About Us The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit association devoted to the study and enjoyment of numismatic literature. For more information please see our web site at coinbooks.org Subscriptions Those wishing to become new E-Sylum subscribers can go to the following web page Subscribe You may Unsubscribe Here Membership There is a membership application available on the web site Membership Application To join, print the application and return it with your check to the address printed on the application. Print/Digital membership is $40 to addresses in the U.S., and $60 elsewhere. A digital-only membership is available for $25. For those without web access, write to: Jeff Dickerson, Treasurer Numismatic Bibliomania Society P. O. Box 578, Weatherford, TX 76086 Asylum For Asylum mailing address changes and other membership questions, contact Jeff at this email address: treasurer@coinbooks.org Submissions To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com BUY THE BOOK BEFORE THE COIN Sale Calendar Workman's Books November 1, 2026

 

Content presented in The E-Sylum is not necessarily researched or independently fact-checked, and views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.

WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM JULY 26, 2026

New subscribers this week include: Jim Bigler, courtesy Bob Feiler; Pat Moran, courtesy Larry Lee; Jim Sims, courtesy Mike Markowitz; and Stuart Simon. Welcome aboard! We now have 6,426 subscribers.

Thank you for reading The E-Sylum. If you enjoy it, please send me the email addresses of friends you think may enjoy it as well and I'll send them a subscription. Contact me at whomren@gmail.com anytime regarding your subscription, or questions, comments or suggestions about our content.

This week we open with two new books, two periodicals, updates from the Newman Numismatic Portal and the American Numismatic Association, notes from readers, and more.

Other topics this week include the Lincoln Cent, southern gold, sterling, AI coin grading, Bust coinage, cardboard scrip, and the submarine Turtle.

To learn more about provisional coins of the Zacatecas mint, coins in commerce during the War for Independence, imitation Kidarite gold coins, Washington's pocket piece, Persian Empire banknotes, the Trump Dollar coin, countermarks, one of the rarest Civil War tokens, and Swedish Rounding, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum

 

 

NEW BOOK: THE LINCOLN CENT CENTURY

The Lincoln Cent Century
by Tony Richardson

What You Should Know About Collecting The World's Most Incredible Coin. For those new to collecting Lincoln Cents and to seasoned collectors, this Book lays a firm foundation on the history and evolution of the Lincoln Cent by which you will be able to recognize value, identify anomalies and grasp the enormity of the contribution the Lincoln Cent has made not only to U.S. history, but to the world.

Format: Paperback
Publisher : Independently published
Publication date : June 30, 2026
Language : English
Print length : 56 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8184341354
Item Weight : 4.3 ounces
Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.14 x 8.5 inches

Tony Richardson writes:

For more information, or to order, see:
The Lincoln Cent Century (https://www.amazon.com/Lincoln-Cent-Century-Tony-Richardson/dp/B0H74PKNFJ/ref=sr_1_1)

NEW BOOK: MANIPULATING HISTORY

This book is divided into three parts. The first part will establish beyond any doubt how the Zacatecas mint was founded. It will also clarify its operations from that moment until the Crown definitively took control of the city in May of 1811.

In the first part of this work, two opposing premises will be compared, with you serving as the witness, judge and jury. You will deliver the final verdict as you observe them being subjected to the scrutiny of the documents presented by both sides. Are you ready for this task?

It is precisely through the documentary evidence presented by both sides that you will be able to form your own judgment. Then you will understand the veracity of one of these positions. Your verdict will be based on the overwhelming certainty that the rejected point of view on this matter will ultimately be demonstrated as something completely impossible to have occurred. The discarded point will be proven to be false as it cannot be sustained by the shown evidence. It is precisely the comprehensive evidence presented that refutes and dismantles it. This section includes Appendices 1 and 2, as well as the bibliography corresponding to this section.

The second part presents a forced exchange of words between the authors of both positions, in an unusual dialogue that unfolded in an extraordinary manner. This dialog happened through the surprising and questionable intervention of an editor. This dialog will try to affirm are reiterate the wrong premises through the scarce sources presented by its author. These sources will be also shown to be manipulated for one of the two causes.

This section contains an unexpected epilogue that will demonstrate the fundamental flaws inherent in the rejected position, reaffirming the certainty of the correct knowledge. This knowledge is supported by five informative appendices that will be presented to you at the end of this section, Appendices 3 through 7.

To read the both volumes (available as .pdfs in both English and Spanish), see:
Manipulating History (https://sonumex.org.mx/biblioteca.html)

 

PERIODICAL: C4 NEWSLETTER SUMMER 2026

Table of Contents

• Collecting the Signers of the Declaration of Independence on Currency and Associated Forms of Circulating Paper — John Kraljevich
• John Trumbull and The Declaration of Independence — C4 Editors
• First Anniversary Celebration of the Declaration, 1777 — Gary Trudgen
• Two American Revolutionary War Buttons — Wayne Shelby
• 1776-Dated Domestic Coppers - Vlack 6-76A & 9-76B — Jack Howes, et al
• Patriotism in Print: Continental Currency Vignettes — Leo Shane
• Uncut Sheets of 1776-Dated Continental Currency — C4 Editors
• Coins in Commerce During the War for Independence — Thomas Kays
• C4 Club News and Announcements — Various
• The Puzzling Inimica Tyrannis — Jeffrey Pritchard
• Plates: Pattern Coppers Associated with New York Mints — Randy Clark
• Overstriking 1787 Vermont Coppers on Nova Constellatios — James Glickman

A FEW "WISE" WORDS FROM YOUR C4 PRESIDENT

Welcome to a special issue of the C4 Newsletter. Our editorial team has assembled a one-time, oversized Summer, July 2026, newsletter in honor of the Declaration of Independence, with an outstanding collection of articles, research, and discoveries that remind us why C4 remains the premier organization for collectors and students of colonial numismatics. The quality of scholarship in this newsletter continues to impress me, and I am grateful to everyone who contributes their time and expertise to make it possible.

Before turning to convention news, I want to recognize an outstanding achievement by several members of our club. With the leadership and assistance of Dr. David Menchell, Carol Wolf, and a dedicated team of volunteers, C4 assembled an exceptional exhibit for the American Numismatic Association's World's Fair of Money in New York City, commemorating the 250th Anniversary of America. The display showcased colonial coins and medals that tell the story of the people, events, and ideas that led to the founding of our great nation. It highlighted both the historical significance and artistic beauty of our nation's earliest numismatic treasures and served as a wonderful introduction to colonial numismatics for the broader collecting community.

On behalf of the entire club, I extend my sincere thanks to David, Carol, and everyone who contributed their time, expertise, and effort to make this exhibit a success. C4 can be proud of the role it played in helping commemorate this important milestone in American history.

One of your Board's responsibilities is ensuring that our annual convention remains the premier gathering for colonial collectors. To that end, the Board recently formed a committee to address the closure of the Sheraton Inner Harbor Hotel in Baltimore, which has long served as our convention headquarters.

After evaluating our options, the committee determined that C4 will once again hold its annual convention in Baltimore, in conjunction with the Whitman Baltimore Winter Expo. This year's Whitman Expo will run from Thursday, November 12, through Saturday, November 14, 2026.

Because the Sheraton has closed, our convention activities will instead be headquartered at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore Inner Harbor. The Hyatt is conveniently located adjacent to and connected to the Baltimore Convention Center, making it an excellent alternative venue for our members and guests.

We will reserve a small block of rooms for C4 attendees. If you plan to attend the convention, I strongly encourage you to reserve one of these rooms as soon as they become available. If our block fills or you prefer to make your own arrangements, I encourage you to book accommodations early. Baltimore convention hotels often fill quickly, and we want to ensure that all members who wish to attend can secure lodging near our activities.

The annual convention remains the highlight of the colonial numismatic year. Whether you are a longtime attendee or have never joined us before, I hope you will consider making plans now to attend. The educational programs, exhibits, auctions, dealer activity, and fellowship among collectors make this a truly special event.

Before closing, I have been reflecting on the nature of hobbies. A hobby is typically defined as an activity pursued for enjoyment during one's leisure time. A more accurate definition might be that a hobby is whatever you choose to do when there are countless other things you probably should be doing. For some people, that means restoring antique tractors, knitting sweaters, or collecting stamps. For us, it means spending hours studying die varieties, searching auction catalogs, debating attribution points, and occasionally explaining to bewildered family members why two coins that look identical are, in fact, completely different.

Of course, for some of our members-particularly our dealer friends-numismatics is more than a hobby; it is their profession. For the rest of us, however, it remains a labor of love. Many collectors move in and out of active participation over the years as careers, families, and life's obligations compete for our attention. Yet numismatics has a remarkable way of drawing us back. Like a well-worn Connecticut copper, it may disappear into a tray or cabinet for a while, but it always turns up again when we least expect it. Once bitten by the numismatic bug, most of us are permanently afflicted.

Perhaps that is because colonial numismatics lets us hold history in our hands. As our nation commemorates its 250th anniversary, we are reminded that the coins and medals we study are more than collectibles. They are tangible links to the people, events, and ideas that shaped the founding of the United States. Few hobbies offer such a direct connection to the past or such an opportunity to understand better the world that gave birth to our nation.

