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 OCTOBER 11, 2020

New subscribers this week include: Pedro Meza Servin, courtesy of Adrián González-Salinas; and Ken Kipperman. Welcome aboard! We now have 6,566 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 FOUR numismatic literature sales, a periodical issue, an author interview, an obituary and four videos.

Other topics this week include Mexican numismatic literature, Alfred Sandham and early numismatics in Canada, national medals, the ANA's Ben E. Keith endowment, banknote auctions, the gold EID MAR coin, damaged and countermarked coins, mudlarking finds, and date-stamped silver ingots.

To learn more about the Carlyon-Britton, Richard Cyril Lockett and Mortimer Livingston Mackenzie collections, the John W. Kline sale broadside, slave hire badges, prison money, the ventriloquist with a peg leg and no dummy, the Libertas Americana medal, the David Rittenhouse medal, the Invade Cuba dollar, and the starriest U.S. coin, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum

CHARLES DAVIS LITERATURE SALES ANNOUNCED

After a hiatus of 3 1/2 years, we are finally back to issuing print catalogues. Given the extra time we have had in the office by not being able to attend shows, we have been able write two - the first a Mail Bid Sale of 125 lots and the second a fixed price list of 1500. Both, drawing from the personal libraries of Dave Bowers, Howard Newcomb and Ted Naftzger, are exclusively North American and British with continental and classical excluded. As we suspect that our mailing list for catalogues may be a bit stale since we last had a mailing in February 2017, we would like to hear from those who want to ensure they are on it. Please e-mail us at Numislit@aol.com .

To visit Charlie's websites, see:
Charles Davis Numismatic Literature (https://www.numisbook.com/)

BALDWIN'S CHRISTOPHER COMBER LIBRARY SALE

Lot 5009: The Carlyon-Britton Collection of Coins

Carlyon-Britton, Major Philip William Poole (1863-1938): The Carlyon-Britton Collection of Coins: the collector’s unique record of the coins in the collection: two quarto index books, bound in three-quarter morocco and cloth boards, his bookplate to both; each volume with some hand-written notes and the coins individually and lovingly described on a moveable tab, 6 to a page, in red and black inks, showing purchases from c. 1910-1918; Vol. I, dated May 1913, ‘Hammered English Gold Coins 1257-1662’; Vol. II, Henry VII – Charles II (though ending with Elizabeth), a superb record recorded in immaculate detail (Manville, Biographical Dictionary, p.50; cf. also BNJ 1917, p. 242 & BNJ 2001, p.144), in excellent condition (2)

Read more here

KOLBE & FANNING’S "CATALOGUE OF CATALOGUES" SALE

KOLBE & FANNING’S "CATALOGUE OF CATALOGUES" SALE

Kolbe & Fanning Numismatic Booksellers are conducting our 157th auction sale on Saturday, October 24, 2020. The 500-lot sale features highlights from the extraordinary library of American coin catalogues collected over the course of half a century by P. Scott Rubin. Featuring catalogues published between 1851 and 2020, the Rubin Library is the most extensive library of American coin catalogues to be offered in many years. While subjects cover the gamut of numismatic topics, the library focuses on catalogues from dealers within the United States, though some foreign catalogues of American interest are also included.

Some highlights of the sale include:

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SCRIPOPHILY AUGUST 2020 ISSUE PUBLISHED

Buckle up! Scripophily magazine brings you into the world of antique stocks and bonds

Compelling tales, business plot twists and memorable personalities keep you spellbound. Scripophily magazine uncovers the stories of historic and artistic securities. In addition, reports from the auction markets help you to stay up-to-date. This periodical is the flagship of The International Bond and Share Society (IBSS) and appears three times a year.

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INTERVIEW: 'MONEY' AUTHOR JACOB GOLDSTEIN

Money is a fiction.

That doesn’t mean that the bills in your wallet or the numbers in your bank account aren’t real — it just suggests that the only reason money has value is because we believe it does. At least that’s how Jacob Goldstein, host of NPR’s Planet Money, explains it in his recently-released book, Money: The True Story of a Made-Up Thing. The book gathers fascinating accounts about money that go as far back as ancient times, all the way to the birth of cryptocurrency and the latest moves by the Fed.

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ALLEN BERK (1929-2020)

Lover of Life and Family! Devoted and adoring Husband to Marylou Delfino Berk, Loving Dad to George, Pamela & Valerie, sons-in-law Shyam & Dan, Grandfather to David and Matthew, Brother-in-law to KC Delfino and Marshall Levinson, proud Uncle to Morgan and Fiona. He was a Pioneer Member of SGI-USA, Value Creation Society all while fulfilling his musical career leading the Allen Berk Orchestra in New York City since the 1950’s.

