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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 Lang Numismatic Auction sale July 29, 2025 Kolbe & Fanning sale on July 31, 2025

 

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 JULY 20, 2025

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 two literature sales, four new books, three periodicals, updates from the Newman Numismatic Portal, the Maine Penny, and more.

Other topics this week include British Methodist medals, the MCA Advisory, U.S. Mint Reports, ribbon lifts, George Kolbe, Paul Hollis, California fractional gold, King Alfred the Great, curious numismatic Judaica, and pirate treasure.

To learn more about Polish Copper Coins of Augustus III, the Thomas Spence Indian Token, Halliday's Badge of Distinction, the Numi AI coin sorting prototype, the Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition medal, coin buttons of Ferdinand VII and Isabella II, Queen Victoria Gold Medals, and Mike Markowitz's Top Ten Medieval Coins, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum

 

 

KOLBE & FANNING BCD LIBRARY WEB SALE #1

Kolbe & Fanning Numismatic Booksellers are pleased to announce that we will be holding a Web Sale of selections from the extraordinary BCD Library on Thursday, July 31. Our Web Sales generally focus on useful but lower-price books, catalogues and other numismatic publications, and this initial offering in this format of material from the BCD Library includes publications on a wide variety of topics, mostly pertaining to antiquity, all of which are listed with a starting price of only $10. The online catalogue can be accessed at bid.numislit.com. There is no printed catalogue.

Along with more commonly available references, a number of rarities and other delicacies are included. Some highlights of this first Web Sale include:

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LANG NUMISMATIC LITERATURE AUCTION 7 REMINDER

This is a reminder of our upcoming 7th auction of numismatic literature, which will take place on July 29, 2025. Discover rare treasures and important works of numismatic art, including duplicates from the BCD-library.

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NEW BOOK: KIDS LOVE COINS!

Whitman is thrilled to announce the upcoming release of Kids Love Coins!, a joyful and engaging introduction to the world of coin collecting for young readers. Written by acclaimed children's author Charles Ghigna—widely known as Father Goose®—and Andi Martin, and brought to life by illustrator Jacqueline East, this beautifully crafted 32-page picture book is designed to spark curiosity and inspire a lifelong love of coins in children ages 3 and up.

One of our key roles in the numismatic community is to ensure the hobby endures by inspiring young collectors, said John Feigenbaum, President and CEO of Whitman Brands. This book is a perfect example of that mission in action. Kids Love Coins! is the ideal way to get children excited about coins—especially as we look ahead to the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026!

From Lincoln cents to Kennedy half dollars and beyond, Kids Love Coins! presents fascinating facts about U.S. coins—what they're made of, who and what is featured on them, where they're minted, and how they are used—all in rhyming verse paired with vivid, full-color illustrations. Children will also learn the parts of a coin, basic coin terminology, and the joys of starting their own collection.

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NEW BOOK: POLISH COPPER COINS OF AUGUSTUS III

Polish Copper Coins of Augustus III
By: Jerzy Chalupski

I would like to inform you that my new book on the Polish copper coins of August III Vettin is available in the Amazon store.

It, and my other catalogs, can be purchased here: http://bit.ly/4lPhkoA (printed or ebook).

The copper Crown coins of Augustus III were only two denominations minted in at least three mints during seven years with little coverage. Coins burdened with original sin - for all intents and purposes, they should all be treated as illegal issues, because:

• The issue, which we consider official, was launched without the approval of the Parliament and the Senate, and contrary to the Pacta Conventa. The coins were minted at three Saxon mints.
• Prussian mints began minting counterfeit silver Polish coins as early as 1754. Production continued and expanded to include copper coins after the Saxon mints were seized by Prussia during the Seven Years' War. Walther Haupt wrote that Polish copper pennies were minted in huge quantities at seven different Prussian mints - the profits went to Frederick the Great's treasury to cover the costs of war.
• Even before the Seven Years' War ended, Augustus III secretly ordered that pennies should be minted again at the newly established Grünthal Mint.

