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About Us The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit association devoted to the study and enjoyment of numismatic literature. For more information please see our web site at coinbooks.org Subscriptions Those wishing to become new E-Sylum subscribers (or wishing to Unsubscribe) can go to the following web page link Membership There is a membership application available on the web site Membership Application To join, print the application and return it with your check to the address printed on the application. Print/Digital membership is $40 to addresses in the U.S., and $60 elsewhere. A digital-only membership is available for $25. For those without web access, write to: Charles Heck, Treasurer Numismatic Bibliomania Society P. O. Box 2058, Bluffton, SC 29910-2058 Asylum For Asylum mailing address changes and other membership questions, contact Chuck at this email address: treasurer@coinbooks.org Submissions To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com BUY THE BOOK BEFORE THE COIN Sale Calendar Watch here for updates!

 

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 JANUARY 15, 2023

New subscribers this week include: Rebecca. Welcome aboard!

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.

According to The Writer's Almanac:

This week we open with three new books, a periodical issue, an obituary, updates from the Newman Numismatic Portal, and more.

Other topics this week include French banknotes, ANA Money Talks, Dave Bowers, Richard Yeoman, Ken Bressett, Mark Hotz, the Robbins Company, metal flow, auction previews and results, regulated gold coins, colorized coins, and the new King Charles III banknotes.

To learn more about gold coins of Anglo-Saxon England, Short Snorters, Henry A. Ramsden, Charles L. Vickers, Leon Lindheim, ANS Chairman's Fellowships, Red Quarters, the Numismatic Poets Society, Bank Note Reporter, a rare Union Civil War dog tag, a Grant Silver Peace Medal, and Miss El Salvador's money-themed outfit, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum

 

NEW BOOK: GOLD COINS OF ANGLO-SAXON ENGLAND

In 1948, Humphrey Sutherland published Anglo-Saxon Gold Coinage, the earliest truly comprehensive catalogue of the subject matter, including the first full description of the Anglo-Saxon coins in the Crondall hoard of 1828.

There has been no complete, illustrated catalogue since. Such is the glacial rate of numismatic progress on early gold.

However, in the digital era advancement is accelerating. With the increasing popularity of metal-detection in recent decades, more finds have surfaced. The Portable Antiquities scheme has facilitated recording in the public domain.. Popular metal detection websites and magazines have enabled improved access to information. Auction catalogues have broadcast high resolution images and recent results have obliterated previous records.

Read more here

NEW BOOK: BEAUTIFUL BANKNOTES OF FRANCE

This book shows the art and stories behind fifty of the most beautiful banknotes ever produced. Called the "French touch." France printed the notes during the 1900s. The author provides full page photos of each note with details of the designer and the meaning behind the designs, with fascinating biographies and details of history and economics. An introductory chapter gives a brief history of paper money, the Mississippi bubble, and paper money during the French Revolution. The remaining seven chapters describe the notes, complete with tables, graphs, glossary and index.

The format, starting on page 24, is a picture of the banknote on the right with a one page story about the note on the left.

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NEW BOOK: THE SHORT SNORTER PROJECT

The keynote speaker will be Tom Sparks, noted numismatist and founder of the non-profit educational Short Snorter Project. He is a graduate of The United States Merchant Marine Academy, then had a long career in the shipping and aviation industries. His interest in military history was fueled by grandfathers who both served in World War One, a father and two uncles who served in World War Two, and the Arlington dairy farmer, George Grimm, who was the US Naval Transport Service (NATS) pilot who flew Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz into Tokyo Bay for the surrender of the Japanese. The Grimm short snorter was Sparks' introduction to the tradition. This short snorter, begun by Grimm's flight instructor and presented to him when he graduated, has signatures of his flight school classmates, as well as many notable WWII figures, including Admiral Nimitz.

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NUMISMATIQUE ASIATIQUE DECEMBER 2022

ÉDITORIAL

Collectionner les monnaies sino-mandchoues

Collecting Sino-Manchu coins

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CHARLES L. VICKERS (1937-2022)

Charles L. Vickers sculpted many coin designs during his years as a sculptor/engraver for the U. S. Mint. He was born in Camp County, Texas, on July 16, 1937, the son of a building contractor, Horace Ellington Vickers (1904-1971) and Ellie Lawrence Vickers (1906-1993).

Vickers served in the United States Army with the 101st Airborne Division from 1957 through 1959. He studied at the Art Students League and Frank Reilly School of Art, the Pratt Institute and the School of Visual Arts. He was a member of the American Institute of Graphic Arts.

