Visit our NBS Sponsors

About Us The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit association devoted to the study and enjoyment of numismatic literature. For more information please see our web site at coinbooks.org Subscriptions Those wishing to become new E-Sylum subscribers 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 Workman's Books November 1, 2026

 

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 SEPTEMBER 27, 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 a new issue of The Asylum, two numismatic literature auctions, updates from the ANA and the Newman Numismatic Portal, and more.

Other topics this week include the dollar, agricultural society medals, Santini medals, the Roper New England Sixpence, Richard Greever, Ben Costello, fixed price and auction selections, ancient coin finds and studies, and the Princess and the Frog medal.

To learn more about the 2026 Summer FUN show, Berghoff waiter's tokens, Nathanael Greene's Society of the Cincinnati medal, Jeff Garrett, Elliot Eng, scanning electron micrographs, the 1715 Fleet Society, the Peace of Breda medal, the East African Currency Board, and the kingdom of Poyais, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum

 

ASYLUM AUTUMN 2026 ISSUE PUBLISHED

Welcome to The Asylum's Autumn 2026 edition.

In this issue:

• NBS at the World's Fair of Money
• Charity Auction Raises Funds for NBS
• Cassie Brand Presents Book Matters at the NBS Symposium
• NBS Treasurer Report
• The Asylum Awards
• Call for numismatic authors and volunteers: NBS Publishing Grant Committee
• In Memoriam: Patrick McBride 1952-2026 By Sandy Pearl
• Planning to Meet in the Irish Pub By Wayne Homren
• The L.G. Schlesinger y Guzmán Collection Catalog of 1914 By Adrián González-Salinas
• "Somewhat Slipshod and Amateurish" My Most Obscure Coin Book By David Pickup

Read more here

LANG NUMISMATIC LITERATURE AUCTION 13 REMINDER

Dear friends of numismatic literature,

This time it's going to be big—no, even bigger! On September 29 and 30, 2026, our 13th auction of numismatic literature will take place, as usual, on the Auex platform. You read that right: two days with approximately 2,000 lots. There's sure to be something for you!

In addition to the third part of Duplicates from the Library of Neu Numismatik AG, you can look forward to a wide selection of numismatic literature covering various fields, including items from the library of a former coin dealer.

Read more here

KOLBE & FANNING SALE 178 RESULTS

The auction of the numismatic library formed by Robert A. Schuman, M.D., held on Saturday, September 26, by Kolbe & Fanning Numismatic Booksellers, was a great success, with many exceptional results. The total sale results were about 160% of the pre-sale estimate. The Schuman Library focused on numismatics of the United States, and was perhaps most notable for its exceptional photographically illustrated auction catalogues and its holdings of rare and desirable works on large cents and Hard Times Tokens.

Some particularly notable results include:

 

Read more here

NEW BOOK: THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR

The Almighty Dollar: 500 Years of the World's Most Powerful Money
by Brendan Greeley

In this ambitious and groundbreaking history of the dollar, financial journalist and economic scholar Brendan Greeley makes a new argument about the origins of our money—and the people and nations who have surrendered to it.

America's money is global money—nearly every nation in the world writes international contracts in dollars, and in 2023, central banks around the world held nearly $6.7 trillion in dollar reserves, three times any other currency. Today, the United States' global hegemony rests largely on its ability to produce unlimited treasury bonds that are sold around the world, dollars that supported America's explosive growth in the twentieth century and funded its massive wars in the twenty-first. American power and the American dollar have become synonymous.

Read more here

NEW BOOK: MADMAN'S GUIDE TO COLLECTING

Gerry writes:

Read more here

 

2026 SUMMER FUN VIDEOS AVAILABLE

2026 Summer FUN Videos Available

Courtesy of Florida United Numismatists (FUN), the educational forum videos from their Summer (July 2026) convention are now available on NNP. Presentations include Tom Scopp speaking on the first American coin, in addition to Bill Jones' talk on double eagle type sets. Col. Steve Howard holds forth on the 2026 coin market, while Jay Chamberlain speaks on history of the U.S. Mints. NNP acknowledges Steve Martin of FUN for his assistance with this content.