My own professional responsibilities have recently forced me to step back from some numismatic activities. Nevertheless, I find myself already looking forward to November, when I can spend several days thinking about little besides old coppers, colonial silver, fascinating conversations with fellow collectors, and the history that brings us together. I suspect many of you know exactly what I mean.

Please know that your club continues to thrive. Membership remains strong, scholarship continues to flourish, and the Board is committed to preserving and expanding C4's role as the leading organization devoted to colonial numismatics.

Until we meet again, may all your numismatic dreams come true.

Judge Christopher R. McDowell
Cincinnati, Ohio

For more information of the Colonial Coin Collectors Club (C4), see:
https://colonialcoins.org/

PERIODICAL: ORIENTAL NUMISMATIC SOCIETY SUMMER 2026

Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society
264 Summer 2026

Editorial
Pankaj Tandon

An Arabic countermark on a Byzantine coin discovered in Marea/Philoxenite
Barbara Zajac

Imitation Kidarite gold coins: New hoards help to resolve an old conundrum
John Deyell and Pankaj Tandon

An alternative reading of gold tankas of Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah I of Gujarat
Nikhil Dixit

A monetary microhistory of the southern Konkan region in the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries: The ‘pagoden tibbekijs' in the records of the Dutch East India Company and the Maratha connection
Nikhil Bellarykar

A mangir of Sultan Mehmet III struck at Tabriz
B. Millancourt

The evolution of Saadian coin design through the Salcombe Cannon Hoard
Archie Williams

ONS News
Other News
Read a good book lately?
Book Notices
ONS Videos

For more information on the Oriental Numismatic Society, see:
https://www.orientalnumismaticsociety.org/

MOUNT VERNON ACQUIRES WASHINGTON GOLD PATTERN

Mount Vernon Acquires Newman Washington President Gold Pattern

The Eric P. Newman numismatic collection was sold between 2013 and 2018 in a series of offerings presented by Heritage Auctions. Today, proceeds from these sales support the ongoing work of the Newman Numismatic Portal, which is administered by Washington University Libraries.

Of the tens of thousands of pieces in the Newman collection, his favorite was a unique 1792 gold pattern (Musante GW-31) produced with the thought of securing a coinage contract from the fledgling U.S. Mint. In his 1975 Coin World article "Unique gold pattern coin of 1792 jingled in Washington's pocket," Eric P. Newman posited that this coin landed in George Washington's hands.

The US eventually built its own Mint, not relying on outside contractors. The Founding Fathers understood that U.S. production of its own money represented a tangible symbol of national sovereignty. Jacob Perkins, who produced the Washington coin, thus did not win a Mint contract, but went on to develop anti-counterfeiting technology related to paper money. Still, the connection of Perkins' gold coin to the Washington estate is one of the more intriguing stories in early American numismatics.

The depiction of Washington on this coin relates to the Congressional debate of the period. In general, Federalists supported the notion of placing presidential portraits on the national coinage, while Jeffersonian Republicans opposed the idea. The issue was hotly debated, with the Jeffersonian Republicans eventually winning by a narrow margin. In the production of a pattern piece, the coiner had to guess how the controversy would be resolved. Clearly, he guessed wrong!

In 2018, this coin sold for $1,740,000 as part of the Eric P. Newman collection. After being on loan to George Washington's Mount Vernon in recent years, the coin was recently donated by a subsequent owner to the permanent collection of Mount Vernon, where it is now on exhibit.

VIDEO: PERSIAN EMPIRE SPECIMEN CURRENCY

Notes of the Persian Empire before it became Iran are very scarce and especially as specimens. Hear and see some of the finest known examples of 50 and 100 Toman notes from a collector who is fascinated with this time period. Speaker: Magid Alkimawey, collector. Interviewer: David Lisot, CoinTelevision.com. Running time: 5:47.

To watch the complete video, see:
COOL Persian Specimen Currency (https://youtu.be/nDGA6Q1iluU)
COOL Persian Specimen Currency (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/540339)

SOUTHERN GOLD SOCIETY PRESERVES GOLD RUSH GALLERY

The Southern Gold Society (SGS) is pleased to announce that GoldRushGallery.com, one of the most respected online resources dedicated to Southern gold coins and the history of the Georgia Gold Rush, has found a permanent home under the stewardship of the society.

For more than 25 years, Gold Rush Gallery has offered collectors, researchers, and historians an extensive collection of articles, historical research, reference materials, and images documenting the coinage of the Southern branch mints and America's early gold rushes. Originally created by veteran numismatist Al Adams, with significant historical contributions by Carl Lester and long-time technical support from Randal Bollig, the website has become an indispensable educational resource within the numismatic community.

The transition to SGS's guardianship follows a 15-month-long preservation project, launched as Adams prepared for retirement after a distinguished 55-year career in the coin business to ensure that Gold Rush Gallery would remain available to future generations.

The project brought together Adams, Lester, Bollig, and David Crenshaw, to coordinate the preservation effort. The team evaluated several long-term preservation options, including archived hosting through the Newman Numismatic Portal. Ultimately the group determined that maintaining the website as a fully functional resource would better preserve its extensive historical content and the thousands of existing links that researchers and collectors rely upon.

The ideal solution emerged when it was determined that the Southern Gold Society's existing hosting plan could accommodate a second website without increased annual hosting costs. Working together, Crenshaw and Bollig successfully migrated the website to the society's hosting account, preserving its functionality and ensuring uninterrupted public access.

"When we began discussing the future of Gold Rush Gallery, my greatest hope was that it could continue educating and inspiring collectors long after my retirement," said Al Adams. "The website has always been about sharing knowledge and preserving the history of Southern gold. I can think of no better steward for its future than the Southern Gold Society, whose mission so closely reflects the purpose for which Gold Rush Gallery was created."

David Crenshaw added, "Gold Rush Gallery has long been one of the hobby's finest educational resources devoted to Southern gold. Preserving it wasn't simply about saving a website—it was about safeguarding decades of scholarship and making sure future collectors continue to benefit from the knowledge that Al, Carl, and so many other contributors have shared. The Southern Gold Society is honored to carry that legacy forward."

The project, like the gallery itself, reflects the collaborative spirit of the numismatic community, combining historical scholarship, technical expertise, and a shared commitment to preserving knowledge. Thanks to this partnership, one of the hobby's most valuable online references will remain freely available to continue educating collectors about the rich history of Southern gold coinage.

The Southern Gold Society extends its sincere appreciation to Al Adams for creating and generously entrusting Gold Rush Gallery to them. The SGS also recognizes Carl Lester for his decades of historical research, Randal Bollig for his technical expertise and years of maintaining the website, and David Crenshaw for coordinating the preservation project and leading the migration effort.

Collectors and researchers can continue exploring Gold Rush Gallery at GoldRushGallery.com. To learn more about the Southern Gold Society, its educational programs, and membership opportunities, visit www.SouthernGoldSociety.org.

About the Southern Gold Society
Founded to promote the enjoyment and study of Southern gold coinage and its rich history, the Southern Gold Society brings together collectors, researchers, dealers, and historians through an informal blend of education and fellowship. The society is dedicated to advancing the appreciation of the gold coins of the Dahlonega, Charlotte, and New Orleans branch mints, as well as the private gold issues of Templeton Reid and the Bechtler family.

Through meetings, educational programs, scholarly research, and the sharing of knowledge among members, SGS encourages the preservation of original Southern gold coins while serving as a leading resource for enthusiasts of Southern numismatics. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in Southern gold coinage and its fascinating history.

ANA AWARDS NUMISMATISTS FOR HOBBY DEDICATION

Every year, the American Numismatic Association (ANA) recognizes members who go above and beyond with their service and dedication to numismatics. The following awards, presented at the World's Fair of Money®, will be allocated during the Member Awards & Donor Celebration, Thursday, August 27 from 3-4:30 p.m. in Ballroom B of the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA.

The ANA's Medal of Merit honors individuals who have dedicated years of service to the Association and have worked to promote the hobby. This year's recipients are Mike Ellis, Steve Feltner, and David Menchell.

Longtime Summer Seminar instructor Mike Ellis has proven his dedication to numismatics through his many contributions as a teacher. During his 21 years of attendance at the ANA's Summer Seminar, he has taught 26 full seminars and three mini-seminars on topics such as minting technology, errors and varieties, and coin grading. Additionally Ellis has taught three traveling seminars at ANA conventions and special events. He assisted in writing two editions of the Cherrypickers' Guide to Rare Die Varieties and Q. David Bowers's A Guide Book of Half Cents and Large Cents, and he has written columns for numerous numismatic publications.

He received an honorary Doctor of Numismatics degree from the Florence Schook School of Numismatics and was inducted into the CONECA Hall of Fame in 2009.

