N.O.W. News
Official publication of the Numismatists Of Wisconsin
Volume 53 • Number 3 Fall 2015^
Numismatists of Wisconsin is incorporated in the state of Wisconsin as a non-stock nonprofit tax exempt corporation.
Contributions are tax deductible. The objective of Numismatists of Wisconsin is to encourage and promote interest in numismatics, to cultivate friendly relations between Wisconsin collectors of numismatic items and Wisconsin coin clubs,and to encourage, educate, and assist new numismatic hobbyists. All resources of the organization shall be used to further these objectives. Dues are $10 per year and entitles participants to N.O.W. News, this quarterly publication. Among the services offered are coin authentication, a Speaker's Bureau, show calendar coordination, and guidelines to assist coin clubs hosting the annual N.O.W. convention. Numismatists of Wisconsin holds Life Memberships in the American Numismatic Association
and Central States Numismatic Society.
TABLE OF CONTENTS FALL 2015
From the Editor Page 1
NOW NEWS and NOTES Pages 2-6
Club News and Meetings Pages 6-8
Washington House Inn (feature article by Tom Casper) Page 9,10
Some Numismatic Recollections (feature article by Leon Saryan) Pages 12-17
35 years - Ten Commems (feature article by Jerry Binsfeld) Pages 18,19
Franklin Halves Pages 21,22
PROOF Franklin Halves (feature article by Mark Benvenuto) Pages 23,24
What's New at the US Mint? Pages 25,26
Bureau of Engraving and Printing Page 27
Don't Cheat Yourself Page 28
BOOKS I Pages 29-31
Badger Boys State Leadership School (feature article by Tom Casper) Pages 32,33
Charles Martin Boettge (feature article by Larry Spanbauer and Jeff Reichenberger) Page 34
NOW Organization / Membership Application Page 36
SHOW CALENDAR Inside Back Cover
ON THE COVER:
This beautiful copper Civil War Token comes from J. & H. MILLER - DEALERS IN BOOTS & SHOES - RACINE, WIS. The reverse shows an Eagle and 1863. It is listed in 'U.S. Civil War Store Cards' by Fuld/Ostendorf 3rd Edition and has a rarity rating of 7. Thanks to Randy Miller of Chief Coin and Supply for providing the token to grace this edition of NOW NEWS.
From the Editor
Hello fellow NOW members! I hope you all had a splendid summer and are ready for autumn. Cooler weather, football, and some favorite holidays arrive in the coming months - and don't forget the fall coin shows! See the show calendar and plan your weekends accordingly! Plenty of time to enjoy our hobby before the year is out.
I want to personally thank those members who spoke to me and shared stories at shows this summer and took the time to comment on the NOW NEWS. Your feedback is most welcome and appreciated.
In addition, we were able to recruit a number of new members to our ranks. Welcome new members! We hope you will embrace your membership and be inspired to recruit other new members.
We have another top notch issue for your enjoyment this fall, with plenty of news from NOW and around the country. We have coin show reports, including ANA, Club news, and some of the finest ORIGINAL articles from your NOW brothers and sisters. Tom Casper starts it out with a history lesson on 'The Washington House Inn' of Cedarburg. Then Leon Saryan takes us down his memory lane with 'Some Numismatic Recollections'. Jerry Binsfeld continues his 35 year price comparison series, this time it's 'Low Mintage Commems'. Mark Benvenuto entices us to consider a collection of 'Proof Franklin Half Dollars', and Tom Casper is back again to write about the 'Badger Boys State Leadership School'. Finally, Larry Spanbauer and I round it out with 'Charles Martin Boettge'. That's six, count 'em, SIX, original articles written by NOW members! Won't you please be among the NOW authors and send in an article for NOW NEWS? It's easy, it's fun, and you can share your knowledge and enthusiasm with the entire NOW membership!
Our regular departments are full as well: NOW NEWS and NOTES; Club News and Meetings; What's new at the US Mint and BEP; BOOKS!; and of course our ever popular Show Calendar. Don't forget to recognize our advertisers - let them know you saw their ad in NOW NEWS - and patronize them when you can.
Best Wishes to all of you for a pleasant fall season!
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N.O.W. NEWS AND NOTES
NOW Board of Governors
Your Board of Governors meets at least 3 times a year at various venues throughout Wisconsin, usually in conjunction with a show. The General Membership meeting is held yearly at the N.O.W. show.
Your NOW Board will meet on October 4th at Serb Hall in Milwaukee in conjunction with Milwaukee Numismatic Societies' annual show. Please contact any of your board members or officers with any comments or concerns. NOW is YOUR club, we want to hear from you! Contact information can be found on our website -or- contact me: jkreichenberger@hotmail.com and I will forward your comments to the board or appropriate member.
Website
Do not miss the opportunity to check out our website for the latest news from all around numismatics, as well as local and national show dates, and always fresh, original articles that you enjoy in NOW NEWS - we have now built an archive of your favorite articles to search on the site. Go there often!!
numismatistsofwisconsin. com
Show Reports
Woodruff - Lakeland Coin and Stamp Club
July 25, 2015. The Lakeland Coin and Stamp Club held its' 10th annual show at the Woodruff Town Hall. Six dealers kept busy attending to 80+ patrons in the great north - an outstanding summer show destination - business was good, currency was hot!
Siren - Fishbowl Wooden Nickel Coin Club
August 1, 2015. The Fishbowl Wooden Nickel Coin Club held their annual coin show during Summerfest in Siren, Wl. at the Siren Senior Center. Nine coin dealers attended with a great selection of items for the steady crowd to view, sell, buy, and trade. The Club's new Wooden Nickel features a Ring-necked pheasant - see more about the new wood nickel in CLUB NEWS.
Chicago - ANA World's Fair of Money
August 11-15, 2015. The 124th annual convention was held at the Donald Stephens Center in Rosemont, IL. The 'big show' always has something for numismatists of all interests, and this year was no exception. Hundreds of dealers were present, the U.S. Mint as well as Mints from around the world, and the ANA Money Museum, not to mention the signature auctions and many, many educational talks, lectures, and symposiums. I hope many of our NOW members were able to attend. I enjoyed a
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day and a half attending meetings and roaming the bourse. It was good to talk to old friends and look at some amazing coins. Below are a few images from the show.
A sprawling exhibit hall featured 60 competitive and non- competitive exhibits.
ANA announces attendance for the show
A total of 8635 people attended the World's Fair of Money. This includes general public, ANA members, table holders, and clinic attendees. The daily breakdown was as follows; Tuesday, 3224 (returning visitors, staff, and volunteers are counted on the first day only); Wednesday, 1209; Thursday, 1384; Friday, 1405; Saturday, 1413.
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NOW members win awards for exhibits
Congratulations to NOW members Nancy Wilson and Darrell Luedtke for their award winning exhibits!
Nancy won First place in the category "United States Fiscal Paper" for her exhibit, "Santa Claus Obsolete Notes & Vignettes."
Darrell won Second place in the category "Medals, Orders, Decorations and Badges" for "A Complete Collection of Wooden Medals of the 1876 U.S. Centennial." Fie won Second place in the "Tokens" category for "The Origins of the First Wooden Money of the United States." And he won Third place in the category "General, specialized, and topical" for "The Wonderful World of Wooden Money."
Once again, CONGRATULATIONS!
NOW Member Dealers attend ANA
A number of NOW member dealers packed their wares and rented a table for the week. Included were Allouez Rare Coin Gallery, Avenue Coin, Chief Coin and Supply, Gary's Coins and Stamps, and Jim's Coins and Tokens. All of the dealers reported having a positive show on the buying and selling side, however, several of them were disgruntled at the ANA about the erratic table pricing, having paid up to $600 more in table fees than the dealer directly across the aisle. Apparently as the show grew nearer, the ANA lowered some price levels in order to fill the bourse - a common practice I am told, but decidedly unfair for those dealers who register and pay early at full price. Registering and paying fees in a timely manner, which is a show of support for the ANA, should be rewarded. Instead, those who waited until the last minute, received substantial discounts. There's something backwards about a practice that rewards tardiness.
What they said: Randy from Chief reported a good show, Jim from Jim's said it paid his expenses and somewhat more, Gary from Gary's had a very good show buying and selling, Mike from Allouez explained he was able to get a lot of coins for customer's want lists and that it wasn't the worst ANA he's been to, but it wasn't the best either, Jim from Avenue said they did OK buying and selling.
