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V29 2026 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 29, Number 16, 2026, Article 2

Last chance! Here's a final group of selected lots from Alan Workman's numismatic literature sale closing April 25, 2026. -Editor

Lot 151: Grellman, J.R. & Jules Reiver. ATTRIBUTION GUIDE FOR UNITED STATES LARGE CENTS 1840–1857. John R. Grellman, Jr., Montgomery. 1987. 4to. Unpaginated pages. original brown leatherette, gilt, gilt numismatic device. Signed by the author. Second edition. Illustrated endpages. Glossary. Rarity Guide. Line illustrations and figures throughout. English text. Ex James E. Marino Library. Fine. This book is an essential "Rosetta Stone" for identifying the highly specific die varieties of late-date U.S. large cents. Unlike general price guides, it focuses on the minute physical differences—such as date placement, die cracks, and re-punched numbers—that occur when a coin is struck from a particular set of dies. By using the book's detailed pictorials and the "Reiver method" of attribution, a collector can determine the exact variety of their coin, which is critical because some varieties are significantly rarer and more valuable than others even if the year and basic design are the same. Lot weight: 4 lbs 0oz. Subject(s): United States Coinage.

Lot 152: Gresham, Carling. TERRITORIAL FLORIDA BANKS & BONDS 1821-1845. Graphics II, Palatka. 1993. 12mo. 39, (1) pages. original printed card covers. Signed by the author. Revised Second Printing. Limited numbered edition #172 of 300 copies. Reference List. b&w photos throughout. English text. Fine. This book is an essential numismatic reference for identifying and authenticating rare paper currency and "faith bonds" from Florida's territorial era. Carling Gresham, a respected researcher and former editor of FUN Topics, provides a detailed catalog of the seventeen chartered banks active between 1821 and 1845, offering historical background and listing known issues that are now highly prized as "broken bank notes". For specialists in Florida history or obsolete currency, the book serves as a vital guide for understanding the scarcity and origins of these early financial instruments, many of which became worthless after the territory's banking collapse. Lot weight: 0 lbs 3oz. Subject(s): United States Paper Money.

Lot 154: Grunthal, Henry & Dr. Ernesto A. Sellschopp. THE COINAGE OF PERU. Numismatischer Verlag P.N. Schulten, Frankfurt. 1978. 8vo. 303, (1) pages. original russet cloth, lettered in white. Bibliography. b&w coin photos throughout. English and German text. Fine. This book includes a short survey of the historical development of Peruvian coinage that covers the periods from Pre-Columbian through the modern decimal coinage. The coins are organized by assayer and sub-organized by denomination and then by date. Each denomination has a number reference and each date has a bibliographic/research reference. Lot weight: 1 lbs 5oz. Subject(s): Peruvian Coinage.

Lot 164: Heiss, Aloiss. MONEDAS HISPANO-CRISTIANAS. TOMOS I, II & III. Juan R. Cayon, Madrid. 1975. 4to. Matching green leatherette, gilt. some cracking along the front cover edges of the spine of each volume (as is typical of this publication), else Fine. This lot includes the following volumes:

(1) Heiss, Aloiss. Monedas Hispano-Cristianas. Tomo Primero. Juan R. Cayon, Madrid. 1975. vii, (6), 433, (2) Pages. 4to. Green leatherette, gilt. Facsimilie reprint of the 1865 edition. Madrid. Tables. Documents. Nos.1-70, A-E b&w line-drawn coin plates.

(2) Heiss, Aloiss. Monedas Hispano-Cristianas. Tomo Segundo. Aragon. Juan R. Cayon, Madrid. 1975. (8), 502, (2) Pages. 4to. Green leatherette, gilt. Facsimilie reprint of the 1867 edition. Madrid. Tables. Nos. 71-143 b&w line-drawn coin plates.

(3) Heiss, Aloiss. Monedas Hispano-Cristianas. Tomo Tercero. Navarra. Juan R. Cayon, Madrid. 1975. 298, (2) Pages. 4to. Green leatherette, gilt. Facsimilie reprint of the 1869 edition. Madrid. Tables. Nos. 144-203 b&w line-drawn coin plates.

The old standard reference on post-Islamic Spain. The coin descriptions include full legends, and there are wonderful line drawings of the coins. A great reference that has not been replaced by more modern references like Cayon and Castan. Lot weight: 13 lbs 4oz. Subject(s): Spanish Coinage.

Lot 165: Hendin, David & Herbert Kreindler. GUIDE TO BIBLICAL COINS - THIRD EDITION. Amphora, New York. 1996. 8vo. 316 pages. original black cloth, gilt, jacket. Signed by the author. Maps. Tables. Bibliography. 32 b&w coin plates. line illustrations. English text. Errata sheet laid in. Fine. This is the third edition of the most widely used reference in the field of ancient Biblical and Jewish Coins. Hendin has dramatically expanded the text with extensions and significant new material. This edition contains a full 32 pages of photographic plates illustrating more than 500 coins and weights. Aimed at both beginning and advanced collectors, Hendin compiles the knowledge he has accumulated in the 34 years since his year-long stay in Israel as a volunteer of the Six Day War. At that time his weekly trips to the markets in Jerusalem led him into one of the world's most fascinating hobbies--collecting Biblical coins--with which he has remained fascinated every since. Lot weight: 1 lbs 7oz. Subject(s): Ancient Coinage.