A job with the Franklin Mint had him move to Philadelphia in 1976. He started a studio there in 1985. Also in 1985, he was employed as a senior graphic designer for Thomas J. Paul, Inc.

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ANA MONEY TALKS & THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEDAL

ANA Money Talks & The Martin Luther King, Jr. Medal

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VIDEO: Q. DAVID BOWERS

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THE ORIGINAL AND THE SECOND MR. RED BOOK

Kenneth Bressett's memoir A Penny Saved: R.S. Yeoman and His Remarkable Red Book celebrates the life of Bressett's mentor, hobby legend Richard S. Yeo (known as R.S. Yeoman), and the longevity of the Guide Book of United States Coins (the Red Book), first published in 1946. The 352-page hardcover volume is available from bookstores and hobby shops and online (including at Whitman.com). Here, numismatic historian Joel J. Orosz provides an appreciation of both Yeoman and Bressett.

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INTRODUCING COLONEL JEFF GARRETT

I'm pleased to devote my first From the Colonel's Desk column of 2023 to a longtime friend and one of the newest members of the ranks of Kentucky Colonels: professional numismatist Jeff C. Garrett.

Quoting from the Governor's Office, The highest honor awarded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky is that of Kentucky Colonel. The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels further defines the award as recognition of an individual's noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to our community, state, and nation.

I recommended Jeff's commission last fall to Governor Andy Beshear. He was granted the governor's official letters patent as a Kentucky Colonel on October 4, 2022.

If you're a coin collector in the United States, you probably already know Jeff Garrett, or at least you've seen his name in a hobby newspaper or magazine, or online, or on the front cover of the Guide Book of United States Coins. Here are some biographical details I shared in my nomination:

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ANS CHAIRMAN'S FELLOWSHIPS

The American Numismatic Society is pleased to announce the inauguration of the Chairman's Fellowships for Numismatic Research.

Beginning in 2023, the ANS will award a limited number of fellowships each year, worth between $1,500 and $2,500 each, to qualified graduate students or scholars pursuing serious numismatic research projects that are expected to result in academic publication.

Read more here

NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JANUARY 15, 2023

Confirming the Red Quarter Story
Edwin Johnston writes:

Chriss Hoffman writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
THE MYSTERY OF THE RED QUARTERS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n02a24.html)

Read more here

THE ROBBINS COMPANY DIES SALVAGED

The company commonly known as The Robbins Company (they changed ownership and names in recent years) ceased operations at their Attleboro, MA manufacturing facility in early 2022. I'm not aware of any notice of this in any publications and thought some of the readers of The E-Sylum may be interested in knowing. Many of the items manufactured by Robbins since their founding in 1892 are sought after by collectors in many areas of collectables ranging from police/fire badges, military insignia, radio premiums, aviation wings, Masonic pennies, and the 1926 World Series rings to name a few. Official medals for NASA starting with Apollo 7, all official medals and badges for the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, military medals from the Distinguished Service Cross down are a few examples of the many notable items produced by Robbins.

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HISTORY OF THE ROBBINS COMPANY

Charles May Robbins (1856-1929) founded the Chas M. Robbins Company in 1892 and ran it for the next 18 years. Having become wealthy, he retired from it in 1910. In 1912 the company renamed itself to Robbins Company.

In 2007 the Robbins Company merged with the Tharpe Company to form TharpeRobbins, which renamed itself to Engage2Excel in 2015.

The Robbins Company struck many beautiful medals in the first half of the 20th century but I have very little information about it. I would be deeply grateful to anyone who can help me find out more about it. One artist who had many of his medals struck at Robbins was Julio Kilényi. Check out his medals to see more examples of Robbins' work.

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MARK HOTZ, BANK NOTE REPORTER

Congratulations to Bank Note Reporter on its Golden Jubilee of service to the currency collecting community. I am delighted to have been an integral part of the Bank Note Reporter contributing team since 1997 – half of its existence! This month, as part of that celebration, I am going to reflect on my experiences writing for 25 years and how the currency market and currency collecting have changed, in my view, over that time.

I first got involved with Bank Note Reporter through former long-time editor David Harper, who I got to know at the annual American Numismatic Association Summer Seminars, held each summer in Colorado Springs. At that time, I was instructing courses in U.S. Large Size Currency with Gene Hessler, and later a course on U.S. National Banknotes with Peter Huntoon. David Harper was there as an emissary of Krause Publications. We became acquainted and he inquired if I would be interested in writing a column for Banknote Reporter. I found that intriguing, and so this decades long association began.