TFIANKS to these NOW dealer members for setting up at the 'big show'. It's a lot of work, expense, and travel and we appreciate your efforts.
IN ADDITION, we appreciate the effort ALL of our NOW dealer members put forth in attending ALL of our local shows and conventions. Without you, our hobby would be much less fun. TFIANK YOU!
Fond du Lac- Fond du Lac Coin Club
August 23, 2015. The Fond du Lac Coin Club held their annual coin show once again at the Holiday Inn in Fond du Lac. A rainy morning brought a good crowd in early to the brand new ball room /convention
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hall at the Holiday Inn. The room was abuzz until well after noon and dealers reported brisk sales. Attendance was up from last year.
TW
K
The Fond du Lac bourse was jumpin'.
Interesting collector, David Ringe of Oconomowoc, collects world coins. He was examining some coins at a dealer next to our NOW booth at the Fond du Lac show. He plopped his tattered 1993 edition of Krause's Standard Catalog of World Coins down on my table and I just had to take a photograph of it. David carries the book to every coin show he attends. It serves not only as a reference but also as his check list, every page having been penned or penciled with checks, underlines, or annotations. His goal is to find EVERY coin in that book!! And, says David, "When the book wears out, I quit." -Take care of that book David, we hope you find every coin in it!
" A good book is the best of friends, the same today and forever."
-Martin F. Tupper
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Sheboygan -Sheboygan Coin Club
August 29, 2015. Submitted by Judy Wallner. The Sheboygan Coin Club held its annual late summer Coin and Stamp Show at the Lakers Skate Center in Sheboygan. We had 20 coin dealers and 3 stamp dealers. Our attendance was very good and several patrons made statements on how nice the show was. We handed out free publications for the guests to take and read in hopes they become more aware of coin collecting and the Sheboygan Coin Club. One nice feature for our dealers is that they can drive right into our building to unload and load their products. We also have security on the premises for everyone's safety. Once again we collected canned goods and money for the local Salvation Army. Watch for our Spring Show for 2016!
'Thank You' from John and Nancy Wilson (lola)
A big Thank you to the Numismatists of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Valley Coin Club, NOWs lola Friends along with Show Chair Cliff Mishler for providing the American Numismatic Association with a free table at your 55th Annual Show held on May 15 and 16, 2015 at the lola Old Car Show Activity Center Building. We will look forward to seeing you at the next NOW show - which will be hosted by the South Shore Coin Club on March 31, April 1 & 2, 2016 at the Crowne Plaza - Milwaukee Airport.
-Yours in Numismatics, John and Nancy Wilson, ANA National Volunteers.
(This 'Thank You' was meant to go into the Summer issue, but your NOW NEWS editor dropped the ball. In addition, I was remiss in crediting John with some of the photos of the NOW lola show used in the summer issue. My humble apologies to the Wilsons for the omissions. -Editor)
CLUB NEWS
Fishbowl Wooden Nickel Coin Club
The club's new commemorative wooden nickel was unveiled and features a Ring-Necked Pheasant on the obverse and the club's legend on the reverse. It is available for 50 cents, plus a SASE. Send your request to: Fishbowl Wooden Nickel Coin Club, C/O Gary Schauls, 2702 150th Street, Luck, Wl 54853 - 3811.
Milwaukee Numismatic Society
MNS scheduled a carpool trip to the ANA on August 11th. Congratulations to MNS member exhibit winners at the ANA, Nancy Wilson and Darrell Luedtke! There was not a meeting held in August. The next meeting will be held on September 17. There will be an educational video shown. Monthly meetings are held at 7:00pm on the 3rd Thursday of each month in the Community Meeting Room in the lower level of Mayfair Mall. Visitors interested in numismatics are welcome.
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Wisconsin Valley Coin Club
WVCC held their annual picnic on July 21st. Here is the report submitted by Manny 'Red' Antz:
Great weather, big crowd, fabulous food, cordial company, valuable prizes, a goofy game, and no mosquitos. An MS 70 picnic! Thank you to all who attended and especially those who helped out. The Skares for the shelter reservation. Thad the food man. Mike the water boy. Ed, Charles, and Mike the prize pickers. Mike and Charles the raffle runners. Rolling Recordings for the pictures which are now on the WVCC Facebook page. As always, we the members made this another wonderful WVCC outing! Club schedule - Save the Dates!
Sept. 15, 2015-Grading British coins w/Charles Oct. 6, 2015-Members auction (5 lots per member)
Oct. 20,2015-Annual banquet Nov. 3, 2015-WWI/WWII coins/currency Nov. 17,2015-MEETING CANCELLED Dec. 1, 2015-Christmas party
Send your Club News to: jkreichenberger@hotmail.com
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COIN CLUB MEETINGS
BARRON COUNTY COIN CLUB
Meets 7:00 p.m. the 2nd Thursday at the School Administration Bldg., 700 Augusta St., Rice Lake. Contact Barron County Coin Club, P.O. Box 362, Rice Lake, Wl 54868.
CHIPPEWA VALLEY COIN CLUB
Meets at 7:00 on the 1st Thursday of each month in the basement of Parks Rec. Bldg., 1300 1st Ave. in Eau Claire. E-mail 54701.com/coinclub or PO Box 2140 Eau Claire, Wl 54702.
ELGIN IL COIN CLUB
Meets at 7:30 1st Wednesday at Elgin Moose Fam.Ctr. 925 S. McLean Blvd. Elgin, IL 60123. Contact Don Cerny, PO Box 651, S. Elgin, IL 60177. Ph. 847-888-1449.
FISHBOWL WOODEN NICKEL COIN CLUB
Meets the 3rd Thursday (April-October); at the Siren Senior Center, 23943 State Road 35, Siren, 6:30 traders; 7:00 business meeting (Nov. -March) at 24136 State Road 35/70, Siren. Contact Gary Schauls, 2702 150th St., Luck, Wl 54853-3811. Phone 715- 472-2002.
FOND DU LAC COIN CLUB
Meets the 1st Tuesday (May thru Sept.) at the Senior Center East 2nd Street in Fond du Lac. Contact Fond du Lac Coin Club, PO Box 254, Oshkosh, Wl 54903.
FOX VALLEY COIN CLUB
Meets at 6:30 the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at Good Will - Community Entrance, 1800 Appleton Road, Menasha. Corner of HWYs 47 and 10.
INTNL BANK NOTE SOCIETY - MIDWEST CHAPTER
Meets at 1:00 the 2nd Saturday each month at North Shore Library, 6800 North Port Washington Road in Glendale. www.mcfls.org/northshorelibrary.
KENOSHA COIN CLUB
Meets at 7:30 on the 1st Thursday of each month
(except July & August) at 3030 39th Ave, Kenosha. Contact: Jerry
Binsfeld 262-657-4653.
KETTLE MORAINE COIN & STAMP CLUB
Meets at 7:30 on the 2nd Thursday of each month at Silverbrook Middle School, 120 N. Silverbrook Drive in West Bend. Youth meeting at 6:30. Contact: Dave Hunsicker 262-338-6064.
LAKE COUNTY COIN CLUB
Meets 7:00 the 1st Tues. each month at the Gurnee Police Facility. Contact LCCC, POBox 94, Gurnee, IL, 60031-0094, lakecountycoinclub@gmail.com
LAKELAND COIN 8. STAMP CLUB
Meets at 6:45 the first and third Thursday of each month at Lakeland Senior Center, Woodruff, Wl.
MADISON COIN CLUB
The club tries to meet at 7:00 pm on the 1st or 2nd Monday or Tuesday of each month at the Alicia Ashman Branch of the Madison Public Library, 733 N. High Point Road. Contact Tom Galway. Phone 608-238-1722.
MANITOWOC COIN CLUB
No regular monthly meetings. An annual coin show is held in February. Contact Al Hrudka 920-775-4979.
MILWAUKEE NUMISMATIC SOCIETY
Meets at 7:00 on the 3rd Thursday of each month at the Mayfair Mall Community Room, 2500 N. Mayfair Road in Wauwatosa (use #2 entrance, east side of mall).
Contact www.milwaukeenumismaticsociety.com.