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NEW BOOK: BRITISH METHODIST MEDALS AND TOKENS

Catalogue of Methodist Medallions, Medals and Tokens of Great Britain
By: Martin Bower

297 x 210mm portrait, PPC, 440 pages
RRP £75

Martin Bower's fully comprehensive catalogue is the first to cover all medallions, medals and tokens produced within Methodism in Great Britain between the years 1770 and 2024. The introduction gives an overview of the catalogue's contents followed by a brief historical background.

After the introduction, the catalogue contains sections relating to Methodist Commemorative Medallions; Sunday School Awards and Attendance Medals; School and College Medals; Temperance and Band of Hope Medals; Overseas Missions Awards and Prize Medals; Sporting Awards and Methodist Tokens. It includes a substantial amount of material not previously published. A considerable amount of research has been carried out regarding the history behind the entries, with a huge amount of fascinating background information provided by way of notes. An extensive index is also included.

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NEW BOOK: STRIKING GOLD IN ALASKA, 8TH EDITION

STRIKING GOLD IN ALASKA:MAKING TOKENS FROM PLACER GOLD, 8TH. EDITION, 2025.
by Dick Hanscom

298 pages, 9 inches by 6 inches, fully illustrated with B&W photos.

This is a complete text book. See six pages of table of contents for details.

A (nearly) complete catalogue of the gold tokens from 70+ sources that I have made is given. Also included is information on each of these sources (creeks, rivers, prospects, mines, etc.). Tokens in silver and copper are also included.

This book details what I have been doing since the 7th (2021) edition, with about 17 new sources of gold.

The information in this book can be applied to any minting project and does not require placer gold.

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PERIODICAL: TAMS JOURNAL JULY-AUGUST 2025

About the Cover

The late 19th century was a transformative period in American history, marked by rapid urbanization that reshaped the nation's social, economic, and cultural landscapes. This era, encompassing Reconstruction and the Gilded Age, saw a significant shift from rural to urban living, driven by industrialization, immigration, and technological advancements.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Articles

An Interesting Celluloid Badge
David E. Schenkman

Masonic Mules
Tom Carson

 

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PERIODICAL: MCA ADVISORY SUMMER 2025

Table of Contents

President's Message

Editor's Message

Letters to the Editor

MCA and Hobby News

• From the Desk of Auction Correspondent Rob Penn
• June 2025: David Alexander & David Menchell Teach Summer Seminar Class
• American Numismatic Society Semiquincentennial Medal
• Stephen K. Scher, Ph. D. Medal Collection a Highlight at the Frick
• Americans in Paris: The Art Nouveau Revolution

 

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PERIODICAL: 300TH ISSUE OF THE SHEKEL

Four issues of the Shekel are sent annually to members of the American Israel Numismatic Association who pay $18 for digital copies or $40 for printed copies, but anyone can obtain the digital copy of the full-color 48-page 300th anniversary issue for free by emailing ainapresident@gmail.com and requesting it.

The Shekel, self-described as The Journal of Israel and Jewish History and Numismatics, has been published by the American Israel Numismatic Association since the Spring of 1968. The 300th issue contains diverse topics – the Holocaust, Judaic medals, ancient Judaean coins, Israel commemorative coins, current news, and collectible pins. The articles featured are Lodz Numismatics by Joshua Blustein, Two Medals with the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) In Paleo-Hebrew by Stuart Weinerman MD, Eighths of a Shekel Ancient Coins by Steve and Ray Feller, New Jewish-American Hall of Fame Medals Honor Philanthropist Julius Rosenwald and Black Icon Booker T. Washington by Mel Wacks, Israel's Football (Soccer) Coins by Simcha Kuritzky, U.S. Customs Import Restrictions Affect Tyrian Shekels by Peter Tompa, Let My People Go: Badges of Jewish Human Rights Organizations issued at Summits with Soviet Leaders by Dr. Vladimir Bernshtam, and Let My People Go Commemorated on Israel Coins.

