Montgomery County Coin Club

December 2002 Bulletin - Early Web Edition

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MC³ = Numismatics!

Next Meeting: Tuesday, December 10, 2002

November Meeting Report

• Lina Scorza, a member of the Club since early in 2002 but attending her first in-person meeting, who came back into numismatics via helping her son on his collections of Lincoln cents, commemorative state quarters, and US type coins; and
• Bob Deimel, another new MCCC member who collects, among other things, world gold coins.

Announcements

Ed Russell, chair of the MCCC Nominating Committee, presented the slate of candidates for Club offices for the 2003 term; a copy is appended below. Ed encouraged members to contact him if they wish to add their names to the list of contenders.

Simcha Kuritzky reported on the Club finances (solid) and on the costs to produce MCCC medals; see the Board of Directors minutes below for additional details. Simcha also reminded everyone to bring their donations for the December charity auction --- coins, tokens, paper money, etc. as well as cash or checks. (And, as President Jack Schadegg noted, please bid aggressively during the auction!) Simcha noted that the ANA convention will be in Baltimore next year, and offered his help, as an experienced exhibitor and judge, for anyone who wants to prepare materials for display there. Simcha reminded everyone that Coin Week is coming in April, and so the MCCC may wish to prepare early for exhibits in local public libraries, talks to schoolchildren, etc.

Librarian Wayne Mitchell offered his services to anyone who wants to borrow books from the MCCC collection.

Historian Tom Hall was awarded a 2002 silver Eagle for his volunteer work at the MSNA convention; Simcha Kuritzky made the presentation.

Since the second Tuesday in November 2003 will fall on November 11, a holiday (Armistice Day aka Veterans Day) the MCCC will have to move its November meeting, Simcha Kuritzky announced. A motion was made to hold that meeting on the first Tuesday, 4 November 2003; it was seconded and passed by a 32-1 vote.

Ken Swab distributed a survey to gather information on MCCC members' use of the Club coin microscope and on their interests in coin photography (micro- and macro-) in general. See below for a copy of the Survey; send responses to Ken Swab, c/o MCCC, P.O. Box 7087, Silver Spring, MD 20907, or reply via email to z (at) his.com --- thank you!

Exhibits

• Simcha Kuritzky showed a small coin scale which is useful for quantitative analysis of specimens. He also displayed and discussed several Hebrew Love Tokens, including two exotic ones made using an 1882 seated liberty dime and an 1856 Type 3 gold dollar. Finally, Simcha announced the availability on mini-CD-ROM of a free coin inventory program; it requires the installation of a copy of the Microsoft "Access" database software and is designed for US coin collections.
• Mark Zimmermann exhibited the Finisher's Medal which he received for completing the Marine Corps Marathon on 27 October 2002 in a time of 4 hours and 53 minutes. Mark thanked MCCC's Ken Swab for his enthusiasm and encouragement in this venture, and noted that the Montgomery County "Marathon in the Parks" would be held on 17 November in the neighborhood; he suggested that MCCC members might want to participate in order to win a medal there.
• Wayne Mitchell described the Bowie Coin Club meeting held on 10 October, where Clifford Mishler spoke about Numismatic News. This year is the 50th anniversary of the founding of that publication, and Wayne displayed the 1952 cent which was distributed as part of the Bowie Coin Club presentation. Wayne also showed a copper medallion which he was awarded at that meeting; it featured an image of Cliff Mishler. The future of numismatics, according to Mishler, may be in variety collecting. On a different theme, Wayne displayed a well-circulated 1916 "Mercury" dime and asked for advice in determining whether it may be a Denver ("D") mint issue. If so, even in its worn condition the coin could be worth $50. Possibly a drop of acid applied to the area of the original mint mark will reveal the answer. Finally, Wayne described his recent results in searching through bags of quarter dollars. He discovered one two-headed "Magician's coin" and many commemorative state quarters, which he is offering for sale at face value. Wayne found that there were few state quarters still in circulation prior to the New York (2000) issues.
• Ken Swab exhibited material related to the 14 October 2002 Frank Annunzio Awards. The late Congressman Annunzio of Chicago founded the Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation, which received its initial funding from the sale of commemorative Christopher Columbus coins during 1992-1993. The Foundation awards prizes of tens of thousands of dollars for accomplishments in the arts, humanities, science, and technology. See http://www.columbusfdn.org for further details.
• Gerry Grzenda described the history of the late Napoleonic Era and talked about the coins issued during Napoleon's 100 days of reign in France after his return from exile in 1815. Gerry exhibited 2 and 5 franc silver pieces and two 20 franc gold pieces from that time. These gold coins gave their name --- "Napoleons" --- to later coins of the same denomination. Gerry has additional examples of these coins for sale to MCCC members.
• Ed Russell displayed merchant tokens issued in commemoration of the 1962 Hundredth Anniversary of the US Civil War Battle of Antietam. These tokens were worth 50 cents each when issued, but many of them were kept by collectors rather than spent. Ed also described how a recent Antietam area restoration project opened a brief window for metal detector users ("treasure hunters") to search parts of the battlefield, where they found many fine items.
• Willy Massey showed an ANA book, The Modern Minting Process by James Wild, and talked about the ANA correspondence course that the book is part of. Willy exhibited two diplomas which he received from the ANA, both of which were framed by his mother.

