Dear WBCC Members and Non WBCC Members,

Come into the World Of Bi-metallics. I really hope you enjoy reading this weeks WBCC Newsmail !!

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

We have a 3 WBCC members. Let me introduce them to you:

Name: Adrian Gonzalez (WBCC member #287), Mexico
E-mail: (NO LOGER PROVIDED ONLINE)
Age: 38
Profession: Bachelor in Computer Sciences & MBA
Hobby: Other Bi- and/or Tri-metallics (Mexico, USA & Euros)
Goal: I'd like to increase my knowledge about bimetallic coinage and I'd like to share information about Mexican bi-metallic coinage.
Against: My Bi-metallic collection is small. I have to learn more about Bi- and Tri-metallic world coinage.
How did I know about the WBCC: Dr. Luis Wulschner recommended it to me.

Name: Jose Luis Campa (WBCC member #288), Mexico
E-mail: (NO LOGER PROVIDED ONLINE)
Age: 49 years
Profession: Agent of Sure
Hobby: Coins of Mexico and Bi - and/or Tri-metallics of the world, especially errors and varieties of Mexican decimal coins
Goal: To publish a Catalog has more than enough Errors and Varieties of Decimal currency Mexican (included the Bimetallic currencies of Mexico)
Against: to continue investigating on Mexican decimal currency
How did I know about the WBCC: For a articulate of Luis M. Gómez Wulschner in the Numismatic Bulletin # 197 of Numismatic Society of Mexico of which I am active partner.

Name: Gerard McLellan (WBCC member #289), USA E-mail: (NO LOGER PROVIDED ONLINE)
Age: 64
Profession: retired
Hobby: Encased coins
Goal: Aquire all WBCC enkased, and others of interest.
How did I know about the WBCC: I found it while searching the internet.

2. World Money Fair Basel Final-report ... by Martin Peeters, WBCC Focal Point

Please read the Final report of the World Money Fair, held last weekend at Basel from January 31 to February 2, 2003, Zwitserland.

Friday, January 31, 2003
Arriving at 9 AM at the Basel Convention Centre, the WBCC WMF Team (Frans Dubois, Massimiliano Aiello, Hans Bucek and Martin Peeters) build the new designed WBCC booth. A picture can be seen at: New Images.

This day the WMF is not open for the public, it is only for Minthouses, mint related companies and distributors. They inform each other about new coins and coin related products. Very interesting to talk in an easy atmosphare with the Mints. This year the Mint(s) Of Honor were the BeNeLux countries (Beglium Mint, Dutch Mint and Luxembourg National Bank), they joined all 3 the same nice designed booth. The BeNelux countries announced a set will be available next day with all the Euros (including the Bi-metallic 1 and 2 Euro) of the 3 countries dated 2003. The German Mint announced a limited (1000 pieces) Euro (including the 1 and 2 Euro) special made for this year WMF event.

Saterday, February 1, 2003
The big day for the public. Because the German Euro set was available at the entrance of the WMF. Some diapointed was that the set had not the German 2003 Euros in it, but a Dutch 2003 Euro set !! The set was limited to 1 set per person showing their entrance ticket. Some visitors were "cleaver" and both several entrance tickets for themself. The price of the set was 30 Swiss Franc.

The Benelux countries sold the Euros set for 60 Euros, it was limited to 1 set per person. The trick was to get more sets to ask anther person to buy a set for you. Disapointed was that ther were onle 450 sets available at the WMF, while 50.000 will be issued.
A nice detail: The BeNeLux set was put together in Germany by an unkwown (for me) company

Sunday, February 2, 2003
This day the public doesnot have to pay to visit the WMF. I can report the following Bi-metallic news, it is listed per Mint or country:
* Austria Mint:
They showed the new Bi-metallic 25 Euro piece, unfortunally it was not available at the Mints booth. Only order were taken.
* Royal British Mint:
The new Bi-metallic 2 Pound 2003, commemorate DNA was availavle in the in a Presentation holder. This Bi-metallic 2 Pound 2003 will be also made in Gold/Silver but also in Gold (ring copper colored) and Gold (centre yellow colored)
* Czech Mint took orders for the new 2003 year set with the Bi-metallic 50 Korun. The sets cost 10 Euro.
* Finland Mint:
For 2003 they planned a Bi-metallic 10 Markkaa 2003 in Gold and Silver commemorate 125 years Finnish gold coins.
* Mexico Mint
Not the Mexico Mint was at the WMF but the National Mexico Bank. They introduced a new programm for 64 new Bi-metallic Silver/Gold 100 Pesos pieces. In 2003, 2004 and 2005 the first 32 pieces will be issued. These pieces will depict the Coat of Arms of each procince of Mexico. The first piece will be issued maybe in June 2003. In 2004, 2005 and 2006 the next 32 pieces will be struck.
* Russia Mint
Available at the Russian Mint were 2 ver nice designed sets. The first set with 7 Bi-metallic commemorate 7 Ministries, price 15 Euro. The second set is the 3 Cities (price 10 Euro)
* Swiss Mint:
The Swiss Mint had the new Bi-metallic 5 Frank 2003 (commemorate Festival Chalandamarz) available, in UNC (price 5 Swiss Frank), in Proof (price 20 Swiss Frank) and in several different BU sets. The very big news is the the next year 2004, the Swiss Mint will switch over to commemorate famous mountains. The Swiss Bi-metallic 5 Frank 2004 will commemorate the mountain Matterhorn.
* Turkey Mint:
Esspecially for the World Money Fair they had struck 3 dated Bi-metallics with the days this event was held. They had the same design as the pieces who can be struck every day at the Mint. For 2003 they have changed the ring and centre metal composition to the oposite of last year issues. The 3 pieces were available for 1 Euro per piece.
* Other Bi-metallic news:
From Bahrain they now also struck the Bi-metallic 100 and 500 dated 2002 (AH 1423). By the way, these Bi-metallics reads "Kingdom of Bahrain" whilst the earlier issues read "State of Bahrain".
Faude and Hugenin medaileurs from Zwitseland will issue this year a Bi-metallic 10 Franken commemorate 200 years canton of Vaudt. Although the Vatican was pesent at the World Money Fair, no sets were available.

