Current Currency with George S. Cuhaj

When in Washington....visit a renewed Museum

George — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:36:49 GMT

This morning while listening to NPR then ran a story that on Friday, November 21 (Tomorrow) the Museum of American History will re-open after a multi- year renovation.

Old Glory is now displayed flat on a small rise, no longer hanging as in the former display.

The nues was all excited about Dorothy's ruby red slippers, Julia Child's kitchen and several other well know items of the 3 million, but no mention of the numismatic collection.

If I remember stories from when the museum closed the collection display, that numismatic items will be shown in context within other displays. That, of course, give little opportunity for a room of gold, as the Lilly collection was formerly displayed. Oh well.

George

Modern Paper Money Catalog Update Time

George — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:52:22 GMT

This month thru December 15th I will be doing updates to the data base of World Paper Money, Modern Issues.

If you are interesting in making sure that special correction gets made this year, I would rather that five people tell me about it rather than no one.

Don't expect me to know everything, and if you do not tell me, I don't expect you to critize the book.

Email your concerns to me at george.cuhaj@fwmedia.com

Thanks

George

It's rabbit season. It's duck season. It's time for the fall hunt.

George — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 14:51:00 GMT

The Saturday before Thanksgiving at first light I will start hearing multiple rifle shots echoing from the woodland and fields surrounding our small village. For the past few weekends, hunters have been in the woods participating in the “bow” hunt or setting-up and preparing their tree-stands for the opening weekend of the “gun” deer season. To cull the heard, our area participates in the “earn a buck” program – before a hunter shoots a stag, he has to shoot an anterless deer.

I find it interesting that the hunt takes place just after the rut. Shoot them just after they have had sex. Something very warped there.

As I live on the last street of town before a wooded area, I often have deer bedded down in my backyard, or in the summer nibbling at the hosta plants around the house. The season sometimes is year around, when one of these deer decides to bold across the road, a state highway in early morning, and it taken out by an auto. Not a pleasant site to find a carcass on your sidewalk in the morning. Not pleasant for the owner of the car either, as often it leads to over $1,500. in damages - a very expensive venison experience.

I’ve been told that there are two kinds of drivers in Wisconsin , those that have hit a deer and those that will.

Numismatically, there have been two types of hunting commemoratives. The first Society of Medallists issue from 1930 is titled Steady, and is a tribute to the bird hunter. It was sculpted by Laura Gardner Fraser. The second type of commemorative is the religious medals which honor St. Hubert , bishop of Leige, patron saint of hunters. His vision story is that while hunting a majestic stag, as he was about to shoot it with an arrow, the stag turns and Hubert sees a vision of a cross between his antlers and hears a message from the Lord. Very exciting stuff.

As one who spent a lot of time in the woods camping as part of the scouting program, I found that story interesting. I’ve also made the leap of good vs. evil to the modern movies in that Harry Potter’s patronis animal (protection spell) image is that of the stag, and the event where it first appears happens at a wooded lake.

Have a safe hunt.

George

November 11th. Some Veteran's Day thoughts

George — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:36:42 GMT

Tomorrow is Veteran's Day.

As a Cub Scout, my Den Mother was interested in helping us pas our acheivement arrows and my choice for collections was stamps, and in cam my 1960 pile of US mint issues. One was for Servicemen. During the course of the conversation she mentioned that she was a Gold Star Mother, having lost her eldest son in the war (Vietnam). It was at about a month later that she brought in photos of her receiving a medal from President Nixon - her son had been awarded the Medal of Honor. That impressed me even as a kid.

I still see her on occasion on my visits back to Astoria. I've visited her son's name on the wall in D.C. It is interesting how it all mixes in.

When I was attracted to collecting WWI items, the Gold Star Pilgrimage Medals from the United States Steamship Company and the additional medal from the federal government got my interest as the first showed a steamship, the Statue of Liberty and were struck by Tiffany & Co. I eventually wrote a TAMS Journal article about them. It was interesting to realize that there is now only one U.S. WW I veteran still alive.

