WBCC Newsmail 187, Volume 5, March 11, 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,

As you think there is nothing to report on Bi- or Tri-metallics this week,
please read again a new edition of the WBCC Newsmail. I hope you enjoy
reading it !!

1. WBCC Newsmail Index.............by Rod Sell, WBCC Homepage Provider

You will notice when you look at the WBCC Home Page that we now have a
Newsmail Index.

This has been designed for the benefit of our readers. As you know when you
read your weekly Newsmail we have some very interesting articles by members
each week.

When we only had a few Newsmails it was easy to scan them for the
information required, however we now have 186 Newsmails and it is getting
difficult to find that article we read about in the past. It will take some
time to index all the 186 Newsmails and I am working back from the last
number 186. The Index is alphabetical by Country and Topic and there will be
a link to the article. Where we also have images relating to these articles
the link will also be after the image on the library page.
I hope you will find these Indexs useful when looking for information.
Please note that it will take some time to Index all 186 Newsmails as it is
a slow process, which take a lot of concentration to make sure it is done
correctly.

2. Bi-metallic Canadian $ 2 coins, a complex topic.by Frans Woons, Canada

If you want to collect all different Canadian Bi-metallic $ 2 coins you have
a complicated, and expensive, task ahead of you... Thus far, these coins
have been struck:

* with 5 different dates (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000)
* with 2 different designs (polar bear and drummer)
* in 3 different compositions [base metals, sterling silver (with gold
plated core), and in low grade gold (ring) / high grade gold (core)]
* without a mint mark and with a mint mark (the letter W for Winnipeg)
* in at least 3 finishes or qualities (proof, uncirculated and neither
proof nor uncirculated)
* in 2 thicknesses (normal and piedfort)

If all combinations existed, there would be 360 different coins... However,
not all combinations exist which makes it a little easier on the bank
account...Some coins are issued singly, others only in sets (with other
coins or with one or two banknotes).

Most of the issues are straightforward. What gives me the most headache is
the matter of the finishes. The golden coins and the sterling silver coins
are issued in the "proof" quality (frosted relief, polished fields). By
definition, the coins meant for circulation are "uncirculated" when they
come out of the press. These coins are shiny all over and show no frosted
(matte) parts.
However, several finishes are possible for the other coins, coins usually
issued in sets such as the "uncirculated", "Oh! Canada", "tiny treasures",
and "specimen" sets. (Strangely enough the coins in the "uncirculated" sets
can be distinguished, in most or all cases, from the coins struck for
circulation in the finish).

The coins in sets often show shiny and frosted parts, sometimes the opposite
of the proof coins, i.e., the relief is shiny while the fields are frosted.
The mint uses terms like "brilliant and frosted relief on a linen texture
background", "brilliant field - rosted polar bear", "frosted relief -
brilliant background", "coins are hand selected to guarantee the highest
quality finish", etc. to describe these coins. To complicate matters
further, some coins have one finish on the obverse and a different one on
the reverse. E.g., the $ 2 coin in my 1998 "Oh! Canada" set is shiny
("uncirculated") on the obverse and has a frosted relief / polished fields
("proof") on the reverse. This coin carries the W mint mark.
In 1997 some uncirculated sets were struck in Ottawa and some in Winnipeg.
None of the coins bear a mint mark but the sets can be told apart by their
finishes. I do not know (yet) which one is which.

Finally there is the matter of the "mule" (a coin with an obverse and a
reverse that do not belong together). The coin I am talking about is the
Nunavut coin in base metals that shows on the reverse no raised circle where
ring and centre meet in contrast to the coins struck for circulation and
similar to the coins struck in precious metals. However, the mule is not
struck in proof quality but in uncirculated (shiny) quality, unlike the
precious metals coins. It seems that the mule is only found in some of the
"uncirculated" sets.
If you ask me "How many different Bi-metallic Canadian $ 2 coins are there?"
I cannot give you an answer as I have not been able to examine all sets.
Some coins, e.g., in the "uncirculated" sets might be identical to the coins
meant for circulation and some coins in "Oh! Canada" sets might be identical
to the ones in the "tiny treasure" sets of the same year and design.

