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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 Kolbe & Fanning - Web Sale #6 Live Thurs., July 16

 

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 5, 2026

New subscribers this week include: Bernadette Vegas, courtesy Steve Starlust; and Rob Martin. Welcome aboard! We now have 6,440 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 numismatic literature sale, three new books, updates from the Newman Numismatic Portal, notes from readers, and more.

Other topics this week include Victor D. Brenner, Charles Anderson, John Wayne, Ken Bressett, Moxie CrimeFighter Jillette, square coins and medals, Russian coins, fixed price and auction selections, encased postage stamps, Free Silver, Trump's signature, WhatNot, and the First Bank of the United States.

To learn more about the Usefulness of Ancient Medals, the James M. Collier Collection, Flavian coinage, Savings Bonds, the Memphis Paper Money Show, Qing Dynasty cash coins, World War Zero, the Confederate Cent restrike, Columbiana, the Legendary Coupon Hunt, beard tokens, and the numismatic corporate jet trip, read on. And remember: Money Does Not Stink! Have a great week, everyone.

Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum

 

KOLBE & FANNING WEB SALE NUMBER 6

We will be holding Web Sale #6 of Numismatic Books on Thursday, July 16, starting at 12:00 PM Eastern. This sale 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.

Bidders may register for the sale, browse lots, and place absentee bids beginning immediately at bid.numislit.com.

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NEW BOOK: ESSAYS FOR VICTOR D. BRENNER

The American Numismatic Society is pleased to announce the release of Essays for the 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Victor D. Brenner, Proceedings of the Coinage of the Americas Conference No. 17 (2021). Since the mid-1980s, the Coinage of the Americas Conference (COAC) has been considered the leading venue for the presentation of academic research pertaining to numismatics of the Western Hemisphere.

The book is currently available for pre-order and will ship in August 2026.

Organized in 2021 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Victor David Brenner's birth at the Coinage of the Americas Conference (COAC), hosted by the American Numismatic Society, this assembly of scholarship honors one of the most influential figures in American numismatic history. Best known as the sculptor of the 1909 Lincoln Wheat cent-the longest-running design in the history of U.S. coinage-Brenner was a master of the Beaux-Arts style. The chapters within this volume offer a multifaceted look at his career, including detailed examinations of specific, lesser-known medals and commemorative pieces; an exploration of how Brenner's Lithuanian roots and European training influenced his American works; and a critical look at his role in the Golden Age of American numismatics and his mentorship within the medallic arts community.

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NEW BOOK: COLLIER COLLECTION OF GREEK AND ROMAN COINS

The James M. Collier Collection of Greek and Roman Coins: A Selection

by Dimitrios Gerothanasis, Johannes Stelzhammer, Alan Walker and Rex Gao

Professor James M. Collier was an ardent lover of the history and culture of Europe and the ancient world, and a passionate collector of ancient Greek and Roman coins. Born in 1943 in Bellingham, Washington, he pursued his early academic training at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) in Tacoma, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in History in 1965. After graduating from PLU, he worked for the Boeing Corporation as an engineer. When he was seconded to Washington, DC, on the Minuteman project, his office was located—quite fortuitously, as it turned out—across from the National Gallery of Art. For two years he spent every lunch hour at the Gallery, where he discovered his real love for art and art history.

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NEW BOOK: PECUNIA NON OLET

PECVNIA NON OLET. Le monete raccontano l'impero dei Flavi
By: Emanuele Latella

Coinage, history, politics, and economics in Rome from AD 69 to 96: coins tell the story of the Flavian Empire in a book by Emanuele Latella.

Among the latest and most interesting publications devoted to coinage—not only as collectible objects but also as historical sources and documents—we would like to highlight PECVNIA NON OLET: Coins Tell the Story of the Flavian Empire, the result of research by Emanuele Latella, a scholar of Roman history and numismatics. The book has recently been published by Edizioni D'Andrea.

Presented in A4 format, with a full-color 488-page layout (ISBN 979-12-82072-11-3, price €85.00), the volume represents a decidedly innovative work compared with the usual catalogs of Roman coins. Rather than simply cataloging coinage, it tells the story of the Flavian dynasty through its coinage, beginning with Judea and continuing through the consolidation of power in Rome and the eventual downfall of Domitian.

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MORE ON THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ENCASED POSTAGE

There have been many instances in the course of human history that have required the innovation of an emergency currency. The first instance of stamps being used as a currency substitute was circa 1843 in England. However, in only two major emergencies has the solution been postage stamps: the U.S. Civil War and the aftermath of World War I, both in the form of encased postage stamps. Terms used to describe this genre include encased postage, kapselgeld, enkapselmarken, notgeld, timbres-monnaies, jetons-monnaie, emergency money, tokens, or simply capsules.