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NEWMAN PORTAL ADDS MINT REPORTS

Newman Portal Adds Mint Reports

The Newman Portal has added the United States Mint annual reports for the years 2021-2024. Notable coinage programs in this period included the American Women Quarter series and the 100th anniversary of the Morgan and Peace silver dollars. While the Mint demonstrated continued profitability, the revenue decreases relating to circulating coinage were sharp, with revenue falling from $1,168m in 2020 to $553m in 2024. These annual reports extend the collection of Mint reports on Newman Portal, which begin with the 1795 submissions from Mint Directors Henry De Saussure and Elias Boudinot.

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VIDEO: DAN HOLMES LARGE CENT HIGHLIGHTS

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BOB LEONARD ON THE MAINE PENNY

I first learned of this find in the December 1978, when it was illustrated on the cover of that issue of Seaby Coin & Medal Bulletin. I immediately wrote to Dr. Bruce J. Bourque of the Maine State Museum in Augusta to buy a copy of Maine Arch. Soc. Bulletin, 18 (1978), no. 1, but it was already out of print and I was sent a Xerox copy instead. [Incidentally, this has to be one of the rarest American numismatic publications.] So I have first-hand information on the circumstances of the find.

One of the problems with the "Maine Penny" is that it is VERY much embrittled, and pieces have chipped off over time to the point where it is all but unrecognizable as a coin. Here is how it looked at first publication:

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NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JULY 20, 2025

William Wyon Book Published
David Fanning writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JULY 13, 2025 : The Wyon Family of Engravers (https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n28a09.html)

NUMI V3: AI COIN SORTING PROTOTYPE DEMO

Feedback from Coin Collectors & Dealers on the value of an AI Coin-Sorting Robot

After a few weeks of much-needed rest, I thought E-Sylum readers would enjoy hearing the feedback I received about Numi's public prototype debut.

Earlier this month, I attended both the Colorado Springs Coin Club Show and the ANA Summer Seminar as a scholarship recipient. I had one clear mission in mind: to gather honest feedback from the coin community about the utility of an automated AI coin-sorting robot.

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VOCABULARY TERM: RIBBON LIFT

Ribbon Lift. A simple ribbon attached to the bottom of a well in a case made for coins or medals. The ribbon is attached to the case and has a short length extending beyond the well. When a coin or medal is placed in the snug-fitting well the ribbon extends beyond it. By pulling up the ribbon lifts the piece from the well.

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GEORGE FREDERICK KOLBE (1941-2025)

I frequently write technical biographies but don't often include personal remembrances. Here are some biographical facts about George Kolbe that were not in The E-Sylum last week.

George was born in Yonkers, New York, on September 9, 1941. His parents were George Andrew Kolbe (1906-1984) and Kathleen Louise Golia (1910-1985). He had an older brother Andrew Robert Kolbe (1932-2007) and sister Mary Lou Kolbe Bachman (1934-2001). In the 1930 census, father George was a chauffeur; in 1940, a carpenter.

The family moved to the Pasadena, California, area in 1943 and settled at 549 N. Holliston Street. For the 1950 Census, the father was listed as a salesman for Monarch Roofing and Insulation Company.

As a teen-ager, George Kolbe delivered papers for the Pasadena Independent. He got his picture in the paper in 1956 as one of their top salesmen.

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PAUL HOLLIS NOMINATED FOR U.S. MINT DIRECTOR

When he was a little kid, Paul Hollis said his grandmother gave him a Peace dollar from the Great Depression, sparking a lifelong love of coins.

On Thursday, President Donald Trump nominated Hollis, an elected member of the Louisiana Board of Secondary and Elementary Education and a former state representative from St. Tammany Parish, to run the U.S. Mint, the government agency in charge of making the nation's coins.

The nomination now heads to the U.S. Senate, which will have a confirmation hearing. Hollis, of Mandeville, said he plans to carry the same Peace Dollar in his pocket to that hearing. The Peace Dollar is a dollar coin first made in 1921 to commemorate the end of World War I.

