"In the March 30th edition of The E-Sylum, you asked about other major publishers of numismatic book reprints. In the ancient coin field, the most notable are Argonaut Publishers (Chicago), Ares Publishers (Chicago), Attic Books Ltd. (New York), Obol International (Chicago), and Forni (Italy). Without these publishers, a vast amount of important numismatic scholarship would have been difficult (and expensive) to acquire. Together, they made available a very large number of important but otherwise out-of-print titles."

Thank you - great list. -Editor

"The Emerging Coins section in last week's E-Sylum has us scratching our heads. First, is this a joke from Pete, or is there some fact?

"Our question is on the 1894-S dime. Hallie never received a piece of that rarity from her father, and I'm sure that you know the real story. Second, 11 year old "Kelly Oliver" found an 1894-S and couldn't fit it into a coin album.

"Since our last names were used, it brought our attention to it as well. Anyway, confused in California, and sure the joke might be on us."

Yep, that was one of the dicey April Fool items in the last issue, along with the abolishment of the terms "obverse" and "reverse" and selling the gold in Ft. Knox. But stay tuned on that last one. -Editor

"The reference to Kelly Oliver was not intended to be a joke on them. Rather, it was intended to be a tribute to their research into the 1894-S dimes."

"Enjoyed your April Fool's joke!"

Thanks Pete, David Pickup, Steve Shupe and all the good sports out there who enjoyed the pranks. -Editor

I asked Steve Davis of Numismatic Auctions LLC about the results of their recent sale. -Editor

"The sale went great! The auction results exceeded presale estimates by about 38-40%. Shipping it has been insane…

"I think some people thought we were joking that we had 5000+ lbs of coins and 1200-2000 lbs of literature to ship this auction… from reviewing our postal and FedEx receipts I think our estimates were LOW. I think our level of service as a mom and pop op is quite admirable, though some patrons have the Amazon mentality and think everything should be next day…"

Steve sent along these photos of the massive post-sale shipping operation. -Editor

"On a side note, we now find check payments at a far lower scam or fraud rate than credit card or debit or payment apps. When we receive a check it typically has a home address and phone number, bank info and they also typically provide a work address and alt phone numbers and email addresses whereas card users who default typically shield to minimal ID data so it is nearly impossible to follow up. Guys buy bullion or related products on a card linked to a PO Box or provide a UPS store or temp/alt shipping address or C/O agent and then once they get the items and the chargeback funds they disappear! We have totally done away with CC/debit or app payments due to fraud, primarily chargebacks after receipt of coins - which the CC companies rarely refund to the vendor even after multiple appeals and documentation. Sad world we live in…I remember always shipping coins before the checks hit, that was the good ole days when we knew everyone by name, their wives, kids and dogs too!"

Web site visitor Mazher Mahmood submitted these images of what looks like three trial strikes of a 1935 India Quarter Anna on a rectangular bronze plate. Here's an example of the coin, followed next by reversed images of the trial obverse and reverse, and followed last by cropped versions of Mazer's original photos (two front and one back). What do readers make of this? Does it appear genuine? Are other such trial strikes known? -Editor

"I am a philatelist, numismatist and banking historian. My banking research papers are on record with the State Bank of Pakistan Museum. I am member of the British Revenue Society and various societies in Pakistan."

"You can give this to people you meet who have no scruples."

Indeed. This eBay offering is from my friend Jonas Denenberg - check out his other auction lots. He really does scour the nation's coin shows hauling back a large selection of fresh numismatic items. -Editor