WBCC Newsmail 484 Volume 10, November 19, 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

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Dear WBCC members and non WBCC members,
 
Welcome into the World Of Bi-metallics. I hope you find this week's WBCC Newsmail informative and interesting.

1. Tri-metallics from Somalia...by Jose Luis Ramirez Monleon, Spain
Please see my Tr-imetallic collection from Somalia. I have made a webpage with better images for all WBCC members. http://ret001qm.eresmas.net/somalia_wbcc.htm
--Remark WBCC Focal Point: Well done Jose !! Thanks !!
 
2. Bi-metallic 2 Pound 2005 from the Great Britain......by Fran Pascual, Spain
We can buy at the royal mint the 2 new Bi-mrtallic 2 Pound 2006 dedicated to Brunel.
http://www.royalmint.com/RoyalMint/web/site/PackedSets/UKIB2BP.asp?orderby=&pg=&thumb=3
2 Pound 2006, Brunel, Engeneering and 2 Pound 2006, Life of Brunel
and for the 2006 Proof set look at:
http://www.royalmint.com/RoyalMint/web/site/PackedSets/D06.asp?orderby=&pgthumb=3
 
3. Bi-metallic Off-centre toonies..some statistics..by Frans Woons, Canada
For about a year (November 2004 to October 2005) I kept track what kind of off-centre toonies (bi-metallic Canadian $ 2 coins struck since 1996) were offered for sale on eBay.  My record keeping was somewhat poor during August and September; partially due to the fact that I was on vacation. I recorded about 57 different auctions. Not 57 different coins. Some coins were put on eBay for a second (and sometimes even a third time) if the coin was not sold the first (or second) time. So, my statistics are somewhat incorrect. The reason I kept track of these auctions was to discover the relative scarcity of the different types of off-centre toonies and to get an idea of the value of off-centre toonies.  I recognize three types of off-centre toonies:
* Type 1: The yellow plug is not completely in the ring hole, but either partially under or partially on top of the ring, when the coin is struck. This results in too much "yellow" on one side of the coin and not enough on the other side. If the plug was under the ring when the coin was struck there is too much yellow on the obverse of the coin (Type 1a).  Was the plug on top of the ring, then there is too much yellow on the obverse (Type 1b). If the yellow on the side with too much yellow extends beyond the middle of the lettering, a moon-shaped gap will be found in the coin between the ring and the centre.
* Type 2:  The plug is perfectly in the ring hole but the hole is not centered within the ring.
* Type 3: The planchet is perfect but is not completely between the dies when the coin was struck. This forces the collar down and the coin is totally or partially outside the collar when struck.
Off-centre toonies dated 1996 are much more common than those with a later date. For two reasons:
a) the 1996 toonies were struck in a massive amount: 375.000.000 pieces, and
b) minting equipment was adjusted to reduce the chance for an off-centre toony.
However, off-centre toonies dated other than 1996 do exist.  I've seen off-centre toonies (either in photographs or in reality) dated 1997, 1998, 1999 (the Nunavut variety), 2001, and 2002.
Now the statistics...
Frequency of the different types of off-centre toonies:
Type 1: 93 %.
Type 2: 5 %
Type 3: 2%
Of all the Type 1 errors, about 66 % are the Type 1a variety and 33 % of the Type 1b variety.
Frequency by date:
1996: 77 %
1997: unknown
1998: 7 %
1999 Nunavut: 12 %
1999 one bear: 2 %
2000 one bear: 2 %
2002: unknown
It should be noted that 1999 one bear and 2000 one bear "off-centre toonies" offered for sale on eBay were very, very little off-centre; just like most toonies...
All the off-centre Nunavut toonies I've seen had too much yellow on the obverse (Type 1a) and the moon-shaped yellow on the ring is always near the 7 o'clock position.
About the values of off-centre toonies:  prices ranged from US $ 1.69 to US $ 350.00. This last price is an anomaly. It was paid for an off-centre toony with the yellow extending to almost the edge of the coin. However the centre had fallen out and had disappeared.  The seller marketed the piece quite well. He advertised the coin as being more valuable because the centre was gone...  In fact, any centre can be pushed out of the ring (whether the coin is an off-centre coin or not). Taking the coin apart and throwing a piece away should not make the coin more valuable... A reasonable value for an off-centre toony is about US $ 50. The greater the eccentricity, the greater the value. Obviously toonies dated other than 1996 are more valuable than those dated 1996. And Type 2 and Type 3 off-centre toonies are more valuable than Type 1 off-centre toonies.
 
