This is the MCCC ARCHIVE – for the CURRENT Montgomery County Coin Club see https://montgomerycoinclub.org
March 2002 Bulletin - Early Web Edition
MC3 = Numismatics!
Next Meeting: Tuesday, March 12, 2002
The Montgomery County Coin Club will meet on the second
Tuesday of the month,
12 March 2002, at the Silver Spring Senior Citizens Center
(1000 Forest Glen Road, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA).
Doors open at 7:00pm, and the meeting begins with the Pledge of Allegiance
at approximately 7:20pm. The featured event this month will be the showing
of Part II of the video Secrets of the US Mint.
BoD Report
On 29 January 2002, the MCCC's Board of Directors was called to order at 7:50pm
at a secure underground facility in an undisclosed location.
(OK, it was a meeting room reserved for us by Treasurer Simcha Kuritzky
in the basement of his apartment building --- and all MCCC members were, as
always, welcome to attend.)
Present and participating were Rob Dorsey, Simcha Kuritzky,
Don McKee, Jack Schadegg, Ken Swab, and Mark Zimmermann. Items discussed
by the Board were:
- Metal detectors: esp. how they can be used to analyze the composition
of coins (e.g., a copper-plated nickel; see Simcha Kuritzky's exhibit below)
- MCCC Treasury: after a review of the detailed itemized balances and cash flows
it was clear that the Club's finances remain rock-solid; there was discussion
of the current dues structure, and the Board agreed to keep dues fixed at
$6 for adults and $1 for Young Numismatists
- MCCC mailing list: a clean-up is needed, to remove names and
addresses that are no longer valid
- MCCC Library: it is necessary to deaccession some no-longer-needed items,
and the Librarian will begin to do this soon
- Coin Week activities: this year National Coin Week is 21-27 April,
under the theme "Faces of Time"; the MCCC should consider doing exhibits
at local libraries and placing articles in local newspapers
- MSNA (Maryland State Numismatic Association): How can it help local
clubs? Perhaps the MSNA could encourage clubs to exchange speakers,
or otherwise collaborate? The MCCC, it was generally agreed, remains
one of the strongest and healthiest coin clubs in the region.
- ANA Convention (Baltimore, 30 July - 3 August 2003): What should
the MCCC do? Simcha Kuritzky will be the Education Director for the Convention,
and he is going to need a cadre of assistants to introduce the various speakers.
Perhaps the MCCC could provide volunteer help, and could promote this convention
in local media?
- Digital camera: Should the MCCC buy one? It was moved and seconded that this
action be deferred for further study. The MCCC has a microscope available for
use by members; if a camera could be acquired at a reasonable price, it could
similarly be loaned out for club members to photograph their coins. On the
other hand, digital camera prices are plunging, and by hesitating the Club
is likely to get a better system for a much lower cost.
- MCCC Web domain: Should the Club have its own Internet address? Something
like "montgomerycoinclub.org", or something more exotic? The ANA has offered
to host Internet domains for member clubs for free, so the expenses associated
with getting our domain would be minimal ($10 - $40 per year?). It was agreed that
Ken Swab and Mark Zimmermann should continue to investigate this; they
will report back to the MCCC membership at a future meeting.
- MCCC medal: Rob Dorsey suggested that the Club might commission the design
and production of its own medallion(s), perhaps in silver or gold. Possibly
the MSNA could design and finance the cost of producing the obverse side, and
various member clubs could then each do its own reverse die(s) --- thereby
sharing costs and gaining significant economies of scale. Several Board members
thought that an MCCC medal would be an excellent reward for Guest Speakers,
as well as an attractive piece for members' collections, provided it was not
too expensive. Rob and others will investigate further and will report back
to the MCCC membership at a future meeting.
The MCCC Board meeting was adjourned at 8:30pm; members left for their homes,
some to watch the President's State of the Union address, some not.
On 12 February 2002 the MCCC was called to order at 7:19pm by
First Vice President Ed Russell.
This month 35 people were present, including 4 Young Numismatists (YNs).
No new visitors declared themselves. (Please invite your friends and
relatives to come along with you to the next MCCC meeting --- guests are
always welcome.)
