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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 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 NOVEMBER 1, 2026

New subscribers this week include: Michael Kovac. Welcome aboard! We now have 6,304 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.

We have two new advertisers this week: Noonan's of Mayfair, and Ibercoin, the Madrid-based numismatic auction house. Thank you for your support! When you're out at coin shows or shopping online and encounter one of our advertisers, please thank them for supporting our weekly effort - we wouldn't be able to deliver our publication at this scale and frequency without their assistance.

This week we open with a numismatic literature sale, three new books, updates from the Newman Numismatic Portal, note from readers, and more.

Other topics this week include silver coins of the Low Countries, the gold rush, surface displacement, Federal Reserve coin bags, German-American engraver and medalist Franz Eue, the Washington Bicentennial Quarter design contest, badge and medal maker Blankinton, a celebrity coin collector, and many auction previews.

To learn more about Lola's Buffalo Nickel, women in the U.S. Treasury Department, the First ANA Seal, Freedomland Amusement Park, and the difference between a bag and a sack, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum

 

LANG NUMISMATIC LITERATURE AUCTION 14

Dear friends of numismatic literature,

Our next auction has been rescheduled for November 25, 2026, starting at 5:00 p.m. CET. Look forward to the next installment of the Jordan Library, as well as a wide range of ancient, medieval, and modern numismatic literature, journals, and auction catalogs from before 1945 — primarily from Helbing, Hess, and Hamburger.

As usual, the auction will take place on the Auex.de platform. As soon as the auction goes live, we'll notify you via our newsletter as usual. Can't wait? Feel free to check out our website, www.numismatisches-antiquariat.de, in advance!

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NEW BOOK: SILVER COINAGE OF THE LOW COUNTRIES

The Silver Coinage of the Low Countries
by Hugo Vanhoudt and John Saunders.

In 1967, Mr A. Delmonte wrote in the foreword to his book The Silver Benelux that since the end of the 15th century, silver was available in larger quantities primarily thanks to discoveries in the Americas. This led to the production of heavier silver coins all over the world. His book and the overview of the heavy silver coins of the Benelux was intended to support the knowledge of the collectors.

The book The Silver Coinage of the Low Countries covers the period from the 16th century until the end of the French period and describes all the types related to the Low countries. More than 300 years of silver coinage delivers a precious, artistic and attractive historical document to everyone's eye. Especially for local history, these silver coins can represent a story of wars, international contacts and exceptional economic prosperity as well as hard times.

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NEW BOOK: LOLA'S BUFFALO NICKEL

Lola's Buffalo Nickel: Katherine's Special Family Heirloom Edition
by John Allen Kelly

Naco, Arizona, 1913. Bullets are flying across the border, and an eight-year-old girl is selling meat pies to the soldiers.

One of them, a smiling Buffalo Soldier of the 9th Cavalry named George, rides up to buy a meat pie. He pays with a brand-new Buffalo nickel, one of the first ever struck, handed to an Indian chief at Fort Wadsworth months before and spent on its way west. Lola keeps it for the rest of her life.

From that dusty border town, Lola's story runs straight through the American century: tent revivals with Sister Aimee Semple McPherson, girlhood days when she and her friend Verdie were nicknamed the Sin Twisters, a teenage marriage, and wartime San Diego, where she riveted airplanes and raised her children on her own. She became a coin collector, chasing the nickels and dimes that marked her years.

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NEW BOOK: THE RUSH

The Rush: California Gold, the Civil War, and the Making of the Modern World
by Nathaniel Philbrick

National Book Award winner and Pulitzer Prize finalist Nathaniel Philbrick, author of In the Heart of the Sea and Mayflower, reveals how California's Gold Rush forged the modern United States—and lit the long fuse to civil war

In January 1848, a carpenter spotted flecks of gold in a shallow stream at Sutter's Mill in California, triggering the greatest voluntary migration in U.S. history, as hundreds of thousands raced west in pursuit of sudden wealth, reinvention, and power. From the feverish gold-mining camps of the Sierra Nevada mountains to the wharves and vigilance committees of San Francisco, Nathaniel Philbrick renders a combustible, all-world society: Chilean brothers reinventing themselves to outrun prejudice; Native communities navigating dispossession and violence; the merchant-showman Samuel Brannan, drawn into the center of early vigilantism; and the politicians vying for control of California's future—the ambitious Free-Soil political boss David Broderick, who squared off against William Gwin, the Southern power broker intent on tilting the state toward slavery and the Confederacy.

