Newman Numismatic Portal at Washington University in St. Louis | Comprehensive Research & Reference for U.S. Coinage

Jun 14 2025

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

Jun 06 2025

Newman Portal Adds FUN Convention Video

The Florida United Numismatists (FUN) winter and summer conventions are two of the most prominent events on the annual coin calendar, with the winter edition being especially attractive to collectors seeking warmer temperatures. Indeed, FUN describes itself as a “snow-free coin show.” With the assistance of FUN board member Steve Martin, Newman Portal has added 12 videos representing educational presentations from the January 2025 convention. Included are David Harper, former Numismatic News editor, presenting his “Ten Numismatic Predictions for 2025.” Harper reviews his performance on last year’s predictions (a rare bit of accountability in today’s world!) and issues a new set of prognostications for 2025. Among other sessions are Tom Walker speaking on the detection of cleaned coins, Bill Jones holding forth on early Lincoln cents, and John Zampedro presenting on “Errors 101.”

Link to FUN home page: http://funtopics.com/
Link to FUN videos on Newman Portal: https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/multimediadetail/549321

May 27 2025

Newman Portal Adds Bill Bugert Doubled Date Census

Bill Bugert is well-known as the authority on Liberty Seated half dollar (1839-1891) varieties and has published well over a thousand die marriages in his ongoing series, A Register of Liberty Seated Half Dollar Varieties, with six volumes published to date. In addition, Bugert maintains separate censes on the more notable issues in this series, including the rare 1878-S. Bill has developed an extensive network of contacts with the Liberty Seated half dollar community, and any public appearance of an example will not go unnoticed. Bill’s pedigrees are lengthy, and the bar to offer a new coin as “fresh to the market” is exceptionally high. Bill’s latest publication, A Register of 1849 WB-6 Dramatically Doubled Date Liberty Seated Half Dollars, represents a census of the 38 known examples of the WB-6 variety and includes photographs of nearly every piece.

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

May 23 2025

Memorial Day & The Grand Army Republic

Memorial Day originated in the aftermath of the American Civil War as a solemn day of remembrance for those who died in military service. Initially known as Decoration Day, it began informally when citizens across the country began decorating the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers. The first widely recognized observance occurred on May 30, 1868, when General John A. Logan, commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)—a fraternal organization composed of Union veterans—issued General Order No. 11, designating the day for "strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country." This act formalized the practice and established a tradition that quickly spread across Northern states.

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

May 17 2025

Newman Portal Adds Half Crazy

Recently added to Newman Portal is the latest issue of Half Crazy, the electronic publication of the Seated Half Society. The Bill Bugert volumes on the Liberty Seated Half Dollar (1839-1891) die varieties, first appearing in 2010, have spurred interest in this long running 19th century American series. Although the set consists of over a thousand die marriages, these coins were produced in large quantities, and many varieties are available at accessible prices.

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

May 02 2025

U.S. Mint Marketing Material on Newman Portal

At the recent Central States convention, Bruce Bartelt made available to Newman Portal a large collection of U.S. Mint marketing materials covering the period 1966-2023. There are hundreds of advertising pieces here, reflecting the prodigious production of U.S. Mint collector issues over the past couple generations. One of the more spectacular Mint emissions during this period is the 1976 National Bicentennial Medal in .900 fine gold, a massive, 3-inch diameter medal that weighs in at 15 ounces, representing 13.5 ounces of pure gold. By comparison, the Washington Before Boston medal in gold, held by the Boston Public Library, weighs “only” 8 ounces.

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

Apr 30 2025

Newman Portal Adds Congressional Reports

A recent Newman Portal addition is a group of U.S. congressional reports loaned for scanning by Paul Hybert. Ranging from 1797 to 2022, this collection now includes 406 documents. The series provides insight into the legislative process underlying activities of the Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. NNP further acknowledges Dan Hamelberg for previous contributions to this collection.

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

Apr 22 2025

Chester Sullivan Publishes on the Castorland Jetons

The Guide Book overview of the Castorland jetons notes “These medals, or ‘jetons,’ are dated 1796 and allude to a proposed French settlement known as Castorland in Carthage, New York, at the time of the French Revolution. They were given to directors of the colonizing company for their attendance at board meetings. Copy dies are still available and have been used at the Paris Mint for restriking throughout the years. Restrikes have a more modern look; their metallic content (in French) is impressed on the edge: ARGENT (silver), CIUVRE (copper), or OR (gold).”

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

Apr 19 2025

The 1870 James B. Longacre Sale

Of all the Chief Engravers of the Mint, Longacre was the best archivist, putting aside extensive collections of both papers and coins. The papers are today in the Library Company of Philadelphia and have been explored by Michael Moran and Jeff Garrett (1849: The Philadelphia Mint Strikes Gold) and others. To be sure, work remains, and the Library Company recently offered an internship to improve their catalog descriptions of the Longacre papers. The Library Company also holds an important group of pattern pieces from the Longacre estate, which have been published by John Dannreuther, Saul Teichman, and other writers.

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

Apr 08 2025

Newman Portal Adds Tom Sparks Monograph on the Major General Bissell Short Snorter

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

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