Announcements
Several members noted errors in the paper version of the February MCCC
Bulletin. Although these errors arguably make the Bulletin
even more valuable (by analogy with error coins), they were not deliberate;
rather, they occurred due to technological and time challenges faced by
several members of the MCCC Bulletin production crew. Volunteers
are always welcome to help with the editing, proofreading, layout, production,
and distribution of the Bulletin. Please contact Willy Massey, Jack
Schadegg, or any other Club officer to contribute your services.
Treasurer Simcha Kuritzky reported that the Club's finances
remain sound. He is exploring the options for reinvestment of the
MCCC certificate of deposit when it matures later this year.
Simcha asked members to pay their 2002 dues ($6 for adults,
$1 for YNs). He noted that the Club recently received a letter from
a collector in Oregon who is interested in trading Denver mint commemorative
quarters for Philadelphia mint ones, which are scarce in the western part
of the nation. (See Simcha for further details.) Simcha also described
the Washington Numismatic Society's upcoming meeting, the topic of which
is "Your US Type Set on a Budget". Finally, he reminded everyone of the
ANA's midwinter convention in March.
Past President Willy Massey announced that YNs in attendance
would be awarded free paperback "Red Books", and that he still had a
few softcover "Blue Books" for sale at the bargain price of $4 each.
Librarian Kermit Smyth (on crutches after breaking a leg in a
skiing accident the day before the January MCCC meeting) reported that
several excellent books are available for loan to members, including
one on Hobo Nickels, a Q. David Bowers work on "Treasures & Hoards",
and a new Coin World publication about estate planning for
numismatists. Kermit also announced that the final 11 lots in the
MCCC auction this month were Library charitable donations for the Boys &
Girls Clubs, and that 41 other books were being deaccessioned by the
Library. These books (mostly duplicate holdings) were for sale via a
"bid board" auction the evening of the February meeting, for prices
starting at $1.
Door Prizes & Gold Raffle
Willy Massey announced the Door Prizes this month:
- 1948 & 1952-D US silver Washington quarter dollars;
- a 1941 Great Britain two shillings (florin); and
- a 1967 Great Britain one penny, in brilliant uncirculated condition
The gold raffle prize was a 2.5 peso Mexican coin dated 1945.
This month the lucky door prize winners were Ed Russell, William
Massey, Simcha Kuritzky, and Mark Zimmermann.
The Gold Raffle was won by YN Marshall Robert.
The Bison Chip went to Don Wilson. This is
his first "leg" of the three needed to win the Bison Chip prize. (You
must be present when your name is called to win a Bison Chip.)
Congratulations to all.
Jonetta Russell Appreciation
Joe Howard and Don McKee independently announced that long-time
MCCC member Jonetta Russell had recently retired from her teaching duties
at Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring. Both the Montgomery Gazette
and the Washington Post published excellent articles with accompanying
photos about Jonetta's career, which spanned 1957-2002. In her final semester,
three of Jonetta's students were named as Finalists in the prestigious Intel
Science Talent Search, an unprecedented number from Blair and this year more
than were chosen from any high school around the nation. Bravo,
Jonetta! --- and best wishes from the MCCC for a happy, healthy, and productive
retirement. (And a big Thank You for organizing the refreshments at
the MCCC monthly meetings.)
Member Exhibits
MCCC display case highlights this month included:
- Leon Robert showed items from his "Kosovo Collection", materials
acquired while he was stationed in the Balkans. Among the exotic pieces on
display by Lt. Col. Robert were: two Kosovo service medals (US and NATO); a
large hexagonal Commander's Coin awarded to him by the Italian three-star
General in charge of K4; medals from the US, German, French, and other sectors
of Kosovo; a General Henry Shelton medal authorized by the US Congress; and
samples of Albanian currency.
- Simcha Kuritzky displayed a set of the new Euro coinage from France,
in eight denominations. He also presented a 1964-D Jefferson five-cent piece,
unusual in that it is copper coated, probably during the minting process when
the planchet was sintered.