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CREEPY COIN COLORS

Creepy Coin Colors

A quick search of NNP located this listing of a 1909-S Indian cent in the Bowers & Merena September 1984 sale of the Danny Arnold and Romisa collections: "Virtually flawless surfaces. Cleaned, now colored a garish Halloween orange." This lot sold for $170.50. We find no other mention of "Halloween orange" anywhere else on NNP and can only imagine an overworked cataloger scheming whether the term might slip past the editorial hand of Q. David Bowers. They were successful!

This coin understandably wasn't imaged in the catalog, so we've done our best to recreate how it might have appeared.

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VIDEO: WOMEN IN THE U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT

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THE EARLY ANA PIN AND THE FIRST ANA SEAL

I read with high interest Pete's reference to Nick Graver's pins and the ANA membership medal. I'm definitely interested and hope he doesn't liquify them. I recently wrote an article on the first medal issued by the ANA in early 1911 – The Heath Memorial Medal. It's been submitted to The Numismatist for consideration.

The membership medal referenced by Pete was issued in late 1911 and has the same reverse as the Heath medal. The membership medal is pictured in The Numismatist, but not the pin, which is instead described as "of like design, about the size of a dime, with exception of the words "De Profundis." This design originated with the first ANA seal proposed in 1892 by Joseph Hooper.

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NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: NOVEMBER 1, 2026

The Perils of Prongs in Coin Displays

Alan Weinberg writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
EXHIBIT: DECLARING INDEPENDENCE USA 250 (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n43a10.html)

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KINZER COINS COLLECTOR'S ACADEMY

Although we operate as an ancient coin dealership, a substantial part of what we're building is a free educational resource designed to help people discover, understand, and eventually participate in ancient coin collecting.

We've developed several interconnected resources:

Collector's Academy: A growing educational section covering how to begin collecting ancient coins, denominations, terminology, authenticity, collecting practices, and other fundamentals. The goal is to give someone with no previous numismatic experience a practical starting point.

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VOCABULARY TERM: SURFACE DISPLACEMENT

Surface Displacement. The movement of surface metal mass toward and into die cavities during striking. Generally surface metal flows from the outermost rim inward toward the center of the struck surface to fill the greatest cavity. Sometimes, but not always, striations will form on the surface; these are called flow marks and are always inward from the rim toward the center point like the spokes of a wheel. (Flow marks are the cause of cartwheel effect – an optical illusion of light reflecting off the flow marks.) Metal must fill every die cavity during striking or the struck piece will not be fully struck up (it will look like an uncirculated worn coin).

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UNUSUAL MONEY BAGS

I compiled a photo gallery and list of Federal Reserve Bank bags published on the Newman Numismatic Portal as The Incomplete Guide to Federal Reserve Bank Coin Bags. A week ago the guide listed 228 different bags and had 118 photos. This week a reader sent me images of a couple of interesting unlisted bags.

Both were issued by the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank and both are marked, "RETURN THIS SACK." What, you may ask, is the difference between a bag and a sack?

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TREASURE TALK WITH BOB EVANS, EPISODE 16

The Ship of Gold Exhibit thrilled visitors at Numismatic conventions and museums wherever it appeared.

It was fascinating to watch reactions to the wonderful treasure on display. I was present at every venue, telling stories, answering questions. Most questions are softballs for me anymore. The stories and facts have been percolating in my mind for decades, ready to pour out. But every now and then, someone asks a question that seems simple but defies an easy answer. In this case, in 2010 at Long Beach, I was approached by a teenager, a young man almost as tall as me (5'4",) in glasses and a Los Angeles (Anaheim) Angels ballcap with blonde hair poking out. He was wearing shorts and a t-shirt I remember as vaguely scientific, I forget why… probably space or math related. His parents stood nearby, watching as he walked up and posed a question beyond the usual lines of history or beauty or value.

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WILHELM FRIEDRICH "FRANZ" EUE (1888-1937)

While looking for articles on the WPA (Works Progress Administration) I came upon a photo and article in which it was mentioned.

The photo was particularly interesting because the caption says she had been the model for Miss Liberty, "on the quarter in your pocket", which she was not. In the accompanying article her father, Wilhelm Friedrich Eue, referred to as Franz Eue, was mentioned and because his was not a familiar name, I did some research.

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THE WASHINGTON QUARTER CONTEST OF 1931

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HOW BADGE AND MEDAL MAKER BLACKINTON USES AI

From the company website:

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RYAN REYNOLDS, COIN COLLECTOR

Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds can now collect another piece of his Hollywood history, thanks to the Royal Canadian Mint.

