Visit our NBS Sponsors

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: Jeff Dickerson, Treasurer Numismatic Bibliomania Society P. O. Box 578, Weatherford, TX 76086 Asylum For Asylum mailing address changes and other membership questions, contact Jeff 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 June 15, 2024 Kolbe & Fanning 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 JUNE 9, 2024

New subscribers this week include: Freeman Craig, courtesy Jeff Zarit; and Dusan, courtesy Josef K. Welcome aboard! We now have 7,257 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 final selections from the June 15 Kolbe & Fanning numismatic literature sale, three new books, updates from the Newman Numismatic Portal, DANSCO albums, and more.

Other topics this week include collector Louis Eliasberg, So-Called Dollars, Dennis Tucker, John Kraljevich, Gloria Farley, Victor David Brenner, Tommy Thompson, an auction preview, the new King Charles III banknotes, magnet fishing, and Rhode Island currency.

To learn more about the “Loco Foco Juggernaut” shinplaster, Mehl’s Numismatic Monthly, the Royal gold coins of France, early numismatic photography, Farley coins, Calvin Westley Franklin, Don Miller, a rare numismatic auction broadside, the 1906 Olympics in Athens, and a Janus Copper button, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum

MORE KOLBE & FANNING JUNE 2024 SALE SELECTIONS

We are getting close to Kolbe & Fanning Numismatic Booksellers’ next auction of rare and out-of-print numismatic literature from around the world, which will be held on Saturday, June 15. The sale includes a wide variety of books and other publications on ancient, world and U.S. numismatics, featuring material from the libraries of Wayne Homren and other consignors. Some highlights of this first sale include:

 

Read more here

NEW BOOK: GUIDE BOOK OF U.S. PAPER MONEY 8TH ED.

Whitman® announces the upcoming release of the newest edition of A Guide Book of United States Paper Money, by Arthur L. and Ira S. Friedberg. Paper-money collectors and American history buffs alike will appreciate the depth of the research, the fascinating narrative, and the wealth of data provided. The fully updated eighth edition builds on the critically acclaimed first through seventh editions, which have firmly established this book’s reputation as a best-selling collector’s price guide and history of U.S. federal paper currency from the Civil War era to date.

New features in this edition include the “Top 100 U.S. Paper Money Prices Realized at Auction, 2022 and 2023.” Coauthor Ira Friedberg notes that this appendix “shows how the upward movement of United States currency prices, especially for rarities and pieces in top condition, is continuing unabated—fueled not only by the entry of new collectors at all levels, but also by the realization that compared to United States coins, currency remains a relative bargain.”

The 420-page softcover A Guide Book of United States Paper Money, eighth edition, can be pre-ordered now for $24.95 online at Whitman.com and Amazon.com, and will be available July 2024 at bookstores, hobby shops, Whitman’s eBay Store, and other online retailers nationwide.

Read more here

NEW BOOK: CATALOG OF FRENCH ROYAL GOLD COINS

CATALOGUE DES MONNAIES ROYALES FRANÇAISES TOME I et II

Author: Jean-Yves Kind
Publisher: BnF - Editions V. Gadoury
Year: 2024
€ 95.00

We are delighted to announce a wonderful surprise for all great enthusiasts of French numismatics.

We are honored and extremely happy to announce an exceptional collaboration with the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) for the publication of the masterful work "CATALOGUE DES MONNAIES ROYALES FRANÇAISES" by Jean-Yves Kind, divided into two precious volumes.

Read more here

NEW BOOK: CORPUS OF MUGHAL COINS OF INDIA, VOL 3

Corpus of Mughal Coins of India, Volume 3: Silver & Gold Coins in the names of Dawar Bakhsh, Shah Jahan I, Murad Bakhsh and Shah Shuja (1627-1659)

Nilesh Gada
Dilip Rajgor

Read more here

LOUIS ELIASBERG’S 70TH BIRTHDAY PARTY

Louis Eliasberg’s 70th Birthday Party

From the Stan Kesselman papers, currently being processed by Newman Portal, comes this invitation to Louis Eliasberg’s 70th birthday party in 1966. Eliasberg, Sr. (1896-1976) is well-known as the only collector to complete the United States coin series, less a couple asterisks that nit pickers breathlessly recall at a moment’s notice. Nevertheless, the effort to recreate the legendary achievement of this Baltimore collector is now simply known as “the Eliasberg quest.”

