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 20, 2020

New subscribers this week include: Randy Moore courtesy of Bern Nagengast; Allen S. Brown, Glenn Douglas, Greg Hunt, and Michael Vollbrecht. Welcome aboard! We now have 6,560 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 seven new books and updates from the Newman Numismatic Portal.

Other topics this week include Persis coinage, St. Kitts banknotes, coin boards, Mint Director James Ross Snowden, POGs, muling, dealer Willian Sexton, coin shows big and small, the Larry Miller collection, chopmarked coins, a braille pattern dollar, a Commodore Perry medal, auction selections, fake mint errors, and a long-lost Purple Heart.

To learn more about the elusive 4 reales coin of Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon, Snowden's Coins of the Bible, a Lindbergh medallion by Julio Kilenyi with a remarkable engraving, the Koinpanel, the General Motors Ocean Operations medal, die-link charts, the "R" and "S" experimental Silver Certificates, the Salvatore Vigano medal, the 1959 wheat cent, and the numismatic connection of passion fruit, orange and guava, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum

NEW BOOK: ANCIENT COINS IN EARLY AMERICAN AUCTIONS

Ancient Coins in Early American Auctions by David F. Fanning Available October 1, 2020

Kolbe & Fanning Numismatic Booksellers are pleased to announce the publication of a new book by David F. Fanning. Ancient Coins in Early American Auctions, 1869–1939 is a well-illustrated bibliography and analysis of American auction catalogues issued before the Second World War that feature photographically printed illustrations of ancient coins.

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NEW BOOK: CATALOGUE OF PERSIS COINAGE

After his marvelous "Catalogue of Elymaean Coinage", published in 2007, Pieter Anne van't Haaff started working on a catalogue of the Persis Coinage.

After Susan Tyler-Smith's article "A parcel of Persis drachms, half drachms and obols," in the Numismatic Chronicle (2004), and Statthalter Rebellen Könige – Die Münzen aus Persepolis von Alexander dem Großen zu den Sasaniden (Munich: Staatliche Münzsammlung, 2008) by Dietrich O. Klose and Wilhelm Müseler, everyone was anticipating the book on Persis coinage by Pieter Anne van't Haaff.

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NEW BOOK: COIN COLLECTORS HANDBOOK

Today I am announcing the Coin Collector's Handbook release and the Coin Collectors Handbook Series of Guides.

Since writing the first article on the Coin Collectors Blog in October 2005, I shared my collecting experiences and collected knowledge with his worldwide audience. After 15 years, it was time to give back to the hobby by creating a guide book based on my experience.

The Coin Collector's Handbook is by a collector from the perspective of a collector. The book takes the most popular posts and pages from the blog and republished them in book form for the average collector regardless of what you collect. I want to see people enjoy collecting coins or anything else they like without being told that they must create a specific set.

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NEW BOOK: MISSING LINK OF JOSÉ MARÍA MORELOS

Allan Behul writes:

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BANKNOTE BOOK SAINT KITTS CHAPTER PUBLISHED

This week we're proud to publish the Saint Kitts chapter, the first part of the British West Indies to be completed. Thanks to access to official bank records, this coverage is definitive, and corrects the mistakes and omissions in the SCWPM for these issues, several of which remain unconfirmed and unillustrated due to their extreme rarity.

Saint Kitts (Caribbean)
This 7-page catalog covers notes issued by the Colonial Bank from pre-1896 to 1925, the Royal Bank of Canada from 1913 to 1938, and Barclays Bank (Dominion, Colonial and Overseas) from 1926 to 1941. Published 15.09.2020.

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NEW BOOK: COLLECTING VINTAGE COIN BOARDS 2ND ED.

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WORKS OF JAMES ROSS SNOWDEN ON NEWMAN PORTAL

Works of James Ross Snowden on Newman Portal

James Ross Snowden, U.S. Mint Director from 1853 to 1861, oversaw the large growth of silver coinage following the Coinage Act of 1853, the opening of the San Francisco Mint in 1855, and the 1860 creation of the Washington collection in the Mint Cabinet. The Newman Portal "Books by Author" view (accessible under "Library" from the home page) provides an "at a glance" overview of Snowden's biography (contributed by Pete Smith) and written works. The evolution is easy to see – Snowden, beginning in 1857, sought to document the operations of the Mint and the holdings of the Mint Cabinet. Clearly, he intended to leave the office more organized than he found it.