NICOLET COIN CLUB
Meets at 6:30 on the 2nd 8i 4th Tuesday at the Bay Family Restaurant corner of Military and 9th St. in G. Bay. Contact Roger Bohn: 920-819-7294, boneyard7@yahoo.com
RACINE NUMISMATIC SOCIETY
Meets at 7:00 on the 2nd Thursday at Castlewood Restaurant, 2815 Wisconsin St., Sturtevant. Contact Bill Spencer 262-637- 7766. (no July or Aug. mtg).
ROCKFORD AREA COIN CLUB
Meets 6:00 Thursday at North Suburban Women's Club, 6320 N. 2nd St., Loves Park, www.exonumia.com /RACC.htm.. Contact: Rockford Area Coin Club, c/o Gary Melby 803 Blackhawk Blvd. South Beloit, IL 61080. 815-977-1962
SHEBOYGAN COIN CLUB
Meets at 7:00 the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at Maple Lanes, 3107 S. Business Dr., in Sheboygan. Contact Sheboygan Coin Club, PO Box 907, Sheboygan, Wl 53082.
SOUTH SHORE COIN CLUB
Meets at 7:00 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of month at St. Roman's Parish Office, 1710 W. Bolivar Ave. Milw. Cntct: Steven Jendusa 414-364-3772. www.ssccmke.org.
WAUKESHA COIN CLUB
Meets at 7:00 p.m. on the 1st Wednesday of month at the Waukesha Salvation Army at 445 Madison St., Waukesha.
Contact Forrest Schumacher, 2300 Avalon Drive, Waukesha, Wl 53186. Ph: 262-542-5990. www.waukeshaco-inclub.com.
WISCONSIN VALLEY COIN CLUB
Meets at 6:30 on the 1st & 3rd Tuesday of each month at Schofield Coin 8i Hobby, 754 Grand Ave., Schofield, Wl 54476. (June, July, Aug, mtg 3rd Tue.) Contact Thad Streeter 5002 Tanya St. Schofield, Wl 54478 Ph.715-574-2777
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THE HISTORIC WASHINGTON HOUSE - CEDARBURG, WIS.
By Tom Casper U982
Cedarburg, which means "The Castle of Cedars", is a small city about twenty miles north of Milwaukee. It was founded in 1844 along Cedar Creek. The community is known for its historic buildings, many festivals, and the last remaining original covered bridge in Wisconsin. Tourists flock to this charming city to visit its quaint arts and craft shops, galleries, studios and winery, some of which are located in the former Cedarburg Woolen Mill which operated from 1864-1968. In 1893 it was the largest woolen mill west of Philadelphia.
One of the prominent historic buildings along its main street is the Washington House Inn on Washington Ave. The words "Washington House" are prominently displayed at the top of the facade. The Washington Inn was Cedarburg's first hotel built in 1846 on the present site. In 1886 the original structure was replaced by the present Victorian Cream City brick building. It is proudly listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Current postcard of the Washington House Inn.
One of the leading Cedarburg residents to own the Washington House was William H. Horn who operated it from 1905-20. He was born in Cedarburg in 1859 and was the son of Senator Fred W. Horn. He learned the trade of railroad telegraph operator and was appointed agent of the Milwaukee Road station in Cedarburg, a position he held for twenty-three years. He resigned this position when
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he purchased the Washington House. With the advent of interurban lines, automobiles and slumping hotel business, he changed the building into a business block. The Washington House is last listed in the 1924-25 Polk's Wisconsin Gazetteer. Horn died in 1927. In 1984 it opened as bed and breakfast with 15 guest rooms which have now expanded to 34 rooms, with each room named for an early Cedarburg settler. Room # 200 is named for William Horn.
Mr. Horn was a supporter of the Democratic Party and was appointed postmaster of Cedarburg under Grover Cleveland. He also served as chairman of the Ozaukee County Board, was mayor of Cedarburg from 1898 to 1904, served on the fire and police commission and was an honorary member of the Cedarburg Fire Department.
Before automobile travel, many visitors arrived in Cedarburg via the Milwaukee Road train. In order to transport the passengers staying at his hotel, the hotel operated a free bus to the hotel and return trip to the depot. The Washington House issued a 29mm, scalloped, aluminum token which reads, "Washington/House/Cedarburg/Wis.//Bus Fare/lOc". These could have been handed out at the train station when people arrived or given to the hotel guests when leaving.
I was unable to obtain any information on the hotel bus but I was able to locate an article referencing the fare increase. The article appeared in the February 1, 1899 edition of The Cedarburg News, and reads:
"No More Free Rides. Hereafter all persons wishing to ride to or from the depot in the Washington House bus will have to pay a fare of 10 cents. The proprietor has run a free bus for the past two years for the accommodation of the public and is entitled now to make a charge so as to cover at least a portion of the expense".
This information dates this token being used from 1899 to 1925. There were a number of owners of the Washington House during this time but Horn owned the hotel for the longest period and the token was likely issued by him. The token is unlisted in the transportation token book.
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SOME NUMISMATIC RECOLLECTIONS
By Leon A. Saryan ffOlOOL
It seems that either you are a collector, or you are not. Many, if not most coin collectors tend to start at an early age. I was no exception. I first became aware of coins and postage stamps when I was age 9.
Many baby boomers got their start with World War II memorabilia— coins and paper currency brought home from Europe or the Far East by fathers who had served overseas. I was one of those boomers, but I missed out on the overseas stuff since my father worked stateside during the War as an inspector of war materiel. But my mother routinely received mail from her family in Lebanon. She used to give the stamps to her doctor, but at my urging she allowed me keep the stamps which became the nucleus of my stamp collection.
Neither of my parents thought much of my hobbies, and when I was growing up, excess cash needed to build a collection was in short supply (OK, non-existent!). When I asked for permission to visit the "stamp store," my father frowned. "That's not collecting," he said, "that's buying." I was reminded to keep my enthusiasm for purchasing collectibles under control.
I grew up in northern Delaware in the 1950's. Just a stone's throw across the Delaware River in southern New Jersey, a counterfeiter named Francis Henning was making fake nickel five-cent pieces by the thousands. One day, I think it was in 3rd grade, I arrived in school to find several classmates bouncing nickels on a Formica desk top to see if they could identify one of the counterfeits. I don't know if they found any, but later I was able to locate one for my collection.
In the summer of 1961 (when Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle were battling to break Babe Ruth's home run record), my parents gave me a blue Whitman Mercury dime folder for my birthday. Soon, like every other kid my age, I was actively saving silver quarters and halves from circulation. If I needed cash I would simply raid my collection, removing coins with high mintages and then replacing them later with earnings from my newspaper route. Meanwhile, one of my collecting friends, Jon Rafal (who became a museum director), was buying as many US gold double eagles as he could afford for $30 each! (SMART!!)
One of the important contacts that I made in those days was with the well-known numismatist Jules Reiver. Mr. Reiver was nationally prominent as a leading author/collector/researcher of early American coins. It turned out that not only was he a subscriber on my paper route, but also I had a crush on his daughter! One day in 1963 I stopped at his house to collect his 42 cent weekly newspaper bill, and as I entered his home I saw a table with a huge pile of coins that he was working on. During our conversation I mentioned that I needed a Barber half dollar as the last coin for my Boy Scout coin collecting merit badge type set, and he promptly selected and gave me an example from his extensive collection. Later,
I learned that during World War II he had played an important role in the invasion at Omaha Beach and the liberation of Paris.
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First Ancient Coin
It was around this time that I obtained my first ancient coin. It was much different than the modern US and foreign coins that we were familiar with. It was the first ancient I had ever seen and I knew right away that I had to own it. I obtained it in trade for a large pile of stamps from Randy Turner, a friend of mine who was a budding archaeologist (and later became the State Archaeologist for Virginia). The obverse depicted the head of a Roman emperor and the reverse showed a figure with a headdress leading a horse by the bridle. It was worn nearly smooth, but unlike the relatively common late Roman bronzes, this coin was brassy and fairly large. The legend had long since disappeared and even the portrait was not readily recognizable. The brassy composition meant that it had to be a Roman sestertius or dupondius. By diameter it could have been either, but the light weight deceived me into thinking that I had the latter.
