NNP Blog
518 records found.
Saul Teichman Adds U.S. Rarities Censes to Newman Portal
Recently added to Newman Portal is a group of photo files compiled by Saul Teichman, which serve as condition censes for important rarities in the U.S. coinage series. This follows on to Teichman’s previous work on the U.S. pattern and territorial gold series. The collected work represents several hundred short monographs in total and serves to quickly identify the best coins of a given issue, or, in many cases, all the coins of a given issue. Teichman is a relentless researcher and has mined auction catalogs, institutional collections, and his own numismatic network to develop these richly detailed guides.
Link to classic U.S. coinage rarities on Newman Portal: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/archivedetail/556362
Link to U.S. pattern photo files on Newman Portal: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/archivedetail/548148
Link to U.S. territorial gold photo files on Newman Portal: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/archivedetail/554268
Newman Portal Adds FUN Convention Video
Link to FUN home page: http://funtopics.com/
Link to FUN videos on Newman Portal: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/multimediadetail/549321
Newman Portal Adds Bill Bugert Doubled Date Census
Link to A Register of 1849 WB-6 Dramatically Doubled Date Liberty Seated Half Dollars: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/647959
Link to Bill Bugert publications on Newman Portal: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/booksbyauthor/361
Memorial Day & The Grand Army Republic
The Grand Army of the Republic played a crucial role in institutionalizing Memorial Day as a national observance. As a powerful and politically influential veterans' organization, the GAR organized annual ceremonies, lobbied for public recognition, and helped entrench the day's meaning in American civic life. Through parades, speeches, and grave-decorating rituals, the GAR used Memorial Day to honor the Union cause, assert the moral legacy of the Civil War, and promote patriotism. Over time, the observance evolved to commemorate all American military personnel who died in service, but its roots remain firmly planted in the post-Civil War efforts of the GAR and its mission to preserve the memory of those who fought to preserve the Union.
Numismatically, the Grand Army commissioned a series of medals, most notably issues related to annual encampments that occurred throughout the country. In the first two issues of the 2012 TAMS Journal, David Schenkman provided an overview of souvenirs related to the 1892 Washington, D.C. encampment. GAR membership and officer badges are frequently offered along with the medals. The Grand Army series includes standalone issues, such as a 1909 Lincoln birth centennial medal.
Link to TAMS Journal on NNP: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/publisherdetail/515304
Newman Portal Adds Half Crazy
The current issue of Half Crazy includes an interview with John Dannreuther on proof coinage, a call for census information on the 1849 Doubled Date and 1873 No Arrows Open 3 varieties, and an overview of the 1841-O “baseball crack” reverse. Half Crazy is edited by Dennis Fortier and is issued quarterly. To subscribe, contact Dennis at ricajun@msn.com.
Link to Half Crazy on Newman Portal: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/publisherdetail/548913
Link to Bill Bugert publications on Newman Portal: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/booksbyauthor/361
U.S. Mint Marketing Material on Newman Portal
Market appearances of the National Bicentennial medal in gold include an example sold by Heritage on March February 27, 2025, for $44,400, while another piece at Heritage sold for $54,000 on April 30, reflecting the rising value of gold. This medal is cataloged as Swoger 52IAa, in his National Commemorative Medals of the United States of America (2008). Swoger notes a mintage of 424 pieces. The original issue price was $4,000, representing a significant premium over the 1976 melt value of about $1,685. By comparison, at today’s (May 2) gold price of $3,249, the bullion value of the medal is $43,861, which is more consistent with recent auction results.
Among the Bartelt U.S. Mint promotional material is a 1976 solicitation for the National Bicentennial medal in gold. While not valuable, we have to wonder if these solicitations are as rare as the medal itself. For those not inclined to acquire an example of the large gold medal, Swoger notes seven variants in all, including a 3” silver piece and two smaller pieces in gold. A quick search of ebay reveals a good selection of most formats, with the exception of the “mega Liberty” 15-ounce gold behemoth. Given the upcoming Semiquincentennial, it is not hard to imagine increased collector interest in these pieces.
