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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: 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 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 APRIL 6, 2025

New subscribers this week include: Kevin Watmough, courtesy Pam West. 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 a new NBS podcast, two numismatic literature sales, one new book, updates from the Newman Numismatic Portal, and more.

Other topics this week include Connecticut coppers, Pine Tree auctions, tokens of British North Borneo, tariff turmoil, medal and die repair and restoration, fixed price and auction offerings, Morse code on coins, Royal Humane Society medals, American Protective Tariff League medals, and a font inspired by U.S. currency.

To learn more about Whitman Brands, the 2025 NNP Symposium, Dennis Tucker, Bob Evans, C. R. Clark, Jr., Julius Rosenwald, apothecary weights, the elusive London monogram coin of King Alfred the Great, the five pieces of information gold bars are marked with, the Black Shame medal, the Royal Australian Corps of Signals, a gonzo pair of tweezers, and Wojtek, the Polish Army Bear Soldier, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum

 

NBS BIBLIOTALK PODCAST WITH PATRICK IAN PEREZ

NBS Podcast Interviews Patrick Ian Perez

In the latest NBS podcast, Lianna Spurrier interviews Patrick Ian Perez, Vice President of Data and Content for CDN Publishing. Perez started at ground zero in 2008, working at a local coin shop, which he eventually acquired. Perez moved to the Greysheet in 2014, and then to CDN in 2015, as they acquired the Greysheet titles. Consolidation has continued in recent years, with the CDN / Whitman Brands merger in 2023, while separately Whitman has acquired the well-known Friedberg publications on paper money.

Perez is a firm believer that consistent pricing data builds the hobby, and in this interview discusses the challenges of distilling disparate sales into reliable pricing data. Perez also covers the Whitman publishing pipeline, known in recent years for a long string of authoritative works on a wide range of topics. Pat gives advice to aspiring authors and concludes by discussing his personal library. Finally, as we always ask interviewees, Pat makes recommendations on the best numismatic books for beginners.

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KUENKER APRIL 2025 NUMISMATIC LITERATURE

Our eLive Auction comprises 2,104 lots with a wide range of around 4,500 printed works on numismatics from 1523 to the present day. A particular highlight is a collection of around 780 auction catalogs from before the mid-20th century, including some extremely rare auctioneers' copies. These contain handwritten notes from the auction houses on all pre-bids and bids, as well as the hammer prices and names of the successful bidders.

The auction concludes with three extensive lots (lots 8105-8107) with a total of more than 5,000 auction and fixed-price catalogs, mainly from the last few decades.

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KOLBE & FANNING WEB SALE NUMBER 4

We will be holding the fourth of our new series of Web Sales of Numismatic Books on Thursday, April 10, starting at 12:00 PM Eastern. Web Sale #4 focuses on inexpensive but useful books, catalogues and other publications on coins from all times and places. It will take place live online, in much the same format as our Premier Auctions, and all lots in the Web Sale will begin at a very low $10 opening bid.

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NEW BOOK: THE CONNECTICUT COLLECTION

In February 1975, a landmark sale of Connecticut state coppers was held in New York City that would illustrate, as never before, the vastness of the series and how it could be collected. It was the broadest holding of such coppers yet assembled, with photographs and detailed descriptions of each coin placed in a soft- covered auction catalog. Nothing so well prepared, illustrated, and researched had ever been done—an effort that would not be exceeded for another 45 years. The sale, held by the Pine Tree Auction Company, is known familiarly as EAC75 because it was conducted during the annual Early American Coppers (EAC) convention, held the weekend of February 14–16, 1975.

The year 2025 represents the Golden 50th Anniversary of this Connecticut coppers sale, and a publication is being made available to commemorate the event.

The Connecticut Collection, February 1975 follows the background story for formation of this exciting Connecticut coppers collection, details of who was bidding during the sale, what they won, and a discussion of how EAC75 effected collectors for 50 years.

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MAY 2025 NNP SYMPOSIUM ANNOUNCED

The Newman Numismatic Portal today announces the next NNP Symposium, which will take place April 24-26, in conjunction with the Central States Numismatic Society convention in Schaumburg, IL. Sessions will be available to in-person show attendees and will be livestreamed for those wishing to view remotely.

The NNP Symposium is a free event that brings together a variety of numismatic speakers and covers a wide array of numismatic subjects. Featuring approximately twenty presentations, attendees will easily find topics of interest. This is the ninth such event, which was launched by the Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society in fall 2020 in response to the pandemic.

