respective departments, were The Coins of the Ancient Britons (1864), The Ancient Stone Implements, Weapons and Ornaments of Great Britain (1872), and The Ancient Bronze Implements, Weapons and Ornaments of Great Britain and Ireland (1881).

It was to mark his long and distinguished service to the Society that the commemorative medallion was created. It is available to view at The Paper Trail's Visitor Centre at Frogmore Paper Mill in Apsley.

To read the complete article, see: On the amazing trail of Sir John (http://www.hemeltoday.co.uk/heritage/On-the-amazing-trail-of.4715685.jp)

A GREAT YEAR FOR TREASURE HUNTERS

David Sundman and Dick Hanscomb forwarded this article from the BBC News about what a great year it's been for treasure hunters in England. -Editor
Iron Age Torc There has been a significant rise in the number of valuable artefacts found by amateur treasure hunters in Britain.

The British Museum says the number of finds containing gold and silver rose by 12.6% to 749 in the last 12 months.

The most valuable discovery was a rare Iron Age necklace found near Newark in Nottinghamshire and worth #350,000.

2008 Coin Find Experts say the rise is due to the growing popularity of metal detectors and the legal obligation on treasure hunters to report their finds.

The new figures were revealed in the British Museum's annual report of treasure.

It said the total number of finds was 1,257, which included objects from 2005 and 2006 that have now passed through the treasure process.

In 2001, the report documented just 200 treasures.

Culture minister Barbara Follett said: "The treasures of the past that are found in the fields, farms and fells across the United Kingdom are vital pieces in the jigsaw puzzle of our history."

She also singled out former Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman as an "obsessive treasure finder".

Mr Wyman has a section dedicated to archaeology on his website.

To read the complete article, see: Busy year for UK treasure hunters (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7736759.stm)

Dick forwarded this link to a set of pictures of some of the found items: In pictures: Treasure galore (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7738208.stm)

ANCIENT CELTIC COIN CACHE FOUND IN NETHERLANDS

Arthur Shippee forwarded this article about a find of coins in the Netherlands. -Editor
A hobbyist with a metal detector struck both gold and silver when he uncovered an important cache of ancient Celtic coins in a cornfield in the southern Dutch city of Maastricht.

"It's exciting, like a little boy's dream," Paul Curfs, 47, said Thursday after the spectacular find was made public.

Archaeologists say the trove of 39 gold and 70 silver coins was minted in the middle of the first century B.C. as the future Roman ruler Julius Caesar led a campaign against Celtic tribes in the area.

Maastricht hoard


Curfs said he was walking with his detector this spring and was about to go home when he suddenly got a strong signal on his earphones and uncovered the first coin.

"It was golden and had a little horse on it . I had no idea what I had found," he said.

After posting a photo of the coin on a Web forum, he was told it was a rare find. The following day he went back and found another coin.

"It looked totally different . silver, and saucer-shaped," he said. Curfs notified the city of his find, and he and several other hobbyists helped in locating the rest of the coins, in cooperation with archaeologists.

Nico Roymans, the archaeologist who led the academic investigation of the find, believes the gold coins in the cache were minted by a tribe called the Eburones that Caesar claimed to have wiped out in 53 B.C. after they conspired with other groups in an attack that killed 6,000 Roman soldiers.

To read the complete article, see: Ancient Celtic coin cache found in Netherlands (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081113/ap_on_sc/
eu_netherlands_celtic_coins_2)

HOW TO SPOT A FAKE POUND COIN

We've had a number of discussions about the fake one-pound coins circulating in the U.K. Dick Hanscomb forwarded this recent article from the BBC on how to spot a fake pound coin. -Editor
The number of fake #1 coins in circulation now stands at more than 30 million, according to the Royal Mint. How do you know if you've been given one?

That #1 coin in your pocket could be worthless.

The number of fake pound coins in circulation has doubled in the past five years and one in every 50 is now counterfeit.

It's illegal to make or use counterfeited coins and the Royal Mint says people must hand them in if they think they have one. But how can you tell?

It all depends on the quality of the counterfeit, but key signs include a poorly defined ribbed edge, the wrong typeface and an indistinct design or bust of the Queen. A fake can also be slightly different in colour.

"Current fakes are what we call 'soapy' in the coin business," says Garry Day, who works for a leading coin dealer, AH Baldwin.

"This means the marking and detail on them, like the queen's head, are blurred and not very distinct."

Fake Pound Coins


Another way to identify a fake is to check the alignment of the coin. Hold it so the Queen's head is upright and facing you - when you turn the coin over, the pattern on the reverse should also be upright. Fakes can often be at an angle.

The Royal Mint's online design portfolio can also be used to easily identify what's genuine and what's not. Since they were introduced in 1983, the design on the reverse of the coins has changed every year.

Often the year and the design do not correspond on a fake. Also, the Latin motto on the edge of the coin should correspond to the right year. A simple test at any automated vending machine can also identify a suspect coin. A lot of counterfeit coins are rejected, often leaving you grappling to find another coin in your purse or pocket.