Steve Feltner has made many contributions to numismatics in his efforts to inspire collectors young and old. After working as a coin grader for Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS), he cofounded a coin company based in Sacramento, California. He later returned to PCGS, where he currently serves as grading team leader and director of numismatic education and outreach. He taught "Intermediate Grading of U.S. Coins" at the Summer Seminar for eight consecutive years and is a Witter Coin University instructor. The recipient of the ANA's Young Numismatist of the Year award in 2004, he was included on Coin World's 100 Most Influential People in Numismatics list in 2022 and 2024.

A certified exhibit judge for 25 years, Dr. David Menchell is committed to numismatic education. He regularly shares his knowledge by delivering lectures on medals to organizations across the country, and he has published articles in both The Numismatist and the Medal Collectors of America's publication, MCA Advisory. He is a founding member of both the Colonial Coin Collector's Club (1993) and the MCA (1998), and he has served as a regional vice president for the former organization since 2002. A seven-time Summer Seminar instructor, he donates the medals from his classes to the ANA's Edward C. Rochette Money Museum, with his contributions totaling about 650 pieces.

The Adna G. Wilde Memorial Award for Exemplary Service honors ANA members who have demonstrated years of enthusiastic service in volunteering time, expertise, and resources that contribute to the ANA's growth and success and have furthered the Association's educational mission. This year, the ANA recognizes Barbara Gregory, Keith Moon, and Dennis Tucker with this honor.

Barbara Gregory served as editor-in-chief of The Numismatist for 32 years. During her tenure, she initiated payment for contributing authors and columnists, implemented desktop publishing (the first numismatic publication to do so), and restructured the YN Literary Awards program. A mentor to many authors, Gregory has received numerous accolades for her work and was inducted into the Numismatic Hall of Fame in 2021. She now serves as editor of The Centinel, official publication of the Central States Numismatic Society.

With a numismatic career spanning decades, Keith Moon has advanced numismatic education, mentored collectors, and strengthened the hobby. A senior grading finalizer at Numismatic Guaranty Company, he has also worked for Professional Coin Grading Service and ANACS. He is a dedicated educator, serving as an instructor at the ANA's Summer Seminar and Witter Coin University. Moon also co-launched Numismatic Rarities Exchange (NREX) to foster community and knowledge among collectors and dealers.

Author Dennis Tucker worked as publisher at Whitman Publishing from 2004 to 2024, overseeing the release of over 300 titles. He served two terms on the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee from 2016 to 2024, and he has instructed at the ANA's Summer Seminar. His many articles, as well as his reference American Gold and Silver: U.S. Mint Collector and Investor Coins and Medals, Bicentennial to Date, have provided the numismatic community with invaluable information.

The American Numismatic Association is a congressionally chartered, nonprofit educational organization dedicated to encouraging the study and collection of coins and related items. The ANA helps its members and the public discover and explore the world of money through its vast array of educational and outreach programs, to include its museum, library, publications, conventions and webinars. For more information, call 719-632-2646 or visit money.org.

2026 ANA WFOM ANCIENT ATHENS COINS EXHIBIT

A Southern California woman's fascination with artistic jewelry and other small, finely crafted objects has led her to assemble an outstanding collection of ancient Greek silver coins struck over 2,400 years ago in Athens and other historic, ancient Greek city-states. Fourteen of the Athenian coins from collector Eva Qin's Arcadia Collection will be displayed for the first time anywhere at the American Numismatic Association 2026 World's Fair of Money® in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, August 25-29.

"The Arcadia Collection is one of the most carefully assembled private collections of ancient Greek classical-period coinage in recent years. This collection is not only about Athenian silver, but we're only showing this part for the time being. The exhibit, in the ANA's Museum Showcase area (booth #1430), includes one of the finest known surviving examples of the iconic dekadrachm of Athens," stated Vera Liu, Marketing and Consignments Manager at Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. (www.CNGcoins.com), who has assisted Qin in building the collection.

The exhibition features fourteen exceptional silver coins spanning the almost complete denomination series of classical Athens, from the tiny seven-millimeter hemiobol to the magnificent dekadrachm. Each coin bears the portrait of Athena, goddess of wisdom, on the obverse and her sacred owl on the reverse. Together, they represent the coinage that helped establish Athens as both an economic and cultural power throughout the ancient Mediterranean.

David S. Michaels, Shows and Consignments Manager at Classical Numismatic Group and a widely recognized ancient coins expert, describes the Arcadia Collection as "an important holding of spectacular coins" and says that the different denominations of the Athenian owls at the time "were the most widely used international trade coins, and helped spread Greek culture throughout the Mediterranean world."

"The Athenian currency system, known as the Attic standard, quickly spread throughout Greece and was based on a silver drachm containing about 4.3 grams of silver. Two drachms made a didrachm, while four made a tetradrachm, a thick, heavy coin weighing about 17.2 grams. A skilled artisan or a soldier in peacetime could expect to be paid one drachm per day; in wartime, a foot soldier received two drachms per day, and an oarsman aboard a warship was paid one drachm. The massive dekadrachm was valued at 10 drachms," explained Michaels.

"The dekadrachm was of such great value it would not have been of practical use in everyday transactions," he noted.

What prompted Qin to begin collecting coins only six years ago in 2020?

"I began because of a lifelong pursuit of beauty. I have always been drawn to jewelry and finely crafted objects d'art. What fascinates me most are objects that bring together aesthetic beauty, exceptional craftsmanship, and a sense of connection to human civilization. For years, I have sought this combination in the things I collect," Qin said.

She was first introduced to ancient numismatics through coin jewelry.

"The more I learned about these coins, the more fascinated I became. I was astonished to discover that the ancient Greek coins I had previously associated with museum displays only were not merely objects to be admired behind glass but could actually be studied, appreciated, and collected by private individuals," she stated.

"At first, I was simply captivated by the timeless beauty of the ancient Greek coins. Yet as I continued to learn more, I developed an increasingly profound interest in the history and civilization behind these coins. I gradually realized that ancient Greek coins embodied almost all the qualities I admire and pursue; each one was hammer-struck over two thousand years ago, serving as both a magnificent work of ancient Greek art and a precious artifact bearing the weight of history."

She continued: "For me, ancient Greek coins represent the perfect intersection of art, craftsmanship, and human civilization. They resonate deeply with both my understanding of beauty and my philosophy of collecting. That, more than anything else, is what inspired me to begin collecting ancient Greek coins."

Qin plans to exhibit artistic, classical coins of other historic, ancient Greek city-states in her collection at future numismatic conventions.

For additional information about Arcadia Collection, contact Vera Liu by email at vera@cngcoins.com.

NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JULY 26, 2026

Dennis Boggs (aka Abraham Lincoln)
David Crenshaw writes:

To donate, see:
Show Love for Dennis, Our Abraham Lincoln (https://www.gofundme.com/f/show-love-for-dennis-our-abraham-lincoln)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JULY 19, 2026 : Fundraising for Dennis Boggs (aka Abraham Lincoln) (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n29a09.html)

More on the Banker Who Made America
Chris Sutter writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
NEW BOOK: THE BANKER WHO MADE AMERICA (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n06a07.html)
BOOK REVIEW: THE BANKER WHO MADE AMERICA (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n29a04.html)

Correction: Len Buth of London, Ontario
Dick Grinolds writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
ERIC JENSEN INTERVIEW, PART TWO (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n29a12.html)

More on the Daniel Garrison Brinton Medal

Jonathan Brecher writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
DR. DANIEL GARRISON BRINTON'S MEDAL (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n29a21.html)

Trump Dollar Coin Design Reactions

Jonathan Deller writes:

John Ostendorf writes:

Vic Mason writes:

To read the complete articles, see:
Trump on Coins Accurate Context (https://amac.us/newsline/economy/trump-on-coins-accurate-context/)
Trump $1 gold coin vs. gold investment coins: What's the difference? (https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/investing/trump-coin-vs-gold-investment-coins/91011012007/)
Featuring Trump on US coins and bills would put America in rare company (https://theconversation.com/featuring-trump-on-us-coins-and-bills-would-put-america-in-rare-company-285125)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
TRUMP DOLLAR COIN DESIGN REVEALED (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n29a20.html)

Query: Cleveland's Ohio Savings and Loan Murals
Julia Casey writes:

To read the complete article, see:
https://archive.org/details/usmodernist-ASO-1952-01/page/20/mode/2up

 

VOCABULARY TERM: STERLING

Sterling. A fineness of silver, 925 parts per 1000 (alloyed with 75 parts copper for hardness). Sterling was legally set as a standard based on British silver coinage, silver coins of Great Britain were struck in this fineness from 1763 to 1919 (Maundy coins were continued to be struck in sterling after this date). But the sterling standard ended in 1920 when British coinage was dropped to 500 silver for all circulating silver coins; this continued until 1947 when copper-nickel (British cupro-nickel) replaced all silver coins, effectively ending all relationship between British coinage and the term sterling.

Silver of .925 fine is now called "standard" in Great Britain but continues to be called "sterling" or sterling silver in America. Standards are not uniform throughout the world – sterling, for example, is .935 fine in modern Israel.

Experts disagree upon the origin of the term sterling. It could have come from Easterlings, east German coiners brought to Britain during the reign of Henry II (1154-89); or from some Norman silver pennies called steorling (coins with a star).