An NNP navigation hint - sort by "date descending" after accessing the series page. This will display the most recent videos in the series.

Read more here

VIDEO: CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY MEDALS

Read more here

ANOTHER SANTINI PRIZE MEDAL

John Dannreuther writes:

Zach Filis writes:

Read more here

NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: SEPTEMBER 27, 2026

Chicago's Berghoff Restaurant
Bruce Smith writes:

To read the complete article, see:
The Nickel Beer That Turned Into 128 Years (https://opensince.substack.com/p/the-nickel-beer-that-turned-into)

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
2024 ANA CONVENTION EXHIBIT GUIDE (https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n31a08.html)
2025 NATIONAL MONEY SHOW EXHIBIT WINNERS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n13a07.html)
ABOUT THIS ISSUE: SEPTEMBER 20, 2026 (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n38a24.html)

Read more here

ANA RECOGNIZES 2026 HONOREES

This year, the American Numismatic Association (ANA) proudly honors a dedicated numismatist, an inspiring young collector, and seven passionate hobbyists whose contributions have elevated the collecting community. The Numismatist of the Year was celebrated at the 135th Anniversary Awards Banquet during the Pittsburgh World's Fair of Money®. The Young Numismatist of the Year and Glenn Smedley Memorial Award recipients were presented during the convention's Member Awards Celebration. Both events applaud those whose enthusiasm and commitment continue to enrich the world of numismatics.

The Numismatist of the Year award recognizes collectors at the regional and/or national level who have demonstrated outstanding leadership within the hobby and the ANA. The 2026 recipient is Jeff Garrett.

The founder of Mid-American Rare Coin Galleries, Garrett is one of the leading experts in U.S. coinage and has been a member of the Professional Numismatists Guide since 1982. He has handled two significant numismatic finds—the Major General Clayton L. Bissell short snorter and the Great Kentucky Hoard. He served as one of the original graders for Professional Coin Grading Service, and he currently works as a consultant to Numismatic Guaranty Company. He has authored a number of essential numismatic references and is the valuation editor for A Guide Book of United States Coins (the "Red Book").

Read more here

VOCABULARY TERM: STUDY

Study. A trial design for an artistic creation, as a preliminary drawing for an intended medallic or numismatic item; a sketch. Medallic studies may be two-dimensional as a drawing, or three-dimensional as a sketch in clay, plasteline or plaster. Often the design is quickly prepared to test a design concept; no detail is present, but relief is roughly outlined, particularly the device and lettering. Studies for coins and medals are usually done exact size – or oversize – as the size of the intended model. Since the end product is fairly small, studies are never done in miniature – like a maquette of a large statue.

Read more here

 

ROPER NEW ENGLAND SIXPENCE ANALYSIS

Read more here

 

THE RITTENHOUSE PEDIGREE PROBLEM

Read more here

PROFILE: RICHARD GREEVER

I was recently researching an obscure topic and stumbled across something interesting in my Google search results: a website called TokenCatalog.com, which attempts to document the seemingly limitless world of tokens.

Nowadays, of course, the term "token" often refers to the digital world — crypto tokens, AI tokens, security tokens, that sort of thing. But TokenCatalog.com is about physical tokens — coin-like items that can be used in lieu of cash. Some are issued by private businesses (a "Good for One Drink" chit at a local bar, or scrip to be used at the company store), others by governmental agencies (subway tokens). TokenCatalog.com claims to have photos of over 600,000 of them.

