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NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JUNE 25, 2017

The E-Sylum (6/25/2017)


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NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JUNE 25, 2017

Buying Experience: Currencies of Ancient China
Les monnaies de la Chine ancienne Martin Purdy of New Zealand writes:

Just thought I'd let you know - I ordered M. Thierry's book immediately and it got here in just nine days. Good service, especially given that domestic mail can sometimes take that long!

Thanks for the report - it's good to know orders are handled promptly. Let us know what you think of the book! -Editor

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NEW BOOK: CURRENCIES OF ANCIENT CHINA (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n24a04.html)

Roger Siboni Goes Out on a Limb
Roger Siboni writes:

Out on a Limb v1n1 So funny you brought up "Out on a Limb". I just recently picked up a second copy in Charlie Davis' last sale for Florida because outside of The Colonial Newsletter, it is one of my favorite just-pick-it-up-and-read newsletters. I actually reread the Norweb story and equally funny story of their trip to visit Armand Champa in the last month.

Being a past President of the American Numismatic Society and having hosted a few such "Norweb"events with a cross-section of members and patrons, and yet also being a Berkeley grad and a child of the 60s, I must say I enjoyed the full dynamic of how they described the experience.

But I must also echo the comment about Out on a Limb being a must-read for what was going on in the late 1980s to 1990s. Robert Martin, a world class bibliophile in his own right, first directed me to this treasure of numismatics, sarcastic humor and great pearls of gossipy bibliophile goings-on. I would also suggest Copper Tomes by Tom Rinaldo for the same kind of great fun but informative read.

Thanks, Roger. For readers unfamiliar with Out on a Limb, a full set is available for reading on the Newman Numismatic Portal. -Editor

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
THE NEWMANS GO OUT ON A LIMB (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n25a08.html)
DIGITIZED: THE MONEY TREE’S OUT ON A LIMB (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n20a08.html)

The Knave of Jacobin Clubs

1796 End of Pain Conder Token Farthing DH 1105

Paul Schultz writes:

The description of the Paine token in last week's E-Sylum may have missed a play on words in its description. The knave in many situations is a bad guy, but in card games, the knave is an old name for the jack of any suit. A "trick" in card games is a single play (of which there are many) in which each player exposes a card and one player takes all of the exposed cards based on the values of the cards shown. Therefore, "May the knave (jack) of clubs (one of the four card suits) never get a trick" is asking in card parlance that Paine never succeed or win, even a single play. Sort of three puns in a row.

Thanks. A fascinating piece with many stories to tell. -Editor

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY: JUNE 18, 2017 : Thomas Paine "End of Pain" Conder Token (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n25a20.html)

Question: Martin Ibert Dates

Here's another interesting trick, noticed by Dave Schenkman in an auction lot description quoted last week. -Editor

Martin Ibert was born in Baden, Germany in 1861, emigrating from that country to the United States in 1847 with his brother Albert. He became a clerk in Henry Zimmer's store in Brooklyn, and then worked for A. Saul before opening his own business dealing in flour at the corner of Leonard Street and Montrose Avenue. He later moved his business to Montrose and Graham avenues, as depicted on this token, and in 1889 left the flour business to start a brewing company.

Dave writes:

It appears Ibert came to this country fourteen years before he was born; interesting trick!

Thanks - good catch. My guess is that the correct birth date would be 1841. -Editor

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
SELECTIONS FROM STACK'S BOWERS JUNE 2017 SALES : Lot 9111: Martin Ibert Civil War Token (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n25a18.html)

New Zealand Decimal 50 Conference July 2017

Jim Duncan of New Zealand reminds us of next month's "Decimal 50" conference in Auckland. Thanks. -Editor

New Zealnd 50 conference medal Yes, it’s been 50 years since we changed to decimal currency! To celebrate, the Numismatic Society of Auckland and The Royal Numismatic Society of New Zealand are hosting a Conference and Bourse over 14 - 17 July at Quality Hotel, 20 Gladstone Road, Parnell. The public are welcome on Saturday 15 July from 10.00am to 4.00pm to meet Dealers from Australia and New Zealand. On Sunday and Monday specialists from Germany, USA, Australia and New Zealand will speak on their chosen topics. If you wish to attend these lectures contact:

The Registrar, 7 Pierce Road, Milford, Auckland 0620
Or email allan@speedy.co.nz

For more details, go to: a href="http://www.rnsnz.org.nz/"> www.RNSNZ.org.nz .

This will be the most high-powered numismatic conference for some years and offers a great chance to learn more, to enhance your collection, and to meet dealers and fellow collectors from across the world.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NEW ZEALAND DECIMAL 50 CONFERENCE JULY 2017 (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n17a30.html)

More Works by Edward Gibbon
Tom Fort of Pittsburgh, PA writes:

Gibbon 4 I enjoyed David Lange's picture of my favourite book (The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire) by my favourite writer (Edward Gibbon). Many years ago in The Asylum I published some notes that Gibbon wrote about Joseph Addison's Dialogues Upon the Usefulness of Ancient Medals. [E. Gibbon, 'A dissertation on the Allegorical beings found on the reverses of medals,' The Asylum 21 (2003), pp. 2-7.].