Read more here

VIDEO: SO-CALLED DOLLARS

Read more here

DANSCO MORGAN MYSTERY

James Higby of Dixon, Illinois writes:

Read more here

NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JUNE 9, 2024

James Risk's Orders and Decorations Identified
Marc Ricard writes:

Miniature Medals in Display Box – left to right

1. U.S. American Defense Service Medal
2. U.S. American Campaign Medal
3. U.S. European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
4. U.S. Victory Medal – WWII
5. U.S. Army of Occupation Medal of Germany and Japan – WWII
6. U.S. Naval Reserve Medal (pre-1958)
7. Italy – Knight of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
8. Italy – Commander of the Order of the Crown of Italy
9. Italy – Knight Commander of Grace of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George of Italy
10. Vatican – Papal Lateran Cross (pre-1977)

Large Decorations on the Rectangular Blue Pad

1. Top Left – Italy - Knight Commander of Grace of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George. Neck Badge (missing light blue ribbon)
2. Top Right – Italy – Commander of the Crown of Italy. Neck Badge (missing red and white neck ribbon)
3. Middle Right – Italy - Knight Commander of Grace of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George. (Informal Jacket Breast Pin)
4. Bottom Center – Italy - Knight Commander of Grace of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George. Knight Commander Breast Star (worn on light blue Knight Sash)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JUNE 2, 2024 : On James Risk's Orders and Decorations (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n22a09.html)

Read more here

PUBLISHER DENNIS TUCKER REFLECTS

In 2004, Tucker joined Whitman Publishing and helped lead the “modern renaissance” in numismatic publishing by issuing many titles on the coin market, banking, and US financial history. Most importantly, he helped publish twenty editions of the Red Book, known by those in the hobby as the “single most important reference work for US coinage.”

Now, two decades later, Tucker’s recent retirement from that longtime role has made waves among coin collectors and dealers everywhere. Although he is no longer a publisher by title, Tucker remains very involved in the field. In addition to finishing his term aboard the Treasury Department’s Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, Tucker is still regularly attending coin-related events, like the Central States Numismatic Society’s Convention in April, where he received the organization’s Q. David Bowers Lifetime Achievement Award. Tucker is also spending his time leading the board of directors of the nonprofit Brayhope Farm, which provides programs for autistic children and others in need.

In a recent interview with WorthPoint, Tucker reflected on his career, how he got started, and what he’s looking forward to in the numismatics hobby.

Read more here

JOHN KRALJEVICH JOINS STACKS BOWERS

Stack’s Bowers Galleries proudly announces the appointment of John Kraljevich to the newly created position of Director of Numismatic Americana. Kraljevich, proprietor of John Kraljevich Americana since 2007, has been recognized as one of the most influential figures in numismatics. Coin World honored him in their inaugural list of Most Influential People in Numismatics, and he was distinguished as one of the “Top 14 Numismatists of the Century” by CoinAge magazine. In his new role, Kraljevich will devote his numismatic talents to cataloging noteworthy consignments across a wide range of specialties for Stack’s Bowers Galleries auctions. In addition, he will maintain an inventory of historical American numismatic items for retail sale and work with the firm’s collector and dealer clients.

Kraljevich embarked on his full-time career in numismatics in 2000 as a cataloger and professional numismatist at Bowers and Merena Galleries of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. His tenure at Bowers and Merena, American Numismatic Rarities, and Stack’s (where he specialized in early American coins and numismatic Americana), laid the foundation for his illustrious career. Since establishing John Kraljevich Americana, he has continued to collaborate with Stack’s Bowers Galleries as a consultant, earning acclaim for his cataloging prowess and subject matter expertise.

Read more here

VOCABULARY TERM: PLASTICS

Plastics. A wide class of materials made of chemical polymers and other components, both natural and synthetic (including resins, caseins and such). Medallic items have been made of plastics – often in color (by adding a dye to the plastic) – and formed by molding or casting. The composition is more suitable for such items as sales tax tokens; these were made of plastics in America shortly after World War II. Plastics was infrequently considered as a coin or medal composition substitution in wartime.

Read more here

 

GLORIA STEWART FARLEY (1916-2006)

This article was inspired by Julia Casey who reported on “Farley coins” found in America and attributed to Carthaginians who visited America before Columbus. Thanks also to William E. Daehn who helped with the description of Greek coinage.

