| Worldwide Bi-Metallic Collectors Club Newsmail #367 |
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WBCC Newsmail 367, Volume 8, August 23, 2003 (amended) Dear WBCC Members and Non WBCC Members, Welcome into the World Of Bi-metallics. I really hope you enjoy reading this weeks WBCC Newsmail. Thanks goes to Jack Hepler and Cliff Anderson from the US, the last 3 WBCC Newsmails was composed and send while I was in Mexico/Guatamala. 1. Bi-metallic 1 and 2 Euro 2003 news..by Frans Dubois, Netherlands Since 2002 12 European countries and also Monaco, Vatican City and San Marino use the Euro as their currency. Some of these countries, Finland, France, Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands started the mintage already in 1999 and Monaco started in 2001. The others started in 2002 when the Euro replaced the former coinage. But this does not mean that all years will be minted for circulation in the future. Coins of Vatican City are even not minted for circulation but only for the sets.
If we want to collect all dates of these Bi-metallic 1 and 2 Euro it is
sometimes neccesary to buy some sets. For instance
Austria will not issue a 1 euro for circulation in 2003 but only in the BU
or Proofset. The first 2003 Euro were issued already in 2002 (In a BU-set))
by the Irish Mint!
Till now the following 1 and 2 Euro 2003 are found in circulation or
available at the Mint/Banc: 2. Bi-metallic commemorative 2 Pound G.B. 2004..by Paul Baker, UK The 2002-03 annual report of the British Royal Mint recently appeared on their website. The on-line version of this annual report comes in the form of a rather large (approx 4 MB) pdf file. Pages 21 and 22 of the 38 page report are on the subject of the Royal Mint Advisory Committee. They include information on future circulation coins design for Great Britain - namely the 2004 circulating commemorative of 50 Pence and Bi-metallic 2 Pounds and also the new 4 year series of 4 new 1 Pound coin designs (to commemce next year). So what about the Bi-metallic 2 Pounds coin - the report details that the reverse will feature a design by Robert Lowe to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the first railway locomotive, built by Richard Trevithick. The design is said to feature a detailed view of Trevithick's locomotive but no image was given. I would very much expect that both the standard design and the locomotive design will appear in circulation at some stage during 2004. The only other notable "bi-metallic" in the report was an image - as part of the illustrations shown on the pages regarding foreign coinage contracts the report showed a Bosnia-Herzegovina 2 Konvertible Markka coin with date 2003. 3. Bi-metallic Euros from Poland and Malta..by Jose Ramirez, Spain
Look at this Ebay auction, you can see the new Euro test set from Poland and
Malta. --Remark WBCC Focal Point: The text says that the set have "Certificate". I'm sure it is not a certificate given by the Malta or Poland Mint. So I think a clever busseniss is making money like the UK Eurosets. Or a'm I wrong? 4. Bi-metallics from China...by Manuel Gonzalez, Spain
Last week I saw in Internet one page with Bi-metallic China silver gold
pieces issued. There is 3 giant Bi-metallic 6. Bi-metallic 1792 Silver Center Cent... by Cliff Anderson, USA This week's new images show the obverse and reverse of a beautiful replica of the Bi-metallic 1792 US Silver Center Cent minted by, and available at, Gallery Mint Museum (GMM). See the WBCC image library section for the United States, where this item is more fully described, and the paragraph in the "History of Bi-Metallic Coins" The Guide Book of United States Coins (the "Red Book"), the standard reference on U. S. coins, 51st edition, page 10, gives this information: "Several pattern coins were prepared in 1792 before regular mint operations commenced. These included the silver center cent by Henry Voigt, a smaller piece than that of regular issue. The small plug of silver, worth about three-quarters of a cent, was evidently intended to bring the intrinsic value of the coin upp to the value of one cent and permit production of a coin of more convenient size. Alexander Hamilton had mentioned ayear before that the proposed 'intrinsic value' cent would be too large, and suggested that the amount of copper could be reduced and a trace of silver added. The pattern cent with a silver center may have been designed to conform to this recommendation." The catalog itself states that there are only 13 known specimens to exist, with an estimated value of $65,000 each.
See other descriptions from CoinWorld and other authorities: The GMM flier in this item of June 2002 says the following: "Our latest offering is a reproduction of one of the most interesting coins created as a pattern for the new coins to be minted at the U.S. Mint in 1792. The silver center cent was created that has 3/4 cent worth of silver, and 1/4 cent worth of copper. Other patterns were struck from the same dies that contain the same percentages of copper and silver alloyed together. Alloys using low percentage of precious metal are sometimes referred to as "billon" or "fusible alloy". The low percentage of silver is not enough to distinguish it from pure copper, and the silver center cent was determined to be too time consuming to produce, so it was later decided that large cents, or what Thomas Jefferson referred to as the "real cent" would be made of pure copper. This, the latest reproduction from Gallery Mint Museum, is now available for $20 each. Available with COPY stamp on reverse or obverse, it features a reeded edge. Actual size is approximately .88"." The Gallery Mint Museum can be reached at P. O. Box 706, Eureka Springs, AR 72632. They welcome VISA or Mastercard orders toll free at 888 558-MINT (558-6468); fax 479 253-5056, and/or email. But checkout their website for a lot of other great items. I noticed that the Patrick Mint produced its own replica in 1997. See the additional scans of this item which may have been done as an advertising piece. I have no idea if the Patrick Mint still has any of this item, but look at their website. And notice its address on the reverse of the piece. 7. Bi-metallic from Pobjoy..by Manuel Gonzalez, Spain
There are other new Bi- and Tri-metallic pieces from Pobjoy.Mint.
8. Bi-metallic 1 and 2 Euro 2003 Vatican..by Martin Peeters, Netherlands This week I received Vaticane one BU 2003 Euro set (price 18 Euro, = 20US$) with the Bi-metallic 1 and 2 Euro. In the next WBCC Auction 59 the set is listed with a start price of 20US$. This offers is only for WBCC members, so no new WBCC members are accepted till Auction 59 has ended. 9. The WBCC Bi-metallic Quiz Game #367...by Jack Hepler, USA
In 1999, the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, USA began a series of
Bi-metallic tokens. The 1999 version shows a picture of the city skyline. In
2000, the token honored Queen Charlotte. Other featured designs include a
trolley, sister city of Arequipa, Mexico and the 1774 Hezekiah Alexander
home. How are these Bi-metallic tokens intended to be used? 10. WBCC Quiz Game Prize...by Jack Hepler, USA The special prize to be awarded to a member who correctly answers the WBCC Quiz Game this week (#367) will be a Bi-metallic Charlotte Token. If more than one member gets the question right, a random drawing will be conducted to select a winner. The winner of the Bi-metallic Ben Gurion Airport Token (WBCC Newsmail #365) is Max Aiello (WBCC member #73). 11. New Bi- or Tri-metallic images....by Rod Sell, Australia
The new Bi and Tri-metallic image shown at: New Images. Newly listed are: WBCC Auction 59...by Rod Sell, WBCC Auction Provider
You have just 2 weeks to list your lots for WBCC Auction 59 which will start
on the 6th September. The items listed can be seen at: Auction 59. "See you" next weeks,
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