The pamphlets published from 1857-1859 (digital copies recently provided courtesy of Craig Sholley) documented internal Mint procedures, along with the related legislation from the U.S. code. The works published in 1860-1861, much more known to numismatists today, were the first comprehensive views of the Mint Cabinet (today the National Numismatic Collection). The file concludes with a little-known work from 1864, published after Snowden left office, The Coins of the Bible, and its Money Terms. Although not stated, Snowden likely drew upon the Mint Cabinet as a resource for this final work.

Image: Medal ruling of the Washington Mint Cabinet medal (Julian MT-23) from Snowden's A Description of the Medals of Washington

Link to the Snowden "Books by Author" page on Newman Portal:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/booksbyauthor/1816

VIDEO: DAVID LISOT INTERVIEWED

David Lisot launched his career on national television with an interview in the Financial News Network in 1983. He is interviewed by Bill Griffeth as a collectibles expert. They talk about coins, antique advertising, cigar labels, matchbooks,and more. David takes questions from a national audience about different collectibles. Enjoy this very first video production in the life of numismatist David Lisot.

The video is available for viewing on the NewmanNumismatic Portal at:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/584178

ENGRAVED CHARLES LINDBERGH MAJOR BOWES MEDAL

This may not be exactly on point but there is a Lindbergh medallion by Julio Kilenyi with a remarkable engraving.

2000 bronze medallions were struck and 300 were given out at the Lindbergh Reception Dinner in St. Louis June 18, 1927.

Read more here

MORE ON POGS

The events of 11 September 2001 led to increased U.S. military operations and thus military deployments. Military Payment Certificates (MPC) were not issued for these operations but there is a collectable numismatic issue available from this period.

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NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: SEPTEMBER 20, 2020

Anton and Weinberg at the Taylor Sale
Alan V. Weinberg writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
DONALD PARTRICK AND THE FREDERICK TAYLOR SALE (https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n37a22.html)

Read more here

MORE ON E & T KOINTAINER COMPANY

Tom DeLorey writes:

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QUERY: SILVER CONDER SLAVE TOKEN

I'm wondering if any E-Sylum folks can provide me with some insight on a silver conder token? I purchased it many years ago, accompanied by a copper Low-54 Hard Times token, from a Florida antique dealer. Balanced on my finger, the conder token then pinged like silver. Their modest cost was thus a no-brainer.

Some years later, Larry Briggs of SEGS performed three specific gravity tests and certified it as silver, a DH-1039-A. While I personally prefer SEGS holders and attribution, I sadly realize that it is not as well respected in the marketplace as the so-called top three. Last year, I had the token tested for alloy content by a Bruker XRF metal analyzer. It tested at 80% silver and 16% copper. (Interestingly, I possess a Civil War era campaign token that tests with identical percentages.)

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QUERY: GENERAL MOTORS OCEAN OPERATIONS MEDAL

A number of years ago, my wife and I were set up at a coin show held in Baltimore each year. A customer stopped by our table and, seeing that we featured medals and tokens, asked if I was interested in two that he wanted to sell. The first was a MACO Medal for the General Motors 50,000th car. The second was a MACO medal I had never see either before or since. I bought both. I've attached a photograph of the medal.

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VOCABULARY TERMS: MULE, MULING

Mule, Muling. An obverse die mated with a reverse not originally intended. Also called hybrid. Muling takes place usually where a number of similar items are made at the same place and time. Obviously the diameters of both dies must be the same, and both dies suitable for the same press. Coins, medals and tokens have all been muled, some by accident (where the wrong die was inadvertently used). More often, however, it is done by later intent. In some instances a stock die, say the obverse, is used and a custom reverse die is made to mate with this obverse. (Two dies with original intent to be used together are called mated dies).

The reasons for muling are several: (1) to create a new variety for collector demand, (2) a new variety for sale to public, (3) to lower cost by using a stock die instead of preparing a new die, and (4) by capricious action or accident.

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WILLIAM J. SEXTON

William J. Sexton was a member of the Board of Directors of the California State Numismatic Association.

His 1939 advertisement in Hobbies, The Magazine For Collectors says it all "WILL SWAP 42 different Lincoln cents for each 1909S VDB, or 16 different Lincoln cents for each 1914D, good to uncirculated. Please include postage. Offer limited." One wonders how many innocent good natured hobbyists got taken in by this claptrap?

