The E-Sylum v26n28 July 9, 2023
The E-Sylum
esylum at binhost.com
Sun Jul 9 19:05:56 PDT 2023
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The E-Sylum
An electronic publication of
The Numismatic Bibliomania Society
Volume 26, Number 28, July 9, 2023
** WAYNE'S WORDS: THE E-SYLUM JULY 9, 2023 <#a01>
** BOOKBINDERS UNITE AT THE ANA CONVENTION <#a02>
** NEW BOOK: PROMOTIONAL SHEET & TEST NOTES 18TH ED. <#a03>
** DONNA MARIE POPE (1931-2023) <#a04>
** RICHARD F. BUCKLEY (1935-2023) <#a05>
** MIGUEL ANGEL MORUCCI (1947-2023) <#a06>
** GLEN IRVING JORDE (1948-2023) <#a07>
** GREG LYON (1971-2023) <#a08>
** NEWMAN PORTAL ADDS PETER JONES TITLES <#a09>
** VIDEO: COLOR ON COINS <#a10>
** ANTHONY WAYNE GOLD MEDAL LOCATED <#a11>
** STANDING LIBERTY QUARTER MODELS <#a12>
** NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JULY 9, 2023 <#a13>
** DESIGNS FOR 2027 COINS <#a14>
** CCAC APPOINTEE: CHRISTOPHER CAPOZZOLA <#a15>
** BLIND COIN COLLECTOR BLOG CELEBRATES 10 YEARS <#a16>
** VOCABULARY TERM: NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION <#a17>
** ANSWER: THE COIN SCHOOL <#a18>
** UNUSUAL BANK BAGS <#a19>
** NUMISMAGRAM MEDAL SELECTIONS: JULY 9, 2023 <#a20>
** NOONANS TO OFFER THE SANDERS COLLECTION <#a21>
** NOONANS OFFERS RARE CLAUDIUS AUREUS <#a22>
** NUMISMATIC NUGGETS: JULY 9, 2023 <#a23>
** A NEWARK SIEGE COIN ANOMALY <#a24>
** U.S. MINT BOUGHT BOULTON, WATT PLANCHETS <#a25>
** MONNAIE DE PARIS NFT EXHIBIT <#a26>
** LOOSE CHANGE: JULY 9, 2023 <#a27>
** FEATURED WEBSITE: SANDRA DEIANA <#a28>
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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 9, 2023
We have no new subscribers this week; our current total is 8,079.
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 at gmail.com anytime regarding your subscription, or questions, comments or suggestions about our content.
This week we open with an NBS convention update, one new book, five obituaries, updates from the Newman Numismatic Portal, notes from readers, and more.
Other topics this week include test notes, color on coins, the Anthony Wayne Comitia Americana gold medal, models for the Standing Liberty Quarter, coin designs and the CCAC, the Coin School, bank bags, NFTs and coin designed Sandra Deiana.
To learn more about Donna Pope, Doris Dorscher Baum, Beate Rauch, Roman slave tags, the Blind Coin Collector, the Coin Harvey House,
the Pattern Halfcrown by David Ramage, and the Trinity College Dublin gold medal, read on. Have a great week, everyone!
Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum
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Image of the week
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BOOKBINDERS UNITE AT THE ANA CONVENTION
The Numismatic Bibliomania Society table at this summer's American Numismatic Association World's Fair of Money® will feature a special live bookbinding demonstration. Len Augsburger submitted this update.
-Editor
Bookbinders Unite at the ANA Convention
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Our bookbinding term of the week is “quarto.†This refers to a sheet of paper folded twice, so as to create eight pages in a bound book. Note, the two top edges require trimming, after folding. “Quarto†also refers to a book size of approximately 9.5†x 12â€. Traditional book sizes were based on a standard sheet size of 19†x 24â€. Folding twice led to the “quarto†dimensions of 9.5†x 12â€, while a third fold in half created the “octavo†or 9.5†x 6†format. Modern printing and binding technology support both larger construction sheets and perfect binding (using clean-cut sheets), so the traditional linkage between the number of folds and final book size is today less defined. Our bookbinding demo at the ANA will use “folio†(single fold) format with an initial sheet size of 8.5†x 11â€.
To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
NBS BOOKBINDING DEMO AT THE ANA
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n25a02.html)
NBS BOOKBINDING DEMO: CURVED NEEDLE
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n26a02.html)
NBS BOOKBINDING DEMO: AWL
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n27a02.html)
NEW BOOK: PROMOTIONAL SHEET & TEST NOTES 18TH ED.
Roland Rollins has published an updated edition of his book on banknote company promotional sheets and test notes.
-Editor
The Catalog of Printers Promotional Sheets & Test Notes – 18th Edition was released June 2023.
The eBook catalog covers all test, advertising, promotional, color samples, house notes, titled vignette sheets, stock samples, greeting cards, and calendars for firms involved in the production of bank notes.
The catalog is available on Adobe Acrobat pdf file - 120 MB! With 1,292 pages and 7,249 color images, the cost to print the book would be prohibitive. Since it is a pdf, I've added bookmarks for all 285 firms known to have issued test notes. Of course the search feature makes it easy to look up a note by theme or security feature, such as Lord Nelson or Pushkin theme or Spark or Motion security feature. There are 3,479 test notes attributed with 6,031 varieties.
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The book is available on Ebay and Delcampe for $45 + $4.50 shipping for domestic orders or $42.50 +$4.50 shipping at my web site here:
http://currency_den.tripod.com/testnotes/order.html.
Feel free to contact me with any questions at
currencyden at yahoo.com
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For more information, or to order, see:
http://currency_den.tripod.com/testnotes/order.html
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DONNA MARIE POPE (1931-2023)
U.S. Mint Director Donna Pope passed away last month. Here's an excerpt from her obituary.
-Editor
Donna Pope, 91, died peacefully at her home in Colorado on June 23rd, 2023, with her daughter at her side.
Pope, originally from the Cleveland area, was the 33rd Director of the U.S. Mint, being appointed twice by Ronald Reagan, for whom she was an unwavering champion. Pope was instrumental in the renewal of the U.S. Commemorative Coins and the creation of the American Eagle Gold and Silver investment coins. Prior to moving to Washington D.C., Pope was a five-term member of the Ohio House of Representatives, rising to the position of Minority Whip, where she fought for law and order and criminal justice issues.
Besides being a diligent public servant, Pope was also a wife, mother, and grandmother, who had a fun loving and creative side. Disney World was one of her absolute favorite places! She loved to garden, ballroom dance, and elaborately decorate for most every holiday.
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Donna Pope was the daughter of John and Marie Kolnik. She is preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Pope, a police detective for the City of Cleveland; and her daughter, Candace Wooley. She is survived by her daughter, Cherie Pope-Eagen, and four grandchildren: Alex Wooley, and Ryker, Dillon, and Nathan Eagen.
Pope will be buried in a private memorial service in Ohio.
To read the complete article, see:
Donna Marie Pope
October 15, 1931 — June 23, 2023
(https://www.horancares.com/obituaries/donna-pope)
A Coin World article by Paul Gilkes recounts Pope's numismatic accomplishments, including overseeing the renewal of modern U.S. commemorative coins, the implementation of the gold and silver American Eagle bullion coin programs, and the elevation of West Point and San Francisco facilities to full Mint status.
-Editor
To read the complete article, see:
Former Mint Director Donna Pope, 91, dies
(https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/former-mint-director-donna-pope-91-dies)
RICHARD F. BUCKLEY (1935-2023)
Dick Buckley was a collector and vest-pocket dealer that I got to know as a fellow member of clubs in the Pittsburgh area. His thick Boston accent was unmistakable. He'd come to Pittsburgh as an engineer at Westinghouse Corp. His interests included world coins and U.S. Colonials - he sold me several sets of Vlack photographic plates for my library at one point.
Thanks to Ed Krivoniak for passing this along.
-Editor
Richard F. "Dick" Buckley passed peacefully Saturday, June 10, 2023, with his family by his side. He was born Nov. 18, 1935, in Boston, Mass. He is survived by his wife, Wanda (Campbell) Buckley; and his children, Jayne Leather, Rachel (David) Buckley, Kristen Maureen Hanlin and Richard E. (Tracey) Buckley. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren, Ashley, Jessica, Danielle, Jennifer, Ian, Seth, Daniel Lee, Kathleen, Vivian and Connor. He also has six great-grandchildren, with one more expected to arrive later in 2023.
Dick was a 30-year employee of Bechtel and Westinghouse as a start-up manager for nuclear power plants. His work took him all over the world and he lived in Korea, Japan, Spain, Brazil and the Philippines, to name a few. He was a proud member of Mensa, where he served as historian well into his later years in life. He was a passionate coin collector.
Dick was an avid sports fan. Growing up in Boston, he loved the Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics. However, after moving to Pittsburgh in 1980, he became a Steelers season ticket holder, and his sports loyalty changed to all teams Pittsburgh. He continued to attend Steelers games well into his 80s and developed strong friendships with other fans in his section. He was also a big Penguins and Penn State football fan. A private family ceremony will be held at a later date.
Dick was indeed a passionate collector, and his passions fueled conflict on occasion. He'd dropped out of the local clubs by the time I moved from Pittsburgh in 2006. I lost touch and barely recognized him in this photo. But I remember him as a numismatic mentor alongside all my other old Pittsburgh collecting friends.
A collector of Washingtoniana, Dick suggested the adopted theme of the 1989 Pittsburgh ANA medal featuring George Washington as a young surveyor, one of the first white men to visit the forks of the Ohio.
Here's a portrait taken around 1991 as a member of the Western Pennsylvania Numismatic Society (digitized by the Newman Numismatic Portal). His Connecticut Coppers were sold by New England Rare Coins in July 1976, and his numismatic library was sold in the Money Tree 31st sale in 1999.
-Editor
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To read the complete article, see:
Richard F. Buckley
(https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/richard-buckley-obituary?pid=204723829)
MIGUEL ANGEL MORUCCI (1947-2023)
Yosef Sa'ar passed along this notice from Facebook. Thank you.
He was the author of a book on Argentine transportation tokens,
Las Fichas Tranviarias Argentinas.