The challenge, of course, was to identify the coin. At the age of 10, with no reference works available and with not more than a trace of a legend, this was out of the question. So the coin sat quietly in a paper envelope for twenty years. In 1978, I dug it out and, after considerable research in reference books at the UW-Milwaukee library, I concluded that I owned a relatively scarce Roman provincial dupondius of Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD) struck in Antiochia ad Hippum, a town in the Decapolis region east of the Sea of Galilee (present Jordan).
For the next 35 years I was satisfied with this assignment. A couple of years ago, it occurred to me that, with the advance of numismatic knowledge, it should be possible to confirm my attribution. I turned to the rare but definitive reference on this series, Coins of the Decapolis and Provincia Arabia by Fr. Augustus Spijkerman (thanks to my son Armen who was able to borrow the book for me from the Marquette University Library), but to my surprise no coin very similar to mine was illustrated or listed. I began to suspect that the tentative attribution I had made in 1978 might not be correct after all. I took the coin with me to a few larger coin shows looking for a clue from any of several ancient coin dealers who were in attendance. It seemed that, despite very substantial wear, the reverse type was distinctive enough that it should be possible to identify the coin. When one dealer suggested that the portrait might belong to Emperor Septimius Severus (193-211 AD), I began to recalibrate.
1700
Predictably enough, with more sleuthing, I found a drawing of the coin (in full detail) right under my nose in my personal copy of Sear's Roman Coins and Their Values (1974), coin no. 1700. I had been misled by the coin's light weight (15.41 grams) as well as by the extreme wear endured by the coin over the centuries. So, in fact, my mystery coin is a brass sestertius of Septimius Severus
Drawing from Sear ' Roman Coins' 1974
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(193-211 AD, probably struck in 196), showing the emperor on horseback being led by a soldier with a bridle. The reverse is probably a reference to the emperor's auspicious arrival in Rome and his military prowess. The lesson that I gleaned from this experience was that one could learn as much and have as much enjoyment with a well-worn, inexpensive coin as with a coin costing thousands of dollars. Attempting to identify poorly preserved ancient coins such as this one is an excellent way to sharpen one's numismatic skills.
Armenian coins
All of these numismatic exercises were a prelude to my greatest interest. Those who know me well know that I have long been fascinated by the early coins of Armenia. Over the years, the scope of this interest has grown to include modern coins, medals, tokens, paper currency, financial documents, postal cards, artifacts and related collectibles. More than collecting, I enjoy the process of research, analysis, and discovery, enabling me to reveal and present new or unknown facts to the numismatic community.
One of my earliest childhood recollections was reading about Armenian history. I couldn't have been more than 9 years old at the time. My parents had a fantastic book on their bookshelf, The History of' the Armenian People, by the French scholar Jacques de Morgan. It had been translated into English from French in the 1940's and published by the Hairenik Press in Boston. This book covers about 4000 years of history and is profusely illustrated with line drawings of ancient and medieval coins all related to Armenian history. Pictures of old coins, seals, churches, and monuments, most of them drawn by the author himself, jump out at the reader from almost every page. I can remember reading the book at night under my blanket using a flashlight. I drooled over the pictures, never imagining at that early age that I could own even one of those fascinating rare ancient coins, much less form a wide-ranging collection like that illustrated in this wonderful book. Only later did I learn that, besides his expertise in history and archaeology, de Morgan was an accomplished numismatic specialist.
Around that time I was on one of my regular visits to Delaware Stamp & Coin, a large, well-organized establishment in downtown Wilmington, foraging for additions to my stamp collection. There, under the glass, I saw a few stacks of old silver coins, with a notation that these were silver trams, attributed to two Armenian kings, Levon I (1198-1219) and Hetoum I (1226-1270). At that time, the asking price for these coins was an impossible $6 each, so I appealed to my parents to help me purchase a few. My father's reaction was "nothing doing" and, as I didn't have enough scratch to go forward on my own, I had no choice but to postpone the opportunity to start my Armenian collection. By the time I had enough money to purchase a few, the coins were already gone.
I should perhaps interject here, now that he has passed away, that I had some difficulty appreciating my father's lack of enthusiasm for Armenian coins. My parents were great devotees of Armenian culture- language, art, literature, scholarship. They had Armenian books and artwork around the house, my mother would recite from memory the poems of our greatest writers. They worshipped the memory of their teachers, Levon Shant and Nikol Aghbalian. Outside his career as a chemist, my father was engaged
14
in serious research on Armenian linguistics (and wrote a book on the topic). He once told me that instead of gathering stamps or coins, he was "collecting words." True to his frugal habits (he grew to manhood during the Great Depression), he collected his words at no charge in Webster's Dictionary.
My parents, of course, were preoccupied with the financial pressures of raising four children while giving them a well-rounded cultural education. They saw coins and stamps as merely a drain on family resources. But there may have been something else operating here. My dad once told me that in his youth, he had seen a tetradrachm of the famous Armenian king Tigranes the Great (95-56 BC), possibly at a museum in New York, but had not been impressed. Perhaps the coin did not, in his mind, measure up to the artistic standards of Armenia's magnificent ancient churches, pictures of which graced the walls of our home. Perhaps he did not appreciate that, unlike a church that he could neither touch nor own, a coin of Tigranes could be held and admired in his hand.
By the time I was in my late thirties, my parents were reconciled to the fact that I was going to collect and study Armenian coins. My mother helped me translate my research into the Armenian language, and my dad eventually came around. Once, on a winter visit to Florida, he encountered dealer George Beach at a FUN Show in Orlando, who showed him a Roman gold aureus with an Armenian historical reference that he nearly purchased despite its hefty price tag. My father was eventually willing to admit that coin collecting was a fine, educational hobby, a vehicle for teaching and understanding the people of the world, their history, art, religion and culture.
In the late 1990s, I was invited to Boca Raton to present a lecture on the subject of Armenian coins and antiquities. I was excited that my parents were able to attend. Afterward, we all went together to a coin store where they purchased a medieval Armenian coin for me to add to my collection. And, in 1997 when independent Armenia issued its first gold coin bearing the image of the goddess Anahit, my father was among the first to secure several examples.
By the late 1970's, with my formal education over and my scientific career underway, I was able to enlarge my collections. I was actively collecting Morgan dollars and 19th century US type. I also had acquired a few important Armenian artifacts, ancient coins, banknotes and medals. I soon made my earliest foray into medieval Cilician Armenian coins. My brother-in-law and I were attending a coin show near O'Hare Airport in 1982. I had just purchased a St. Gaudens double eagle for my gold type set, when I happened to pass by the table of a dealer from a nearby Chicago suburb. In his display case I saw two silver trams of King Levon I and, after a little negotiation, I secured the pair for $35. I took them home and examined them carefully. To my surprise, I found numerous small differences between the two coins, both in the design and the inscription. I had two distinct varieties of the same type! I soon obtained a copy of Dr. Bedoukian's book on the series ( Coinage of Cilician Armenia), and studied it aggressively, and learned that there were not just two but hundreds of varieties of the same type.
Over the next several years I became personally acquainted with many leading Armenian specialists in America and abroad— Dr. Paul Bedoukian, Jack Guevrekian, Yeghia Nercessian, Luther Eskijian,
15
Khachadour Mousheghian and his daughter Anahit, Henry Sarkissian, Lena Garabedian, Armine Zohrabian, Edik Hovhanessian, Bagrat Sahakian, Ruben Vardanyan and others. To all of these friends I owe a debt of gratitude as they shared with me their enthusiasm, knowledge, experience and more, for these small messengers from the past. I feel proud that my own research has added in some small way to the body of knowledge about Armenian numismatics.
Dr. Bedoukian was a guiding light in my numismatic development. We first met in 1987. Like my father, as a child he had survived the 1915 Armenian genocide in Turkey. He and my dad were both industrial chemists, and the two often played backgammon together at our family home on Cape Cod. Bedoukian had enjoyed a good Armenian education. He began collecting at an early age (when old coins could be had for pennies) and built an enormous collection which he gradually gave away during his lifetime. His lasting contributions included several books and specialized studies published in leading periodicals, through which he was able to systematize the ancient and medieval Armenian royal series. He was responsible for introducing generations of collectors to the Armenian numismatic heritage. His generosity was legendary, and to me it hardly had any bounds.
