The 2010 volumes of the Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1901-2000, 37th edition; and the Standard Catalog of World Coins, 2001-date, 4th edition are now available. Both include a DVD if the book pages.

Look over the offerings at shopnumismaster.com and see the bargans available.

George

Friday, June 12, 2009 8:51:49 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [0]

As is often the case with art designed by committees, the final product is often not as good as it could have been.

One of the most widely distributed medals in the United States today are those for the presidential inauguration, and it is commissioned by the bi-partisian inauguration committee. The 2009 effort was designed by Marc Mellon, and struck at the Medalcraft Mint of Green Bay, Wis.

However, as medal firms compete for the honor of the commission, most firms hire a sculptor on speculation, often to do portraits of each canidate, with only one then proceeding into production past the November election date.

The firm of Medallic Art Company had commissioned Daniel Altshuler to sculpt their designs, which sadly (IMHO) were not accepted by the committee. The high relief profile portrait is very similar to an early FDR issue and a JFK issue. Nice and classic. Sadly, if I were to critique something, it would be the patina, or lack of one. A bit more darkening contrast with the high relief sculpt could only enhance the design.

Not wanting to see a good thing not see production, Daniel has provately produced 250 bronze examples in a 3 inch size. He is offering them for $154.50 postpaid to US addresses.

He can be contacted directly at: Daniel Altshuler, 50 Blackburn Center, Gloucester, MA 01930

Thursday, June 11, 2009 2:49:35 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [0]

Well, the bi-annual election ballot for the president, vice-president and seven board of governor positions are out in the mails. My ballot was received in Iola on Saturday, and today it has been mailed back in its official envelope.

What I found interesting was reading the information blurbs which were provided to Numismatic News, and published in the June 9th issue on pages 36-38.

Remembering the speech class from high school days, I counted the number of uses of I and Me/My in the roughly 150-175 word entries.

The total counts (alphabetically) are:

For president: Finner - 2      -    Mishler 1

Vice-president: Hallenbeck - 7

Governor:

Ellis 8  - Boling 8 - Fanton 7 - Garrett 6 - Krause 0 - Herbert 4 - Martin 8 - Hollis 8  - Ostromecki 7 -  Palmer 14  - Rottinghaus  8 -  Swindling - 1 Turrini  10 - Wolka 4

Did this count infulence my selection?

Perhaps

George

Monday, June 01, 2009 10:27:00 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [0]

The Bermuda Monetary Authority has released a new series of circulating currency. It is a dual commemorative for the 40th anniversary of the B.M.A. and the 400th anniversary of the settlement of Bermuda.

The notes are in a vertical format on both sides. The denominations are 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars. The face of the note features native wildlife - a bluebird, blue marlin, blue angel fish, whistling frog, longtail bird and a red cardinal. The backs feature designs of historic landmarks on the island - Dockyard clock tower, Horseshoe Bay, Ship Deliverance and the Commissioner's House, Gibb's Hill Lighthouse and St. Mark's Church, St. Peter's Church and finally the House of Assembly.

The notes feature the OPTIKS security thread device.

They look like a very well designed set and should be very well received by the locals and the tourists alike.

George 

Friday, May 22, 2009 2:38:19 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [0]

Perhaps not what I would have expected during the International Astronomy year, but Spain's circulating 2 euro commemorative honoring the 10th anniversary of the European Monetary Union, has a major variety in the stars!

The news came with images from one of our Madrid readers (Thanks Ignacio).

George

Thursday, May 21, 2009 7:52:41 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [0]

The Simmons Gallery of Leytonstone, London, England will be offering a mail bid sale of 433 lots of coin weights and coin scales on June 10, 2009.

Weights are an interesting and often overlooked part of the hobby of numismatics. They are the "man in the field" counterfeit check at a time when coinage was often irregular in shape, thus the weight really mattered.

The weights offerered include British, French, Portuguese and others. Some Ancient and Byzantine items are also offered. Scales, folding balances and rocker balances are featured.

Their website is www.simmonsgallery.co.uk look up the catalog there as well as look over their other offerings which usually include medals from the British Art Medal Society.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 3:25:26 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [0]

It is interesting how in a close knit hobby that one's past can trail someone for years. For better or worse.

In the early 1980s I was a very active member of the Long Island Coin Club - as well as the Flushing Coin Club and the Queens County Coin Club. Some of the more senior members of the group, who were also members of all three clubs were John J. Gabriel and Julie Turoff. We three were all exhibitors and medal collectors. Julie liked U.S. Mint Medals and Brooklyn Bridge stuff, I liked Subway and Boy Scout stuff, and John Gabriel liked Transylvania and Statue of Liberty Stuff.

John got the two of us excited about it, as well as D.W. Johnson and David Alexander as the core collectors to do research and gather material for his Exonumia of Liberty Enlightening the World book which he privately published in 1982.

Well, sadly John and Julie have passed on. The current ower of the copyright Paul G. Lajoie contacted me to be of some assistance in clearing up some questions on the Boy Scout Medals of WWI era, and it has certainly been fun doing some additional research on a topic I have not been active in for some time.

Trust me, Paul's new work will have some great improvements!

If you happen to have something not listed in the 1982 Gabriel work, or would like to confirm something which may need an illustration you can contact Paul directly via email at: spudjwa@comcast.net. Write first before doing any scans to confirm information required.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009 2:19:03 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [0]

Many times, contibutors feel I should be more on top of things than I am. Their letters and emails are harsh and anoying to read.

However, every once and a while, a long time supproter understands things, and Stephen Eccles is one of those. He recently compared our listings of Singapore with his own collection and sent in a quite helpful three page listing of corrections.

The corrections were by KM number, and included updates on weights, descriptions, diameter, mint marks and a few other fields of date.

The listing were direct. The informaiton I needed. They did not include sniping comments about the work, or personal intelligence.

They were a pleasure to work into numismaster, and will appear on line tomorrow, and in future books for years to come.

Stephen has also been helpful with supplying coins for illustration!

Thanks Mr. Eccles for your kindness and continued support!

Friday, May 15, 2009 2:34:23 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)    Comments [0]