Mark Hillary 1796 Half Cent Variety Identified
Bill Eckberg writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:THE MARK HILLARY 1796 HALF CENT(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v15n52a18.html)

On eBay's Counterfeit Banknote Policy
Joe Boling writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:LIBERTY DOLLAR SALES BANNED ON EBAY(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v15n52a13.html)

Mystery Numismatists Identified
In an earlier issue I published a quiz, asking if readers could identify the two mystery numismatists pictured here.

When no one came forthI gave the following hint: The first one was NOT a U.S. citizen, and lived in a palace. The second one was a controversial academic.

Ron Guth writes:

Greg Adams writes:

Chuck Heck writes:

Pete Smith writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:MORE ON THE NUMISMATIC GREATS(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v15n52a10.html)

Harvey Stack Inducts Abe Kosoff
Speaking of famous numismatists, Pete Smith adds:

To read the compete article, see:Set Registry Scrapbook ANA Philadelphia, August, 2012(www.pcgs.com/SetRegistry/ImageGallery.aspx?gID=79&Page=4)

On the MAGnite System for Counterfeit Detection
Joe Boling writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:A SMARTPHONE APP FOR COUNTERFEIT DETECTION(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v15n52a14.html)

Joe Boling on the Translation of "Nummis Nova"
Joe Boling writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY: DECEMBER 16, 2012(www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v15n52a17.html)

More on Yap Stone Money
Ralf Boepple of Stuttgart, Germany writes:

The "Holy Grail" of Primitive Money, Yap Island Stone Money, "The World's Largest Coinage"

18 inches x 3.5 inches; 54 pounds. Opitz-pg.316/21; Quiggin-pg.144, pl#12; Sigler-pg,19; Gillilland-Smithsonian Institute "The Stone Money of Yap a Numismatic Survey"-pg.58-type-d.. Yap Island produced the worlds largest and heaviest coinage, most commonly referred to as "Fei" or "Rai", considered sacred amongst the local people. The largest examples are in excess of 12 feet in diameter, weighing about 2 tons. Due to their excessive size the larger stones often traded ownership without physically being moved. The larger stones would remain in place as it became common knowledge among the inhabitants that it now belonged to a new owner. As there is no large source of stone on Yap, the stones were quarried and shaped on the island of Malakal in Palau, then shipped back to Yap on native boats. The stones are made of calcite, which is abundant on Malakal. Some of the larger stones took as long as two years to quarry and shape using axes made from giant clams. The trip from Malakal to Yap via boat was a hazardous voyage that claimed many lives. Often the value placed on a stone directly related to the amount of human lives lost in order to quarry it and deliver to Yap.

Although there are many sizes and shapes of Yap stones, they can be classified into two basic types pre and post O'Keefe. The earliest stones were produced by the locals using axe heads made from segments of the giant clam. Later stones or "O'Keefe stones" were produced in the 1800's using metal tools. David O'Keefe was American of Irish heritage who came to Yap with tools and a junk boat acquired in Hong Kong which he used to quarry and transport "Fei" from Malakal to Yap and through this process set himself up as the King of Yap Island. The 1954 motion picture "His Majesty O'Keefe" starring Burt Lancaster, although somewhat dramatized and engrossed, fairly accurately portrays this series of events.

The stone offered here is of the pre O'Keefe type, quarried and shaped by the native Yapese using the traditional axes made from giant clam shells. In terms of size, this is one of the larger pre O'Keefe stones we have seen offered for sale, weighing 54 pounds. Seldom are larger stones available for sale, as removing them from the island was extremely hard due to their size and weight. In terms of condition this stone is complete, unbroken and attractive. Often referred to as the key or "Holy Grail" to assembling a collection of primitive money.

To read the complete lot description, see:stacksbowers.com/auctions/auctionlot.aspx?lotid=297409