This week brought another meeting of my Northern Virginia numismatic social group, Nummis Nova. Mike Packard was our host, and we gathered at Esposito's, an Italian restaurant in Fairfax, VA. I arrived about 6:30 and our table was nearly full. Already there were Jon Radel, Tom Kays, Rich Licato, Ron Abler, Gene Brandenburg, Dave Schenkman, Joe Levine, Chris Neuzil, and Mike Packard.Wayne Herndon arrived shortly after I did.

The date was Tuesday, July 12th. With Bastille Day on the 14th Mike suggested a theme of French coins and medals. We had some great exhibits. One of the first items passed around was a copper 1781 Libertas Americana medal, one of perhaps 300 made, and a nice condition example at that. It was Dave Schenkman's, and he provided the following images. Thanks - great medal!

Other items included a neat shield-shaped, brass box containing a set of seven identical, 18th century C.W.B. & Co., Birmingham Gaming Tokens in the style of George III, Spade Guineas of 1790. The tokens were purchased together with the box in England and could well have been contemporary to each other. Also passed around was a framed display of French coins and tokens in use before the Bastille was liberated, many of which also could have circulated in the American colonies. Nice stuff.

Also on hand were some nice counterstamped and chopmarked coins brought in by Rich Licato. More later - see the next article in this issue for details.

Gene brought in a book for me to see. I'm not familiar with it, but perhaps an E-Sylum reader can help. Below are some images. It appears to be a collection of plates illustrating coins and medals of Britain and Scotland. It's in a 3/4 leather binding labeled "Book of Coins" on the spine. There is no text.

Another topic of discussion was the Medal of Honor, sometimes called the "Congressional Medal of Honor" and its confusion with the Congressional Gold Medal.

This prompted recollection of my part in acquiring Gen. Matthew Ridgeway's Congressional Gold Medal at a Pittsburgh estate auction on behalf of John J. Ford, Jr. The Medal of Honor is covered by the Stolen Valor Act and is illegal to sell.

The U.S. Congressional Gold Medals are not so encumbered, and Ford's Ridgeway medal was sold publicly in the Stack's sales of his collection.

Later in the week I found online a video of President Obama presenting a Medal of Honor to US Army Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry. For more information see: Medal of Honor awarded to Sergeant First Class Leroy Petry(www.longwarjournal.org/videos/2011/07/medal_of_honor_awarded_to_serg.php)

I also spoke to Jon Radel and Wayne Herndon about the kids program at the upcoming Annandale, VA coin show - next weekend, Saturday, July 23rd. I'm way behind on planning for this - we may have to wing it!

We broke up about 9 o'clock. These gatherings are a lot of fun, but also very educational. I've learned a great deal about many unusual areas of numismatics (without hardly trying)!