- Joe Howard read from an Eastern States Numismatic Association newsletter
(Vol. 2, No. 2, Winter 2002), excerpting from the article "Why Join a Coin Club"
by Col. Steven Ellsworth. Most amusing was the quote:
"I have learned that most collectors possess three qualities that
are somewhat unique to our hobby. First, nearly all are highly intelligent
and are far better educated than the average public. ..."
- Herb Hall, in honor of the Winter Olympic Games, presented a 1984
Yugoslav coin set in varied denominations.
- Bruce Longyear showed a circulated high-relief 1907 St. Gaudens
twenty dollar gold piece (EF-40 NGC); these coins are not often found in
circulated condition. Bruce also displayed and discussed a pair of Buffalo
nickels, a 1921-S and a 1926-S. These coins were almost (but not quite) in
Very Fine (VF) condition. Bruce warned that such nickels are often
over-graded and are incorrectly marketed as VF specimens
in mail-order coin sales. The difference in price between a "full horn" VF
piece and a not-quite VF can be hundreds of dollars. Caveat emptor!
- Jerry Grzenda, in connection with the 50th anniversary of Queen
Elizabeth II's coronation, displayed a variety of British coins including:
a 1953 coronation proof set, in denominations from farthing to crown, with
an unusual design showing the Queen riding a horse;
a 1989 piece issued for the 500th anniversary of the British sovereign (coin);
a 1994 proof set including two commemoratives honoring the 300th anniversary
of the British Bank, and the 50th anniversary of the D-Day landing;
a 1996 coin celebrating the Queen's 70th birthday; and
a 1997 proof set including a 5 pound copper-nickel coin
that depicts both Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Phillip
- Ken Swab presented coins and currency from his January 2002 visit
to Taiwan. He showed both old 50 and new 100 denomination notes and discussed
their security features and sizes. Ken also exhibited a set of the coinage
of Taiwan with an explanatory folder of historical information.
ANS Exhibit in NYC
The New York Times on 17 January 2002 reported that, for the next
five years, the American Numismatic Society's exhibit "Drachmas, Doubloons
and Dollars: The History of Money" will be open to the public at 33 Liberty
Street in the Manhattan financial district. This show, at the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York's offices, contains "[m]ore than 800 of the
most valuable examples from the society's collection of a million items ...".
It's free, 10am - 4pm, Monday through Friday.
Secrets of the US Mint (Part I)
The main attraction for the February 2002 MCCC meeting was a showing of the
first half of the Discovery Channel's video presentation "Secrets of the US
Mint". (Many thanks to the Discovery Channel for permission to view this
material.)
The program began with a visit to the San Francisco branch mint,
where 85-pound ingots of silver are processed into commemorative coins.
David Pickens, Associate Director of Numismatics for the Mint,
described the coining process. Dies for
the North Carolina commemorative quarter die were shown being polished for
proof striking, and then the camera followed the blank planchets through
the various steps needed to manufacture finished coins.
Then the scene moved to the West Point branch mint, where gold coins are
struck. Dr. Bill Daddio of the US Mint Police discussed some of the security
surrounding the stockpile of gold ingots, valued at $60 billion. The gold
bricks were shown going to Rhode Island where a private facility alloys them
with copper and silver, rolls them into ribbons, and punches out
planchets of correct weight and dimensions. Then, back in West Point, the
blanks are counted, assayed, and struck into one-ounce gold coins using
a variant of the beautiful 1907 St. Gaudens design.
The tape was stopped at the end of this stage; the remainder of the
program will be shown at the March MCCC meeting.
End Notes
The January 2002 MCCC meeting adjourned at 9:20pm, after an active auction
led by able auctioneers Don McKee and Ken Swab.
Comments and Feedback
MCCC reporter/webmaster Mark Zimmermann has rehosted the MCCC online archives at
http://www.his.com/~z/MCCC/ where
they are available for reference.
Please send bug reports and suggestions for improvement to
"z (at) his.com" (http://www.his.com/~z/).
The MCCC Bulletin is copyright © 2002 by the Directors of the
Montgomery
County Coin Club --- who thank the American Numismatic Association (and especially Ms. Susie Nulty)
for help in sharing the MCCC Bulletin with numismatists everywhere.