However, it is also the anniversary of my father's death. 15 Years ago. Wow.

So, find a serviceman to thank, visit a local veterans home or hospital, support a Gold Star Mother.

George

Modern American Medals on display at APS Museum

George — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:51:36 GMT

Medallic Exhibit at American Philatelic Center
Opening, Seminars & Reception Saturday, November 8

From 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday, November 8 an exhibition of nearly 100 items from 30th Congress of the International Federation of Medallic Art will open at the American Philatelic Center , 100 Match Factory Place , Bellefonte , Pennsylvania . This exhibition (which includes two Cuhaj created medals) is supplemented by works of six additional Pennsylvania medallic artists: Richard Bonham, William Davis, Eugene Daub, Helen Gorsuch, Jim Licaretz, and Jeanne Stevens-Sollman.

As part of the opening a Demonstration, Lecture and Reception will be held on Saturday, November 8. From 10:30 am to noon artist Jim Licaretz will provide demonstrations in Cold Cast Bronze. At 3 pm collector and historian Donald Scarinci will present "Art that can't be licked" Understanding Contemporary Medals." The opening reception will be held from 4 pm to 6 pm. All events are free and open to the public.

The exhibition will remain on display in the American Philatelic Center , home of the American Philatelic Society, the nation's leading organization for postage stamp collectors, through January 15. Regular hours are 8 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

For directions call 814-933-3803 or visit the Society's website.

November 4th, it is here!

George — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:26:10 GMT

Greetings.

Well, it is election day. Please take the time to vote.

George

Colin Bruce, Randy Thern and Sally Olson, a sad parting

George — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 21:37:01 GMT

Friday October 31 will be the last day of service to the Krause Publications Numismatic Department for Colin R. Bruce, II, Senior Editor; Randy Thern, Numismatic Catalog Supervisor and Sally Olson, Book designer. Amongst them a total of over 90 years of service to the numismatic line by those folks.

Colin is familiar to many as the longest serving member of the department joining the staff for the second edition of the Standard Catalog of World Coins series, and expanding that project back to 1600. He also championed development of the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, as well as Unusual World Coins.

Randy Thern was for about half his time here part of the numismatic advertising division. Actually, it was by me placing ads for Stack’s that my relationship with the company grew. In the late-1990s when KP bought the Minkus Stamp product line, I moved over to the stamp division and Randy moved into a spot in the numismatic book area, where he has remained. Responsibilities included working with our stable of outside authors such as David Ganz, Wayne Sayles, Ken Potter, Eric P. Newman and Scott Lindquist.

Sally Olson has been with the company since high school. She has been in the book production department, being our last connection to the days when the Standard Catalog was a paste-up production book and all 17,500 velox images has to be moved from the old to new pages for each new edition. She made the transition to electronic pagination, and has been ably producing our current line of books and DVDs.

I thank them for lending their expertise to the KP world of Numismatics, and I wish them the very best of success in the future.

George

Stack's Sale of Obsoletes and US Coins on November 7, 2008

George — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 19:27:21 GMT

Stack' offering of November 7, 2008, the Haverford Collection of Coins and Paper Money.

A concise sale of spectacular US Obsolete proofs and specmens in wonderful condition will be offered by Stack's in this Public Auction sale. Featured are many Haxby Plate notes, as well as one or two Newman listed pieces (pre-1800). In addition a nice offering of Colonial Currency as well as an extensive selection of fractional currency look-alike advertising script notes. The sale includes a nice grouping of United States coins, including a gold strike of the Norse-American octagonal commemorative medal.

This offering will be a Public Auction sale at Coinfest in Stamford Connecticut. You can check out the lots at the Stack's website, www.stacks.com > or you may call the offices at 212-582-2580.>

George

ANS reopens at new Westside location October 23rd.

George — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:03:28 GMT

October 23 was to be the scheduled opening of the yet-again relocated American Numismatic Society museum, collection and library.

