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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 can go to the following web page Subscribe You may Unsubscribe Here 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 04/25/2026 Workman's Book Sale 8

 

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 12, 2026

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 more Workman's Books numismatic literature sale highlights, three new books, a periodical issue, updates from the Newman Numismatic Portal, notes from readers, and more.

Other topics this week include test notes, U.S. government checks, the Southern Gold Society, the NNP Symposium, silhouette medals, Luther Bryant, the SS Central America, auction previews, the U.S. Colored Troops medals, physical cryptocurrency, ship scrip, and the Liberty Dollar Bill Act.

To learn more about the Dahlonega Mint, money of the Khmer Rouge, one of America's earliest women in numismatics, Sunshine Minting, Numismatics International, the 1938 Canada Silver Dollar, and space-flown currency, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum

 

MORE WORKMAN'S BOOKS SALE 8 SELECTIONS

Lot 7: Anthony, John. COLLECTING GREEK COINS. Longman Group Ltd., New York. 1983. 12mo. (6), 301, (1) pages. original pictorial card covers. Maps. Suggested Reading. B&w coin photos throughout. English text. Near Fine. This book is a practical, introductory guide tailored specifically for hobbyists looking to navigate the vast world of ancient numismatics. It provides a historical and geographic framework, using maps and over 530 photographs to help collectors identify and appreciate the artistry of Hellenistic coinage. Rather than being a dense academic catalog, it focuses on making the field accessible by offering essential background information and tips on building a meaningful collection. Lot weight: 1 lbs 0oz. Subject(s): Ancient Greek Coinage.

Lot 23: Birdsall, Clair M. THE UNITED STATES BRANCH MINT AT DAHLONEGA, GEORGIA - ITS HISTORY AND COINAGE. Southern Historical Press, Easley. 1984. 4to. xvi, 122, (6) pages. original red cloth, black title block, gilt. First edition. Maps. Tables. Appendix. Bibliography. 6 color coin plates. B&w photos throughout. English text. Fine. This book is the definitive numismatic reference for the Dahlonega Mint, prized for its detailed analysis of the gold coinage produced there between 1838 and 1861. It provides essential data for identifying and evaluating the rarity of gold dollars, quarter eagles, three-dollar pieces, and half eagles, including year-by-year mintage figures and historical context on the die varieties. Because the Dahlonega Mint exclusively struck gold in limited quantities, this out-of-print text is considered an indispensable tool for serious collectors looking to authenticate and understand the provenance of these high-value, southern-minted coins. Lot weight: 1 lbs 10oz. Subject(s): United States Mint History.

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NEW BOOK: PROMOTIONAL SHEET & TEST NOTES 2026

The "North American Printers Promotional Sheets & Test Notes" from 2023 has been revised with an updated version for 2026. There are many new finds and new companies with test and advertising notes in three years!

North American Printers Test and Advertising Notes - 2026 now runs 401 pages, (280 pages last issue) That's 43% more pages! The catalog is now on Adobe pdf format. This provides several advantages. If electronic download is chosen, the file can be sent in seconds, with NO shipping fees. Like all PDF files, the entire catalog is searchable with a word or phrase. Common names of test notes added to aid search, such as "Washington", "Tyvek", "Lupo", "Reapers", "color chart", or "calendar". ALL test note issuing firms are bookmarked, allowing moving from one firm to another available with a single click. The file is 43 MB.

138 known North American printer firms producing test notes (9 new firms attributed!), including Printer's test, house and advertising notes from the 1815 forward. The catalog also includes any firm used to produce bank notes, including security ink, security paper mills, polymer producers, holographic and other security devices, and banknote design firms. The 1815 advertising note is a new company and is the oldest test note attributed in the world!

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NEW BOOK: PAY TO THE ORDER OF VICTORY

Many types of World War II paper money are popular with collectors. A new book by James Downey covers one of the little-appreciated byways­—checks. It turns out that the category checks is itself broad.

The book titled Pay to the Order of Victory: United States Checks in World War II includes a foreword by Fred Schwan. The book is dedicated to the memory of Neil Shafer.

The book introduces each of these areas with text and illustrations—and always of interest to collectors values—for each check type. Many of the checks were issued for very low amounts (one cent in many cases) thus adding interest for collectors.

Some of the types of checks discussed and listed are what you might expect: payment for government purchases or refunds for things like overpayment of income tax and war (or defence) bonds. Other types of check discussed and illustrated are fascinating stories in and of themselves.