4. Bi-metallics from Micronesia......by Wolfgang Schuster, Austria
Here are the Micronesia Bi-metallic 1$, 6 Types USA Presidents Series 2 and Series 3
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/0/1/8/4/4/6/webimg/2468791_o.jpg
http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/0/1/8/4/4/6/webimg/2469108_o.jpg
 
5. Bi-metallic Fantasy Euros....by Jose Luis Ramirez Monleon, Spain
INA have minted new euro fantasy sets. This time the countries are Bi-metallic Fantasy Euros from Guadalouoe and French Polinesia. The reverses of the coins are the same used in the Vatican City test dated 2005. There are more data about thes coins in my webpage in english. http://ret001qm.eresmas.net/eu-ingle.htm
 
6. Encased Farthing.........by Paul Baker, UK
I saw an interesting encased British Farthing on Ebay this week at:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8353659003
The seller's description said:
--Quote
This dance hall token has a 1938 farthing set into a broad aluminium surround. The embossed wording on the surround reads:- Ritz Dance Hall Whitworth Street West Manchester. On the reverse side it reads:- Keep me and you'll never be broke. This is printed in a horse shoe shape. The token measures just under 1ins across and is in good condition.
--Unquote
I do not recall having seen this type before.
 
7. Bi-metallics Euros on interesting webpage......by Wolfgang Schuster, Austria
For info, interesting site, shows also all patterns pseudos Euros etc.http://www.eurocoins.liesemeijer.com/Commemoratives2euro2005.html
quite useful.
 
8. Bi-metallic London trade token....by Cliff Anderson, USA
There is another Bi-metallic trade token from London, like others we have seen.
This one is marked "Covent Garden / George Shuter" on the obverse, and the reverse shows "2/", meaning it is worth two shillings.  It is an unusual design, possibly resembling a hat or crown.  The brass body is inset with a copper "S", apparently for Shuter, which shows through both sides.  The piece's manufacturer seems to be shown twice:  R. Neal on "Percival StR", on the obverse, and C. Neal at "East Finchley, N.12" on the reverse.

9. The WBCC Bi-metallic Quiz Game #484..........by Jack Hepler, USA
The Italian Bi-metallic 500 Lire of 1997 commemorates the 50th anniversary of the National Police Code. A mythological figure appears in the design above the coat of arms. This figure includes the torso of a man and a winged animal. What is the animal with wings?
a. Lion
b. Dove
c. Horse
d. Eagle
Please send your answer to: 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 #483
The Federated States of Micronesia issued a Bi-metallic One Dollar coin dated 2004. On one side is the protrait of Joseph J. Urusemal. The other side shows four stars representing the four major island or island groups of the nation.  What is the plant in the center of the design?
a. Date Palm
b. Fig
c. Laurel
d. Coconut Palm
The answer to Question #483 is "d"; Coconut Palm.

10. 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 nineplayers in game #482 and the winner was Meir Sapir, WBCC member #.296.

11. New Bi- or Tri-metallic images.......by Rod Sell, WBCC Webmaster
The new Bi- and Tri-metallic images shown at:
http://wbcc-online.com/new-releases/new-images.html
* Mexico 2005 100 peso commemoratives from the first 3 States
* GB The Birmingham Mint advertising medals 25 to 44 mm
* GB 2006 2pound Brunel chanel tunnel
* GB George Shuter 2 shilling token
* Kazakhstan 2005 inlay 500 tehre
* Toronto Jet Kleen car wash token
* Micronesia 2004 US Presidents
* French Polynesia fantasy 1 & 2 euros
* Guardeloupe fantasy 1 & 2 euros.
 
12. WBCC Auction 76 .....by Rod Sell, WBCC Auction Provider
I an accepting lots for WBCC Auction 76. The lots listed so far can be seen at http://wbcc-online.com/auction/auction76.html
Please email your lots to me now at rod.sell@elderwyn.com

"See you" next week  
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 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