The meetings were a success and the educational forums offered were wonderful. We would like to thank everyone involved with preparing such interesting talks for those who wished to attend. We also would like to say how much we enjoyed meeting everyone who attended the programs and the open houses. The interesting conversations available during the after hour meetings are always worth the trip. 

The official meeting of the JRCS enriched the treasury with the sale of an advance copy of member Edgar Souders upcoming book. The manuscript, Bust Half Dollar , will be available soon. Watch the pages of the JRJ for a money saving offer. The auction of the advance copy was called by co-editor Brad Karoleff. Spirited bidding ended with our treasurer Russ Logan owing $400 for the autographed manuscript. Thanks to Myron Xenos and Ken Lowe of Gold Leaf Press, and author Edgar Souders for the donation. Thanks also goes out to Russ Logan for his perseverance in being the high bidder in the auction. 

The presentation by Brad Karoleff on the hubs of the Capped Bust Half Dollars followed the auction. Slides were shown of the different Hubs used for the series and the differences were explained. Brad also presented his theory that the stars on 1834 0113 and 0114 were hubbed for the only time in the entire series. The stars on the dies for Overton 113 and 114 are in the exact same position. This could have only happened from hubbing. 

The authors of the upcoming book on half dimes told us that the project is coming along fine, but without a definite timetable for completion. They promised only to tell us next year of their progress. We all wish them luck and speed to completion. 

Another of our members, Keith Davignon, told us of the progress on his book on counterfeit half dollars. He hopes to release it through Gold Leaf Press sometime in the next year. We are all very anxious to see the finished product. Hopefully we will be able to report its availability sometime in Volume 9, along with a money savings offer to JRCS members. 

Steve Herrman also would like to remind the membership that his updated version of the half dollar prices realized list is available. He donates part of the proceeds of each sale to the treasury of the JRCS. You may order a copy direct from Steve at 2817 South Jay Street, Denver, CO 80227 for $15.00. Your co-editors are always referring to their copies and have just received expanded editions. 

Also, for those interested in Bust Half Dollars, your co-editor, Brad Karoleff, has co-authored Bust Half Quotes with Pierre Fricke. This is the fifth edition of the Quotes with prices on the varieties in grades from Fine through AU, and for the three levels of eye appeal of scudzy, average, and choice. The halves from 1794-1836 are covered. The cost of the book is $20 including shipping, $5 of which will be donated to the JRCS treasury. You can order by sending your check made out to Brad Karoleff to PO Box 135, Harrison, OH 45030. The donation to the JRCS treasury will be made on all orders received through the PO Box. 

JRCS would like thank Sheridan Downey for his recent membership drive on our behalf through his mailing list. We have acquired about 25 new members as of press time of this Journal. Sheridan, we all appreciate your efforts to introduce new members to the club. 

In now gives me great pleasure in announcing last years winner of the Jules Reiver Literary Award . We must first apologize for the delay in being able to announce the winner. Because of the delay in the JRJ , the votes could not be counted before the ANA and we accepted all ballots sent by the end of August. Nearly every article received at least one vote and the final tally was very close. We would also like to thank all the authors for their submissions and hope that you will all sendus something for future publication. Oh yeah, the winner of the Jules Reiver Literary Award for Volume 8 is ...David Finkelstein for his article Obverse Die Dentil Analysis, Part 1 and Part 2 . Congratulations David for a job well done. 

Now we would like to present the first contenders for the next Jules Reiver Literary Award. Ladies and Gentlemen dig in and enjoy the following pages. Maybe something you read will encourage you to send in an article you have written. Have a Merry Chistmas and a Happy New Year as this will be the last issue until after the FUN show in January. Hope to see many of you there and at the open house to be held in the Clarion Hotel on Thursday and Friday nights.