But ultimately, how easy it is to identify a fake comes down to its quality. The good news is the fakes are getting worse, according to some experts.

"Quality is definitely dropping and fakes are now quite obvious, even to the untrained eye," says Mr Day, who has been studying the problem.

To read the complete article, see: How do you spot a fake pound coin? (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7628930.stm)

ARGENTINA.S COIN SCARCITY LEADS TO BLACK MARKET COIN TRADE

I've mentioned before my fascination with coin shortages, brought about by my study of the specie panic in the U.S. Civil War. These events exercise human ingenuity, where every angle and possible substitute are used to fill the void when circulating coinage goes missing. The article talks about the current coin shortages in Argentina, India and elsewhere. -Editor
In Argentina.s capital, Buenos Aires, the sort of money that jingles carries more weight than the sort that folds. A severe shortage of coins, allegedly at the hands of black market traders who amass large amounts of coins to sell them to small business owners for a profit, has led shopkeepers to go such extremes as offering inexpensive goods such as candy or mints in place of change. Larger stores simply round off bills in their own favor.

.The problem is that the banks, bus companies and toll companies that soak up most of the loose change in circulation have discovered that reselling the coins is a tremendously lucrative business with a profit margin of up to 8% tax free, because it is an illegal trade on the black market,. Miguel Calvette told Time magazine. Calvette is a spokesperson for the Association of Chinese Supermarket Owners, which is speaking out against the alleged coin racket on behalf of some 4,000 shops run by Chinese natives in Argentina.

It.s at the point where Buenos Aires housewife Laura Daniel has .to hold her purse steady when shopping, because if the shop owner hears coins clinking inside, he.s going to demand I pay with them,. she told Time. .And it could get nasty, because I need the loose change for the bus..

To read the complete article, see: Argentina.s Coin Scarcity Leads to Illicit Numismatic Trade (http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/Americas/2008/November
/Argentinas-Coin-Scarcity-Leads-to-Illicit-Numismatic-Trade.html)

UNCERTAIN ECONOMY BOOSTS WORLD MINTS' GOLD PRODUCTION

Dick Johnson forwarded this item on the demand for gold and gold bullion coins. -Editor
World demand for gold is strong. Some mints are at peak production for gold bullion items and gold coins. The demand at the Perth Mint -- which produces a popular die stuck ingot -- has outpaced its production capacity, so it stopped accepting orders.

Perth Mint sales and marketing director Ron Currie said the unprecedented demand had forced the Mint to cease orders until January, with staff working seven days a week, 24-hour days, over three shifts to meet orders. He said Europe was leading the demand, with Russia, Ukraine, Middle East and US all buying . making up 80 per cent of its sales. One European client purchased 30,000 ounces for $33 million.

.We have never seen this before and are working right at capacity. And we are seeing it from clients in the shop buying one ounce, right up to 30,000 ounces from overseas clients,. Mr Currie said.

To read the inside story from Perth Mint officials, click on: Perth Mint has been forced to suspend orders (http://www.dgcmagazine.com/blog/?p=755)

HILLARY CLINTON PHOTOGRAPHED IN SHELDON'S HUMAN PHYSIQUE BOOK?

James Higby writes:
I was sitting here, reading In Yankee Doodle's Pocket by Will Nipper, when I got to the footnote on page 414. Therein, in a reference to Dr. William Sheldon's authorship of The Varieties of Human Physique, Nipper claims that one of Dr. Sheldon's nude photos of Ivy League students was that of Hillary Clinton!


I've heard that, too. Although I've owned copies of some of Sheldon's non-numismatic book, I've never had a copy of this one. I found the following note on the internet mentioning a few other celebrities caught with their britches down. -Editor


In a New York Time Magazine issue in January .95, Ron Rosenbaum contributed a cover story on Sheldon, largely assigning him to the category of pseudo science, if not downright quackery. The story, including mention of the somatotypes of George W. Bush, Nora Ephron, Hillary Rodham Clinton, George Pataki among others, suggested that Sheldon.s work involved ruse, too much subjective (Sheldon.s) judgment, and, in general, "loose" scientific method and research.


But something doesn't quite add up. Higby notes:
Sheldon published the work in question in 1940, long before any of those named persons, including Hillary Clinton, would have been in their late teens. I don't believe the book was updated after the 1940 edition. However, this article indicates that photos continued to be taken into the 1970s: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivy_League_nude_posture_photos


To read the complete article, see: A Closer Look at William H. Sheldon (http://www.innerexplorations.com/psytext/acloser.htm)

FEATURED WEB PAGE: CANADIAN COIN, CANCELLED (WAFFLED) BY MISTAKE?

This week's featured web page is an article by Bill Snyder on an unusual Canadian loon dollar "waffled" for destruction.

From the web site:
It seems likely that a circulated Canadian coin slipped into the huge piles of German coins awaiting destruction, and was waffled in error.


Waffle_Canadadollar


www.littlemistakes.com/waffles/Canada/

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