Brad Karoleff wrote:
I hope everyone is enjoying their latest issue of The John Reich Journal, Volume 21, Issue 1. If you have not received your issue by now you should contact me at jrcs19 (at) roadrunner.com to see why.
Plans are underway for the next issue of the journal. We are on a deadline for this issue due to the annual meeting at the ANA in Chicago. I plan on publishing in the May/June time frame and would love to see some articles sent in for publication. Please contact me at my email address above if you have any questions. I look forward to participation from some new authors for our publication. Please think about sharing your knowledge, or experiences collecting bust coins. Remember also that we will be featuring the half dime census in this issue of the journal. Half dime collectors remember to send you census information to Steve Crain at mrhalfdime (at) aol.com, or to the society's PO Box 135, Harrison, OH 45030. We are looking forward to the largest participation ever for the half dime series!
Also,
THE NEW QUARTER BOOKS ARE HERE, IN HAND and READY TO SHIP!
Early Quarter Dollars of the United States Mint by Rory Rea, Dr. Glenn Peterson, Bradley Karoleff and John Kovach is a reality. The updated version of the Browning Quarter Book that we have been working on forever is available for purchase. We have a website for those who would like a preview of our work before purchasing. Go to browningquarterbook.com to see actual pages from the book and to get ordering information. As you will be able to see, the book is printed in COLOR. We have the regular edition which can be sent to you via priority mail for $110 delivered. Please let us know if you wish a hardbound copy or a spiral bound copy, OR you can even order one of each! We are also taking deposits of $100 to hold one of the limited leather bound editions which will be available later this year. You will be billed the balance of $400 when your book is ready to be shipped. You may also order a custom slipcase to protect your leather binding on the shelf for an additional $50. Besides the leather binding which includes an impression in silver of the head of a 1796 quarter on the front you will get French endpapers, raised bands on the spine and the option to include your name on the cover. You will also get the fantastic COLOR plates of the Eric P. Newman collection that will not be included in the standard issue. Your book will also come autographed by the authors AND Eric Newman on a special page sewn into your book. Act now if you are interested in the limited edition as we already have orders for over half the allotted number of 50.
We realize that many of you have been waiting a LONG time for us to get this project finished. We have also! The fact that the Newman collection became known to us close to the end of the project dictated our including it in the work which took great time and effort. We think you will be glad we waited. We sure are! The photographs in this book will take your breath away. Many are toned vibrant colors from decades of storage in Wayte Raymond type holders. Did I remember to tell you that the book is printed in COLOR? Attributions will be a cinch with our quick finding guides. The condition census information is a result of THOUSANDS of hours of research into old auction catalogs, price lists and private transactions. There is something here for everyone who collects bust coins or numismatic books.
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David Quint wrote :
Due to the extreme shortage of the "dime book" (Early United States Dimes), a dime specialist has offered to make photocopies of the book for collectors interested in the series (of course in cooperation with JRCS and the authors). A $20 donation to JRCS will get the first 50 respondents a postpaid copy. Email David Quint at dquint (at) bftg.com.
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Dave Perkins wrote:
New Book - The Secret History of the First U.S. Mint
JRCS Members and JR News readers who have not seen it yet will likely be interested in a new book, "The Secret History of the First U.S. Mint" by Joel J. Orosz and Leonard D. Augsburger. I received my copy about two weeks ago.
The book discusses the steps leading up to the formation and opening of the first U.S. Mint in Philadelphia, Frank H. Stewart's involvement in "both destroying and saving the first Mint," extensive information about the mint and times, Artworks commissioned by Stewart and others influenced by his artworks and much more. Two of the artworks many Numismatists are familiar with are "Ye Olde Mint" by Edwin Lamasure, Jr. and "Washington inspecting the First Money [Half Dismes] Coined by the United States by John Ward Dunsmore. There are lots of great photographs included throughout the book.
What was not known about Stewart was that he formed a coin collection after purchasing the old Mint. Stewart put together what I would term a "Date and Major Type Collection" of early dollars 1794 to 1803, with the 1794 Dollar having been altered from a 1795 B-5, BB-27 Flowing Hair Dollar. Over the years I have come across a number of references to the date on 1795 Dollars having been altered to 1794 but had never seen an example (or a photo) until I was contacted a year or so ago by Joel and Len. This altered date specimen is photographed on page 103 in the book, with a micro photo of the date showing the altered last digit. There is also a plate with the other 9 early silver dollars, both obverse and reverse on page 104. The set has a nice, matched look to it with an average grade that appears from the photos to be EF or so. Numerous other coins and planchets (found in the old Mint) are plated in the book, from Copper (including silver center cent planchets found in the old Mint!) to Half Dimes through Dollars.
To me this is a great addition to the library of anyone collecting early silver, copper or gold or with an interest in the history of the first U.S. Mint. It is available from Whitman publishing.
W. David Perkins
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Jeff Reichenberger wrote:
I think David Quint deserves a big Thank You for is generous offer to photocopy 'Early United States Dimes' for interested JRCS members. (as posted on page 4 of the current JR Journal with cooperation from JRCS and the Authors)
The copy I received is not merely half-quality photocopies - it is a spiral bound and covered book. The print copy is good and the photos are quite good enough to see major diagnostics such as scroll position, star position, etc. Far more of a reproduction than I anticipated. With binding, covers, printing, labor, and Express shipping, one copy far exceeds the paltry $20 donation to JRCS. For donating his time and obvious financial commitment, he said it was a way for him to give back to the hobby.
