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

1. A New WBCC Member ... by Martin Peeters, WBCC Focal Point

We have a new WBCC member. Let me introduce him to you.

Name: Benjamín Muñiz García (WBCC member #258), Spain
E-mail
Homepage
Age: 29
Profession: Computer Programer
Hobby: World coins especially Bi- and/or Tri-metallics
Goal: Easy Life
Against: Rock and Roll
How did I know about the WBCC: joelscoins

2. Bi-metallic Varities, 500 Lire from Italy ... by Dario Ferro, Italy

I published here :
(english)

and in (italian).

The results of a work about rarity of Bi-metallic italian 500 lire types. Rarities transpire from a statistical work on several thousand of pcs., effectuated last months, before euro introduction. All types are resulting common, excepted two (1982.1 and 1993.2): a Very rare and a Non-Common here (english) http://digilander.iol.it/adamaney/englishversion/evarianti.htm section C (italian) http://digilander.iol.it/adamaney/varianti.htm section C I published also some errors found in italian bi-metallic euro production: 1 Euro 2002 without engraver's initials and 2 Euro 2002 with edge error.

I sincerely hope WBCC members can find interest in these pages, and this e-mail may be useful for a next WBCC newsmail and for WBCC web-pages for pictures.

--Remark WBCC Focal Point: A really great job Dario did with his pages.

3. Bi-metallic 1 and 2 Euro from Vaticane ...by Massimiliano Aiello, Italy

This week, I received from the General Secretariaty of Governatorato Città del Vaticano the following news about the 2002 Proof set with the 1 and 2 Bi-metallic Euro 2002.

--Quote The 2002 Euro Set in Proof version will not be issued on the 1st of June 2002 (only 5.000 sets) as previously confirmed, but it will be issued on September 2002. Unknown price and number of emission. It is not still possible to order the set.
--Unquote

4. Bi-metallic Euros from Greece ... by Rob Kooy, Netherlands

It took me some time but now I know how many of the 1 and 2 Euro (with S) of Greece are struck by the Finland Mint:
1 Euro, 15 Million
2 Euro (with S): 6 Million

5. Bi-metallic Pre-Euros from France ... by Martin Peeters, Netherlands

As several other WBCC members I received the following message:
--Quote
30.4.2002
Dear Martin Peeters,
Subject line: info about professional web-site showing 60+ different semi-numismatic Euro coins from France, shipping internationally. Since Worldwide Bi-Metallic Collectors Club dedicates itself to numismatic matters, we thought that we should let you know about our newly launched web site http://collecteuros.com. which is dedicated to truly exceptional series of French semi-numismatic pre-launch (Bi-metallic) Euros.

The Collectors Euro series coins, made of silver, silver-gilt, gold, which also include piéfort, produced in scarce quantities, have been considered pure collectors items from the beginning, and are offered in pristine condition.

The web site http://collecteuros.com. features this proud collection much in detail, coin by coin and shows both sides of each item. Moreover, our semi-numismatic Euro coins are now available to all international collectors, either through a secure online ordering process, or else a traditional paper orderform. Full contact details are available for any type of inquiry.

Our aim clearly is a commercial one : yet, if there is anyway whereby some cooperation could arise between Worldwide Bi-Metallic Collectors Club and us, please kindly let us know.

Moreover, I have much enjoyed crafting the site, I should be happy if you care to visit it and find out about the whole saga in which I have been deeply involved in the recent years.
Bernadette d'Aramon
CEO
BDA Sarl - Paris - France
e-mail: inquire@collecteuros.com
International phone: 00 44 207 919 6076
International fax: 00 44 207 919 6078
--Unquote

--Remark WBCC Focal Point: The Bi-metallic Pre-Euro (MTT's, Municipal Trade Tokens) can be seen at: Collect Eruos.

