The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 14, April 8, 2007, Article 13

COUNTERFEIT COIN NEWSLETTER BOOK FIND 

While looking for other things I came across the December 2006 issue 
of the Counterfeit Coin Newsletter by Robert Matthews. In it was a 
reference to an obscure chapter on counterfeiting that may be of use 
to researchers:

"The editor loves nothing better than browsing in second-hand bookshops. 
One of his "must do's" of every year is a visit to Hay-on-Wye. This 
small, self-styled "town of books" nestles just inside the Welsh boarder 
and is full of second-hand bookshops. Although it now has its own website, 
nothing can beat the thrill of searching the musty bookshelves and finding 
that little gem. The book may have been something that has been sought for 
years or it may be something one did not know one must have until it was 
found.

"One of the editor's valued gems is a book titled "Forensic Chemistry" 
by A. Lucas and published by Edward Arnold in London in 1921. This is 
one of the first books to describe the details of the then very new 
discipline of forensic science. Lucas at the time he wrote this book 
was Director of the Government Analytical Laboratory and Assay Office, 
Cairo. 

"The book contains a chapter on counterfeit coins. This was, as far 
as the editor is aware, the first to deal with counterfeit coins with 
a forensic science approach. The chapter is only small; containing 
just seven pages and has only one reference. Lucas describes two main 
types of counterfeit coin, cast and struck and mentions a third, 
electrotype. He stated: 'A large proportion of the counterfeit coins 
made in Egypt are struck and many are excellent imitations.'"

To read the complete newsletter, see: Full Story

  Wayne Homren, Editor

	coinbooks.org Web

The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization 
promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org.

To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor 
at this address: whomren@coinlibrary.com

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