Tuesday, February 20, 2024 was the meeting night ofNummis Nova, my Northern Virginia numismatic social group.Steve Bishop was our host - he pickedAkasaka Japanese Restaurant in Manassas.Other attendees includedJon Radel, Eric Schena, Dave Schenkman, Mike Packard, Mike Markowitz, Lorne LaVertu, my guest Jonas Denenberg.

I brought along my newly acquired 2001 book Nobel Medals, The Royal Coin Cabinet by Lars O. Lagerqvist, which had been mentioned earlier by John Sallay. I also passed around a new Jovita Idar quarter that I'd found in circulation. Interesting and unusual design.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
GOLD NOBEL PRIZE MEDAL EBAY FIND(https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n04a25.html)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
LOOSE CHANGE: OCTOBER 1, 2023 : Jovita Idar, Methodist Social Reformer(https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n40a28.html)

Aluminum Cyrus Field Medal
Dave Schenkman brought an amazing item that was too delicate to pass around, and he provided these images afterwards - a Cyrus Field medal in aluminum. While Field's name is little known today, he was responsible for the greatest technological success of his day, the laying of the transatlantic telegraph cable. Field crossed the ocean over 50 times, working past failure after failure in accomplishing the crowning achievement of his life. He recieved a Congressional gold medal, and multiple countries around the world honored him as well.

Dave writes:

Remember, while aluminum is an inexpensive coining material today, it was still exotic and expensive in the 1860s. These aluminum pieces were quite large and valuable. As noted in recent discussions, the original case is an important part of the complete package.

Communications which once traveled as letters aboard slow-moving ships now crossed the ocean at he speed of a telegraph operator's fingers, and a major part of today's internet follows Field's path. I live in Northern Virginia, the data center capital of the world, connected by fiber optic cables that run underground past my neighborhood, along old railroad rights of way past Baltimore, New York, Boston and on to where they cross the ocean between Nova Scotia and Ireland, the closest landing points between the two continents.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
THE CYRUS FIELD MEDAL(https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v19n46a23.html)
THE 1868 CYRUS FIELD CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL(https://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n50a24.html)
MORE ON CYRUS FIELD MEDALS(https://www.coinbooks.org/v20/esylum_v20n51a12.html)

Steve's Beauties
Steve Bishop showed off a number of U.S. coins, including some nice proofs and toners. He supplied this selection of photos. Thanks!

1931 Gold 50 Lira
Mike Markowitz showed off this nice 1931 gold 50 Lira piece.

Civil War Scrip
Eric Schena brought a familiar Civil War scrip note.

Eric writes:

Congratulations on a great purchase! Nice piece.

I also had nice conversations with Jonas Denenberg about his cross-country coin-buying jaunts and other business ventures. It was another great evening of numismatic fellowship.

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
SOUTHERN STATES BANKNOTE ALBUM(https://www.coinbooks.org/v26/esylum_v26n53a24.html)
NOTES FROM E-SYLUM READERS: JANUARY 7, 2024 : Charles Broadway Rouss of Winchester, VA(https://www.coinbooks.org/v27/esylum_v27n01a10.html)