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NEW BOOK: BANKNOTE AND COIN UPDATE 2025

Welcome to this round-up of all new banknotes and coins issued in 2025, brought to you by the publishers of Currency News™ and Coin & Mint News™. This annual summary is the second of its type, covering the previous year's new issues.

The somewhat prosaically-titled Banknote and Coin Update 2025 has been compiled using the DataVault searchable database of banknotes and coins. This resource, which is available to all those involved in the industry, enables users to search and sort all of the world's banknotes and circulating coins via various parameters relating to size, orientation, date of issue, theme, substrate or composition, features and more – with a powerful search engine saving hours if not days of time-consuming research.

The information covers circulating notes and coins only (including, for banknotes, circulating commemoratives) issued during 2025. Whilst other notes and coins were unveiled during the year, they have only been included if they have actually been put into circulation.

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PERIODICAL: NUMISMATIQUE ASIATIQUE NO. 57

Numismatique Asiatique
No. 57 | March 2026

ÉDITORIAL

De nouvelles découvertes dans nos musées nationaux
New discoveries in French National museums

ACTES DES VIe RENCONTRES DE NUMISMATIQUE ASIATIQUE

DEUXIÈME PARTIE

Les Khmers rouges et la monnaie
by François Joyaux

Les billets de banque "tatoués" du Cambodge et du Siam : note d'ethno-numismatique
by Olivier de Bernon

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APRIL 2026 NNP SYMPOSIUM ANNOUNCED

The next NNP Symposium, our tenth such event, will take place at the Central States Numismatic Society (CSNS) convention in Schaumburg, IL, April 23-25. This event will be live-streamed. Featured speakers include U.S. Mint Director Paul Hollis, who will present at 10:30AM on Thursday, April 23 on "The US Mint's Celebration of the Semiquincentennial." Among others, ANS Executive Director Ute Wartenberg Kagan will speak on "Coin Portraiture in Antiquity and Today," while Lawrence S. Brown, Jr., former member of the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee, will present "Congressional Gold Medals: Intersection of Art and History."

The CSNS "State Showcase" annually features one member state, and this year Missouri will be highlighted with related exhibits and presentations. As part of the NNP Symposium, four presentations are dedicated to Missouri numismatics. The full schedule, 21 sessions total, is now posted on the NNP Symposium site. Zoom links will be posted shortly before the event.

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NNP ADDS SOUTHERN GOLD SOCIETY NEWSLETTERS

Southern Gold Society Newsletters on Newman Portal

Courtesy of David Crenshaw, the Southern Gold Society (SGS) newsletters for 2025 are now available on Newman Portal. The (SGS) is devoted to the study and appreciation of gold coins produced in the American South. Its primary focus is on coins from the branch Mints - Charlotte, Dahlonega, and New Orleans - as well as early private minters such as the Bechtler family and Templeton Reid. The society serves collectors, historians, and enthusiasts who are interested in the historical context, production, and collecting of these coins, which are closely tied to early American gold rushes and regional history. The SGS may be contacted at contactus@southerngoldsociety.org.

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VIDEO:

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GOLD.COM ACQUIRES SUNSHINE MINTING

Gold.com, Inc., a fully-integrated alternative assets platform offering an extensive range of precious metals, numismatic coins, and collectibles, today announced the acquisition of Sunshine Minting, Inc. (SMI), a leading manufacturer of precious metals mint products and long-standing supplier to the Company.

The acquisition significantly expands Gold.com's vertically integrated minting platform and increases total production capacity to more than three million ounces of finished precious metals products per week across Sunshine Minting and Silver Towne Mint (STM).

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NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: APRIL 12, 2026

Heartwarming Purple Heart Story
Susan Sims writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
PURPLE HEART MEDAL FOUND IN LOCKER (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n14a32.html)

 

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SIX YNS RECIEVE PNG NEXGEN SCHOLARSHIPS

The Professional Numismatists Guild (www.PNGdealers.org), with generous support from eBay (www.eBay.com) and the National Silver Dollar Roundtable (www.NSDR.org), awarded six scholarships to talented young numismatists as part of PNG's nexGen annual scholarship program, supporting the growth and integrity of the numismatic community. Recipients will each attend a week-long session of the American Numismatic Association (www.money.org) 2026 Summer Seminar in Colorado.

