2025 NBS SYMPOSIUM "MENDACIOUS" PRANKSTER REVEAL

"Mendacious" Prankster Revealed

In 1992, American bibliophiles received a one-page flyer in the mail that advertised a numismatic literature sale to be held April 1, 1992 in Fort Worth, TX, at "1204 Magnolia," which just happened to be the former address of the coin dealer B. Max Mehl. The announcement hinted the material was of great value and that the cataloger was not completely familiar with the significance of the items. The circular noted "Many old catalogs in beautiful leathers, though a number marked up with prices and various names."

Numismatic book collectors, unable to verify specifics in the pre-Internet era, went into a frenzy, with some reputedly booking airfare to the event. Eventually, the ruse was found out, with the key clues being the April Fool's sale date, and the auctioneer's name ("M. N. Daycius"), which represented a phonetic pseudonym – "mendacious," or lying. A "large pile of old coin sales, a few going back to the 1820's" suggested the author was aware of the 1828 Watkins broadside, then thought to be the earliest American numismatic auction sale, a fact known only to those aware of Attinelli's 1876 Numisgraphics bibliography.

Since 1992, the identity of the hoaxster has been the subject of much speculation. Recently, new information has come to light that finally identifies the perpetrator of the "M. N. Daycius Caper." This came to us completely unsolicited, and not in response to any investigation on our part. All shall be revealed at the NBS Symposium at the ANA convention in Oklahoma City, Thursday, August 21, at 1pm.

 

Link to Martin Nathaniel Daycius sale announcement on Newman Portal:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/auctioncompanydetail/515765

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