The Numismatic Bibliomania Society E-Sylum: Volume 23, Number 37 Thin, September 13, 2020

Content presented in The E-Sylum is not necessarily researched or independently fact-checked, and views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.

WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM SEPTEMBER 13, 2020

New subscribers this week include: Allan Behul, and Donald Bissex, Welcome aboard! We now have 6,558 subscribers.

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. Contact me at whomren@gmail.com anytime regarding your subscription, or questions, comments or suggestions about our content.

This week we open with numismatic literature pricelists, four new books, coin supply news, updates from the Newman Numismatic Portal, and more.

Other topics this week include Standing Liberty Quarters, Hawaiiana, the Franklin Mint, U.S. Mint correspondence, the New York Horticultural Society medal, mortuary medals, the Frederick Taylor sale, upcoming auctions, and the Dexter 1804 Dollar.

To learn more about communion tokens, POGs, the made-up shared fiction of money, banknotes of Finland, the Rail-Splitter Lincoln Cent album, the E&T Kointainer Company, counterfeit slabs, raised lettering on U.S. coins, the 1892 Washington GAR Encampment badge, engraved Lindbergh medals, collecting REALLY rare books, early numismatic author Athanasius Kircher, Higley Threepence, and Laura Gardin Fraser's unadopted Washington Quarter reverse design, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

RICHARD STOCKLEY BOOKS OFFERS PRICELISTS

Howard R. Engel is the proprietor of Richard Stockley Books in Winnipeg, specializing in numismatic and philatelic literature. He's prepared a number of specialized price lists, so be sure to contact him about your areas of interest. One needn't be a hardcore bibliophile to find use for a good book or monograph. -Editor

Let me send you price lists of numismatic literature tailored to your collecting interests

While I could opine the loss of many-a-show since the coronavirus pandemic hit my neck of the woods in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada last March (I just received notice from the Edmonton Numismatic Society that they cancelled their fall show scheduled for Nov. 14-15; they were also the first show on my schedule to cancel last March 14-15), if there's one thing the pandemic has taught me for which I am most grateful, it is the importance of becoming more familiar with my stock. In turn, this helps me gain a greater appreciation for what I have and how I can position it to best serve my far-flung customers.

NEW BOOK: AAFES - POGS ILLUSTRATED CATALOG

In the September 11, 2020 issue of MPC Gram (the email newsletter for collectors of Military Payment Certificates and other military collectibles), Bill Myers published a short review of a new book by Lloyd Jorgenson the AAFES (Army and Air Force Exchange Systems) gift certificates called POGs. With permission. we're republishing it here. Thanks. -Editor

Lloyd Jorgenson has released a color spiral bound book titled AAFES -POGS Illustrated Catalog and Price Guide in 2020. It has been revised and material added this recently due to input from other POG collectors. The first edition is dated August 2020 and the second edition is dated September 2020.

Lloyd starts out with a history of himself and then a dedication. He then discusses what POGs are, followed by a short discussion of the history of Military Money and that includes MPC. He discusses grading and value and error POGs. He then discusses all 16 printings. Lloyd has named each printing and has a one-page discussion of the POGs followed by a color picture of each POG. He then discusses other POGs that were used overseas including EFI and NAAFI. He finishes with a discussion and pictures of POG related items.

NEW BOOK: MONEY

Of all the inventions we rely on to get through the day, nothing is as strange as money. Currency is a national bedrock that sits alongside anthems and flags; our cash — from pristine $100 bills to dog-eared 5 pound notes — seems solid, official and enduring. At the same time money is a confidence trick: an i.o.u. printed on cheap material that promises the holder nothing but more paper money. The evolving paradox of modern currency — foundational yet resting on faith — is the central theme of "Money," a sweeping new history by Jacob Goldstein.

