WAYNE’S NUMISMATIC DIARY: MAY 17, 2015

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V18 2015 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 18, Number 20, May 17, 2015, Article 24

Has it been another month already? Tuesday May 12th brought the monthly gathering of Nummis Nova, my Northern Virginia numismatic social group. Aaron Packard was our host, and he'd selected a cozy place called Southside 815 in Alexandria. I arrived early and found a parking spot on the street nearby. Inside Dave Schenkman, Ron Abler and Gene Brandenburg were already seated at one of our two tables. I took a seat across from Ron. Soon Eric Schena and Lenny Goldberg were at my right and left, respectively. Other regulars arrived shortly, including Jon Radel, Tom Kays, and Joe Levine. Here's a shot of my table taken after dinner. From the left: Tom Kays, Jon Radel, Ron Abler, Gene Brandenburg, Aaron Packard (visiting), Dave Schenkman and (off-camera) Eric Schena.

Before I could get settled Gene was already pouring me a glass from his newly opened bottle of Shiraz. I thanked him for that, and his comment on our Meetup web page:

In case anyone's curious, Julian's an expert at the Rumba, Foxtrot and that dance that the Teletubbies used to do on PBS mornings...

At the table behind me were Mike Packard, Wayne Herndon, Steve Bishop, and Julian Leidman himself. He didn't dance, despite a number of invitations. When my guest for the evening arrived I introduced myself and got him a seat there next to Mike Packard. Joe Esposito is a longtime E-Sylum reader from Fairfax, and he shares interests in Colonials with Mike and Morgan Dollars with Steve. Joe's profile appears elsewhere in this issue.

Joe was curious about the Newman Numismatic Portal project, so I sat down with him and talked for a while before returning to my seat.

Recent Numismatic Publications

may 2015 Clarion from Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists

For my exhibit I brought along three recent numismatic publications of note, starting with the May 2015 issue of The Clarion, published by the Pennsylvania Association of Numismatists. Editor Rich Jewell has been doing a wonderful job filling its pages with great articles. The cover article is Under the Dome: The Growing Popularity of Cup-Shaped Coins by Tom Uram. Other articles include The John Wanamaker Medal by Harry Waterson and A Token's Story: "The Strawberry" by Henry "Doc" Stouffer.

The other items were books recently profiled in The E-Sylum - Dick Hanscom's book on Alaska numismatics, and Larry Lee's book on the coins of Fort Atkinson. I was glad Tom Kays was in attendance and lent him my copy so he could write a review, which appears elsewhere in this issue. As a student of foreign coins used in Colonial America, he's far more qualified than I am to discuss the subject.

Query: What's a "Cowbuck"?
We also talked about possible meanings for the term "cowbuck". We were all so stumped we decided to ask E-Sylum readers. Tom Kays writes:

Readers are asked to help solve a mystery regarding the 19th century use of the term “cowbuck.” The diary of a certain Colonel W. of Winchester used the term “cowbuck” quite often, but without sufficient context to tell what it means. Perhaps it is 19th century slang? Cowbuck is certainly not in the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). So to “coin a phrase” The E-Sylum may one day be cited as primogeniture of “cowbuck.”

Be sure and use it around the office and at home in daily conversation. As in the game Balderdash if you don’t know, yet want to respond, tell us what you think “cowbuck” ought to mean. What other numismatic sounding words are as yet undefined, fodder for budding wordsmiths of Shakespearean or perhaps “Seussian” dimension?

I don't know about Colonel W.'s day, but to my ears "cowbuck" sounds like an alternative currency. Or maybe a coupon from Chick-Fil-A. "Cowbuck" is a family name, so perhaps the Colonel was referring to a person. Thoughts, anyone?

For the evening's theme of new acquisitions, I brought a couple of Virginia tokens to show Dave and Gene (one from Doe Hill in Highland County and one from Mt. Jackson in Shenandoah County).

I also brought a trio of Logistical Exercise (LOGEX) scrip from Fort Lee, near Petersburg, Virginia, one from the 1958 exercise (the top note) and a pair from the 1959 exercise. The notes were used to train logistics officers on Military Payment Certificate conversion days ("C-days") from an old series to a new series. C-days were unannounced and carefully orchestrated affairs in order to neutralize any profiteering on the black market.

There are two colors for each exercise, red and blue. From what I can tell, a pair of blue tens was stapled together along with a typed up instruction to keep the notes in your wallet because at some time during the exercise there will be an exchange (I am trying to get a copy of that note). The red and the blue scrip colors reminded me of an episode of the television show M*A*S*H where the main plot device is a scrip change day. Fortunately, the full episode is available on YouTube.

Mining Scrip Notes
At the head of the table nearby sat Dave Schenkman, and he bought with him some Mining scrip notes purchased in the recent Heritage auction for display.

1881-dated notes from Rising Fawn Furnace are seen frequently. This 1877 “First Series” note is not.

I enjoyed the large disclaimer that it is "Not Intended as a Circulating Medium", despite being good for a dollar in the store.

Despite the fact that ATLANTA, GA is printed on these notes, they were payable at Talladega, Alabama, and that is undoubtedly where the mine was located. The company was incorporated in Alabama in 1860.

Any note from this iron company is extremely rare. The Schingoethe collection included 5 Cents and Three Dollar denominations; I can’t recall any others. This one is from Eric Newman’s collection. Heritage noted that the “Ford collection did not contain any Oregon store bills despite over fifty years of searching.”

Another exhibit at the meeting was this great display box of coins and medals. In the walnut relic case under glass are newly acquired coins ranging in date from 1557 – 1731 including Spain (Philip II and Philip IV), Peru (Charles II), France (Louis XV), and Low Countries big silver coins of full and demi-dollar/thaler sizes along with a Charles I Death Medal and a last minute addition of 12 Sols from the Windward Islands.

Mike Packard’s theme was a popular one of “what’s new in your collection?” So there is little rhyme or reason for this display, and in fact all the coins are quite old. Perhaps next time a better display with regard to “newness” if that is what Mike wants, might feature the newest National Park quarter. Anything goes at pre-supper show-and-tell so long as it has numismatic relevance, or even utter irrelevance so long as it makes for a good dinner conversation.

Steve's Eclectic Mix
Steve Bishop brought a number of different items. The emphasis should be on the word 'different'. They’re all over the collecting map. He kindly sent some images.

The image doesn't do justice to the toned reverse of the Morgan Dollar - it's a stunning beauty. The U.S. Mint medal is another beauty. I'd never seen this particular Lindbergh medal, and it may be the first I've ever seen in the Cubist style. To some, it reminded them of Mr. Spock of the Starship Enterprise.

Later in the evening I introduced Tom Kays to Joe Esposito and they seemed to hit it off well, talking for a good while about colonial coins and books on colonials.

Regulars Roger Burdette, Chris Neuzil and Howard Daniel were missed. It was another great night of numismatic fellowship. These get-togethers are the highlight of the month for many of us. 'Til next time.