Door Prizes & Gold Raffle

• three uncirculated 2002-P Sacagawea "golden" dollars.

Door prize winners this month were Bob Deimel, Tom Hall, and Bill Massey. The Gold Raffle was won by lucky (^_^) YN Andy Luck.

Willy Massey's name was drawn for the Bison Chip; this is his first "leg" toward the three needed to win. Remember, you must be present when your name is called in order to win a Bison Chip.

The November 2002 MCCC meeting adjourned at 9:13pm. The auctioneers this month were Ken Swab and Don McKee.

2003 MCCC Candidate Officers and Directors

Officers

Appointed or Volunteer Officials

Respectfully submitted,
Ed Russell, Chair, Nomination Committee

MCCC Board of Directors Report

• MCCC TREASURY: Simcha provided a detailed 2-page treasurer's report of revenue/expenses for the year 2002, as well as 2000 and 2001, and estimated revenue/expenses for the year 2003. Even though a paper loss of less than $200 appears, it does not include the Boys/Girls club donation of $500, so we are actually about $300 ahead for the year. The bulk of the club assets are in money market certificates, which will continue to receive a fair interest until 2004. The bottom line: finances remain rock-solid.
• DIGITAL CAMERA: Willy gave detailed information about a Sony digital camera (~$300) which uses a standard floppy disk and an adaptor/magnifier lens (~$85), which will attach to our club's microscope for taking pictures of coins, medals and documents. Setup would be available to all club members. Board voted to defer purchasing above setup now, obtain input from general membership at next meeting(s) and check into other setups which may be available to purchase.
• MCCC MEDAL: Simcha discussed possibilities of casting a high relief pewter ~38mm medal for our club, bronze or silver electro-plated. Two metal dies or molds would be needed, one for each side, costing about $200 each, and casting of each medal in pewter would cost about $1 each. Total cost for casting 200 medals would be about $600. There are a number of combinations possible and we could use/share dies with MSNA. Possibilities for obverse/reverse=MCCC/ANA; MCCC/THANKS; MCCC/BLANK, for engraving; MCCC/MSNA, who would pay for their side. Simcha will bring more details to the next Board meeting.
• SLATE OF NOMINEES for 2003: Ed Russell will chair nominating committee and submit nominations for offices for inclusion in the November bulletin. Offices to be nominated by members at the December meeting.
• VISITOR BROCHURE: Discussion about benefits available in an information brochure for a visitor(s) attending our club meeting resulted in asking Jack Schadegg to prepare such a brochure with editing help from Ken Swab.
• WNS: Simcha mentioned Washington Numismatic Society's attendance is dwindling and would appreciate member support from MCCC. We may consider a possible merger in the future?
• WEB-SITE DOMAIN: Discussion on our own 'xxx.org' internet site, in addition to our present Money.org /ANA/Club/MD site, provided free by ANA, resulted in deferring the suggestion for purchasing a separate site until the next board meeting. More input is needed.
• ANA: Simcha mentioned ANA needs local Maryland speakers to discuss appropriate topics at next summer's ANA meeting , July 30 --- Aug 3, in Baltimore. Willy mentioned ANA will make available to us at no cost, a table to promote/advertise our club during the Convention. Volunteers will be needed to help with his project should we accept the offer. Willy suggested possible 2nd donated auction to obtain partial funding for a junior numismatist from MCCC to attend a one-week summer seminar at their headquarters. Another suggestion to raise partial funding was to ask each member to donate $5 toward the partial tuition. No action taken.
• COIN WEEK 2003: Simcha mentioned April 20-26 as National Coin Week and said ANA has a program available --- www.money.org --- called 'Tale of the Coin', a mini presentation to promote coin collecting to any local group. Jack also mentioned Davis Library will provide our club with a wall display cabinet for a month in 2003 and he will try to schedule the month of April.
• LIBRARY: Wayne, MCCC librarian, mentioned he is building a 3rd section a wood bookcase to house the 300+ club collection of books

MCCC Survey on Coin Microscopy and Photography

1. Do you know that MCCC has a microscope that members can use?
Yes - No

If yes, have you used the MCCC microscope?
Yes - No

If not, do you think that you will use it now that you know there is one available?
Yes - No

 2. Have you ever photographed coins, medals or currency? (If no, skip to question 3)
Yes - No

What kind of camera have you used? (Circle all that apply)
Film - Digital

What have you photographed?
Coins or Medals - Currency

Have you photographed coins under magnification?
Yes - No

Have you used specialized equipment for your photos?
Yes - No

Have any of your photographs been published?
Yes - No

If yes, in what medium?
Magazine or Journal - Newspaper - Internet - Other

3. Are you interested in learning to photograph coins, medals or currency?
Yes - No

If yes, what medium are you interested in?
Film - Digital

4. Are you interested in photographing coins under magnification?
Yes - No

5. Are you interested in photographing coins thru a microscope?
Yes - No

6. Should MCCC obtain cameras or other equipment for coin photography for the use of its members?
Yes - No

If so, what is the most the club should spend?
$______

(Please send survey responses to Ken Swab, c/o MCCC, P.O. Box 7087, Silver Spring, MD 20907, or reply via email to z (at) his.com --- thank you!)

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