A health reporter during the mid-aughts, Goldstein describes being drawn toward money and economics by the beguiling turbulence of the 2008 crisis. Now a host of NPR’s "Planet Money," he features that show’s trademark storytelling throughout his new book. Histories of money need lots of facts and dates; as a result many are turgid. "Money" is fast-paced and chatty: We meet all the characters an academic book would include, their ideas and innovations blended with scandal and gossip to propel the story along. The effect is a history of currency full of astonishing tales you might tell a friend in the pub.

THE BOOK BAZARRE

IN GOD WE TRUST: William Bierly’s outstanding in-depth exploration shows how the Civil War changed not just the face of American coins and paper money, but the very foundations of modern banking and finance. Get your copy of In God We Trust: The American Civil War, Money, Banking, and Religion (352 pages, hardcover) for $29.95 at Whitman.com , or call 1-800-546-2995.

NEW BOOK: THE THREE TYPES OF CURRENCY

Moneta 208
The three Types of Currency
The monetary question (Antiquity – 19th century)
Georges Depeyrot

Between the creation of currency in the 7th century BC and the general monetization of trade, including the smallest types, during the 19th century, mints were never able to produce enough currencies to meet the needs of people. These needs differed according to social strata, rulers wanted large amounts of currency of high value capable of financing the needs of the countries. When necessary, governments resorted to currency manipulation or debts. Merchants wanted to trade in stable currencies to be able to borrow and lend funds, and above all, to secure themselves against currency devaluations. The population, often deprived of coins, used various currencies, often local. In rural communities, debts were common.

BANKNOTE BOOK FINLAND CHAPTER PUBLISHED

Owen Linzmayer publishes The Banknote Book, a useful, constantly updated electronic reference. The chapter on the banknotes of Finland (primarily authored by Mark Irwin) is now available for $9.99. -Editor

The Finland chapter of The Banknote Book is now available for individual sale and as a free download to subscribers.

COIN BOARD NEWS FALL 2020 ISSUE PUBLISHED

COVID-19 ISSUES DELAY ARRIVAL SIX WEEKS

Yes, after being twice delayed at the printer by the ongoing pandemic, Volume Three in my trilogy of comprehensive books detailing coin album publishers and their product lines has finally arrived, and all existing orders have been delivered. Titled Coin Collecting Albums—A Complete History & Catalog, Volume Three: Whitman Publishing Company Folders and Albums 1940-1978, this beautiful hardcover, full- color book came in at 343 pages and four pounds! I’m delighted with the finished product, and the comments from buyers seem to validate this pride. Ordering instructions may be found ... at my website: coincollectingboards.com.

In celebration of the new book I’m including with this newsletter an illustrated list of vintage Whitman coin folders for sale. All are identified by the Lange Numbers found in the book, which will be the new standard for collectors going forward. The list includes rare First and Second Edition folders across several grades. The time to acquire these is now, for prices will almost certainly rise with the book’s publication, just as they did for coin boards after my 2007 book on that subject.

OWNERSHIP CHANGE FOR E&T KOINTAINER COMPANY

Bern Nagengast submitted this news release and historical background concerning the E&T Kointainer company. Thanks! Pictured is a BU cent that has been in a Kointain for 62 years. -Editor

The E&T Kointainer Company, provider of archivally safe numismatic storage products, has a new owner.

NNP SYMPOSIUM VIDEOS AVAILABLE

The first NNP Symposium is history, and turned out to be quite a success. Kudos to everyone involved, from the organizers and speakers to the participants who attended and asked some great questions. I was pleased to have the opportunity to speak, and the session went quite smoothly.

Here's the post-event announcement; the videos are available now and forever on the Newman Portal. Share links to your favorite talks with your friends, or take a break and watch some of the talks you missed at the time. We'll all look forward to the next event. -Editor

Videos from the recently conducted Newman Numismatic Portal (NNP) Symposium are now available on the Newman Numismatic Portal at https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/multimediadetail/
539070. The NNP Symposium, held August 28-30, featured an online series of numismatic presentations over a three-day period. The event, which drew over a thousand registrants, included forty-one sessions and presented a wide array of content, including American, world, and ancient numismatics. This event was produced by Lianna Spurrier of Numismatic Marketing, under sponsorship of the Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.