Born October 13, 1929 in Detroit, MI and raised in Cincinnati, OH, early childhood hardships along with gross experiences of Anti-semitism led Allen to seek and overcome his own personal challenges while influencing countless people as a result of his Buddhist practice for over 55 years. He instilled the importance to break down the walls of differences, to maximize the potential of life viewing every person as a unique individual and unfolding the never-ending ability to make change in one’s life. He wanted to know everyone personally that he met.

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VIDEO: KOLBE & FANNING 100TH SALE

Kolbe & Fanning 100th Sale Video

Held in conjunction with the June 2006 Long Beach show, Kolbe & Fanning’s 100th sale was a milestone in the history of this firm that has served numismatic literature collectors since 1969. George Kolbe recently forwarded a videotape of this sale, which was digitized and is now posted on Newman Portal. While the quality of the tape is consistent with home video of the period, the video conveys well the flavor of the sale.

Bidding for frontline lots is considered and drawn out, while typical material moves more quickly. Highlights of the sale included a large paper copy of Hickcox’s 1858 work on American coinage, one of five known (lot 42, realized $40,250, 00:17:57 into the video, and extending until 24:35, during which the lot was re-opened), and a superbly bound set of the first four large format Chapman brothers’ auction catalogs issued with plates, ex. Harry W.Bass, Jr. (lot 479, realized $43,700, 01:54:45 in the video).

Link to Kolbe & Fanning’s Auction Sale One Hundred video on Newman Portal:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/589357

Link to Kolbe & Fanning auction sale catalogs on Newman Portal:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/auctioncompanydetail/513111

VIDEO: HIGHFILL RECEIVES ANA PRESIDENT’S AWARD

John Highfill Presented ANA President’s Award at Tulsa Coin Convention 2020.

Steven Ellsworth, President, American Numismatic Association, John Highfill, President, Oklahoma Coin Exchange, David Lisot, Interviewer, CoinTelevision.com.

Longtime numismatist and silver dollar dealer John Highfill is honored with an American Numismatic Association Presidential Award given by Steven Ellsworth. John is founder of the National Silver Dollar Roundtable and author of the Encyclopedia of Silver Dollars.

An excerpt of the video is available for viewing on the Coin Television YouTube Channel at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UPrNMdp0bU&feature=youtu.be

VIDEO: MEXICAN NUMISMATIC LITERATURE

Mexico's Numismatic Society is celebrating its 68th anniversary and Monterrey's Numismatic Society its 50th. anniversary.

We had a Zoom "Conversation about Mexican Numismatic Books" (in Spanish) at the 12 September 2020 sponsored by Monterrey's Numismatic Society and Mexico's Numismatic Society. We did talk about just Mexican numismatic literature. The panel included book collectors from Mexico City (Luis Gómez-Wulscher, Clemente Juárez), Germany (Ralf Böpple) and Monterrey, Nuevo León (myself).

I commented about the Numismatic Bibliomania Society (minute 36). It was a pleasure for me to talk about the NBS! I recommend watching it if you speak Spanish.

Read more here

VIDEO: NEW WOW! HISTORY SEGMENTS

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NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: OCTOBER 11, 2020

Prison Money Publication Update
Patrick O'Connor writes:

Bob Hewey writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: SEPTEMBER 9, 2018 : Prison Money Publication in the Works (https://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n36a08.html)

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QUERY: PLASTER MYSTERY MEDALS

Website visitor Whitney Allen writes:

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SANDHAM'S COINS, MEDALS AND TOKENS OF CANADA

Engel's Angle on Numismatic Literature

Welcome to a new column about important yet affordable Canadian numismatic literature. Thanks to the Bison Tales editor (who wishes to remain anonymous by request) for inviting me as your friendly neighbourhood antiquarian, used and out-of-print numismatic and philatelic literature dealer (the only one, as far as I know, left in Canada that specializes in these areas) to provide a few words about such important titles currently in my stock. While the idea for this column arose from the editor of Bison Tales, the title "Engel's Angle on Numismatic Literature" came from me, although not entirely. As the Vice-President and General Manager of his family company known (at that time) as Atomic Transfer Ltd., my father, Roland R. Engel, wrote for a column in the Atomic Flash company newsletter (published from 1962 to 1967) called, you guessed it, "Engel's Angle".

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VOCABULARY TERM: NATIONAL MEDAL

National Medal. A medal of national character or interest; a medal struck by a national mint. In the United States "national medals" is a loose term for all the medals produced by the United States Mint at present, but only about half of those of the past. It includes all the medals authorized by U.S. Congress (congressional medals) plus all those sold to the public by the United States Mint (list medals). The term excludes private issue medals (once widely manufactured by the U.S. Mint but which have not been struck since 1956).