The mint has announced a new Deadpool pure silver coin, a Wolverine silver coin, and a pure gold Deadpool and Wolverine coin.

"Marvel's Deadpool loves exactly one person, and it's him," the mint said on its website.

This one ounce silver collectible coin minted by the Royal Canadian Mint is 99.99 per cent pure silver and released by Agoro. It sells for $259.95.

The collector's box has the saying "I Heart Me" front and centre.

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ATLAS NUMISMATICS SELECTIONS: NOVEMBER 1, 2026

1087897 | GREEK. SICILY. Syracuse. Agathocles (Agathokles). (Tyrant, 317-289 BC). Struck 317-289 BC. AV Stater (or Double-Decadrachm). NGC MS? (Mint State ?) Strike 5/5 Surface 4/5 Fine Style. 16mm. 5.71gm. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet, bowl decorated with griffin ?G?T?????S/ [?]?S????S/ T. Thunderbolt. HGC 2, 1535. Gulbenkian 339 (this coin). BAR issue 29. Cf. SNG ANS 702 (different reverse symbol).

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SEDWICK AUCTION 40 SELECTIONS

PERU, Lima, gold cob 8 escudos, 1711 M, PCGS AU55 (1715 Plate Fleet), ex-Sotheby's. S-L28; Cal-2119; KM-38.2; Fr-7. 26.88 grams. Full but off-center pillars with full crown and bold REXANO (the "NO" appearing twice due to doubling only there) in lieu of a second date like was seen in 1710 and for dates after 1711 (no one knows why), great full cross-castles-lions (also a bit off center), light luster all over. From the 1715 Fleet, pedigreed to the Sotheby's (New York) auction of December 1997, with original lot-sticker 131.

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HERITAGE: WORLD AND ANCIENT COINS AUCTION

IONIA. Uncertain mint. Ca. 540-500 BC. EL stater (22mm, 14.02 gm). NGC Choice VF 5/5 - 4/5. Recumbent bull right, head reverted, on dotted groundline; lotus above / Rectangular incuse punch between two square incuse punches, all with geometric patterned surfaces. Weidauer-. BMC-. SNG Kayhan-. Kraay-Hirmer-. Traité-. Rosen-, cf. 148 for similar obverse type. Linzalone-, cf. 1174 for similar type with lion. Seemingly unpublished and unfound in sales archives. An immaculate, unique specimen on a broad, sunny flan.

This fascinating example appears to be a transitional type between Rosen 148 (obverse type) and Linzalone 1174 (recumbent lion and lotus with three incuse reverse). The Rosen example similarly features a recumbent bull with lotus, but it is a single punch reverse. Alternatively, the Linzalone example features a recumbent lion with lotus above, and three individually struck punches. These similarities suggest that, along with Rosen 149, they were likely struck at the same mint as part of a series of coinage featuring lotus flowers. However, as Wartenberg notes in White Gold (2020), the lotus flower is a common motif across Hellenistic coinage, so it cannot be linked to one specific mint.

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HOLABIRD JACK HADDOCK NEVADA TOKENS, PART 4

During the process of informational discovery, absolute treasures were found. That's right – treasures! Information is just as important as gold, and there's plenty here. That's what makes token collecting so fun. It opens the eyes to unseen history – to stories that have never been told. And you've got it right here.

In most cases, it was not a simple "look up in the Gazetteer." All too often the directory canvasser missed businesses. The same holds true for newspaper searches – only different. The merchants often never advertised. If it was a small mining camp, then so what? There was no need to advertise, even if it was in a nearby town newspaper. Also, these businesses were not made from the money tree, and most were stressed to the bottom of the wallet, so there was no money to advertise. One needs to think laterally – into a myriad of possibilities, such as proprietor names, who bought what, when, and so forth. Maybe you have to back into it – look at the entire spectrum of time the saloon was in business. The number of permutations is huge. I tried to explore them all. But still … there are at least two tokens for which I could find nothing. Research is not an easy task. The rewards are terrific. Pure "gold." I hope you find some.

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JOEL SHAFER AUCTION #1 SELECTIONS

Lot #5: Albania S148b, 1 Franc, 1918

Shqiperie Vetqeveritare. Exceptional Paper Quality ink stamp. Serial: A 13705. ONLY example on the population report. Grade: PMG 64 Ch. UNC.