The opening exhibit honors the Centennial of the New York Numismatic Club. NYNC Members had the opportunity to showcase several items from their individual collections. A catalog is planed for the near future. The NYNC has been a big supporter of the ANS over the years, often with the full NYNC membership being ANS members, and many of the ANS curators or editors have served as NYNC presidents. Sadly the website has not yet been updated to feature the exhibition.

The ANS website with directions has been updated, check it on the blue hotlink.

Saturday at 3PM is the ANS's Annual Meeting at the new location, 75 Varick St. (corner of Canal, very west side.)

George

Bowers auctions East Bay and Kann Collections October 27-28.

George — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:11:02 GMT

Bowers and Merena auctions will be offering the East Bay and Eduard Kann Collections of Chinese, Russian and World Bank Notes at public auction in NYC October 27-28, 2008.

Presented in a fantastic 350 page catalog, the offering is wonderful.

From the first Chinese notes of the 1300s thru an extensive run of Russian Provincial items, condition and rarity are hallmarks of the presentation.

The sale will be at the Hilton Times square, catalogs can be had by calling Bowers and Merena Auctions at 800-458-4646.

Lots can be viewed at the firms web site at www.bowersandmerena.com

Features on Bank Notes. Fluorescence.

George — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:04:18 GMT

Over the past two years I have been having an on-going conversation (some would say - debate) with one of my most supportive Standard Catalog (coins and paper money) contributors.

We have been discussing the fluorescence characteristics of bank note ink and paper; and if that would be a good thing to add into the descriptions of the bank note listings in the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money.

Well, I have decided to proceed with this process, and in the forthcoming 15th edtion of the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money I will start to add UV characteristics.

So, let this be a heads up to my contributors. Get out your UV lights! I probably will not create new varieties from US charastic changes, but will add information to the existing varieties.

The catalog is still a reference of what one sees in normal light conditions.

George

Dora de Pedery-Hunt, Canadian sculptor, 1913-2008

George — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:09:31 GMT

Upon my return I found a notice that Dora de Pedery-Hunt died September 29th. 94 years of a life well lived.

As a coin collector, one would be familiar with her distinctive portrait of Queen Elizabeth II which graced the obverse of the circulating coins from 1990-2003. It was the first time that Canada broke with the use of the official "British" portrait design. And it was quite well done, too.

She was awarded the 2003 Saltus Medal from the American Numismatic Society in NYC. However, her support of the ANS was as an active member interested in their programs. She attended the 1983 125th Anniversary celebrations as well as the initial AMSA exhibition which was hosted in the ANS exhibition hall. This is the photo I took of her receiving the Saltus medal from Council Member Steve Scher with Dr. Robert Hoge looking on.

She tirelessly support the art of the medal, not only in Canada, but internationally. Dora served willingly and at much expense as the FIDEM delegate for Canada for over twenty-five years. She participated as the guest sculptor at on of the annual British Art Medal Society's weekend gatherings. She actively supported the American Medallic Sculpture Association activities, and when it was time for Canada to form a group for its growing interest in medallic art, she supported Medallic Art Society of Canada.

I was pleased to have known her. I collected some of her medals. I attended one of her exhibition openings in Toronto and used her work in a talk I gave at the FIDEM confrence in Neuchatel, Switzerland. That talk was entitled "The good, the bad and the ugly." When I told her I was using some of her medals in the talk, she joked about which category they would fall into. And at the end she expressed her appreciation of where they did fall.

She was a disciple of the medal, spreading the word to students and willing to help others improve their craft.

I found a notice that a celebration of her life is planned for the Arts and Letters Club in Toronto on what would have been her 95th birthday, Nov. 16, 2008.

Yikes, two weeks without a blog posting from George!

George — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:57:44 GMT

Okay, sorry, perhaps.

I am not ruthlessly efficient to have these things prepared ahead of time, nor do I impose on the time of a co-worker to post them for me if they were prepared ahead of time and I would be absent from my cube.

So, you have been graced by two weeks of quiet, while I have been a driving fool doing a round trip to Altoona and Harrisburg in Pennsylvania.