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WHITMAN NOVEMBER 2020 COIN EXPO CANCELLED

The Whitman Coin & Collectibles Expo was prohibited from being held November 12–14, 2020, due to Maryland's ongoing mitigation of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The full Expo, one of the largest numismatic events of the year, will next be held at the Baltimore Convention Center March 25–27, 2021.

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SMALL SHOWS, LIVELY NUMISMATIC ACTIVITY

Melissa and I are just back from an actual coin show! We set up at the show in Gettysburg, PA this past weekend, and it went quite well. Virtually everyone in attendance followed the specific rules in place, and business was brisk...to say the least. Collector traffic was down significantly, but that was actually a good thing - the room wasn't nearly as crowded as it would have otherwise been. Such a concept would have been truly lousy in pre-COVID times, but it is a comforting thing these days (it is indeed amazing how perspective can change). It was therefore important that the folks who were there were active. And they were. Collectors of all sorts descended on the dealers and swept the room pretty much clean. And that was after all the dealers in attendance swept the room clean before them, at dealer set-up.

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STACK'S BOWERS OFFERS LARRY H. MILLER COLLECTION

Stack's Bowers Galleries is thrilled to present the spectacular collection built by Utah businessman Larry H. Miller across two sales to be held in November and December 2020. Larry H. Miller was an entrepreneur and philanthropist most famous as the owner of the National Basketball Association's Utah Jazz from 1985 up to his death in 2009. He also founded the Megaplex chain of movie theaters and owned over 60 car dealerships throughout the Western United States, among many other successful ventures. A lifelong resident of Salt Lake City and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, he grew his business empire over 30 years with the help of his wife, Gail. Born into a modest middle-class family, Larry's story of self-made success embodies the very essence of the American Dream.

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MORE ON LARRY MILLER AND HIS COLLECTION

The late Larry H. Miller's coin collection will be auctioned off to benefit the second Primary Children's Hospital, planned for Lehi, and it's a lot more than a few nickels and dimes.

The estimated value of the nearly 1,600 coins is more than $25 million, according to Stack's Bowers Galleries in Santa Ana, Calif., which will conduct the auction. The donation will be part of the $50 million the Miller family announced it is giving to the project in January.

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HOWARD DANIEL CHOPMARKED COIN CONSIGNMENT

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ARCHIVES INTERNATIONAL AUCTION 61 SELECTIONS

Lot 458: Iran 500 Tomans Scrip Note

Persia (Iran), 500 Tomans, unissued "I owe you" scrip note, un-numbered, no signatures of cashier or manager, and date left blank apart from first 2 digits of the year, "12__" which is most likely the Hijri calendar. Faint undertint reads H.M. NERAGHI AND SONS, and also on the left side text in Farsi reads "Haji Mohammad Neraghi and Sons". UNC. Unusual.

To read the complete lot description, see:
Persia. 1900s. Scrip Note for 5000 Karan = 500 Tooman. (https://auction.archivesinternational.com/Persia-1900s-Scrip-Note-for-5000-Karan-500-Tooman_i38435261)

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MINT EMPLOYEES ALLEGE RACIAL HARASSMENT

The Treasury Department said it has opened an investigation into allegations of racial harassment and discrimination raised by Black employees at the U.S. Mint, the government entity responsible for circulating coins in the country.

A group of Black employees at the Mint wrote a letter in June asking Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin to intervene and address what they say is "rampant racism" at the bureau, according to the letter, which was reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

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WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY: SEPTEMBER 20, 2020

Tuesday September 15, 2020 was the meeting night of my northern Virginia numismatic social group Nummis Nova. We met virtually on Zoom, as we have been doing for a few months now. Many thanks to our meeting host Aaron Packard.

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SHULER BIMETALLIC BRAILLE PATTERN DOLLAR

Stack's Bowers Galleries is excited to present a rare bimetallic pattern dollar featuring Braille text in their November 2020 Showcase Auction. Struck by the German company Schuler for exhibition at United States Congressional hearings and the U.S. Mint, this pattern was intended to demonstrate the implementation of Braille elements in response to concerns from the Alliance for the Blind. It has a copper-nickel outer ring with a brass insert at the center, and the Braille characters REV on one side of the copper-nickel ring to identify the reverse for the vision-impaired. Research by modern dollar specialist Phillip Barnhart indicates that these were struck by Shuler in their Michigan offices in 1997 or 1998 and approximately 20 pieces were produced.