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DENNIS TUCKER TO SPEAK AT NNP, ANA EVENTS

Georgia)—Award-winning author Dennis Tucker will give a presentation for the 2025 Newman Numismatic Portal Symposium on Thursday, April 24, and will present a NumismaTalk for the American Numismatic Association on Thursday, May 8. His subjects are the design process for U.S. coins and medals, and Philippine coins minted by the United States.

Tucker's NNP Symposium talk is titled From Concept to Pocket Change: How U.S. Coins Are Designed. He draws on eight years of experience as the numismatic specialist of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, as well as his visits to every production facility of the United States Mint during his 2004–2024 tenure as publisher at Whitman Publishing. While Tucker served on the CCAC (a committee that advises the Secretary of the Treasury), he reviewed hundreds of design proposals for dozens of coin and medal programs.

In his illustrated talk, he goes behind the scenes in Congress, at the U.S. Mint, in the artist's studio, and on the Mint's production floor to show how a coin or medal goes from the idea stage to a finished product. This lecture will be presented virtually at the Central States Numismatic Society's 86th Anniversary Convention, at 3:00 pm Central on Thursday, April 24. The convention is held at the Schaumburg Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center, in Schaumburg, Illinois, close to Chicago's suburban Woodfield Mall.

The NNP Symposium is hosted and livestreamed on behalf of the Newman Numismatic Portal, the most comprehensive online resource for numismatic research and reference material, with a focus on American coinage and currency. The NNP is online at nnp.wustl.edu.

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VIDEO: CALIFORNIA SOUVENIRS

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NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: APRIL 6, 2025

Reprinters of Books on Ancient Numismatics
Bill Daehn writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: MARCH 30, 2025 : Publishers of Numismatic Book Reprints (https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n13a11.html)

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A PIECE OF LONDONIA COINAGE PUZZLE

In William A. Mackay's famous research on King Alfred the Great London Monogram coinage and its Danelaw imitations (British Numismatic Journal, volume 89, 2019, pages 19-107, further referenced MacKay) the author provides classification of all traceable first pennies and halfpennies issued by the Royal Mint in the name of King Alfred the Great who united England and has taken its capital City of London in the year of 886 A.D. All traceable Danelaw imitations of the said coinage was also classified in this paper. The author stated however that there will be other coins from older collections that will come to light later. London Monogram is a skillfully worked arrangement of the name Londonia designed by the Royal Mint first moneyers in the IX century, and Londonia penny is very frequently shown to the visitors of the Royal Mint Museum.

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BRITISH NORTH BORNEO TOKENS SOUGHT

Author Adrian J. Lansen of the Netherlands writes:

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TARIFF TURMOIL TROUBLES COIN TRADE

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VOCABULARY TERM: REPAIR AND RESTORATION

Repair and Restoration. If a medallic item is not too severely damaged it can be reworked and brought back to an acceptable state or condition. Physical damage – scratches, dents, nicks, pitting, blisters, fire damage, graffiti – can be restored usually by chasing. Chemical damage – tarnish, diffusion, stains, blotches, inexpert cleaning, fugitive patinas – can be restored by refinishing. Provided in all instances, of course, any damage on the piece to be treated is not already deteriorated beyond repair. Large edge nicks, generally, cannot be repaired. Where a similar size nick in a field can be easily repaired by chasing (metal is drawn from surrounding surface to fill the depressed area).

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CHARLES ROY CLARK, JR. (1928-2024)

The TAMS Journal for March-April 2025 noted the death of C. R. Clark, Jr. As a numismatic author, he deserves to be mentioned in The E-Sylum.

Clark was born on April 10, 1928, In Princeton, West Virginia. His father was Charles Roy Clark, Sr. (1902-1969), a pipefitter with the railroad, and mother was Hassie Roles Clark (1904- 1976). At age fourteen Charles joined his father to work as a brakeman on the Virginia Railroad.

He married Virginia Marion Vest (1927-2008) on March 18, 1949. They had a son, Robert.

Charles attended Bluefield Junior college. He was a star basketball player who led his team to the junior college final four. He graduated from East Tennessee State University in 1950 with a degree in engineering, physics and math.

