NNP

Applications for 2025 Newman Grants for numismatic research are now posted at https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/archivedetail/530553?Year=2025&take=50. In addition, a press release describing this year's program is available at the same location. These grants are intended to defray the costs of numismatic research, including travel, photography, database access fees, translation, etc. Launched in 2019, these awards have assisted authors and researchers in all areas of numismatics.

Courtesy of Roger Moore, Newman Portal has added a group of newsletters related to Virginia colonial coinage. Editor William Veach produced The Generation newsletter in the early 1990s and provided an overview in an August 1, 1990 launch letter: “The ‘Generation’ is a select group of variety set oriented collectors of the 1773 - Colonial Virginia copper Halfpenny. Our legal structure is that of a ‘phantom’ group, unregistered, unincorporated, yes even unfinanced. We pay no dues. We pay no taxes and we really answer to no one, except to ourselves.”

The second issue announced a circulation of 17, and content focused on the usual collector concerns: varieties, attribution, rarity, pricing, and the occasional oddball examples, such as counterstamped pieces. Most of the material for the newsletter was contributed by Veach himself, such as a census of I-A pattern pieces in the June 1993 issue. Veach produced eight issues from 1990 to 1993, and an attempted reboot in 2005 reveals an interesting tidbit: among the anonymous members of this group was Virginia governor Douglas Wilder, who was instrumental in promoting a 1992 resolution (House Joint Resolution No. 271) of the Virginia legislature honoring Eric P. Newman for his research in the field of Virginia numismatics.

Link to The Generation on Newman Portal: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/publisherdetail/531574
Link to “Eric P. Newman Honored by Virginia” in the January 1993 Virginia Numismatist: https://archive.org/details/VirginiaNumismatist1993to1994/page/n15/mode/2up?view=theater

The exhibit Forging a Nation: The Founding of the U.S. Mint, 1792 is now open at Washington University in St. Louis and will run through the end of June 2025. With documents loaned by Dan Hamelberg, the exhibit conveys the legislative evolution of the U.S. Mint from its conception under the Articles of Confederation through the 1792 Mint Act passed by the second Congress. The highlight of the exhibit is the Thomas Jefferson-signed copy of the April 2, 1792 Mint Act (ex. Swann Galleries, April 8, 2014), which is, as far as we know, the only such signed copy. 

This exhibit is located in the Declaration chamber on the first floor of Olin Library on the Washington University main campus. This space also hosts the Eric P. Newman copy of the Declaration of Independence, an early broadside copy produced by Solomon Southwick in Rhode Island, shortly after receiving the first printed (Dunlap) version. This is one of seven known examples of the Southwick broadside.

Link to Forging a Nation landing page: https://library.wustl.edu/exhibitions/forging-a-nation/
Link to Southwick Broadside landing page: https://library.wustl.edu/exhibitions/declaration-of-independence/

This interview with Gerry Fortin, conducted by Greg Bennick for the Newman Numismatic Portal, explores Fortin's journey as a coin collector and expert on Liberty Seated dimes die varieties. Fortin recounts his early fascination with coins during his youth, a hiatus during his teenage years, and a rediscovery of his passion in 1987, sparked by receiving a roll of Morgan dollars. This rekindled his interest, leading him to specialize in Liberty Seated dimes due to their historical significance and ties to the Civil War era. Leveraging his engineering background in semiconductor technology, Fortin developed meticulous research methods and became the leading authority on the series. He also highlights his transition from collector to researcher and dealer, underscoring his dedication to preserving and understanding the history and varieties of these coins.

Link to Gerry Fortin interview video: https://youtu.be/aNYBgaAxv7k
Link to Gerry Fortin interview transcript:  https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/643416
Link to Gerry Fortin auctions: https://www.seateddimevarieties.com/auction.html

Published by Bill Veach from 1990-1993, the Generation Newsletter featured content related to the Virginia 1773 halfpence. Veach outlined the rationale in the initial solicitation: “The ‘Generation’ is a select group of Colonial Virginia Halfpenny collectors, recently organized in Vienna, VA to protect the integrity and to promote the welfare of these 217 year old specimens of American history. Being the very first authorized (legal) coinage in the American monetary system, it is imperative that they be more widely recognized as such.”

Veach distributed the Newsletter privately and included content related to varieties, rarity, pricing, collecting approaches, and member profiles. Veach produced nearly all the copy himself, and ended publication in 1993 by noting that the Newsletter had fulfilled its primary objective to “promote the welfare” of the 1773 halfpence. 

As a coda, Veach produced a single issue in 2005 under the title New Generation Newsletter, which was likely inspired by the April 2005 issue of the Colonial Newsletter that included an article by Roger Moore, Alan Anthony, and Eric Newman on Virginia halfpence die varieties. NNP acknowledges Roger Moore for lending his file of the Veach newsletters.