-Editor
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The Buenos Aires Numismatic Center expresses its deepest condolences on the death of its former president and friend MIGUEL MORUCCI and conveys its solidarity for this unfortunate loss to his family and friends.
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GLEN IRVING JORDE (1948-2023)
Bob Steinberg writes:
"I just saw a note that Glen Jorde passed away on 7/2. He was 75. I didn't know him well, but he always had a smile at shows and a warm hello - just a nice person."
Thank you. Thanks also to George Cuhaj for passing this along. Here's an excerpt from his obituary.
-Editor
Glen Irving Jorde, 75, of Devils Lake, ND, passed away on Sunday, July 2, 2023, surrounded by family. A memorial service will be held Friday, July 14, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at Northwood Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northwood. A visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service at the church.
Glen Irving Jorde was born on January 13, 1948, to Olaf and Eileen (Aarestad) Jorde, in Moorhead, MN. He was raised in Northwood, ND and he graduated from Northwood High School in 1965. Glen enjoyed football and wrestling. He was known to his friends by the nickname “Mooseâ€.
He was a pharmacist and businessman in Devils Lake, ND for over 50 years. Glen worked at Ramsey Drug, then later the Clinic Pharmacy; he retired from Pharmacy in recent years. He owned and operated Lake Region Coin and Currency. Glen was a member of the American Numismatic Association, Professional Currency Dealers Association, the Elks, and numerous other organizations.
Glen had extensive knowledge of United States rare coins and collectibles. He will be remembered for being kind, generous, fair, having a wonderful sense of humor, and his great laugh.
To read the complete online obituary, see:
Glen Jorde
(https://www.grandforksherald.com/obituaries/obits/glen-jorde-5c50d0348e49a342e84c748f-64a5e035a8f92007a8b7a648)
Pete Smith submitted these thoughts, which I paired with a photo submitted by George Cuhaj. Thanks.
-Editor
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Glen Jorde
Glen Jorde attended the first Red River Valley Coin Show in 1959 when he was eleven. As a
dealer in the early 1970’s, he operated out of Monroe, Michigan, home town of George Heath. I
knew him as a regular at the two large coin shows in Minnesota each year. His specialty was
paper money but he also had several binders with trade tokens for sale.
Jorde was elected to the board of the Central States Numismatic Society in 1998. He announced
his candidacy for president in 2007 but then withdrew before the election.
He was a senior grader, finalizer and manager with Paper Money Guarantee, LLC, beginning in
2005 and continuing to January 2011. He had worked with Micky Shipley and she operated as
Micky’s Currency in Devils Lake, North Dakota, while Glen was manager of PMG. I talked with
Glen after he announced that he was leaving PMG. He said that in the current market, he could
make much more if he returned to dealing.
Jorde was elected president of the Professional Currency Dealers Association in 2000.
He taught paper money grading at the ANA Summer Seminars and had some training sessions at
the Central States conventions.
Glen Jorde was named a Numismatic Ambassador in 2023.
GREG LYON (1971-2023)
George Cuhaj submitted these thoughts on the passing of former American Numismatic Association Governor Greg Lyon. Thank you.
-Editor
Greg Lyon grew up in Jackson Heights, Queens, NY and attended Hunter College High School and later Washington University in St. Louis, where he would eventually reside with his partner Patrick Mooney.
I met him as a scout first, as our respective troops were in the same district and we attended camporees together. He was a staff member in the nature lodge in 1987 in Camp Aquehonga, Ten Mile River Scout Camps, Greater New York Council.
I gained a numismatic friendship with him when he started to attend the YN programs offered at most of the NYC shows of the mid 1980s; eventually I would select him to be a youth staff member at the 1989 National Scout Jamboree Merit Badge Midway Coin Collecting display / information booth sponsored by the ANA.
That was the same summer when he was selected as the ANA's Outstanding Young Numismatist.
About the same time he was attending ANA Summer Seminars as a YN and making several long-term friendships in the hobby. As a young adult he served as a YN chaperone at ANA Summer Seminar for several summers, again growing relationships and the admiration of many of the participants.
In more recent years he served as an elected member of the Board of Governors and was currently serving as parliamentarian to the board.
He liked his dogs and volunteered at a shelter. As a computer wiz he enjoyed booking multi-leg flights to roll in the points and take "commercial last flights" of retiring aircraft.
In recent years he suffered from depression and alcoholism, and had a recent relapse.
He had a very serious fall in his house causing serious brain and other injuries and after a seventeen day stay in the ICU at St. Louis University Hospital, died July 3rd, and was able to be an organ donor. Patrick has received reports as to which organs went where and how many people they are helping.
A memorial is in the planning stages.
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The above photo is from the October 2019 Numismatist, showing the 2019-21 ANA Board of Governors. From left: Mike Ellis, Muriel Eymery, Mary Lynn Garrett, Greg Lyon, Clifford Mishler, Paul Montgomery and Shanna Schmidt.
-Editor
NEWMAN PORTAL ADDS PETER JONES TITLES
The latest additions to the Newman Numismatic Portal are the books of Peter Jones. Project Coordinator Len Augsburger provided this report.
-Editor
Peter Jones Contributes Eight Titles to Newman Portal
The works of author Peter D. Jones, MD are now available with full-view on Newman Portal, courtesy of the author. Peter casts a wide net, with subjects ranging from early American numismatics to French paper money and U.S. commemorative issues. Ken Bressett’s remarks from the Foreword of Commemorative Coin Tales (2018) are equally applicable to all of Jones’ works: “What you are about to see is one man’s journey into the fascinating world of numismatics. His passion for the subject is obvious, and likely infectious. His intent in writing this account is to inspire and pass on to his family some of the reasons he has dedicated part of his busy life to the study and collecting of these very special coins.â€
Image: front cover of Peter Jones’ First Medals of America (2020)
Great news! These are excellent books.
Here's the full list:
Notable Notes
Commemorative Coin Tales
Dow Jones by Peter Jones
Colonial History In Your Hands
The First Medals of America
First Coins of the Americas
TREASURE!
Beautiful Banknotes Of France
-Editor
Link to Peter Jones’ books on Newman Portal:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/booksbyauthor/535610
VIDEO: COLOR ON COINS
The David Lisot Video Library on the Newman Numismatic Portal can be found at:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/multimediadetail/522852
We highlight one of his videos each week in The E-Sylum.
Here's one from 2007 with Bob Campbell discussing color and toning on coins.
-Editor
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Some collectors will pay huge premiums for gorgeously toned coins. How much are they paying? What are they really worth? And what about artificial toning? Former ANA President Bob Campbell has the answers in this hard-hitting program. You will see color slides and actual coins including:
Bob's background and how he became involved in dealing toned coins
pitfalls in the market
how to collect the different types of toned coins including monochromatic, rainbow, bulls eye, textile and end wrapper
the progression of colors as they occur on a coin during the toning process
causes of toning
factors that affect pricing
pictures of actual toned coins and their values
Speaker(s): H. Robert Campbell.
Fifteen years later this is still a popular topic and area of collecting interest.
-Editor
To watch the complete video, see:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/560278
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ANTHONY WAYNE GOLD MEDAL LOCATED
Last week Alan Weinberg inquired about the present whereabouts of the General Anthony Wayne Comitia Americana medal in gold. He recalled, "I attended that auction and remember then-Sotheby's employee Mike Hodder standing up front by the dais, his hands crossed in front of him."
-Editor
Mike Hodder writes:
"I think Alan Weinberg must have confused me with my friend David Tripp
when he recollected a 1970's Sotheby's sale of a gold Comitia Americana
medal. In the late 70's I was in the PhD program at U.C. Berkeley.
Sotheby's hired me to catalogue coins in 1980. I sold a lot of neat
stuff at Sotheby's, including territorial gold and the Farnell
Collection of 18th C. English Merchant's Tokens. I don't recall a gold
Wayne medal but having become an old geezer I may misremember."
David Tripp writes:
"The gold Anthony Wayne medal was sold at Sotheby Parke Bernet (as it was then) June 15, 1978, lot 519.
"The nervous soul standing next to the auctioneer was me (age 26), not Mike (who didn’t start until about 1980).
"Estimated at $10-15,000 it brought $51,000 (no buyer’s premium those days). The underbidder was John Ford (in the front row) telegraphing his bids to Herb Melnick standing at the room’s door.
"The purchaser was the Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the Revolution. They loaned it to the Philadelphia Mint where it has been on display for decades, along, I believe, with Wayne’s sword. In 2010 they also purchased (at Sotheby’s NY as part of the James Copley collection) Washington’s letter of transmittal of the medal….it brought almost twice as much as the medal. I believe it too is on display at the Mint.
"Years ago, for Mike Hodder and Larry Stack, I wrote a Reminiscence of JJF for part XX of his sale (2007). In there I recounted the tale."
I don't know when or for how long it was loaned to the Mint, but I found these July 16, 2021 Facebook posts from the Museum of the American Revolution describing a display of the medal alongside its original letter of transmission signed by none other than George Washington.
-Editor
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"In honor of his successful assault at Stony Point, the Continental Congress awarded Anthony Wayne a gold medal, newly displayed at the Museum and on loan from Pennsylvania Society Sons of the Revolution. It shows America, represented as a Native American woman, presenting a victory laurel to him."
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It took 11 years for Wayne's Stony Point medal to be delivered to him. The Continental Congress ordered the medal in 1779, but it was not until 1790 that George Washington was able to present it. Washington wrote to Wayne that the medal showed "the high sense which your Country entertains of your services on that occasion."
To read the complete post, see:
On this day in 1779, the Battle of Stony Point took place in New York, with a charge on the British led by Anthony Wayne.
(https://www.facebook.com/AmRevMuseum/posts/4161865703899968)
Len Augsburger writes:
"Tony Lopez reported in the October/November 2009 MCA Advisory: “The original gold medal presented to Wayne by Washington was consigned by the Wayne family in 1978 to Sotheby Parke Bernet, where it was hammered for $52,500 to the Pennsylvania Sons of the Revolution. (John J. Ford Jr. was the under bidder.) It is currently on display at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.â€
"Coin World reported the sale on July 5, 1978, also noting the medal was purchased by the Philadelphia Sons of the Revolution, with a hammer price of $51,000. Robert Schwarz acted as agent and noted that he cut into his commission to acquire the medal, which may explain the discrepancy with the price reported by Tony Lopez. The underbidder was Herbert Melnick, “bidding for a private collector,†apparently John J. Ford. Jr.
