The New Departure Bell Company

John Phipps of Atlanta, GA. writes:

John adds:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
SELECTIONS FROM THE FEISEL JUNE 2017 TOKEN SALE : Lot 157: Bristol CT, New Departure Token(http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n23a18.html)

What is the 'Jap Statue'?

Ken Barr writes:

I first saw this sculpture as a kid on vacation in San Francisco. It was at the Cliff House at a Ripley museum and later at Fisherman's Wharf if I remember correctly. It is now located at aRipley museum in Wisconsin.

The artist Hananuma Masakichi was dying of tuberculosis and he endeavored to carve a life-sized sculture of himself. He used his own hair (individually pulled and inserted into small holes), allhis hair including eyelashes, etc., his own fingernails, and his own teeth. A description from a historic postcard reads:

The statue is one of those things that sticks in my memory from childhood. I now own a token to remind me of those memories.

To read the complete article, see:
Jap Statue (http://www.coinpeople.com/index.php/topic/25751-jap-statue/)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
SELECTIONS FROM THE FEISEL JUNE 2017 TOKEN SALE : Lot 3: Art Saloon Souvenir Jap Statue Token(http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n23a18.html)

The Not-So-Secret Mark

Robert Laviana writes:

CoinsWeekly editor Ursula Kampmann of Germany writes:

From Google:

From Wikipedia:

François R. Velde writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
THE COINS OF MARIA THERESA (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n23a24.html) Saltire

To read the Wikipedia article, see:
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltire)

More on Silver 'Panamint Balls'
Last week we discussed "Panamint Balls" of silver, a purported tactic to thwart robbers by making silver ore t0o heavy to transport without the proper equipment and manpower. Ken Bergerwrites:

Ken adds:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
SILVER PANAMINT BALLS REVISITED (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n23a27.html)

More on the Navy Medal of Honor
In response to my question last week about a Navy Medal of Honor listed for sale, Tony Swicer of West Palm Beach, FL writes:

David Klinger writes:

Navy Medal of Honor types

There have been four design types of the Navy Medal of Honor. The Navy was the first to introduce the Medal of Honor. This decoration has been awarded to both Navy and Marine members since1862.

The first type was introduced in 1862 and was used until 1913. The Navy's Medal of Honor was the first approved and the first designed. The initial work was done at the Philadelphia Mint atthe request of Secretary of the Navy Gideon Wells. The design prepared by the Philadelphia firm of William Watson & Sons was the design selected. The central design of Minerva repulsing Discord wassymbolic of the Civil War and was used on three of the Navy types and was also used for the first two Army types

The second type was used from 1913 to 1942. Note that the rope was removed from the anchor. And, this was the first time the 13 star pattern was introduced on the Navy ribbon.

The third type referred to as the "Tiffany Cross" Medal was introduced in 1919. Prior to WWII the Medal of Honor could be awarded for both combat and non-combat actions. This rareTiffany type was only awarded for combat actions. The legend in the center reads: UNITED STATES NAVY 1917-1918. It's not clear to me how many were awarded (somewhere between 7 and 27) - all foraction in WWI.

The fourth type is the modern and present version of the medal and was introduced in 1942. As far as I can determine, the first recipient was Chief Petty Officer John Finn for action early onPearl Harbor Day (7 December 1941).

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NUMISMATIC NUGGETS: JUNE 4, 2017 : Navy Medal Of Honor (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n23a21.html)

Siege Coins and Banknotes of Brazil

First of all, I would like to congratulate you for the excellent work in The E-Sylum. The June 4th edition included pictures from UNAN Numismatica magazine. Some of them areBrazilian coins and banknotes. I am really glad because I am E-Sylum assiduous reading and it's rare to find Brazilian stuff on it.

First, the obsdional coins. They were the first coins with the name "Brasil". At the picture, 12 florins gold coin 1645. The Dutch had invaded Pernambuco and then issued these coins forpaying their soldiers. Second, a 2000 réis gold coin 1696 in an excellent shape.

Finally, images from Brazilian real first family banknotes. It's a symbol of the fight of country against hyper inflation. Thank you for keeping E-Sylum. It's a great publicationand my favorite way to start the week.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
UNAN NUMISMATICA MAY-JUNE 2017 PUBLISHED (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n23a05.html)

More on the Token and Medal Society
David T. Alexander writes:

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
THE ALLURE OF THE TOKEN AND MEDAL SOCIETY (http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n23a12.html)

More on The Invisible Empire Tokens

In essence I agree with your remarks about Lot 624, The Invisible Empire token in Duane Feisel's upcoming mail bid sale -- the almost cliched thought (of many versions, I prefer GeorgesSantayana's) "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" still rings true to me. However, this particular token would get little to no historical or educationaldefense from me as it is not a KKK token or relic; rather it appears that it was created and published simply to make a profit. In fact most of the tokens and medals ascribed to the "ThirdMovement" (1954 - 1969) of the Klan are personalized items or have no direct ties to the organization.

I actually remember the ads for these tokens in several numismatic publications in the early 1960's. The exact entries listed below are from the standard reference catalog for KKK tokens. Ihave been told that Mr. Birdsell had very good sources for information inside the organization; I do not know his current status. As most collectors are aware, many of the early KKK tokens from theFirst and Second Movements have been faked (unauthorized copies) and many pure fantasy issues flood the flea markets and swap meets from coast to coast.

Ku Klux Klan Tokens, 2nd Edition, D.E. Birdsell, paperback with card covers, 44 pages, (1st Edition - 1977; unauthorized reprints of both editions are sometimes offered)

KM-301. (1965). A private firm, Cajun Coins of Mandeville, Louisiana, caused this token to be struck during the Centennial Year of the Ku Klux Klan. The issue was not endorsed by any Klanorganization; it was commercialized via advertising in collector's trade papers. Forty-nine (49) copies (rim-numbered 1-49) as illustrated (see, incused composition mark in exergue on obverse).Manufactured by acid engraving process. Sterling silver, 37mm.

KM-301.1. (1965). The manufacturer at New Orleans, using 14 gauge metal, acid engraved 4,000 additional copies from same (KM-301) dies toward completing in one operation the variation ofmetals (and colors) specified on the single order. Aluminum, 37mm.

KM-301.2. (1965). As above, same operation (KM-301) & KM-301.1) produced 1,000 additional copies in anodized gold color to finalize the single order. Aluminum, (anodized), 37mm.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
SELECTIONS FROM THE FEISEL JUNE 2017 TOKEN SALE : Lot 624: The Invisible Empire(http://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n23a18.html)