WBCC Newsmail 241, Volume 6, March 24, 2001
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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, bi.metallic@kabelfoon.nl
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear WBCC members and non WBCC members,

I hope you really enjoy reading this weeks WBCC Newsmail !!

1. New WBCC members......by Martin Peeters, WBCC Focal Point

We have 4 new WBCC members. Let me introduce them to you:

Name: Michael McLean (WBCC member #203), USA
E-mail: drlynn1@msn.com
Age:32
Profession:Pharmacist
Hobby: Bi- and Tri-metallic coins and tokens of the world
Goal: At least 1 coin from each country that has produced Bi-and
Tri-metallics, eventually would like as complete a set as is possible

Name: Matt Juppo (WBCC member #204), USA
E-mail: mgjuppo@msn.com
Age: 69
Profession: Retired from Boeing Company
Hobby: Interested in Bi- and/or Tri-metal coins
Goal: Finding out how they are made and to start a collection
Against: High Prices!

Name: Leonid Tsvetailo (WBCC member #205), Canada
E-mail: arnor_02@yahoo.com tsvetailo@sprint.ca
Age: 51
Profession: economist
Hobby: Circulating Bi- and Tri-metallic coins of the world
Goal: to live in a full possible harmony with surrounding world
Against: all kinds of violence

Name: Mike Markowicz( WBCC member #206), USA
E-mail: m.markowicz@worldnet.att.net
Age: 51
Profession: Safety and Health Engineer
Hobby: World coins especially Bi- and/or Tri-metallics
Goal: Extensive varietal collection of Bi- and/or Tri-metallics
Against: Overgraders and speculative marketers

2. Bi-metallic from Cook Isles....by Keith Beaumont, UK

I have just recieved the latest Royal Mint Bulletin and on offer as
individual item is the Cook Isles Bi-metallic $5. The asking price is
£39.50. The mint address is.
Royal Mint Coin Club.
PO Box  500
Cardiff.CF1 1HA
Wales UK.
Tel (01443 )623456

3. Bi-metallic 5 Franc 1999 from Switzerland...by Jack Hepler, USA

The following message I received from the Swiss Mint:

--Quote
Commemorative coin of the year 1999 "Fête des Vignerons"
Fête des Vignerons
La Fête des Vignerons is organised by the Vevey Guild of Winegrowers, a
corporation whose origins date back to the 17th century. Three times a year,
the Guild visits the vineyards under its jurisdiction and evaluates the
winegrowers' work. The Festival of the Winegrowers has always been held in
honour of the winegrowers, who are feted and rewarded five times each
century.
The inaugural day reconstitutes the original Festival, when the winegrowers
were crowned, paraded and honoured at a banquet. Alrevin, the
personification of a working winegrower, is proclaimed King of the Festival.
He becomes the centre of a vast, baroque show that recounts the winegrowers'
life and work.
In 1999, the Festival of the Winegrowers will be held from 29th July to 15th
August. During this period, 15 open-air performances and 4 processions will
be held. Over 5,000 local actors participate and nearly half a million
people are expected to attend this spectacle.
Effigy: "Wine Grape/Animals of the vineyard"
Artist: Gaspard Delachaux, Valeyres-sous-Ursins
Technical data:
Alloy: outer ring in cupro-nickel, core in Nordic-gold®
Weight: 15 g
Diameter: 33 mm
Legal face value: 5 Swiss francs
Date of issue: 25th June 1999
Mintage:
Standard coinage, uncirculated: 160'000 coins
Proof coin in presentation case: 16'000 coins
Commemorative coin of the year 2000 "Carnival in Basel"
Carnival in Basel
These are the three most enjoyable days in the year - or at least that's how
the people of Basel feel about their carnival. During this period, the
metropolis on the Rhine goes wild. On the Sunday evening before the
"Morgenstraich", that is to say the early morning start to the event,
members of the various "cliques", or carnival bands, come together to
collect their lanterns from the artists. These are all individually
designed, depending on the chosen theme. On Monday morning, at 4 a.m. sharp,
all lights in the inner city are extinguished, and the order rings out from
the throats of the drum majors: "Morgenstraich - forward march!" Then,
innumerable cliques of all sizes fill the narrow streets of the old town
with the sounds of their fifes and drums. The cacophony of music and the
spectacle of the colourful lanterns lend a unique festive atmosphere to the
event.
The large traditional carnival processions, the "cortèges", take part on the
Monday and Wednesday afternoons. In addition to the traditional sounds of
the drums and piccolos, numerous typical "Guggen" bands can also be heard,
of which many are installed on carnival floats. Imaginative masks and
costumes, plus the richly decorated floats, draw countless visitors to
Basel. Speeches full of cheeky mockery are aimed at current topics and
well-known personalities. Further high points of the carnival are the huge
concert of "Guggen" bands, the lantern exhibition and the rhymes of the
well-known comic "Schnitzelbank" groups.
Effigy: "Carnival in Basel"
Artist: Hans-Rudolf Fitze, Basel
Technical data:
Alloy: outer ring in cupro-nickel, core in Nordic-gold®
Weight: 15 g
Diameter: 33 mm
Legal face value: 5 Swiss francs
Date of issue: 21st January 2000
Mintage:
Standard coinage, uncirculated: 170'000 coins
Proof coin in presentation case: 20'000 coins