He also began a numismatic book: Principes de poids des monnoies, et des mesures des anciens (Gibbon was bilingual). [The fragments of this work can be found in E. Gibbon, The Miscellaneous Works of Edward Gibbon, ed. Lord Sheffield, vol. 3 (London 1814), pp. 66-169. The original manuscript is in the British Library and a new modern edition of this work is desperately needed.]

I am very fortunate to own a numismatic book from Gibbon's library: Rene Budder's De monetis, et re numaria (Cologne, 1591).

Thanks. Here are some additional images Tom sent. -Editor

Gibbon pastedown Gibbon 5

Gibbon 6 Rene Budder De monetis, et re numaria

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JUNE 18, 2017 : Decline and Fall In Seven Short Book Spines (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n25a09.html)

On Price Guides
Last week John Sallay wrote:

... the valuation guides to Bob Julian's mint medal book or Neil Musante's Washington medal book are nice to have, but are not central to the value of those publications.

Rich Hartzog writes:

Sorry, but this is not true, at least for the Julian book. TAMS printed 3000 copies of Julian's massive work on US Mint Medals, but was only able to sell 700 copies as there was no price guide. I purchased the 2300 remaining copies and wrote my 1982 and 1986 supplemental Price Guides, packaging the Julian book and my Guide together. I then sold the remaining 2300 copies, and I'm down to the last dozen copies. Very few people wanted the book without the prices. The information is great, the price guide sells. I still sell copies of my 30 year-old price guide, as the numbers are still relatively accurate to each other, just higher today.

Well, 700 is more than a few, and a print run of 1,000 would have been sufficient. But Rich's point is well taken - a price guide is always a selling point and more people would be interested in a book with one than without one. -Editor

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
A “RED BOOK” FOR TOKENS AND MEDALS? (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n25a12.html)

Barnes and Noble Mega Red Closeout Sale
Gary Dunaier writes:

Red Book sale at Union Square (NYC) I went to Barnes and Noble at Union Square in New York City Saturday and was surprised to see they were selling the first edition of the Mega Red Book at a bargain price of $9.98. Not a bad deal for someone still on the fence about whether the Mega Red is for them. And besides, it's a genuine First Edition Red Book - not the 1947 first edition, of course - but still, a genuine First Edition Red Book for less than ten dollars!

Bargains abound if you keep your eyes open for them. Pricing information gets stale fast and older editions of price guides drop off the collector radar equally fast, but that just creates an opportunity for the bibliophile and information seeker. The book is in its third edition now, but the wealth of nonprice data in the first edition is still well worth having. -Editor

Coins, Stamps, Whatever
Carol Bastable writes:

Pipsqueak cover I just finished reading a novel, Pipsqueak by Brian M. Wiprud, and was surprised to find one paragraph in it with a reference to numismatics. It is always exciting when our world of collecting is picked up on by what I like to call mainstream media such as television, movies, books, or network news.

While in one breath I was excited to read the term NSA being interpreted in the novel as possibly the Numismatic Society of America or the National Security Agency, the next breath and following sentence led to disappointment and disbelief. It read, "I didn't notice any of the telltale stamp fatigue on his tongue, so I assumed the latter."

I can only assume he has confused us with stamp collecting or Philatelics. Where was the editor in all this? It only goes to show that we have a lot of educating to do.

Pipsqueak excerpt

Thanks. It's amazing the mistakes that get made out there regarding our hobby. -Editor

On the Fear of Coins

Here's what readers had to say about the definition for the word said to mean "the fear of coins". -Editor

Cuprolaminophobia is the fear of coins. Since coins are made of metal, sufferers of metallophobia would readily suffer cuprolaminophobia too. Since many coins are used for money, this fear may lead to chrometophobia, but not readily. Since some coins are used as religious values, sufferers may believe that coins could summon gods or demons that they may fear.

Chip Howell writes:

Odd--based on the roots, I thought this might describe my personal fear that our "pennies" are just copper-plated pieces of, I dunno, something horrible like zinc!

Ken Spindler's Friend #1 writes:

Fear not, Ken. Judging from the word, a cuprolaminophobic would only be fearful of “copper-layered” (viz., nickel-clad copper) coins. Your friend could be completely comfortable with gold or silver. I’d request a reconsideration if I were you, your invitation was very gracious.

Ken Spindler's Friend #2 writes:

I think cuprolaminophobia is the fear of copper-nickel sandwich coins only. I can’t imagine anyone living in fear of gold or silver coins.

Thanks, everyone. Good thing the rest of us ain't afraida no coins.... -Editor

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
VOCABULARY TERM: CUPROLAMINOPHOBIA (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n25a28.html)

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