Holabird-Kagin Americana has released its newest catalog in their series on pioneer minor coinage. Mint State Pioneer Minor Coinage is a 168-page catalog of certified tokens, all graded MS 60-plus. Fred Holabird, author of the catalog and partner in Holabird-Kagin Americana, stated that this catalog is the first of its kind in what he calls the “Last Frontier of Numismatics” to be professionally certified.

The catalog contains images of the obverse and reverse of each token, as well as short interesting stories on many of the pieces, particularly those from California and Nevada. The catalog’s introduction discusses a number of fascinating issues surrounding mint state tokens, including populations, hoards, manufacturer collections and restrikes.

The field of collecting tokens in mint state is new, according to Holabird, and real rarities of uncirculated pieces are still not known. As an example, many pieces rated common, with perhaps 25–50 pieces known, have no known uncirculated pieces. “This can be confusing while the dust settles on this new frontier,” stated Holabird.

Collectors have the chance of obtaining MS 65 pieces for little money, compared to their Civil War counterparts. But they might find the opportunities lacking — NGC has graded fewer than 150 pieces MS 65 thus far.

Interested collectors can contact Holabird-Kagin Americana for a catalog, $15 or free with a purchase, at info@holabirdamericana.com or call 775-852-8822.

by Dr. Valery Osipov – Etymologist
Etymology is the study of the history of words and how their form and meaning have changed over time.

I wonder if anyone knows the true sense of the word MONEY? This word is too old for any direct information to be known. It is much older than the modern understanding. The ulterior etymology of this word is disputed. Its etymology is rather difficult.

The focus idea of this root is “changing”. Clearly, we can note the same idea in English CHANGE with the financial meanings of 1.” the balance of money returned when something is paid for”; 2.“money of smaller denomination given or received in exchange for money of higher denomination”; 3.“to give or receive the equivalent of money in lower denominations or in foreign currency”; 4.“coins” . Thus, we can write: money=changing=coins.

What is money? Money is a thing used in place of another one or others. Usually, in place of goods or services. We use money for the replacing of one thing for another, substitution. This act is called in Old Slavonic MENA- “change, exchange”. The means of this act is money or MENY (????) (in Old Slavonic). Note, please, here the resemblance in sounds: MONEY/MENY.

The Czech word for “coin” is MINCE which is related to German MUNZE – “coin”. Both are derived from Old Slavic MENTSE (?????) meaning literally “a small thing for change”. Note once more: coin is a means for change or exchange.

The Old Slavonic word MENY is plural form from MENA – “one thing for exchange”. The same sense has the Latin MINA and Greek MNA. Both mean ”an ancient unit of weight and value equal to 1?60 talent”. See also the modern Arabic MANN and Hebrew MANEH. Both for “name of a unit of weight”.

We find in Modern Arabic the word MINA – “port”. What does it have to do with English word “money”? As a matter of fact, it is of the same root bearing the idea of exchanging. Historically, port was a place for the commercial exchange of goods. It was an important center of trade (buying and selling).

Similarly, the word “money” has its cognate in Japanese. The Japanese word MINATO – “port” is of the same root.
(more…)

Former television news anchor and Congressman Jay Johnson has died from an apparent heart attack at his home in suburban Washington, DC.

Johnson served one term as a U.S. Congressman, representing the 8th Congressional District in Wisconsin beginning in 1996. Following that, Johnson worked as Director of the U.S. Mint in 2000-2001, and recently worked at Jay Johnson Coins and Consulting and was one of the Spokespersons for GoldLine International.

Johnson, 66, had a 32-year journalism career that included work as news anchor at WFRV-TV from 1980 to 1986 and WLUK-TV from 1987 until his election to Congress in 1996.

“He was a good guy and he was kind to everybody. He was always a gentleman in every sense of the word,” said Mary Smits Larsen, who was Johnson’s co-anchor at WFRV.

A Democrat, Johnson ran twice for Congress, beating former state Rep. David Prosser of Appleton in 1996 and losing to former state Rep. Mark Green of Hobart in 1998.

After he left Congress, Johnson became the director of the U.S. Mint in 2000, appointed by President Bill Clinton. He held for about one year. His most recent position was with Jay Johnson Coins and Consulting where he developed a major wholesale coin sales program for a national bank. Johnson worked as a consultant and returned to the airwaves, this time, promoting gold as a Spokesperson for GoldLine International.