Tuesday, April 15 (Tax Day!) was also the monthly gathering of my Northern Virginia numismatic social group, Nummis Nova. Our host Robert Hoppensteadt chose Clyde's at Mark Center in Alexandria. I arrived a little early and caught up with texts and emails on my phone before heading inside. Our table wasn't ready yet and I joined the other earlybirds in the bar.

Eric Schena, Dave Schenkman, Tom Kays and my guest Kellen Hoard were in deep conversation. Kellen had spent his last semester abroad and will start his summer with a trip to Taiwan, Singapore and elsewhere. Eric recounted his trip that began in the Soviet Union and ended in Russia.

Jon Radel soon arrived and showed me the enormous bronze medal he'd brought. Before long we all moved to our table in a back room. Robert and Chris Neuzil were already there and Mike Packard arrived quickly afterwards. The final attendee was my guest Greg Bennick, who'd flown in from Tennessee, where he'd been visiting fellow counterstamp collector Bill Groom. As Greg entered I loudly whispered - "cover for me. I owe Greg money and I'm going out the kitchen.."

We'd agreed I'd pay him cash for the coin I'd bought from him at the recent Baltimore show. Luckily I'd remembered and handed him an envelope which came in doubly handy as Greg made some purchases from Dave Schenkman. Here's my group shot.

Tom's Take
Here's a report from Tom Kays.

Nestled in the beautiful "Duck Room" at Clyde's of Mark Center, the April 2025 Nummis Nova flock sported Mike Packard, Wayne Homren, Host: Robert Hoppensteadt, Eric Schena, Dave Schenkman, Guest: Greg Bennick, Guest: Kellen Hoard, Jon Radel, Chris Neuzil, and behind these iPhone pics, Tom Kays. Amazing numismatic items were shown and discussed as is the norm for this merry group. Here are samples of some of the delicacies

The finest and most complete collection of Admiral George Dewey (1837 - 1917) tokens including this 'C. H. Hanson - Engraver and Medalist' Token from Chicago. Admiral Dewey explored a run for the Democratic Presidential Nomination in 1900.

Twenty-Five Cent Check from Kents Store, (1868 - 1947) Fluvanna County, Virginia - Kents Store was a general mercantile establishment catering to tobacco wagon traffic heading for the James River Canal that sold household goods, pharmaceuticals, and fertilizer.

Very large (dinner-plate size) cast-iron medal given for ten years participation in reporting Finnish, Dynamic Regional Sector Agricultural Productivity to help manage efficient choices in aggregate production control

1899 Santa Rita - Twenty-Five Cents Note of J. B. Gilchrist & Dawson Inc. (operated in Grant County, New Mexico Territory from April 1899 - August 1899) in PMG Choice Uncirculated-64 condition, ex: John J. Ford Collection. This may be a unique example.

Also passed around were old and new literature including:

Many more fascinating items passed by as dinner progressed but were not captured at that time in pictures including:

The Connecticut Collection February 1975
Most of the numismatic literature was mine. Mike Packard brought the new Randy Clark book on The Connecticut Collection. Here are some of my photos.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
NEW BOOK: THE CONNECTICUT COLLECTION(https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n14a05.html)

More Photos
The off-center 1873 Arrows Dime was what I'd bought from Greg at the Baltimore show. Here's the PCGS photo.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY: MARCH 30, 2025(https://www.coinbooks.org/v28/esylum_v28n13a21.html)

Gilchrist & Dawson Scrip
Dave Schenkman writes:

Admiral Dewey Storecards
Dave Schenkman writes:

Dave adds:

It was great to see everyone, and a pleasure to rummage through some great numismatic material. Conversations I was part of (or in earshot of) included ancient coins depicting architecture, coin auctions, Finnish and Swedish medals, error coin prices, and life advice from one's elders.Another great evening of numismatic fellowship. 'til next month!