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S. ARCHIE HAMILTON (1890-1920)

S. Archie Hamilton (1890-1920), was born January 15, 1890, at Cresco, Iowa, son of S. Archie Hamilton, a railroad brakeman, and later on a farmer. He attended Cresco Public School, and graduated Page Davis Advertising School.

Hamilton was a paper money dealer from 1915 - 1920 operating his company S. Archie Hamilton Co.

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HARVEY STACK'S NUMISMATIC FAMILY, PART 80

The year 1980 began with a crash in the precious metals silver market. For years, the price and value of silver had risen and as noted before, some people were hoarding it and trying to corner the market. The price increases induced people to search out silver coins that they had in piggy banks, cookie jars and other places and sell them.

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SUBSCRIBER PROFILE: BRIAN HERRIOTT

My name is Brian Herriott. I am the chap who has jumped into the fray and have been diligently working to acquire our friend Bill McKivor’s business, The Copper Corner. Whether I’m the most ideally suited individual to carry out this feat, and be judged equal to the herculean task of filling Bill’s shoes, I will leave up to you (and Bill, of course!)

I am currently 50 years old with a loving wife and two daughters. I currently live in Cincinnati, OH, having moved from Chicago, IL, close to ten years ago. In my former life, I was a somewhat well-received actor/singer on the stage, performing in mostly musical-theatre, plays, and some opera. I did this for 20 years approximately.

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HISTORY OF ANA'S BEN E. KEITH ENDOWMENT

History of the Ben E. Keith Company Stock Endowment

Kenneth Keith of Jolly and Wichita Falls, Texas, was the nephew of Ben E. Keith and an heir to the food-and-beverage company bearing his uncle’s name. He also was an avid numismatist. In July 1975, five men broke into Kenneth Keith’s home, which he shared with his brother Jim, in search of a valuable coin collection that, unbeknownst to the burglars, had been donated to the American Numismatic Association’s Money Museum in 1971. Jim was killed during the armed robbery, while Kenneth was beaten and bound. The ANA posted a reward for the capture and conviction of the men, who were later apprehended and convicted of murder. In 1976 Kenneth Keith set up his will naming the ANA one of the remainder beneficiaries to his shares of stock in the Ben E. Keith Company, a closely held business that is a leading food-and-beverage distributor, serving customers across dozen-plus U.S. states. Kenneth Keith died the following year.

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WRITING A GUIDE BOOK OF COLLECTIBLE POSTCARDS

The Postcard Hobby of Bowers and Martin: "An Interesting Field of Interesting People Collecting Interesting Things"

by Dennis Tucker, publisher, Whitman Publishing, LLC

Like many hobbyists, I’ve read Q. David Bowers’s books since I was a young collector. For more than fifteen years I’ve also had the honor of being his publisher, adding many new works to his extensive oeuvre. As for Mary L. Martin, I’ve known of her for almost as long—Dave sings the praises of Mary’s parents, and of Mary herself, as experts in the field of postcards. It was an honor to finally meet her in person a few years ago, at her shop in Havre de Grace, Maryland, as the three of us discussed their latest collaboration, the 432-page Guide Book of Collectible Postcards.

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THE 1860 SNOWDEN MINT BOOK COLLECTION

It all started with cattle. If you wanted to barter, you could just herd your payment over for the trade. Oxen were the standard for barter before the Greeks found that refining and minting precious metals at standardized weights and fineness was a much more efficient means of exchange.

This somewhat wry discussion opens an 1860 publication by James Snowden, Director of the Mint, A Description of Ancient and Modern Coins in the Cabinet Collection at the Mint of the United States. It is a 400+ page volume filled with history, lists, and descriptions.

Read more here

COLTRANE COLLECTION SELECTIONS PART 1

Currency collectors will not want to miss The Mike Coltrane Collection Part 1, to be sold unreserved by Heritage Auctions on November 4–5, 2020. This event offers outstanding opportunities for bidders to obtain many choice and interesting United States currency notes, most of which have been off the market for decades and are offered certified for the first time.

Read more here

DIX NOONAN WEBB OCTOBER 2020 BANKNOTE SALE

A spectacular Bank of England £5 note dating from 28 December, 1863 is among the highlights of an online/ live auction of British, Irish and World Banknotes at Dix Noonan Webb, the international coins, medals, banknotes and jewellery specialists, on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 on their website www.DNW.co.uk. Probably the finest quality early black and white note the cataloguer has ever seen, it is signed by Matthew Marshall and is estimated at £10,000- 12,000 [lot 165].

