WBCC Newsmail 590 Volume 12, December 1, 2007
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Past Newsmails can be found at http://www.wbcc-online.com/newsmail/wbccnews.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear WBCC members and non WBCC members,
Welcome into the World of Bi, Tri and Quad-metallics. I hope you enjoy reading
this week's issue of the WBCC Newsmail. 

1. World Money Fair 2008 in Berlin...by Martin Peeters, WBCC Focal Point
I'm already looking forward to the World Money Fair 2008 and the WBCC participation in this major numismatic event scheduled to take place from February 1st to 3rd, 2008.
If you look at:
http://www.worldmoneyfair.ch/wmf/english/pdfs/worldmoneyfair2008_ausstellerliste.pdf
you can read the Exhibitor index.
Now I wonder which WBCC members will visit this event too. Till now the following WBCC members will be there and will be at the WBCC Booth: Frans Dubois, Max Aiello, Cliff Anderson and myself. We will stay at the Park-Hotel-Blub. So if you will come to Berlin and visit the WBCC Booth, please let me know
 
2. Bi-metallic 1 Lat from Latvia......by Frans Dubois, Netherlands
In: http://www.bank.lv/eng/main/all/lvnaud/jubmon/nmp/time2/index.php?93145
one can read about the new Bi-metallic 1 Lat 2007, Coin In time II
--Quote
Face value: 1 lats
Weight: 17.15 g (weight of the central circle - 7.15 g, weight of the outer ring - 10.00 g).
Diameter: 34.00 mm.
Metal: the central circle - niobium; the outer ring - silver, fineness .900.
Quality: UNC.
Struck in 2007 by Münze Österreich(Austria).
Artists: Laimonis Senbergs (graphic design), Janis Strupulis (plaster model).
Obverse
A symbol of a heraldic rose with letters H and R beneath it is placed in the central part of the coin. The inscription LATVIJAS REPUBLIKA (Republic of Latvia) is arranged in a semicircle at the top of the outer ring, the inscription of the divided year 2007 is situated on the left and right from the coin's centre, and beneath it there is a semicircular inscription VIENS 1 LATS (One 1 Lats).
Reverse
The reverse of the coin features the signs of the Zodiac in a circle along the outer ring, and the images within it representing different evolutionary stages of the plant world symbolise the change of seasons.
Edge
Plain.
The outer ring of the second bimetallic coin issued by the Bank of Latvia is made of silver, and the central part is struck in niobium, tinted in dark purple.
The design concept of the coin has been built around the Zodiac circle, a popular mathematical abstraction reflecting the ascendancy of the universe over human destiny.
Already the ancient inhabitants of Mesopotamia, who happened to be excellent explorers of celestial bodies, divided the heavenly vault into 12 segments, thereby attaining a high degree of precision in systematising the star position. They studied astronomical and meteorological phenomena (emergence of comets, lunar and solar eclipses, the ascending and descending of planets and stars) in the context of events affecting the sovereign, state, the individual. The planets move through the constellations, most of which named after animals, from whose presence the circle divided into 12 segments got the name Zodiac - from zōdiakos (kyklos) in Greek, meaning "a circle of animals".
The outer silver ring of the reverse features the Zodiac circle and stands for the year, which begins in the middle of one winter and ends in the middle of the following winter. The central part of the coin is struck in tinted niobium, suggesting the fiery disc of the Sun. The signs of the Zodiac, arranged in a silver circle, appear on the tips of its rays. The unhurried observer will be able to discern that the rays actually conceal ascetically designed plants that change along with the four seasons. The central field is left blank: the owner can engrave his or her own sign of destiny or a commemoration of a special occasion.
The dark purple niobium field of the obverse features five-petalled rose, the most popular representation of a flower in heraldics. In Ancient Egypt and in Greek mythology rose was suggestive of feminine passion, beauty and source of inspiration; for Persians, it represented soldiers' valour; in Middle Ages, a rose-bud was taken for a sign of infinity and virginity. A red rose is given as a token of love. Letters H and R stand for Heinrich Rose (1795-1864), the discoverer of niobium.
--Unquote
 
3. Bi-metallic from Uruguay...by Wolfgang Schuster, Austria
See scans of a 10 Pesos 2000 from Uruguay, right they added the stars to show that they are minted later by a different mint.
 
