On Tuesday I made my way after work to the Mad Fox Brew House in Falls Church, VA for themonthly dinner meeting of my numismatic social club, Nummis Nova. I arrived at 6pm and picked aspot across the tale from Jon Radel, who'd been the first to arrive. The meeting would be alittle smaller than usual - regulars Gene Brandenburg, Aaron Packard and Joe Levine were allsidelined for health issues, and Roger Burdette had a family health matter to attend to.

The table soon filled up though. Joining us were Ron Abler, Dave Schenkman, Tom Kays, SteveBishop, Mike Packard, Eric Schena, Julian Leidman, Wayne Herndon, and Howard Daniel. Soon thefinely crafted microbrews and conversation were flowing freely.

I started by telling Eric Schena how I'd seen his profile in The Numismatist. Ipassed around my copy of the issue for everyone to see, then gave it to him so he'd have ahardcopy. There goes my complete set... (Not to worry, though - two members have offered up theircopies as a replacement).

I also passed around my latest numismatic acquisition, an unawarded medal from the SwedishCarnegie Hero Fund (an eBay purchase). I've made a minor specialty of these, and was glad to beable to pick this one up.

Dave Schenkman had three nice British medals. He provided the following images and captions.Thanks!

Dave said he'd set these aside many years ago after buying a collection at a coin show. Itold him I wished I owned half of the coins, tokens and medals he'd forgotten he had.

I'd forgotten to ask him another question that had been on my mind since hearing an old songon the radio. Dave's a banjo expert, and I wondered how it was the predominant instrument inThe Who's Squeezebox, a song ostensibly about a woman playing an accordion, is a banjo.Ah, the Mysteries of Life...

Another interesting group of coins passed around was this set of three gold Celestons (1959,1960, 1961). See Tom Kays' article elsewhere in this issue for more background information.These got us into a conversation about micronations in general, and Tom was a fountain ofinformation thanks to his recent reading of a do-it-yourself book on "How to Start Your OwnCountry ". We came up with the alternate title "Micronation Statecraft ForDummies"

You might guess by that advanced point in the evening's festivities that selections of finelycrafted microbrews were flowing freely, making some of us see micronation statecraft in anespecially attractive light, as though seen through "beer goggles." Now some of thedinner party did not drink, so I leave it to you to decide which among us naturally tend to see theworld tinted through "beer goggles." Not a bad thing, right?"

I passed on dessert and paid my tab. It was another fine night of numismatic fellowship.'Til next time!