WBCC Newsmail 177, Volume 5, January 1, 2000
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Composed with help from members of the
Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club (WBCC)
and weekly published by Martin Peeters, Netherlands,
Focal Point of the WBCC, martinp@westbrabant.net
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Dear WBCC members and non WBCC members,

Let me start this new year 2000 with: A Happy (Bi-metallic) New Year (US,
UK, Canada), Een Gelukkig Nieuwjaar (Netherlands), Kodt nytt år (Norway),
Head Uut Aastat (Estland), Onnellista Uuta Vuottai (Finland), Shana Tova
(Israel), Ein gutes Neues Jahr (Germany), Felice anno nuovo (Italy), Feliz
Año Nuevo (Spain), Saehae Bok Mani Baduseyo (Korea), Boldog Uj Evet
(Hungary), chastlivogo Novogo Goda (Russia), Bonne et heureuse nouvelle
année (France), Godt nytår (Danmark), Statstny Novy rok (Slovakia),
Szczesliwego Nowego Roku (Poland) to ALL and from ALL WBCC members.

This first WBCC Newsmail in 2000 is really great.
I hope you enjoy reading it !!

1. 1999 Favorite Bi-(or Tri-)metallic contest (1)..by Martin Peeters

At the end of this WBCC Newsmail you can read the result of the contest:
Favorite Bi- or Tri-metallic of 1999. And the winner is...

2. Bi-metallic Slovenia Euros....by Stanislav Stiblar, Slovenia

I'm sending you a description of new Euros (can be seen in the WBCC
Homepage, http://www.geocities.com/RodeoDrive/7513/wbcc/wbcc.html) from
Slovenia:

Nr.1: 80 Year of The Institution Of The SHS
After the end of Austrohungarian monarchy, in 1919, a new country was
formed - a state of Slovenians, Croatians and Serbs that is all the people
on the ex territory of K&K monarchy. It lasted a short period and after the
annexation of Serbia and Montenegro it became the Kingdom of Serbs,
Croatians and Slovenes and later the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The obverse
shows >Verigarji< - a man with a torn chain by Ivan Vaupotic, the same
motive as the stamps from that time.

Nr.2: 80 Years of The Union of the Prekmurje with the Homeland (Slovenia)
This was a very important act in the history of Slovenia, it brought the
people and the territory of Prekmurje back to their origins and their long
struggle and suffering was duly awarded. The obverse shows a stork, flying
to the right with years of 1919 and 1999 on either side.

Nr. 3: 50 Years of the Annextation of the part of the territory of Primorska
This coin should be issued by The comitee for commemorative coins of the
National bank of Slovenia in 1997 when this very important anniversary was
celebrated, but the Government of Slovenia did not officialy confirm this
decision. This is the reason why this coin is so important, and even more
so, since it was made before the end of this millenium. The obverse shows a
star (in a composition with the years of 1947 and 1997), which is the same
star drawn by the courageous activists of the >Liberation front< in
Primorska.

Nr. 4: 150 Years of the United Slovenia
This coin should also be issued by the decision of The comitee for
commemorative coins of the National bank of Slovenia but the Government of
Slovenia also did not agree with this, probably afraid of reactions of our
neighbouring countries - Italy, Croatia and Austria. The obverse shows the
map of united Slovenian territories drawn by Kozler (He issued this map in
1864 in Vienna and spent time in prison because of that)and into it is
incorporated the silhouette of the >Duke's throne<.

Nr. 5: 1250 Years of the written Slovene word - The Cedad Script
This is the writing on the altar in Cedad and it dates back to the year 749.
It says that the duke Racis went to serve God - meaning he gave up his reign
and went to convent - all of which is of course written in Slovene language;
this writing is actually 250 older than the famous >Brizinski Spomeniki<
that is historically acknowledged as the first written Slovene text. The
government also did not agree to issue this coin (although The comitee for
commemorative coins of the National bank of Slovenia decided to do so)
obviously because of the political pressure of the pre 2. W W history, a
pressure which influence unfortunately stretched as far as the
interpretation of historic events. The obverse shows a part of the altar
with the writing >Racisova< on the above and >ara< below it.

Nr. 6: Millenium
This is a coin commemorating this historic moment - a coin which many the
countries of the world have issued except Slovenia. The obverse shows the
year 2000 and the writing >Millenium<.

