Free Ticket!
John Regitko of Toronto, Canada writes:

More on Jay Galst

Anthony Terranova of New York City writes:

To read the complete article, see:
Jay M. Galst (1950-2020) (https://coinsweekly.com/jay-m-galst-1950-2020/)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
JAY M. GALST (1950-2020) (https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n15a12.html)

Barbara Gregory and The Numismatist

I just wanted to add my good wishes to those already given to Barbara Gregory on the occasion of her retirement as editor-in-chief of The Numismatist.

This monthly magazine of the American Numismatic Association has always been eclectic and fairly technical, although it's not what you would call a scholarly journal. So whatis it about today's version that draws the reader in? The stories are lively as well as informative - they pique your interest over and beyond your particular collectingspecialties. The content is well illustrated and well laid out, so that it catches the eye. Every issue has a cover story plus two or three features flagged on the cover, as wellas recurring topics called "departments". The reader is thereby encouraged to become more of a generalist, to develop common interests with other collectors, to learn somethingnew every month.

I pulled some back issues just to compare them as they changed over time. The changes came about gradually for the most part. The September 1981 issue, the first on whichBarbara worked, had 100 pages of content and 200 pages of ads, each separate from the other. There was but one topic on the cover - the convention in New Orleans. Some of thecontent was in list form. Photos were in black and white and too many were of the people-holding-plaques variety, or group shots of backs of heads.

Improvements were coming along by September 1988, Barbara's first as editor. Cover art was more catchy and features were called out. The table of contents was more descriptive.Ads and content were less rigidly separated. Three-column layout made the articles easier to read.

Big changes came in January 2003 with an increase in format to its present 8½ by 11 inch size - what bibliophiles might call "quarto". Along with this change came the use offull color throughout the magazine, in both content and advertisements. In her monthly Editor's Desk column, Barbara explained that the changes were the result of collaborativeeffort among the editorial and administrative staff, the Board of Governors , the Publications Committee and outside consultants. "This issue ... represents the realization of whatthe ANA's official publication could and should be: an attractive, appealing journal with respect for yesterday and a clear sense of tomorrow," she wrote. In hisback-of-the-magazine column, Donn Pearlman, always with tongue in cheek, wrote: "The magazine needs to attract younger ANA members. Until recently, coin collecting had an image ofwhite-haired -or no-haired - old men intently examining little coins with huge, Sherlock Holmes-style magnifying glasses. The world has changed. We now have balding old men usingtiny, pocket-sized, five-power loupes."

In this her last issue, Barbara writes: "Working with and for our members always has been my greatest reward. ... I likewise strived to ensure that The Numismatist is afriendly forum for collectors to share their thoughts, knowledge and experiences." That it is.

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
NUMISMATIST EDITOR BARBARA GREGORY RETIRING (https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n13a22.html)
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: APRIL 5, 2020 : Notes from Robert J. Leuver(https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n14a17.html)

The Kiss to the Sun
Regarding my question about a French medal last week, Ron Haller-Williams writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
COINS AND HEALTH (https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n15a39.html)

More Thoughts on Eric Hodge's Illegible Word

Regarding the illegible word in a centuries-old document that Eric Hodge asked about, Ron Haller-Williams writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
THOUGHTS ON ERIC HODGE'S ILLEGIBLE WORD (https://www.coinbooks.org/v23/esylum_v23n15a20.html)

Geoffrey Bell Spring Sale 2020
Brian Bell writes:

For more information, see:
http://www.gbellauctions.com/

2021 Red Book Changes
Adam L Spikes writes:

How secure is an armoured truck?

It must have been like something out of a movie script. The ramp from Highway 427 to Highway 409 in Toronto was sealed off with ambulances, fire trucks and policevehicles. There were police, paramedics, firefighters and other emergency workers frantically trying to break into an armoured Brinks truck.

But the exercise was not to see how strong armoured vehicles are or how much effort it takes to break into one. Rather, the truck overturned attempting to negotiate theramp.

So exactly how secure are these cash-carrying armoured trucks?

It took Toronto fire crews a full hour to free the three Brinks guards trapped inside.

I don't want to give away any secrets of how Toronto's well-trained staff managed to get inside, but after unsuccessfully trying to cut through metal, they managed to break thebullet-proof glass.

John adds:

Numista Adds Banknote Catalogue
Aidan Work writes:

To visit the Numista web site, see:
https://en.numista.com/

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
BANKNOTE CATALOG WEB SITE PROPOSED (https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n41a13.html)
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: OCTOBER 20, 2019 : The Colnect Banknote Catalog(https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n42a12.html)
MORE ON BANKNOTE CATALOG WEB SITES (https://www.coinbooks.org/v22/esylum_v22n50a09.html)