WBCC Newsmail 208, Volume 5, August 5, 2000
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Composed with help from members of the
Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club (WBCC)
and this week published by Paul Baker, UK,
WBCC Research Centre, 85@wbcc.fsnet.co.uk
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Dear WBCC members and non WBCC members,

Martin is now on vacation in the USA. For the next 3 weeks I will compose
WBCC Newsmail 208, 209 and 210. So if you have new about Bi- or
Tri-metallics, please E-mail me at: 85@wbcc.fsnet.co.uk. I hope you enjoy
reading this week's WBCC Newsmail.

1. WBCC Publicity, Paul Baker, U.K.
  My copy of July's "World Coin News" arrived the other day, surface mail
does take its time. I was glad to see that in one of the two supplements in
this edition was "Krause Publications' Guide to collecting coins on the web
2.0". This is a smaller paged supplement is of 32 pages (D1 to D32). The
main focus seemed to be about the dealers on the web. A "Web Site Directory"
starts on page D22. After reading a few pages of this directory I began to
think that the WBCC ought to be included in this listing. Then, a few pages
on, a section of this listing started that was called "Numismatic
Organisations", this looked like the kind of section for the WBCC to appear
in. Then turning over the page where this section of listing continued I
found....

Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club
http://www.geocities.com/RodeoDrive/7513/wbcc/wbcc.html

Also from Krause Publications comes "Numismatic News". Ray Lockwood informs
me that in the latest issue of "Numismatic News", readers will find a map
and list of dealers at the ANA Convention in Philadelphia. The WBCC is
listed and the booth location is shown on a map of the convention center.
Ray is the main organiser for the WBCC's presence at this show.

2. Bi-metallics for free in Richmond, U.S.A. by Martin Peeters.
  While staying in Richmond for my vacation, Jack Hepler and I visited today
a local coindealer. Just the evening before Jack and I were talking about
the Bi-metallic G.S.P. (Garden State Parkway) Fare transportation token and
I was missing the Bi-metallic Bus Fare token in my collection. So we went to
the coindealer... stepped into his shop.... looked into the first token junk
box.... and there they were !! 3 Pieces of this Bi-metallic Bus Fare token.
In the meanwhile the coindealer knew I came from the Netherlands, and I
asked him how much to pay. "You may have them for free", he said !  So you
Bi-metallic friends, if you want some free Bi-metallics, come to Richmond,
Virginia!!

3. Meeting at the Richmond Coin Club...by Martin Peeters, USA
  This evening, August 1st, Jack Hepler and I went to the meeting of the
Richmond Coin Club. By invitation of the President of the Club, I spoke
about Bi-metallics and the Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club. I was very
surprised and happy to meet the Richmond C.C. members, especially WBCC
member Jim Ruehrmund and potential WBCC member Roy Roper. My speech started
about 7.30 and ended 8.15 with a big applause. I told my story about the
Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club, Bi-metallics today and the future
(Bi-metallic) Euros. About 30 ears and eyes heard and saw a lot of news
about Bi-metallics and the future Euros. The members of the Richmond C.C.
showed a lot of interest and asked many questions.  After telling my story
there was an auction where I put in several Bi-metallics with a start bid of
1 US cent !  I was surprised how the auction developed, I raised 26 USD !!
I really want to thank the Richmond Coin Club for this wonderful
(Bi-metallic) evening.  Thanks !

4. Bosnia-Herzegovina issues new bi-metallic 2 KM by Paul Baker
  Today I noticed on the site of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina
that as from the 31st of July 2000 the new 1 and 2 Konvertibilna Marka coins
will enter circulation. These coins are as mentioned in WBCC Newsmail 180,
Item 1. There I described these coins. The 2 KM coin is a ringed
bi-metallic.
The website of the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina (main English page
at http://www.cbbh.gov.ba/english/aboutcbbh.htm) says the following about
this new bi-metallic.

--Quote

2 KM details: The 2 KM Bi Metal consists of an inner ring of gray
cupro-nickel, the outer ring is of a golden 5.5% nickel brass combination.
The edges of the coin are of a combination milled and smooth surface. The
front of the coin is dominated by the denomination of the coin. The back of
the coin is dominated by the left facing "Dove of Peace" placed in the exact
center. Two indented and inverted triangles are placed on the top and bottom
of the golden ring on both sides of the coin indicating the denomination for
the sight impaired.

--Unquote

The site also has images of this new bi-metallic and mentions that it has a
diameter of 25.75mm.

The Bosia/Herzegovinan currency is the Konvertibilna Marka and it is fixed
at equal to the Deutsche Mark. Some of the reason for the need of these two
new denominations is that German coins have been circulating widely in
Bosnia for some time as well as the 1998 dated Bosia/Herzegovinan coins
denominated 10, 20 and 50 Feninga coins. But of course Germany is preparing
to stop using its current coins - the Euro is getting nearer ! I wonder what
will happen to the KM/DM link once the DM is no longer ?

All of the Bosia/Herzegovinan circulation coins are supplied by the British
Royal Mint.