Launched in 2023, the nexGen program assists future coin dealers by connecting interested young adults with mentors and uses PNG's resources to build relationships with numismatic organizations worldwide.

"This year, with the support of eBay for five scholarships and the National Silver Dollar Roundtable for one, PNG has increased the number of nexGen scholarships awarded – reflecting our shared commitment to elevating and expanding the field of numismatics. The recipients reflect the passion of this discipline, and we're proud to support their ambitions," said PNG Executive Director John Feigenbaum.

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2026 ACEF KREUZER AWARD

The Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation's 2026 Alan Kreuzer Award will include stipends of between $1,500 and $2,000 in addition to the 3-inch bronze award medal.

"The award recognizes numismatists who volunteer their time and resources to combating counterfeit coins and collectibles. Fraudulent coins don't just undermine a marketplace; they devalue our American heritage," said Chandra Kreuzer Rudd, the daughter of Alan Kreuzer, for whom the annual memorial award is named. Her $50,000 donation in 2017 helped to launch the task force that later became the Anti-Counterfeiting Educational Foundation and her donations since have funded the annual memorial award.

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VOCABULARY TERM: SILHOUETTE

Silhouette. A medallic item trimmed to the outline of all or part of its design. The irregular silhouette shape is chosen for its artistic contribution to the design, emphasizing its configuration. To silhouette a medal is to cut out its shape by jigsaw, or jeweler's saw or by trimming tool to create the distinctive shape of the peripheral design. To hand silhouette a piece is to trim it at a bench with hand tools, using a saw capable of cutting in any direction, for example, to be able to cut out the outline of leaves of wreaths, the headgear or hair-do of heads, facial feature of portraits, the edges of frames, the curves of scrolls, scallops and ornate cartouches, or whatever the designer has brought to the edge of his medallic design.

Hand trimming is applicable only for short production runs, from one to perhaps fifty pieces. Longer production runs require a trimming tool which can uniformly cutout or silhouette the design on many pieces.

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LUTHER C. BRYANT (1801-1886)

This week I came across the sensational story of the burglary of New York coin dealer Luther C. Bryant. Often a statement in one source is contradicted in another source. Much of the story cannot be verified and that may not be his true name.

According to an 1886 interview, Bryant was born in Cummington, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, the son of a physician. He graduated from Williams College when he was fourteen years old, studied medicine, travelled to Europe and settled in Burlington, Vermont. During trips to Italy and the Holy Land, he collected coins. He left Charleston, South Carolina and moved to New York City about 1861. In an interview, he claimed that he brought with him assets of $60,000.

Luther also claimed to be the brother of William Cullen Bryant, romantic poet and editor of the New York Evening Post. However, this is not supported in the family history for William. There are no Census records for Luther. I found no public record of him before 1861. His true identity cannot be verified.

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TREASURE TALK WITH BOB EVANS, EPISODE 13

Anyone who has experienced rough weather at sea knows it can be hard to keep the dishes on the table. Gravity and "which-way-is-up" is variable at sea. Throughout the S.S. Central America shipwreck site we found broken plates, saucers, and other ceramics, testimony to the violence of the hurricane and the waves that battered the steamer.

Passenger Almira Kittredge heard a story about the tumbling dishes, "The tables were set on Friday, and some of the passengers – mostly second cabin passengers – had taken dinner, when the captain called up all hands to help in bailing. Two little girls, Miss Lockwood and Miss Pahud, got their dinner, nevertheless, and had a very merry time over it. The sea tossed the steamer about very violently, but the girls laughingly told us how they had braced themselves, to the table and ate away. When the dishes flew about smashing and crashing as they fell to the floor, the girls laughed merrily, thinking it was rare sport. They were decidedly jolly, little realizing the danger in which they stood."

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EXHIBITING THE SS CENTRAL AMERICA ARTIFACTS

Then along came the SS Central America treasure. I worked on that from about 1998 to about 2001, then on and off for a few years as things arose that needed my attention. Then, sometime after the 2014 recovery, I got brought into the mix again by the Court's appointed representative on a number of matters.

