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WBCC Newsmail 444,
Volume 10, February 11, 2005
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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
Assisted this week by Cliff Anderson, USA cliff38@earthlink.net
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Dear WBCC members and non WBCC members,
Welcome into the World Of Bi-metallics. I really hope you enjoy reading
this weeks WBCC Newsmail.
In Martin’s absence at the World Money Fair in Basel, Switzerland,
I’m transmitting this week’s WBCC Newsmail. Martin, Frans Dubois, Max
Aiello (and surely Hans Bucek?) are representing the WBCC at the World Money
Fair, and they hope/expect to see other members drop by.
--- Cliff Anderson
1. A new WBCC member.......by Martin Peeters, WBCC Focal Point
We have a new WBCC member. Let me introduce him to you:
Name: Bruce Teter (WBCC member #362), USA
Age: 46
Profession: Scientist
Hobby : World coins especially Bi- and/or Tri-metallics
How did I know about the WBCC: ebay search result
Welcome Bruce!
2. New Croatia bimetallic -- Denis Buric
In a note to Martin, Denis Buric says:
“I have some good news. Croatia will issue a new bimetallic coin of 25 Kuna
in 2005. We know the theme will be: "start of negotiations with Croatia
and EU". It will be issued in second part of this year and that is
all we know some far. Probably same shape, same materials.”
3. Bimetallics in the ANA’s “Numismatist”
-- Cliff Anderson
As many members know, the American Numismatic Association’s prestigious monthly
magazine is called, appropriately, “Numismatist”. In its October 2004
issue, page 117, there appeared a guest editorial by Dick Young that gently
urges (as WBCC members have also been suggesting) that the U. S. Mint seriously
consider issuing a circulating bimetallic $2 coin. (The 2000 Library
of Congress bimetallic commemorative was nice, but clearly not meant for
business usage.)
That article is excerpted below, with the kind permission of the
magazine’s editor, Barbara J. Gregory.
New Twos for Our Presidents
A new series of bimetallic $2 coins would be an appropriate venue for honoring
America’s leaders.
A number of proposals for a circulating coin series commemorating U.S. Presidents
have been discussed in the hobby. Such a series would provide a great opportunity
to instill creativity in American coinage and boost numismatics.
I think most collectors would agree that the Susan B. Anthony (SBA) and Sacagawea
(Sac) dollars were a big disappointment. I also feel that any attempt to
replace the paper dollar is doomed to failure ... so why try?
However, has anyone considered a $2 coin? In my opinion, it
would open the door to new avenues of collecting. The United States has never
issued a $2 coin, and adding this denomination would be a special way to
honor our Presidents. In addition, a $2 piece is much more likely to circulate,
in part because its higher value [which] would discourage hoarding. Most
European countries have had a $2 coin equivalent in their monetary systems
for years, and the concept was carried over into euro coinage. The ‘2 unit’
denomination continues to be one of the most popular coins in any series.
Why? Be- cause of its small size and high value.
Size has been a major point of criticism for the SBA and Sac dollars. Because
they are virtually the same size as the quarter, they can be mistakenly spent
as such. The British avoided this problem. Their pound coin has roughly the
same diameter as the 10 pence, but the pound is twice as thick. This treatment
is one way to set apart a Presidential series, but the small diameter would
not be in keeping with its commemorative intent. A bimetallic
coin slightly larger than the quarter might be more appropriate for the issue
and would resolve the difficulties that arise when two denominations are
similar in size. The bimetallic composition would make it truly distinctive.
Besides the artistic possibilities offered by this new format and composition,
the coin would start a new tradition using bimetal for very special occasions.
A $2 piece would be convenient to carry and have greater purchasing power
than our present coins. Issuing five to ten designs a year would generate
more interest in American history and collecting, feeding on the success
of the U.S. Mint's 50 State Quarters® Program.
Envision this: a $2 coin with a gold-colored center featuring a U.S. President
on one side and our American eagle or the Statue of Liberty on the other.
Surrounding this would be a silver-colored ring bearing mottos and other
identification. (I have mixed emotions about using the eagle versus the Statue
of Liberty. If part of the politics of the coin is to help educate Americans
and/or the world about the principles our nation stands for, I personally
would opt for the Statue of Liberty rather than a bird of prey.)
In any event, a new $2 coin series would make a great addition to our coinage
system. It would be a suitable venue for recognizing the contributions made
by all our Presidents, a multifaceted educational tool and, best of all,
beneficial to numismatics!”