5. New bi-metallic token from Vianen, The Netherlands........by Frans Dubois
  The Dutch city Vianen, near Utrecht has issued its own MTT. About 400
years ago the city had its own money, but nearly nothing of these coins is
left. These coins were illegal.
The new bi-metallic token, which can be used as legal tender in Vianen until
December 2000, shows the 'Lekpoort', which is a tower in the city wall, on
one side and on the reverse it shows an old map and the shield with the arms
of Vianen.
There are two versions of this attractive token. The first is the
circulation piece: nickel ring and "yellow" centre. The second is the proof
one: "red" ring and nickel centre.
If you would like to order this nice token, contact me: dubois.f@wxs.nl

6. Bi-metallic 'Essai de frappe' of France ................by Frans Dubois
  When France started to issue the bi-metallic 10 Franc coins in 1988 there
was a very limited mintage of  essais. One is the 10 Franc 1988 with the
small word "ESSAI" on it, but there is an other. This other one shows the 7
flags of the mint of Pessac and the words "Etablissement Monetaire" on one
side and the words "Essai de Frappe" with another image on the reverse. The
same happened with the pieces of 20 Franc and although this is a
tri-metallic denomination, the Essai de Frappe from Pessac is bi-metallic.
But there is also a rare tri-metallic version which is mentioned in the
Martin's WOB catalogue. Whatsmore, of this rare coin there are two versions:
medal and coin alignment !
These pieces I saw in the collection of Christian Dolt, who I visited during
my vacation in France over the last couple of weeks. He also showed me some
very rare varieties of some French Euro's. Some scans relating to these
should appear on the WBCC homepage in a few week's time.

7. The WBCC Bi-metallic Quiz Game (#208)...by Jack Hepler, USA
  Q#208 There are several circulating ringed bi-metallics which portray a
map. However, there is only one country that portrays an entire continent.
Which country's coin portrays an entire continent?
a. Argentina
b. Portugal
c. China
d. West African States
Please send your answer to me: heplerl@saic.com and next week you can read
the correct answer.
The correct answer to question #207:  The circulating French ringed
tri-metallic 20 Francs portrays an image of a castle.  What is the name of
this castle?
a.  Mont St Michel
Summary of answers to Quiz Game Question #206;  100% Correct

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

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

WBCC Encased 2000
Gibraltar  2 Pound KM755  Varieties.

9. Russian bi-metallics for sale, Marat Khairetinov, Russia
  I would like to offer to WBCC members some bi-metallic Russian Patriach
and Monarchy Medals. There were minted by S.Petersburg mint in 1998. I don't
know the exact metals they are made of (no precious metals). All are in
proof condition and packed in plastic boxes. They are 18 USD each. Pictures
of the pieces I offer can be found at.....

http://www.geocities.com/mkhairetinov/pictures/Tokens/tokens.html

Also I can offer the 2000 dated bi-metallic Russian 10 roubles coin.
Moscow mint -3.00 USD each
S.Petersburg mint - 4.00 USD each
You can e-mail me at marsten@mail.ru

10. Gibraltar bi-metallic 2 Pounds KM-755 varieties by Paul Baker
  A few weeks ago I got a new piece of the Gibraltar bi-metallic 2 Pounds
coin of 1997, type KM-755. Straight away I noticed there was something
different with this piece as compared to any other examples of this type I
had seen. This first and most obvious difference was that this new piece was
without the stylised "AA" dieletters. I had expected to find these a little
upwards from the "P" in "POUNDS" on the reverse. There were no dieletters to
be found anywhere on this new piece. Soon I began to notice a few other odd
things about this piece.
This week, at last, I got around to creating some nice images of a KM-755
with "AA" and this new one without "AA". This helped me to understand these
differences a little. Some parts of these new images can now be found on the
WBCC website. One of these shows the normal position of the "AA" and this
same area on the piece without the "AA" as already mentioned. In this image,
it can also be seen that the design on the centre "moves" relative to the
ring of pellets close to the join between the ring and the centre. This
movement is also clear on a second image. This images compares the distances
between the man's head and the ring of pellets near the word "OF". I
analysed enlarged and clearer images of the two pieces (whole coins) as
printed onto paper. This about convinced me that from one variety to the
other there is a definite vertical shift of the centre part's main design. I
also noticed that from one piece to another there were pointing variations
relative to the ring of pellets. Pointing variations (differences such as a
letter "I" pointing to either a border bead or the space between two
adjacent border beads) usually occur when the number of beads in a border or
in this case "pellets in a ring" varies from one variety to another. However
although the pointings vary between these two varieties relative to the ring
of pellets, I found that this was not because of a difference in the number
of pellets. So the pointings must be different due to a small rotation (of
literally just 1 or 2 degrees) of the pellets relative to the main legends.
To see this, look at the pellet below the "S" in the image that compares the
head positions.
To summarise:- The "normal" piece is with "AA" and with the man's head close
to the ring of pellets. By comparison, the less often seen piece is without
"AA", has the man's head further from the ring of pellets, the whole of the
main central design is lower down on the coin, the ring of pellets is
slightly rotated relative to the main legends, the edge has around 33% more
reedings (an image was even done of this), the ring of pellets & the beaded
border also seem to vary in diameter such that the gap between them is about
20% wider on this variety than on the normal variety. The obverses of the
two do seem to be the same.
It is quite possible that the explanation for this "without AA" variety of
KM-755 (Gibraltar's first bi-metallic 2 Pounds coin) is that the reverse die
used was that for the "silver-proof" version of the type. Similarly, the
standard issue of Gibraltar's first Christmas 50 Pence coin (KM-19, dated
1988) was mistakenly made using a proof die, hence is without the "AA" that
would have been expected. This does not mean that these 50 Pence coins are
proofs though, since the blanks used were those as normal for circulation
coins. This Gibraltar 50 Pence coin could be seen as a bit of a "mule"
though.

"See" you next week,
Paul Baker,
Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club - Research Centre
85@wbcc.fsnet.co.uk
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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 ANA 2000 Convention, Ray Lockwood, USA, sunray@comteck.com
WBCC Focal Point: Martin Peeters, Netherlands, martinp@westbrabant.net