Link to the Generation Newsletter on Newman Portal: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/publisherdetail/531574
Link to the Colonial Newsletter on Newman Portal: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/publisherdetail/511327

Bill Eckberg has contributed a monograph examining imaging technology, as related to numismatics, and the limitations of digital images such as those found on the Newman Portal. From the NNP perspective, there are a several considerations. First, there is always a trade off between quality and cost. Higher-resolution images take longer to create and are more expensive to process and maintain. When operating at large scale, these differences result in significant costs. Most NNP materials are scanned at 300 dpi, although our equipment is capable of scanning at greater resolution when needed. The state of the art is conveyed by our digitization of the Hart (1851) plate of colonial paper money, scanned on a Digital Transitions Titan copy stand. Note, this image file is over 500Mb and may take several minutes to download. Conversely, one will be able to zoom-in to the smallest details.

Second, imaging technology has advanced considerably since we are started scanning in 2015 and will continue to do so. Most scans from the early period are via the Internet Archive Table Top Scribe, which we have operated with an ongoing series of more capable cameras. Today our digitization lab at Washington University in St. Louis has additional scanning equipment donated by James and Joan Schiele, longtime supporters of the University. 

Third, NNP provides both raw scan files and processed PDF files. The PDFs are compressed to minimize download times and will contain lower quality images. The raw scan files (.jp2 format) will be higher resolution and more appropriate for reproduction in print or for more detailed examination of the images. These files are all open access. For information on how to access them, contact NNPCurator@wustl.edu.

NNP acknowledges Lianna Spurrier for formatting Bill’s paper.

Link to Bill Eckberg’s Coin Images From Books and Catalogs and the Newman Numismatic Portal: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/643165

Link to the Adolpus Hart plate of colonial paper money: https://archive.org/download/historyofissueso1851adol/2024numismaticexhibitphoto_1.TIF

Saul Teichman recently contributed to Newman Portal a set of 16 monographs detailing significant pieces in the U.S. territorial gold series. Although not 100% comprehensive, these papers serve to provide census and pedigree data for hundreds of noteworthy examples. Saul is a relentless researcher, pulling information from little-known corners of the Internet and surveying important institutional collections. While auction sites doing a great job of accumulating data on pieces sold publicly, Saul’s work expands this with additional detail that is not market-based.

Link to U.S. Territorial Gold Photo Files on Newman Portal: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/archivedetail/554268

Courtesy of Roger Burdette, the identity of an early Mint researcher has been uncovered. In 1899, Philadelphia Mint Superintendent Daniel M. Fox wrote to Mint Director James P. Kimball regarding the research work of Henry W. Crotzer, a cutter in the coining department at the Philadelphia Mint. Prior to the transfer of Mint records to the National Archives in the 1930s, the only way to examine historical records was within the Mint itself, and access would have been much easier for someone who was already a Mint employee. 

Fox first describes Crotzer’s work in processing archival material from the Post Office (where old Mint records were stored) and then writes “he has made up a very large book showing the correct coinage for each year by denominations – which is a very valuable record for reference….in making up this book he made careful examination and comparison, step by step, of books and records in the office of the Coiner of this Mint, especially comparing and verifying the records, checking errors, and when possible harmonizing discrepancies.”

Historical research tends to ask more questions than it answers, and, while the discovery of the identity of Crotzer is an interesting tidbit, one can only wonder as to the disposition of Crotzer’s “very large book.” Is it today preserved in some dusty corner of the Mint or in the Director’s office? 

Link to Daniel M. Fox letter summarizing Henry W. Crotzer’s work: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/642906

Documenting a nearly 50-year quest, Michael Bourne’s Comprehensive Catalog of 3c Patterns serves not only as the definitive catalog of the U.S. 3-cent pattern series, but also chronicles the formation of this important father-and-son collection. The U.S. Mint produced nearly a hundred different 3-cent patterns (including the off-metal strikes), dated 1849 to 1885. Bourne provides commentary for each issue, presents an extensive list of market appearances, and lists the finest known pieces. This is no mere recitation of auction catalog listings drawn from online resources, but rather a deep exploration of the literature than has uncovered examples in fixed price lists, private collections, and institutional cabinets. 

Judd, Davis, Adams-Woodin, and Pollock numbers are all cross-referenced. Bourne would have been more than justified in renumbering the entire series, but, with respect to Dr. Judd, he has instead suggested a set of changes to future editions of the Judd reference. As such, this work will be an indispensable companion to Judd’s United States Pattern Coins.

Multi-generational collections are the exception rather than the rule, as the collecting gene is not always transmitted from parents to children. The Bourne collection demonstrates a sustained commitment to a single idea, and it is completely appropriate that Michael has memorialized the collection in a comprehensive and authoritative manner.  

Link to Comprehensive Catalog of 3c Patterns on Newman Portal: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/booksbyauthor/554217