Sunday, February 28, 2016

JR Newsletter: 28 February 2016 (282)





We have a significant number of contributions this week.  First, from David Perkins:



Kolbe and Fanning Numismatic Booksellers recently sent out a catalog of Select Numismatic Books For Sale at Fixed Prices (February 2016).   The heading for Lot 5 immediately caught my eye, “ Rare English Translation of a German Duke’s American Travels, Including Visit to Mint" / Notes that No Silver Dollars Had Been Minted since 1803.  The book was titled,



Bernhard, Duke Karl. TRAVELS THROUGH NORTH AMERICA, DURING THE YEARS 1825 AND 1826. BY HIS HIGHNESS, BERNHARD, DUKE OF SAXE-WEIMAR EISENACH. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea & Carey, 1828.



 This offering was cataloged extensively, including the following excerpt which will be of interest to many of us who study the early U.S. Mint and coinage:





   I saw also, in company with Messrs. Vaux and Niederstetter, the mine of the United States, which is established here.  In the year 1793, when Philadelphia was still the seat of government of the United States, this mint was located in the newly-built private house, and it is as yet the only one in the United States.  The processes in this mint are very simple, and but a few improvements are yet adapted, which so greatly distinguish the mints of London and Milan.  They were doing but little when we came; we saw nothing but the stretching of the bars of silver between cylinders, like those in the rolling mills at Pittsburgh, and the stamping of the pieces, which was done by means of a contrivance similar to that by which rivet-holes are made in the iron plates for steam-engine boilers.  We saw, moreover, the cutting of half dollar pieces, which is done by means of a stamp, worked by two men.  A third stands by to place the uncoined pieces in a box, which are then brought under the stamp by a particular contrivance.  After they are coined, they fall by means of this contrivance into a box which stands below.  Since 1803, no larger silver coins are made than half dollars, as the dollars were immediately bought up and exported to China for trade, because the….



 This sure makes me want to “turn to the next page!”  Discovering information like this to me is like being a fly on the wall, this time in 1825 or 1826.  And now we know where some of the bag marks come from on 1825 and 1826 half dollars, and possibly the first toning on some of these coins.



By the way, the book is beautifully bound.



Kolbe and Fanning can be contacted at df@numislit.com and their website is www.numislit.com.





W. David Perkins

Centennial, CO

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Next, David Sunshine wrote to announce Part 2 of the Juniper Collection, with a generous offer that could benefit the John Reich Collectors Society:


Presenting The Juniper Collection of Early US Silver Part 2!



The Juniper Collection is an important offering of Draped and Capped Bust US Silver coins consigned to me by a long time JRCS member. The Juniper Collection of Early US Silver Part 2 includes a rare toned 1796 half dime LIKERTY in PCGS AU-58 along with other nice half dimes, quarters and half dollars. Please feel free to contact me with any of your questions.



I also have many other coins on my website including many desirable collector grade bust and seated coins, along with a special offering of capped bust dimes and quarters. Many are CAC approved and feature attractive color. Please visit my website:




Finally, mention JR News when you make a purchase as I will be donating 10% of my profits from all coins sold thru this newsletter to the JRCS.



Feel free to email me at davidbsunshine(at)yahoo.com if you have any questions.



Thanks



David Sunshine

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Winston Zack wrote:



For those of you with a copy of the recent Bust Dime Variety Identification Guide, I have created  a document with the handful of updates and errors that have so far been discovered and reported. Please feel free to contact me with any other updates or errors, I would greatly appreciate it .






Thanks,


Winston
stoneman101(at)gmail.com

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Pete Mosiondz, Jr. writes that he is attempting to liquidate all of his remaining books:



A Special Offer from Pete Mosiondz, Jr.



Section 1: Copper Books

Grading Guide for Early American Copper Coins, William R. Eckberg, Robert L. Fagaly, Dennis E. Fuoss, Raymond J. Williams. 192 pages. HB. New in shrinkwrap.