All the coins-tokens are Bi-metallic, the middle is brass and around it is
stainless steel (C4850); The manufacturer is Zlatarstvo graverstvo Kranj,
Kandijska 22, Novo mesto. Edition is 2000 pieces of each coin; each coin has
a writing REPUBLIKA SLOVENIJA-TRIJE EVRI (meaning: The republic of
Slovenia - three euros), with a simbolic picture of euro with a number
three. The design for all the coins is by Zmago Jelincic and the price is 3
euros or the equivalent in any foreign currency. They can be bought through:

Stanislav Stiblar
Celovska 138
1000 Ljubljana,
Slovenija

Tel/FAX: 00 386 61 1593 002
Mobilr: 00 386 41686 041
E-mail: masta.stiblar@siol.net

3. Bi-metallic Croatia 25 Kuna 1999... By Stanislav Stiblar, Slovenia

Croatia did issued on December 29th. the new Bi-metallic 25 Kuna . Same
design like before just new type on it. Big letter E with 12 stars. Price is
8 US$. If you are interest contact me. E-mail: masta.stiblar@siol.net

4. Bi-metallic Singapore 5 Dollar 2000 circulation piece...by Larry Friemel

Refering to WBCC Newsmail 175 item 3, about the Singapore Bi-metallic 5
Dollars 2000 circulation piece, I did send a note to the Singapore Mint:
--Quote
I notice you have in your web shop a listing for a $5 aluminum bronze and
cupro-nickel bi-metallic 2000 millennium coin. It says there is a
circulating variety, but no price is listed. Please let me know its
availability.
--Unquote

Singapore Mint Response:
--Quote
Please note that $5 circulated coin will be on sale only at our exhibition
at Suntec City Tropics Atrium on 5 - 14 Jan 2000. Rds. -- Jasmine
--Unquote

5. Bi-metallic tokens from a Dutch City...by Frans Dubois, Netherlands

A few months ago the Dutch city Driebergen-Rijsenburg issued a Bi-metallic
MTT called "De Noot". Now there is a complete set of six Bi-metallic tokens
(included "De Noot") with the same reverse and with a monument at the other
side. You can see a picture of the set in the WBCC Homepage. If you want
this set please contact me at: mailto:dubois.f@wxs.nlso that I can order this set
before it is sold out.

6. Bi-metallic Easterling Lumber token...by Cliff Anderson, USA

Like many of the places of origin of other US bimetal trade tokens between
1900 and 1930, Ora, MS, no longer exists. But it does show on a 1960 map of
Mississippi, in Covington County, just north of Collins on the highway
between Hattiesburg and Jackson. At that time it had a population of 95
people (probably all employed in the Easterling Lumber Co.) It doesn't
appear on a map dated 1880, and the Schenkman Bi-metallic trade token
catalog says the company was established in 1902.

7. Bi-metallic Gibraltar 2 pounds by.....Frans Dubois, Netherlands

At the end of this year, century, millenium, the 8th coin of Bi-metallic two
pounds Gibraltar, "The Mares of Diomedes" is issued now. The next 4
Bi-metallics coins in this series will come out in 2000.

8. Bi-metallics from France..by Martin Peeters, Netherlsands

From Michel Prieur (Non WBCC member), France, I received the following
message:

Here are some links on bimetallic official trial coins we have in our next
MBS :
http://www.cgb.fr/monnaies/vso/v06/v060024.html: Lot 240, one side
silver, one side gold, heart in copper.
http://www.cgb.fr/monnaies/vso/v06/v060055.html: Lot 545, copper
plus a security wire in silver
http://www.cgb.fr/monnaies/vso/v06/v060088.html: Lot 872, center in
silver and circle in bronze
http://www.cgb.fr/monnaies/vso/v06/v060341.html: seven coins
These are the very rare ones. there are so others in the sale, but
standard issues.
--Unquote

--Remark: Pictures of all the mentioned Bi- and Tri-metallics are also in
the WBCC Homepage:

9. Bi-metallic Christmas presents...by Rod Sell, Australia

On the WBCC Home Pages you will see 2 Bi-metallics that I received as
Christmas Presents. These are a French Advertising Piece which is moe an
inlay item and a US 50 Cent Trade Token from Fribley's Department Store of
Bourbon Indiana.

I was really surprised when I opened the gift from my Daughter as these were
items I had bid on in ebay and lost. I now know she had monitored the items
I was bidding on to make sure she purchased coins that I wanted. For years
we have had a private joke. When ever I was asked what I wanted for
Christmas I would always answer a coin. Well I got them this Christmas. Now
I want them also for the New Year.