"The consignor was Anthony Wayne Ridgway, a descendant of Wayne. Ridgway commented “I’ve had to keep it all these years in a vault three levels underground under a bank. It gave me no pleasure or joy; it’s not the sort of thing I can keep around the house and exhibit. I’m not a coin person, and my friends aren’t coin or medal people, so you can’t leave it sitting around on a desk; and I needed the money.â€
"The sale was held June 15, 1978 and took place at the Sotheby Parke Bernet office in New York."
Regarding the letter, David adds:
"It brought $98,500 (including the premium).
The $51,000 for the medal, was, at the time, a world record for a medal."
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David also passed along these catalog images and the below link to the sale of the Washington letter. Thanks.
-Editor
"You will receive with this, a Medal struck by order of the late Congress in commemoration of your much approved conduct in the Assault of Stoney Point—and presented to you as a mark of the high sense which your Country entertains of your services on that occasion.
"This Medal was put into my hands by Mr. Jefferson; and it is with singular pleasure that I now transmit it to you. In the postscript, Washington acknowledges "the receipt of your letter of the 1st February, which reached my hands a few days since."
Anthony Wayne's capture of the British garrison at Stony Point, New York, was one of the pivotal actions of the American Revolution. In late May 1779, British forces under General Henry Clinton began moving up the Hudson, hoping to draw George Washington into battle and possibly even to reach West Point, the "key to the American continent."
To read the complete lot description, see:
179
Washington, George, as First President
(https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2010/the-james-s-copley-library-magnificent-american-historical-documents-first-selection-n08653/lot.179.html)
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
The General Anthony Wayne Gold Medal
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n27a17.html)
STANDING LIBERTY QUARTER MODELS
Hermon MacNeil researcher and author Jim Haas submitted these thoughts in response to last week's video of the 2007 talk by Ray Herz on the models for the Standing Liberty Quarter.
-Editor
Since I don’t even qualify for the Boy Scout rank of Tenderfoot when it comes to the various iterations and
design variations of MacNeil’s quarter, I have no quibble with the technical observations offered by Ray Herz
in his 2016 video presentation, and I’ll always defer to Roger Burdette on these matters. That being said, I offer
here some additional information based on more than a decade’s worth of MacNeil research that I believe will
broaden E-sylum readers’ knowledge as regards the famous Quarter.
Designing medals was not something unfamiliar to MacNeil as he was well-versed in the art. His uncle was
Henry Mitchell, an acknowledged master engraver, medalist and friend to Saint-Gaudens. He had studied with
Henri-Michel-Antoine-Chapu, another master medalist, in Paris and prior to 1916, had designed not only the
1901 Pan-American Medal of Award, but also the 1909 Architectural League of New York Medal. In 1912 he
submitted two designs for the National Academy of Science Medal neither of which was selected. Simultaneous
with the 1916 Quarter, he had also modeled the Conrad Poppenhusen Medal.
Indeed, and regrettably, his Indian
themed works were fewer, but they were never far from his heart returning to them in modeling the 1926 Hopi
Prayer for Rain medal. As for the American Bison appearing in both MacNeil’s medal and James Earle Fraser’s
Nickel, it is recorded that “Black Diamond,†the American Bison, was Fraser’s model. The animal was born in
the Central Park Zoo in 1893 and died there in 1915. In 1900, MacNeil was living on the upper west side of
Manhattan. The zoo being very near to where he lived, I’d wager a bet Black Diamond was his model as well.
Hermon Atkins MacNeil was born in 1866 and died in 1947. Julia Alevena Reiman was born in Manhattan on
January 24, 1882. After her father’s death in 1899, she moved to Whitestone, Queens, NY, a short distance east
of College Point, where MacNeil lived and had his studio. Irene Beer was born in New Jersey in 1880. After her
father’s death, her mother married William C. Weitling, an up-and-coming executive and eventual president of
a College Point Rubber Company. He adopted her. Because MacNeil served on the Board of Control of an
educational institute started by Conrad Poppenhusen, the founder of the rubber company, Hermon, and probably
his wife Carol, would have likely known Irene Weitling. The families ran in the same social circles.
Doris married Whitestone resident and much celebrated athlete Albert Doscher in 1902. One year earlier, he and
a friend had pedaled their bicycles round-trip from Whitestone to Buffalo to take in the World’s Fair. Irene Beer
Weitling wed Minneapolis-born George MacDowell in 1903, he too, a good athlete. Both were said to have
been MacNeil’s tennis partners, a sport that Hermon played very well, but neither man’s name was ever paired
with his in any published tennis tournament articles. But it is entirely possible they played together informally.
Doris was not in her early twenties when she modeled for MacNeil, in fact she was thirty-four. Irene was
approaching thirty-six. While Irene’s measurements were never published, Doscher’s 36-25-39 were just
slightly off what is considered an hourglass figure today. In any case, I suspect both women would have taken
umbrage when described as being “a little bit matronly.†We’ll never know. In addition to performing on
Broadway using the name Doris Doree, Doris Doscher was trained as a Red Cross nurse, appeared in silent
films portraying as Eve in one and an unspecified character in an educational opus titled The Sculptor and His
Art.
She was also an early fitness guru writing a popular newspaper column on the subject and speaking often
on physical culture for women. She was also a frequently used sculptor’s model posing at different times for
Herbert Adams, Daniel Chester French and Karl Bitter, he having employed her when fashioning his Pomona
Pulitzer of the Plaza atop the fountain in front of the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan. Bitter died in 1915 before the
work was completed, that task falling to Isidore Konti. MacNeil and Bitter were not only gifted artists, they were
also close friends. It was probably through him that Hermon came to call upon Doris Doscher as he did once
again when modeling the Flushing, Queens, NY World War One Memorial dedicated in 1925.
That both women acted as model for MacNeil is on the record. Interestingly, MacDowell, her husband and
daughter left College Point after 1910 relocating to the tiny town of Rock Tavern in upstate New York where
George took up farming. She stayed close to her family, visiting often, thus it is reasonable to think that it was
during one of her sojourns that she spent those ten days modeling for Hermon. It is also probable that because
Doscher lived in nearby Whitestone, she became his primary model and the true Girl on the Quarter, the phrase first appearing in a Brooklyn Daily Eagle article published in April 1917. Eleven years later the same paper
published a photo of her posing for the Quarter.
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Doris Dorscher Baum passed away in 1970, Irene MacDowell three years later at which time it was learned she
had been MacNeil’s model for the figure of Victory in Albany’s Soldiers and Sailors Memorial dedicated in
1912 before she moved to Rock Tavern.
I'm old enough to remember the TV game show "I've Got a Secret", where celebrity panelists question a mystery guest to determine their identity.
Jim located a 1966 episode where Doris Baum appeared.
-Editor
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To watch the episode, see:
Model for Liberty quarter (I've Got a Secret 4/4/66)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS39StcYE58)
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
VIDEO: STANDING LIBERTY QUARTERS
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n27a14.html)
THE BOOK BAZARRE
RENAISSANCE OF AMERICAN COINAGE: Wizard Coin Supply is the official distributor for Roger Burdette's three volume
series that won NLG Book of the Year awards for 2006, 2007 and 2008. Contact us for dealer or distributor pricing at www.WizardCoinSupply.com.
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JULY 9, 2023
1976 Gold Libertas Americana Restrikes
Regarding the 1976 Libertas Americana restrike medals,
Julian Leidman writes:
"There were three gold of the FCI restrike, and I owned one of them back in the late 70's or early 80's. I sold it to Gil Steinberg, a Manhattan businessman and serious collector, but I have never seen it offered again, as I do not remember it being sold in the auction of his collections."
Â
Interesting. Does anyone know the whereabouts of any of these gold versions today? I found one online listing for a different gold restrike, and I'm using it here as a stand-in illustration.
-Editor
To read the complete item description, see:
(1776) Medal Libertas Americana Gold 2000 Restrike 64g. Au, DCAM (Proof)
(https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1776-medal-libertas-americana-gold-2000-restrike-64g-au-dcam/511938)
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NNP: THE 1976 LIBERTAS AMERICANA RESTRIKE
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n27a13.html)
Beate Rauch
Phil Iversen writes:
"Another well-known woman in the hobby was Beate Rauch who lived in Los Angeles before moving to Las Vegas where she lived with her husband, Hans, and have since both passed away. Beate was a well-known dealer in foreign currency and traveled to many shows and was involved with many numismatic organizations including the International Bank Note Society, the Society for International Numismatics, the Convention of International Numismatics, and the Society for Ancient Numismatics."
Thank you.
-Editor
To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
U.S. WOMEN COIN DEALERS
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n24a20.html)
MORE WOMEN DEALERS
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n25a15.html)
WOMEN COIN DEALERS PAST & PRESENT
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n26a09.html)
CHRISTIANSEN AND STONE, AND OTHER WOMEN DEALERS
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n27a16.html)
More on Curved Needles
Jud Petrie writes:
"Although I thought of it at the time I didn't deem it newsworthy to report. I used to sail competitively and knew a number of sailmakers who also use a curved needle. I am certain that they were also used in upholstery and leather work as well as the carpet business as was reported and many other businesses as well."
To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
NBS BOOKBINDING DEMO: CURVED NEEDLE
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n26a02.html)
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JULY 2, 2023 : Curved Needles Aren't Just for Bookbinding
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n27a17.html)
Mystery Photo Assistance Sought
Incoming NBS President Len Augsburger writes:
"NBS board member Shanna Schmidt reports this photo, randomly laid-in to an old issue of The Asylum. Can an E-Sylum reader identify the people or the building in the photograph?"
Â
Hmmm. Thoughts, anyone?
-Editor
6th Annual Slab Collectors Meetup
David Schwager writes:
"Come to the 6th annual slab collector meetup at the ANA World's Fair of Money in Pittsburgh. Thursday, August 10, 6:00 pm, in the lobby of the Westin hotel by the convention center. An informal gathering to talk about our common interest and have some show and tell. Hosted by me and the Slab King, Isaiah Hageman."