Ultimately, I was asked to sell the artifacts. They were originally collected for a museum, a true cultural display. The expedition recovery team (note I didn't say "salvors" – it has a different connotation) was careful to take samples of all aspects of the cultural relics. But this collection never made it to a museum – it was an asset to the shareholders, since none had ever been paid back by Thompson. Columbus America did everything right along the way. They had a professional conservation team work on all the recovered clothing found in the sealed trunks that sat idly on the ocean floor, 8000 feet deep, for about 150 years. (remember Wm Ralston's personal shirt?) Years later, when the recovery team opened the nearly completely dissolved Purser's iron safe, out popped two bundles of documents, wrapped and tied, protecting most from the living organisms. Those were sent to the Northeast Document Conservation company in Andover, Mass. I got the call to take a look mid-project and was blown away- literally. This was the first time in history that documents had been preserved from a deep water ship – the staff there thought this was so, and i agreed, as I expressed my wonder at reading some of the names, Including James Birch, the young, energetic stage coach owner during the California Gold Rush, who lost his life on the SSCA.

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NUMISMATIC AUCTIONS LLC SALE 70, PART 3

Canada Silver Dollar, 1938 Key Date - Finest Known Specimen Top Pop PCGS SP67 Colorful Gem Ex: Norweb/Belzberg. Singularly the finest of this highly sought after date, unparalleled in quality and a condition rarity - far superlative to the highest NGC graded example. Stunning cobalt blue, violet & lilac toning. Ex: Norweb and Belzberg prior to becoming part of the Jack Alston Collection. A legendary example that is a registry set crown jewel coin that we expect to well eclipse the record SP65 which sold for $22,325 in Jan of 2014. Brian Cornwell referred to this coin as by far the finest Specimen of this date ever graded by ICCS and the only hairline free 1938 Specimen Dollar he had ever seen. A phenomenal opportunity and an iconic trophy coin for the winning bidder as the new owner!

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STACKS BOWERS: APRIL 2026 HONG KONG SALE

Our next major world paper money sale is our April 2026 Hong Kong (SAR) Showcase Auction. Offering more than 2,500 lots of world paper money, there many highlights worthy of inclusion in a blog article. However, here I take a look at a small group that stood out to me for one reason or the other. They are not necessarily the most expensive or rare notes; instead, these are notes that I personally like for one reason or the other.

Lot 30036 – CHINA–EMPIRE. Ta Ching Government Bank. 10 Dollars, ND (1910). P-A81r. S/M#T10-42. Remainder. PMG Choice Very Fine 35 EPQ.

That paper money can be art is undisputed, and this note is one of the reasons why that is such a simple statement to make. Printed in black on the front and blue on the back, this was engraved in the United States by L. Hatch, and features the portrait of Prince Chun at left, and a dragon flying over the Great Wall of China as the main design element. A hugely attractive note seen here as a remainder (as is typically the case).

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CNG: THE PLZ COLLECTION OF ROMAN COINS

The PLZ Collection, a remarkable holding of ancient Roman coins featuring gold, silver and bronze coins of the first 12 Roman Caesars in superb quality, will lead off Classical Numismatic Group's Feature Auction 132, scheduled for May 18-19, 2026.

Additionally, the PLZ Collection spotlights the famous "Travel Series" coinage of the Emperor Hadrian, called "the wandering emperor" for his extensive journeys throughout the Roman Empire.

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THE COINAGE OF PROBUS

Gold Coinage: Aurei and Biniones

The Roman Empire operated on a gold standard. The aureus contained nearly pure gold. Initially, it weighed about 8 grams. However, emperors gradually reduced the weight:

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1715 FLEET SOCIETY'S APRIL 2026 TREASURE

It is no secret that we have an affinity for featuring gold coins as our Treasure of the Month. In fact, since August of 2024, we have featured gold coins on five different occasions January 2026 (1 escudo from the Mexico City mint); July 2025 (Two 8 escudos from the Mexico City mint); June 2025 (Three 2 escudos from Santa Fe de Bogota and Cuzco mints); August 2024 (escudo from the Lima mint); and October 2024 (One 8 escudos from the Lima mint).

This might seem like a lot, but when we come across a beautiful gold coin, it is hard for us to resist. That is the case for our Treasure of the Month for April, a high-grade 2 escudos from the Spanish colonial mint at Lima, Peru. Aside from its beauty, this coin has other distinguishing features and an historic pedigree.

Bearing a 1711 date (actually just 711 as Lima did not use the first digit on its gold or silver coins) it was the most common date in the Lima 2 escudos series. Interestingly, because of the 711 date, they were very popular in Las Vegas. In Numerology, 711 is a "message of encouragement" from the universe, indicating spiritual growth." But in Las Vegas, there was nothing spiritual about the number. It was simply associated with winning. This has cemented the phrase "7 come 11" and the idea of 711 as a winning combination. These coins were often committed to jewelry, where they were worn proudly by gamblers for good luck.

