Nummis Nova has resumed meeting in person. We dined at an old favorite, Southside 815, serving Southern Comfort Food in Alexandria, Virginia, on the third Tuesday in May. Nine hardy souls braved this dining experience, tempted by the on special that night, among other wonderful selections.

The left side of the table seems alarmed, not only that the right side of the table has been served first, but that the won't wait politely for everyone to be served before with eyes on the prize, ignore the but do bring cutlery to hand, ready for action should butter dish conflict ensue. It has been a long time since we all dined together. Sorry about the time slip in the pictures. Truly it was wonderful to see each other and get out of the house.

Starting on the left are regulars Mike, Robert, Wayne and Chris, (seen with menus before ordering) and then Steve, (Wayne's guest Pat Parkinson who is a local author of a new book about John S. Dye and his Counterfeit Detectors), Dave, and Jon, all well served a wee bit later. Behind the camera was Tom. Aaron our host did not attend in person but supported us virtually.

In the mood lighting of our fine restaurant, many fascinating objets d'art numismatique passed by, dimly seen but dearly held, and difficult to capture on an iPhone camera; so, I will describe many of them as best I recall. Ask the editor if you want to know more of the story behind these items of distinction. These are typical of what is brought to table at Nummis Nova dinners, none are likely to be repeated:

We leave it as an exercise for the reader to determine which island or island chain is associated witheach numismatic item. As an aid to you sleuths, we list all the islands represented alphabetically, (butwith a few extra to keep you on your sandy toes):

Azores, Barbados, Bermuda, British West Indies, Cuba, Curacao, Danish West Indies, Dominica, Ireland (The Emerald Isle), Isle de France, Isle of Man, Jamaica, Martinique, Prince Edward Island, Santo Domingo, Tobago, Windward Islands.

I hope your in-person numismatic events begin again and bring you much enjoyment as do these simple dinners. Here's to your health, wealth, and good humor, and to friends far and near, may your pockets embrace old money and your bottles brim with beer.

New Books
I brought Pat's John Dye book, but the one passed around the table was his copy. The book provides strong evidence that John S. Dye and conspiracy theorist John Smith Dye were one and the same, answering a query that Pete Smith posed in The E-Sylum in 2001.

I also brought a fresh copy of Minting, Printing & Counterfeiting.Love the title - wish I'd thought that up. See the links below for more information on the books.

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
JOHN S. DYE AND JOHN SMITH DYE - SAME PERSON?(https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v09n37a07.html)
JOHN S. DYE AND HIS COUNTERFEIT DETECTORS(https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n19a07.html)
NEW BOOK: MINTING PRINTING & COUNTERFEITING(https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n21a03.html)

BEP Portrait Engraver Ken Kipperman

I have a small collection of notes signed by Bureau of Engraving and Printing portrait engravers. This was signed for me remotely during the pandemic by retired engraver Ken Kipperman.

1865 Jewish Orphanage Medal

I also brought along this nice 1865 silver medal from the Netherlands made to celebrate the opening of the Jewish Orphanage. The photo is courtesy Shanna Schmidt who donated it to the American Numismatic Society for their 2021 Gala, where I managed to win it in a raffle. It's a hefty piece and very impressive in person.

1865 National Bronze Picture Gallery Portrait MedallionsCoincidentally, one topic I brought up at dinner were the two massive 1865 portrait medallions from the National Bronze Picture Gallery by Franklin B. Simmons in the Stacks Bowers June 2021 auction. Lots 1087 (Ulysses S. Grant) and 1088 (Philip H. Sheridan). Note that the online lot descriptions include much more information than the printed catalogs. See an article elsewhere in this issue for more about the National Bronze Picture Gallery.

To read the lot descriptions, see:
1865 Portrait Medallion of Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant. By Franklin B. Simmons. Bronze. Choice Extremely Fine.(https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-RELU9/1865-portrait-medallion-of-lieutenant-general-ulysses-s-grant-by-franklin-b-simmons-bronze-choice-extremely-fine)
1865 Portrait Medallion of Major General Philip Henry Sheridan. By Franklin B. Simmons. Bronze. Choice Extremely Fine.(https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-RELUI/1865-portrait-medallion-of-major-general-philip-henry-sheridan-by-franklin-b-simmons-bronze-choice-extremely-fine)

American Medal of the Year Winners

Jon Radel showed up with the 1st and 2nd place winners in the American Medallic Sculptors Association (AMSA) 2021 American Medal of the Year (AMY) competition.

LEFT: George Floyd, Black Lives Matter by Jeanne Stevens-Sollman
RIGHT: John Lewis by Jim Licaretz

Both great medals. The John Lewis piece is very light, being made from bonded bronze. Powerful portrait.

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
2021 AMSA MEDAL OF THE YEAR WINNERS(https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n16a26.html)
LOOSE CHANGE: MAY 16, 2021 : Judging the Medal of the Year(https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n20a34.html)

Tokens Struck Over 1863 Indian CentsSteve Bishop writes:

Boston Eastern Railroad Transportation Tokens Dave Schenkman brought a number of interesting items. Here are a couple rare Boston transportation tokens.

Dave writes:

Oswego, Kansas Alexander McCully Transportation Tokens

Dave writes:

Philadelphia Jones Exchange Hotel

Dave writes:

Kanawha Salt Company $10 Note

Dave writes:

Ancient Architecture on Coins
Robert Hoppensteadt exhibited a couple nice ancient coins and provided these descriptions.

LAODIKEIA AM LYKOS. Pseudo-autonomous. AE medallion of 36mm (22.38g). Time of Antoninus Pius, 138 - 161 A.D. coined under Fr. Claudius Attalos, who donated the emission. Ob.: - draped bust of the Gerusia with veil pulled over the back of the head n. r. Rs.: . RPC IV.2, 11599 (temporary) this coin! Martin, Demos II, 241, 1290; Extremely rare, only this example in RPC

Peter Weiss Collection, Kiel, acquired between 1967 and 2015.

P. Claudius Attalos was the son of the famous orator Polemon of Smyrna. Like his father, he was a sophist and a citizen of both Smyrna and Laodikeia.

COLOPHON. Valerian i, 253 - 260 A.D. AE Large Bronze x 32mm (17.58g). Strategos Ael. Pail(...) Kallinikos. V.: - Draped Armored Bust with Laurel Wreath n. r. Rs.: Tetrastyle temple, within which statue of Apollo Klarios seated l.; across field in front of temple, beneath which bull advances r. toward a lighted altar. In foregound, the thirteen cities of the Ionian league, each with hand raised and holding wreath(?)(Klazomenai, Kolophon, Ephesus, Erythrai, Lebedos, Milet, Myous, Phokaia, Priene, Teos, Chios, Samos and Smyrna), Milne, Colophon 263; BMC 60. R!

Image of the assembly of the thirteen cities of the Ionian Coinon in the sanctuary of Apollon Klarios at Kolophon.

Closing Thoughts
Many thanks to everyone for their photos and notes.It was great to meet Pat Parkinson, a former economist with the Federal Reserve, and of course great to see our regulars in person.The food was top-notch; I didn't even finish my dessert, and when I got home I felt so full I could do little else but call it a night. A great evening of numismatic fellowship it was. I'm already looking forward to June.