 Â
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Bag of Coins Discovered in Ruins of Pompeii
Regarding the poor marketing move offering the Chevy Nova (meaning "no-go") in Spain,
Gary Beals writes:
"The word Nova is now in ordinary use in Spain.
What I got a bang out of was Mitsubishi developed an SUV named the Pajero -- which means something like bush man. It sold well in the Americas. In Spain however they changed the name to Montero -- sort of Mountain man -- The reason: Pajero means masterbater in Spain. Paja is straw, you know stuff going on out in the barn....."
To bring this tawdry thread back to numismatics (sort of), this week I came across a bizarre fresco uncovered in Pomeii: a "painting of the well-endowed Priapus weighing his member on a balance against a bag of coins."
-Editor
To read the complete article, see:
The horrors of Pompeii
(https://aeon.co/essays/what-pompeiis-ruins-say-about-its-enslaved-prostituted-women)
The fresco in question has an interesting history. It was discovered at the end of the 19th century by archaeologists working in the House of the Vettii, a large villa owned by two successful freedmen...
The Priapus fresco adorns the entryway to the House of the Vetii, essentially the equivalent of our foyer, and a statue of Priapus lay just past it in the peristyle in front of the garden. Because of the subject matter, rumor has it that the Priapus fresco was covered over and its reproduction locked away until the end of the 20th century.
To read the complete article, see:
Fresco Of Priapus From Pompeii Depicts Problematic Genitalia
(https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristinakillgrove/2015/06/15/fresco-of-priapus-from-pompeii-depicts-problematic-genitalia/)
For most of the twentieth century the unique image of Priapus weighing his giant phallus against a plump money bag at the front entry to the House of the Vettii in Pompeii was considered so obscene that it was covered with a slatted box which was opened for the viewing pleasure of only a select few--mostly male--visitors. Although only the brackets of the box remain today, the image itself (though featured on many a postcard) remains decorously under-interpreted in scholarship.
To read the complete article, see:
Weighing In: the Priapus Painting at the House of the Vettii, Pompeii
(https://studylib.net/doc/8769870/weighing-in--the-priapus-painting-at-the-house-of-the-vet...)
La Casa dei Vettii was reopened to the public earlier this year. This article shows a full image. But scroll down for a wider view of the entryway wall where the painting is seen in (disappointingly smaller) proportions.
-Editor
Visitors to Pompeii can finally see one of ancient Rome’s most unsettling images — a fresco of the fertility god Priapus weighing his hefty penis on a scale balanced by a large bag of coins. After 20 years of nearly uninterrupted closure to the public, the Archaeological Park of Pompeii announced the reopening of La Casa dei Vettii on January 10.
The first-referenced article from Aeon is a fascinating read. In another connection to numismatics, it illustrates an Roman slave tag, a forerunner of the well-known antebellum Charleston slave tags.
-Editor
Copper alloy tag that was attached to the collar of an enslaved person, inscribed with a demand to return the wearer to the slave master at his estate in Rome, 4th century CE. Courtesy the British Museum
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
Fresco of Well-Endowed God Unveiled in Pompeii
(https://hyperallergic.com/793463/fresco-of-well-endowed-god-unveiled-in-pompeii/)
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JULY 2, 2023 : The Other Nova
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n27a17.html)
DESIGNS FOR 2027 COINS
Wayne Pearson submitted these thoughts on new designs for U.S. circulating coinage.
-Editor
According to PL 116-330 for the year 2027,
‘‘(D) DESIGNS AFTER END OF THE PROGRAM.—Beginning in 2027, any coin redesigned under this subsection shall revert to the immediately previous designs.
That means in 2027, our coin designs revert back to what they were, the same old tired designs we have been using for years.
Â
If we as coin collectors want different designs on our coins in 2027, they first need to exist in 2025.
This idea is time sensitive because the 2025 coins for coin sets will be made in 2024.
I’m offering a nonpartisan idea that seeks to offer better versions, of the same incumbents on our coins.
If you agree with this proposal, I need some help.
I have been trying to get my congressman, and both senators to offer such legislation, but I CAN’T get past their staff.
First for the Lincoln cent is the 1952 James Fraser design.
Â
For a new five cent coin, both designs are based on T. James Ferrell designs.
Â
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For the dime, an FDR design based on the Selma Burke plaque.
Â
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For the reverse, one of the 2014 unused baseball designs. I don’t know the designer.
For the quarter, in addition to the five women’s quarters,
I’d like to see a sixth quarter added in 2025, using the Laura Gardin Fraser eagle design. This would allow us to finally have her original 1932 quarter designs married together on a circulating coin.
We have no idea what design of Washington will be used on the quarter in 2032. This may be the only opportunity that we have to see the 1932 designs together.
In 2009 we had SIX quarters, (Territorial and Washington D.C.) so I know we can make six quarters.
Â
For the Kennedy half dollar, which will be used on a series of Paralympic coins, a new Kennedy by Paul Manship, based on an inaugural medal.
Â
For the reverse, a beautiful eagle from a bureau of engraving and printing Souvenir Card.
Â
For the new Sacagawea dollar coin, a beautiful profile version, coincidentally, by Glenna Goodacre-the same designer of the current Sacagawea dollar.
Â
For the reverse, an eagle based on this George T. Morgan design.
Â
If you agree with me, and want NEW designs on your coins in 2027, we need to act, now.
My Congressman, Jim Banks, has a folder with these ideas in his D.C. office. The pictures are much bigger for any member of congress to see.
Links:
https://www.amazon.com/2023-Various-Lincoln-Shield-Cents/dp/B0BWSG2611
https://www.villagecoin.com/2023-p-jefferson-nickel-bu.html
https://www.usmint.gov/coins/coin-medal-programs/circulating-coins/dime
https://www.usstatequarters.com/2023-P-Kennedy-Half-Dollar-p/2023pkennedy.htm
https://www.usmint.gov/coins/coin-medal-programs/native-american-dollar-coins/2023-maria-tallchief
http://www.jhalpe.com/
https://uspatterns.stores.turbify.net/19lincen.html
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/728030/james-earle-fraser-pattern-1952-cent
https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1993-s-1-jefferson-dcam/9689
https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1991-d-50c-mount-rushmore/9642
https://historydaily.org/selma-burke-dime
https://www.amazon.com/2022-Bankroll-40-American-Uncirculated/dp/B09Q9DGBWP
https://www.reddit.com/r/coins/comments/korkxx/mockup_laura_gardin_frasers_washington_quarter/
https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/silver-kennedy-inaugural-medal-seldom-seen-issue.html
https://www.christmasseals.net/index.php/mainnavlit
https://www.randylteton.com/about
http://ec2-13-58-222-16.us-east-2.compute.amazonaws.com/wiki/Morgan_Half_Dollar_Pattern
CCAC APPOINTEE: CHRISTOPHER CAPOZZOLA
The CCAC has a new member. Here's the announcement.
-Editor
The United States Mint (Mint) announces the appointment of Dr. Christopher Capozzola to a four-year term on the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) as the member Specially Qualified in American history. He replaces Dr. Dean Kotlowski, who has served on the CCAC since 2018.
Deputy Treasury Secretary Adeyemo appointed Dr. Capozzola on May 29, 2023, and he will be formally sworn in at the next public CCAC meeting.
Capozzola is Professor of History and Senior Associate Dean for Open Learning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). At MIT, he teaches courses in political and legal history, war and the military, and the history of international migration. In 2018, he was named a MacVicar Faculty Fellow, MIT’s highest honor for undergraduate teaching.
Capozzola is the author of Uncle Sam Wants You: World War I and the Making of the Modern American Citizen (2008) and Bound by War: How the United States and the Philippines Built America’s First Pacific Century (2020). During the centennial of the First World War, he co-curated The Volunteers: Americans Join World War I, 1914-1919, a multi-platform public history initiative, and he currently serves as an Academic Adviser for the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project. A former middle school history teacher, he works closely with secondary school instructors, and has served on the Development Committee for the College Board Advanced Placement exam in U.S. History.
In his current role at MIT Open Learning, he oversees MIT’s open online education offerings for learners on campus and around the world, including OpenCourseWare, MITx, and MicroMasters, as well as the Digital Learning Lab, Digital Learning in Residential Education, and MIT Video Productions.
About the CCAC
The CCAC was established by an Act of Congress in 2003. It advises the Secretary of the Treasury on theme or design proposals relating to circulating coinage, bullion coinage, Congressional Gold Medals, and other medals produced by the United States Mint. The CCAC also makes commemorative coin recommendations to the Secretary and advises on the events, persons, or places to be commemorated, as well as on the mintage levels and proposed designs.
To read the complete press release, see:
New Appointee Joins Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee As Member Specially Qualified in American History
(https://www.usmint.gov/news/press-releases/new-appointee-joins-citizens-coinage-advisory-committee-as-member-specially-qualified-in-american-history)
For more information, see:
Christopher Capozzola
(https://history.mit.edu/people/christopher-capozzola/)
BLIND COIN COLLECTOR BLOG CELEBRATES 10 YEARS
Congratulations to Tom Babinszki on the tenth anniversary of his Blind Coin Collector blog! With permission, here's his complete anniversary post.
-Editor
It’s been exactly ten years that I have started this blog. It has been transformed a few times, and it has also changed my life in many ways.
Originally, I started to discuss the possibilities of collecting coins without vision. This gave me a couple of years worth of content, but let’s face it, there is only so much to write about the topic, and I have mostly exhausted it.
Just about when I started to run out of ideas, I got an assignment that required me to travel, so the opportunity presented itself for the next few years, I got to visit several coin museums and coin shows that I wrote about while I continued writing on blindness related issues.
The third major category I was writing about was the accessibility of currency, and I believe it has many more future articles in it. Over the last ten years, many countries have introduced tactile currencies, but it is not available in most countries yet.
Another random track along the major categories was a set of random posts about anything and everything that interested me at any given time, if possible I wrote about the tactile aspect of coins but that wasn’t always the case.
I have to admit, in the last 3-4 years the blog got much less attention than I wanted to give it. Partly because I had to reinvent my professional life about once a year recently, and since I didn’t have enough time for coins, I didn’t have too much inspiration for ideas. I believe I still have a lot to write about, and I am not planning to let this blog die slowly, but I have yet to figure out a few things.