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8TH REGIMENT U.S. COLORED TROOPS MEDAL, PART 1

Figure 1: The 1863 8th Regiment U.S.C.T. Medal predates the 1865 Butler medal, making it the earliest known example of a Civil War military medal made for African-American soldiers (actual size: 31mm).

Until very recently, the Butler Medal of Honor was the only medal known to have been made during the Civil War for the U.S. Colored Troops. General Benjamin F. Butler commissioned this medal in 1865 to recognize the heroic part played by the soldiers of the U.S.C.T. at the Battle of Newmarket Heights on September 29, 1864.

In a letter written on May 28, 1865 to General Godfrey Weitzel (commander of the 25th Corps, which included the largest number of African-American soldiers serving in the Union Army at the time), Butler laments the lack of recognition given to the U.S. Colored Troops and states that the medals he had commissioned would "be the only rewards the colored troops will get. They are not even allowed to march in review in the Grand Army triumph."

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PHYSICAL CRYPTOCURRENCY

Imagine holding a real, physical Bitcoin in your hand — not just numbers on a screen, but a gleaming metal coin or crisp polymer note worth thousands (or even millions) of dollars, complete with a hidden private key that unlocks its digital fortune. Tangible Bitcoin bridges the abstract world of cryptocurrency with the timeless allure of physical collectibles, creating one of the most intriguing niches in modern numismatics.

Physical cryptocurrency consists of tangible items — metal coins, bars, or banknote-style notes — that embed real cryptocurrency value through hidden private keys. These pieces combine the hands-on appeal of traditional collectibles with blockchain technology.

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OPERATION EPIC FURY SHIP SCRIP

A few minutes later the images arrived and with only a little trouble I was able to open them.

I do not remember what I expected. Certainly not a new series of MPC. Actually, I did not expect anything. I was surprised. Amazed actually!

The first mystery is solved. There are some notes but not MPC (or even Military Pay Certificates). It would be easy to say simply, oh they are Ship Scrip, but what the heck is Ship Scrip?

The most likely possibility is that ship scrip notes are naval souvenirs without any value whatsoever in commerce. Still, there is the possibility that the notes have some unofficial value like POGs did.

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THE LIBERTY DOLLAR BILL ACT

By the time a dollar bill reaches your hands, it has traveled through those of countless other Americans. It is one of the most commonly shared physical objects in the United States. What if that dollar bill also carried the most important words Americans share?

As the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding nears, it is worth remembering that patriotism is not a campaign slogan or a partisan ideal. Patriotism is a commitment to the principles that define the U.S. Here's a powerful, surprisingly simple way to reaffirm that commitment: printing passages from the U.S. Constitution on the back of the one-dollar bill.

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LOOSE CHANGE: APRIL 12, 2026

Richard Jurek's Space-Flown Currency

On the first day of April this year, the Artemis II spaceflight mission launched from the Kennedy Space Center for a ten-day mission to fly by the Moon. This journey to space is just one of many conducted by NASA. On these flights, astronauts are fully prepared for a venture into the cosmos, taking with them gear, personal care items, and even snacks. On past missions, currency was often kept as personal items for astronauts or wrapped in parts of the ship with supportive messages from family and flight crew.

Currency flown into space is no longer allowed on NASA spaceflights, so the coins and bank notes that have flown into the cosmos are now prized treasures for collectors from a broad spectrum of fields, including numismatics, history, and aerospace.

One of the most prominent collectors in this genre is numismatist Richard Jurek, who has been researching and collecting numismatic space memorabilia for over 30 years. Alongside his collection, Jurek has written numerous articles about space-flown currency, authored books, such as The Ultimate Engineer: The Remarkable Life of NASA's Visionary Leader George M. Low and Marketing the Moon: The Selling of the Apollo Lunar Program, and created and runs the website, the Jefferson Space Museum, which is dedicated to $2 bills sent to space.

To read the complete article, see:
The Final Frontier of Collecting (https://www.numismaticnews.net/richard-jurek-space-coin-collection-final-frontier)

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FEATURED WEBSITE: JEFFERSON SPACE MUSEUM

This week's Featured Website is the Jefferson Space Museum.

https://www.jeffersonspacemuseum.com/

ABOUT THIS ISSUE: APRIL 12, 2026

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