MACNEIL’S NOTES NOW ON NEWMAN PORTAL

The latest addition to the Newman Numismatic Portal is the Standing Liberty Quarter journal MacNeil’s Notes. Project Coordinator Len Augsburger provided the following report. -Editor

The Standing Liberty Quarter Collectors Society (SLQCS), active from 1990-1994, published MacNeil’s Notes, which covered a host of issues related to the Standing Liberty quarter dollar series (1916-1930). These journals, courtesy of SLQCS President Joe Abbin, are now available on Newman Portal. All aspects of the coin are covered, including population studies, strike characteristics, Herman MacNeil biography, and of course the infamous Type II design introduced in 1917, which is extensively discussed in the Summer 1993 issue.

Attributed by Walter Breen and others to Puritan sensibilities, the more modest appearance of Liberty beginning in 1917 was in fact driven by less lurid concerns. Roger Burdette, in Renaissance of the American Coinage, came to the same conclusion. As Kellen Hoard noted in his recent NNP Symposium presentation, even false stories can have power, and Breen’s is so natural and believable that it is difficult to drive the factual version into the public consciousness. NNP acknowledges Joe Abbin for his assistance with this title.

GOLDBERG’S SALE FEATURES HAWAIIANA

Newman Numismatic Portal Project Coordinator Len Augsburger provided this report on the upcoming sale of some interesting Hawaiiana from the Eclectic Numismatic Treasure collection images on NNP. Thanks. I added the image of a Hawaiian Dollar reverse for comparison. -Editor

A group of Hawaiian exonumia appears in Goldberg’s Pre-Long Beach sale on September 13. Lots 1002-1061 feature an extensive enameled spoon collection in addition to toddy ladles, tableware, and a cane featuring an 1883 Hawaiian dollar. Originating from the Eclectic Numismatic Treasure collection, many of these pieces are unique or nearly so.

Lot 1029, for example, is an enameled spoon produced by Charles M. Robbins Co. The Hawaiian coins were produced in San Francisco and are included in standard references such as the Guide Book of United States Coins.

Image: Lot 1029, Hawaiian 1883 enameled dollar spoon in Goldberg’s 9/2020 sale.

VIDEO: FRANKLIN MINT- OF ART AND MINTING

With the assistance of David Lisot, the Newman Portal has added a 1971 video on the Franklin Mint. All of David’s videos are on the NNP website at:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/multimediadetail/522852

One of the earlier films devoted to the creating of coins and medals, this video has the highest production value of its time. Although a shameless publicity piece for the Franklin Mint it has some of the best graphics and numismatic photography. The Franklin Mint was a private minting facility that designed numerous medal series for sales to the public and coins for foreign countries. Some of their finest work was done when they hired former chief US Mint engraver Gilroy Roberts.

U.S. MINT DOCUMENT TRANSCRIPTION UPDATE

"To date the US Mint document transcribers have completed almost 400 documents. These range from telegrams and single page letters, to 25-page technical reports and data tables. Here is an excerpt from a letter sent by Mint Director Linderman to the Mint of Belgium regarding possible use of raised lettering on U.S. coins.

"Every transcription is important in unlocking the real history of United States coinage and its role in the American financial system.

"New volunteers are welcome."

1892 WASHINGTON, DC GAR ENCAMPMENT BADGE

Last week Jonathan Brecher asked about a medal depicting the 1865 Grand Review of the Armies, wondering if it was contemporary with the event or produced later, for example in conjunction with a Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) encampment. As usual, E-Sylum readers came through with answers. -Editor

"I searched newspaper databases and came across this reference from the June 17, 1892 Evening Star of Washington D.C., about the G.A.R. encampment badge.

"I also found an image of this complete badge on Worthpoint."

NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: SEPTEMBER 13, 2020

"I was happy to read that the NBS auction did so well. As a former officer, the NBS is dear to my heart. As I read that the Virgil Brand copy of Elder's James Wilson sale got the top bid, I looked up at a framed picture in my library.

"The night before the Wilson sale, Tom Elder held a banquet for the the sale attendees. Virgil Brand is in this picture. It was one of the few times he ever left Chicago. There are 31 individuals pictured. They really are the whose who of numismatics at that time, 1908. Most in the picture are identified. I was able to identify two or three more. Brand is seated at the table, next to his very good friend, "Uncle Joe" Mitchelson."

ILLUSTRATOR F. W. FAIRHOLT AND SIR JOHN EVANS

"I just published an article on my website that may be interesting to numismatic book collectors and authors.

"Sir John Evans' "Coins of the Ancient Britons" was published in 1864 with illustrations by F. W. Fairholt. Recently, Fairholt's copy of the book surfaced in the inventory of an antiquarian bookseller in Detroit, Michigan. The book was a presentation copy from Evans to Fairholt, and has several letters from Evans tipped into the front endpapers.

"The letters give an idea of the working relationship between an author and an engraver in the 1850s. The plates in the books are all woodcuts. Evans ran into delays when he was promised an sketch of a coin and it didn't show up on time. Work had to stop on a plate until he could track down the missing sketch or the coin, itself. You couldn't cut-and-paste with woodcuts."

NEW YORK HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY MEDAL

The February 4, 2018, issue of The E-Sylum included an entry, written by Len Augsberger, concerning a medal awarded by the New York Horticultural Society in the middle years of the 19th century. Augsberger's piece incorporated the description of this rare medal written by Joe Levine in 2007 when PCAC Auction 77 included an example, and he closed the article by asking if any E-Sylum readers could provide an image.

MORE ON VICTOR DAVID BRENNER SCULPTURES

Regarding our discussion of sculptures by coin designers, Dick Johnson submitted his compilation of these works by Victor David Brenner. Thanks! -Editor

1900ca. Campi (Louis) Bust (modeled in Turin Italy; Brenner made two trips to Turin, in 1900 and 1901) . . . . . . . .

1900ca. Campi [companion female] Bust (assumed modeled in Turin Italy as well). . . . . . . . . . .

VOCABULARY TERM: MORTUARY MEDAL

Mortuary Medal. A medallic item issued on the occasion of the death of the person portrayed or indicated on the item. Also called Death Medal or Funeral Medal. Albert Frey states that the term mortuary was also applied to coins issued by one monarch shortly after the death and in honor of his predecessor. The larger class of these items are medals, however, and could be applied to any medallic item mentioning the death or funeral of a person.

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

Or if you would like a printed copy of the complete Encyclopedia, it is available. There are 1,854 terms, on 678 pages, in The Encyclopedia of Coin and Medal Technology. Even running two a week would require more than 19 years to publish them all. If you would like an advance draft of this vital reference work it may be obtained from the author for your check of $50 sent postpaid. Dick Johnson, 139 Thompson Drive, Torrington, CT 06790.

FR. ATHANASIUS KIRCHER, S. J. (1602-1680)

John Lupia submitted the following information from the online draft of his book 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 early numismatic author Athanasius Kircher. -Editor

Fr. Athanasius Kircher, S. J. (1602-1680), was born on May 2, 1602, at Geisa (now Thuringia), Germany, son of Johannes Kircher, counselor of the prince-abbé Balthasar de Fulda.

HARVEY STACK'S NUMISMATIC FAMILY, PART 78

The latest article in Harvey Stack's blog series continues the discussion of 1979 auctions, including deaccession sales from James Madison University and the Charlotte Mint Museum, through the first Apostrophe sale, Auction '79. Thanks, Harvey. -Editor

Stack's 1979 auction season continued with a celebrated collection of ancient Roman and Greek coins. This sale included 1,499 lots gathered by Dr. John A. Sawhill that had been given to James Madison University. Dr. Sawhill was a teacher of ancient history who collected pieces that represented his specialty. Central to the offering was 256 coins that the doctor had purchased from our Massachusetts Historical Society sale in 1971. Many of the coins from the Sawhill Collection found their way into major collections.