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KUENKER AUCTION SALE 449

eLive Premium Auction 449: Sammlung Dr. Hartmut Kreutzer, Teil 1

11. November 2026 auf www.kuenker.auex.de

When people hear the name Dr. Hartmut Kreutzer, they immediately think of his important book on the Syracusan drachmas and small silver coins from the period of the signatory artists. Now the first part of his collection is coming to market. It comprises around 100 lots of—not surprisingly—coins from Syracuse, including extremely rare small coins as well as comparative specimens of Syracusan and Sicilian coinage.

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EARLY AMERICAN HISTORY NOVEMBER 14 SALE

ELIAS BOUDINOT (1740-1821). 10th President of the Continental Congress (1782-1783); a Founding Father; Member of the Continental Congres who served in the First Congress of 1789; Signed the "Treaty of Paris" with Great Britain ending the Revolutionary War; Member of the Committee on Correspondence; New Jersey Provincial Congress; Commissary-General of Prisoners; in 1795 Appointed Third Director of the United States Mint by George Washington; founded the American Bible Society and began "Thanksgiving" in America as a National Holiday.

December 16, 1790, Newark (New Jersey) First Presbyterian Church in Newark, Signed "E Boudinot" as Church president, Private Four Pence Small Change Note, Newman page 266, Wait 1410, PCGS graded Very Fine-25. This Church money series was printed by Kollock and is clearly Signed in brown ink by Elias Boudinot. This note is quite superior in its eye appeal to most we have seen and the signature is strong. The holder notes edges trimmed (all are... this one in a wavy fashion). Worthy of a premium being an excellent representative of the series with a very clear strong signature.

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DAVISSON'S E-AUCTION 54

E-Auction 54, closing Wednesday, November 18th 2026, is online now! Print copies were mailed last week. If you are not on our mailing list and would like a copy, please let us know.

Two of the collections in this catalog reflect the time, effort, and expense of seriously collecting a specific series. The Peter Bartlett collection of ancient Greek coins with remarkable coverage of the earliest coinage at one end of the spectrum. And the collection representing 2300 years of English coinage, Celts to Windsors, that can be found in the British section of the sale represents an economical but effective approach.

The Bartlett Collection shows the time, the expertise, the focus, and the financial strength needed to assemble a world-class collection. The collection stands as nearly definitive for the earliest coins issued, in the 7th Century B.C. in Asia Minor.

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IBERCOIN 2026 INTERNATIONAL BANKNOTE WEEK

Ibercoin, the Madrid-based numismatic auction house, will hold the Ibercoin International Banknote Week from 17 to 19 November 2026: three consecutive auctions dedicated to collectible banknotes, held in Madrid with live online bidding open to collectors worldwide, bringing together close to 5,000 lots from five continents, from a Danish Treasury note of 1713 to the most recent issues.

Tuesday 17 November, 15:00 CET - Asturica Collection Worldwide (#139)
A world banknote collection formed with discernment over many years. Its 1,374 lots span more than two hundred countries and territories, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, with historical series from Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe, PMG-certified pieces, and a good number of colonial issues and issues from states that no longer exist.
https://www.ibercoin.com/en/numismatic-auctions/123

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NAC NOVEMBER AUCTIONS 172, 173, 174

Edward VIII, 1936. AE Pattern Penny, 1937, by T. H. Paget & C. W. Coombes.
Bare head left, HP below, EDWARDVS VIII D: G: BR: OMN: REX F: D: IND: IMP., rev. ONE PENNY, Britannia seated right, lighthouse behind, date in exergue.
Gordiano P3a and p. 253 – this coin; Freeman 216; Peck 2367; S.4063.

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LOOSE CHANGE: NOVEMBER 1, 2026

Pompeii Cupboard Yields Coins
Jim Haas writes:

A necklace of at least 24 tiny charms, given to Roman children as a protective amulet, was among the finds from a wooden cupboard sealed for almost 2,000 years in Pompeii.

The cupboard, reconstructed by archaeologists from traces found in a house on Via dell'Abbondanza, one of the busiest streets of ancient Pompeii, has produced an intimate picture of one resident's life before the city's destruction.

In a statement, the site said the objects ranged from make-up utensils and perfume to coins, cooking pots and childhood amulets.

Lead weights in a wooden box suggested that someone in the house was involved in trade, and a small woven container held 38 bronze coins.

The fact that both money and objects with apparent sentimental value remained behind suggests the owners had no time to retrieve them after Vesuvius erupted.

To read the complete article, see:
A cupboard sealed for 2,000 years reveals the secrets of Pompeii before deadly volcano (https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/archaeology/pompeii-vesuvious-eruption-naples-excavation-b3075592.html)

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ABOUT THIS ISSUE: NOVEMBER 1, 2026

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