Sterling alloy was prepared by adding 18 parts copper to 222 parts silver (37 fortieths of fine silver, or .925 fine). It has a specific gravity of 10.35 and a melting point of 893° centigrade.

Sterling objects were hallmarked with a lion passant as early as 1544 and this mark continues to imply sterling fineness even into the 20th century. The lion passant is officially the mark for London and Birmingham silversmiths; other areas used different sterling marks: Sheffield and Chester – a lion passant guardant; Edinburg – a thistle; Glasgow – a thistle and lion rampant. Sterling as .925 silver was adopted in America in 1868.

In the 20th century British and American silver objects are required by law to be marked with their exact fineness (except those items struck by national mints in both countries). The fineness mark may be words or figures, the law is liberal in this respect, thus sterling objects may be found with identifications as: sterling, ster, .925, 925 or 925/1000. (SS for sterling silver is infrequently used in catalogs but never on actual pieces – the term could be confused for sales sample – occasionally used by manufacturers.)

To read the complete entry on the Newman Numismatic Portal, see:
Sterling (https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/dictionarydetail/516813)

ERIC JENSEN INTERVIEW, PART THREE

Greg Bennick
Canadian love tokens?

Eric Jensen
Yes. Canadian love tokens specifically. And I said, yes, and asked him if we could meet? I met with him and his daughter. He was here yesterday. A super individual. I cataloged her collection. The really good part there is that she had sorted it and tried to figure out the layering on each coin, because that is one of the hardest things with love tokens: what does it say? What's the order of the letters?

She did all that, and I cataloged it. It's on the website as well. I put it on under his name, her name and my name, because it's their stuff. It was just great. I got that done. And then one day, I was talking to Ronald Green. He's got a tremendous database and made his database print out available to anybody that would donate to the JD Ferguson Foundation, which he was the head of, and people would buy this. But it was just a word description, and again as a result, you couldn't tell if this or that was your token or if it was a different token?

I happened to be talking to him one day, and I asked if he had ever been on the Saskatoon Coin Club website? I mentioned that the fellows there have put all of the merchant tokens known in Saskatchewan on that website, along with a lot of great articles and more. We talked about it and realized that no one had done this for British Columbia material. I told him that I can't do websites but said that if he was willing to use my format and send me images, that I would do it. Well, he did. Four and a half years later, we put it on the website.

BC is now updated. Saskatchewan is available. Alberta is available. And more. It is a huge achievement. This is about the time to describe that another individual came along. His name is James Williston and he as you know is how we connected, when he told me about your appreciation of counterstamps and expertise with them.

James was getting countermarks. Often times with auctions and various sales, some of these coins just get sold off and disappear. James is excellent at finding them and getting information about them, so I said that we should catalog them. How do you catalog something you don't know anything about? I knew nothing about the merchant token or countermarks. He brought over his Brunk books. He's got all three versions. He brought over other books where they are mentioned, and he started to bring me all the information I need to better classify them.

Most of them have some provenance to them, so I made sure I copied the provenance. I'm not a professional. I just do it for fun. I got a light stand, and until I got a light box, that used to be a lot of hand painting to get the dark background and everything. Now it's one click of a button.

I started in on the counter marks, and I got them to a point where I said, "Okay, James, this is going to the website." I've added to it since and I continue to add to it. I've got the Northwest territories, which nobody had done, all the exonumia stuff, all the miscellaneous. I've got all of that on there in addition to the countermarks.

I just keep updating, updating, updating. I've got several on the go at any given time. And another one I want to mention was the Calgary Police Services material. My neighbor happens to work for them. He works in the IT department, and he didn't really know that there were challenge coins, some quite early ones, put out. I was showing some to him and he was quite interested. I also showed him there were some pins and I managed to pick him up a collection of about thirty or forty Calgary Police Service pins. Suddenly, he's very interested. Now he's got the most fabulous collection of Calgary Police Service pins and challenge tokens and medallions you'll see.

I had it just again with this collection as just a simple as the others. I put the coins in and put the information beside it of what's on them. Then I started to realize that that was one that could use some fleshing out of. If you go to the website, you'll see those.

One thing I forgot to mention, that was one of the early things I'd done was the listing of attributed Canadian maverick tokens. A maverick token being one, of course, that is either unknown or it doesn't have the province or the town, so you can't readily pinpoint who made it. A friend from Saskatchewan, in about 1967 or somewhere in there, did a listing of the known mavericks. Being a collector, I thought that it needs updating, so I started with the updates, and I think revision ten is online at this point.

I'm always looking for feedback where errors get pointed out to me because I make them and am always putting up new information. Anytime I come across a new book, like Chris Faulkner's recent book on Imperial designs which is just a fabulous book I got given to me from my birthday in May, I make updates. I have used his book to identify a lot I never would have been able to identify otherwise. His book has got exceptional photographs that show great detail, which is important because they're wonderful pieces. I continue to dig out research and more material and try and improve what I've done so far.

Greg Bennick
This is really great. I will love the title for this interview to focus on keeping the hobby alive, because you are, in a sense. Not just keeping the hobby alive by giving people a point of reference for all of the different areas of interest that you talked about, but by documenting coins which otherwise could disappear into the ether, into generational collections where children and grandchildren had no idea what to do with them. You're putting this stuff online so that it continues and exists.

Eric Jensen
And as long as they can find information easily, I think we'll reach out to the younger generation more effectively. If information is only found in limited edition books, people will always have trouble trying to find the books. I'm looking for a couple now that are going to be very difficult to find. I can't tell you how much fun I've had working with individuals to put this all together. And the fact that you're enjoying it, I'm good with that. It made my day.

Greg Bennick
Well, I love it. I love that your focus is really on documenting everybody else's everything.

Eric Jensen
Exactly, and for several reasons, with the main one being, I don't have to dust the material off. I don't have to put it all in two by twos. I don't have to put insurance on it. I don't have to store it anywhere. As the one individual said to me, you have by far the best collection of BC and Alberta digital images and countermarks than anybody else out there.

Greg Bennick
That's what attracted me too with what you were doing. It's not just the fact that you're documenting for the sake of the hobby interesting things which otherwise would disappear. It's the quality of the images, and the consistency of the listings and the consolidation of the information. That is of infinite value to collectors.

Eric Jensen
Thank you, but I will say that if somebody could give me better information on how to take even better photographs, I would do it because my photographic skills went from almost being able to do nothing to something where at least it's acceptable enough that I can put it online. But if I could improve it with the really shiny stuff, the slab stuff, the some of the images that are hard to take, I would do it. But for now, at my age, it's more still about the friendship. After this show, James will come over to my house. I will make coffee, and he brings Tim Horton's donuts, and we'll sit and we'll chew the fat for a couple hours, and we'll go through anything new that he has. After that, he disappears, and I go to work. I am still enjoying it very much. I do need to mention one thing I've been extremely fortunate to have is my wife of 61 years, Carol. She has been extremely patient, and it's a darn good thing she has!

Eric Jensen can be reached with questions at egjensen@telus.net.

About the Interviewer
Greg Bennick (www.gregbennick.com) is a keynote speaker and long time coin collector with a focus on major mint error coins and US counterstamps. He is on the board of both CONECA and TAMS and enjoys having in-depth conversations with prominent numismatists from all areas of the hobby. Have ideas for other interviewees? Contact him anytime via instagram @minterrors. He can also be reached by email at minterrors@gmail.com.

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
ERIC JENSEN INTERVIEW, PART ONE (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n28a12.html)
ERIC JENSEN INTERVIEW, PART TWO (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n29a12.html)

VARDERA'S AI COIN IDENTIFICATION AND GRADING

Vardera builds computer-vision infrastructure for collectibles and condition-dependent goods. Today we are publicly sharing benchmark results for our coin identification and grading model, tested head-to-head against six of the most capable frontier AI models in the world.

Vardera identifies US and World coins with 98.5% accuracy and grades them with 96% accuracy, in under two seconds. On grading and identification combined, the best frontier model still makes roughly 10x more errors than Vardera.

This post explains why that gap exists, presents the full benchmark data, and describes what it means for the future of coin commerce.

Why general-purpose AI falls short on coins
Frontier multimodal models are remarkable at general reasoning. They can write code, summarize legal documents, and recognize that something in a photo is a Morgan Dollar. But consistent, in-depth coin identification and grading is a fundamentally different problem.

Distinguishing two 1878-CC Morgan Dollars — one a MS-67 and the other a MS-63 — requires detecting subtle differences in luster, contact marks, and strike quality. The visual gap between those two grades represents tens of thousands of dollars in value. A general vision model can tell you something is a Morgan Dollar. It cannot reliably tell you which year and mint, in what condition, at what grade.

This is not a prompting problem or a model-size problem. General-purpose models optimize for breadth across millions of tasks. Coin grading requires purpose-built depth: domain-specific training data, specialized feature extraction, and models designed from the ground up for fine-grained visual discrimination. That's a different kind of system, not a better prompt.