Let’s look at some facts and figures:
The good
In the last 10 years, I have more than doubled my collection, and since I had an opportunity to learn a lot from others, I believe this is the nicer half of my coins. But ultimately what matters more is that I took the hobby from hoarding coins to numismatics.
I had an opportunity to visit 13 coin museums and exhibits in 8 countries. What’s special about these is that in most cases, from the generous offer of the museum employees, I was able to experience special exhibits, where I was allowed to touch many things that one can otherwise see behind glass. I probably touched millions worth of coins in the last 10 years, some were ancient, some were unique, I even had a chance to touch a coin that was one of its kind, as only one was minted and it never entered circulation. Equally important that I heard many interesting stories about coins and museums. I can’t be thankful enough for all the people who made it happen.
Sometimes I applied to speak, and other times I was invited to make a presentation for coin clubs. Probably one of the proudest moments of my presentations was when I got a presenter of the year award at the Columbus CONA coin club. It would be a big deal at any coin club, but it is particularly meaningful to me, where there are so many outstanding numismatists. At the end, I learned more from them than what they learned from me.
I developed many new interests and collections, to mention a few, braille coins, the International Year of disabled persons collection, a collection of money recognizers, or tactile currencies. While my main focus is still coins, there are a few mor interesting aspects of money and numismatics that I can’t not to collect.
I got to enjoy numismatic literature. It was over the last few years when many materials became available online. Particularly by being a member of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society, where through the kind and generous help of the people I got to know I was able to find electronic materials. When I started collecting coins, this simply wasn’t available, and therefore I was not able to learn about the coins I had. Maybe without this immense amount of literature I wouldn’t have taken the hobby this far.
I got to maintain my language skills and learn new things in the most fun way, by reading numismatic literature. Each language opened new opportunities, and I was able to read excellent materials in seven languages.
The not so good
As I promised at the beginning, I wanted to show the good and the bad, and I have a few things which didn’t turn out the way I was hoping.
I didn’t get to write a book. I’ve been researching materials about braille coins and tactile currencies, and for many years I wanted to publish it in a book. I found that over the years, I was not able to make this content complete enough for a book, but I would have enough material just to publish online. As time permits, this is what I am going to do with this content.
I couldn’t figure out how to post good pictures. With all the available technologies and my background in IT, I was hoping to maintain the visuals of this blog on my own. I could not. You will see a few pictures here and there, I took the bad ones, and my daughter or friends helped with the good ones. I gave up, I will either ask for help, or settle with ugly.
I started and failed a project to have coins described to blind people. Not enough people were interested in both the giving and receiving end. Over the years I found that it wasn’t a bad thing, because now coins are described on Numista better than I could have hoped for. So rather, I am asking my friends to make their Numista descriptions as detailed as possible instead. It benefits many more people who are searching for content.
I couldn’t get my kids into coin collecting. I tried. I took them places, I told them stories and gave them countless coins.
The best
But most importantly, I met wonderful people. I will not list names here, because this means much more to me than just name dropping, but probably throughout the blog you would find many of them. Through the blog and related trips I met wonderful numismatists who always had some time to guide me or help me with information or resources. I met interesting people around the world, some I kept in touch with, and I can even call a few of them friends today. It was through my blog that I met one of my best friends. I met authors, numismatists, curators, volunteers, collectors and investors who’s work I have admired, and I would have been shy to reach out to them. Instead, they did, and shared all they had, a nice coin, a book, a story, an advice or a meal. I got most of the inspiration and encouragement from them.
These are just a few highlights, there is much more, but I don’t want to make a full inventory, because it would be impossible. I originally started this blog to educate: blind people about the fact that coin collecting doesn’t necessarily require vision, parents of blind kids to help them understand that there are more opportunities out there and only imagination is the limit, and sighted collectors to understand that blind people can also enjoy the same hobby, though sometimes a bit differently.
I don’t know how much I was able to educate or share information, from the statistics of the viewers I know that many more read my posts than who would actually contact me. But one thing is for sure, I got so much more from people than I will ever be able to give back. The relationships and the conversations I had because of my blog taught me a lot, and gifted me with many great encounters.
I’m not sure where the next few years will take me and my blog, but I am definitely looking forward to it.
And lastly, thank you to all tens or hundreds of you who were part of this journey with me.
Scroll to the bottom of any of Tom's blog pages to subscribe to email notifications, or follow him on social media.
-Editor
To read the complete article, see:
For the 10th birthday
(https://blindcoincollector.com/2023/07/03/for-the-10th-birthday/#more-3397)
To read some of Tom's special topics, see:
Collecting Coins Without Vision
(https://blindcoincollector.com/category/blindness/)
Visiting Several Coin Museums and Coin Shows
(https://blindcoincollector.com/category/travel/)
The Accessibility of Currency
(https://blindcoincollector.com/category/currency/)
To read earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
THE BLIND COIN COLLECTOR VISITS SMITHSONIAN
(https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v19n50a10.html)
TOM BABINSZKI VISITS INDIA
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n54a21.html)
THE NUMISMATIC MUSEUM OF ICELAND
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v21/esylum_v21n36a19.html)
FIRST ELECTRONIC MONEY IDENTIFIER FOR THE BLIND
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n13a17.html)
INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF DISABLED PERSONS COINS
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n06a27.html)
THE BRAILLE COINS OF ECUADOR
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n44a11.html)
VOCABULARY TERM: NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION
Here's another entry from Dick Johnson's Encyclopedia of Coin and Medal Terminology.
-Editor
National Identification.
Lettering on a diestruck item that identifies the country of origin. Coins do not require such identification since they usually bear the country’s name or national emblem (and circulate within that country). However, medals and tokens which are struck in one country for use in another are sometimes required by the recipient country to identify where they were made. The term “made in†must appear on every item with the country name. Made in America, or Made in U.S.A., or Made in France, or Made in England are some terms that have been observed on numismatic items to meet this legal requirement. Those made in Italy bear only the name “Italy.â€
Medals of the Columbian Exposition (World’s Fair of 1892-93) display a variety of national identification lettering. This was so because so many medals were made in native countries for distribution at the Chicago Expo. The most advanced nations observed this legal requirement, perhaps, were even glad to do so for their nation’s exposure. Other examples of American manufactures for use elsewhere: Schwaab Stamp & Seal Company of Milwaukee marked Made in America on items for use in Canada.
Reference:
xx {1998} Willey, p 115.
To read the complete entry on the Newman Numismatic Portal, see:
National Identification
(https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/dictionarydetail/516386)
ANSWER: THE COIN SCHOOL
Last week
E-Sylum Feature Writer and
American Numismatic Biographies author Pete Smith asked readers about The Coin School. Julia Casey, Barbara Bailey, Rob Luton, B.J. Herbison all correctly identified it and provided links to information online. Steve Rye and George Cuhaj had good hunches.
-Editor
The Coin School, Iowa
Steve Rye of Mesa, Az. (formerly from one of Iowa’s small towns—there are 900 of them) writes:
"I have no direct knowledge, but my hunch is that the school was located in the town of Coin, Iowa.
"Today’s Coin has a population of less than 200 and is located in the southwest corner of the Hawkeye state."
Julia Casey writes:
"Pete - are you an alumnus of this institution?"
Higgins Museum Curator George Cuhaj writes:
"The school photo I uncovered in Coin, Page County, Iowa is a two-story brick building, now with a first floor boarded up and nearly all of the second floor windows broken.
Pete Smith writes:
"There are Iowa references to the Coin School and the Old Coin School and photos of coin schools. What I have not seen is a reference to it actually being named "Coin School."
Â
Coin Consolidated School in Coin, Page County, Iowa
George adds:
"The town has both large size and small size national bank notes as represented in the Higgins Museum collection. (Open Tuesday-Sunday, 11-5:30, Memorial Day thru Labor Day) Follow us on Facebook ;)"
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For more information on the Higgins Museum of National Bank Notes, see:
https://thehigginsmuseum.org/
The Coin School, Minnesota
Â
Barbara Bailey writes:
"Here's the link to the Coin School Photo:
https://kanabechistory.weebly.com/coinschool.html. It's now located at the Kanabec History Center in Mora, Minnesota (moved from Coin, Minnesota) and was always a schoolhouse and was allegedly the last rural school district to consolidate in Minnesota. Here's the Wikipedia link
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coin,_Minnesota. It seems the name has nothing to do with coins.
I always enjoy the weekly E-Sylum. It's always so interesting!"
Here's Pete's article on The Coin School.
-Editor
Â
The Coin School
Coin is a small unincorporated community in Kanabec County, Minnesota, about midway between
Minneapolis and Duluth. It was given the name by postmaster and storekeeper Ole E. Olson in 1896
during the Free Silver debate and era of William Jennings Bryan. The community had a post office briefly
until 1904. In 2023 there are a few scattered houses nearby but no community services.
The original one-room schoolhouse was built in 1898 and named Calhoun School, serving grades one
through eight. The local community was small but the school served the surrounding rural area. With
increasing enrollment, a second room was added in 1911. At about that time, enrollment reached 58
students. In 1913 the name was changed to Coin School.
The original building had no indoor plumbing. In the 1930’s, a basement was added under the building in
an attempt to provide more space and a play area for the winter. The high local water table and water
intrusion made the space unusable.
The school was the last rural school in the county. In 1970 the district was merged into the Mora district
and the school was closed. The building had been on the National Register of Historic Places but fell off
the list when it was moved.
The building was bought by Robert Blase, Jr. (1923-1993) who intended to use the building as a museum
for his collection of musical instruments. His wife, Evelyn Bergman Blase (1919-1984), was born in
Kanabec County, lived on a farm in Brunswick Township, and attended Coin School. The remote location
made the museum impractical and Blase paid to have the building moved to Mora.
Robert Blase was president of the Blase Manufacturing Company in the tool and die business in Stratford,
Connecticut. His son John completed the move after the 1993 death of his father. Robert and Evelyn are
buried with her family at rural Riverside Cemetery about five miles from Coin.
Â
The school building was moved about ten miles north to property adjacent to the Kanabec History Center
between 1993 and 1995. They are located in the county seat of Mora, Minnesota. The original school bell
had been taken to the Blase home in Connecticut but returned to the bell tower.