An accompanying photo comment says: “A bimetallic coin such as the
2 euros would present new design possibilities and boost public interest
in collecting.”
From Cliff.
(I have to add my editorial comment that membership in the ANA has added
immeasurably to the enjoyment of my hobby. And I don’t think I am overstating
it to suggest that ANA membership is one of the best coin collecting values
available to American collectors. It has responded to every numismatic
area of interest to me; it helps me “scratch my itch”. Check out www.money.org.)
4. 2005 Charlotte, NC, bimetallic token -- Cliff Anderson
This year, as in the last six years, the City of Charlotte, NC, is issuing
a new $1 parking token with a new design. It is available and can be
obtained by sending $1 for each token requested (and add another $1 or $2
as a courtesy for their shipping costs) to “Park It!”, 229 S. Brevard Street,
Suite 102, Charlotte, NC 29202.
Take a look at the token’s design at
http://www.charmeck.org/Departments/Transportation/Special+Programs/2005+Charlotte+Coin.htm.
You will note that the City also offers the design in the form of a non-bimetallic
commemorative coin. Also note that you can view each of the previous
six token designs on the menu to the right of the screen (and below).
I don’t know of any other American city that has produced such a series of
coins and tokens that highlight local tourist features and attractions.
Pretty classy.
Remember that these designs are/were also bimetallic, so imagine these designs
with the circular center core.
5. Canadian Coin News article -- Cliff Anderson
If any of our 20 or so Canadian members are also subscribers to “Canadian
Coin News”, please be alert for an article by staff writer Melanie Cummings,
who has composed an article on the WBCC which she indicated should be published
soon.
6. WBCC Auction 71 --Rod Sell, WBCC Auction Provider
Auction 71 closes 11.00 PM, Sat 12th February 2005 Sydney Time
The 189 lots listed (actually only 188 as there is no lot 5) can be seen
at http://wbcc-online.com/auction/auction71.html
Please email your bids to me NOW at Rod.Sell@elderwyn.com
Also please note in the last hour you can only bid on 5 new lots. You can
re bid on any lots that you have previously bid on. So don't leave
your bids to the last hour.
Remember, the auction closes 11.00 PM, Sat 12th February 2005 Sydney Time.
7. The WBCC Bi-metallic Quiz Game #444...by Jack Hepler, USA
Which bird will you find in the design of the 1993 Bi-metallic 50 Roubles
of Russia?
a. Owl.
b. Kazarka.
c. Falcon.
d. Grouse.
Please send your answer to me: heplerj@juno.com
Note: See this coin and many others by visiting the WBCC website;
http://www.wbcc-online.com
Answer to Bi-metallic Quiz Game question #443:
The feat of wrestling the bull is portrayed on a 1999 Bimetallic
2 Pounds of Gibraltar. Minos was the king of which island in
the Aegean Sea?
a. Crete.
b. Chios.
c. Lesbos.
d. Samos.
Answer to Question #443 is Crete.
8. WBCC Quiz Game Prize...by Jack Hepler, USA
A Bi-metallic prize will be awarded to a member who correctly answers
the WBCC Quiz Game this week. If more than one member gets the correct
answer, a random drawing will be conducted to select a winner. There
were 12 players in game #443 and the winner was Michael Ayrapetov (WBCC
member #8).
9. New Bi- or Tri-metallic images
Though there are no new images to show this week, we expect numerous new
pieces from the World Money Fair in Basel for next week. But you can
see the new Bi and Tri-metallic images as of February 3 shown at http://wbcc-online.com/new-releases/new-images.html
"See you" next week, Cliff Anderson for Martin Peeters, Focal Point of the
Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors ClubWBCC@kabelfoon.nl
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The Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club (WBCC)
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 Webmaster
& Auction Provider, Rod Sell, Australia.
WBCC DoCu-Centre:
Frans Dubois, Netherlands.
WBCC Public
Relations: Cliff Anderson,USA.
WBCC Research
Centre: Paul Baker,
UK.
WBCC Developement
Centre: Jack Hepler,
USA.
WBCC ANA Focal
Point: Ray Lockwood,
USA.
WBCC Focal Point:
Martin Peeters,
Netherlands
WBCC Website
Bi-metallic
Forum Page
The WBCC is sponsored at the Basel
World Money Fair 2005,
http://www.worldmoneyfair.ch/home_engl.html
, by:
Schuler Presses, Germany, http://www.schulergroup.com
and
The Portuguese Mint (INCM), http://www.incm.pt
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