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NUMISMATIC NUGGETS: OCTOBER 11, 2020

Gaius Caligula for Agrippa

Gaius Caligula, 37-41 für Agrippa.

Æ-As, Rom; 11,23 g. Kopf l. mit Rostralkrone//Neptun steht l. mit Delphin und Dreizack. BMC 161 (Tiberius); Coh. 3 (Agrippa); RIC² 58. Revers etwas korrodiert und geglättet, gutes sehr schön

To read the complete lot description, see:
Gaius Caligula, 37-41 für Agrippa. (https://elive-auction.de/lose/95552?auktion_id=83&order=losnummer.asc&seite=index)

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GOLD IDES OF MARCH COIN OFFERED

From the collection of the Baron Dominique de Chambrier, original attestation of provenance included; Ex collection of Bernard de Chambrier (1878-1963) and Marie Alvine Irma von Bonstetten (1893-1968); Ex collection of the Baron Gustave Charles Ferdinand von Bonstetten, Chamberlain to Ferdinand I, Emperor of Austria.

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DELIBERATELY DAMAGED COINS AND TOKENS

With reference to last week’s E-Sylum article on deliberately damaged Celtic coins, there are three types of British tokens which I believe were sometimes deliberately defaced:

• 17th cent copper and brass tokens of the period 1648-72.
• Crude lead tokens.
• Communion tokens.

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COUNTERMARKED HOLED COINS OF THE PHILIPPINES

The countermark series of the Philippines is quite vast with a whole array of coins serving as hosts. Utilizing coins ranging from the Spanish colonial period to the early republics of the Americas, and even some from Europe, these countermarks are usually applied to the obverse of the host as stipulated by the decree of 2 October 1832. These markings in their abbreviated form "F.7.o" (for Ferdinand VII) and, similarly later on, "Y.II." (for Isabella II) were applied with a hand-held punch. Prior to the punch change from the earlier "F.7.o" to the more numerous "Y.II.," a decree was issued on 27 August 1834 stating that all pierced coins were no longer legal tender. This, of course, did not sit well with the local inhabitants and nearly caused an uprising.

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IRISH MICHAEL COLLINS SOUVENIR BANKNOTE

ONE OF Ireland's greatest heroes has been immortalised in a limited edition banknote, released to commemorate 98 years since his death at Béal na Bláth.

Irish revolutionary Michael Collins died on 22 August, 1922, but his legacy remains as strong as ever, with many Irish people considering a personal hero and martyr for the cause of Irish independence.

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MUDLARKER'S FINDS

In centuries past, the River Thames became London's sewer as industrial waste, human excrement and even murdered bodies were dumped into its murky waters.

But along with the mounds of foul-smelling rubbish which caused the Great Stink of 1858, historical treasures have also sunk to the river's depths.

Simon Bourne, 39, has spent nine years unearthing these riches by 'mudlarking' along the banks of the Thames, and has revealed his extraordinary haul.

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CASCADE REFINING DATE-STAMPED INGOTS

You’ve likely seen Cascade Refining ingots offered for sale on eBay and other platforms from time to time. Given their 1980 era vintage and infrequent availability, we have good reason to believe they are quite rare. Cascade Refining ingots are beautifully poured in old world character, all odd-weight and individually hand-stamped oneof-a-kind ingots, often compared with the likes of Homestake Mining, Bunker Hill, and US Assay. A unique and signature characteristic of Cascade Refining ingots is that their serial number in fact indicates the production date.

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THE BIBLIOMANIAC'S MANTRA

The Stratemeyer Syndicate was a publishing company that produced a number of mystery book series for children, including  Nancy Drew ,  the Hardy Boys , the various  Tom Swift  series, the Bobbsey Twins, the  Rover Boys , and others. They published and contracted the many pseudonymous authors doing the writing of the series from 1899 through 1987, when the syndicate partners sold the company to Mega-Books.

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LOOSE CHANGE: OCTOBER 11, 2020

New American Eagle Reverse Designs

The United States Mint on Oct. 1 unveiled the new reverse designs for the 2021 American Eagle gold and silver coins. The designs are scheduled to appear in midyear, with Mint officials thus far silent on how the design transition will be conducted before the new coins are released.

The new reverse of the American Eagle silver coin will depict an eagle in flight with an oak branch in its talons, a design favored by the Commission of Fine Arts for the American Eagle gold bullion coin.

The American Eagle gold coin will depict an eagle’s head in close-up; the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee recommended a similar design for the reverse of the silver coin, principal differences being with the inscriptions, including placement of the mottoes.

To read the complete article, see:
Mint unveils American Eagles with new reverse designs (https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/mint-unveils-american-eagles-with-new-reverse-designs)

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