Link to U.S. Mint fixed price lists on Newman Portal: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/publisherdetail/512757
Newman Portal Adds Congressional Reports
As an example, the January 26, 1863 House of Representatives report strongly advocates for establishing a U.S. branch mint in Nevada Territory, emphasizing the region’s immense and rapidly growing gold and silver mining industry. Rich mineral deposits, particularly in areas such as Washoe and Carson City fueled the creation of mining districts and infrastructure, with nearly 200 mills operating and over $6 million invested in processing equipment. Transportation of ore to the San Francisco Mint incurred high costs and delays, prompting a recommendation for a local mint to alleviate logistical burdens and capitalize on the region’s output, which already exceeded $2 million in bullion monthly.
Link to Congressional papers on Newman Portal: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/publisherdetail/512550
Link to “Branch Mint in Nevada Territory”: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/publisherdetail/512550?Year=1863&displayAmt=50
Chester Sullivan Publishes on the Castorland Jetons
Chester Sullivan has recently published a paper that details seven types of the Castorland pieces and includes a census of significant examples. Most significantly, the work separates initial strikes (100 pieces in bronzed copper, 673 examples in silver, three types) from medals struck later (four types, though still with the original dies).
Link to How to Identify the Seven Types of Original-Dies Castorland Jetons on Newman Portal: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/booksbyauthor/556055
The 1870 James B. Longacre Sale
However, the lion’s share of the Longacre coins were sold by his estate in 1870. Presented by M. Thomas, the sale included 119 lots of U.S. patterns, in addition to an 1850 double eagle described as proof, and 56 lots of “composition casts, impressions of dies, steel plates, etc.” Had this group survived as a whole, we would likely have greater insight into the evolution of the coinage and Mint medal designs of this period. Still, the Longacre estate is to be credited for preserving the material that today resides in the Library Company, the largest such group associated with a Mint Engraver.
Newman Portal features three copies of the Longacre sale catalog, including one recently discovered in the Newman library remainders. The three copies (two from the American Numismatic Society) are variously annotated with prices and names. The additional copies are accessible via the left column of the catalog landing page (“IAID 1” and “IAID 2”).
Link to the M. Thomas sale catalog of the Longacre collection, January 21, 1870, on Newman Portal: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/auctionlots?AucCoId=511814&AuctionId=515574
Newman Portal Adds Tom Sparks Monograph on the Major General Bissell Short Snorter
Supported in part by a grant from the Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society, researcher and author Tom Sparks has published a 400+ page work, The Major General Clayton L. Bissell Short Snorter, which is now accessible on Newman Portal. This volume represents an account of a remarkable World War II artifact known as the “Bissell Short Snorter.” The “snorter,” a 64-foot-long strip of banknotes, bears signatures of notable WWII military leaders and dignitaries and was discovered by the Sarasota Rare Coin Gallery some time ago, where Jeff Garrett recognized the importance of the document.
Garrett reached out to short snorter specialist Tom Sparks, who identified nearly 300 admirals and generals, 17 presidents and prime ministers, and 37 ambassadors and ministers. The snorter, attributed to Major General Clayton L. Bissell, has since been featured at numerous conventions and on "Pawn Stars Does America." The artifact's value lies not just in its rarity but in its encapsulation of WWII history, capturing the spirit and signatures of many influential figures of that era.
Sparks’ work also explores the life and military career of Major General Clayton L. Bissell, from his service as a decorated fighter pilot in World War I to his prominent roles during World War II. Bissell's trajectory included working closely with aviation pioneer Billy Mitchell, playing a crucial part in the 1924 Round-the-World flight as an advance officer, and serving as Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence on the War Department General Staff. His complex and often contentious relationship with Claire Chennault in the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater is also discussed, highlighting differences in command style and strategic vision. The documentation and preservation of Bissell’s diaries, facilitated by Sparks’ diligent research, lend deeper insight into his impact on military history and the enduring importance of the short snorter tradition.
Link to The Major General Clayton L. Bissell Short Snorter on Newman Portal: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/646698