Jack Guevrekian was another passionate collector. Jack could regale you for hours with jokes and stories, and although he did not do much writing, his interests and knowledge were very broad. Medals, paper currency, coins, tokens, manuscripts, rare books, seals, and artifacts all crossed his path. His method was always to own a rare piece for a while, and then allow another collector to share the same pleasure of ownership. Business contacts in Europe and the Middle East gave him unparalleled access to coins at prices that today's collectors can only dream about. Many of the most interesting items in my collection, such as the virtually unique silver double tram of the medieval Armenian king Gosdantin I (1298-1299 AD), passed through Jack's hands first.
Obv. and Rev. of the silver Double Tram of King Gosdantin I (1298-1299) from the author's collection. Actuol size 27mm 5.67g
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In 1987 I made my first of several trips to Armenia, where I met the staff of the State History Museum — the Mousheghians, Henry Sarkissian, Lena Garabedian, and Armine Zohrabian. Around the same time I began collaborating with Yeghia Nercessian, founder and editor of the Armenian Numismatic Journal, which just completed its fortieth year of publication. All of these scholars, and many others, played an important role in my development as a researcher.
A few days after that O'Hare show, I called my parents to tell them that I had purchased a couple of ancient Armenian coins with my name inscribed on them. They asked me how much I had paid for the pair and I told them. "That's nice," they replied, "but don't buy any morel!"
It was too late. I was hooked, and it's been a great ride ever since. ###
N.O.W. MEMBERS AND FRIENDS ARE INVITED TO THREE SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN COIN SHOWS:
Kenosha Coin Club Show Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015 • 9 a.m. -3 p.m.
Kenosha Union Club, 3030 39th Ave., free admission and parking
Kenosha Holiday Coin Show Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015 . 9am - 3pm
Kenosha Union Club, 3030 39th Ave., free admission and parking
Racine Numismatic Society’s Coin Show Sunday, February 28, 2016 • 9 a.m. -3 p.m.
Roma Lodge, 7130 Spring St. Racine, Wisconsin free admission and parking
Remember, it’s only half as much fun without you!
17
An Investment in Ten Low Mintage Commemoratives
by Jerry Binsfeld #0091L
If your uncle paid $6203.00 for 10 different MS60 commemorative coins with mintages ranging from 4,256 to 18,028 in 1979 and he decided to sell them in late 2014, do you think he would have made money? If he bought the same 10 coins in MS65 and paid $14,075.00 and sold them in late 2014, would he have made even more money? What do our NOW NEWS readers think??
If you thought the MS65 profits would be higher than the MS60 profits, you were wrong! Overall the prices did not do so well after the 35 year period. Look at the chart. Surprisingly the MS60 grade showed an average increase of 4.67%, while the MS65 lost an average of 4.3%. If you add inflation to the mix your uncle did poorly. You may ask, 'why is this so'? Three possible reasons: 1) Coin prices fluctuate and 2014 was a down year; 2) Condition rarity; 3) Supply and demand.
The chart on the following page shows ten low mintage commemoratives, their mintage, and prices for the years shown, percent of change (increase or decrease), and total average. (Prices were taken from the December Coin Dealers Newsletter from the years 1979 and 2014.)
If you invested in the 1928 Hawaiian Sesquicentennial commemorative half dollar back in 1979... YOU DID VERY WELL !
If you invested in the 1938 New Rochelle, NY commemorative half dollar back in 1979... YOU DID VERY POORLY !
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|
Commemorative |
MS-60 1979 2014 |
% of change |
MS-65 1979 2014 |
% of change |
|
1922 Grant Memorial star (4,256) |
$700. $1030. |
+47% |
$2300. $5200. |
+126% |
|
1921 Missouri 2 star 4 (5,000) |
$800. $575. |
-28% |
$2100. $2500. |
+19% |
|
1921 Alabama 2x2 (6,006) |
$425. $270. |
-36% |
$1200. $1220. |
+1.6% |
|
1934 Boone (10,007) |
$103. $105. |
+1.9% |
$225. $200. |
-11% |
|
1928 Hawaiian Sesq. (10,008) |
$1400. $2000. |
+42% |
$3000. $3675. |
+22% |
|
1935 Hudson, N.Y. Sesq. (10,008) |
$700. $700. |
- |
$1350. $1075. |
-20% |
|
1936 Spanish Trail (10,008) |
$850. $1000. |
+ 17.6% |
$1900. $1150. |
-39% |
|
1925 Fort Vancouver Cen. (14,994) |
$525. $290. |
-44% |
$1300. $500. |
-61% |
|
1938 New Rochelle, N.Y. (15,266) |
$350. $285. |
-18.5% |
$825. $315. |
-61.8% |
|
1937 Antietam (18,028) |
$350. $575. |
+64% |
$775. $625. |
-19% |
|
Average |
+4.6% |
-4.3% |
In the Winter '15 NOW NEWS, I'll show a comparison of prices for KEY DATE COINS in the grades, Good, XF, and MS60 for the same 35 year period. You will see which of the three grades commanded the best average gains.
19
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Glenn Wright, Proprietor • 55 yrs. Experience
Experienced • Qualified • Reliable
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Franklin Half Dollar (1948-1963)
Profile and Collecting Tips
-From James Bucki, About.com/coins
History of the Franklin Half Dollar
Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1723 he moved to Philadelphia Pennsylvania and began working as an apprentice printer. In the 1730s and 1740s his public service resulted in the founding of such institutions as libraries, fire companies and insurance companies.
In the 1750s his career as a scientist led to the inventions of such items as the Franklin stove, swim fins, musical instruments and bifocals. His most famous scientific experiment revolved around electricity and the flying of a kite in a thunderstorm. In the 1760s he began his political career and was elected to the Second Continental Congress. He helped draft the Declaration of Independence and signed it 1776. After the fight for independence, Franklin spent much of his time in France. He later returned to the United States where he died on April 17, 1790.
In 1947, Mint Director Nellie Tayloe Ross, an admirer of Franklin, desired to replace the current Walking Liberty half dollar with a design honoring him.
The new coin featured Franklin's portrait on the obverse and an image of the Liberty Bell with a small eagle on the reverse. Coinage began in the spring of 1948 and continued through 1963. Early production figures were light compared to the later years because of the abundance of Walking Liberty half dollars still in circulation. By the early 1950s production picked up as the popularity of this coin took off and continued through the end of its run. Franklin half dollars were produced at all three operating mints at the time: Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco.
Collecting Franklin Half Dollars
Assembling a complete set of Franklin half dollars requires only a total of 35 date and mint mark combinations. Because these half dollars were saved in great quantity, there is no key date that carries an exorbitant price. Since these coins are no longer circulating, you will have to buy these coins through coin dealers or online. All coins were struck in 90% silver and hence the price of lower grade circulated coins are greatly influenced by the price of silver. For the beginning collector a basic set of circulated Franklin half dollars will be a challenge but not an undoable task. The intermediate collector will strive to complete a set with all uncirculated examples. While the advanced collector will attempt to complete a set that includes uncirculated examples, proof issues and some of the major varieties listed below.
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Keys to Collecting Franklin Half Dollars
Most coin dealers have an ample supply of circulated Franklin half dollars for you to purchase. Uncirculated examples are also readily available, but specimens that have few bag marks and great eye appeal will be a challenge to find.
The advanced collector will not only strive for a complete uncirculated set, but they will want to buy only coins that are fully struck. You can determine if a Franklin half dollar is fully struck by looking at the reverse of the coin. The highest point on the coin is the bottom of the Liberty Bell where there are six horizontal lines decorating it. If the coin is not fully struck, the lines will be weak or nonexistent in the middle of the bell. If the coin is fully struck, the lines will be complete all the way across the bell. This is what Franklin half dollar collectors refer to as a "full bell lines" or FBL.
Proof coins were struck in every year except for 1948 in 1949. About the first 100 strikes from a fresh set of dies have a cameo contrast effect where the raised portion of the design has a frosted surface. These specimens are most desired by advanced collectors. After the first 100 strikes, the frost effect began to wear away and this resulted in the entire coin having a brilliant mirror-like surface.
Franklin Half Dollar Errors and Varieties
Being produced for only 16 years, left the mint little time to accidentally produce errors and varieties on the Franklin half dollar. While you're searching for specimens at your local coin store or coin show, you may find some examples of these listed below that sell for a premium over normal prices.