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VOCABULARY TERM: METAL FLOW

Metal Flow. The movement of metal in a blank at the instant of striking as it flows into the cavities of the dies under pressure during striking in a press. Metal flow is this metal movement, the result is called displacement. Metal flow occurs throughout the mass of the blank, but is most severe at and near the surface. Surface displacement is the metal flow that creates the design, where the metal flows into all the contours and cavities of both dies. Metal flow can also (but not always) cause microscopic surface striations, parallel ridges and channels, generally from the outer rim inwards as the metal is displaced to the area of the greatest cavities of the dies. These striations, flow marks, are the cause of luster, and, very infrequently, cartwheel effect.

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CNG TRITON XXVI AUCTION RESULTS

A spectacular Roman gold medallion sold to an anonymous phone bidder for $2.327 million at Classical Numismatic Group LLC's Triton XXVI auction in New York City Wednesday, shattering the record for the highest price paid for a Roman Imperial coin and electrifying a ballroom packed with onlookers.

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ARCHIVES INTERNATIONAL AUCTION 82

ARCHIVES INTERNATIONAL AUCTIONS OFFERS HISTORIC U.S., CHINESE & WORLD BANKNOTE COLLECTION ON JANUARY 24, 2023.

The auction will be held by Archives International Auctions at their offices in River Edge, N.J.

The January 24th, 2023 Auction by Archives International Auctions consists of 726 lots of rare and desirable U.S., Chinese & World Banknotes, Scripophily, Historic Ephemera, and Security Printing Ephemera. The auction includes 426 lots of World banknotes highlighted by 89 lots of rare and desirable Chinese banknotes and Scripophily. Also included are over 55 lot of historic U.S. Colonial banknotes, Colonial Connecticut fiscal documents, U.S. Obsolete banknote, Small and Large Type Notes, National Banknotes, and miscellaneous U.S. fiscal documents. Historic and Security Printing Ephemera includes 55 lots of rare and seldom seen items highlighted by an issued Bill of Exchange from a Charleston, South Carolina Military Prison from a Union Civil War POW in addition to related documents; and, over 181 lots of U.S. and World scripophily.

We are privileged to offer numerous rare and desirable banknotes, historic ephemera and bonds and shares that are rarely seen at auction and include many examples we have never had the pleasure to offer previously, stated Dr. Robert Schwartz, President of Archives International Auctions. Included in our 82nd auction are hundreds of items that will appeal to every level of collector and dealer.

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NUMISMATIC AUCTIONS SALE 67 HIGHLIGHTS

Lot 415: West Virginia Union Civil War Dog Tag

Rare Union Civil War Dog Tag on VA(West Virginia). WM, 30mm. Assigned and engraved to A.W. Lindsey, Co. G 12th Reg. Virginia Volunteers, Harrison County, VA(West Virginia). Bust of McClellan left, UNION and LIBERTY either side. Very Fine, pierced for suspension, some old marks and scrapes, primarily to the portrait side. An important and rare, seldom offered Union Dog Tag on a tougher state and one that should inspire some bidding interest for certain.

To read the complete lot description, see:
US Very Rare Civil War Dog Tag on Harrison (West) Viriginia - Sharp VF (https://numismaticauctions.nextlot.com/auctions/1417146/lots/11327821)

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STEPHEN ALBUM RARE COINS AUCTION 45

Stephen Album Rare Coins will hold its Auction 45 on January 26-29, 2023 at its offices in Santa Rosa, California. The Auction is made up of 3,355 lots of Ancient, Islamic, Chinese, Indian, and General World Coins. The combined low/high estimate is $1.5 to $2.0 million USD, with the final total expected to far exceed the high estimate amount.

Featured in the sale is the Joe Sedillot Collection of World Coins (Part IV) which includes a wide array of type coins from numerous countries. A significant number of the coins in the collection are in choice condition and were selected for encapsulation in PCGS holders. Parts I through III were offered in the firm's auctions in 2022. Many pieces went for multiple times estimate and some items set new price records. Part IV largely consists of European coins from countries starting with A through P. Additional parts of the collection will be offered in subsequent auctions in 2023.

Some highlights from the sale follow:

Read more here

 

HOLABIRD JANUARY 2023 AUCTION SELECTIONS

Lot 1101: Kansas Hotel & I.D. Tags

Lot of five medals: brass tag from the New Eldridge hotel of Lawrence Kansas (#18). Four I.D. tags: W. H. Mills, Damar; J. A. Alman, McPherson; Chas. Cox, Clyde; Barney Gallagher, Stockton.