Yes, it was nearly the height of fall colors. Wonderful.

The weather was great, blue skys each day, one evening of light rain.

The event was to spend time researching the minute books and secretary files of the Pennsylvania Railroad which are in the PA State Archives, as well as further research on a PRR Heroism Award Medal recipient.

So, I'm back refreshed and will be having some interesting information for you shortly.

George

Memories of 8 years of ANS service on the 20th Anniversary

George — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:01:39 GMT

It was 20 years ago September 30th that I left the employ of the American Numismatic Society. How do I remember that? Well, let me tell you a story...

My main responsibility during eight years of full time employment at the ANS was the operation, maintaince and data entry input for the Prime Computer System Collection Management and Accession programs.

This meant loading the data into a brand new system, supplied and fully financed during those eight years by Harry W. Bass, Jr. I was his boy. He said jump, I said how high, where and how often.

After loading in the accession book records starting in 1858, those numbers formed the basis for the numbers on the individual coin records. Then there were 35 or so fields of information which could be filled in. In some cases, coins got basic stuff, 10 or so fields, in other cases items got 25 or more fields. Each week I rotated amongst the deparments. One week Roman, next Islamic, Modern, Far Eastern, Greek...

In weekly counts, I would often beat my 300 minimum count by 50-100, and some weeks 200 or more. In total after eight years I was responsible for 310,000 entries out of the then 350,000 in the system.

It was a great place to learn numismatics (I first visited in 1973, and joined in 1978).

However I certainly learned some negative life lessions; amongst them were class structure (having an advanced degree over those who just had a BA), bigotry, favoritism and enabeling. (If you want to read more, check out my participation transcript in the ANS Oral History Project.)

During my time there, as Sundays and Mondays were the days off, I took a part time job at St. Patricks Cathedral. It was eventually to the Cathedral I would go full time after the hospitalization of the chief usher, and a month later the murder of fellow usher John Winters. Yes, even after eight years of service and 310,000 plus entries into the database, I was able to leave the museum for the church (at just a slightly higher pay rate) without even a counter-offer.

I still think it is amazingly sad that the Holy Roman Catholic Church could pay better than a internationally recognized museum.

However, my parting gift was quite a surprize, a silver members medal, with a personalized edge engraving: George Cuhaj from the ANS staff 9-30-88. That medal is special to me as it has missed the melting pot twice, and perhaps someday the institution can return to prominence.

George

Confederate States Paper Money now in a 11th edition.

George — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:32:45 GMT

Confederate States Paper Money now in a 11^th edition, and in color!

After the death of Arlie Slabaugh during the production process for this edition, it feel to me to get this 11^th edition to press.

With the pricing assistance of Pierre Fricke, and a bit of re-organization, this work continues in Arlie’s tradition of merging the historical background information with the stories behind the note issues and printing firms.

The issues of the Confederate States of America from Montgomery and Richmond are listed, as were the state issues from the individual Confederate States, and notes from the reconstruction era.

The 6x9 format continues, but the paper stock has improved, digital color images of the bank notes greatly enhance the presentation. Work will continue to get the product fully in color for the 12^th edition. Time just was not on our side this year.

The 271 number page book has additional ad pages for the first time. It is available from www.krausebooks.com or from your favorite book seller. It is code #Z2407 with a retail price of $27.99 USD.

George

Collecting World Coins now in a 12th edition, with DVD !

George — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:39:49 GMT

This is turning into bookfair week in the numismatic arena at Krause Publications. Many products from a very busy springtime in the office are now retuning from the printer!

Just in from the printer is the 12^th Edition of Collecting World Coins.

Huh? A 12^th edition of a product I’ve not heard of? Well, yes. As certain KP books get sold into different markets.

The Collecting World Coins product has often been marketed solely into bookstores rather than into the numismatic arena, after all, most collectors would want complete stuff, and thus the large volumes of the Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000 and Standard Catalog of World Coins, 2001-present volumes are available. However, in the book store setting, KP realized long ago that the sticker price of those two large books may turn off the casual buyer of a world coin book, so this Collecting World Coins product was conceived as a derivative work.