1951-S Doubled Die Reverse
The letters in "E Pluribus Unum" to look like they are doubled.
1955 "Bugs Bunny"
A die clash appeared near Franklin's mouth that made him look like he has buck teeth.
1956 Proof Type 1 and Type 2 Reverse
In the middle of 1956 a new reverse die was used. On the "Type 1" variety, the eagle has very little detail on its feathers. On the "Type 2" variety, the eagle's feathers are well defined.
1961 Doubled Die Reverse (business strike)
This production error caused all the lettering on the reverse to look like it is doubled.
1961 Proof Doubled Die Reverse
Easy to see doubling on all the lettering on the reverse.
...And for more perspective on collecting Proof Franklin Halves, enjoy the following article by NOW member Mark Benvenuto...
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Proof Franklin Half Dollars - Going for the Absolute best?
by Mark Benvenuto #2089
When it comes to different series that are always in what might be called the collective collector eye, coins like the Morgan and Peace dollars, as well as the Walking Liberty half dollars come quickly to mind. They're big, they're silver, they're more affordable than gold (in most cases), and they seem to be perennial collector favorites. The Franklin half dollars may not match these three in terms of collector desire, but they too can be a neat series, simply because a person can easily assemble a full set, including all the mint marks, from 1948 up to 1963. But what about going for the true creme de la creme coins within this series, meaning the proofs? What sort of collection can a person assemble when looking to these rather lofty heights of the minting art?
The dates for which a person can land a proof Franklin half dollar span from 1950 to the end of the series. There were none issued in 1948 and 1949, and so a proof series will be a tad abbreviated. But we just made an interesting comment about proofs in calling them the creme de la creme. You see, the serious aficionados of Franklin halves might argue that what are called full bell line coins - usually
abbreviated "FBL" in the price listings - are the absolute best in the series. We'll concede that these coins may be difficult to find, with each of the lines across the Liberty Bell fully delineated, and admittedly, quite a few proofs do not earn that FBL moniker. But let's stick with proofs, simply because, FBL or not, they are all gorgeous coins.
1950-1956
These years saw both the biggest change in mintage totals for United States proof coins, and also the biggest downward slope in prices. Keep in mind that all the proofs were issued in sets, so that means that at least in theory there are 51,386 proof Franklins dated 1950 - but there is the same number of the four, smaller denomination coins as well. By 1953 the total had gone up to 128,800 proofs, and by 1956 the total had risen to over 600K. By any stretch, that had become a lot of glittering proof coins.
This wide span in numbers means that a 1950 in a grade like PF-65 will cost about $500, while the 1956 version in the same grade will run about $50. Indeed, that 1956 won't cost much more than $100 in the wonderfully high grade of PF-67. And that is the zone that we can indeed call creme de la creme without any risk of overstatement. The price differences seen here pretty much get to the heart of any perceived trouble one might have assembling a set of the best proof Franklin halves. If you decide that
23
$100 is your upper limit for spending for a single coin, perhaps the 1950 and 1951 are out of reach.
But perhaps not, as each collector really needs to make his or her own choice (and as $500 is a coin most of us can at least save up for!).
1957-1960
The first of this quartet of years stands as a milestone - it's the first year in which more than one million proofs were minted. Many regional and local coin clubs trace their roots back to about this time, and indeed, this number for proof coins reflects an increase in collector demand during that time. Remember these were all issued in official five-coin sets, so there are more than a million proof cents, nickels, dimes, and quarters for that year as well. And every Franklin half that now stands alone was broken out of such a set.
For these four years, the prices are remarkably good, even for grades such as the just-mentioned PF- 67, although there is one fly in the ointment, as it were. The 1959 is an expensive piece up in this high grade, even though in a grade such as PF-65 it drops to less than $50. Perhaps at the time of striking, this was a case of some tiny difference in die setting at the Mint for that one year. Strangely, the reference books are silent on why there's a sizable price jump at the top of the grade for this particular date. But despite it, or perhaps because of it, purchasing the 1959 in a PF-65 grade might be a good way to add this proof to a growing collection without crushing your wallet.
1961-1963
Okay, this third division of the proof Franklin half dollars are all common, which means they are all far more affordable than the first years we've just mentioned. The proof mintages went above 3 million per year for each of these three years, and that translates to some excellent current prices for these proofs. It may seem amazing, but $100 will buy a lot when it comes to any one of these three dates. That will probably land any of these three coins in a grade such as the PF-67, and that's great news.
1964
Yes, yes, agreed, there is no such thing as a 1964 Franklin half. But there are almost 4 million proof Kennedy halves from this year, the only one in which the Kennedy was made of 90% silver. They are available in grades as high as PF-69, but are costly up on that plateau. The PF-67 however costs less than $50. That's still a pretty lofty grade, and thus it might just be worth adding this lone, sparkling Kennedy to a growing collection of proof Franklin halves.
All things considered?
The Franklin half dollar series may live in the shadows when it is compared to the Morgan and Peace dollars, as well as the Walking Liberty halves - or not. We've just seen that the proofs of the series can be made into a truly beautiful collection, usually at rather reasonable prices. Good luck in assembling one for yourself!
24
WHAT'S NEW AT THE U.S. MINT ?
2015 Coin and Chronicles Set-Dwight D. Eisenhower - SOLD OUT!
The United States Mint opened sales for the 2015 Coin and Chronicles Set-Dwight D. Eisenhower on Aug. 11 at noon Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). It SOLD OUT in 15 minutes!
The set contains the following:
• One 2015 Eisenhower Presidential $1 Reverse Proof Coin-available only in this set.
• One Eisenhower Presidential Medal struck in .999 fine silver.
• One U.S. postage stamp issued in 1969 to pay tribute to President Eisenhower.
• One booklet with images of Eisenhower's life and presidency.
The Eisenhower Presidential $1 Reverse Proof Coin bears the "P" mint mark indicating its production at the United States Mint at Philadelphia. The silver medal was also be produced at the Philadelphia facility but has no mint mark.
Mintage for this set was limited to 17,000 units. Orders were limited to two units per household. The 2015 Coin and Chronicles Set-Dwight D. Eisenhower was priced at $57.95.
Lyndon B. Johnson 2015 Presidential One Dollar Coin & First Spouse Medal Set
LBJ and Lady Bird Johnson fans, history buffs and coin collectors will want the Presidential $1 Coin & First Spouse 2015 Bronze Medal Set - Lyndon B. Johnson in their collections.
This unique product includes an uncirculated Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential $1 Coin and the Claudia Taylor "Lady Bird" Johnson bronze medal duplicate of the popular First Spouse Gold Coin.
The coin and medal are held in a durable plastic card enhanced with beautiful representations of the President's and first spouse's portraits, and issuance information on the back.
The obverse features an image of Lyndon B. Johnson and the inscriptions "LYNDON B. JOHNSON," "IN GOD WE TRUST," "36th PRESIDENT" and "1963 - 1969."
Order your Presidential $1 Coin & First Spouse 2015 Bronze Medal Set - Lyndon B. Johnson today.
usmint.gov
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BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING
2015 $2 Single Note Series
2013 Dallas and Series 2009 San Francisco and New York
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) presents the 2015 $2 Single Note Collection featuring a $2 note from three Federal Reserve Banks with a serial number beginning with 2015. Each of the three notes is protected by a clear acid-free polymer sleeve in an attractive folder representative of the corresponding Federal Reserve district. Each complete set features non- matching serial numbers. (Bank designations available: Series 2013 Dallas, Series 2009 New York, and San Francisco).
The 2015 $2 Single Note Collection is limited up to 2,000 total sets and contains one note from each of the three available districts. Flousehold quantity purchase limits were two sets for the three-note collection during the pre-release period of August 4 - 10, 2015. After the pre-release period expires, household purchase restrictions will be waived and up to 5,000 individual notes each for the Series 2013 Dallas and Series 2009 San Francisco bank designations will be available for purchase for $7.95 a piece while supplies last.
To order: moneyfactory.gov
2015 $2 SINCI.K NOTK
DALLAS
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This article ( Good advice) is from David Harper, Editor of Numismatic News, in his 'Best of Buzz' column in the September 8 issue.