Our approach: custom models, not LLM wrappers
Vardera trains category-specific computer vision models for each domain we cover. For coins, that means models trained on large-scale datasets of expert-graded imagery, built to do two things: identify the coin — often down to the specific die variety — and grade its condition on the Sheldon scale, the same standard used by NGC and PCGS.

These custom machine learning models are the backbone of our product. This is where the performance advantage comes from: 98.5% identification accuracy, 96% grading accuracy, and sub-2-second response times. None of those numbers are achievable with a general-purpose model today. Meanwhile, our models are constantly learning from their mistakes and improving week-over-week.

The benchmark
We evaluated Vardera against six frontier AI models on a standardized test set of coin images, measuring three things: identification error rate, grading error rate, and average inference time per image. Every model received the same images and the same task.

The dataset contains 1188 coins, spanning 69 different coin types, 191 years, seven mints, and all possible numeric grade values on the Sheldon scale.

Raw error rates and latency

Vardera's error rates are 1.5% on identification and 4% on grading. The closest frontier model on identification (Opus 4.7 at 8.10%) still fails on roughly 1 in 12 coins. On grading, Fable 5 is the closest at 38.00%, meaning it gets the grade wrong on nearly 4 in 10 coins. On speed, even the fastest frontier model (GPT 4.1 at 6.85 seconds) is more than 3x slower than Vardera's 2-second average.

The relative comparison makes the gap clearer. When Vardera is the baseline (1x), the frontier models look like this:

Frontier models relative to Vardera

All values relative to Vardera (1x = baseline). Lower is better.

Every frontier model produces at least 5x more identification errors and at least 10x more grading errors than Vardera — ranging up to 20x and 19x respectively. Several models (Gemini, Kimi, Qwen) take over a minute per coin, making them impractical for any real-time application.

Why the gap exists
The performance difference is not surprising if you understand how these systems are built. Frontier LLMs are trained on internet-scale text and image data to perform well across an enormous range of tasks. They know what a Morgan Dollar is, but have no dedicated feature extraction for surface condition, and no calibration against professional grading standards.

Vardera's coin models, by contrast, do nothing but coins. From the architecture, to training data, to evaluation metrics, everything is optimized for one job: looking at a coin image and producing an accurate identification and grade. The result is not incremental improvement. It is a category difference in capability.

We expect frontier models to continue improving on general vision tasks. However, the structural gap on fine-grained visual assessment is not something that closes with the next model release. It requires purpose-built training data, domain-specific architectures, and calibration against the standards the industry already trusts. That is what Vardera has built.

We'll continue to open source how our category intelligence performs against industry standards as we expand into new verticals. If you're running a marketplace or platform where coins, trading cards, or other collectibles need to be accurately identified, graded, or valued at scale, we'd like to talk. Reach out at info@vardera.com or visit vardera.com.

To read the complete article, see:
We Built the Best Coin Identification and Grading Model in the World. Here Are the Numbers. (https://www.vardera.com/blog/we-built-the-best-coin-identification-and-grading-model-in-the-world.-here-are-the-numbers)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
VARDERA'S AI COIN CONDITION ASSESSMENT (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n20a14.html)

 

JUSTIN HINH ON THE BUSINESS OF COIN GRADING

Technology people like myself are notorious for believing that any problem can be solved with better technology. I don't blame collectors [whether that's coins, cards, or video games] who feel that AI grading & authentication is the future. Go to any club or show and you'll see that everyone has an opinion on third-party graders (TPGs) and what they're doing wrong.

Everyone is missing the forest for the trees. What I'll say next is heretical, but accurate grades are irrelevant in the functioning of the coin industry. What really greases the wheels is the ease with which coin dealers & companies can liquidate [i.e. buy & sell] their coins and how fast their turnover is. A PCGS/NGC/CAC/ANACS slabbed coin is valuable not because the grade on the slab is accurate, but because the entire coin industry's infrastructure has established clear rules that make it easy to buy & sell coins confidently enough that millions in daily transactions are done with coins sight unseen. Dealers won't pay you MS-61 prices for a computer-graded coin if it takes twice as long to sell and only at AU-58 prices.

The market will never replace market grading with technical grading, no matter how accurate AI models get. It simply does not make industry players more money than with the current system. AI models won't actually help sellers make more money since there's no TPG standing behind those grading opinions to spur market liquidity.

I can't see the TPGs taking the risk of conflating technical grading with their own subjective market grading. If the TPGs embrace objective technical grading, it would commoditize grades and erode any distinction between the TPGs. The only way for them to stand out in the marketplace would be to offer the lowest price.

I recently gave a talk about the history of AI grading and how AI is negatively impacting the hobby. I came across five patents filed by PCGS/Collectors Universe since 2021 specifically for identifying and grading collectibles using specially trained AI models.

AI isn't the "new kid" in numismatics; it's been failing here since the 1990s, leaving behind a trail of dead companies and ignored patents. While the current hype fixates on technical hurdles, the real story is a collision of market dynamics and a growing "trust gap" fueled by clickbait apps and bad data. We're cutting through that noise to show exactly where AI can actually solve problems for the hobby instead of just creating more. Speaker: Justin Hinh.

To watch the complete video, see:
Models, Markets, and Mania: How AI Is Destroying The Hobby (And How It Can Save Us) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls21Q8ZpVEY)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
VARDERA'S AI COIN CONDITION ASSESSMENT (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n20a14.html)

NUMISMAGRAM MEDAL SELECTIONS: JULY 26, 2026

103659 | ITALY. Pietro Aretino of Venice bronze Medal. Issued 1537 (37mm, 26.08 g, 12h). By Leone Leoni at the Venice mint.

DIVVS • P • ARRETINVS • FLAGELLVM • PRINCIPVM • (the divine Pietro Aretino, the Scourge of Princes), draped bust left // VERITAS / ODIVM / PARIT (truth engenders hate [—adapted from Andria by Terentius]) in three lines within wreath; 1537 above, LEO (artist's signature) below wreath ties. Edge: A few scattered marks and typical striking irregularities, otherwise plain.

Cf. Scher Coll. 164 (for a cast from circa 1550); Armand I 162.3; Pollard [Bargello] 716; Voltolina 294; Serenissima Coll. 99; Forrer III, p. 402. Choice Extremely Fine. Exceptional chocolate brown surfaces, with some hints of brilliance remaining among the fields and darker aspects highlighting the devices. A wondrous example that is the version which features the artist's signature upon the reverse, and a superior specimen compared to the slightly later cast example in the Scher collection, which is the format in which this type is generally encountered.

Ex: Triton XIV (3 January 2011), lot 1427 (where it sold for $3,000 hammer, plus a buyer's fee of an additional 15/18%).

Ex: Numismatica Genevensis SA 4 (11 December 2006), lot 766 (where it sold for ChF 2,875 after the buyer's fee [$2,389 at the time]).

A splendid struck original from a popular High Renaissance medallist, Leone Leoni, this mid-16th century specimen features an imposing bust of Pietro Aretino, about whom Scher writes that "...Aretino's sharp tongue and his parodies of eminent figures earned him the title on the obverse, which is first recorded in the third edition of Orlando Furioso (1532) by Ludovico Ariosto. Leoni and Aretino were friends; early on, Aretino even served to advance Leone's career. Valerio published a list of the books authored by Aretino, where he used the present medal as a frontispiece."

To read the complete item description, see:
103659 | ITALY. Pietro Aretino of Venice bronze Medal. (https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/103659)

103631 | GERMANY. Pfaffendorf Railway Bridge bronze Medal. Issued 1864 for the inauguration of the bridge across the Rhine between Koblenz and the suburbs of Pfaffendorf and Ehrenbreitstein (71mm, 12h). By Jacques & Leopold Wiener.

* WILHELM KOENIG VON PREUSSEN * AUGUSTA KOENIGEN V. PREUSSEN, jugate bare heads left of Wilhelm and Augusta // EROEFFNUNG DER BAHN COBLENZ–OBERLAHNSTEIN / 9 MAI 1864, view of the bridge from the southwest, with Fort Asterstein upon the hill at a distance; COBLENZER / RHEINBRÜCKE in two lines in exergue.

Ross M268; van Hoydonck 208; Reinecke 151; Bouhy 163; Döry/Kubinszky 142; Menadier 461. PCGS SP-64. Rich red-brown surfaces, with great brilliance in the fields. As such, a premium quality example, and likely one of the finest of the type that one will encounter. The finer of just two observed in the PCGS census.

Originally constructed in the early 1860s, with its inauguration celebrated in 1864 (the cause for this medal), the Pfaffendorf Railway Bridge was destroyed during World War II, with its replacement (and current incarnation) opening in 1953.

To read the complete item description, see:
103631 | GERMANY. Pfaffendorf Railway Bridge bronze Medal. (https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/103631)

103622 | ITALY. Vittorio Emanuele III gilt bronze Medal. Issued 1911 for the International Exposition of Public Health, held in Roma from 1911-1912 (60mm, 88.08 g, 12h).