Commemorative coin of the year 2000 "150 years of Swiss Francs"
150 years of Swiss Francs
When we pay for our shopping at the supermarket checkout today, this brings
with it no problem at all - as long as we have enough money. Legal currency
(banknotes and coins) is taken as payment without question. But this was not
always the case. Prior to the currency reform of 1850, the coinage system in
Switzerland had been indescribably chaotic for centuries - something we are
simply unable to imagine now.
Numerous mints (Cantons, towns, abbeys, etc.) produced a huge number of
various types of coins in a wide range of currencies and denominations. The
rates of exchange between the different types of coin were of an
overwhelming complexity, and to a large extent hindered trade. The
authorities sought to bring order to this chaos by issuing coin mandates,
with limited success.
The Federal Constitution of 1848 finally created the legal basis for
currency reform, and this was rapidly implemented. The Swiss franc was
introduced in 1850, based on the French currency system. In hindsight, the
currency reform can be described as one of the major triumphs of the 19th
century.
Effigy: "150 years of Swiss Francs
(Honeycomb and bees/leaf structure: The artist has portrayed the bees to
indicate the legendary diligence of the Swiss; the honeycomb and leaf
structure, however, stand for the durability of the Swiss franc.)
Artist: Harold Studer, Bern
Technical data:
Alloy: outer ring in cupro-nickel, core in Nordic-gold®
Weight: 15 g
Diameter: 33 mm
Legal face value: 5 Swiss francs
Date of issue: 7th June 2000
Mintage:
Standard coinage, uncirculated: 150'000 coins
Proof coin in presentation case: 15'000 coins

All coins coined and issued by:
swissmint, Official Mint of the Swiss Confederation, CH-3003 Bern
Yours faithfully,
Hanspeter Koch, swissmint
--Unquote

4. The WBCC Bi-metallic Quiz Game #241...by Jack Hepler, USA

One of the most sacred objects of Hungary’s history is the crown of St.
Stephen. This crown is shown on many coins of Hungary and is shown on the
100 Forint Bi-metallic coin of Hungary. For 32 years the crown of St.
Stephen was secured in a foreign vault, not in Hungary. In 1978, the crown
was returned to Hungary from what country?
a. Germany
b. Great Britain
c. Romania
d. United States of America
Please send your answer to me: heplerj@juno.com. Next week you can read the
correct answer.

Answer to Bi-metallic Quiz Game question #240.
One of the favorite themes for coin design includes ships. Bi-metallic coins
have also had ships incorporated in their design. Which of the following
countries have Bi-metallic coins with ships include in the design?
(More than one answer may be possible)
a. China
b. Cape Verde
c. Croatia
d. New Zealand
Answer to Question #240 is "a, b, c, and d"; all of the countries listed
have bi-metallic coins with ships.
China 10 Yuan 1999
Cape Verde 100 Escudos 1994
Croatia 25 Kuna 1998
New Zealand 50 Cents 1994
Summary of answers to Quiz Game Question #239; 100% Correct

5. My Bi-metallic Swap and Want list..by Jorge Cuhna, Portugal

If you look in http://clientes.netvisao.pt/jcunhacu you can find by
Bi-metallic Swap- and Wantlist.

6. WBCC Auction Page (WAP).........by Rod Sell, WAP Provider

WBCC  Auction 19 has almost closed. Look for the result at:
http://members.xoom.com/RodSell/wbccauction/auction19.html

WBCC  Auction 20 is open now, and closes 10 PM Sydney Time Saturday March
31, 2001 Sydney is 10 Hrs ahead of Greenwich (London)Time.
http://members.xoom.com/RodSell/wbccauction/auction20.html

Please read the WBCC Auction Rules.