For those who are not familiar with it, this edition is in the familiar three-column format with photos and date listings for each type of circulating world coins since 1901. Thus, if you are not interested in NCLT, Commemoratives in Gold and Silver only available in sets, or other back of country listings of patterns, pieforts, and trial strikes. It also bridges into the 21^st century.

So, if it is only circulating coins you are interested in, this is your product!

This 12^th edition is retail priced at $40.00 USD and is available at www.krausebooks.com in the coins and paper money section as code Z2543.

For those who do not like the very thin paper of the 20^th century book, the Collecting World Coins volume is printed on nice book stock, thus the photo images, which are now in a digital format, really punch.

George

Newman's The Early Paper Money of America now in its 5th edtion!

George — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:01:41 GMT

Eric P. Newman's The Early Paper Money of America is now available in a 5th edition!

Available from your favorite book source or www.krausebooks.com it is KP catalog #Z0101, and has a list price of $95.00.

In at 495 pages, this hardcover fifth edition continues the fine scholarly approach that Newman has demanded in this life-long, yet ageless, project.

With the new availability in the marketplace of many new notes, current pricing has been made possible thru the efforts of Stuart Levine. Color photos have been made possible from recent Stack's public auction sales and the collection of the late Radford Stearns for Georgia issues. Sadly, color illustrations were not available for more of the notes.

George

New edition available - Standard Catalog of United States Paper Money !

George — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:43:02 GMT

The 27th edition of the Standard Catalog of United States Paper Money is now available from Krause Publications, www.krause.books, or your favorite dealer.

This product has evolved greatly in the digital age. We (Bill Brandimore and I) have been busy adding color illustrations, in addition to new issues and many, many price changes. This book DOES NOT have a DVD, nor is it available in a seperate DVD.

The 6x9 soft cover color product comes in at 421 pages plus ads. It has a retail price of $26.99, and is code # Z2408.

If you will be buying a note or two form the forthcoming Lyn Knight Sale at the St. Louis show which will be featuring the Wisconsin National Bank Note collection of Mr. Chester L. Krause, you will be happy to know that many of those notes are the plate notes illustrating the National Bank Note Type listings in this product.

George

Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, General Issues soon to press

George — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:34:24 GMT

Greetings

Okay, perhaps you were concerned over the lack of recent postings.

The reason (excuse) is that I've been putting a bunch of effort and time into final page approvals for the upcoming 12th edition of the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, General Issues.

This edition will be the first to include fully digital images. Thus you can take the DVD which will be included in each and every book and fire it up in your computer's DVD player and enlarge the book pages up to 300% thus seeing tremendous detail.

So, watch for its availability in early November.

George

The passing of Radford Stearns

George — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:49:18 GMT

This week I was saddened to learn of the death of Radford Stearns.

I first meet him at the 1976 New York ANA convention where he won the Howland Wood best in show exhibit award for his display of Colonial Georgia Paper Money. That convention was my first exhibiting experience, and exhibit room was probably the largest ever at an ANA show (It took up the full venue of Albert Hall, the large basement room of the then named Americania Hotel on 7^th Avenue and 52^nd street .)

The next year, the ANA was in Atlanta , we got to meet again. Ten years later when the ANA returned to Atlanta he was named general chairman, and asked me to run a Boy Scout coin collecting merit badge program which has grown into the successful programs offered at conventions since.

Recently, I enjoyed spending time with him at the CICF show in the spring of 2007 when he spoke on Russian plate money (similar to the more popular Swedish plate, but scarcer) and his presentation was very informative, especially in pointing out the later date Novodels and counterfeits.

Another project he was very willing to help me on recently was in sharing color images of his Colonial Georgia notes which will be used in that chapter in the forthcoming fifth edition of Eric P. Newman’s Early Paper Money of America, which had gone to press about a month ago.

He wanted to speak more about things in the hobby rather than his illness. Quite noble.

George