VITTORIO EMANUELE III RE D'ITALIA, bare head left // Seminude female figure standing facing, holding basin; to right, angelic figure crouching left, holding tablet inscribed HUMA / NI / TAS in three lines and cradling draped figure to lower left; ESPOSIZIONE / INTERNAZIONALE / D'IGIENE SOCIALE / ROMA / 1911-12 in five lines to right. Edge: A few light marks, otherwise plain.

lamoneta W-ME63X3/1-1. Choice Mint State. Highly brilliant and flashy, with alluring brassy-yellow hues throughout. Rare when encountered this attractive and with the original box of issue.

To read the complete item description, see:
103622 | ITALY. Vittorio Emanuele III gilt bronze Medal. (https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/103622)

103417 | UNITED STATES & GERMANY. Woodrow Wilson cast bronze Medal. Issued 1915. American Neutrality (57mm, 93.30 g, 12h). By Karl Goetz at the München mint.

• WOODROW • WILSON • / LIBERTY • NEVTRALITY • HVMANITY, bust of U.S. president Woodrow Wilson facing slightly right, wearing laurel wreath and stole decorated with imperial eagle of Germany and double eagle of Austria-Hungary // AMERIKA'S NEVTRALES • HANDELN (America's "neutral" action), Uncle Sam seated left on cannon balls, presenting battleship and holding bag of money [$]100[,]000; cannon in background. Edge: Some light filing marks as made, otherwise plain.

Kienast 149; The Art of Devastation, p. 143, fig. 6 & p. 274, no. 69; Böttcher Coll. 5428. Choice Mint State. Tan-brown surfaces.

Following the outbreak of the European conflict that would become the world's first war, the United States immediately wanted to refrain from entering into the fray, with President Woodrow Wilson declaring that America would have a policy of strict and impartial neutrality. What was expressed publicly by the government, however, didn't match private sentiments, with numerous American institutions lending financial support to the Allies, giving the United States a stake in the outcome. After the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915, sentiments shifted even further, with increased support of not only continuing financial aid, but also outright entry into the growing conflict. This medal pokes fun at Wilson's neutrality as seen from the German point of view, with Uncle Sam handing over money and munitions to Germany's enemies.

To read the complete item description, see:
103417 | UNITED STATES & GERMANY. Woodrow Wilson cast bronze Medal. (https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/103417)

HERITAGE: JULY 2026 BUST COINAGE SHOWCASE

1795 H10C V-5, LM-8, R.3, VF20 ANACS. Housed in a small-sized holder. Mintage 78,660.

To read the complete item description, see:
1795 H10C V-5, LM-8, R.3, VF20 ANACS. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/early-half-dimes/1795-h10c-v-5-lm-8-r3-vf20-anacs-housed-in-a-small-sized-holder-mintage-78-660/a/60554-52004.s?ctrack=200071&type=featured-1-coinus-news-tem072126)

1801 H10C V-1, LM-2, R.4, Fine 12 PCGS. Mintage 27,760.

To read the complete item description, see:
1801 H10C V-1, LM-2, R.4, Fine 12 PCGS. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/early-half-dimes/1801-h10c-v-1-lm-2-r4-fine-12-pcgs-cdn-2-050-whsle-bid-for-ngc-pcgs-fine-12-mintage-27-760/a/60554-52015.s?ctrack=200071&type=featured-2-coinus-news-tem072126)

1803 H10C Large 8, V-2, LM-3, R.3 -- Damaged -- PCGS Genuine. AG Details. Mintage 37,850.

To read the complete item description, see:
1803 H10C Large 8, V-2, LM-3, R.3 -- Damaged -- PCGS Genuine. AG Details. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/early-half-dimes/1803-h10c-large-8-v-2-lm-3-r3-damaged-pcgs-genuine-ag-details-mintage-37-850-pcgs-38609-/a/60554-52018.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515)

1832 10C JR-2, R.2, MS64+ NGC. Mintage 522,500.

To read the complete item description, see:
1832 10C JR-2, R.2, MS64+ NGC. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/bust-dimes/1832-10c-jr-2-r2-ms64-ngc-cdn-2-600-whsle-bid-for-ngc-pcgs-ms64-mintage-522-500/a/60554-52090.s?ctrack=200071&type=featured-3-coinus-news-tem072126)

1820 25C Large 0, B-1, R.4, VF25 PCGS.

To read the complete item description, see:
1820 25C Large 0, B-1, R.4, VF25 PCGS. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/bust-quarters/1820-25c-large-0-b-1-r4-vf25-pcgs-cdn-690-whsle-bid-for-ngc-pcgs-vf25-pcgs-38960-/a/60554-52124.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515)

1825/4/2 25C B-1, FS-301, R.5, VF25 PCGS.

To read the complete item description, see:
1825/4/2 25C B-1, FS-301, R.5, VF25 PCGS. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/bust-quarters/1825-4-2-25c-b-1-fs-301-r5-vf25-pcgs-cdn-605-whsle-bid-for-ngc-pcgs-vf25-pcgs-38974-/a/60554-52133.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515)

1795 50C 2 Leaves, A Over E in STATES, O-113a, T-14, R.3, VG10 PCGS.

To read the complete item description, see:
1795 50C 2 Leaves, A Over E in STATES, O-113a, T-14, R.3, VG10 PCGS. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/early-half-dollars/1795-50c-2-leaves-a-over-e-in-states-o-113a-t-14-r3-vg10-pcgs-cdn-2-760-whsle-bid-for-ngc-pcgs-vg10/a/60554-52173.s?ctrack=200071&type=featured-6-coinus-news-tem072126)

1808 50C O-110a, R.4, VF35 PCGS. Mintage 1,368,600.

To read the complete item description, see:
1808 50C O-110a, R.4, VF35 PCGS. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/bust-half-dollars/1808-50c-o-110a-r4-vf35-pcgs-cdn-363-whsle-bid-for-ngc-pcgs-vf35-mintage-1-368-600-pcgs-39377-/a/60554-52251.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515)

1817/3 50C O-101a, R.1, VF30 PCGS. Mintage 1,215,567.

To read the complete item description, see:
1817/3 50C O-101a, R.1, VF30 PCGS. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/bust-half-dollars/1817-3-50c-o-101a-r1-vf30-pcgs-cdn-775-whsle-bid-for-ngc-pcgs-vf30-mintage-1-215-567-pcgs-39512-/a/60554-52312.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515)

1829 50C Small Letters, O-106, Low R.5, AU50 PCGS. Mintage 3,712,156.

To read the complete item description, see:
1829 50C Small Letters, O-106, Low R.5, AU50 PCGS. (https://coins.ha.com/itm/bust-half-dollars/1829-50c-small-letters-o-106-low-r5-au50-pcgs-pcgs-population-1-in-50-7-finer-5-26-cdn-600-whsle-bid-for-ngc-pcgs-au50-mintage/a/60554-52439.s?ic4=GalleryView-ShortDescription-071515)

HERITAGE: JULY 2026 WORLD MEDALS & TOKENS

Papal States. Marcellus II silver Medal ND (1555) MS61 NGC, Modesti-463. 30mm. MARCELLVS II PONT MAX Bust facing left // HILARITAS / PONTIFICIA, Hilaritas standing facing forward, holding a cornucopia and a palm branch; in the exergue: ROMA .

To read the complete item description, see:
Papal States. Marcellus II silver Medal ND (1555) MS61 NGC, (https://coins.ha.com/itm/vatican-city/vatican-city-papal-states-marcellus-ii-silver-medal-nd-1555-ms61-ngc-/a/61637-22352.s?ctrack=200071&type=featured-1-coinus-news-tem072126)

Papal States. Eugenius IV bronze "Coronation" Medal ND (1431-1447) MS62 Brown NGC, Modesti-18, Mazio-5. 41mm. By Paladino. Bust with tiara facing left // View of the Coronation, pope enthroned being crowned with papal tiara by two cardinals, cardinals and deacons around.

To read the complete item description, see:
Papal States. Eugenius IV bronze "Coronation" Medal ND (1431-1447) MS62 Brown NGC, (https://coins.ha.com/itm/vatican-city/vatican-city-papal-states-eugenius-iv-bronze-coronation-medal-nd-1431-1447-ms62-brown-ngc-/a/61637-22347.s?ctrack=200071&type=featured-2-coinus-news-tem072126)

"Louis XV" Uniface terracotta Medallion 1770 UNC, 130mm diameter. High relief terracotta portrait bust of Louis XV by Italian medalist, Jean Baptiste Nini (1717-1786). Depicting a laureate bust left of the king, with legend LOUIS XV PAR LA GRACE DE DIEU ROY TRES CHRETIEN / MDCCLXX / J.B. NINI F. in truncation. A similar design with different legends is currently on view at the Met, object number 52.189.10.

To read the complete item description, see:
"Louis XV" Uniface terracotta Medallion 1770 UNC, (https://coins.ha.com/itm/france/france-louis-xv-uniface-terracotta-medallion-1770-unc-/a/61637-22058.s?ctrack=200071&type=featured-3-coinus-news-tem072126)

"Death of Marie Antoinette" white metal Jeton 1793-Dated AU58 NGC, F-13509. 32.5mm. By William Mainwaring. Marie Antoinette bust facing right // 5-line inscription.