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TREASURE TALK WITH BOB EVANS, EPISODE 2.2

Before that moment standing over the light table in the ship's darkroom, whenever I thought about the SSCA treasure, I imagined a big pile of coins, perhaps piles of degraded bags of coins, like moneybags from the cartoons of my youth. Or Scrooge McDuck's money room that he could swim in. Now we saw the reality, a collapsed and jumbled pile of degraded boxes of coins, along with boxes of ingots of various sizes.

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NUMISMAGRAM MEDAL SELECTIONS: APRIL 6, 2025

102935 | FRANCE. Strasbourg Cathedral bronze Medal. Issued 1861. Most Remarkable Edifices of Europe series (59mm, 12h). By Jacques Wiener in Brussels and struck at the Geerts mint in Ixelles. CATHEDRALE DE STRASBOURG, perspective view of the cathedral exterior from the northwest, highlighting its ubiquitous single northern tower // Perspective view of the interior, looking down the nave toward the west from a vantage point just to the right of center; the western rose window is at the focal point; in three lines in exergue, LA 1e PIERRE POSÉE 1015 TOUR & / PORTAIL COMMENCÉS 1276 / TERMINÉE 1439. Ross M237 (R2); van Hoydonck 185; Reinecke 45. PCGS SP-63. Deep brown surfaces, with a bit of a glossy nature in the fields; a minor spot is noted in the lower right field, accounting for the designation. $545.

Described by Victor Hugo as a "gigantic and delicate marvel," Strasbourg Cathedral in the Alsace region of France was begun near the start of the 11th century and completed in 1439. Though many aspects are built in the Romanesque style, it also features some of the best examples of the Rayonnant Gothic style. For over 200 years, from 1647 to 1874, it served as the world's tallest building at 466 feet. Now, it is the world's sixth tallest church, and still serves as the tallest extant church constructed in the middle ages.

From what is today eastern Netherlands and western Germany, the Wieners were a Jewish family of exceptional medalists, especially known for numerous numismatic works throughout the Kingdom of Belgium. Eldest brother Jacob (Jacques), along with younger brothers Leopold and Charles, created some of the finest works of medallic art of the 19th century, and all are particularly noted for their work in the highly detailed and intricate work of architectural renderings.

To read the complete item description, see:
102935 | FRANCE. Strasbourg Cathedral bronze Medal. (https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/102935)

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HERITAGE AUCTIONS: ROMAN REPUBLIC ANCIENT COINS

Marc Antony and Octavian, as Imperators and Triumvirs (ca. 43-33 BC). AR denarius (22mm, 3.53 gm, 12h). NGC VF 4/5 - 2/5, bankers marks, die shift. Ephesus, 41 BC. M•ANT•IMP AVG III VIR•R•P•C•M BARBAT•Q•P (MP and AV ligate), bare head of Marc Antony right / CAESAR•IMP•PONT•III•VIR•R•P•C•, bare head of Octavian right with touseled hair and long sideburn. Crawford 517/2. Sydenham 1811. Antonia 51, Barbatia 2 and Julia 96.

To read the complete item description, see:
Marc Antony and Octavian, as Imperators and Triumvirs (ca. 43-33 BC). AR denarius (22mm, 3.53 gm, 12h). NGC VF 4/5 - 2/5, bankers marks, die shift. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/roman-republic/roman-republic-marc-antony-and-octavian-as-imperators-and-triumvirs-ca-43-33-bc-ar-denarius-22mm-353-gm-12h-/a/61491-24125.s)

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AUSTRALIAN COIN WITH MORSE CODE

A new coin released by the Royal Australian Mint celebrates the Centenary of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals — but not all is at it seems.

Beneath its golden facade, the $1 commemorative coin features a hidden message in code, just waiting to be cracked.

"[There are] some amazing design features of the coin, capturing our heritage," Royal Australian Corps of Signals Head of Corps, Brigadier Deane Limmer, said.

Coin rich in symbolism and history

The Royal Australian Corps of Signals was established in 1925, and celebrates 100 years of service in military communications this year.

Part of their role has been to provide communications, information systems and electronic warfare support to the Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force.

"Signallers have been at the forefront of technology, even back in the day," Brigadier Limmer said.

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ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY SWIMMING MEDALS

One of the joys of collecting is the chance of the unexpected. St. James's Auction on 15th April ends with a small collection 34 medals issued by the Royal Humane Society for Proficiency in Swimming. The medal was first issued in 1882, when a mere seven were awarded, one each to a participating school. The award was to prepare the swimmer in the disciplines of life-saving and the prevention of drowning. In the 5th year of the competition in 1887, 26 of the handsome silver medals were awarded, one being to the 15-year-old Charles Creaghe Donovan, who attended the Royal Naval School, New Cross.