Don't cheat yourself
Get out there and exercise. Be active. Use your brain. You will benefit.
No, this is not a public service announcement from the President's Council on Physical Fitness. It is a suggestion to coin collectors to get moving. The internet is a wonderful tool to acquire coins, it is also a wonderful source of information. However, to gain a fuller understanding of numismatics, books are often better. Better yet are face to face interactions.
After being at the ANA World's Fair of Money for a week, I have needed to spend some time cleaning up email that I did not have time to handle while I was in Rosemont,IL. Some of the questions I received can be answered simply by looking them up in basic references. The senders of questions could head down to a coin shop to buy a book, or go to a library to check one out. If the coin shop is the option, the person might just find a valuable new contact and source of information about coins. Sure it takes a little time and gas money, but the physical stimulation is good for your health and the mental stimulation is good for your brain.
Go to a coin show.
These range from small weekend events at a local hall, to the National ANA convention. Yes, visiting these shows cost money, but the movement is good for your body and mind. We live in a crazy world where younger folks pay large sums of money to be members of health clubs where they exercise rather than spending time running around a bourse floor. It is not literal running, but boy at the end of a day on the floor, I know I have done something. If you happen to be late for a flight or have a tight connection, the literal running might just occur too!
For older collectors, getting out has the added benefit of sharing memories with like-minded fellow hobbyists. I think the cost in time and money to interact with real reference books and real people is money better spent than saving these funds only to have to pay for a future health problem caused by mental or physical inactivity.
I have nothing against regular exercise. I am all for it. I have nothing against the internet. I am all for it.
But avoiding the physical movement of going to shops and shows and emailing questions that are better answered by a little personal effort is simply cheating yourself out of some of the great benefits of numismatics.
28
BOOKS !
A GUIDE BOOK OF BARBER SILVER COINS
Press Release - Whitman Publishing
Whitman Publishing announces the release of A Guide Book of Barber Silver Coins, by Q. David Bowers. The 384-page book (number 20 in the popular Bowers Series) will be available September 22, 2015, from booksellers and hobby shops nationwide, and online (including at www.Whitman.com), for $29.95. It can also be borrowed for free as a benefit of membership in the American Numismatic Association, through the Dwight N. Manley Numismatic Library.
Barber dimes, quarters, and half dollars were America's workhorse coins of the late 1800s and early 1900s. While U.S. Mint chief engraver Charles Barber's designs were at first criticized by the public, today his silver coins are among the most popular U.S. series, with many enthusiastic collectors and students. The Barber Coin Collectors Society is among the hobby's fastest-growing specialty groups.
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These handsome silver coins were produced from 1892 into 1916, shortly before America entered the First World War, and they remained in circulation until well after World War II. In the Guide Book of Barber Silver Coins they are given the famous Q. David Bowers treatment: insightful study by date and mintmark for every issue of the three denominations (277 major varieties), rich historical background, and detailed data analysis. The text is illustrated by more than 800 images. Bowers— the "Dean of American Numismatics" and the most prolific numismatic author of all time— tells collectors how to evaluate quality, determine value, understand the market, and make good buys, and takes the reader on a journey through what he calls "the most interesting and evolutionary period in American history."
Bowers provides a wealth of information including mintages, certified populations, date-by-date estimates of the total number
29
of pieces existing for both circulated and Proof issues, illustrated grading standards, values in up to 12 grades, and keys to collecting based on availability and sharpness of strike. Historical background details the landscape of American life from the Gilded Age through the Progressive Era, the time of the coins' design and production.
The Guide Book of Barber Silver Coins includes a history of U.S. Mint engraver Charles Barber's life; the mints, Mint directors, and Mint superintendents responsible for Barber coinage; the public's evolving attitudes toward his designs; and Barber silver collecting, along with strategies for building a significant collection of your own.
Senior editor of the Guide Book of United States Coins, Kenneth Bressett, calls the book, "a fresh landmark account of Barber coinage touching on every aspect of availability, condition, varieties, history, and collectibility of these fascinating coins."
A Guide Book of Barber Silver Coins
By Q. David Bowers; foreword by Kenneth Bressett
ISBN 079484315-8 -6x9 inches, softcover, 384 pages, full color ■
Retail $29.95 U.S. For more information, or to order, see:
Guide Book of Barber Silver Coins, 1st Edition
(www.whitman.com/store/lnventory/Detail/Guide-Book-of-Barber-Silver
Edition+0794843158)
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UNITED STATES PAPER MONEY ERRORS
A comprehensive catalog and price guide.
4th Edition
By Dr. Frederick J. Bart
Fred Bart, United States Paper Money Errors, 4th edition, Coin & Currency Institute, Williston, Vermont, 2015, 296 pages, illustrated, 5.75 x 9 inches. ISBN 978-0-87184-250-3. $27.95.
After a lapse of seven years, a new, fourth edition of United States Paper Money Errors, Fred Bart's ground-breaking book is now available. The 4th edition is more than just an update to the third recent - Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) errors have been
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30
added, nearly all the illustrations have been changed, there is a rarity guide for each note, which additionally are now priced in four grades (EF, AU, Choice CU and Gem CU), and for the first time, there is a section showing some notes in color.
This has always been an enormously popular book, not only among established collectors, but also with newcomers seeking to learn more about their "find." There is no other book like it on the market. More than a price guide, its 296 5.75 x 9 inch pages contain a wealth of information on what to look for, as well as the mistakes to avoid. It is a necessity for all dealers, collectors, and anyone who comes into regular contact with paper money.
Error notes continue to carve an ever larger niche in paper money collecting. This edition of the definitive reference allows advanced collectors to recognize the value in their holdings and still permits members of the general public to identify potentially profitable notes encountered in circulation. The book offers more than 550 photos, making identification easy. Chapters are arranged according to the actual production sequence within the BEP providing a logical flow to the arrangement. The book begins with an overview of paper money production and a discussion of error collecting. The next section deals with first and second printing errors such as board breaks, double denominations, inverted backs, and missing and offset printings. The next section details the types of overprint errors including misaligned and missing overprints, mismatched serial numbers, and stuck digits. The last section is devoted to folds and other errors. In addition, historic photographs from the BEP offer a fascinating glimpse into currency production during a bygone era, contrasting sharply with the advanced technology in use today.
The print version of the book, ISBN 978-0-87184-250-3, has a list price of $27.95 and is available from dealers and wherever numismatic books are sold. It may also be ordered direct from the publisher,
Coin & Currency Institute, P.O. Box 399, Williston, Vermont 05495.
An E-book edition, ISBN 978-0-87184-005-9, is available for digital download on the website of the publisher, on USB stick, or from the Amazon Kindle store. List price is $17.50
For more information, or to order, see:
Ihe 4th edition of United States Paper Money Errors (www.coin-currency.com/page253.html)
"Buy the book before the coin (or paper money)!"
- U-' " " " *_• • A*.*. , • ir. _
31
BADGER BOYS STATE LEADERSHIP SCHOOL
By Tom Casper #982
The 74th session of Badger Boys State (BBS) was held June 13-20, 2015. It is a youth leadership program, held yearly since 1939, at the Ripon College campus in Ripon, Wisconsin. It is sponsored by the Wisconsin American Legion. To be eligible high school boys must be between their junior and senior year of high school. There were 870 boys in attendance this year.
Boys select three of nine schools they want to attend during the week. Some of the schools offered were Law School, Parliamentary School, Peace Officers School, Public Finance, and Journalism.
The Badger Bugle Citizen, the official daily newspaper, reported the itinerary. The daily routine was up at 6AM and lights out and taps at 11PM. In the mornings they attended their Schools of Instruction with lectures from prominent people. In the afternoon, so the boys could burn off some energy, they played basketball, frisbee, football, soccer and a 5K race. A band, chorus and color guard were formed. They performed at the inaugural assembly attended by parents, staff and dignitaries, including the Governor, and a Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice administered the oath of office to those elected to State positions.
The 870 "citizens" were divided into 27 cities and 9 counties to create the "51st state". Offices on the state, county, and local level were up for election. A citizen running for an office had to campaign and give an impromptu speech why he should be elected.
I first became aware of this school a number of years ago when I picked up a badge for my collection which read, "Police,
Badger Boys State". It is nickel, 38mm x 44mm with a pin on the back. The Police Chief is one of the elected positions which the boys can run for.
