Montgomery County Coin Club

January 2000 Bulletin - Early Web Edition

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Celebrating 41 Years of Coin Collecting: 1959-2000

Next Meeting: Tuesday, January 11, 2000

December Meeting Report

On a damp December night, a small crowd gathered outside the locked doors of the Senior Citizens Center. The weather was cool, but numismatic spirits ran hot. After a 20 minute wait (and a cellphone call to Montgomery County security offices) the Center's keyholder arrived (he overslept!) and the Montgomery County Coin Club meeting began. President Willy Massey called the group to order at 7:35 p.m. There were ~30 numismatists present, including 3 Young Numismatists (YNs). (No new guests were in attendance.)

General Announcements

• Treasurer Simcha Kuritzky confirmed that the Club will finish 1999 well in the black, thanks to a generous donation by the estate of a deceased member. Mr. Kuritzky also reminded MCCC members that a big ANA Convention will be held in Philadelphia during 9-13 August 2000 (with Professional Numismatists Guild Day on 8 August --- ask Julian Leidman of Bonanza Coins in Silver Spring, MD, for details and possibly a special invitation). Mr. Kuritzky observed that American Automobile Association (AAA) members may be able to get an excellent price on a room in a hotel within one block of the Convention Center. Contact him for further information.
• Secretary Jack Schadegg reminded members that their MCCC dues for 2000 are due in January. Membership remains an incredible bargain at $6 for adults (and $2 for YNs). A form for those who wish to pay by mail will be included with the January 2000 Bulletin. Alternatively, you can renew in person at the next meeting.
• Librarian Kermit Smyth announced that early in 2000 a new list of the MCCC Library's holdings will be compiled and distributed. The Library is also open to suggestions for new book or videotape purchases.
• President Willy Massey noted that 1959-1999 MCCC Special Elongated sets are still only $4; elongated MCCC cents are free. Mr. Massey suggested that the Club might want to design and have fabricated a counterstamp, which we could then use to mark coins. He estimated the cost as definitely under $100. Such a counterstamp might help advertise the club. President Massey also distributed Commemorative Washington Quarter albums (Volume I, 1999-2003) to Young Numismatists, thanks to Simcha Kuritzky and the Maryland State Numismatic Association (MSNA). Finally, Mr. Massey announced the appointment of Club Historian Tom Hall. Any MCCC members who have materials from the early years of the Club should share them with Mr. Hall, so he can organize and document the Club's development.
• Director Ed Russell called a vote on the slate of MCCC Officers and Directors for 2000. The list, as published in last month's Bulletin, was unanimously approved. Officers and Directors will be sworn in at the January meeting.

Door Prizes

• an Australian 1963 sixpence;
• a Cuban 1915 twenty cent piece;
• a Venezuelan 1919 Bolivar; and
• a 1959-1999 MCCC Special Elongated Set (including an elongated Delaware commemorative quarter).

December Exhibits

• Jerry Grzenda, in connection to the US turnover of the Panama Canal to the Panamanian government today (14 December 1999), discussed the history of Panama and displayed a coin struck in 1979 to commemorate the treaty preparing the event --- an impressive 200 Balboa platinum piece. In observance of the return of Macao to the Chinese government in mid-December, Mr. Grzenda talked about the historical context of that territory and displayed two 1978 commemoratives celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Macao Grand Prix auto race: 100 pataca and 500 pataca denomination pieces. The coins he displayed are both of a rather scarce and discontinued variety, with a design of a race car plastered with advertising. Mr. Grzenda also showed Macao lunar year commemoratives made in 1988 for the Year of the Dragon: 1000 pataca gold and 100 pataca silver pieces, struck by the Pobjoy Mint in England. Finally, since today is the 200th anniversary of George Washington's death, Mr. Grzenda showed a celluloid button (originally hung from a ribbon) depicting Washington and dated 14 Dec 1899, issued for the 100th Anniversary of his death. Also, he showed ribbons from the 1876 US Centennial (with Washington portraits) and a 19th century striking of a bronze medal commemorating the creation of the Washington Cabinet of Medals of the US Mint, 1860 (showing Washington; the medal is still in production at the US Mint today, but with a different finish).
• Simcha Kuritzky exhibited, in honor of Hanukkah's celebration last week, a 1/2 shekel coin from Tyre issued for the Phoenicians in 900 fine or better silver, ca. 20 B.C.E. The half-shekel coins of Tyre were used for payment of the Temple tax because they were of higher quality than Roman coins. (The 1 shekel pieces of that era are collected by some as the likely denomination used to pay the New Testament Judas his "30 pieces of silver".)
• Wayne Wilcox brought two pattern five-cent pieces to the meeting and passed them around. They were impressive items: a rare 1867 pattern 5-cent "mule" with nonstandard obverse/reverse combination, struck in a white base metal; and an 1867 five-cent piece with an obverse similar to a three-cent piece of that era.
• Jack Schadegg showed and discussed an advertisement (quasi-scam in its deceptiveness to a non-numismatist) for gold-plated 1999 coins.

Feature Attraction: So You Want To Be a Numismatist?

After the questions, Club members partook of a fabulous holiday feast, thanks to the talents of Jonetta Russell --- who received a strong round of applause from all present. The final MCCC Auction of 1999 was then conducted by Don McKee.

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