"I'm thrilled about it," Hollis, a coin collector, said of his nomination. As part of the process, he spoke with treasury officials — the U.S. Mint is a bureau in the department of the U.S. Treasury — and after the nomination received a call of congratulations from Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, who he said had recommended him to Trump. Hollis and Johnson had served in the state Legislature together.

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NUMISMAGRAM MEDAL SELECTIONS: JULY 20, 2025

103250 | FRANCE. National Convention bell metal Medal. Issued 1792/Year 1 of the Republic (41mm, 41.10 g, 12h). By André Galle in Lyon. LIBERTE FRANÇOISE / L'AN I DE LA R F, head of Liberty left, with hair flowing freely and with pole surmounted by Phrygian cap over far shoulder // A LA / CONVENTION / NATIONALE / PAR LES / ARTISTES REUNIS / DE LYON / PUR METAL / DE CLOCHE / FRAPPE EN / MDCCXCII in ten lines; all within garlanded oak wreath. Edge: Plain. Mazard 318a; Guilloteau 338; Bramsen 190b. Choice Mint State. Dark olive-brown surfaces, with some alluring brilliance; a minor reverse planchet chip near the rim is noted for completeness, but is rather easily overlooked given the exceptional quality of preservation and the overall superior nature of the planchet. On account of the composition (melted down bells), the level of craftsmanship of surviving examples tends to be on the poorer side. A popular and attractive type that clearly drew great inspiration from the Libertas Americana medal issued a decade prior, and paralleled the contemporary American coinage during the mint's initial outputs of "flowing hair" designs. $1,095.

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HERITAGE: CALIFORNIA FRACTIONAL GOLD SHOWCASE

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WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY: JULY 20, 2025

Time sure flies. Tuesday was the monthly dinner meeting of my Northern Virginia numismatic social group, Nummis Nova. Mike Packard was our host, and he chose Maggiano's Little Italy restaurant in Tyson's. The food and wine are always great, and this was where we held our second meeting and the first that many of our regular members attended.

I arrived a little early and found Mike Markowitz, Eric Schena and Dave Schenkman already congregated at the bar. It was around 6 o'clock and our reservation wasn't until 6:45. Tom Kays joined us while we passed around some of the coins and books we'd brought. Eric showed off a great non-numismatic book, a pioneering history of mining in Virginia.

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EXETER MUSEUM'S KING ALFRED THE GREAT COIN

A museum in Exeter has said a rare Anglo-Saxon coin - one of only three known to exist and made in the city more than 1,100 years ago - is "finally coming home".

The inscription on the silver penny is believed to be the earliest known use of the name Exeter.

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CURIOUS NUMISMATIC JUDAICA

Tsadik Kaplan writes:

Occasionally, when I'm introduced to someone, and the person introducing me says, He writes a column in The Jewish Press about antique Judaica, I receive the response That's you?! How do you know so much? I in turn state that since I've been collecting and appraising Judaica for almost 30 years, the vast majority of what I encounter is something I've seen before. Sure, every now and then I might be shown a piece which needs a bit of research, but I've just about seen it all, including rare and unique pieces that are filed away in my brain from my library of auction catalogs and museum publications.

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1721 PIRATE TREASURE DISCOVERED

In the waters off Madagascar's northeast coast, archaeologists say they have uncovered the final resting place of a ship plundered in one of history's most dramatic pirate raids. The wreck, they believe, is that of the Nossa Senhora do Cabo—a Portuguese vessel overtaken in 1721 by the infamous pirate Olivier The Buzzard Levasseur.

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COINS FROM USS YORKTOWN SHIPWRECK RETURNED

A Chicago firm specializing in rare coins, antiquities and historical artifacts has returned looted coins from the wreck of the USS Yorktown (1839) to the U.S. Navy.

A news release said the coins were uncovered in 2024 as part of a large estate purchase made by Chicago firm Harlan J. Berk, Ltd (HJB).

After conducting further research, HJB identified the coins as part of a trove looted in 2000 from the USS Yorktown wreck, located off the coast of Africa, according to officials.

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ABOUT THIS ISSUE: JULY 20, 2025

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