6. Bi-metallic Tokens ... by Sean Moffatt, USA

I finally got around to scanning and sending these images to the WBCC. The first image is of a Bi-metallic token advertising new alloys being offered by Alltrista Zinc Products of Greenville TN. The outer ring is a clad alloy of aluminum over a zinc core. The center is a "bronze" plated zinc. Diameter is ~20.5mm. I am told that they only struck 1,000 of these as samples. The next set of pictures is 2 different arrangements of Bi-metallic sample coins from Krupp VDM (a company of Krupp Thyssen Stainless), Werdohl, Germany. The gold color alloy is nordic gold, while the silver color is a stainless steel alloy. Diameter is ~25mm As far as new things on the Bi-metallic horizion, Schuler is developing a rimming machine that might enable odd shapes to be used as the centers of Bi-metallic coins. The machine is not available yet so I do not feel at liberty to divulge any more information, as I wish to keep my relationship with Schuler on the good side. The model is MS-50 and maybe Dieter can provide you with the materials they presented at the MDC. As I debrief myself and go through all the notes I took I know I will find more of which I will pass along. Enjoy the scans, they can be seen at: New Images.

7. Bi-metallic Inlay from Canada .... by Otto Vízi, Hungary

I have the following information from Gatewest Stamp & Coin, about the Canada (inlay) Marconi 2001 Sterling Silver Coin, 100th Anniversary of the First Transatlantic Wireless Transmission. Guglielmo Marconi assured his place in history by transmitting a single letter, S, in Morse code from Cornwall, England, to St. John's, Newfoundland. That one-letter signal ushered in the age of practical wireless communications, and forever changed the world.

8. Bi-metallic MTT from Canada ... by Dean Neald, Canada

Here is some information I obtained from the local newspaper. It is about a new municipal trade token (MTT) that is Bi-metallic. The following is from the April 24/02 issue of the Leader Post, article by Sylvia MacBean.

--Quote
OXBOW-A new $5 coin is about to be released in Oxbow. The coin will commemorate Oxbow's centennial in 2004. We have ordered 2,000 of the $5 coins. They will be worth five dollars until Dec. 31, 2004 said Dale Ching, town councillor in charge of the project. The unique coin is made from two different kinds of metal. It is something like the toonie, it is a bit smaller, and is bi-metal. Ching said the town is hoping that residents and former residents will want the coins as souvenirs to celebrate the centennial. "I am hoping that we can get the stores to give them out to poeple with their change. So, if you get four or five of them in your change don't woory about it because they are as good as gold until Dec. 31, 2004" said Ching.

"Anyone that gets one and wants to cash it in can just go to the Royal Bank or the Estevan Credit Union in Oxbow and they will give you your money." said Ching. "We think quite a few people will want to keep them as collectors' items. They are quite distinctive with the Ox on it and the oxbow around the coin with a wheat design. The back of it has our river boat called the Lady Souris II." The boat is owned by the Oxbow Business Association and operated by the Masonic Lodge and is used to take people for cruises on the Souris River near Oxbow. The new coin will also be available at the town office.
--Unquote.

9. Bi-metallic from Schuler Presses ... by Martin Peeters, Netherlands

On a coinshow in the Belgium city Leuven, I found an earlier struck Bi-metallic from Schuler Presses. It commemorates the Europamusicale, Munich 1993. A picture can be seen in the WBCC Website.

10. Bi-metallics from Lombardo Mint in Canada ... by Paul Baker, UK

The other day I came across the site of a private mint in Canada that I had never heard of before. It is the Lombardo Mint Inc. of Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. Their site is at The Lombardo Mint The site contains the basic info about the company's product line etc.. To find a clue of their bi-metallic products - in the "Products" section of the menu select "Tokens" and then on the page about tokens select "TYPES OF METAL", the second image on the page that then appear s shows a quantity of ringed bi-metal blanks.

