Since last month's Nummis Nova was a week late due to the ANA convention, the September meeting of my Northern Virginia numismatic social group seemed to come around early. On Tuesday September 8th I arrived at Clyde's of Tyson's Corner, a longtime favorite restaurant in a quite enclave amid the bustling Tyson's area.

Before I could get out of my car I spotted Howard Daniel, who was my partner in hosting this month. He'd done all the work, scouting various restaurant before deciding on Clyde's. He was there early to check on our table. All as in order, but he had to leave to pick up his guest Hung Vinh Nguyen at the nearby Metro Station. Howard adds:

I headed inside and was the first person seated at our long table. I'd barely read thru the menu when Dave Schenkman and GeneBrandenburg arrived. Gene took a seat to my left and Dave sat across from him. Next came Ron Abler, who took a seat to my right.

Gene ordered a bottle of Virginia wine on a lark, and later regretted it. I asked his help in picking a red wine, and he recommended one from Chile. I ordered a bottle to share. Gene liked it so much he ordered a second bottle. It was indeed good. Other attendees soon arrived, including Joe Levine, Eric Schena, Tom Kays, Roger Burdette, Joe Esposito, Julian Leidman, Steve Bishop, Jon Radel, Chris Neuzil and Wayne Herndon, who arrived loaded with three boxes of books and supplies from his Wizard Coin Supply business, deliveries of preordered merchandise.

Coal & Mining Scrip

Dave Schenkman brought along some very rare scrip notes relating to coal and iron mining. He writes:

Dave writes:

Hobos With Banjos
Dave also brought along some interesting hobo nickels with a banjo theme. He writes:

Dave writes:

Dave adds:

Note that Dave's business is the Turtle Hill Banjo Company.

The Virginia Tokens Book
Joe Esposito reported that...

Bishop's Beauties
Steve Bishop brought along an interesting group of items starting with these overstruck Russian coppers. Thanks for the images! As always, you should be able to click on these and see a larger mage on our Flickr photo archive.

Neat "Teddy Bear" item. And you don't often see silver dollars carved this way.

Conversations were all over the map, numismatic and non-numismatic. No one was bored - how could you be? The numismatic material always delights and amazes, and the company is unrivalled.

Zimbabwe Bond Coins

Jon Radel stumped just about everyone but me with this group of Zimbabwe Bond coins. Jon writes:

Vail Medal Postal Cover

Jon also had an interesting and unusual postal cover with a numismatic connection. He writes:

Numismatic Mentoring
Before breaking up for the evening, me, Eric, Jon, Tom, Wayne and I discussed plans for numismatic mentoring sessions with our local senior young numismatists. In addition to bull sessions we talked about field trips to various locations including my numismatic library, the Wizard warehouse, the Smithsonian collection and offices, and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Later I thought about the National Archives, where the kids could research a numismatic topic for a school project. We're very lucky to have so many great options right in this area. Other ideas included having the kids make presentations to the younger kids. We're looking forward to the next phase of our local numismatic outreach program.

That was the end of our evening together, but I had one more numismatic adventure waiting for me.

Max and the Mini-Maxen
On Friday a mystery package arrived, a gift from E-Sylum reader Nick Graver. In it was something for each of us - my wife and ourthree kids. We were surprised and delighted when we found individual ceramic figurines in the likeness of our dog Maximillian, a black Yorkie-Poo.His dog-loving wife Marilyn had asked for photos which I'd shared with her a couple months earlier.

Each of the five figures was a mini-Max in a different position. Mine was reading a coin book! My wife's Max was chewing on a coin book. She said, "They got that right!" - she's no numismatic bibliophile. One was rolled onto his back awaiting a belly rub, a familiar position for Max.

The figures are a delightful keepsake, and must have taken a good while to design and make. Thanks, Nick! My wife has plans to array the group of them together in a curio cabinet.