10. New Bi-metallic images......by Rod Sell, WBCC Homepage Provider

This weeks new pictures in the WBCC Homepage:
(http://www.geocities.com/RodeoDrive/7513/wbcc/wbcc.html)

* Netherlands 6 Driebergen Monument Tokens
* Slovenia Historic Euros
* US 5 Cent Trade Token from Easterling Lumber of Ora  Mississippi
* 1994 20 Franc Essai
* 1935 25 Franc Essai Aluminium Ring & Silver Centre
* 1935 25 Franc Essai Silver Ring & Aluminium Centre
* 1935 25 Franc Essai Aluminium Rin & Copper Centre
* 1935 25 Franc Essai Copper Ring & Silver Centre
* 1935 25 Franc Essai Copper Ring & Aluminium Centre
* 1935 25 Franc Essai Copper Ring & Brass Centre
* 1935 25 Franc Essai Brass Ring & Copper Centre
* An Unknown Token
* Portugal 1989 100 Escudos error
* Macau 1999 10 Patacas
* US 50 Cent Trade Token from Fribley's Department Store of Bourbon Indiana
* France.  Encased Advertising Token from Raoul Bensimon of Paris

11. My Bi-metallic offers...Lauri Andrews (Non WBCC member), UK

We have just put our Bi-metallic offers in the new January List on our new
website http://www.airedalecoins.com/

12. My favorite Bi-(or Tri-)metallic contest (2)..by Martin Peeters,
Netherlands

Please read now the messages I received from the WBCC members about their
favorite 1999 Bi- or Tri-metallic:

*Jose Moleon, Spain:
My most beautiful Bi-(Tri-)metallic 1999 the Tri-metallic Andorra 5 Diner
1999,

* Jeff Timmons, USA:
I must admit that I had a difficult time deciding what was my favorite
Bi-(Tri-)metallic coin for 1999.  For me, it is a tie  One of the coins is
the Guernsey 5 Pound coin, honoring the Millennium. First of all, how many
coins have 2 pictures of the same person on the same side of a coin? If such
a coin exists, I do not know about it. Even without the 2 pictures
of Elizabeth, I still find the coin very attractive, especially with the
picture of the globe with the 2 hands under it. The second coin is the just
released Australia $10 coin. I was especially impressed with the relief map
of Australia. However, the combination of the copper center, silver ring,
and proof finish, makes it an absolutely lovely coin.

* Ray Lockwood, USA:
My vote for best 1999 Tri-metallic has to be the new Andorra 5 Diner coin
with its two rings and world as the center core. Just absolutely beautiful !

* Rod Sell, Australia:
My vote goes to the Andorra 1999 5 Diner Tri-metallic.

* Mário Baptista, Portugal:
My favorite 1999 Bi-metallic is Australia 10 Dollars 1999, The Past

* Federico Amor, Spain:
For me the currency but beautiful of 1999 it is that of the Bi-metallic 50
Shillings of Austria commemorating the 50 Anniversary.

* Paul Baker, UK:
My answer to this question is the Swiss Bi-metallic 5 Frank for the wine
festival - the normal version.

* Massimiliano Aiello, Italy:
My favourite Bi-metallic coins for 1999 is the Finland 10 Markkaa 1999, EU
Presidency (Gold/Silver)

* Frans Dubois, Netherlands
My favorite Bi-metallic for 1999 is the Bi-metallic 50 Shillings of Austria
commemorating the ECU.

* Martin Peeters, Netherlands
My favorite Bi-metallic 1999 is the Czech Republic 50 Korun, because its
unique combination of colors of the ring (Red colorimg) and the centre
(yellow coloring)

So the winning Bi-(Tri-)metallic is: Andorra Tri-metallic 5 Diner 1999

"See" you next week,
Martin Peeters, Focal Point of the
Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club
martinp@westbrabant.net
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The Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club
was established September 14, 1996 and is the very first Worldwide
Collectors Club using the Internet. Goal of the WBCC is exchange
Bi-metallics and exchange knowledge about Bi-metallics
WBCC Organisation:
WBCC Homepage Provider: Rod Sell, Australia, Rod.Sell@hlos.com.au
WBCC DoCu-Centre: Frans Dubois, Netherlands, dubois.f@wxs.nl
WBCC Public Relations: Cliff Anderson, USA, chander@mciworld.com
WBCC Research Centre: Paul Baker, UK, 113076.167@compuserve.com
WBCC Focal Point: Martin Peeters, Netherlands, martinp@westbrabant.net