NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: MAY 26, 2019

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V22 2019 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 22, Number 21, May 26, 2019, Article 18

I have been reading The E-Sylum weekly newsletter for the last couple of years and find the diversity of articles just amazing. This past week I shared one of your newsletters with Rodney Bobak, the education director of our little coin club in Morganton, North Carolina. He is interested in receiving E-Sylum on a regular basis.

I always enjoy the vocabulary terms every week- this week "Convention badges" got me thinking that I should share something that I had recently acquired, and that I've had some trouble finding out additional information about- if any any of the readers has any information they could provide, I would greatly appreciate it!

I recently picked up this badge. I was told by the person who I had purchased it from, who had recently inherited it, that her father likely purchased this at a coin show in the 1950's possibly in the St. Louis Area, and that it was a medal for an American Numismatic Association past president (strangely noted as "Ex President"!) and had believed it was from around 1910's; unfortunately she did not have any additional information regarding prior ownership, etc.

There were certainly some big hitters in the numismatic world, as presidents of the ANA at that time, unfortunately, there are no names etched on the medal. I have done some research but have yet to be able to attach it to any individual.

Interesting! I've seen plenty of early ANA convention medals, but don't recall anything like this. It seems plausible that this is from the 1910s era. The monogram does seem to be the letters A N A. Is anyone familiar with this? Is it really an ANA item? -Editor

In Cuba, in silver, first there are the Star pesos 1915 to 1934; and the next series 1934-1939 are the ABC pesos. What does ABC stand for? I have always been curious.

Through a web search I found an answer on the Moneta Gallery Coin Museum web site: "The following from Steve Album: The ABC peso achieved its odd name from a group titled the "ABC". This group was a clandestine, revolutionary protest group with members from the University of Havana and young professionals who raised against the dictatorial rule of President Gerardo Machado. The ABC got its simple name from the three alphabetical cells its members belonged to; A, B, and C." -Editor

To read the complete article, see:
Cuba ABC Peso - 1934 (http://www.moneta-coins.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=2158&title=cuba-abc-peso1934&cat=602)

In 1932, the ABC issued a Program Manifesto, written predominantly by Martínez Saenz, Mañach, and Ichaso. The Manifesto called for a range of reforms, including women's suffrage, worker's rights (unions, eight-hour day, right to strike, pensions), the elimination of latifundios through taxation, and the creation of cooperatives. It also called for the creation of a Cuban National Bank.

Though wide-ranging, the ABC's program has been described as more pragmatic or realistic than those of other opposition groups at the time.

The ABC itself declared its opposition to both communism and fascism. Its green banner contrasted notably with the gray, black, and blue colors of contemporary European right-wing groups, and its logo inspired by the Jewish star was intended to connote persecution.

To read the complete Wikipedia article, see:
ABC (Cuba) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABC_(Cuba))

A True Collector's Mentality
Regarding the famous quote on "A True Collector's Mentality" from the will of Edmond de Goncourt, Jeffrey S Zarit writes:

I know now where this came from. It is in my last will.

Attached are scans of a local currency from Whitehorse, Yukon. My inquiries in Whitehorse have gone unanswered. I was hoping that some one who collects/documents/studies these might have some information on it.

Interesting labor exchange note, from back in 2000. Nearly twenty years on, it might be tough to find more information on it. Can anyone help? Is there anything in local newspapers of the day? -Editor

Nick Graver enjoyed this money-based graphic from the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle May 7, 2019. Thanks. I was unable to find the graphic on the paper's web site, but here's a scan with a link to the article below. -Editor

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
Property taxes: These places pay the most in New York (https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/politics/albany/2019/05/03/how-much-did-new-yorkers-pay-taxes-last-year/3661422002/)