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The E-Sylum:  Volume 4, Number 28, July 8, 2001, Article 7

NUMISMATIC MYSTERY AUTHORS 

   On a related note, Bowers also cites some American numismatic 
   mysteries:   "A mystery, not a hoax, is the identity of the author 
   of Evans' History of the U.S. Mint. It was published by Evans, 
   but so far as I know, Evans had nothing to do with writing it.  In 
   fact, large amounts of information are the same as published 
   earlier by A.M. Smith, etc. 

   One great unexamined reserve of early American numismatic 
   information is in the Boston Evening Transcript, a.k.a. Boston 
   Transcript, circa 1857 and earlier, before the advent (in 1857) 
   of The Historical Magazine.  Apparently, Jeremiah Colburn, a 
   true scholar and genius, wrote lengthy numismatic articles in the 
   Transcript, but I have never seen them.  I have not checked with 
   either the Massachusetts Historical Society (of which I am a 
   fellow) or the American Antiquarian Society--as the pressures 
   of time have intervened--but if anyone else can find these articles, 
   I think we would all benefit. 

   Another minor mystery--perhaps the Colburn writings would 
   give clues--is who coined the terms "Booby Head" and "Silly 
   Head" for 1839 cents, such usage being in place at least by 
   the late 1850s." 

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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