An often-neglected area of numismatics, encased postage is as interesting a pursuit as any, combining numismatics and philately, art, and history. In fact, it has been said that encased postage is the link between philately and numismatics. I ask where can you start a collection with as little as $20 that combines all these things and has such a variety of issues, colors, and merchant advertising? Even a nice example of U.S. encased postage from the Civil War, a variety which may have only 100 pieces known, can be had for around $200-300. ALL encased postage is scarce and is a worthy challenge for any numismatist or philatelist.

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KM AND PICK CATALOGS ACQUIRED BY CCG

The Certified Collectibles Group, whose companies include NGC® and PMG®, is proud to announce that it has acquired the KM™ and Pick™ catalogs, the leading reference systems for world coins and banknotes.

"The KM and Pick catalogs are two of the most famous and widely used reference systems in numismatics, and they have found a great home with NGC and PMG," said Max Spiegel, president of the Certified Collectibles Group. "As the global leaders in world coin and banknote grading, we look forward to investing in these databases to make them even more comprehensive, accurate, and accessible to collectors and dealers worldwide."

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CHARLES CAINE ANDERSON, SR. (1934-2026)

The American Numismatic Society is greatly saddened by the death of its Honorary Life Fellow, former Trustee, and Benefactor, Charles C. Anderson Sr. Mr. Anderson passed away on June 24, 2026. After joining the ANS in 1999, he became one of the organization's most committed supporters. From 2004–10, he served as a Trustee of the Society, during a period when it was undergoing a major transformation and moving into its current headquarters at 75 Varick Street. Over the years, Mr. Anderson took an active interest in the Society, which he generously supported by offering advice on numismatic publishing initiatives, contributing ideas, and providing financial support.

"It is hard for me to imagine a world without Charles Anderson," said Dr. Ute Wartenberg Kagan, Sydney F. Martin Executive Director. "He was an extraordinarily successful businessman, who always found time for a chat. He showed us all that family and friends matter the most. He provided us at the ANS with help and friendship, which I will miss immensely."

An obituary will appear in the ANS Magazine.

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US SAVINGS BONDS WITH JOHN WAYNE

Take Stock in America

Those of us who recall the Bicentennial can't help but acknowledge the national mood is greatly different in today's America. In 1976, John Wayne took to the airwaves to promote U.S. savings bonds, playing to both personal and patriotic motivation to make investments in government debt. Paula Cole asked "Where is my John Wayne?" in her 1996 song "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" and the role of a national hero like Wayne seems anachronistic in the current era, when radical opinion refuses to accept consensus as a matter of course. In any case, John Wayne's tagline, "Take Stock in America," was deft marketing.

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VIDEO: MEMPHIS PAPER MONEY SHOW MEMORIES

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NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JULY 5, 2026

More on Esperanto Coins
Larry Bennett writes:

To read the complete article, see:
The fake language that captured moviegoers' hearts (https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/2026/07/03/fake-language-that-captured-moviegoers-hearts/)

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
ABOUT THIS ISSUE: JUNE 14, 2026 (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n24a27.html)
COINS OF ESPERANTO INVENTOR L. L. ZAMENHOF (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n26a19.html)

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VOCABULARY TERM: SQUARE SHAPE

Square Shape. A coin or medal with four edges of equal length and four right angles. Modern symbolism for the square shape is difference and independence, to be the square peg in a world of round holes. Earlier it meant order and stability, as the four seasons or the four stages in man's life. A square shape is considered less sensual to the human touch than the circle because of the corners. A square panel is called a meotope, often a square frame enclosing a medallic design.

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KEN BRESSETT INTERVIEW, PART SIX

GREG BENNICK: So, before we planned the interview, you made quick mention of something which was mind-boggling to me. I know that Penn Jillette of Penn & Teller—his father was a coin dealer—but I would not have made the connection had you not emailed me saying that you enjoyed my juggling performance because of your connection with Penn. So, please tell me more. I would love to know more about that and you made mention to me of having some anecdotes about your connection to Penn and his father, which is a numismatic connection as I understand it.

KEN BRESSETT: Right! I first met Sam, his father, at a coin club meeting because we lived fairly close together and we went to the same coin club meetings. In fact, I had started a coin club in my hometown in Keene, New Hampshire, and Sam used to come to those meetings. We got to know each other very well and found out that we didn't live very far apart. So there was a solid connection between Penn's father Sam, and then my wife and myself and Sam and Valerie.

And so, we just had that connection. Let me see now: when Penn was born, they were expecting another girl. Val, Penn's mother, and Sam and I knew that when she was pregnant, they were expecting another girl. I don't know why, but it was going to be another girl. And they were going to name her Penny because that was what Sam collected mostly—large cents and small cents. He loved pennies. So he was going to name this girl Penny. And that's how Penn got his name. When it turned out to be a boy, they just named him Penn.