My grandson attended this year's school. He played drums in the band, and was elected alderman in the City of Hoard. On returning home he presented me with some numismatic treasures from the program. He gave me examples of $1, $5, &
$10 Badger Bucks which were the only denominations issued. They measure 63/" x 2%" with
POLICE j/
32
blank backs. They were issued to the boys so they could pay their taxes. They were taxed on their rooms, depending how orderly they were, their campaign literature and other items. He also presented me with a 37mm, brass, enameled, souvenir medal from the program. When I asked my grandson what he learned while there, he replied, "I know I don't want to go into
politics".
0
0
Badger Bucks
ONE
Badger Boys State Ripon College
0
0
Badger Bucks
FIVE
Badger Boys State Ripon College
Badger Bucks
TEN
Badger Boys Stale Ripon College
This program offers an experience of a lifetime for our leaders of tomorrow. They were given valuable life lessons and skills which they can use the rest of their lives and will enable them to develop a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation.
33
Charles Martin Boettge
Farmer, Baker, Tanner, Mayor
By Larry Spanbauer U1194, and Jeff Reichenberger ttl933
Charles Martin Boettge was born in Oshkosh on March 23, 1861. He lived and worked on the family farm near Oshkosh and attended the Oshkosh Business College.
In 1887, at age 26, he moved to Berlin, Wl, which is about 25 miles west of Oshkosh, and was married to Miss Catherine Zeddies of Sullivan, Wl.
That same year he opened the Union Bakery in Berlin, a business that thrived for 30+ years. He issued a 24mm brass 'Good For' token from the bakery. Obverse: UNION BAKERY - C. M. BOETTGE Reverse: GOOD FOR 5c LOAF OF BREAD.
Rare Union Bakery token.
In 1918 Charles became involved in the Sears-Hitchcock Tannery. The name of the business was changed to the Berlin Tannery and he was named president of the company, a position he held until his death in 1943. The Berlin Tannery property is now used as a haunted amusement business where group parties and Halloween enthusiasts are given haunted tours. In later years he became a director
Mr. Boettge was involved in many civic affairs including the volunteer fire department, two years as captain. He was president of the Berlin Church Council and was an Alderman and County Board Supervisor for a period of eight years. He was elected Mayor of Berlin in 1933 and served until 1937.
In 1935 he married Mary R. Miller of Berlin (his first wife having died in 1933). He had one son and one daughter. Charles Martin Boettge died on July 4, 1943, but left a lasting impression in the small Wisconsin town of Berlin.
34
L.
Gary's
Coins & Stamps
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Phone:920-231-6161 • Fax:920-231-6122 P.O. Box 254 • Oshkosh, Wl 54903-0254 chiefcoinandsupply.com
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Buying Wisconsin Nationals
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Also buying tokens from SW Wisconsin
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SHOW CALENDAR
September 27, 2015 - Loves Park, IL
Rockford Area Coin Club. 118th Semi-annual Coin Show. Forest Hills Lodge, 9572 Forest Hills Rd. Loves Park, IL. 9am to 3pm. Contact: Gail Tennant at 815-654-2745 or email at: gwtenn@comcast.net..
October 4, 2015 - Milwaukee MNS
Milwaukee Numismatic Society's Annual Coin Show at American Serb Memorial Hall, 5101 W. Oklahoma Ave. Milwaukee. Hours: 9am- 4pm, 75 tables, $1 admission. Show Chm. Tom Casper 414-425-5444, tcasper57@hotmail.com
October 25, 2015- Green Bay
Nicolet Coin Club's Fall Show at Comfort Suites - Rock Garden, 1951 Bond Street, Green Bay. Free admission, 40 tables. Show Contact Roger Bohn, Ph. 920-819-7294 or boneyard7@yahoo.com.
November 1, 2015 - Madison
Madison Fall Coin Show at Sheraton Hotel, 706 John Nolan Drive, Madison. Hours: 9-4 p.m. 50 tables. Contact: John Krueger. 211 E Main St, SunPrairie, Wl 53590, 608-834-4114, cchoice2@yahoo.com
November 7, 2015 - Kenosha
Kenosha Coin Club Show. Saturday. 9am - 3pm. Kenosha Union Club, 3030 39lh Av. Free Admission and parking. Contact: Jerry Binsfeld
262-657-4653.
November 19-21, 2015 - Chicago
30th Annual National Coin and Currency Convention. Sponsored by: Professional Currency Dealers Association. Located at: Crowne Plaza Chicago O'Hare. 5440 North River Road. Rosemont, IL 60018. (Hotel Reservations: Call the Crowne Plaza at (877) 337-5793 and ask for the $115 "National Coin and Currency Convention" rate.) Dates and Times: Thursday, November 19: 1PM-6PM (Professional Preview/Early Birds - $75 Registration Fee; Friday, November 20: 10AM-6PM; Saturday, November 21: 10AM-6PM; Admission: $5 for three day pass valid Friday and Saturday. Special features: Lyn Knight auction Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Central States Numismatic Society, Chicago Coin Club and PCDA sponsored four speakers educational symposium Sunday, November 22 9am4:30pm. Contact: Kevin Foley. P.O. Box 573. Milwaukee, Wl 53201. Ph.: (414) 807-0116. E-mail: kfoley2@wi.rr.com. Website: www.pcdaonline.com December 6, 2015 - Kenosha
Kenosha Coin Club HOLIDAY Show. 9am-3pm. Kenosha Union Club, 3030 39lh Av. Free Adm. and park. Cont: Jerry Binsfeld 262-657-4653.
February 21, 2016 - Oshkosh
Wisconsin Coin Expos LLC 33nd Annual Coin Show at Oshkosh Convention Center, 2 N. Main St. Oshkosh. Hours: 9am - 4pm. Free Admission. Contact Randy Miller, PO Box 254, Oshkosh, Wl 54903. 920-231-6161 fx920-231-6122.
February 28, 2016 - Racine
Racine Numismatic Society Annual Coin Show. 9am - 3pm. Roma Lodge, 7130 Spring St. Racine, Wl. Free Parking and admission. Contact: Bill Spencer 262-637-7766
March 6, 2016 - Loves Park, IL
Rockford Area Coin Club. 119th Semi-annual Coin Show. Forest Hills Lodge, 9572 Forest Hills Rd. Loves Park, IL. 9am to 3pm. Contact: Gail Tennant at 815-654-2745 or email at: gwtenn@comcast.net._
March 20, 2016 - Appleton
Fox Valley Coin Club's 61st Annual Spring Coin Show at Darboy Club, N.9695 County Rd. N.,
Appleton, Wl. 40 tables. Contact James Bayer/Jerry Roberts, PO Box 1981, Appleton, Wl 54912 54915. Ph: 920-209-4266.
March 30, April 1-2, 2016 - Milwaukee SSCC - NOW show
South Shore Coin Club's 52s1 Annual Coin Show at the Crowne Plaza Milwaukee Airport (NEW LOCATION!), 6401 S. 13lh St., Milwaukee,
Wl. Wisconsin's largest and only 3-day show! March 30 (12 - 6pm), April 1 (10 -6), April 2 (10 -4). First 200 seniors (62+) Free. Contact Joe B. at 414-327-6156. Website: ssccmke.org.
April 10, 2016 - Madison
Madison 84th Anniversary Coin Show at Sheraton Hotel, 706 John Nolan Drive, Madison. Hours: 9-4 p.m. 50 tables Contact: Tom Galway PO Box 620421, Middleton Wl 53562, phone: 608.238-1722, email: tpgalwayl@charter.net
April 17, 2016 - Wausau
Wisconsin Valley Coin Club's Show at Howard Johnson's Inn & Conference Center, 2101 N. Mountain Road, Wausau. Hours: 9-4. Show contact: Thad Streeter, 5002 Tanya St., Schofield, Wl 54478. Phone: 715-574-2777, e-mail tls0726@hotmail.com.
April 27-30, 2016 - Central States - Schaumburg, IL
CSNS 77,h anniversary convention at the Schaumburg Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center, 1551 North Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg, IL 60173. Info: Centralstates.info
Send info to: jkreichenberRer@hotmail.com
Numismatists of Wisconsin Inc. Editor
P.O. Box 3572 Oshkosh, Wl 54903
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