The building was available for rent so a local coin show could have been held there. In February each
year, the building hosted a “Rock-a-Thon.†This did not involve stones, either polished or rolling. It was a
rocking chair marathon and fundraiser. A Christmas Boutique was scheduled for December. Now with
holes in the floor, the building has been closed for public activities for a few years.
The Kanabec History center runs a summer program at the Old Tyme Country School. Students dress in
costume appropriate for the 1920’s. (That was a hundred years ago, if you are keeping track of time.)
However, these programs utilize the old Whittier School, moved to the location in 1987.
Regional radio station WCMP mentioned the school last month:
“The Kanabec County Historical Society is looking to make repairs on the coin school building,
according to a presentation at the June 6 County Board meeting. History Center executive director Barb
Barnes said the floor of the coin school has started to cave in due to broken beams under the building.â€
There are also communities named Coin in Arkansas, Iowa, Kentucky and Nevada. I have not found
evidence that any of them had a Coin School.
A Minnesota E-Sylum reader came across the Coin School while killing time and driving around Mora.
He called our attention to the school and suggested it as the topic for an article.
The Coin School reminded me of the Coin's Financial School booklets from the Free Silver Debate that Pete mentioned.
-Editor
Julia adds:
"I kept running into that when I was searching the newspapers trying to find confirmation for how the name of Coin came about. I found a version of the Warren Upham book online and it does not contain the reference to Ole E. Olson and the name. It doesn't mention Coin at all. Though the newspapers list him as the first postmaster of Coin, Minnesota in 1898.
"This research is the first I've heard of William Hope "Coin" Harvey (August 16, 1851 – February 11, 1936).
"I also checked the E-Sylum archives and found that in 2020 someone visited the community of Coin, Iowa."
Â
The Coin Harvey House in Huntington, West Virginia
Some links Julia and I found:
Coin's Financial School
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coin%27s_Financial_School)
https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Search/Home?lookfor=coin%27s+financial++school&searchtype=all&ft=ft&setft=true
William Hope Harvey
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hope_Harvey)
Thanks, everyone. Interesting topic.
-Editor
To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
THE LIBRARY OF COIN, IOWA
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n18a34.html)
THE COIN SCHOOL
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n27a20.html)
UNUSUAL BANK BAGS
Doug Nyholm edits The Mint Master for the Utah Numismatic Society. In the July 2023 issue he authored an article on "Unusual Bank Bags." With permission, we've republishing it here. Thank you.
-Editor
The collecting of various bank and mint bags is popular with
some collectors. Most commonly collected are the cloth or
canvas bags issued to a banks depositors from the 1930’s to
the 1960’s. Most modern banks now use vinyl or plastic bags
of which few are collected. Other bags commonly collected
are those canvas and cloth bags used by the U.S. mint to distribute large quantities of coins from cents to dollars and even
pre 1933 gold coins. The latter are presently quite rare and
often valuable.
In addition to the above mentioned bags there are several other categories most of which are scarce and which I have pictured here in this article. These include leather bags usually
issued by individual banks of which the larger ones were very
likely intended for heavier coins or gold with the small ones
probably used as a coin purse. Leather bank bags are seldomly encountered.
Bags other than those distributed by the mint and usually designated for a single denomination and often printed on the
bag the year of issue for the coins can come in a number of
formats. Shown later is simply a medium size bag which
states $100 Silver. There are a couple of bags which state $10.00
Pennies issued the the Metals Bank and Trust Co. in Butte Montana and another stating Treasury Department $10.00 Cents from
Washington D.C. Small denomination bags especially for cents
or pennies are quite rare and why only $10 which even back in
the 1930’s would be a log of coins and are interesting why they
were even made.
Â
The bag shown on this page is from the Bingham State Bank in
Utah and also shown is a picture of this bank which no longer is
in existence.
Â
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The two other leather bags, one from the Citizens National Bank
in Sedalia Mo, and the coin purse size one from The First State
and Savings Bank from Klamath Falls Or, are also shown. Leather bags which were stamped with the identification of the bank
held up fairly well but the lettering very often is almost impossible to read.
Â
Â
Finally, a $1000 Gold bag from the First National Bank of the
Republic in Utah is shown, The gold bags, which are extremely
rare were probably not used for gifts to their depositors but rather for storing and accounting specific quantities of gold in their vaults. These bags are all from my personal
collection and like coins, tokens, or anything else numismatic are a link to the past and banking a hundred
years or more ago.
That's a great group of bags, with a wide variety of types and styles. Very interesting - cool collectibles. Who else has an accumulation of these to share?
-Editor
NUMISMAGRAM MEDAL SELECTIONS: JULY 9, 2023
Jeremy Bostwick at Numismagram passed along these four medals from his most recent addition of new material. This upload has a specific focus upon Americana themes in medallic art. For all of this upload's newest additions, please visit
https://www.numismagram.com/inventory
-Editor
Â
102449 | UNITED STATES. Louisiana Purchase/St. Louis International Exposition silvered bronze "so-called" Dollar.
Issued 1904 (40mm, 24.21 g, 12h). By the Holy Brothers. LOUISIANA PURCHASE / 1803, oval medallions of Thomas Jefferson, facing slightly left, and of Napoléon, facing left; between them, shield bearing stars and stripes, and surmounted by an eagle, with wings spread and head left, perched facing // WORLD'S FAIR ST LOUIS 1904, three allegorical figures (one male, two female) facing left among the clouds; the male figure trumpets and holds a torch, while one female clasps his shoulder and another, nude, holds an oval shield; at a distance to lower left, aerial view of the expo grounds. Edge: Plain. socalleddollar[.]com unlisted-66; Krueger 225, Hendershott 30-260. Choice About Uncirculated. A good deal of brilliance and original silvering remaining. A very rare and seldom encountered type, with the alluring Art Nouveau artistry that is typically seen from the Holy Frères (brothers), who are more commonly known numismatically for their Swiss shooting medals from the sam
e time period. $545.
Billed as the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, as it commemorated the 100th anniversary of the massive land transaction between the United States and France, the fair covered an enormous area, taking visitors nearly a week to explore its offerings.
To read the complete lot description, see:
102449 | UNITED STATES. St. Louis Expo silvered bronze "so-called" Dollar.
(https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/102449)
Â
102415 | UNITED STATES. Games of the X Olympiad bronze Participation Medal.
Issued 1932 as the participation medal for the Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles (65mm, 115.52 g, 12h). By J. Kilenyi for Whitehead-Hoag. LOS ANGELES • CALIFORNIA, two female figures (Atlantic and Pacific?) seated right, supporting between them a shield with the stars and stripes; poppies to left, shield with the seals of California and Los Angeles to right // Male athlete standing slightly left, holding billowing banner reading Xth / OLYMPIAD / 1932 in three lines. Edge: WHITEHEAD–HOAG. Marqusee –. Choice About Uncirculated. Somewhat mottled brown surfaces, with a mix of deep brown and olive. A rare and desirable Olympic-themed medal from the hand of Kilenyi. $865.
Officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, the 1932 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles were originally awarded to the city by default in 1923, as no other city submitted a bid. In total, given the worldwide effects of the Great Depression, the games were attended by 37 nations, down from the 46 nations that attended the summer games of 1928 in Amsterdam. In addition to the participation medal offered here, Kilenyi also created the iconic poster associated with the games, with a standing male figure similar to that presented on this medal's reverse.
To read the complete lot description, see:
102415 | UNITED STATES. Games of the X Olympiad bronze Participation Medal.
(https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/102415)
Â
102473 | UNITED STATES & SWEDEN. 300th Anniversary of the Founding of New Sweden along the Delaware River bronze Medal.
Issued 1938 (56mm, 74.29 g, 12h). By Sv. Nilsson; struck by Sporrong & Co. CALMARE NYCKEL, ship (Kalmar Nyckel) under sail left upon the waters; below, two inward facing dolphins // + IN • MEMORIAM • NOVÆ • SVECIÆ • A • D • MDCXXXVIII • CONDITÆ • POST • TRIA • SÆCVLA • REVOCATAM, highly detailed and decorative map of New Sweden along the Delaware River, with trees, stags, colonists, Native Americans, forts, and a ship; crowned cartouche inscribed NOVA SVECIA to lower right. Edge: SPORRONG & Co. Rulau Q4. Choice Mint State. Warm olive-brown surfaces, with a few slightly darker areas on the reverse. An extremely interesting colonial American commemorative, with numerous locations referenced, such as Philadelphia, Ft. Nassau, North Wasa, Lapland, Ft. Christina, Ft. Casimir, and Ft. Elfsborg. Compare to a similar example, though a rarer reverse variant, in Stack's Bowers recent June 202
1 CCO (lot 73350), that realized a total of $528. $295.
Established during the Thirty Years' War, the colony of New Sweden along the Delaware River lasted for nearly two decades, and served as a Scandinavian outpost in colonial America. Encompassing what is now modern-day Southeast Pennsylvania, Southwest New Jersey, and Northern Delaware, numerous locales convey this Swedish history, such as Fort Christina, Fort Casimir, and Swedesboro.
To read the complete lot description, see:
102473 | UNITED STATES. 300th Ann'y of New Sweden's Founding bronze Medal.
(https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/102473)
Â
102517 | UNITED STATES & FRANCE. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. bronze Medal.
Issued 1966. Commemorating his Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 (68mm, 180.61 g, 12h). By M. Courbier at the Paris Mint. MARTIN LUTHER KING, head facing slightly left // PRIX NOBEL DE LA PAIX, open hand. Edge: 1966 «cornucopia» BRONZE. Gem Mint State. Olive-brown surfaces, with a charming matte nature. $175.
An icon in the American civil rights movement and known for his nonviolent forms of protest, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. was the recipient of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize at the age of just 35, becoming the youngest person to ever receive the award. Just four years later, he would be assassinated at a Memphis motel while on his way to an event.
To read the complete lot description, see:
102517 | UNITED STATES & FRANCE. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. bronze Medal.
(https://www.numismagram.com/product-page/102517)
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NOONANS TO OFFER THE SANDERS COLLECTION
Noonan's will offer the Sanders collection of British milled coinage later this month. Here's the announcement.
