"Blackinton has made countless medals in the New England series, counting all six NE states plus NENA (New England Numismatic Association). Robert R. Heath created 7 catalogs for these medals, organizing them by town (date for NENA). Unfortunately, when Bob died 20 years ago, his catalogs were distributed to other New England collectors/dealers but only two were continued, Sam Allen for New Hampshire and myself for NENA, which has been passed on to a new editor. So Blackinton is definitely in these catalogs along with all the other makers of New England Town Medals."

I was aware of the New England medals, but wondered if they made any OTHER medals outside of their law enforcement ones. I was hoping to find a more comprehensive catalog. -Editor

"It sure appears they are out of the town medal business after a quick look at their website. I got lots of hits for "New Hampshire" but they appeared to be challenge coins from police/fire. I have no other info."

Thanks. So I guess their core market is for law enforcement badges, and the related markets for law enforcement medals and challenge coins. They may not be making other medals anymore. -Editor

"Is it possible that little circle at the top of the oil pouring into the lamp was meant to be the lip of the vessel from which the oil is being poured?

"A "magnifying glass" in that position makes no sense to me."

It could be a magnifying glass, but I thought it was part of the lamp at first. David Fanning agrees. -Editor

"These pins are absolutely based on the American Numismatic Association badge announced in the October 1911 issue of The Numismatist, with the "ANA" part added. The unusual design of the lamp is virtually identical. There is not a magnifying glass on it, as was suggested—that is indeed part of the lamp. The question is whether they are contemporary or were made afterwards, possibly even recently. Here is a highly unprofessional photo of a badge attached to a ladder of convention bars starting in 1909. When the 1911 badge was released, they also made bars for all previous conventions."

Thanks, everyone. -Editor

"I read the article about Lola's Buffalo Nickel. The account in the last paragraph caught my eye, regarding her family legend about one of her great grandmothers being Cherokee Indian. As written, every word describes my own family story on my mother's side, exactly as it has been passed down in my family – Civil-war bride, Cherokee, and the census taker writing her into the record as "white", because if she had been entered as Cherokee, she could not inherit, or even be considered married to a white man. Most interesting.

"I am a retired American living in Australia these past 27 years."

Interesting - thanks for sharing. -Editor

"I've got Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, Frederic March and Clive Brook. I picked these up on eBay many years ago."

Thanks! Neat series. -Editor

We are very pleased to announce the purchase of the Mark Glazer collection of Contemporary Counterfeit Bust Half Dollars. Mark has been a very active collector of these fascinating and historically significant items for nearly 30 years. To put it in perspective, the collection contains an incredible 170 Plates in Winston Zack's new book. Again, for perspective, it contains five of the six Flowing Hair varieties as well as counterfeits of coins that never existed like 1787, 1836-O, 1838-O, 1840, 1842 and 1878.

To see pictures of many others refer to the Photographic References section in the back of Winston Zack's book and look for Mark Glazer's name. We have already started listing some a number of pieces on eBay including the three above. We will also sell a number of the more expensive pieces by Want List. Finally, we are offering some at Fixed Price on our website.

Here's a newspaper article found by Jim Haas. Thanks! -Editor

"The article was published first in the Chicago Inter-Ocean and was subsequently picked up and published in newspapers across the country in 1900."