"I am an avid collector of magic tokens. I was approached a number of years ago to update the Kuethe reference, which I worked on diligently for many years. I then heard that someone else was doing the same thing so I dropped my research efforts as 'I would rather buy his book than write mine'. Nothing was published and I was again approached, and again, I started. I heard that the book was supposed to come out in November, which also came and went without publication.

"I then became acquainted with Bob Olson, wrote to him, phoned him, attended one of his Colonial era magic shows, and bought many, many tokens from him. As it turns out, we had a number of mutual friends in the magic community. He was the one that was supposedly writing the update. I continued to write in depth articles about the issuers of magic tokens, one was recently published in TAMS titled 'Chicago Magic Bar Tokens'. I had by then become acquainted with Paul Courville and have had many pleasant transactions with him. At this point I would have to say that I am glad that I bought his book because it was better than anything I could have written. Maybe some day I will publish my 'in-depth' research, which continues to this day."

Adrián González-Salinas of Monterrey, N.L. Mexico has cleared up TWO outstanding numismatic mysteries for us. Thanks! Here's the first - a mystery token submitted in February by Jonas Denenberg. I thought it might be a marriage token. -Editor

"You are right Wayne, it's a Mexican marriage token! In the token's obverse the Guadalupe's Basilica is shown and the year 1976 in which it was consecrated. So, it's an "arra" (one of 13 coins given by the bridegroom to the bride)."

Adrián González-Salinas also has an answer to Len Augsburger's question about a numismatic postcard printer identified as "A.H.H.". -Editor

"I think the South Africa postcard printer was Auguste Heintz et Cie in Herstal, Liège Province, Belgium. So, AHH means Auguste Heintz Herstal."

Thank you! E-Sylum readers are the best numismatic detectives! -Editor

"All of my Kent Company and Whitman coin boards are now posted at the Newman Numismatic Portal. I'm going to continue until the entire collection is presented, but this will take months."

Wow - what a great project! Thank you for making these images available to the community. In the don't-try-this-at-home department, Dave suggested illustrating this "First Edition Kent board for Lincolns, which advises users to clean their coins with vinegar and a pencil eraser!" -Editor

"Does anyone have a bibliographic or biographic reference for Monsieur Mionet, Librarian (curator) of the French National Museum (1800). I keep getting circular or footnote references in various searches."

Can anyone help? -Editor

"This is associated with the Big Boy steam locomotive that the Union Pacific Railroad recently renovated. Those locomotives were the largest steam locomotives ever made."

Thanks - I hadn't seen that. From the Union Pacific Steam Club Newsletter. -Editor

"It is not often that one encounters a squirting nickel with the original directions for use. What makes this even more special is that it is also a Disney collectable. This was sold through Disneyland in California. The seller dates it to the 1950s. However, it could also be as late as the 1960s. I expect there are not too many coin collectables sold by Disney aside from some token issues. Unfortunately it is only the price tag that links it to Disney, meaning that it was sold through the Disney park but not actually made by Disney. All the same, it is still pretty cool."

Cool indeed! "The hole is in the 'C' of the word "cents." -Editor