DONALD PARTRICK AND THE FREDERICK TAYLOR SALE

SEPTEMBER, 2020 GOLDBERG SALE SELECTIONS

Sicily, Syracuse. Dionysios I. Silver Decadrachm, 405-367 BC. Ca. 405-400 BC. Reverse die signed by the master engraver Euainetos. Charioteer driving galloping quadriga left, holding kentron and reins; above, Nike flying right, crowning charioteer with wreath; below heavy exergual line, military harness, shield, greaves, cuirass, and Attic helmet, all before a horizontal spear. Reverse: Wreathed head of Arethusa left, wearing triple-pendant earring and necklace, surrounded by four dolphins; below neck truncation [EY-AIN]E. Gallatin dies R.IV/C.XI; SNG ANS 366 (same obv. die). Boldly struck in high relief. Probably cleaned long ago, a thin layer of horned silver (silver oxide) has been expertly removed, showing the details of Arethusa's hairline engraved by the master Euainetos, now a pleasing light grey. About Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $15,000 - UP

E PLURIBUS UNUM COLLECTION SALE, PART 2

These are good times for collectors of Colonial and early American coins and tokens, with wide and deep collections coming to the market soon. Here's a teaser article from Stack's Bowers summarizing the second part of the E Pluribus Unum Collection. -Editor

Did you know The E Pluribus Unum Collection, Part 2: Colonial Coins and Washingtoniana will be featured in the Stack's Bowers Galleries November 11-13, 2020 Auction?

NGC DONALD G. PARTRICK COLLECTION IMAGE GALLERY

This NGC Press Release announces the image gallery of the Donald G. Partrick Collection of Colonial and early US coins. I've included a few random coin images. Some amazing material including multiple Higley coppers! -Editor

Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) has updated its image gallery of the Donald G. Partrick Collection with more than 1,000 additional coins, tokens and medals, giving numismatists the opportunity to explore this unparalleled collection of Colonial and early US coins. The Partrick Collection, entirely certified by NGC, includes some of the greatest rarities in all of numismatics, including two Brasher Doubloons, the first gold coins struck in the newly independent United States.

NUMISMATIC AUCTIONS LLC SALE 65

Steve Davis of Numismatic Auctions LLC passed along this announcement of his November 2020 sale #65. Some GREAT material here; we'll look forward to more details. -Editor

MEDAL OF HONOR FOR FREEING 70 ISIS CAPTIVES

First Sgt. Thomas P. Payne peered through his night-vision goggles in the predawn hours of Oct. 22, 2015, midway through a daring prisoner rescue in northern Iraq. A fellow soldier had already been shot, and enemy fire roared just 30 yards away.

MUSEUM RECOVERS STOLEN BANKNOTE SKETCHES

Argentina will [recover] eight stolen paper money sketches from 1935, 1941, 1948 and 1983 to the BCRA. They were about to be auctioned in the United States. The Department for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of the Federal Police together with the FBI's Art Crime Division-both part of INTERPOL International-recovered the works and delivered them to the Consulate General of Argentina in New York. In the coming days, the BCRA's authorities will receive the works in Buenos Aires.

TUNISIA BANKNOTE HONORS FIRST FEMALE PHYSICIAN

When a team from the Central Bank of Tunisia looked into redesigning some of their banknotes a few years ago, they knew they wanted to honor a contemporary figure on the 10 dinar note, someone who had made significant contributions to their country—who was, as Bank Governor Marouane El Abassi put it, "a bearer of Tunisian expertise."

THE BOOK BAZARRE

RENAISSANCE OF AMERICAN COINAGE: Wizard Coin Supply is the official distributor for Roger Burdette's three volume series that won NLG Book of the Year awards for 2006, 2007 and 2008. Contact us for dealer or distributor pricing at www.WizardCoinSupply.com .

