FAR-OUT LONDON FASHIONS

Remember Carnaby Street? It was the center of London's fashion world in the 1960s. Long hair and mod clothes for men were "in." The extreme clothing featured bright colors and op-art designs. Men wore drainpipe (skinny) jeans, pointed-toe shoes, and mod suits with narrow lapels. Today the English lad in his 20s seems to be at it again. London's Financial Times pictures the latest Dickensian styles--men with upswept hair, beard and mustache, and wrinkled clothing. They're wearing waistcoats (vests), huge black overcoats, large bowties, shirts with Peter Pan collars, even torn sweaters. The most likely of these fashions to be popular outside of London are the accessories: walking sticks, watch chains with watch and fob, and key chains with charms dangling from a pants pocket. And, of course, old-fashioned tortoiseshell spectacles.

NEW LIFE FOR MEN'S VINTAGE CLOTHING

There is more interest in vintage men's clothing because of the popular TV show, "Mad Men," which shows accurate clothing and rooms from the 1960s. Many of the old styles, like shirts made for cuff links, are back in style.

DOLLAR SELLS FOR $2.3 MILLION

One of the rarest American coins, the 1804 Adams-Carter silver dollar named for two previous owners of the coin, brought $2.3 million at a Heritage Galleries auction last week. Because of the recession, the coin sold for a half-million dollars less than it would have brought last year, according to the New Jersey dealer who bought it. The 15 known 1804 silver dollars were not struck that year. The first eight were made in 1834 as gifts to foreign heads of state. Another was struck in 1857, and six more were made later--perhaps illegally by a U.S. Mint employee.

Email comment from C.G. about the Siam jewelry mentioned in the April 15 and 22 Kovels Komments: "Siamese jewelry has been made since the 1930s. It comes in at least 12 different colors." Now we're wondering if anyone can prove when Siam jewelry was first made. We have seen the 1930s, '40s, and '60s given as the decade when the jewelry was introduced. We know it was available in the 1960s.