WBCC Newsmail 197, Volume 5, May 20, 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,

Again a lot of great Bi-metallic news in this weeks WBCC Newsmail. I hope
you enjoy reading it !! BTW you can always let me know what you think about
the WBCC Newsmail.

1. Bi-metallic medal from Mexico...by Luis Wulschner, Mexico

The Numismatic Society of Mexico celebrates its XXXI Numismatic
International Convention from May 17 through May 20. The Mexico City Mint
commemorates its 465 Anniversary. Queen Juana de Castilla signed the decree
which states the founding of the Mexico City Mint, first mint in the
American Continent, on May 11, 1535. This is why the Numismatic Society of
Mexico has struck a big bi-metallic Proof medal with the outer ring made of
pure silver (48 grms.) and the center of copper (14 grms.). The diameter is
48 mm., and only 52 pieces were struck (two of them for the museum and the
rest for the membership). Limited to one piece per member. The medal bears
on the obverse the legend in Spanish: Sociedad Numismatica de Mexico, XXXI
Convencion Numismatica, 465 Anos de la Fundacion de la Primera Casa de
Moneda en America - Mexico, Mayo 1535-2000; the middle of the obverse bears
the main side of the first Mexican copper coin (4 Maravedis KM-3). The
reverse depicts the portraits of King Carlos I of Spain and his mother Juana
de Castilla, also the legend in Latin: Primum Numisma Americae, and mintmark
Mx (private mint). This is the second Bi-metallic medal the Society of
Mexico strucks. The first one can be seen in the WBCC Gallery Mexico section
(http://members.xoom.com/RodSell/mexico/mexico.htm). This medal was designed
by Dr. Luis G. Wulschner (WBCC member).

2. Bi-metallic Lithuania 2 and 5 Litai...by Martin Peeters, Netherlands

Refering to WBCC Newsmail 196, item 2, about the Lithuania Bi-metallic 2 and
5 Litai 2000, I received the following massage from Bronislovas Degutis Cash
Department Deputy Director, Head of Currency Production Division, Lithuania

--Quote
Dear Mr Peeters,
Replying to your e-mail message of 11 May 2000 we would like to thank
you for your interest in the coins of the Republic of Lithuania.

Please be advised that coins you require will not be issued as separate
units in 2000. You can purchase them in a new numismatic coinset only.
The coinset is composed of 5, 2 and 1 Litas coins as well as 50, 20 and
10 centas, incapsulated in plastic. The quality of coins is proof. The
price of the coinset is 30 Litas (7.50 USD). The postage and handling
costs are 11.90 Litas. The total amount is 41.90 Litas, making up 10.5
dollars. If you decide to purchase the coinset you can transfer your
money (US 10.48$) to the accounts of the Bank of Lithuania as follows:

No 400 - 925702
The Chase Manhattan Bank
Check Deposit Department
4 Chase MetroTech Center
Brooklyn, NY 11245
You pay in USD
Or
No 949760300 Swift Deutdeff Deutsche Bank AG,
Taunusanlage 12
D 60325 Frankfurt/Main,
Germany
You pay in Euros.
You have to indicate in the payment “for coinset”.

Alternatively, you can forward a check us directly; maybe, it would be
more safely to send it in the registered letter. In this case, please be
noted that check collection fee makes up US $2.5, and the total amount
would be US 12.98$ then. Please be also noted that the Bank of Lithuania
is not responsible for the post services.
There is no doubt we would send you the coinset immediately on receiving
your payment.
We would like to assure you that we are fully at your disposal if you
need any further information.

