After work Tuesday May 10, 2016 I pointed my car toward downtown Alexandria, VA for the monthly meeting of Nummis Nova, my Northern Virginia numismatic social club. Aaron Packard was our host, and the venue was Southside 815 at 815 S. Washington street.

I was the first to arrive at about 5:30pm. As the staff set up our table Eric Schena arrived. We sat down and began chatting. I ordered a draft beer and showed Eric some new books I'd brought along.

Regulars Julian Leidman, Joe Leidman and Gene Brandenburg were unable to make it. Seated across from me and Eric were Dave Schenkman and Jon Radel. To my right was Robert Hoppensteadt. Other attendees included Tom Kays, Joe Esposito, Lenny Goldberg, our host Aaron Packard, Steve Bishop, Mike Packard and Wayne Herndon.

My companions brought along a great range of interesting material for display, and they kindly shared images and descriptions. So I'm turning the rest of my diary over the them, the numismatic mavens of the evening.

Eric Schena: Bank of Virginia $50 Note

Eric's 1859 Bank of Virginia $50 note is a rare issued example of a higher-denomination note. Most genuine higher-denomination notes got redeemed, leaving for collectors only printer's proofs and counterfeits.

Eric adds:

Jon Radel: Medals of the Guild of Medallic Art in Finland

Jon writes:

Steve Bishop: Medals and An Overstruck 5 Kopecks
Steve has also become a fan of Finnish medals, and he brought some interesting examples.

I like these Art Deco era aviation medals. They're not all about Lindbergh.

Steve writes:

Robert Hoppensteadt: Bronze coin from Caesarea ad Libanum in Phoenicia

Robert writes:

I too, like ancient coins featuring architecture, but have never collected them. Nice piece.

Joe Esposito: Upton Sinclair Satire Note

Joe writes:

Tom Kays: Washington Medal

Tom writes:

And More...

Tom Kays supplied these images of other items that graced our table.

Tom adds:

My beer got warm before I finished it. I switched to soft drinks. Dinner was good. I visited with Tom Kays, Joe Esposito and Wayne Herndon before heading home around 9 o'clock. As always, it was a fun night of numismatic fellowship. Looking forward to next time!