Read more here

THE FARLEY COINS

In her 1993 book, In Plain Sight: Old World Records in Ancient America, Gloria Farley wrote about seven similar coins believed to be evidence of ancient visits to America before Columbus. They are named for the states where they were found.

Farley Coin: Arkansas

Jessie Ray Kelley found the coin with a metal detector in 1973 in a field near Cauthron, Arkansas, about 19 miles east of Heavenor, Oklahoma. It was sent to Boston for examination by Dr. Norman Totten, He wrote: “The coin is bronze, imperfectly round, measuring 29.5 by 25.0 millimeters in diameter, and weighing 7.63 grams. It has suffered from corrosion. There is no question of its antiquity or its authenticity. The patina on the coin and in the hole has several colors: green, oxblood, yellow and tan. Indications are that it has been buried for centuries.”

Read more here

REAL OR FAKE: FARLEY COINS

Read more here

 

A JANUS COPPER BUTTON?

Website visitor Tim Heller writes:

Read more here

VICTOR DAVID BRENNER SCULPTURAL WORKS

Victor David Brenner (Lithuanian/American, 1871-1924) bronze sculpture depicting a nude woman or nymph, seated on a rocky bank and looking down at a turtle, while holding the stem of a pond lily in her left hand. Signed "VD Brenner" and dated 1911, with inscription "Cast by Tiffany Studios NY" to side of base. Overall height: 16". Diameter: 11".

Biography: Victor Brenner was best known as a medallion and coin sculptor. His most famous work was the 1909 Lincoln head penny. Born in Lithuania, he trained at the Academie Julian in Paris and came to New York in 1890. He was a member of the National Sculpture Society, the National Arts Club, and the Architectural League. His work is in the collections of the Architectural League in New York, the Metropolitan Museum, the Paris Mint, and the Vienna Numismatic Society. Sources: Donald Martin Reynolds, "Masters of American Sculpture, and Peter Falk, "Who Was Who in American Art".

Read more here

STEPHEN ALBUM RARE COINS AUCTION 49

Stephen Album Rare Coins will hold its Auction 49 from June 13-16, 2024, at their offices in Santa Rosa, California. The auction is made up of 4075 lots of Ancient, Islamic, Indian, Chinese, and World Coins. The first two days will be in-person bidding as well as on the internet, while the third and fourth days will be internet-only sessions.

Featured in the auction will be the Dr. Dirk Löer Collection of Chinese Coins, the Almer H. Orr III Collection of World Coins, the Roland Dauwe Collection of the Mint of Qumm, the Howard A. Daniel III Collection of Asian Coins, the Jürgen M. Wilmes Collection of Openwork Charms, the Professor Richard Haiman Collection of World Gold, and the Charles W. Lueders III Collection of Indian and Asian Coins.

Some highlights from the sale follow:

 

Read more here

 

WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC LITERATURE JUNE 9, 2024

Lot 303: Armand Champa Library Materials [Champa, Armand]. MATERIALS RELATING TO THE 1994–1995 SALES OF THE ARMAND CHAMPA LIBRARY.

Two three-ring binders including the following: a postcard from George F. Kolbe announcing that he will be offering the Champa Library at auction; promotional materials for the November 1994 Baltimore show at which the first Champa sale was held by Bowers & Merena; the Bowers & Merena announcement of the Champa Library sale; Wayne Homren’s invoice for sets of both the softcover and hardcover catalogues; Homren’s annotated copies of the first two Champa sales, hand-priced and generally recording buyer numbers, some of which are identified; a copy of the Herman Halpern sale held March 24–25, 1995 alongside the second Champa sale; printed emails and other correspondence regarding the sales, between Homren and John J. Ford, Jr., Chris Karstedt and others; Homren’s bid card, handwritten notes, additional printed emails (Wayne was a trend-setter), Champa bookplates, lists of bidders, and so on.

Also included is Bill Yost’s third draft and preliminary layout of his unpublished Index and Account of the Numismatic Books & Manuscripts of the Armand Champa Library (dated November 2, 1996). Materials generally fine or nearly so. A fascinating group of ephemeral items relating to the Armand Champa Library sales, accompanied by annotated catalogues and Homren’s notes made in preparation for, and immediately after, the sales. Included in the more ephemeral items are printed 1995 emails from the new BiblioNumis-L list being promoted by Harry Bass and Wayne Homren. Yost’s never-published work was envisioned to include a history of the collection, provenances, author and dealer index, consignor index, title index, index of illustrations, and a master index. Ex Wayne Homren Library.