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BRAZIL 6,400-REIS REGULATED GOLD COIN

No, King Joseph I's eye isn't bugging out on this 1762/1-R Brazilian 6,400-reis. The coin was plugged and stamped by John Burger, a New York assayer and coin regulator and contemporary of the famed Ephraim Brasher. Before, during and after the American Revolution in what would become the United States, a coterie of assayers regulated gold coins – assaying and then raising or lowering their weight to the necessary level to serve in. In this time, before the establishment of the U.S. Mint, such pieces filled an acute need for coinage of a standard weight. In our Official Auction of the Whitman Coin & Collectibles 2023 Spring Expo, we are pleased to be presenting this beautiful example, graded AU-55 Countermark Unc Details by NGC, a piece that was modified to serve as an $8 coin then later clipped to meet a lighter West Indian standard.

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TONED AND COLORIZED COINS

The popularity of coins with color on them drives certain segments of rare coin markets and collectors. Morgan Dollars, type coins, and classic commemoratives are all distinct types of numismatic coins where beautiful and original colors bring strong premiums. An ever-growing segment of the coin market appreciates natural color on coins. Non-collectors are also attracted to the colorful images, even though the coins are secondary.

In April 2004, Superior Galleries offered a beautifully toned 1926 Oregon Trail Commemorative Half Dollar, graded MS67, at a public auction in California. The coin brought $69,000. That's 34.5 times its graded value of $2,000. Why? Because of the coin's beautiful, natural and original color.

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CANADA MINTS KATHLEEN "KIT" COLEMAN COIN

The Royal Canadian Mint has dedicated its 2023 Proof Silver Dollar to celebrating the inspiring life of Canada's first woman journalist, Kathleen "Kit" Coleman. Born in County Galway, Ireland and emigrating to Canada in 1884, Kit Coleman first joined the Toronto Daily Mail as a Women' Editor and later became North America's first accredited woman war correspondent, gaining international fame for her coverage of the aftermath of the Spanish-American War. She also helped establish the Canadian Women's Press Club, and served as its first President. Her fascinating journey is told through the artistry of Pandora Young, who used Kit's silhouette as the canvas upon which the main chapters of her life are richly illustrated on the reverse of the coin.

Pandora Young has fashioned another portrait of the pioneering journalist on the 2023 $100 Pure Gold Coin. The reverse features Kit Coleman writing at her desk. Behind her is a map showing North America and Europe, with dotted lines retracing her epic travels across both continents.

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CHINA TIANGONG SPACE STATION COINS

China's first space station is now complete in Earth orbit — and on a new set of coins.

The People's Bank of China on Monday (Jan. 9) issued gold and silver coins(opens in new tab) in celebration of the completion of the nation's Tiangong space station. The orbital complex, which was first proposed in 1992, was finished last year with the addition of two science laboratories to an earlier launched core module.

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THE NEW KING CHARLES III BANKNOTES

It will be quite a moment for Britons when new designs of banknotes enter circulation summer next year. They will be the first UK currency to feature a new monarch — King Charles III — since 1960.

Members of the International Bank Note Society, arbiters of artistic excellence in folding stuff, may be less impressed. Heads of state change regularly across the world. And English currency is pretty staid compared with developing nation money replete with exotic birds and flowers.

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LIBRARIES AND CLIMATE CHANGE

At Tulane University, 1.5 million books and manuscripts were drenched when Hurricane Katrina swept through Louisiana in 2005. In 2018, the University of California, Los Angeles was in talks to receive a donor's collection when it was destroyed in the Woolsey fire. And the following year, the Getty fire sent up thick, black plumes of smoke that threatened to filter into U.C.L.A.'s libraries and damage the fragile materials housed inside.

We were lucky that day, recalled Chela Metzger, the school's head of preservation and conservation. Acidic smoke and greasy soot are grave concerns for any conservator, but in this case, the winds held them at bay.

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MISS EL SALVADOR'S GOLDEN BITCOIN OUTFIT

A Miss Universe contestant from El Salvador strutted onto stage this week wearing a bitcoin-inspired gold bodysuit, a glittering tribute to her country becoming the world's first to adopt the crypto-currency as legal tender two years ago.

Alejandra Guajardo, the Salvadoran beauty queen set to compete at the global contest's 71st annual event in New Orleans, shared photos and videos of herself in the costume on Instagram late Wednesday, complete with gold booted stilettos.

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FEATURED WEBSITE: WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA NUMISMATIC SOCIETY

This week's Featured Web Site is the Western Pennsylvania Numismatic Society.

http://www.wpns1878.org/