Very cool David. Thanks again!
Also, does anyone know the origin of a comment made and repeated about John Reich coinage?
In 'Numismatic Art in America', Cornelius Vermeule noted, "In commenting on the Liberty, one critic remarked that the artist had put a picture of his fat mistress on the coins."
Who was this 'one critic'? Where and when were his comments published?
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Jim Matthews wrote:
Re: Winston Zack's 1802 dime--
Wow, if that's a cud its a nice one! Hard to know for sure as there are no known cracks in that region on other 1802 JR-2s, and given the severity of the cud I would think the dies were misaligned--like on the 1806 B-8 quarter cuds-- where a similar fatal edge break occurred early in the dies life, another example is the 1806 O-108 half dollar (knob 6, no stem) with a reverse cud.
It's a coin I'd like to study up close, although the photos attached a couple of weeks ago were very helpful, nothing is like seeing the coin up close and personal. As is so often the case, the grade is fairly low and there is some damage on the date--but it certainly deserves study.
Also the Reeded Edge half dollar people--let's try to meet on Friday at Baltimore--that or Saturday morning--I'll be around or at the Stack's Bowers table. Time to start working on the update of the Reiver variety identification manual!
Jim
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Winston Zack wrote (in response to Mike Sherrill's comments):
Mike,
Thanks for your insight on the presumed 1802 JR-2 Draped Bust Dime. When I purchased the coin I thought it was a Cud, but one that I did not recognize. I searched as many resources as possible and found nothing which matched it. When I looked at the EUSD emission order it did not make sense that this coin could have a Cud and be in the middle of the sequence, unless this was a die re-marriage! But I was also not sure how set-in-stone the emission order was for the 1802 JR1, 2 and 3 die marriages, and thus I wanted to bring to light this coin and hear some opinions.
Your comment that the emission sequence goes JR-1 to JR-3 to JR-2 makes more sense if this truly is a Cud (which is the leading consensus among other early Dime collectors I have also spoken with). I think it is still very difficult to say whether this is a Retained or Full Cud just from how much wear this coin exhibits. Nevertheless, it is likely that the obverse die failed suddenly and was retired very shortly thereafter.
If another example exists, preferably in higher grade (because you really can't go much lower in grade than mine!), I would love to see how it compares with this example in terms of obverse die deterioration.
You also asked about die rotation. There is no die rotation exhibited on this coin.
-Winston Zack
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Nathan Markowitz wrote:
This will serve as the final announcement for the upcoming EAC/JRCS convention in Portland, Oregon held May 12-15 at the Lloyd Center Doubletree Hotel. Room registration is cutoff on April 11 for guaranteed rates (you may do better online also). We have a number of early silver speakers given by JRCS members and several prominent early silver displays. I invite any questions.
Events:
Thursday May 12: Reception 5 PM...come eat and drink
Happenings 8-10PM...see prior posts for die marriages to be displayed. There will be a half cent, silver, large cent, and colonial room.
Optional Winery Tour 12-445PM
Friday May 13: Bourse and displays 9-5PM
Optional Dinner to honor keynote speaker. If interested send $50 to cover dinner entree (salmon, London broil, or portabella mushroom), salad and dessert.
This is very popular with the EACers.
Educational seminars (see below)
Saturday May 14: Educational Seminars continue
Bourse open 9-5PM
Private Sale Saturday evening (copper only)
Optional 4 hour tour of Columbia River Gorge (think of PQ AU Silver Bust Coins....only better)
Sunday May 15: EAC membership meeting
Bourse open
Please feel free to ask me any questions about the show or Oregon. For those of you JRCSers who have never been to one of these they are a blast. Fun group, cool coins and display and the location this year is near town, gardens, restaurants...its a venue even non coin spouses will like!
Preliminary Educational Schedule:
Friday
Noon Bob Fagaly "Pricing Relationships in United States Coinage"
1PM Buell Ish "Introduction to Forming a New Jersey Type Collection"
2PM Bob Hoge "1794: The Face of a 10"
3PM Steve Tompkins "Counterfeit Bust Coinage, Contemporary and Modern"
4PMMark Borckhardt "Look What Happened in Ann Arbor"
8PM John Wright: Keynote Speaker.
Saturday
11AM Jack Robinson: "Update on CQR: The Latest"
Noon Jim Matthews: "All Cracked Up and With Pieces Falling Out"
1PM John Kraljevich: "The Taste of Dogmeat: Lewis and Clark in the Pacific Northwest"
2PM Rob Matuska: "An Investigation of the Causes of Planchet Errors"
3PM Jerry Bobbe: "Copper HIPS: Who Is The Real Perpetrator?"
4PM Jon Lusk: "Making Custom Printed Labels for 2X2 Envelopes"
IMPORTANT CONTACTS
Friday Dinner:
Mail check for $50 to Nathan Markowitz
PO Box 146
Springfield, OR 97477
All payments will be confirmed, by email if possible or by snail mail
Wine tour and Waterfall Tours: Rob Novach: rnovach (at) samhealth.org
Table Purchases(if you want to set up): bimgander(at) gmail.com
We have received numerous compliments on our silver displayed from our copper brethren...come drink some microbrews, wine, tour the gardens....and see some coins.
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Comments from the editor:
Steve Crain showed me his copy of "The Secret History of the First U.S. Mint" about a week ago. I ordered my copy right away and have been reading it daily since...wonderful book. Highly recommended!