Listed are:
* Portugal- 100 and 200 Escudos 2000 - Reserve $3.00
* Italy- Como- Laino Intelvi 1 Euro 1999 - Reserve $5.00
* France 10 Francs 2000 - Reserve $5.00
* Macau 10 Patacas 1997- Reserve $6.00
* Iran 250 Rials 1372 (1993) - Reserve $5.00

WBCC Auction 21 details can now send to Rod Sell at Rod.Sell@elderwyn.com If
possible send a scan of the coin.

If the WBCC Auction is to continue we need your material.  To date we have
been lucky to have sufficient coins each week to run an auction.  If we do
not get any coins there cannot be an auction.

It is apparent from past auctions that common material does not sell,
probably because we all already have these in our collection.  Unusual items
like the Aland Token in this week's auction is keenly bid upon.

We will run an auction whenever there has been material submitted.  I expect
there may be weeks where due to lack of coins we will not run an auction.

Please check your spares and submit them in future auctions.

7. 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)

* France 1 1/2 Euro Strassbourg-Colmar  20-26 October 1997
* Germany 25 Euro Bad Frankenhausen 1998
* Austria 2001 50 Schilling

8. Article in German Coinpaper...by Frans Woons, Canada

A couple of days ago I received issue 202, Vol. 36 (March 2001) of the
German coin magazine "Geldgeschichtliche Nachrichten".  In this issue I
found a few bi- and tri-metallic coins which might not be known to all WBCC
members:

A. Andorra. Ten different 20 Diner pieces dated 1998 struck on the occasion
of the XXVIIth Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia, in the year 2000. These
coins are struck in sterling silver with, on the reverse, a in-laid disk of
22 karat gold. So, these coins are NOT ringed bi-metallics. The weight of
each coin is 26.5 g and the diameter is 38.0 mm. Mintage: 6,000 pieces of
each. Quality: proof.

B. Andorra. Tri-metallic 5 Diner piece dated 1999. Composition: sterling
silver / CuZn / sterling silver (outer ring / inner ring / centre). The coin
was struck on the occasion of the new year 2000 and shows a globe (on both
sides).  he weight of the coin is 26.0 g and the diameter is 38.0 mm.
Mintage: 10,000 pieces. Quality: proof.

C. Gibraltar. Tri-metallic 5 Crowns piece dated 2001. This coin is similar
to the tri-metallic 1 Crown piece discussed in the WBCC Newsmails 238, item
2, and 236, item 3. The composition of the tri-metallic 5 Crowns piece is as
follows: Ag / Au / Pt (outer ring / inner ring / centre). The weight of the
coin is 155.5 g (55.19 g silver, 73.41 g gold, and 26.90 g platinum) and the
diameter is 50.0 mm.  Mintage: 199 pieces. Quality: proof.

D. Austria. Bi-metallic 100 Schillings piece dated 2001. Ring: 0.900 silver.
Centre: titanium. 12.75 g; 34.0 mm. Subject: mobility. Mintage: 50,000
pieces in "proof".

9. Coin World article (1)...............by Martin Peeters, Netherlands

Copyright 2001 by Amos Press Inc. and republished by permission from the
March 5, 2001, issue of Coin World, Sidney, OH  www.coinworld.com

--Quote
Austrian Mint commems celebrate 20th century transportation revolution

The Austrian Mint released the second coin in its silver/titanium ringed
bimetallic coin series, "Transportation," Jan. 24 near Vienna.
"Transportation" features an Austrian-designed V8-cylinder motor on the
obverse, which reads republik osterreich (Republic of Austria) and 100
schilling.

The reverse design depicts an airplane, a semi truck, a car and a passenger
train hurtling forward.
The reverse is inscribed 2001.
Austrian Mint Chief Engraver Thomas Pesendorfer designed the obverse, while
another engraver, Andreas Zanaschka, designed the reverse.

The Austrian Mint chose "Transportation" as the subject of the 2001 coin,
according to a press release, because of the incredible developments in
rapid transit since the beginning of the 20th century.

"Our modern economy could not exist without this rapid transportation of
goods and people from country to country around the world," the Austrian
Mint press release read. "One of the most important components at the heart
of this revolution was the development of the internal combustion engine."

Mintage of "Transportation" is limited to a maximum of 50,000 pieces.
The Proof quality coins are composed of 9 grams of .900 fine silver in the
outer ring and 3.75 grams of pure titanium in the core.
"Transportation" has a 34-millimeter diameter.
Each coin is encapsulated and boxed and comes with a numbered certificate of
authenticity.
"Transportation" is available to U.S. collectors for $39.95 and to Canadian
collectors for $61.25 Canadian.