4. Bi-metallic Euro nations series.....by Cliff Anderson, USA
On October 31, Martin Peeters posted a card from the Dutch Mint that advertised a bimetallic silver and gold proof commemorative piece for Monaco.
Apparently, a whole series of these pieces was made, but it is not clear that they all came from the Dutch Mint, but if they did, then cards and pieces for other Euro countries may be coming in the future.
However, I was able to obtain pieces for all but one of the Euro countries (Belgium), and not at the high price shown on the card.  So I will scan and send them, with descriptions, two at a time in the coming weeks.
Note that the Monaco piece features scenes from that country:  casino, sailboats, coat of arms, portraits of the Raniers, plus images of its old and new coins.  And you will see that all the other pieces do that same thing.  The information on the card seems accurate, since these pieces do seem to be proof silver and gold plated.
So here is another piece representing Greece, as well as the common obverse (maybe reverse?) for all of them.
Because the encapsulated pieces are large (39mm), the map of Europe is much better detailed than what shows on the 1 and 2 euros, and the map includes all the old and new euro countries (even Denmark, England, Sweden), not just the 12 or 13 ones who issue the euro currency.
The Greek images on the piece show the classical Athenian buildings, plus the old and new coins.  And note how the name of the country is in that country's language.
I think we would all be interested in just what authority issues these pieces:  The Euro Commission? 
 
5. Bi-metallic medals...by Martin Peeters, Netherlands
The firm Sir Rowland Hill offers 2 Bi-metallic medal for each 2 Euro
The first medal commemorate the 2006 European Football Championship in Austria and Swiss
The second medal is a Bi-metallic Fantasy 2 Euro
 
6. Bi-metallic Quiz Game #590.......by Jack Hepler, USA
San Marino issued a Bi-metallic 500 Lire coin in 1982. The coin shows a tractor and two men with one man kneeling and pointing to the ground. What organization was honored on this coin?
a.  FAO
b.  Green Peace
c.  The United Nations
d.  International Boy Scouts
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 #589.
Singapore issued a specially designed Bi-metallic Five Dollars coin in 2000. The Coat of Arms is shown on the reverse of this coin with two lions facing a shield. The obverse design incorporated a holographic 1999 and 2000. The obverse also has an animal incorporated in the design. What animal appears on the reverse of the millennium Singapore
Five Dollars?
a.  Pig
b.  Monkey
c.  Horse
d.  Lion
The correct answer for question #589 is d; Lion.

WBCC Quiz Game Prize
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 ten players in game #588 and the winner was Minhaj Qazi WBCC member #445.
 
7. New Bi-, Tri-, or Tetra-metallic images...by Rod Sell, WBCC Webmaster
The new Bi-, Tri-, or Tetra-metallic image shown at:
http://wbcc-online.com/new-releases/new-images.html
* Mexico 2007 Yucatan 100 Peso
* Uruguay 10 Peso types with stars near date
* Thailand 2007 10 baht King's 80th Birthday
* Europa Medal Greece

----------------------------------------------------------

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-, Tri-, and Tetra-metallics and exchange knowledge about Bi-, Tri-, and Tetra-metallics

WBCC Organisation:
WBCC Webmaster: Rod Sell, Australia, rodsell@rodsell.com
WBCC Sales Pages Provider: Rod Sell, rodsell@rodsell.com
WBCC DoCu-Centre: Frans Dubois, Netherlands, dubois.f@wxs.nl
WBCC Public Relations: Cliff Anderson, USA, cliff38@earthlink.net
WBCC Research Centre: Paul Baker, UK, 85@wbcc.fsnet.co.uk
WBCC Developement Centre: Jack Hepler, USA, heplerj@juno.com
WBCC Focal Point ANA Conventions: Ray Lockwood, USA, sunrayofmarion@aol.com
WBCC Focal Point: Martin Peeters, Netherlands, wbcc@home.nl
WBCC Website: http://wbcc-online.com
WBCC Web-Log: http://wbcc.web-log.nl/

The WBCC will attend the following future International events:

* International Coin Event 2007, Sunday, December 9th 2007, Herentals, Belgium  http://www.numismatica-herentals.be

* The World Money Fair, February 1 to 3, 2008 in Berlin, Germany
http://www.worldmoneyfair.ch/wmf/english/index.html

* The 8th Northern Coin Event 2008, Saturday, September 20th, 2008, Assen, The Netherlands http://www.muntmanifestatie.nl