Sincerely yours,
Bronislovas Degutis
Cash Department
Deputy Director, Head of
Currency Production Division
Contact person: Jekaterina Orlova,
tel. +370 2 680 315, fax +370 2 680 313
--Unquote

3. Bi-metallic inlay China 50 Yuan 2000.by Liu Juan, China, PeoplesRepublic

There is a new INLAY gold/silver Bi-metallic coin issued in China
commemorating the Year 2000. It's 27mm in diameter, 99.9% in finess, 50 Yuan
in face value, and contain 1/2 ounce pure gold and 1/20 ounce pure silver.
Total mintage is 20000 pieces. The obverse depicts the China Centenary
Altar, the Chinese Characterss'In Commemorative of the Y2K ' with the flying
dragons in the background, the title of PRC and the issuing year, and the
reverse the face value, an eye symbolizing human's wisdom and icons
symblizing the key elements for human's existence and development. A picture
can be seen in the WBCC Homepage http://www.geocities.com/RodeoDrive/7513/wbcc/wbcc.html
Price is US$ 340 (with original metal case and Certificate of Authenticity), just let me know
(E-mail: liuj@public.ytptt.sd.cn) if you are interested in this INLAY Bi-metallic.

4. Bi-metallic Canada 5 $ rumour......by Serge Pelletier, Canada

Concerning the rumour about a Bi-metallic $5 coin for Canada, here is the
answer for the Canadian Mint:

--Quote
Unfounded.....The government of Canada has no intention of introducing a
Bi-metallic $5 coin.
Pierre L. Morin
Communications
Monnaie royale canadienne
Royal Canadian Mint
morin@rcmint.ca
--Unquote

5. Bi-metallic Canada Transit Tokens......by Cliff Anderson, USA

The first Bi-metallic Canadian transit token in this week's new additions to
the WBCC Homepage is from Hull, Quebec, issued by Hull Electric Co. in 1895,
and only used for about eight years. Note the copper "H" in the 6 sided
aluminum body. It has the Atwood-Coffee designation of PQ 345A. The second
Bi-metallic token from the Hull Electric Co., also issued in 1895, but is
round with an aluminum "L" in a copper body.  It is now obsolete, and has
the Atwood-Coffee number PQ 345D.

6. Bi-metallic MTT from Canada...by Manuel Gonzalez, Spain

Today I received new Bi-metallic 2 Dollar from Clare (Nova Scotia), Canada.
The Clare tourism Association issued in May a 2 Dollar token featuring St.
Bernard Church at Baie-Sainte-Marie. Issued in May it will have currency
value (in Brass composition), at participating merchants, until Octover 31,
2000.
Technical data:
Obverse: St. Bernard Church
Reverse: Baie-Sainte-Marie
Designer: Jacques Goudreau
Mint: Eligi Consultants Inc. http://www.eligi.ca/bonavita
Diameter: 32 mm
Composition: Brass, Antique Brass, Antique Silver Plated, Gold Plated, Gold
Plated Enamelled and Bi-metallic
Mintage: Only 25 pieces in Bi-metallic
Price: 74,50 CA$ plus postage, and it is sold out.

7. Bi-metallic Euros from Italy....by Manuel Gonzalez, Spain

If you look in the WBCC Homepage
http://www.geocities.com/RodeoDrive/7513/wbcc/wbcc.html you fing an image
of a new new Bi-metallic Euro from Italy: City Albese con Cassano (Co)
Further a new Bi-metallic Euro from Padre Pio. It is Medal Alignment. So
there are three types:
* 1 Euro, Padre Pio S. Donato, Coin Alignment
* 1 Euro, Padre Pio S. Donato, Medal Alignment
* 1 Euro,  Beato Padre Pio. Pietrelcina

8. Bi-metallic medal from Canada...by Serge Pelletiers, Canada

Canadian Elementary School Strikes Medal with Message of Hope

The École Madeleine-de-Roybon, an Eastern Ontario Public School Council
French elementary school in Kingston, held a design contest from January 25
to February 4, aimed at obtaining designs for a medal it will be striking
for the year 2000. The 136 students were asked to submit designs on two
themes: “building the future...” and “towards peace”.

The idea for the contest came from Serge Pelletier, a well known numismatist
and parent whose children are attending the school. “Everyone at the school,
student, teacher and support staff, is extremely excited about this project”
said Anne Lengellé, School Principal, “to think everyone will be getting a
copy of this unique memento of a very unique year”.