At last:
Many visitors and Mints of the WMF showed their interest in the WBCC booth and the WBCC itself. Several peoples showed also interest in the Encased Euros we had displayed at our booth. All female visitors and children at our booth got a free chocolate Bi-metallic. WBCC members Gerhard Schon and Christian Dolt visited the WBCC booth and received a WBCC Certificate. Mr. Beck, President of the World Money Fair visited the WBCC booth, he received a special certificate for making it possible for the WBCC to attend the World Money Fair.

The WBCC sponsors, Schuler Pressen and Portugal Mint employees received a special WMF 2003 T-shirt for their sponsor ship the Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club.

Next year World Money Fair will be held from January 30 to February 1, 2004 and the Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors will be their again with their own booth. The next event the WBCC will be present with their own booth shall be the ANA Convention 2003 at Baltimore, MD, USA held from July 30 - August 3 and hosted by the Baltimore Coin Club (BCC).

3. Bi-metallic Off-centre from Kenya ... by Frans Woons, Canada

If you take a look at: An interesting item from Kenya!. Reminds me of the Canadian off-centre Bi-metallic $ 2 pieces.

4. Bi-metallic Medal from Swiss?? ... by Cliff Anderson, USA

Shown in this week's new images is a curious Bi-metallic medal. The obverse's center shows a clasped handshake over an armorial shield with 22 stars arranged in a central cross. It is dated September 1895 and the circumference reads "And. A. D. Truppenzusammenzug D. 1u2I Division". The reverse pictures four uniformed military figures standing in front of a cannon and holding what appear to be two Swiss flags. Its circumference reads "Un Pour Tous - Tous pour Un", or "one for all - all for one". I don't know German, but I'm guessing it represents a unit's reunion or commemoration of some kind. The uniforms and headgear do not look German or Prussian. Is it to be expected that Swiss would use both German and French inscriptions? The center is beautifully toned silver in an aluminum outer ring. Can any member translate the German and make sense of this piece?

5. Bi-metallic from Canada ... by Jose Luis Ramirez, Spain

If you look in the webpage of the Royal Canadian Mint, you can see the new Bi-metallic 15$ Cameo Coin: year of the sheep.

6. The WBCC Bi-metallic Quiz Game #339 ... by Jack Hepler, USA

This weeks question was suggested by Jose Luis Ramirez Monleon to honor the seven astronauts lost in the Columbia Space Shuttle Accident. A space symbol appears on the Bi-metallic coins of over 20 nations. This symbol appears in the national shields, part of decorations, flags and as a symbol of hope and the future. It appears on coins of every continent. What is that symbol?
a. Sun
b. Moon
c. Planets
d. Stars
Please send your answer to me: Jack Hepler. Note: See this coin and many others by visiting the WBCC website.
Answer to Bi-metallic Quiz Game question #338
Prior to the introduction of the EURO, Austria honored four national heroes on the Bi-metallic coins. One of the men honored was deeply involved in the study of behavioral sciences. He is well known for his work with geese. Which of these national heroes was honored on the Austrian Bi-metallic 50 Schillings of 1998?
a. Conrad Lorenz
b. Ferdinand Porsche
c. Johann Strauss
d. Sigmund Freud
Answer to Question #338 is "a". Geese also appear on this coin. Summary of answers to Quiz Game Question #337: 100.0% correct, seven players.

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

The new Bi and Tri-metallic images shown at: New Images. New listed are:
* Swiss 1895 Military Medal
* Images from The Basel 2003 Money Fair
*The WBCC 2003 Basel Phonecard
* WMF 2003 Euro set
* Benelux 2003 Basel Euro Set
* Swiss 2003 CHALANDAMARZ 5 Franc
* GB DNA 2 pound
* Turkey, daily bi-metallics for the 3 days of the Fair
* Kingdom of Bahrain 2002 100 fils
* Kingdom of Bahrain 2002 500 fils

8. WBCC Auction 52 Last Day ... by Rod Sell, WBCC Auction Provider

By the time you are reading this meaasge Auction 52 will be in it's last day. The 85 interesting lots listed can be seen at: Auction 52. Please email your bids to me:Rod Sell now, so that any delay in email delivery does not make you miss your lot. The auction closes at 11 AM on Sunday 9th February Sydney time. The time on your email dictates if your bid will be accepted, as long as the email arrives soon after 11AM.

9. Bi-metallic Offer ... by Murali Kumar, USA

I am Murali Kumar, WBCC member No.229 and I have some Thomas cup commemmorative 1ringitt Bi-metallic coins issued by Malaysia in 2000 for exchange. I prefer exchange to outright sale. Those members who are interested can e-mail me at the following address with details of their coins. The coins offered by me are BU and in original folders of issue. My e-mail is: Murali Kumar

"See you" in 2 weeks time,
Martin Peeters, Focal Point of the Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club