To read the complete item description, see:
"Death of Marie Antoinette" white metal Jeton 1793-Dated AU58 NGC, (https://coins.ha.com/itm/france/france-death-of-marie-antoinette-white-metal-jeton-1793-dated-au58-ngc-/a/61637-22061.s?ctrack=200071&type=featured-4-coinus-news-tem072126)

Nurnberg. City Uniface gilt-copper "Peace of Westphalia" Medal 1649 AU, 78mm. By Sebastian Dadler. Imperial eagle surrounded by five angels in clouds, holding two rows of coats of arms, the Arms of France and Sweden on top row, the Arms of the eight electors on bottom row, all above a city view of Nuremburg, DURCH DIESER GOTTER FRIED UND EINIKEIT IST ALLE CHRISTE WELT SEHR HOCH ERFRUET; FRIEDGEMACH / M.D.CIL. / SD in exergue. XRF Scan: 85% Copper. A Medal with the same reverse currently resides in the V&A Collection, accession number 1456-1882.

To read the complete item description, see:
Nurnberg. City Uniface gilt-copper "Peace of Westphalia" Medal 1649 AU, (https://coins.ha.com/itm/german-states/nurnberg/german-states-nurnberg-city-uniface-gilt-copper-peace-of-westphalia-medal-1649-au-/a/61637-22162.s?ctrack=200071&type=featured-5-coinus-news-tem072126)

"Judeo-Christian Kabbalistic" Amulet ND (c. 17th-19th Century) Fine, 36mm. 10.36gm. Not encapsulated by NGC due to ineligible type. Representatives of this type are found in the Jewish Museum of London (no. 618 in their Catalog of Permanent and Loan Collections), the University of Manchester (Gaster Amulet 55F) and the British Museum (no. OA.1369). Pentagon with head of Christ at center, accompanied by names, epithets, and biblical verses // a 12-box square with names of the four Archangels and permutations of the Tetragrammaton. XRF Scan: 63% Cu / 23% Zn / 8% Pb.

To read the complete item description, see:
"Judeo-Christian Kabbalistic" Amulet ND (c. 17th-19th Century) Fine, (https://coins.ha.com/itm/germany/germany-judeo-christian-kabbalistic-amulet-nd-c-17th-19th-century-fine-/a/61637-22187.s?ctrack=200071&type=featured-6-coinus-news-tem072126)

WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY: JULY 26, 2026

Tuesday was the July 2026 meeting night of my Northern Virginia numismatic social group Nummis Nova. Mike Packard was our host and he'd chosen the Courtside Thai restaurant in Fairfax City. Some folks were already there when I arrived around 6:15. Other attendees were Daryl Haynor, John Kraljevich, Erik Douglas, Julian Leidman, Jon Radel, Mike Markowitz and his guest Jim Sims.

Here, John Kraljevich has a laugh while Daryl Haynor reads the latest issue of Penny-Wise.

A couple group photos. We had the place largely to ourselves, but it was a wonderful dinner with great conversation, as always.

Wayne's Books

I brought along a few numismatic books, as usual. The first was the 2015 book by Paul A. Cunningham titled Lincoln's Metallic Imagery. I recently purchased this copy, which is inscribed by the author on the title page to Ed Craig. The second item was a hardcover version of the latest Red Book. The silver lettering on the Red Book didn't scan well, so I used a stock image here instead.

I also brought a new monograph by our member Dave Schenkman. Published by the Token and Medal Society as a supplement to their TAMS Journal, it's titled Official British Coronation Medals, 1603-1937. Look for more information and ordering instructions in a future issue.

Here are some contributions by other attendees.

Jim Sims
I also passed around one of the new dimes in a holder from the May 2026 PAN Banquet. The coin is also pictured on the cover of the new Red Book.

Jim Sims writes:

Diverse interests, curious, passionate, fond of language and reading, on an educational journey - sounds like the perfect E-Sylum reader to me. Welcome aboard!

Food on Ancient Coins
Mike Markowitz writes:

Above are some selected slides for a flavor of the presentation. Excellent concept for a talk! Something to learn for everyone.

To read Mike's article "Food on Ancient Coins", see:
FOOD ON ANCIENT COINS (https://www.coinbooks.org/v29/esylum_v29n19a23.html)

Steve's Errors
Nummis Nova regular Steve Bishop had to beg off due to work, but he shared these photos of coins he'd planned to bring - a nice group of error coins from a recent Heritage auction. Thanks!

Wrapping Up
After taking the group photos it was time to head home. It was starting to rain, but only some of us (not me) were smart enough to bring an umbrella. I *thought* I remembered where my car was parked, but had gotten turned around an started walking the wrong way. The rain poured harder and harder while I righted the ship and got soaked on the way to my car. But it was a warm night and I didn't mind so much. It was actually refreshing. It continued to pour hard as I drove home and my windshield wipers could barely keep up. I slowed down for safety and eventually got home safely, where a warm shower and dry clothes awaited. It was another fun night of numismatic fellowship. 'Til next time!

DR. O.G. KEITTERIDGE CIVIL WAR TOKEN

An old Mansfield, Connecticut atlas map of 1860 shows homes along the various streets, with the owner's names dubbed in. On Middle Turnpike (now Rt 44), one can find a home attributed to the name, "Keitteridge". In the pages of other historical information, found on the website of the Mill Museum in Willimantic, is a passage that a woman from town was intending to marry a doctor named Keitteridge from Mansfield, not far from Willimantic.  Noted also was the fact that she lived in a house on Main Street in Willimantic, the town address less the street number that later appears on the token. It looks like they tied the knot! Keitteridge's house which was built in 1810 is still located on Main Street, well-kept and pictured above. The obverse and reverse images of the token are pictured below. With the issuance of these tokens, numismatic history was certainly made here!

For more information about NENA, see:
https://www.nenacoin.org/

SEATED LIBERTY DIME CARDBOARD SCRIP

I was intrigued by the illustrated chits when they appeared in a Heritage auction, and according to my records I purchased the lot for $450. Their cataloger noted that "We have seen only one other example on this mercantile firm that was founded in 1858. It was a 10¢ piece that realized $500 in 2006. The 10¢ uses a vignette of the reverse of a Seated Liberty Dime, while the two other pieces are utilitarian in nature. All three are printed on cardstock with the 10¢ having a thinner cardstock. The other two larger denominations use a different spelling of the first listed owner's name. All three examples have Roman numeral counters for the denomination. This trio is not graded, but we do not see any bends or creases. They were once mounted. The backs are signed below the ‘Redeemable in current bank bills' clause."

R. M. Smythe and Company was the auction firm referred to in the Heritage comments. The chit was lot 2593 in their December 13, 2006 sale, where it was noted that "McCune and Peters was a New York mercantile firm, founded in 1858." It sold for $500 plus the buyer's fee, on a $200-$400 estimate; an astonishingly high price for a cardboard chit, even by today's standards.

The 10 cents chit would undoubtedly be the most desirable of the three, due to the fact that it depicts the reverse of a Liberty seated dime. On all three, the denomination is expressed in Roman numerals. On the backs, "Redeemable in Bank Bills" is printed, and "McCune & Peters" has been written in ink. It is interesting that on the 10 cent piece, the printed surname is M'Cune, while on the others it is McCune. Also, it is square, while the others are rectangular.

My attempts to learn about this company were unsuccessful. There were no listings for McCune & Peters in the 1855 through 1870 New York City directories. I also checked business directories for Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Cincinnati, and Chicago, with no luck. It would be nice to know the basis for Smythe's statement that the company was founded in 1858.

Research is an ongoing process. Hopefully someone will be able to learn more about this issuer of cardboard chits. Comments and questions regarding cardboard chits may be sent to dschenkman@verizon.net.

For more information on the Civil War Token Society, see:
https://www.cwtsociety.com/

SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL SUBMARINE TURTLE MEDAL

Jim Licaretz, one of the winners of the MEDALS250 competition, has created a Semiquincentennial art medal that departs from the usual themes of people, places, protests, and battles. Instead, it honors the innovative Revolutionary War submarine Turtle.

On the night of September 7, 1776, American Sergeant Ezra Lee piloted the Turtle into New York Harbor in an attempt to attack the British flagship, HMS Eagle. Unfortunately, the mission failed. The operator struggled with the intense currents, and upon reaching the flagship, the submarine's hand-operated drill could not penetrate the ship's metal-reinforced hull. Lee was forced to abort the mission, and the Turtle was eventually lost at sea.

Designed in 1775 by American inventor David Bushnell, the Turtle holds the distinction of being the world's first submarine ever used in combat. Built during the American Revolutionary War, this pedal- and hand-crank-powered wooden vessel was an early attempt to break the British naval blockade of New York Harbor.