To order, contact Euro Collections International at (888) 904-5544 or by fax
at (250) 658-1455. E-mail info@eurocollections.com.
--Unquote

10. Coin World article (2)...............by Martin Peeters, Netherlands

Copyright 2001 by Amos Press Inc. and republished by permission by the March
5, 2001, issue of Coin World, Sidney, OH  www.coinworld.com

--Quote
Switzerland issues new token
Bimetallic currency debuts at World Money Fair

By Paul Gilkes
COIN WORLD Staff
A special bimetallic intercantonal token currency was introduced Feb. 2
during the 30th World Money Fair in Basel, Switzerland, to celebrate the
500th anniversary of Basel joining the Swiss Confederation.

Switzerland is not a country, but a confederation of 25 cantons or states,
with separate governing bodies. These cantons include two divided into half
cantons, of which Basel is one. During the 19th century, political, social
and economic differences between residents in the Town of Basel and those in
the surrounding area resulted in a cantonal split - Basel-Stadt,
representing the town, and Basel-Landschaft, representing the surrounding
area.
A referendum was held 10 years ago to merge the half cantons into a single
entity again, but the measure was defeated.

The intercantonal currency is the fourth produced by the Swiss firm of
Huguenin+Kramer Médailleurs in Le Locle in three different languages -
German, French and Italian. It is the first currency produced for Basel in
165 years.

The metallic token currency, approved by the Swiss government, is being
produced in ringed bimetallic circulating versions, as well as ringed
bimetallic, silver and gold collector versions bearing identical designs.
Sets of tokens struck in all compositions are also available.

The circulating version measures 38.6 millimeters in diameter, weighs 23
grams and is composed of a copper-nickel outer ring and an inner core of
copper, aluminum and nickel. The edge is reeded.

Promoted for use in restaurants and other retail establishments from Feb. 3
through Aug. 31, 2001, the token has a face value of 10 Swiss francs, and is
limited to a mintage of 100,000 pieces.

The tokens can also be redeemed for their face value through Aug. 31 at
participating cantonal banks. Details on the collector versions of the local
currency can be obtained at the Huguenin+Kramer Médailleurs Web site at www.
huguenin.ch.

Huguenin President R.A. Zanchi explained the obverse design shows a tree
representing the vitality and economic development deeply rooted in
Switzerland, with the outline of the Confederation representing the leaves.

Below are symbols of the two half cantons of Basel - on the left, with the
doppelstäbler or doppelstick, the scepter held by the ruling bishop in the
Middle Ages, facing left and representing Basel-Stadt, and the shield on the
right with the doppelstäbler facing right, representing Basel-Landschaft.
The seven little balls represent the seven counties that form
Basel-Landschaft.

The obverse design was created from three separate images that were merged,
digitized and further manipulated on a computer design program by Lang GmbH
& Co. KG from Huettenberg, Germany. Lang's sales manager for minting
equipment, Thomas Brandt, said the design was completed in an hour and a
half before being transmitted to a Computerized Numerically Controlled (CNC)
Engraving Machine that laser cut the design into die steel, eliminating the
need for modeling and reduction.

The reverse design exhibits a commemorative Basel theme, with inscriptions
representing the redemption value in Swiss francs and the term of use.

Collectors attending the Basel show had the opportunity to buy the
bimetallic blanks and strike their own token on a Gräbener coin and medal
press set up at the show's entrance. The tokens were struck three times,
with the dies remaining within the collar for each strike. After the show,
the new press was sent to the Stuttgart Mint, one of five coin-production
facilities in Germany.
--Unquote
 

"See you" next week,
Martin Peeters, Focal Point of the
Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club
bi.metallic@kabelfoon.nl
--------------------------------------------------------------
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, cliff38@earthlink.net
WBCC Research Centre: Paul Baker, UK, 113076.167@compuserve.com
WBCC Developement Centre, Jack Hepler, USA, heplerj@juno.com
WBCC Focal Point ANA 2001 Convention, Ray Lockwood, USA, sunray@comteck.com
WBCC Focal Point: Martin Peeters, Netherlands, bi.metallic@kabelfoon.nl
WBCC Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/RodeoDrive/7513/wbcc/wbcc.html
"All That Is Bi-metallic" Webside: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Estates/9540/bmhome.html
Bi-metallic Forum Page: http://network54.com/Forum/86625
The WBCC is officially sponsored for the Basel World Money Fair by:
* Imprensa Nacional - Casa da Moeda, S.A (The Portuguese Mint)
and  * Schuler Presses, Germany