Read more here

TREASURE TALK WITH BEN COSTELLO: CHAPTER ONE

Read more here

STACK'S MARKETPLACE: GREAT BRITAIN

GREAT BRITAIN. Defeat of the Spanish Armada Silver Medal, 1596. Elizabeth I. NGC MS-62. Eimer-67; MI-163-148; Van Loon-I-1476. Diameter: 52mm. Weight: 45.20 gms. By Gerard van Bijlaer. Struck rather than cast. Obverse: The Spanish Armada in distress, ship in forefront heavily damaged and sinking, "Jehovah" in Hebrew at top flanked by date, QVID ME PERSEQVERIS around; Reverse: Hand issuing from heaven holds cord connecting shields of arms of the allied England, France, and United Provinces, the latter in the shape of a heart, RVMPITVR HAVD FACILE around. An evocative medal struck in commemoration of the disastrous losses suffered by the Second Spanish Armada as part of the Eighty Years' War and the concurrent Anglo-Spanish War. In July 1596, English and Dutch troops captured and sacked the city of Cádiz, resulting in heavy economic losses for Spain and contributing to the bankruptcy of the royal treasury in that year. In retaliation, Spain set forth to attack the English coast in October. However, heavy storms in the Bay of Biscay devastated the fleet, resulting in its retreat before even coming into contact with English forces. This event is evidently mocked on this medal with the text "QUID ME PERSEQUERIS" ("Why pursue me?), while the reverse "RUMPITUR HAUD FACILE" ("Breaking is not easy") emphasizes the combined strength of the allied forces.

Read more here

ARCHIVES INTERNATIONAL SALE 117 SELECTIONS

Mexico, ND (1900-1910). 1000 Pesos, P-Unlisted M205s, Specimen Banknote, Black and red/orange print with seated allegorical figure beside shield at right with harbor scene in rear, Back is orange with denomination at center, Specimen overprints and POC's, S/N C 0000, PMG graded Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ with comment "Printer's Stamp," ABNC.

Read more here

STACK'S BOWERS: FALL 2026 MAASTRICHT SALE

Sole Finest Graded ANDORRA. Consell General de les Valls d'Andorra. 10 Pessetes, 19.12.1936. P-4. PMG Choice Uncirculated 63. The key denomination of this series. This is the only uncirculated example found in the PMG population report, with the next finest a sole AU50 graded note. Reported printing of only 1,000 notes. The notes from Andorra, issued during the Spanish Civil War, are short-lived, and popular as a result. Only two series were issued, with the same design, the first in blue and the second (in brown) issued a year later.

Read more here

HERITAGE: THE ODYSSEY COLLECTION

A rare navigation device once used to pinpoint a ship's location through analysis of the stars will be among the top treasures in The Odyssey Collection: Sunken Treasure Americana & Political Showcase Auction Oct. 2 at Heritage Auctions.

The "Dry Tortugas/Nuestra Señora del Rosario" Shipwreck Astrolabe ND, early 17th Century offered in this auction is among more than 200 lots from several shipwrecks, spanning from the early 1600s to World War II. The S.S. Republic, a Civil War paddlewheel steamship that sank in October 1865 carrying some $400,000 in gold and silver and supplies bound for post-war New Orleans, rested at 1,700 feet below the water's surface off the coast of Georgia for 138 years, until Odyssey Marine Exploration deployed underwater robotics to recover 51,000 coins and 14,000 artifacts.

Read more here

GERMANY'S LARGEST HADRIAN-ERA COIN FIND

A massive trove of Roman silver coins dating back to the 2nd century AD have been discovered by an amateur archaeologist in Germany.

"It was clear to me that there was something significant here," said Oliver Riedl, describing the moment he found several coins near Wesseling, south of Cologne, a year ago.

Read more here

 

COIN STUDY MAPS THE ROMAN WORLD

Rome conquered with its legions, but nearly four million ancient coins reveal what truly held its vast territories together: money, markets, and trade.

Researchers have reconstructed how money moved across the Roman world from 155 BCE to 2 CE, revealing an economy that became increasingly connected as Roman power spread. Their findings show how currency initially followed the legions into new territories but remained in circulation only after those regions developed permanent commercial, administrative, religious, and civic institutions.

The work demonstrates how data science is transforming the study of ancient history. Instead of relying only on written accounts, inscriptions, and individual artifacts, researchers can now combine millions of digitized archaeological records to uncover patterns that would otherwise remain invisible.