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NUMISMAGRAM MEDAL SELECTIONS: JULY 5, 2026

102998 | UNITED STATES & GERMANY. Colonial America and Preußen (Prussia) silver Medal. Issued 1763. The Treaty of Hubertusburg and the end of the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War in America) (44mm, 21.90 g, 12h). By Johann Leonhard Oexlein.

IAM REDIRE AVDET (now she dares to return...), Astraea/Virgo standing facing, head right, holding scepter and grain ear; mountains and plowman in background; in two lines in exergue, GERMANIA / PACATA (...with Germany being at peace) // NVNCIA PACIS (the messenger of Peace), view of the Hubertusburg Palace; above, Fama (Rumor) flying right, blowing in one trumpet and holding another; D 15 FEBR MDCCLXIII in exergue. Edge: Plain.

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HERITAGE: RUSSIAN COINS SHOWCASE

Peter I bronze "Beard Tax" Token 1705 VF35 Brown NGC, Bit-3893 (R2), Rudenko-b.3. 'Narrow Beard' type, with countermark. Despite the quality, this token radiates with desirability as it falls in a fascinating place in history.

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DAVISSONS: E-AUCTION 53

E-Auction 53 closes next week, on Wednesday, July 8th 2026!

Be sure to browse the 331 carefully selected lots over the weekend, and come back to bid live with us next week!

Read on as we survey the second half of the sale, featuring British, World, and U.S. coins and tokens, highlighted by The Harold Welch Collection of British trade tokens.

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HERITAGE: 2026 SUMMER FUN U.S. COINS

A rare double eagle that is among the most desirable classic U.S. gold coins will be one of the top attractions in Heritage's July 16–18 Summer FUN US Coins Signature® Auction. Boasting more than 1,400 lots, the event will feature exceptional coins of all denominations, from Colonials to proof Trade dollars, Morgan dollars, patterns and gold.

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HERITAGE TO SELL STARLUST COLUMBIANA

In just 16 months, as an ANA member attending shows and events, Steve has accomplished the following:

• Wrote a book on the World's Columbian Expo that has sold hundreds and won "Best Reference Book of 2025 (Tokens and Medals)" by the Numismatic Literary Guild
• TAMS will be giving him an award for Best Reference Book at the upcoming ANA Pittsburgh
• Heritage Auctions has decided to do an exclusive "Steve Starlust Showcase Auction" on his Columbian Exposition collection and will be previewing NGC graded medals, and over 75 rare badges, tickets, and souvenirs in the auction beginning at their ANA Pittsburgh booth and continuing at future events. If you're at the ANA money show in Pittsburgh visit the Heritage Auctions booth to see a preview of his fantastic collection and say hello to Steve who will have copies of his award winning book.
• The theme of this dynamic auction has been agreed apon by Heritage and Starlust as "America is ReDiscovering Columbus - Something for every collector".
• NGC has printed a "first-ever" slab label insert for the World's Columbian Expo designed by Steve and the NGC art department. This limited edition label features the Ferris Wheel and "Steve Starlust Collection". He has submitted 300 items to be graded. NGC may be adopting some of his exclusive reference numbers from his book on their attributions.

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NOONANS JULY 2026 PAPER MONEY SALE

Three extremely rare Irish banknotes, all bearing the serial number 000001 will be among the highlights of Noonans auction of British and Irish Banknotes on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. The trio of extremely special notes - a set of Ploughman notes (£10, £5 and £1) issued by the Royal Bank of Ireland, all bearing serial number 000001 are expected to fetch £8,000-10,000; £6,000- 7,000 and £4,000-5,000 respectively [lots 407-405].

As Ted Edmunds, Banknote Specialist at Noonans commented: "Given the rarity, condition and serial number, we believe this set of £1, £5 and £10 are arguably the finest set of Irish notes ever offered at auction."

 

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U.S. ENCASED POSTAGE STAMPS

It wasn't until the Civil War that stamps became an important currency medium. Hoarding of hard currency (i.e., coinage) was one of the first symptoms of commercial economic problems at the beginning of the Civil War. The Treasury and the Mint were not ready for the crisis of a severe coin shortage. The Treasury suspended all specie payments in December 1861, creating even more speculation and hoarding. This caused a panic among those responsible for the economy. Silver coins started to be hoarded in 1862 and eventually the smallest copper denominations were removed from circulation. Add to this the uncertainty at that time of which side would prevail in the war, the coin shortage became dire. By July 1862, coins were worth 20% more than paper money. The government's inability to provide enough coins for trade to be facilitated caused the public to seek out alternatives, including copper tokens, cardboard "good fors," and government-issued stamps (Hodder and Bowers).