The project started on January 24 when Mr. Pelletier met with the student
body, from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6, to explain the process involved
in designing a coin/medal. “We also discussed ideas for illustrating the two
themes”, he said of his meetings, “I was quite impressed with some of the
ideas being expressed, even from the youngest group”. The students had two
weeks to produce their designs both during class and at home. The 287
designs submitted were displayed in one of the school’s corridors for all to
see from February 4 to 9.
On February 9, a jury composed of two parents, two teachers, one
assistant-teacher, the school principal and the project coordinator got
together to select the winners. After several hours of reviewing the designs
two entries were selected to be used for the medal. “The final selections
were very difficult” said Sonia Laplante, the Junior Kindergarten teacher
and one of the jurors, “we had so many beautiful designs from all grades”.
Three finalists on each theme were presented to the children on February 18.
“I was pleasantly surprised to hear oohs and aahs when the designs were
shown to the children” said Pelletier. The finalists are (in alphabetical
order): Michaël Côté (5th grade), Matthieu Lemay (6th grade) and Anna-Maria
Thorburn (Kindergarten) for the “building the future” theme and Michaël Côté
(5th grade), Stéphanie Kuhn (4th grade) and Olivier Rea (1st grade), for the
“towards peace” theme. The winners were revealed on May 5: Michaël Côté (5th
grade) and Olivier Rea (1st grade).

The jury also selected the three best designers in each of the seven
classes:
Junior Kindergarten – Olivier Mercier, Hind Nhari, Mélissa St-Arneault;
Kindergarten – Ariane Nicol, Rosalie St-Laurent, Anna-Maria Thorburn;
1st grade – Étienne Bénard-Séguin, Olivier Rea, Amelia Redmond;
2nd grade – Jessica Côté, Chelsea Dorling, Anne-Julie Fortier;
3rd grade – Katrina Bennett, Katherine Blain, Marc-Olivier Rheault;
4th/5th grade – Kévin Duverglas, Stéphanie Kuhn, Michaël Côté and
5th/6th grade – Martin Côté, Matthieu Lemay and Jessica Mayer.
Everyone of them was presented with an envelope containing two numismatic
books, four Canadian municipal trade tokens and a municipal trade note.  All
the prizes were graciously donated by Bonavita Ltd. of Nepean, Ontario, a
mail-order dealer in Canadian municipal trade tokens, notes and medals.
Only 200 medals were struck on 38-millimetre Bi-metallic blanks
(Aluminium-Bronze centre, Cupro-Nickel ring).  They were be given to all
students and staff at the school.  The funding for the project comes from
the school’s budget and the Parents Association.
Only a few specimen were made available to the general public, they are
available for $15 from Bonavita Ltd. (orders@eligi.ca)

9. 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

* Italy 2000 1 Euro MTT from Albese con Cassano
* Mexico Numismatic Society Year 2000 Medal
* Australian? Amusement Token from Blondy Metal Club
* MTT from Canada: 2 dollars from Clare (Nova Scotia)
* Canada from the Hull Electric Co. issued in 1895. PQ345D
* Canada from Hull, Quebec, issued by Hull Electric Co. in 1895 PQ345A
* Portugal 1999 Return of Macau  500 Escudos with Gold inlay
* Italian Car Wash tokens
* Italian Zodiac Gaming Tokens from Portovenere
* China year 2000 50 Yuan in Gold and Silver
* USA  2.5 Cent Trade Token from The Coffee House. 98 W. Houston Street, San
Antonio, Texas
* USA  Roger Williams Mint  "Ficha No Tiene Valor" Token
* USA Amusement Token "Star Ship Game Room"  Loehmann's Plaza
* USA Trade $25 Token from Evans Console Line of Chicago
* USA  Vending Machine Token
* Finland  2000 10 Markkaa

"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