For the first time in a number of years, Stacks will hold a sale on April 24^th, in Rosemont, Ill, during the Chicago International Coin Fair. Starting at 4 PM at the Doubletree Hotel.

The sale is presented in two catalogs. The first is the collection of Michael S. Tallent, and includes 293 lots of spectacular English hammered gold sovereigns, early silver crowns, pounds and unites, as well as a large grouping of Charles I coinage and civil war issues. The collection continues with a nice selection of German multiple thalers.

The second part of the sale is presented as the Alicia and Sid Belzberg Collection. It is comprised of 126 lots of historic Polish, Danzig and Russian material, and then is followed by a selection of Ancient and World Coins, Medals and Decorations. Highlights include two Russian family rubles, several five and ten ducat pieces, in addition to a nice group of Polish patterns.

George

This Thursday thru Sunday, I will be attending the Chicago International Coin Fair (CICF) held at the Crown Plaza Hotel, River Road, Rosemont, Ill.

Thursday is premium day, and public hours will be on Friday and Saturday, with a slew of club meetings scheduled for Saturday.

I will be pleased to meet with blog readers to talk about the catalogs.

Sunday hours are short, 10-1, so plan on the other days for best opportunities.

George

Created in 1789, the Diocese of Baltimore had jurisdiction for the recently independent United States. It was in 1808, that the Baltimore was raised to an Archdiocese, and the Diocese of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and the first inland diocese located at Bardstown (KY) were formed. (Bardstown never took off as a financial center like the others and that area is now part of the Louisville Diocese).

This is one of the reasons that this papal visit is happening now. April was the time that the new dioceses were created, and celebrations are taking place in those locations throughout the last year. A visit to Boston was avoided due to the major clergy scandals of the last two decades, and so a large group of Bostonians and Philadelphians have been both invited to the Yankee Stadium or Washington D.C. events.

Medals played a part in three of the four centennials. 1908 saw Boston Centennial medal with a large portrait of the recently appointed Archbishop William O'Connell. The reverse featrues a commemorative legend and the Archbishop's coat-of-arms. The sculptor was by Bela Lyon Pratt, the designer of the then recently released Indian head $2-1/2 and $5 Gold coins (minted between 1908-1929).

New York's centennial medal obverse featrues Archbishop Farlery in the center of portraits of the previous Archbishops. It was designed by J. E. Roine. The reverse features St. Patrick's Cathedral, with additional renderings of original cathedral, and first church in NYC. Philadelphia's entry was a rather plan and less imaginative medallic commemorative - a large bishop's mitre within a wreath, with a reverse of a scroll with the names of the previous bishops. Bardstown is only commemorated much later on a small key chain fob.

In looking over the selection of Papal Visit trinkets available, there are plenty of holy cards, rosaries, postcards and bumper stickers, in addition to hats, t-shirts, and magnets, but only one die struck “medal” type item is available, and that is of a plain design - as it was translated from a great graphic made as a logo for the visit, but as with many good graphics, it does not translate well into sculpture.

Such is the case of modern medallic commemoratives in America.

George

Great Britain has released the new designs for circulating coins, which will be released during the summer of 2008.

It is a full shield on the 1 pound coin, and portions of the shield on the lower denominations, so that they form a full shield. They are the same size and shape as the current coins.

Graphically, they are neet, pratically, I think it is silly, and that comes from a collector of British Coinage since 1974!

You can see the designs and story at the BBC.

The artist will receive over $60,000 for his efforts.

George

This weekend I will be attending the Chicago Paper Money Exposition in Rosemont, Ill. at the Crown Plaza Hotel, 5440 North River Road, across the street from the Dinner Theater and the Stevens Convention Center.

The Show is open to the public at the regular admission rate on Friday, Saturday, and early Sunday. Early Bird entrance at a premium fee is Thursday afternoon.

Usually more than 50 United States and 10 or so World Paper Money dealers are in attendance, and a major auction will be conducted by Lyn Knight Currency Auctions.

Meetings of several clubs will also take place during Saturday.

It is a great way to start the spring show season off. I am ready for the road trip.

See you there!

George

With one of the largest religious fest days in the Christian calendar just past, I've been drifting to another part of the word which has been in the news - Tibet.

Prior to the Chinese occupation, this independent country had a great heritage of banknote and coin production. Here is an example of a 100 Sarang note from the 1942-1959 period, and is listed at #11 in the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, General Issues volume.

It is beautiful in its complexity, yet simple in production - Wood Block printing on hand made paper. No portraits of the Dali Lama.

The colors are quite traditional too.

Beautiful stuff from beautiful people.

George