George Kolbe writes:

"Julius was the numismatist and he was my first teacher in the fieldof coins... If I had been a 'satisfactory' child during the week, Iwas privileged to visit Julius at his home on Sunday and carry thetrays of coins Julius was studying from the second floor tower andsafe to Julius' first floor study. It necessarily was a slow andprecise trip.

Notes would be taken; coins would be described and I, the 11-12year old student, would be enriched by Mr. Guttag's knowledge.He was extremely strong in Latin American material and the catalogueof his collection still is a worthwhile resource."

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:JOE LASSER ON HIS NUMISMATIC MENTOR, JULIUS GUTTAG(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v09n47a15.html)

I find it difficult to believe that counterfeit Lions were struck in Mexico during our colonial period. There was no specific incentive to create false coins in Mexico and it's not logical to think that someone could positively identify where a counterfeit was minted.

Mr. Hallman apparently has his story backwards. It is possible (and probable) that the Dutch Lion Dollar he found was made with Mexican silver. From about 1550 to 1750 65-70% of all the new silver that came into the world was from Spanish colonial Mexican and Peruvian (today's Bolivia) mines. As the arguably largest commercial sailing nation -- that did not have any silver mines -- it is completely logical and normal that Lion Dollars could -- and did -- reach Pennsylvania.

After all, the Dutch controlled the Colony of New York until the 1660's and some of the first paper money of New York in 1709 stated its value in Lion Dollars. Yes, there are "imitation" Lion Dollars minted in several other European countries -- primarily Italy and Germany -- although there is one from Transylvania -- that clearly illustrate the trade currency role of Lion Dollars. It was a "Bullion World" and Mr. Hallman's find is another small confirming episode.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:JOE LASSER ON DUTCH LION DOLLARS IN COLONIAL AMERICA(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v12n34a12.html)

Today the numismatic community of the old and the new world loses the kindest and most generous coin collector and numismatist. I had the privilege to have a very close and friendly relation with Joe for over 30 years. His letters and telephone calls were always so warm and encouraging.

He was a man of his word, a generous person, always interested in learning new things about numismatics and related history, an expert on Dutch and Belgian 16th century silver coins and coins of the besieged cities in the 80 Years War.

Joe was my best friend in the United States. He visited me in Brussels several times. I will miss him.

Jean Elsen Bruxelles Belgique (Belgium)

To read the complete article, see:JOSEPH R. LASSER(www.legacy.com/guestbook/nytimes/guestbook.aspx?
n=joseph-lasser&pid=147910006)