Shaped remarkably like a sea turtle, the craft was constructed from hollowed-out oak bound by iron hoops and sealed with tar. The Turtle was highly innovative for its time, featuring: a treadle-driven propeller used for forward and backward movement, alongside a manual crank for vertical positioning; intake valves and a pump to take on and release water ballast for submerging and surfacing; an early ventilation device intended to provide fresh air while submerged; and a screw meant to attach a barrel-full of explosives. All of these innovations can be seen in Licaretz's medal. The pilot was meant to drill the mine into the wooden hull of an enemy ship, set a time-delay fuse, and paddle away before the detonation.

No more than 76 of the large 3 1/2 inch cold-cast bronze Turtle art medals will be made and sold for $117.76 plus $10 for shipping. Orders can be sent to the distributor Mel Wacks, 5189 Jeffdale Ave., Woodland Hills, CA 91364 or call 818-225-1348.

To watch the complete video, see:
The History of Bushnell's Turtle | America's First Submarine (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6dQtBUweBc&t=110s)

HERITAGE: VIGNETTES IN ANTI-COUNTERFEITING

Counterfeit currency has always been a problem for governments past and present. This is especially true for U.S. paper currency, where both state and Federal governments attempting to thwart counterfeiters since the very beginning of paper currency production. Today, the U.S. Bureau of Printing and Engraving (BEP) uses a plethora of devices and techniques to prevent counterfeiting from using special paper and security strips embedded in the paper, to unique designs, microprinting, and special watermarks for each denomination printed. Today, people less often use physical paper currency in their day-to-day transactions, however for consumers (in the U.S. and abroad) to maintain their trust in the U.S. Dollar, the BEP and Secret Service must maintain their standards of security and control of U.S. paper currency production. But how did previous governments in the United States combat counterfeiting without the benefit of today's modern technology?

During the colonial period of U.S. history, counterfeiters were a consistent problem especially as they were backed by the British government as a political weapon. Even when engravers and printers put the punishment for counterfeiting in a note's design, TO COUNTERFEIT IS DEATH and other such variations (see the New Jersey issue of April 8, 1762 and New York issue of February 16, 1771), counterfeiters did not stop working in Colonial America. Engravers quickly moved to other methods of deterring counterfeits, from using the best paper possible (when they could afford to), indenture designs on the face and back, "secret marks" (though these fell out of fashion quickly), and most interestingly, intricate designs and vignettes on the face and back of the note.

One of the first checks against counterfeiters was to hire the best craftsmen as engravers. In fact, one of the easiest ways to determine that a note is a counterfeit is by looking at the artistic quality of the engraved vignettes and comparing them to notes that have been established as genuine by experts. The vignettes seen on counterfeit notes are generally poor imitations of vignettes on genuine notes. Benjamin Franklin used this idea to develop a process to engrave nature prints onto the backs of Colonial paper currency, which such notes as the Delaware May 1, 1758 20s, Maryland January 1, 1767 $8, New Jersey April 8, 1762 £6, Pennsylvania May 20, 1758 15s, or the Continental Currency January 14, 1779 $80, and many in between utilized. While a small number of colonies issued notes with these designs, due to the length of use it seems to have worked to some extent as an anti-counterfeiting tool.

Once U.S. paper currency moved to the Obsolete era in the early 19th century, engravers across different companies in the United States continued to use complicated and artistically impressive vignettes as a tool against counterfeiters. There are many beautiful vignettes used on Obsolete bank notes, but one that I find particularly interesting is the Boston, MA- Cochituate Bank $1,000 coming up for auction in Heritage's Summer Obsolete Showcase. In the upper right corner of the bank note sits a small vignette of an ancient sculpture, the Laocoön, currently on display at the Vatican Museums in the Statues Courtyard. The note was designed by the New England Bank Note Company (NEBNCo) in the mid-19th century, though we do not know who the engraver was. One of the engravers who worked for the NEBNCo in some capacity may have seen the sculpture in person, as a handful of the known engravers did spend a few years in Europe. However, prints of the sculpture were popular in Europe and America, so the engraver could have used that as a reference instead of the original.

The vignette of the sculpture is not a one-to-one match to the original sculpture, however. The engraver added back the two sons' missing arms (left arm for both sons) and the face of Laocoön himself in the vignette does not convey the same feelings of despair that the sculpture does. That being said, the vignette still shows the impressive artistic talent of the engraver. The company marketed this vignette to Massachusetts and New York banks as a defense against counterfeiting for these high denomination notes because of the complicated design. Beautiful, interesting, and scarce vignettes have always been a reason for paper currency collectors to acquire Colonials and Obsoletes, but it is important to understand that outside of eye-appeal, these vignettes had a purpose for the engraver. From Benjamin Franklin's nature prints to the Laocoön, engravers have used the vignettes in their designs to make it harder for counterfeiters to defraud the public. You can view some of the notes mentioned in this article in our upcoming Summer Obsolete Showcase August 9 and Summer Colonial Showcase on September 6.

LOOSE CHANGE: JULY 26, 2026

Common Cents Act Passes House

It looks like we might finally have an answer regarding the future of our 1-cent "penny." On July 14, the House of Representatives voted to end production of the denomination once and for all…well, not exactly. House bill HR 3074 ("Common Cents Act") allows production of the denomination to continue, but only as a collector's item. This mirrors the end of production of the Trade Dollar; a coin struck for circulation through 1878 but struck in Proof only between 1879 and 1885.

The legislation also imposes a federally mandated rounding rule through which cash purchases would be rounded up or down to the nearest five cents when exact change isn't available. This is called Swedish Rounding in other countries; it was introduced in Sweden first. Payments made using any non-cash method will continue to be calculated to the exact cent, something of importance especially when calculating sales tax.

To read the complete article, see:
The Penny Isn't Going Away—But It's Changing (https://www.numismaticnews.net/the-penny-isnt-going-away-but-its-changing)

Tapestry of a National Bank Note

To read the complete post, see:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/
nationalbanknotecollectors/
permalink/2111278479518340/

  Video: Engaging School Groups with Numismatics

Coins are durable, tactile, and visually engaging, making them a powerful resource for educational outreach. In this session, Prof. Clare Rowan will share practical strategies for engaging school groups with ancient coins, drawing on work undertaken with the University of Warwick's coin collection.

The talk will explore coins included on the A-level syllabus in England, how these serve as entry points for broader engagement, and adaptable methods that can be applied across different time periods and collections.

Coin Talk is a regular online talk hosted by the Money & Medals Network, presenting different element of numismatics from the basics to the more advanced.

To watch the complete video, see:
Engaging School Groups with Numismatic Collections (Prof. Clare Rowan) (https://youtu.be/K_jsxAY771w?si=ZAeWHurjQRMjWCtQ)

Video: Why are Byzantine Coins SO UGLY?

The Byzantine Empire was a highly advanced society, yet their coinage is considered ugly when compared to the coins of the earlier Roman Empire. Let's analyse the reasons for it.

To watch the complete video, see:
Why are Byzantine Coins SO UGLY? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asIJQbFiJCk)

ABOUT THIS ISSUE: JULY 26, 2026

Wayne Homren
Wayne Homren is the founding editor of The E-Sylum and a consultant for the Newman Numismatic Portal. His collecting interests at various times included U.S. Encased Postage Stamps, merchant counterstamps, Pittsburgh Obsolete paper money, Civil War tokens and scrip, Carnegie Hero Medals, charge coins and numismatic literature. He also collects and has given presentations on the work of Money Artist J.S.G. Boggs. In the non-numismatic world he's worked in artificial intelligence, data science, and as a Program Manager for the U.S. Department of Defense.

Garrett Ziss
Garrett Ziss is a numismatic collector and researcher, with a focus on American paper money and early U.S. silver and copper coins. He is also a part-time U.S. coin cataloger for Heritage Auctions. Garrett assists Editor Wayne Homren by editing and formatting a selection of articles and images each week. When he's not engaged in numismatics, Garrett is pursuing a Master's Degree in Quantitative Economics at the University of Pittsburgh.

Pete Smith
Numismatic researcher and author Pete Smith of Minnesota has written about early American coppers, Vermont coinage, numismatic literature, tokens and medals, the history of the U.S. Mint and much more. Author of American Numismatic Biographies, he contributes original articles to The E-Sylum often highlighting interesting figures in American numismatic history.

Greg Bennick
Greg Bennick (www.gregbennick.com) is a keynote speaker and long time coin collector with a focus on major mint error coins and US counterstamps. He is on the board of both CONECA and TAMS and enjoys having in-depth conversations with prominent numismatists from all areas of the hobby. Have ideas for other interviewees? Contact him anytime via instagram @minterrors. He can also be reached by email at minterrors@gmail.com.

John Nebel
Numismatist, photographer, and ANS Board member and Fellow John Nebel of Boulder, CO helped the ANA and other clubs like NBS get online in the early days of the internet, hosting websites gratis through his Computer Systems Design Co. To this day he hosts some 50 ANA member club sites along with our coinbooks.org site, making the club and our E-Sylum archive available to collectors and researchers worldwide.

Bruce Perdue
Encased coinage collector (encasedcoins.info) Bruce Perdue of Aurora, Illinois has been the volunteer NBS webmaster from its early days and works each week to add the latest E-Sylum issue to our archive and send out the email announcement.