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Montgomery County Coin Club

July 1997 Bulletin

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Next meeting: Tuesday, July 15, 1997 ---ANA Grading Video Part II

The Club will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, 1997, at the Senior Citizens Center on Forest Glen Road in Silver Spring, Maryland. The club will view the second part of the ANA videotape on coin grading. This is a must for those who want to learn about the important factors affecting coin grades.

For Young Numismatists and New Exhibitors

Every month, the Club will have special door prizes for Young Numismatists (YNs) who attend, and coin give-aways for any who exhibit coins, medals, currency, or other numismatic objects. These awards are made possibly by the generosity of MCCC members, especially Mae Clarke. New exhibitors, regardless of age, will also receive a gift. Look around your collection and bring something in; it may be familiar to you but it will be new to the rest of us!

Call for Hong Kong Material

With the transfer of Hong Kong back to China on July 1, club members are encouraged to bring any Hong Kong related numismatic items for exhibt at the July meeting.

June Meeting Roundup

MCCC President Ken Swab, wearing a Baltimore Orioles t-shirt, called the meeting to order. In spite of the traditionally quiet summer vacation season, 34 members were present, including 5 YNs. There were no first-time visitors (though several new members were present). President Swab reminded everyone that the MWNA show is coming soon (see below).

Treasurer Simcha Kuritzky reported that the Club's finances were sound, that income from auctions and raffles has been strong recently, and suggested that members confirm their dues payments with him if they have any uncertainties. He also announced that the ANA Educational Program and Numismatic Theater (where his presentation on "Panther Riders" will be given) is scheduled for the first day of the New York City convention, Wednesday, July 30, 1997 at 5 p.m.

Following a discussion, the members voted to direct Simcha to cast the club's ANA ballot for Vice President for Art Kagin. Simcha was authorized to use his discretion in casting the Club's ballot for the ANA board of directors.

Club Librarian Kermit Smyth reported that the MCCC Library has many fine books available for members to borrow, and encouraged members to consult the catalog and phone him to reserve any desired volumes. The MCCC Library Catalog is available elsewhere on this site.

MWNA Show in New Carrollton - July 11-13

The Metropolitan Washington Numismatic Association will hold its 32nd Annual Convention and Coin Show on July 11-13, 1997. The Convention will be at the Ramada Hotel, Exit 20B from the Capital Beltway (I-495/I-95), 8500 Annapolis Road in New Carrollton, Maryland. Convention hours are 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Sunday. For further information, contact Bourse Chairman Paul Singleton (703-281-7053). MCCC is a member of MWNA. Proceeds from the show benefit the Metro Area Associations for Retarded Citizens. See you there!

May Exhibits

Todd Sukol, the new MCCC exalted emir of exhibits, introduced four presenters:

Mark Zimmermann displayed a mylar security strip extracted by a friend from a $20 bill.
Jerry Grzenda, in memory of the 25th anniversary of the Watergate break-in, exhibited silver ingots with Nixon and "bugging" themes. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the independence of India, Jerry showed coins and medals from the Indian princely states, the British East India Company, and India itself.
Herb Hall presented two new USPS postage stamps commemorative souvenir sheets.
Daniel Berkman (a YN) displayed a 1997-S proof dime, a 1978-S cameo proof dime, and an uncirculated 50 percent off-center Lincoln cent. For exhibiting, Daniel received an assortment of Belgian coins, courtesy of mae Clarke, and a Standard Catalog of World Coins, courtesy of Burnett Anderson of Krause Publications.

June's Feature: Simcha Kuritzky on "Panther Riders"

Simcha Kuritzky gave the club a preview of his upcoming talk to be presented at the American Numismatic Association's convention in New York City next month, on "The Panther Rider Motif in Art and Numismatics". Simcha discussed the widespread representation of Kybele (or Cybele) in Greek and Roman mythology, frequently portrayed riding on, or in, a chariot pulled by lions.

Simcha illustrated his talk with excellent slides and specimens of diverse ancient and modern coins, medals, currency, and art work. In addition to Kybele, other figures shown riding on great cats include Dionysius, Eros (or Cupid), Christian saints, such as St. Mamas, Jewish leaders (since the lion is a symbol of Judah), the Indian goddess Durga, various Buddhist teachers and Boddhisatvas, and Chinese sorcerers.

The talk was interrupted by a loud "bang!" when the glass heat shield inside the slide projector exploded and destroyed the bulb. (Ken Swab's quick reflexes, honed by years of past service on Capitol Hill and current animosity from America's trial lawyers, helped him cheat death despite his seat next to the projector.) After an intermission, Simcha continued his remarks using original objects to illustrate key themes. Simcha ended with images of zodiac medals and the American cowboy legend Pecos Bill on a puma.

Have You Inventoried Your Coins Recently? Are Coins to Return to IRAs?

Jim Evans reminded MCCC members of the wisdom of having their collections inventoried and appraised roughly every five years. He also alerted members to a proposal in Congress to permit coins to once again be held in Individual Retirement Accounts. That authority had been repealed in the early 1980s.

Prizes

Edward Russell, Sr., won the Bison Chip drawing and now has one leg of the three needed to win.

The door prizes --- a Franklin Mint medallion, Canadian 50 cent pieces of 1969 and 1970, and a 1962 proof Roosevelt dime were won by Dave Magee, Daniel Berkman, Frank Guerrero, and Andrew Luck during the Club Auction.

The 50-50 Raffle was won by Todd Sukol