Read more here

 

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN MINT HOSTS COIN SWAP

This weekend, it's the Royal Australian Mint's Canberra Coin Swap which is drawing collectors, known as numismatists, to the national capital.

Attendees bring along cash and coins and swap them for circulating coloured and commemorative coins which have, until now, been uncirculated.

And with this being first time the event has been held since the pandemic, there's plenty of pent up demand.

CEO of the Royal Australian Mint Leigh Gordon said this coin swap was focused on recently-produced coins from the "last few years".

That includes those with the effigy of King Charles as well as coins commemorating the hard work of first responders including firefighters.

Read more here

THE OLYMPIC GAMES THAT AREN'T RECOGNIZED

In 1906, the IOC and the country of Greece invited athletes from all over the world to the Olympic Games in Athens. The Games had a lasting impact on the ceremonies surrounding the sporting showdown, even though the IOC no longer recognizes these Olympics today. A winner’s medal from the Games will be auctioned by Künker on 18 June 2024.

On 18 June 2024, the Künker auction house in Osnabrück will offer a ‘gold’ medal from the 1906 Olympics in Athens, of which probably only 78 specimens were produced. As was customary at the time, the medal is of course not made of pure gold, but gilded silver. Interestingly enough, the 1906 Olympics do not appear on the IOC’s list of Games. We explain why these Olympic Games are no longer recognized as such.

Read more here

THE FIRST PAPER MONEY OF VENEZUELA

The notaphilic history of Venezuela starts in 1811, shortly after seven (out of ten) provinces of the Spanish colonial Captaincy General of Venezuela declared their independence in July of that year. Despite being very short-lived (the First Republic of Venezuela ceased to exist in late July of 1812, just over a year after it was declared), the first independent government still managed to issue its own banknotes. These banknotes were the first printed paper money in South America and are historically extremely significant.

When it comes to the paper money issued by the First Republic of Venezuela the Pick catalog is incomplete. There were three separate emissions of paper money in 1811 and 1812. These different emissions (as listed in the Marcano catalog), can be identified by their signatures. The first was issued pursuant to the law of 27 August 1811, and consisted of 1 Peso, 2 Pesos, 4 Pesos, 8 Pesos and 16 Pesos notes (these are Pick-4 to Pick-8). Just a few months later, there was a shortage of small change, and a 2 Reales or 1/4 Peso note was introduced, which is Pick-2, issued pursuant to the law of 29 November 1811. Then, another series of 1 Peso to 16 Pesos notes were issued according to the decree of February 7, 1812. These are not separated in Pick except for the 1 Peso, which had a minor design change, and is listed as Pick-4A.

Read more here

KING CHARLES III BANKNOTES ISSUED

Read more here

TOMMY THOMPSON IS STILL IN JAIL

Imagine spending more than eight years in a federal prison with no right to a jury trial or a court-appointed attorney, serving an indefinite sentence. This is how the judicial civil contempt power works, and deep-sea explorer Tommy Thompson — who has been held on civil contempt charges since 2015 — has brought the issue to light.

Thompson’s story dates back to 1989, when he made the greatest treasure find of the century: locating the SS Central America. The sunken ship was carrying the spoils of California’s gold rush when it sank in 1857, yielding a treasure worth upward of $765 million in 2024 dollars. Even more amazing than finding the wreck was Thompson’s ability to precisely salvage items in nearly 8,000 feet of water.

Read more here

MAGNET FISHING YIELDS $100,000 IN CASH

James Kane has used a powerful magnet to fish all manner of junk from New York City waterways, but he says the stacks of $100 bills he pulled from a safe were something else entirely.

The couple estimates that the safe contained as much as $100,000, though the bills were partly decomposed and stuck together.

The bills featured the 3D security ribbon that indicates recent vintage, but the safe bore no clues to a rightful owner.

Read more here

FEATURED WEBSITE: RHODE ISLAND CURRENCY

This week's Featured Website is Rhode Island Currency. Found via News & Notes from the Society of Paper Money Collectors (Volume IX, Number 51, June 4, 2024).

https://www.ricurrency.com/