United States Large Cents 1793-1857, Warren Lapp and Herbert Silberman (1975 Quarterman Reprint). 647 pages. HB. DJ protected in Brodart Mylar. New.



United States Copper Cents 1816-1857, Howard R. Newcomb. (1985 Quarterman Printing) 284 pages with 11 pages of plates. HB. DJ protected in Brodart Mylar. New.



America's Large Cent (Coinage of the Americas Conference), edited by John M. Kleeberg. A record of the Coinage of the Americas Conference (COAC) held in 1996 at the American Numismatic Society. 190 pages. HB. New.



The lot of four copper books, as described above, only $75.00 postpaid.



Section 2: Other Books

Encyclopedia of U.S. Gold Coins 1795-1933 (2nd edition 2008), Jeff Garrett and Ron Guth. Foreword by Dr. Richard Doty. Provides a wealth of information on our nation's gold coinage. Features auction records, market values, superb photography, and a coin by coin study. A valuable reference. 636 pages. Illustrated in color. HB. DJ protected in Brodart Mylar. New. (List Price $69.95) $29.00 postpaid.



The Expert's Guide to Collecting and Investing in Rare Coins, Q, David Bowers. 655 pages. HB. DJ protected in Brodart Mylar. Like New. (List Price $29.95) $12.00 postpaid.



Virgil Brand: The Man and His Era, Q. David Bowers. 248 pages. HB. Signed. New. $25.00 postpaid.



Abe Kosoff: Dean of Numismatics, Q. David Bowers. 351 pages. SB. New. $15.00 postpaid.



Million Dollar Nickels: Mysteries of the Illicit 1913 Liberty Head Nickels Revealed, Paul Montgomery, Mark Borckardt and Ray Knight. 369 pages. HB. DJ protected in Brodart Mylar. New. (List Price $26.95) $10.00 postpaid.



The Lovett Cent: a Confederate Story, Harold Levy and George Corell. 276 pages. 141 images. SB. New.

$19.00 postpaid.



The Early Coins of America, Sylvester Crosby. The Quarterman reprint and best edition with the expanded 20 page bibliographical foreword by Eric Newman. 381 pages, 10 plates, 2 manuscripts. HB. DJ protected in Brodart Mylar. New. $25.00 postpaid.



Coins and Collectors, Q. David Bowers. 241 pages. SB. New. $9.00 postpaid.



Anyone interested in buying the entire lot of eight “Other Books” in Section 2 at $125.00 postpaid? The individual low prices add up to $144.00. Orders for individual books from this section will be held in abeyance until Monday 6:00 pm. If no one purchases the entire lot, individual sales will begin at that time and inquiries for individual titles will be notified. First come – First served.



Peter Mosiondz, Jr.

26 Cameron Circle

Laurel Springs, NJ 08021-4861

856-627-6865

choochoopete(at)comcast.net

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Bryce Brown wrote:





I'd like to remind JR Newsletter readers that my Second Mail Bid Sale of numismatic literature will close in a few short days: this Saturday, March 5, 2016 at 8:00 PM EST. Bids may be submitted via email, fax, mail, and phone.  The sale features numerous items that will be of interest to collectors of early Federal coinage.  There are many infrequently-found items and excellent values to be had in all categories.  It's worth taking a look!  The entire catalog may be viewed at www.BBNLA.com
Thank you!

Bryce


Bryce Brown's Numismatic Literature Auctions
P.O. Box 16
Avon, CT 06001-0016 USA
email: numismatics(at)att.net
Phone: 860-751-2555
Fax: 203-900-0249
www.BBNLA.com

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From the editor:



Receiving Bryce's note reminded me to remind you about obtaining back issues of the JR Journal.  To do so:



If you need back issues of the John Reich Journal, you can order them from professional book dealer Bryce Brown of Avon, CT. To view the extensive inventory of back issues and pricing, go to Bryce's website and scroll down to JR Journals. The website is http://brycebooks.squarespace.com/storage/Lit-Periodicals-display.htm