The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 9, February 29, 2004, Article 6

VARIOUS QUERIES FROM DAVE BOWERS

Dave Bowers writes "In connection with various projects I
wonder if any readers can help with information in these
categories. Any assistance will be very much appreciated!

In connection with a monograph I am doing on the 1815
half eagle, if anyone has any obscure references to this coin,
pre-1900, I would be glad to learn of them. Walter Breen
(cf. p. 51, Early United States Half Eagles, 1966) states that
the Mint Collection specimen was acquired at auction on
December 4, 1885, for $299. What auction was this?

Elsewhere, it has been suggested that this is the unsold Bispham
Collection (Chapman brothers, February 1880) coin later sold
by private treaty to the Mint. In any event, the coin is specifically

mentioned in A.M. Smith's Visitor's Guide to the Mint,1885.
Does anyone have an up-to-date listing of known examples?
Does anyone have any details on how the specimen in
Sweden got there?

In connection with a study of very early numismatic
commentaries on large copper cents, does anyone have
print-outs or copies of Jeremiah Colburn's series in the
Boston Evening Transcript? This may be the earliest detailing
of die varieties, etc.

Does anyone have any specific information on the circa 1883
go-around involving the Mickley gold collection, to W.S.
Appleton, to John Schayer (other than what I have put in print
in recent times)?

Does anyone have any obscure information on Waterman Lily
Ormsby other than that in his book (1852) and monograph
(1862) and what has appeared in the Essay-Proof Journal?
Did he print any "UNIT SYSTEM" currency other than the
$1 of the Carroll County Bank of Sandwich, NH, and his
"Security Bank" advertisement of the same style? He did
"scenic" notes, as for the Drovers Bank of Salt Lake City,
but these are not "unit" system as the denominations are in
separate vignettes, not integrated. I realize this is a rather
arcane inquiry, but E-Sylum readers are well known for
helping with such things!

Thanks, and to all, a happy good night!
Dave Bowers
c/o American Numismatic Rarities
Box 1804
Wolfeboro, NH 03894
or personal e-mail at: qdbarchive at metrocast.net

[QUIZ QUESTION: Can anyone tell us about John
Schayer's line of work outside of numismatics? -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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