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OPTICAL EFFECTS IN EARLY MEDALS

As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of its founding, Connecticut historical researcher and collector Gary Gianotti is asking historians, museums, scientists, and Native American scholars to take a fresh look at two George Washington Indian Peace Medals that have become the focus of more than three decades of interdisciplinary research.

At the center of Gianotti's work are forensic scientific testing and barely surviving historical records that identify a 1789 silver medallion as what may be the very first federally authorized sovereign art artifact, along with an official 1792 George Washington Indian Peace Medal attributed as the earliest surviving scientific artwork by United States Mint first engraver Joseph Wright. Through archival research, scientific examination, historical analysis, and collaboration with independent specialists, Gianotti has developed a research framework that presents evidence which may expand understanding of early American diplomacy, federal symbolism, and artistic innovation during the nation's transition into the Federal Government.

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1876: COLORADO'S FREE SILVER CRUSADE

The special cargo arrived on the evening of May 3, 1876, on a westbound express train to Denver, where it was watched carefully and wheeled in through the side door at the Colorado National Bank.

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1920 SAINT LUCIA TEN SHILLINGS SPECIMEN NOTE

Last year, in our 2025 Summer Global Showcase Auction, we sold a specimen 10/- Shillings issued by the government of the Leeward Islands at Antigua. Dated 1st of January 1921, the note saw intense bidding, and realized $37,200. Now, a year later, we are working on the 2026 iteration of this sale, and a note came across my desk that is the perfect companion to that note, though it might be even rarer. At first glance, the notes appear identical, but a keen observer will note that our new offering was printed for Saint Lucia, and is dated a few months earlier, 1st October 1920. One of just two notes printed for Saint Lucia by the government at the time, it is the sole fully printed example in the PMG population report, with no issued notes or other specimens graded (we are aware of uniface black-and-white proofs, but those, in my opinion, are far less desirable). Not surprisingly, the note is the plate note in the Banknote Book, and in Pick it is listed merely as ‘requires confirmation,' with no picture or further details given.

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IMAGE OF $100 BILL WITH TRUMP SIGNATURE

President Donald Trump posted a new image Friday of a $100 bill bearing his signature, months after the Treasury Department announced that, for the first time, a sitting president's signature would be featured on US paper currency.

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NEBRASKA DEALER SELLING COINS ON WHATNOT

On a Sunday night in mid-May, Bjorn Bergstrom went down to the basement of his coin shop in Kearney, Neb., switched on his livestream and put a coin on the screen for thousands of strangers to bid on.

He had set out to test the limits of a rapidly growing new shopping economy built for today's social media culture.

Bergstrom, 41, spends most nights on a live-shopping app called Whatnot, where hosts like him auction collectibles in real time to an audience that simultaneously banters and bids on his goods. He would leave his webcam on for a full week, three times as long as his previous record.

He figured the more time he was there, the more new viewers would wander in. After all, his best viewership is in the night-owl hours when there is little else to pull people from their phones. And his fervent regulars might support the occasion with more purchases, too. That could help him reach his goal of selling $2 million worth of coins in a week.

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LOOSE CHANGE: JULY 5, 2026

17th C. Shipwreck Carrying Moroccan Gold Coins

A shipwreck off the British coast, including a treasure of hundreds of gold coins, has finally been identified after 30 years.

The 400-year-old ship discovered off the coast of Devon, England, has now been identified as the Dutch trading ship ‘Dom van Keulen', which sailed from Morocco for the Netherlands in the autumn of 1633.

Found by the South West Maritime Archaeology Group, its cargo included 9,000 Barbary ducats (widely used European coins made of gold or silver), and gold Moroccan coins, along with 320 goat skins, 150 bags of gum arabic, and 64 bags of saltpeter.

The announcement came in a new book, From Morocco to the Coast of England: The Story of the Dom van Keulen and its Remarkable Cargo.

"It is thought that most of the cargo was salvaged at the time, but more than 400 coins remained on the seabed until they were discovered by the Archaeology Group in 1995," said Professor Dave Parham, professor of maritime archaeology at Bournemouth University and the book's co-editor who collaborated with the British Museum on the research.

To read the complete article, see:
Intrigue From 17th C. Shipwreck Carrying Moroccan Gold Coins is Solved After 30 Years (https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/intrigue-of-17th-century-shipwreck-carrying-gold-coins-is-solved-after-30-years/)

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FIRST BANK OF THE UNITED STATES REOPENS

Independence National Historical Park and Independence Historical Trust [held] a public ribbon cutting on July 1 to celebrate the multi-year, $43 million renovation of the historic First Bank of the United States.

"For more than two centuries, the First Bank building has stood as a symbol of the nation's transition from revolution to republic," said Steven Sims, superintendent of Independence National Historical Park. "The building connects the victory of the Revolution to the difficult work of creating a functioning government, economy, and civic identity in the years that followed."

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ABOUT THIS ISSUE: JULY 5, 2026

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