Although Mutt had prearranged with Jeff to meet as usual at the flea market, he did not check his e-mail before leaving. Therefore he missed the message from Jeff who was out of commission due to a head cold. It's two weeks before Christmas 2003, in Florida and it is no time to catch something like this. But, at lease, it is not the flu, which is going all around the country,

Mutt after waiting a few minutes, set out to find numismatic treasures. Not much at first, then a nice lady had a bronze coins from Spain, 500 Pesetas 1988, on the obverse portraits of King Carlos and Sofia, a commerative of their Wedding Anniversary. Along with coin, the dealer gave him another coin, when he told her it was play money – an Eisenhower Dollar about 5mm in size.

Mutt finally came across some one selling coins, mostly U.S. He did have three crowns, over priced, but Mutt needed something for the story, so he added them to his numismatic treasures; Silver 10 Mark from Germany 1972 F mint mark. It was an Olympic Commerative. Next, a Rubble from USSR with Lenin's portrait for his Centennial 1870 –1970 and finally a 1977 crown – 25 New Pence of Great Britain showing Queen Elizabeth II on horseback for her Silver Jubilee (but the coin is not silver and only worth 60 ¢).

Still looking for foreign coins, Mutt came across a little dish of these and game tokens. Not much of interest but he picked up two English coppers; two different portraits of the Queen; 2 New Pence 1971 and 2 Pence 1988. Value 10¢ each, cost two bits.

Finally Mutt hit pay dirt – a most interesting piece of exonumia – issued in 1926 by the Title Insurance and Trust Company Los Angles, California. The cover printed by the American Bank Note Company with their usual fine detail on the engravings.

This was acquired from a pretty wife of the dealer, who had a very young baby girl all wrapped up in a pink blanket in her arms. She took Mutt's offer of $2. vs. the dealers price of $3.

From the same dealer who had several spaces, Mutt finally made the find of the day! Purchasing it at a nice price, he knew it was interesting as the silver crown made into a low wine dish was dated 1814 and looked like it was Portuguese. Upon arriving home and consulting his library the coin turned out to be from Brazil 960 Reis, the mounting is defiantly silver, probably near sterling, a unique antique.

The last items of a five-hour walking around spree, were two 25¢ books; Pan Am’s 1969 Guide to The Caribbean. The other 1934 reprint of Essays & Belles-letters. The first listed the currency in use of each Latin American country in 1969, i.e. "Venezuela – There are 100 centimos in a Bolivar. Worth 22 cents in U.S. money or conversely 4.50 bolivars make one dollar." And "Bolivia The new peso boliviano is valued at about $b12 to U.S.$1. Prices, however are often quoted in old bolivianos, and old bolivianos bills still circulate at 1/1000 of their face value".

The second book had as a bookmark, an unused postcard from Cuba of the National Hotel.