Donovan's subsequent career was in the military rather than navy and, with the rank of Captain in the Royal Artillery, he was stationed at Ferozepore in India when, on 30th August 1906 a fire broke out in the arsenal. The fire threatened to be a major disaster but was extinguished with Captain Donovan and Lieutenant E. F. Ross, Dorset Regiment, leading the firefighters and preventing over 300,000lbs. of gunpowder from exploding. Both Donovan and Ross were awarded the Albert Medal in gold (First Class) and a further 11 (2nd Class) were awarded in bronze. The Albert Medal in gold was abolished in 1949 and replaced by the George Cross which had been instituted in 1941.

Donovan retired from the army with the rank of Lt. Colonel shortly after the end of the First Word War and died in 1923. The whereabouts of his Albert Medal is unknown, His Royal Humane Society medal, some 2 ounces in weight, depicts a swimmer going to the aid of a damsel in distress, is estimated at £200-400. Emma Hulme, senior numismatist at St. James's, commented, it would be wonderful if Donovan's Albert medal were to come to light as a result of this sale – he was certainly a very brave man.

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AMERICAN PROTECTIVE TARIFF LEAGUE MEDAL

I won't comment on the economic or political wisdom of the recently announced American import tariffs, nor even on the potential impact on the international numismatic marketplace. While likely to be significant regardless of what we collect, there is already plenty of commentary out there, and I imagine much more in store for us in the coming days.

In the current environment, we're all being reminded of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930. If you somehow missed this, you can read about it on Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoot%E2%80%93Hawley_Tariff_Act and be amused by its mention in the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhiCFdWeQfA

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NEW MEDAL HONORS JULIUS ROSENWALD

The Jewish-American Hall of Fame is celebrating May as Jewish American Heritage Month by issuing art medals honoring Julius Rosenwald, who appears along with his friend and associate Booker T. Washington. These Renaissance-style high relief medals are the 56th in the longest continuing series of art medals in America.

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IRAN'S CAR MAKERS TRADE NUTS FOR BOLTS

In a typical year, 10 out of every 100 dollars that Iran spends on Chinese goods goes towards car parts. While the China-Iran trade relationship has languished under sanctions, China has remained a critical supplier for the Iranian automotive industry, which continues to produce over one million automobiles annually.

But over the last year, Iranian automakers have struggled to keep the parts flowing. Parts imports from China totalled $653 million in 2024, a precipitous 43 percent decline when compared to the previous year.

The fall in imports has led to a shortage of car parts in Iran, with consumers facing long wait times and soaring prices. The impact has been most acute for Iran's private sector automakers, who mainly assemble cars using complete knock-down kits imported from China. Whilst Iran's state-owned automakers are supported by a large ecosystem of domestic parts manufacturers, private-sector automakers remain heavily dependent on Chinese imports to keep their customers' cars on the road.

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UAE CENTRAL BANK'S NEW DIRHAM SYMBOL

The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has unveiled a new symbol for the country's national currency, the dirham, as part of a move to strengthen the Emirates' position as a leading global financial hub.

The new symbol was chosen to represent the stability of the Emirati dirham while also paying tribute to the country's flag. The CBUAE also revealed the symbol for the digital dirham.

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FONT INSPIRED BY U.S. CURRENCY

Greed, the typeface, is good.

Greed is pompous, ostentatious, and rude — a critical expression of our basest societal instincts. It is a bold, big-shouldered, unapologetic, and maximalist typeface, perfectly positioned for 2025, the year of more is more. Gordon Gekko would be proud.

Greed's designer, Positype's Neil Summerour, began his research twelve years ago after a friend and fellow designer suggested that he create a series based on the seven deadly sins. Wood type influences anchored some of the series, but for Greed, he turned to the intricate lettering of US currency. (The deadly sins series never took shape as prompted, but the prompt more than served its purpose for the eventual development and release of Greed.)

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LOOSE CHANGE: APRIL 6, 2025

Wojtek, Polish Army Bear Soldier

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FEATURED WEBSITE: PRIVATE MINT NEWS

This week's Featured Website is John Wang's Private Mint News.

https://privatemintnews.com/

ABOUT THIS ISSUE: APRIL 6, 2025

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