11. The WBCC Bi-metallic Quiz Game #299 ... by Jack Hepler, USA

The Biobío River springs from Icalma and Galletue lakes, flows through steep and narrow gorges and forests of araucaria pine, passes through agricultural lands and cities, until it reaches the Pacific Ocean, 380 km from its source. Its watershed has a surface area of 24,260 square kilometers and is 380 km long. Over one million people use the resources of the Biobío for drinking and irrigation water, recreation, and fisheries. The Mapuche are an indigenous people who live along the Biobío River. The traditional Mapuche lifestyle is agricultural, but many Mapuche have moved to cities. A Mapuche woman, Ximena, was selected by Oscar de la Renta to model his clothes. The name Mapuche is composed of two words -- "mapu", which means "land", and "che", which means people. Their language is called "Mapudungun", and is composed of "mapu" and "dungun", which means "talk", or "speech". A Mapuche girl is pictured on the bi-metallic coin of what country?
a. Argentina
b. Brazil
c. Chile
d. Peru
Please send your answer to me: Jack Hepler.

Answer to Bi-metallic Quiz Game question #298.
Mary Read was born in England, but her true father is not recorded. Her mother raised Mary as a boy in order to gain favor with her former husband’s in-laws who had considerable wealth and could provide for her future. Her grandmother was not deceived but went along with the scheme until it could no longer be concealed. Mary left home and became a soldier of fortune. She managed to keep her gender a secret while serving as a cadet with a regiment in Flanders. A companion became aware of her deception and after the conflict was over, married her and set up housekeeping. When he died, leaving her without support, she again dressed as a man and joined a ships crew. Eventually Mary Read came before a court accused of crimes she most certainly was guilty of but managed to escape the noose by getting pregnant. Mary Read is featured on a Tri-metallic coin. What was the crime for which she was nearly hanged?
a. Adultery
b. Homosexuality
c. Murder
d. Piracy
Answer to Question #298 is "d" Piracy.
Summary of answers to Quiz Game Question #297: 75.00 % correct, four players.

12. New Bi- or Tri-metallic Images ... by Rod Sell, Australia

The new Bi-metallic images are shown at: New Images. New listed are:
* Schuler Bi-metallic to commemorate Europamusicale, Munich 1993
* Alltrista Zinc Products of Greenville advertising token
* Bi-metal sample coins from Krupp VDM
* Canada Marconi 2001 Sterling Silver Coin, 100th Anniversary of the First Transatlantic Wireless Transmission.

13. WBCC Auction 43 ... by Rod Sell, WBCC Auction Provider

Auction 43 is now open, we have a good selection of lots. Items listed can be seen at: Auction 43
Please email Rod Sell your bids.

14. WBCC Newsmail 300 ... by Martin Peeters, WBCC Focal Point

May 11, 2002, WBCC Newsmail 300 will be issued. To make this issue special I ask WBCC members to write about collecting Bi- and/or Tri-metallics. Let you fellow collectors/members know why you collect them, how you abtain them etc, etc.

15. Coin World Article ... by Martin Peeters, Netherlands

Copyright 2002, reprinted by permission from the April 22, 2002, issue of Coin World, Coin World.com.

--Quote
BRM releases ringed bimetallic coins in honor of Commonwealth Games The United Kingdom's 17th Commonwealth Games will be held in Manchester, England, in the summer, and the British Royal Mint has released a £2 coin commemorating the event.

The £2 coin marks only the second time that the BRM has issued a coin in honor of the games. The previous issue was a 1986 £2 coin.

Ian Rank-Broadley's portrait of Queen Elizabeth II appears on the coin's obverse. Designed by Matthew Bonaccorsi, the reverse depicts a woman hoisting a banner while running. The banner is lined, representing the lanes on a running track or those in a swimming pool. The reverse's inscription reads XVII COMMONWEALTH GAMES 2002, £2. The coin's edge reads SPIRIT OF FRIENDSHIP, MANCHESTER 2002.

The £2 coin is available in four versions, each saluting one of the nations that comprise the United Kingdom - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each of the versions carries a depiction of one of the nation's flags.

The coins, which are ringed bimetallic pieces, have a copper-nickel center and a brass outer ring. The coins are available only in a four-coin set. Sets are priced at $19.95. U.S. customers should add $5.95 postage and handling per order.

To order or for more information, U.S. customers should contact the British Royal Mint, Cheyenne, WY 82008-0031. Telephone (800) 221-1215. E-mail or visit The Royal Mint.
--Unquote

"See you", next week,
Martin Peeters, Focal Point of the Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club