3. Bi-metallic from San Marino...by Martin Peeters, Netherlands

San Marino will issue March 30th 2000, their anual set, called "Human moral
and ethical values". Within the set (8 pieces) are also the Bi-metallic 500
and 1000 Lire 2000. The sets costs 36.000 Lira and is available at:

Azienda Autonoma de Stato Filatelica e numismatica
PO Box 1
47890 Republic Di San Marino
Fax: + 3780549 882363
E-mail: aasfn@omniway.com
Homepage: http://www.aasfn.sm/

4. Bi-metallic offer from Coincraft......by Manuel Gonzalez, Spain

In Coincraft's magazine of March, they offer two Bi-metallics medals:

*Serie Edward VIII from Falkands Islands.
Obverse: Edward VIII, Reverse: Pinguin

* Elizabeth I Medallic Replica Crown.
Obverse: Elizabeth I
Reverse: Coat of Arms.

Two pieces are sold for 18,95 Pound plus postage 1,95. Contact Lucy Clarkson
of  Coincraft at: lclarkson@coincraft.com and pictures can be seen in the
WBCC Homepage:http://www.geocities.com/RodeoDrive/7513/wbcc/wbcc.html

5. Bi-metallic Rogers Williams Mint Sample Tokens..by Cliff Anderson

One of our members, Brian Silsbee, recently released a set of three unique
Bi-metallic sample tokens from the Roger Williams Mint. You can see these
three sample tokens on the WBCC website. Notice how they are different from
the sample token previously submitted (WBCC Newsmail 185, Item 5). As you
can see, these three incorporate the Bi-metallic band or stripe across the
diameter of the token, instead of the ringed central plug. This design seems
to be the model for such pieces as the Bi-metallic striped Southeastern
Pennsylvania Transit Authority and Canadian Peace Bridge tokens. I do not
know the date of these sample tokens, but I suppose that they came out when
the RWM began business.

6. Bi-metallic Edward VIII pages...by Rod Sell, WBCC Homepage Provider

I have just added an Edward VIII Page to the Image Library, since we now
have sufficient images to have it's own page.
The page gives a brief introduction to these items which are best termed
fantasy pieces, as they were produced strictly for collectors.

The  Edward VIII  Bi-metallics and more recently Tri-metallics are quite
recent and not a lot is known about these issues. We have been informed by
Lucy Clarkson of Coincraft in London that there were only 21 Bi-metallic
Reverses produced and all are shown.  If any member has further information
on these Bi-metallic or Tri-metallics please let us know.
(Rod.Sell@elderwyn.com)

7. Tri-metallic Ecu's Restrikes by Martin Peeters, Netherlands

When you look into the WBCC Homepage, you will find several  scans of
Tri-metallic Ecus Restrikes.
From Patrick Deane, Director of The New Issues Bureau Ltd in London, I
received the following message about these Tri-metallics when I ask more
information:

--Quote
We have not fixed any mintage limits on the new strikings and so far we have
produced small quantities of Greece 1994, England 1992, Scotland 1992, Wales
1992 and N Ireland 1992. Other issues will follow. We hope this helps you.
--Unquote

Patrick can be reached at:
The New Issues Bureau Ltd
Thames House
Wellington Street
London
SE18  6NZ
Tel (44) 1689 812 222
Fax (44) 1689 812 223
E-mail: newissuesbureau@compuserve.com

8. New Bi- or Tri-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

* GB  Oliver Cromwell Bi-metallics
* Unassembled Trimetallic planchet
* US Roger Williams Mint  Bi-metallic strip Tokens
* GB. Elizabeth I Replica Crown
* New Page for Bi-Metallic Edward VIII Fantasy Coins
* New page for WBCC Newsmail Index

"See" you next weeks,
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@elderwyn.com
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 Developement Centre, Jack Hepler, USA, leslie.j.hepler@saic.com
WBCC Focal Point: Martin Peeters, Netherlands, martinp@westbrabant.net