This is the MCCC ARCHIVE – for the CURRENT Montgomery County Coin Club see https://montgomerycoinclub.org
May 1997 Bulletin
Next Meeting: Tuesday, May 20, 1997--- Special Viewing of ANA Coin Grading
Video
The Club will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, 1997 at the Senior
Citizens Center on Forest Glen Road in Silver Spring, Maryland. The featured
event will be a showing of highlights of the American Numismatic Association
videotape on coin grading. The tape will illustrate for members how to
accurately grade various coins. This tape is especially valuable for new
numisma tists who may be somewhat confused and intimidated by the art of
coin grading.
For Young Numismatists Only
As in past months, the Club will have a special raffle for Young Numismatists
(YNs). In addition, any YN who exhibits at the May meeting will receive
a coin from Panama. This month's special awards are made possible through
the generosity of Mae Clark.
For New Exhibitors Only
If you have not exhibited anything at the club in the past twelve months,
May is your chance to be rewarded for your patience. Anyone who exhibits
something at the May meeting will have the chance to win a copy of the
Standard Catalog of World Coins, cou rtesy of Burnett Anderson of Numismatic
News. It is a back issue of the catalog, but if you do not have one,
it is an invaluable guide to identifying world coins.
April Meeting Roundup
MCCC President Ken Swab, wearing a
"fly" ball baseball tie this month, called the meeting to order, with about
50 members in attendance, including 6 young numismatists (YNs). President
Swab welcomed visitor Bob Reilly . Treasurer Simcha Kuritzky reported on
the Club's finances. Vice President William
C. Massey pointed out that the MCCC Web Pages were attracting considerable
attention, including mail-in requests for information and MCCC elongated
coins. Librarian Kermit Smyth encouraged members to take adva ntage of
the Club's library holdings, and noted the availability of a new book on
U.S. commemorative coinage by Anthony Swiatek.
Future Speakers
The following speakers are scheduled for future meetings:
-
On June 17, Simcha Kuritzky will discuss numismatic "panther riders."
-
On September 16, the curator of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Cecilia
Wertheimer, will be the speaker.
Other speakers will be announced as scheduled.
April Guest Speaker: Burnett Anderson of Numismatic
News
Burnett Anderson, spoke about the evolution of U.S. coinage since 1980.
Mr. Anderson, as President Swab introduced him, "is the Washington
Bureau of Krause Publications", a job which he took on after a long and
successful career as a diplomat, author, editor, and numismatist (and former
drummer on a trans-Atlantic ocean liner!).
Mr. Anderson outlined how he met Chester Krause and Clifford Mitschler
in February 1981, and was hired shortly thereafter to report on Washington
numismatic events. US coinage had been quiet for many years, but beginning
in 1981, "an explosion" took place. The Reagan Administration moved abruptly
to end production of the ill-fated Susan B. Anthony one-dollar coin, and
formed the Gold Commission to study the possibility of bullion issues.
The price of copper shot up, making cents almost worth their face value
in metal. Congress brought back commemorative coinage. Silver bullion sales
from the U.S. stockpile began, and were then suddenly stopped. An effort
by industrialist Armand Hammer, who, together with Lazard Freres wanted
to distribute (and profit from) 1983-1984 Olympic coinage was stopped by
Rep. Frank Annunzio (D-IL), who established the principle that the Mint
should be the dis tributor of U.S ommemoratives.
Burnett Anderson went on to describe in detail the decline of the U.S.
commemorative program --- beginning with the successful 1982 George Washington
silver half dollar but sliding downhill after 1990, as, "fed by greed",
numerous issues began to come out every year. "This is a lesson in human
nature and our common frailties", according to Mr. Anderson, leading up
to the "absolutely disastrous performance" of the most recent commemorative
marketing efforts. The bottom-line lesson is that "collectors buy coins",
not members of special-interest groups (who purchase fewer than 10 percent
of the pieces issued, in spite of the claims of promoters). The U.S. Mint
has tried its best, but "there is no retail market for coins of the U.S."
in department stores, chains, or other outlets.
Mr. Anderson did see a few rays of hope on the horizon. The Citizens
Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee is a positive force, and Congress
is trying to limit itself to two coin programs annually --- but whether
that can succeed is another matter. Meanwhile, we have to get through the
next few record-breaking years, with four (!) commemoratives due to come
out in 1997 alone, plus three in 1998 and two each in 1999 and 2000.
Mr. Anderson concluded, "I don't know what the future is going to
bring --- but read Numismatic News and I'll tell you all about it!"
April Exhibits: Tax Tokens, Big Silver, Russian Medals, MCCC Photos, and
Bags!
-
Simcha Kuritzky
displayed, in honor of Tax Day, an extensive collection of state sales
tax tokens. These Depression-era pieces were first issued in 1993, in Illinois,
and spread to other states. They came in denominations of 1/4 cent down
to 1 mil (0.1 cent) and were used by merchants to make change when collecting
sales taxes on small purchases. Tokens were produced in bronze, aluminum,
zinc, cardboard, and plastic. Simcha also showed a mass ive lion commemorative
from Equatorial Guinea, consisting of half a kilogram (16.5 troy ounces)
of silver. Large silver bullion issues are becoming more common, he explained,
as the price of silver has stayed relatively low.
-
Jerry Grzenda presented a display of two Russian/Soviet medals ---
the Order of Saint George the Martyr (4th Class) and the Order of Glory.
These medals were awarded to officers for heroism in wartime. Jerry also
displayed a beautiful set of Hong Kong gold coins commemorating eight of
the twelve Chinese lunar years (Dragon, Rat, Ox, and so forth), and several
Chinese bank notes.
-
Mae Clark reported the sad news that R. C. Soxman, MCCC Charter
Member #2, passed away last month. Mae displayed a set of early MCCC photographs
and memorabilia, beginning with the Club's origin in 1959, and a wooden
nickel issued at the club's inception.
-
Willy Massey exhibited several
items from his collection of U.S. Mint coin bags, some dating back as far
as 1961. Mint bags are obtainable from banks, though they are not often
seen in this part of the country any more.
Awards and Other Activities
-
Two special prizes for Young Numismatists were awarded: a 1995 crisp uncirculated
series 1995 $2 bill, (donated by Ed Russell) was won by Robin Zimmermann,
and a massive Krause-Mishler Standard Catalog of World Coins (provided
by Burnett Anderson) was garnered by Joel Schadegg, who could barely carry
it back to his seat.
-
Door prizes were won by Ben Kalman, Philip Rosenblum, and John Chiusano.
-
The Bison Chip drawing went to David Magee, the first name called. This
is David's, first leg toward the three required to win.
-
Ken Swab captured the 50-50 raffle after drawing his own ticket, much to
the suspicion and amusement of the crowd (and Ken's embarrassment).
-
The Club Auction was active, with highly competitive bidding on several
Walking Liberty half dollars, a bag of 1943 steel cents, and many other
lots. The auction was ably conducted by Don McKee and Jack Schadegg.
Thanks
The previous month's bulletin inadvertently neglected to thank William
M. Massey for routinely bringing chips, cookies and drinks to the meetings
for the enjoyment of the members. The editor apologizes for the oversight.
MCCC Web Comments and Feedback
Please send bug reports and suggestions for improvement to Mark
Zimmermann via z (at) his.com.
The MCCC Bulletin is copyright (c) 1999 by the Directors of the Montgomery
County Coin Club.