Welcome to The Asylum's Summer 2024 edition.

In this issue:

Message from NBS President Len Augsburger

Welcome to the second Asylum issue of the (not so new) year, and as always, a big thanks is in order to our contributing authors and our editor Maria Fanning. While it is easy enough to enjoy literature on its own, the experience becomes more impactful when one researches a particular item and shares findings with fellow collectors. If you have not yet so taken pen in hand, I encourage you to pick a favorite item in your library and dig in.

I would like to make mention of the NBS Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1145253708909091). Bryce Brown and others continually post interesting items, and the related discussion is stimulating. Posts from just the past few days, as this is written, include a prospectus for Loubat's masterpiece, The Medallic History of the United States of America, and the inaugural issue of the MANA Newsletter from 1953. Social media may be a guilty pleasure but learning about literature at the same time at least allows the bibliophile to rationalize a few idle moments!

As always, we welcome donations of numismatic literature for the annual Charity Auction, which will be held at the ANA convention in August. The Charity Auction covers a good portion of the NBS annual expenses, and we gratefully acknowledge past donors and bidders. While material at varied price points is welcome, we especially encourage donations of literature valued at $100 and up. Please do check with either David Fanning or me before sending material. We hope you can attend the Charity Auction in person, but in any case the catalog will be posted online prior to the event, so that all members may participate by contacting David or me with bids beforehand.

NBS Meeting Times at the ANA World's Fair of Money in Rosemont:

Please renew your membership in the NBS to continue receiving The Asylum. Go to coinbooks.org to pay by PayPal or download a membership form today. Your current expiration date is printed to the right of your name on your subscription envelope, which should be arriving soon.