New subscribers this week include: John Allred, courtesy of Duane Feisel; and Adam Longlais. Welcome aboard! We now have 3,249 subscribers.

If you're new to The E-Sylum, you may feel like you've walked into a party where everyone is already engaged in long conversations. Well, you have. But not to worry - everyone iswelcome, and it's easy to get caught up - just check the links at the end of each article to see any earlier discussion from previous issues, and feel free to join in anytime. Just write to me ifyou have any questions or comments to add. My address is whomren@gmail.com .

This week we open with a request from the editor of our print journal The Asylum, and five new books. Other topics this week include a proposal for a database of tokens and medals,collector Colin E. King, the Orpheus plaque, insert dies, the Birch Cent, ships on coins, and money paintings.

To learn more about Lesher Dollars, gold, Dale Birdsell, bicycle bell tokens, the Atlantic Garden, the 1872 pattern Amazonian eagle, the Confederate Half Dollar restrike, the End of Pain token,Ancient Coin in Hollywood, and cuprolaminophobia, read on. Have a great week, everyone!

Wayne Homren
Editor, The E-Sylum