-Editor
Â
Lot 127 - Pattern Elizabeth Threepence
An important collection of early milled coins, with many dating from the reign of Elizabeth I, will offered by Noonans Mayfair on Wednesday, July 19, 2023. It was started by Peter Sanders in the 1940s and later added to by his son Robin. Robin passed away last year, and the collection is being sold by the family. Comprised of around 350 coins, the Sanders Collection is expected to fetch in the region of £500,000.
It is not known what prompted Peter Sanders to start collecting coins, but his father owned a chain of jewellery shops (James Walker Ltd) so perhaps he would have met coin dealers through the business. His initial focus was on the milled coinage of Elizabeth I, progressing on to Nicholas Briot’s milled coinage of Charles I, the Civil War coinage of the York mint, and the Scottish coinage of Charles I. Peter Sanders bought extensively from the three main London dealers and from many of the important auctions of the 1950s.
Peter Sanders was born in April 1917. Educated at Charterhouse and Wadham College, Oxford, he was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps on 18 December 1939. He fought with the Eighth Army in North Africa and Sicily, rising to temporary Captain and briefly temporary Major, and in March 1944 was awarded the MBE in recognition of his service. The citation reads: “... He has, throughout, shown exemplary leadership and has not spared himself in dealing with new equipment ... His great courage, cheerful outlook and unfailing energy have stimulated all under his command in their hazardous duties.†Having suffered traumatic amputation of both legs during the Sicily campaign, on 3 August 1944 he relinquished his commission and was granted the honorary rank of Captain. After the war he worked in the Joint Intelligence Bureau – the forerunner of the present Defence Intelligence – until his injuries compelled him to take early retirement. He moved with his
wife and two children from London to Munstead Park, Surrey, where he lived until his death in 1980.
Robin Sanders was born in 1949 and was educated at Charterhouse and University College, Oxford. He became a Roman Catholic priest and was Secretary of the St Barnabas Society until his retirement in 2014.
As Tim Wilkes, Head of the Coin Department at Noonans explained: “This is an exceptional and detailed collection which is like no other that I have seen before, and I doubt we will see anything similar again. There will be interest from collectors in the UK, and due to the rarity and quality of many of the coins, we expect interest from around the world.â€
Â
Lot 244 - Pattern Halfcrown by David Ramage
Among the highlights is a very rare Pattern Halfcrown produced during the Commonwealth Era of 1649 to 1660 in 1651 by David Ramage which is estimated at £40,000-£50,000 - there are believed to be 10 known examples, four of which are in museums. While from the reign of Elizabeth I (1558-1603) is an extremely rare Pattern Threepence dating from 1575 which carries an estimate of £20,000-£26,000. 1651 pattern halfcrown with five known examples, two of which are in museums.
For more information, see:
https://www.noonans.co.uk/
NOONANS OFFERS RARE CLAUDIUS AUREUS
In another Noonan's announcement, the London auction house will sell a rare gold aureus unearthed by a metal detectorist earlier this year.
-Editor
Â
Lot 1266
It was on the 6th of January 2023 that Rob Turrell, and his friend Jono had planned a day’s
detecting on one of their regular pasture fields near Diss in Norfolk. Over the last two years
they had found a mix of Celtic and early Roman artefacts and Rob sensed that something
exciting was going to happen that day. He discovered a rare gold aureus which will be offered
at Noonans Mayfair on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, in a sale of Ancient Coins and Antiquities with
an estimate of £4,000-5,000.
As Rob, who lives not far from the field, explained: “It was around 4pm after Jono had left that
I decided to stop going methodically up and down the field and change direction and go across
the field and finish for the day. Suddenly beside the main road at the edge of the field I got a
positive signal on my Garrett AT pro metal detector and down about 10 inches I saw a gold coin in a clump of soil. Not surprisingly, I was dumbstruck and sat there looking at it for the next
45 minutes unable to move as I realised, I had achieved my dream of finding a Roman gold
aureus!â€
He continued: “I sent a message to my girlfriend telling her what I had found, and she promptly
drove over with a cold beer to congratulate me!â€
Nigel Mills, Specialist (Coins and Artefacts) at Noonans explained: “The coin is an aureus
weighing 7.70 grams of pure gold, struck by the emperor Claudius in AD 41-2 with the portrait
and name of his father Nero Claudius Drusus, a highly respected general and consul. The
reverse shows a triumphal arch surmounted with an equestrian statue of Drusus with “DE
GERMANIS†across the architrave. This records his celebrated campaigns subjugating the
Germanic tribes in 12-9 BC. He was in fact renowned within the Roman army for defeating
many of the Celtic chiefs in single combat before his untimely death in 9 BC after a riding
accident.â€
He also explained†“The aureus would have been a month’s pay for a Roman soldier and is
likely to have been lost shortly after Claudius invaded in AD 43.â€
Rob, who is 38 has been detecting for 10 years and manages 67 hives of Bees for the
surrounding estates in the summer, while working heavy machinery in the winter. He will share
the proceeds from the sale with the landowner.
For more information, see:
https://www.noonans.co.uk/
THE BOOK BAZARRE
JOSHUA McMORROW-HERNANDEZ has written A Guide Book of American Silver Eagles, volume 27 in Whitman Publishing’s “Bowers Series.†It’s a history-packed reference for both investors and collectors of the popular bullion series. Foreword by Q. David Bowers. 384 pages. Order your copy online
at
Whitman.com
, or call 1-800-546-2995.
NUMISMATIC NUGGETS: JULY 9, 2023
Here's a selection of interesting or unusual items I came across in the marketplace this week. Tell us what you think of some of these.
-Editor
Trinity College Dublin Gold Medal
Gold medal, Trinity College Dublin, possibly 15ct, 31g.
An interesting education medal - I hadn't seen this piece before.
-Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
Gold medal, Trinity College Dublin, possibly 15ct, 31g.
(https://www.easyliveauction.com/catalogue/lot/b0cb754afe1ec7e7db307a45332ca5e3/0af8d24542e81eb9357e7ef448a6646f/carlisle-fine-art-antique-sale-of-ceramics-jewelle-lot-106/)
The Parents Magazine Medal
This is a award from Estate of Gregory Peck given to him from "The Parent Magazine Medal." It is made of bronze and signed on the bronze "Medal LLC Art ONNY". The plaque underneath reads : " Special Merrit Award To Captain Newman. M.D." It measures 6" tall 4.65" front and 2.70" wide. The actual bronze medal measures 2.50" diameter.
It's a Medallic Art Company product.
Is that a Laura Fraser design?
-Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
ESTATE OF GREGORY PECK AWARD FROM THE PARENTS MAGAZINE MEDAL GIVEN TO HIM
(https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/156446571_estate-of-gregory-peck-award-from-the-parents-magazine-medal-given-to-him?)
British Banknote Literature
Paper money. Ineson (John) - Paper Currency of the Anglo-Boer War, 1899-1902, illustrated, cloth dust jacket, London 1999, V H Hewitt and J N Keyworth - As Good as Gold 300 Years of British Banknote Design (ex library) and a collection of others on the designing, making and collecting of mainly British banknotes, several booklets and related sale catalogues (approx. 24)
For bibliophiles, a group lot of titles on banknotes and money.
-Editor
To read the complete lot description, see:
Paper money. Ineson (John) - Paper Currency of the Anglo-Boe...
(https://www.easyliveauction.com/catalogue/lot/a074ac2e817feb19967c91f29d88f4cb/1f1638c9faeb7c2641b7b1e9c67628d0/antique-collectors-lot-1097/)
A NEWARK SIEGE COIN ANOMALY
An unusual coin of the siege of Newark is examined in an article in the July issue of British Coin News by my friend Larry Korchnak, author of Siege Coins of the World 1453-1902 . Here's an image of the coin and a couple introductory paragraphs.
-Editor
Â
The fact that silver service was used to strike Newark siege
coins can be seen on some coins by the hallmarks and traces
of designs from the original silver plate. Others were struck
on planchets that were produced by melting the silver service
into sheets and cutting the sheets into the desired shape and
weight.
Much has been written about the emergency conditions
associated with minting siege coins. Time, materials, and
the absence of skilled die makers contributed to their crude
appearance. Coins were misspelled, soft struck, off center, and
double struck. Yet, despite these issues, the obsidional coins
of the English Civil War were minted close to the English
standard, guaranteeing their acceptance by the garrison and
local citizenry in payment for goods and services. Given the
adherence to standard, is it possible that one of these siege
coins was struck on the wrong planchet?
To read the complete article, see:
NEW BOOK: SIEGE COINS OF THE WORLD 1453-1902
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n27a04.html)
U.S. MINT BOUGHT BOULTON, WATT PLANCHETS
A short "Did you know?" Stack's Bowers blog article by Chris Bulfinch highlighted an interesting tidbit of numismatic history.
-Editor
Â
In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, the United States Mint struggled to produce coinage adequate to the demands of commerce in the new republic. Production of early coinage, particularly cents and half cents, was stymied by, among other factors, difficulty finding a consistent source of copper. One of the main suppliers in this period was Boulton, Watt & Company, an English firm that manufactured a wide range of metal goods over its more than century-long history.
The Coinage Act of 1792 specified that the fledgling U.S. Mint had to purchase the copper for cents and half cents either as raw material or premade into planchets. Initially, the Mint purchased copper from Governors and Company of Copper Miners in England, but Mint Director Elias Boudinot was disappointed in the quality.
Beginning in 1796, many planchets were purchased from Boulton and Watt, a Soho-based engineering and manufacturing firm established in 1775 after Matthew Boulton partnered with James Watt, an inventor whose substantial improvements to the Newcomen steam engine helped to usher in England’s Industrial Revolution. Watt may be familiar to readers as the namesake for the unit of power.
Boulton, Watt & Company became the U.S. Mint’s primary supplier of copper planchets; in June of 1799, for example, Boulton and Watt shipped 1.6 million copper cent blanks to Philadelphia. Deliveries continued into the late 1830s. In a 1987 monograph, Richard Doty noted that Boulton, Watt & Company “was responsible for approximately two of every three planchets used to strike cents between 1797 and 1837.â€
To read the complete article, see:
DID YOU KNOW THAT THE U.S. MINT PURCHASED COPPER PLANCHETS FROM ENGLISH FIRM BOULTON, WATT & COMPANY?