LOOSE CHANGE: SEPTEMBER 13, 2020

Forrest Fenn (1930-2020)

Forrest Fenn, an eccentric New Mexico art dealer who enticed thousands to search for hidden treasure after he announced in a 2010 book that he had stashed a bronze chest filled with gold nuggets and jewels somewhere in the Rocky Mountains, died on Sept. 7 at his home in Santa Fe, N.M. He was 90.

It came just three months after Mr. Fenn said someone had finally found the treasure chest, which held, by his estimate, $2 million worth of gold nuggets, sapphires, diamonds, pre-Columbian artifacts and other riches.

At least two people died trying to follow Mr. Fenn’s clues, and the chief of the New Mexico State Police urged Mr. Fenn to call off the hunt in 2017.

FEATURED WEB PAGE: THE DEXTER 1804 DOLLAR

This week's Featured Web Page is Mark Ferguson's Dexter 1804 Dollar book site. Suggested by Martin Kaplan. Thanks.

The Dexter 1804 silver dollar is one of the world’s great "story coins." Without its story, this coin would be just another high-grade proof, Draped Bust silver dollar.

This is the story of the Dexter Dollar, as told by "The Dexter Dollar Collection of Historic and Important Numismatic Literature and Works of Art."

About Us

Subscriptions

Membership

Asylum

Submissions

Sale Calendar

WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM SEPTEMBER 13, 2020

RICHARD STOCKLEY BOOKS OFFERS PRICELISTS

NEW BOOK: AAFES - POGS ILLUSTRATED CATALOG

NEW BOOK: MONEY

THE BOOK BAZARRE

NEW BOOK: THE THREE TYPES OF CURRENCY

BANKNOTE BOOK FINLAND CHAPTER PUBLISHED

COIN BOARD NEWS FALL 2020 ISSUE PUBLISHED

OWNERSHIP CHANGE FOR E&T KOINTAINER COMPANY

NNP SYMPOSIUM VIDEOS AVAILABLE

MACNEIL’S NOTES NOW ON NEWMAN PORTAL

GOLDBERG’S SALE FEATURES HAWAIIANA

VIDEO: FRANKLIN MINT- OF ART AND MINTING

U.S. MINT DOCUMENT TRANSCRIPTION UPDATE

1892 WASHINGTON, DC GAR ENCAMPMENT BADGE

NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: SEPTEMBER 13, 2020

ILLUSTRATOR F. W. FAIRHOLT AND SIR JOHN EVANS

NEW YORK HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY MEDAL

MORE ON VICTOR DAVID BRENNER SCULPTURES

VOCABULARY TERM: MORTUARY MEDAL

FR. ATHANASIUS KIRCHER, S. J. (1602-1680)

HARVEY STACK'S NUMISMATIC FAMILY, PART 78

DONALD PARTRICK AND THE FREDERICK TAYLOR SALE

SEPTEMBER, 2020 GOLDBERG SALE SELECTIONS

E PLURIBUS UNUM COLLECTION SALE, PART 2

NGC DONALD G. PARTRICK COLLECTION IMAGE GALLERY

NUMISMATIC AUCTIONS LLC SALE 65

MEDAL OF HONOR FOR FREEING 70 ISIS CAPTIVES

MUSEUM RECOVERS STOLEN BANKNOTE SKETCHES

TUNISIA BANKNOTE HONORS FIRST FEMALE PHYSICIAN

THE BOOK BAZARRE

LOOSE CHANGE: SEPTEMBER 13, 2020

FEATURED WEB PAGE: THE DEXTER 1804 DOLLAR

https://1804dollar.com/

About Us

Subscriptions

Membership

Asylum

Submissions

BUY THE BOOK BEFORE THE COIN

Sale Calendar

THE BOOK BAZARRE

THE BOOK BAZARRE