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SALVATORE VIGANO MEDAL

In 1801 in Imperial Vienna, under the direct patronage of Maria-Theresa, the renowned choreographer Salvatore Vigano (whose first ballet was in Venice 1791 and who had been a celebrity in Vienna since 1793) undertook to write a full-length ballet based upon the myth of Prometheus. Vigano commissioned the young Beethoven, whom he knew through his uncle Luigi Boccherini, to compose the score. This work, Die Geschoepfe des Prometheus (Op 43), was Beethoven's first work for the stage, and would prove to be his only ballet score.

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1854 COMMODORE PERRY SILVER JAPAN TREATY MEDAL

The rapid industrialization of the western world in the 19th century led to an ongoing need to open new markets, with the Far East providing a prime opportunity for both selling and buying. To this end, the United States under President Millard Fillmore sent Commodore Matthew Perry of the U.S. Navy to Japan in 1853. In July of that year, he arrived in Tokyo harbor with the intent of engaging in "battleship diplomacy," a type of negotiation which actually involved no real negotiating but instead entailed an ultimatum through threats of hostile aggression.

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LONG-LOST PURPLE HEART MEDAL RETURNS TO FAMILY

There are plenty of battlefield relics inside the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6859 on Forest Avenue. In the lounge, behind a couple tables, a lighted display case shows off combat-captured bayonets. A Nazi flag and a Japanese sword sit silent, behind glass, in a trophy case near the seldom-used front door. Someone recently donated a foot-thick scrapbook with World War II-era newspaper clippings pasted, edge-to-edge, on both sides of each yellowed page.

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FAKE MINT ERRORS

There's no doubt that fake and altered coins are a major headache in the collector marketplace and that the problem is getting worse. Better and cheaper technology to make more convincing fakes is improving almost faster than the average collector can scrutinize them. And except for people looking for an opportunity to scam someone, nobody really wants to knowingly buy counterfeit or altered coins, right? Not exactly.

Though I certainly do not want to promote this dark side of numismatics or to reward those who counterfeit and alter coins, I do feel there is value in acquiring some fakes to study and compare them to known genuine coins, and more importantly to use that knowledge to educate others. In my area of expertise which includes U.S. Mint error coins, I feel the need to do so is even more vital. Very few people collect Mint errors, and even fewer know how they are made to know the difference between a genuine and non-genuine error. I find there are many coin dealers and collectors who go on about how many years of experience they have in the business and they "know an error when they see it." Sadly, many of them are wrong and can be quite arrogant, obstinate, and even hostile, and their seasoned longevity in numismatics means nothing if their knowledge is lacking.

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LOOSE CHANGE: SEPTEMBER 20, 2020

Interview: Coin Designer Chris Costello

Chris Costello is a Boston-based artist, graphic designer, illustrator and typographer, and an award-winning coin designer who is always involved in many projects for different clients.

He has been a coin collector since childhood and dreamed for many years of designing his own U.S. coin. Thirty years ago, he entered his first coin design competition and won the grand prize. But when he first applied to design coins for the United States Mint in 2004, he was not accepted, so he kept refining his craft.

In 2010 he was accepted to join the prestigious Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) of the U.S. Mint. The AIP was created in 2003 to contract talented artists from diverse backgrounds to work with the Mint's designing and engraving staff to create designs for U.S. coins and medals. AIP artists have created and sculpted many such designs over the years.

Since he began working for the Mint, Chris has created 24 different designs for U.S. coins and medals and prepared drawings for more than 50-coin programs.

To read the complete article, see:
The Coin Analyst: Coin Designer Chris Costello Documents History and Culture With Numismatic Ar (https://coinweek.com/world-coins/the-coin-analyst-coin-designer-chris-costello-documents-history-and-culture-with-numismatic-art/)

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GOVERNMENTS FORCING BUSINESSES TO ACCEPT CASH

Cash doesn't have the status it used to.

In fact, some state and local governments are forcing businesses like restaurants and retail shops to continue accepting cash — concerned that cashless businesses effectively discriminate against consumers who do not have bank accounts or credit cards.

New York City will require most stores and restaurants to accept cash as of Nov. 19, joining cities including San Francisco; Berkeley, Calif.; and Philadelphia, all of which mandated acceptance of cash last year. New Jersey required acceptance of cash statewide in 2019, and it has been illegal for businesses to refuse cash in Massachusetts for decades. Many other cities and states are considering similar steps.

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