Presidential candidates show interest in numismatics • In the upcoming election things look well for coin collecting, as candidates are clamoring for more change. (Rita Laws in Coin World)

Information center needed • A recent article in the Wall Street Journal discussed coins, showed an 1879 Morgan silver dollar valued at $3,000 (nothing said about mintmark, if any, or grade), and seemed to confuse collector-type coins with bullion coins. It is probably the rule, not the exception, when the popular press writes about numismatics, they turn out articles that are misinformed or incomplete. Needed: a media clearinghouse for numismatic information.

Speaking of media… The Ship of Gold program on the Discovery Channel, a fine documentary detailing the discovery of the treasure of the S.S. Central America (and with some familiar numismatic characters shown, including Bob Evans, Dwight Manley, and Dave Bowers, among others), seems to be a perennial favorite. It is shown regularly and seems to be a workhorse in the channel’s stable of popular programs.

Discussions of coin grading never go out of style, it seems. Recently, the Heritage sale of the Walter Husak 1794 cents, a very nice production, gave four expert opinions on the grade of each coin, often varying widely. In a discussion of this in Penny-Wise, editor Dr. Harry Salyards cited the example of a 1796 cent, Sheldon-81, with these evaluations: PCGS MS-63, Del Bland MS-60, William Noyes AU-50, and cataloguer Mark Borckardt AU-55. Large cent specialists are aware of wide differences and study the coin itself, rather than the grade applied, and bid or buy accordingly. But pity the person who does not seek information, and misses a good opportunity if he/she will only pay an AU-50 price, or pity the person who bids an MS-63 price, if other experts believe the coin is AU. The answer: Learn about grading on your own, and consider carefully all coins you contemplate purchasing. This is may not be necessary if you are buying modern Proof sets, commemoratives, and the like from the U.S. Mint, but if early American coppers, colonials, Capped Bust half dollars, and other classics are your forte, then learning about grading is a must. Along the way is a challenge, which most of us agree is one of the most delightful aspects of numismatics!

We didn’t know that more Buick automobiles are sold in China than in the United States. (Business Week)

A Guide Book about the Guide Bookis being planned by Whitman Publishing Company, we hear tell (and word of it has reached the eSylum website and elsewhere). It will tell the fascinating history of A Guide Book of United States Coins from the first issue in 1946 (cover date 1947) down to modern times. Lots of interesting anecdotes will be included, we understand. “Books about books” are a rather scarce category in numismatics, although Emmanuel J. Attinelli, John W. Adams, Charles Davis and a few others have contributed to this genre.

Is Will Shortz a numismatist? • The distinguished editor of the New York Times crossword puzzles often drops in numismatic clues. Wonder if he collects them? We do know that Donna Loring, wife of long-time numismatist Denis Loring, is a “cruciverbalist,” or crossword puzzle constructor. In one of her puzzles, CHAINAMERI was an answer. (If you are not a large cent specialist, this refers to the 1793 Chain AMERI. variety, the first coin in the series.)

Looking ahead • It’s not too early to plan to come to Orlando next January to attend Stack’s grand auction (consignments now being accepted) and to stay to attend, beginning January 10th, the annual Florida United Numismatists Convention. Speaking of Orlando, we read the other day that the admissions are up in the Disney theme parks, nice news to read (for a change) on the financial page.

Error spelling on a modern U.S. coin • Did you know that the reverse of the 2005 Jefferson nickel has the inscription spelled in error as: OCEAN IN VIEW? It does, and offhand that would seem okay. However, the inscription is quoted from the journals of Lewis and Clark, and in the original it was spelled as OCIAN. Or, it was misspelled OCIAN. The Mint realized this and decided to change history, as it was felt that spelling it as OCIAN would bring criticism from all but knowledgeable historians.

Sources • Your editor (QDB) reads Science and Nature magazines each week, or at least skims them (this applying to some of the abstruse essays). Probably more than any other two periodicals, these interesting publications serve as basic sources for a lot of information widely published elsewhere. In another category, the British-based magazine, The Economist continues to be one of our must-read weeklies. It is bulging with advertising and seems to be very healthy, while Newsweek and Time both seem to be anemic in advertising content. Perhaps it is because so much space is devoted to lives of presidential candidates and “news’ that most of us have already picked up in newspapers or TV. In contrast, The Economist does short takes on such people and prefers to spend its time on insightful commentaries on matters worldwide.

Wow! This is a good word to describe the Husky Collection, so named by the consignor, filled with dazzling “type” coins, now being worked on by Stack’s staff experts. Stay tuned!

A Wooton patent desk is perhaps one of the most “Victorian” of all pieces of furniture. A contraption par excellence, it opens up two side cabinets, which swing to the left and right to reveal the writing surface. Dozens of compartment and pigeonholes are everywhere. The Smithsonian Institution had an exhibit on them, as did the Oakland Museum and the Indiana State Museum and published a booklet. A 1983 book, Wooton Patent Desk, tells all. Queen Victoria used one as did President Rutherford B. Hayes. In numismatics, Eric P. Newman and his wife Evelyn each have one, Dave Bowers does too, and in a recent visit to see a private collection in the South, lo and behold!--There was a Wooton desk right next to a Regina music box.