(https://stacksbowers.com/did-you-know-that-the-u-s-mint-purchased-copper-planchets-from-english-firm-boulton-watt-company/)
Â
MONNAIE DE PARIS NFT EXHIBIT
A new exhibit featuring NFTs is on display at the Monnaie de Paris.
-Editor
Â
What do you get when you cross a 1,100-year-old coin mint with the future of digital art?
France’s la Monnaie de Paris, the world’s oldest active monetary institution—known for its centuries-old tradition of minting physical coins—has opened its doors to the very technology that seeks to disrupt its existence
Founded in 864 by the King of France with the mission to mint French coins, La Monnaie de Paris is now responsible for minting euros for France.
It carries out the activity of manufacturing collectible coins too and is also the historical manufacturer of official decorations and grand orders, such as the Legion of Honor or the National Order of Merit.
Now, though, the institution is turning its attention to something much different: an NFT exhibition.
“BABEL†is the fruit of a collaboration between the British artist and crypto-art pioneer Robert Alice, the NFT platform La Collection, which collaborates with the most prestigious art institutions in the world, and the curators and conservators of La Monnaie de Paris.
It carries out the activity of manufacturing collectible coins too and is also the historical manufacturer of official decorations and grand orders, such as the Legion of Honor or the National Order of Merit.
Now, though, the institution is turning its attention to something much different: an NFT exhibition.
“BABEL†is the fruit of a collaboration between the British artist and crypto-art pioneer Robert Alice, the NFT platform La Collection, which collaborates with the most prestigious art institutions in the world, and the curators and conservators of La Monnaie de Paris.
The main challenge, said Alice, was to respond to the very specific brief he was given: an exhibition that responds directly to the La Monnaie de Paris collection.
“A lot of the work in this show is quite provocative, like the history of the financial crisis in a building that has made money for 1,200 years," Robert Alice told Decrypt. “There is also a VR experience that makes you stuck in a room, artworks telling the story of the narcissism of the building, which is looking back on itself, reflecting its own glory. You also have the reference to Virunga National Park in Congo, which points to French colonialism and the economic colonialism that is the CFA currency.â€
The CFA franc—Franc de la Communauté Financière Africaine—is a currency used by several countries in West and Central Africa that are members of the CFA franc zone. These countries are former French colonies, and the currency is guaranteed by the French treasury.
Questioning the role of centralized powers, Alice’s work reflects on the potential impact of blockchain and cryptocurrencies on traditional institutions.
In a room downstairs, “the Babel Screens†have been installed next to the workshop where coins are minted.
“The screens project texts about the history of blockchain and crypto,†he said. “So a man there, doing the same craft for 1,000 years, is now bombarded by these texts, which have to do with this new world, which potentially could see the end of their world."
Despite the provocative nature of his work, Alice says he has built strong relationships with the institution. "They opened up their home to someone from a very different point of view: decentralized versus centralized,†he told Decrypt.
La Collection is the firm that partnered with the estate of Money Artist J.S.G. Boggs to issue some NFTs of his work last year.
-Editor
To read the complete article, see:
World's Oldest Operational Coin Mint Opens Doors to New NFT Exhibit in Paris
(https://finance.yahoo.com/news/worlds-oldest-operational-coin-mint-161825183.html)
To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
J.S.G. BOGGS ESTATE TO ISSUE NFTS
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v25/esylum_v25n03a19.html)
BOGGS ESTATE SELLS NFTS, RECEIPT AND CHANGE
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v25/esylum_v25n42a17.html)
LOOSE CHANGE: JULY 9, 2023
Here are some additional items in the media this week that may be of interest.
-Editor
Robert Higgins Precious Metals Fraud Revealed
A Forbes article describes a silver dealer's scheme to defraud investors.
-Editor
Hundreds of depositors who handed millions to a silver dealer in exchange for precious minted coins were told their vaults were actually empty following an investigation by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).
Two firms run by precious metals dealer Robert Higgins have been ordered to pay out $112.7 million to the victims of an alleged complex fraudulent scheme, and $33 million in a civil monetary penalty.
The investigation into Higgins and two connected companies began last year.
According to a statement from the CFTC, between 2014 and 2022 Higgins conducted a fraudulent silver leasing scheme via two companies: Argent Asset Group LLC (Argent) and First State Depository Company, LLC.
To read the complete article, see:
Silver coins, promised profits, and an empty vault: How a silver dealer’s slow theft of investors’ precious American Eagle coins ended in a $146m fine
(https://fortune.com/2023/07/04/silver-dealer-robert-higgins-alleged-fraud-scheme-argent-first-state-american-eagle-coins/)
Coveted ‘One Ring’ Card Has Been Found
Even the Wall Street Journal had to report on the finding of the unique Tolkien "One Ring" card.
-Editor
A one-of-a-kind trading card that sparked a global search and a raft of big-money offers has been found.
The card, a depiction of J.R.R. Tolkien's "One Ring" from the Hasbro tabletop game "Magic: The Gathering," has been authenticated, receiving the second-highest available rating for its condition, "Mint 9," according to grading company PSA.
"We are thrilled to hear tale of a new Ring-bearer in possession of the serialized 1:1 The One Ring!" tweeted the account for Magic Friday morning. The person who found the card for now prefers to remain anonymous, according to PSA.
The news appears to end the search for the card—but the story isn't over. Two bidders have offered seven-figure bounties for it: Francisco Rubio, owner of Valencia, Spain-based card shop Gremio de Dragones, has offered more than $2 million, the highest known amount.
Rubio didn't respond to requests for comment Friday. Other interested parties may emerge.
To read the complete article (subscription required), see:
The Coveted ‘One Ring’ Card Has Been Found
(https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-dow-jones-06-30-2023/card/the-coveted-one-ring-card-has-been-found-L3rZd5eIOtkfega2xjC0)
Century-Overdue Book Returned to Massachusetts library
It's not a record-holder for the most overdue library book (we learned about that last week), but still impressive.
-Editor
On Feb. 14, 1904, someone curious about the emerging possibilities of a key force of nature checked out James Clerk Maxwell’s “An Elementary Treatise on Electricity†from the New Bedford Free Public Library.
It would take 119 years and the sharp eyes of a librarian in West Virginia before the scientific text finally found its way back to the Massachusetts library.
The discovery occurred when Stewart Plein, the curator of rare books at West Virginia University Libraries, was sorting through a recent donation of books.
Plein found the treatise and noticed it had been part of the collection at the New Bedford library and, critically, had not been stamped “Withdrawn,†indicating that while extremely overdue, the book had not been discarded.
Plein contacted Jodi Goodman, the special collections librarian in New Bedford, to alert her to the find.
The treatise was first published in 1881, two years after Maxwell’s death in 1879, although the cranberry-colored copy now back at the New Bedford library is not considered a rare edition of the work, Melo said.
To read the complete article, see:
Extremely overdue book returned to Massachusetts library 119 years later
(https://www.kob.com/news/us-and-world-news/extremely-overdue-book-returned-to-massachusetts-library-119-years-later/)
The story was picked up by The New York Times. Thanks to Len Augsburger for passing it along.
-Editor
The book, published in 1881 and written by a prominent Scottish physicist, was an early scientific text laying out electrical theories.
Its 208 pages, bound by a cranberry-colored cover, are crammed with technical jargon and medleys of elaborate mathematical equations. The library acquired the book in 1882, Ms. Melo said.
It was likely either last checked out on Feb. 14, 1904, or Feb. 14, 1905. The faded stamp makes it difficult to be certain, but a faint circular shape after the “190-†suggests the later date, she said. A prior checkout stamp clearly reads Dec. 10, 1903.
To read the complete article, see:
Overdue Book Is Returned to a Library After Nearly 120 Years
(https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/09/us/massachusetts-overdue-book-119-years.html)
To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JULY 2, 2023 : The World's Most Overdue Library Book
(https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n27a17.html)
The Clutter Image Rating
Numismatists and bibliophiles are born collectors. But at what point does a collection become a safety-risking hoard? This article from The Guardian discusses hoarding interventions and the "Clutter Image Rating" for measuring the scale of a hoard.
-Editor
Hoarding is an unusual mental health condition because it is defined by external objects rather than solely by a psychological state: what people in the field refer to as “the hoardâ€. Given that people have vastly different levels of tolerance, clinicians developed a tool called the Clutter Image Rating as a way to measure the hoard. Used by authorities around the world, the tool consists of photos of a kitchen, a bedroom and a living room. Each is progressively filled with more objects on a scale from one to nine. At level 1, the rooms are fairly empty; the floor is clear with a few items on the surfaces. By level 3, the rooms look messy and items are strewn on the floor. By level 5, clothing, newspapers and rubbish are heaped on the surfaces, and the floor is almost entirely obscured. At level 9, the walls are barely visible.
Many people with hoarding tendencies never face intervention. As the Oxford psychologist Paul Salkovskis has observed, if the hoard is ordered, or if someone has space to accommodate it, it isn’t necessarily a problem. “If someone is happy in an extremely cluttered environment and there are no safeguarding issues then that’s fine – we have to accept that people are different,†said Nele Van Bogaert, who runs a hoarding support programme for a charity called MRS Independent Living, “but as soon as it starts affecting others then you lose that right.†When an entire property is at a level 4 or above, clinicians class the resident as a hoarder and the fire service considers the property a serious risk.
To read the complete article, see:
‘You reach a point where you can’t live your life’: what is behind extreme hoarding?
(https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/jul/04/you-cant-live-your-life-what-is-behind-extreme-hoarding)
To view the clutter rating images, see:
Clutter Image Rating
(https://hoardingdisordersuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/clutter-image-ratings.pdf)
FEATURED WEBSITE: SANDRA DEIANA
This week's Featured Web Site is the home of the Italian coin and medal designer Sandra Deiana.
I have always drawn since I was a child, but my specialization took place in Rome, at the School of the Art of Medal-making, an ancient centenary school which is part of the Italian Mint. Here I learned the techniques to make a coin from the beginning, from the design project until the plaster model.
http://www.sandradeiana.com/
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