"I might be missing something entirely obvious here, but if there aren't 1.2 million cents in all the banks in North Carolina, then where are the billions of cents minted each year going? North Carolina made up about 3.17% of the U.S. population in 2018 (when the "I Bought A Car Using Only Pennies" video was released), which would suggest only 37.85 million cents were available from banks. That is just 0.48% of the 7,803,200,000 combined mintage for Philadelphia and Denver reported in the Red Book for 2018, not to mention the billions of existing cents made before 2018."

Good point, although the cents in the hands of banks are the only readily available ones, and you'd have to travel to every bank in the state to get them. And only Santa Claus could visit every household and hoover up the rest of the cents from every piggy bank and couch cushion in the state. -Editor

In my Numismatic Diary last week, I illustrated a 25 cent Civil War scrip note from Jones and Sawyer in Alton, NH with a postmark on the back. I hadn't encountered a scrip note with a postmark before, and that's what led me to buy the piece. David Gladfelter responded with information about this piece, and noted some others also featuring postmarks. Thank you! -Editor

 

 

"Alonzo H. Sawyer was the postmaster of Alton during the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. He held that post while also running his dry goods business with Jeremiah Jones.

"Today the job of postmaster is in the civil service, but in 19th century small towns it was often part time. At least two New Jersey scrip notes have postal markings on their backs, put there by postmasters probably to give the notes an official-looking appearance so as to boost public confidence in the notes and facilitate their circulation. A series of fractional scrip notes issued in 1837 by the municipal Corporation of Bordentown in denominations of .0625, .125, .25 and .50 have the circular date stamp ("CDS" to stamp collectors) of postmaster Joshua Carman, who is a named payee on the notes. History does not leave a record of his full time job. The three lower denominations are listed by George Wait in his catalog New Jersey's Money. William H. Howell of Ewingville was proprietor of the Park House there and also the local postmaster. His .10 note has his postmark on the back. Wait lists a .05 denomination by an "unknown issuer" in that town, from an unsigned remainder."

Last week Roger Moore wanted to know more about the Colonial Coin Club of Penna.

There were a number of Colonial Coin Clubs operating in the 1960's including The Colonial Coin Club of Annapolis, Maryland, (1963-2020) and The Colonial Coin Club of Williamsburg, Virginia, (1961-1969).

The Colonial Coin Club of Pennsylvania was formed in June of 1962 and became ANA member club 46620 in September 1962. Founding officers were Alex Kaptick, president; Elmer Storms, Joseph Diamond, and Michael Curran, vice presidents; Elizabeth Krebs, treasurer; and Charlotte w. Hindle, secretary. Meetings were held at the Levittown Fire House No. 1.

There were 83 members present in 1966 when they elected Regina Schneider, president; Herb Kropnick, first vice president; Charles Dawicki, second vice president; Alex Candelton, third vice president; Joe diamond, treasurer; and Frank H, Zachol, secretary.

The club lacked a consistent identity. The club was also mentioned as the Colonial Coin Club of Bucks County and the Colonial Coin Club of Levittown. The club was known by its initials, CCCP. Their T-Shirts are seen around the world.

The club issued a bicentennial medal in 1976. They issued wooden nickels for several coin shows up to the 17th annual show in 1980. The club was still meeting in 1988.

They operated somewhat in the shadow of the Colonial Coin Club of Annapolis which lasted longer and also issued wooden nickels.

I dunno about that T-shirt part, but Pete's got a subtle sense of humor. -Editor

"The reference to the book Specimens of Fancy Turning was interesting. This made me think of a recent posting by noted currency artist Mark Wagner. He plugged his sister Mary Wagner's art endeavor, which consists of very intricate depictions of spirograph type drawings."

 

Colorful! Thanks. -Editor

I am looking for named auction catalogs for the following sales regarding the $16 Moffat ingot.

1) W.E. Woodward's 12/1885 Matthews, Randall & Levick sale, lot 1064.

2) S.H. Chapman's 5/1908 Ashhurst sale, lot 1307.

Any help E-Sylum readers can provide would be greatly appreciated.

 

Can anyone help? Who were the buyers of these lots? -Editor

"I read your article titled "TWO NUMISMATIC RESEARCHERS AT TIFFANY'S" and enjoyed it.

"I was wondering if you could help me find some information about a medal our family has. It is the 1909 Peter Cooper medal. Everywhere I look I find the bronze version in a round case. The family medal is made out of fine silver and is in a presentation box. We believe the medal was given either to James Maginn or his second wife Mary Peoli Maginn. James worked at Cooper Union and was a friend of Peter Cooper and actually took Lincoln around upon Lincoln's visit to the Cooper Union. Mary Peoli Maginn also worked at the Cooper Union and was friends with Peter Cooper's daughters.

"We would love to learn more about this special medal in silver. How many silver medals were produced or who were they given out to are questions that come to mind. Can you direct us to a book that might have more info? The image below is what we have found so far.

Thanks for your time, Dave and MaryAnne Holcomb, MaryAnne is the great grand niece of Mary Peoli Maginn."

 
Kunz article Oscar Roty AJN Vol 47 1913

Well, an earlier issue of the American Journal of Numismatics (Vol 45, July 1911, page 162) noted that George Kunz presented to the Society "two specimens, one in silver and one in bronze, of the Peter Cooper medal by Roty." So the American Numismatic Society likely has a silver one, although I was unable to locate it in their catalogue. This item is listed as a bronze, but it does look silvery in the photo. -Editor

 

Can anyone help? Has the number of silver medals made been documented anywhere? -Editor

Ron Guth passed along this video of Mike Rowe interviewing former U.S. Mint Director, Philip Diehl. Thanks! It's lengthy but interesting. The linked webpage has a table of contents including Rapidly transforming the U.S. Mint, Creating the Sacagawea and state coins, and Why the Susan B. Anthony coin failed. -Editor

 

"I have no particular insight about the Louvre theft, other than to sympathize with the French, as this embarrassment just piles up on top of their other (political) woes. I did run across the attached cartoon which, I think, does justice to the mood. Indeed, this might actually be a panel from an old "Tintin" comic album. I used to read them as a kid, but don't remember now where this picture might have come from."

 

Thanks. I don't know French, but Google Translate reveals the dialogue:

Me? I didn't see anything

I did, they left that way

-Editor