Read more here

VIKING AGE SILVER HOARD FOUND IN FINLAND

A metal detectorist in Finland unearthed a massive Viking Age silver hoard estimated to contain more than 4,000 coins — the largest discovery of its kind ever found in the country.

The hoard, uncovered by metal detectorist Kalle Lappinen, was found near the village center of Sysmä, a town about 105 miles northeast of Helsinki.

Lappinen discovered the hoard on Sept. 3 and promptly reported it to authorities. Archaeologists from Lahti Museums began recovering the silver the very next day.

Read more here

VIKING AGE SILVER HOARD FOUND IN DENMARK

When a resident of northern Denmark started clearing their backyard, the plan was to install a new terrace. They expected a few hours of hard work. But after half an hour of digging, they came across something metallic: a trove of jewelry and coins.

Located in the municipality of Rebild, the backyard revealed the largest hoard of Viking silver ever discovered in Denmark. According to a statement from North Jutland Museums, the treasure includes roughly 700 artifacts and weighs more than 40 pounds. Experts think these items were buried in the tenth century.

"This is an exceptionally important Viking Age silver hoard," archaeologist Torben Sarauw, head of cultural heritage at North Jutland Museums, tells the Art Newspaper's Hadani Ditmars. "It provides a rare insight into the Viking Age silver economy, where silver functioned not only as coinage but also as weighed bullion used for trade, payments and storing wealth."

Read more here

THE 2018 PRINCESS AND FROG MEDAL

Read more here

RHODE ISLAND'S WASHINGTON TRUST

When Washington Trust opened its doors in 1800, John Adams was president, George Washington had died less than a year earlier and the United States was only 24 years removed from the Declaration of Independence.

At the time, southern Rhode Island was growing. Farms, fishing communities, merchants and mills were developing around the Pawcatuck River, but residents had limited access to financial services.

"There were institutions in Providence and New Haven, but really nothing in the local communities," said Michelle Kile, Washington Trust's executive vice president and chief retail banking officer.

Read more here

LOOSE CHANGE: SEPTEMBER 27, 2026

The Fake Kingdom of Poyais

MacGregor transformed that strip of jungle into something entirely fictional: the Kingdom of Poyais, an independent nation of roughly 16,000 square miles, complete with a capital city (St. Joseph), a cathedral, a bank, a postal service, and a parliamentary constitution, all of which existed only in the documents he commissioned in London. He appointed himself Cazique, Prince of the Poyers, a title he claimed had been bestowed on him by the Miskito king. He designed a flag, minted a currency, and drafted a national anthem. He even granted himself the right to confer knighthoods.

The genius of the scheme was not the invention itself but its packaging. MacGregor arrived in London in 1822 as a decorated foreign dignitary, traveling in a carriage with an elaborate coat of arms. He published a guidebook to Poyais, 355 pages of detailed geography, climate tables, and investment advice, written by "Captain Thomas Strangeways," an officer who did not exist. He commissioned an opera composer to write songs about the beautiful republic. He granted interviews, held court at parties, and let London society do the rest.

In January 1823, the first ship, the Honduras Packet, landed its passengers at the Black River. What they found was not a kingdom but a swamp. There was no capital city, no cathedral, no bank, nothing but dense jungle, marshland, and a handful of scattered settlements. The second and larger expedition, seven ships carrying nearly 200 more settlers, arrived to the same reality. There were no roads, no provisions, and no way to make the fortune they had been promised.

The settlers, to their enormous credit, attempted to build the promised colony anyway. They cleared land and planted crops in soil that would barely yield. Malaria, yellow fever, and dysentery did the rest. By the time a passing British naval vessel offered rescue months later, more than half of the settlers were dead, including, in many cases, entire families. The survivors who made it back to Britain arrived destitute, diseased, and furious.

To read the complete article, see:
Poyais: The Country That Never Was (https://scripotime.substack.com/p/poyais-country-that-never-was)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
POYAIS: GREGOR MACGREGOR'S FAKE COUNTRY (https://www.coinbooks.org/v25/esylum_v25n02a30.html)

Read more here

ABOUT THIS ISSUE: SEPTEMBER 27, 2026

Read more here