Lot 168: Hill, Philip V. THE MONUMENTS OF ANCIENT ROME AS COIN TYPES. B.A. Seaby Ltd., London. 1989. 4to. 145, (1) pages. original blue cloth, lettered in silver, jacket. Maps. Glossary. Bibliography. Index. B&w coin photos throughout. English text. Fine. This book is an introduction to the subject which includes sections on temples and shrines, public buildings, arches, columns and cippi, altars, equestrian statues and statues of ancient Rome. Information on the Augustan regions is also given. This work aims at identifying as many as possible of the numerous architectural images appearing on the Roman coinage. Important book on Roman architectural type of coins. Lot weight: 1 lbs 4oz. Subject(s): Ancient Coinage.

Lot 177: Jenkins, G. K. ANCIENT GREEK COINS. G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York. 1972. Small 4to. 310, (2) pages. original blue cloth, gilt, jacket. Maps. Glossary. Bibliography. Color and b&w coin plates throughout. English text. Fine. Considered an essential reference for any numismatic library, this book provides a comprehensive introduction to the field for collectors and scholars alike. Jenkins, a former Keeper of Coins and Medals at the British Museum, balances historical context with a focus on the artistic evolution of coinage across the ancient Mediterranean, from its 7th-century BCE origins to the fall of the Hellenistic kingdoms. For a collector, the book's primary value lies in its high-quality iconographic apparatus, featuring hundreds of detailed black-and-white illustrations and color plates that aid in identifying and appreciating the exceptional craftsmanship of ancient die-engravers. Its clear organization by region and period makes it an authoritative guide for understanding the civic identity, economic significance, and stylistic nuances of the coins that once circulated from Spain to Afghanistan. Lot weight: 2 lbs 13oz. Subject(s): Ancient Greek Coinage.

Lot 189: Kinder, Gary. SHIP OF GOLD IN THE DEEP BLUE SEA. Vintage Books, New York. 1999. 12mo. xvi, 536, (2) pages. original pictorial card covers. Frontispieces color photos. B&w illustrations. English text. Fine. This book is a gripping non-fiction narrative that weaves together two extraordinary maritime stories. The first is the historical tragedy of the "SS Central America", a side-wheel steamer that sank during a 1857 hurricane while carrying hundreds of passengers and 21 tons of California gold. The second follows the modern-day quest of engineer Tommy Thompson, who led a team in the 1980s using pioneering deep-sea technology to locate and recover the legendary "Ship of Gold" from the ocean floor. The book is a celebrated account of historical drama, scientific ingenuity, and the human drive for discovery. Lot weight: 1 lbs 0oz. Subject(s): Sunken Treasure.

Lot 203: Lee, Kenneth W. CALIFORNIA GOLD. George Frederick Kolbe Publications, Santa Ana. 1979. 4to. xx, 120, (8) pages. original blue leatherette, gilt. First printing. Frontispiece, author portrait. b&w coin photos throughout. valuations sheet laid in. English text. Fine. This book is a foundational reference guide for attributing and verifying "fractional" gold coins - the tiny, privately minted 25-cent, 50-cent, and 1-dollar gold pieces issued in California during the mid-19th century. Kenneth W. Lee's work is essential because it provides a systematic, descriptive catalog of the different die varieties, shapes (round vs. octagonal), and designs used by private assayers when official U.S. currency was scarce. Rather than just historical narrative, the book serves as a technical tool used to identify authentic period pieces versus later souvenir tokens, making it a staple for anyone serious about collecting or dealing in California Pioneer gold. Lot weight: 1 lbs 12oz. Subject(s): United States Coinage.

Lot 268: Noyes, William C. UNITED STATES LARGE CENTS 1816-1839. Litho Technical Services, Bloomington. 1991. 4to. Unpaginated pages. original maroon leatherette, gilt. First Edition. b&w coin photos throughout. English text. Fine. This book is considered an essential reference for identifying and valuing the "Middle Date" series of American copper coinage. The book is primarily prized as an attribution guide, providing specialized "Sheldon" and "Newcomb" variety numbers that help collectors distinguish between subtle die variations. It features highly detailed, enlarged photographs that allow for a "face-to-face" recognition of individual dies and their unique characteristics, such as cracks and wear patterns known as die states. Additionally, the work is a significant historical record, often including a condition census that lists the finest known examples of specific varieties, making it a "must-have" for both serious researchers and enthusiasts looking to "cherry-pick" rare varieties from the market. Lot weight: 3 lbs 3oz. Subject(s): United States Coinage.