Bob Rhue, Denver
Bob Rhue writes:

Isaac Newton's Plague-cation
In his March 21, 2020 Maven Game newsletter, David Moldawer writes:

Some useful links:
• The American Numismatic Association Edward C. Rochette Money Museum (https://www.money.org/money-museum)
• American Numismatic Society Online Resources (http://numismatics.org/resources/)
• The Maven Game: miracle year(https://mavengame.com/2020/03/miracle-year/?ck_subscriber_id=526559791)
• David Moldawer's web site (https://bookitect.com/)
• NEW BOOK: NEWTON AND THE COUNTERFEITER BY THOMAS LEVENSON (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v12n31a09.html)
• BOOK REVIEW: NEWTON AND THE COUNTERFEITER (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v12n32a03.html)

American Numismatic Association, Colorado Springs

In an email to the membership, American Numismatic Association Executive Director Kim Kiick writes:

Kolbe & Fanning, Ohio & California
David Fanning of Numismatic Booksellers Kolbe & Fanning writes:

To browse the Kolbe & Fanning web site, see:
https://www.numislit.com/

Julian Leidman of Bonanza Coins, Silver Spring, Maryland
Julian Leidman writes:

To browse the Julian's web site, see:
https://juliancoin.com/

Harry Laibstain, Norfolk, VA
Harry Laibstain writes:

To browse the HLRC web site, see:
Harry Laibstain Rare Coins (http://www.hlrc.com/)

Bob Steinberg, Raleigh, North Carolina
Bob Steinberg of Steinberg's Inc. writes:

To browse the Steinberg's Inc. web site, see:
STEINBERG'S INC. (http://www.steinbergs.com/)

Students hold graduation ceremony in Minecraft

As usual, kids are way ahead of adults.

Japanese schools have been closed for over two weeks now due to coronavirus quarantine, and they will remain closed until after spring vacation.

Because the Japanese school year ends in March and begins in April, for many students this closing period means that they mill miss their graduation ceremonies.

But some creative elementary school graduates in Japan came up with a great workaround. If they couldn't have a graduation ceremony at school, then why not have one digitallyin a place they all meet often anyway... in Minecraft!

To read the complete article, see:
Japanese students hold graduation ceremony inMinecraft amid school cancellation (https://soranews24.com/2020/03/15/japanese-students-hold-graduation-ceremony-in-minecraft-amid-school-cancellation/)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: MARCH 22, 2020 : Virtual Hangouts: Embrace the weirdness(https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n12a15.html)

Doug Winter, Portland, OR
Doug Winter writes:

To browse the DWN web site, see:
Douglas Winter Numismatics (https://raregoldcoins.com/)

Fred Weinberg, Encino, CA
Fred Weinberg writes:

To browse the Fred Weinberg & Co. web site, see:
Fred Weinberg & Co. (https://www.fredweinberg.com/)

David Kahn, Maryland
David Kahn writes:

To browse the DKRC web site, see:
David Kahn Rare Coins (https://www.davidkahnrarecoins.com/)

Künker, Osnabrück Germany
In a Friday March 27, 2020 email, the Künker firm writes:

To browse the Künker web site, see:
https://www.kuenker.de/en

Dave Hirt, Frederick, MD
Dave Hirt writes:

To read the WSJ article (subscription required) or watch a video blog in response, see:
Why Books Are Comforting in the Era of Coronavirus(https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-books-are-comforting-in-the-era-of-coronavirus-11584646866)
Clutter or Comfort? Response to the Wall Street Journal (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsKKB3mLU6A)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NEW BOOK: GRESHAM'S LAW (https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n12a07.html)

Fred Holabird, Reno, Nevada
Fred Holabird writes:

To browse the Holabird Americana web site, see:
http://holabirdamericana.com/

Shanna Schmidt, Oak Park, IL
In her March 27, 2020 Newsletter #148 Shanna Schmidt writes:

To browse the Shanna Schmidt Numismatics Inc. web site, see:
https://www.shannaschmidt.com/

Clarke Auction Gallery, New York

What a difference a month makes. Clarke Auction Gallery's first two auctions of the year boasted good-sized attendance as usual but its March 22 sale, which came twodays after New York State governor Cuomo issued a stay-at-home order, saw online and phone bidding supplant in-house bidding.

One might think this would have negatively affected bidding but if anything, the auction saw even more participation as the auction grossed just over a million dollars and wentoff without a hitch. Offerings in the sale were strong across the board overall with a diverse selection of top draw goods.

To read the complete article, see:
Tiffany lamps drive Clarke Auction to a million dollartally (https://artdaily.cc/news/122139/Tiffany-lamps-drive-Clarke-Auction-to-a-million-dollar-tally#.Xn9Al4hKhPY)

Copper's Antimicrobial Properties

In China, it was called "qi," the symbol for health. In Egypt it was called "ankh," the symbol for eternal life. For the Phoenicians, the referencewas synonymous with Aphrodite-the goddess of love and beauty.

These ancient civilizations were referring to copper, a material that cultures across the globe have recognized as vital to our health for more than 5,000 years. Wheninfluenzas, bacteria like E. coli, superbugs like MRSA, or even coronaviruses land on most hard surfaces, they can live for up to four to five days. But when they land on copper,and copper alloys like brass, they begin to die within minutes and are undetectable within hours. "We've seen viruses just blow apart," says Bill Keevil, professor ofenvironmental healthcare at the University of Southampton. "They land on copper and it just degrades them."

No wonder that in India, people have been drinking out of copper cups for millennia. Even here in the United States, a copper line brings in your drinking water. Copper is anatural, passive, antimicrobial material. It can self-sterilize its surface without the need for electricity or bleach.

Brass door knobs and handrails went out of style as architects and designers opted for sleeker-looking (and often cheaper) materials.

Now Keevil believes it's time to bring copper back in public spaces, and hospitals in particular. In the face of an unavoidable future full of global pandemics, we should beusing copper in healthcare, public transit, and even our homes. And while it's too late to stop COVID-19, it's not too early to think about our next pandemic.

To read the complete article, see:
Copper kills coronavirus. Why aren't our surfaces covered in it?(https://www.fastcompany.com/90470650/transformative-architecture-year-after-year)

Virus Shut-In Reading: The Shelter

Robert writes:

For more information, or to order Robert's book, see:
The Shelter Paperback - May 1, 2019(https://www.amazon.com/Shelter-Robert-Hoppensteadt/dp/1625268858)

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY: MARCH 17, 2019 : Another Author! The Shelter(https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n11a22.html)
LARRY BRILLIANT, NUMISMATIC INTERNET PIONEER (https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n12a31.html)

Hair Freezing Contest
For grins here's something non-numismatic to divert your attention: the Yukon Hair Freezing Contest. Someday maybe we'll all be confessing "Forgive meBarber, for it has been three months since my last Haircut." -Editor

To read the complete article, see:
How to Win a Hair-Freezing Contest in Northern Canada(https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-is-a-hair-freezing-contest)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: MARCH 22, 2020 (https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n12a15.html)