Coin News for February 11, 2010

By Tim Shuck on Thursday, February 11, 2010
Filed Under: Coin News Daily

‘Conscience’ Money and Abraham Lincoln
Numismaster
Our federal government maintains a Conscience Fund—and has since 1811—into which such funds are deposited when received from someone who went astray, but has since seen the light of repentance and restitution. Reasons given by contributors include everything from reusing a postage stamp to more serious transgressions. According to an old clipping from Time magazine, funds from remorseful senders totaled $5.7 million by 1986, and doubtless have risen much higher since. One such contribution from a repentant thief landed on President Abraham Lincoln’s desk in the middle of the Civil War. “Paper Profiles” takes a slightly different turn this month in showing the unique address panel from the letter sheet that contained the money at the Abraham Lincoln Papers collection in the Library of Congress.
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Food Coupons in Haiti More Valuable than Haitian Money
The New York Times
Four days into a new food distribution program from the United Nations that aims to repair a faltering aid effort, paper coupons that can be redeemed for 55 pounds of rice have become more valuable than Haitian money. Women hide them away in their bosoms. Aid workers count them furtively in the back of S.U.V.’s. The government wants control over who gets them, while schemers have already created counterfeits.
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First Norwegian Notes Printed Abroad Put Into Circulation
Norges Bank
Since discontinuing operations at Norges Bank’s Printing Works in the summer of 2007, Norwegian banknotes have been produced by De La Rue International Limited in the UK and Oberthur Technologies in France. The first 50-krone notes printed abroad will soon be put into circulation.
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Dave Harper: Use the Dollar Coins
Numismatic News
Now I know that the first instinct of any collector is preservation. That is laudable. However, the purpose of any new coin is supposed to be use in circulation, not preservation. This is especially true of the new dollar coins that the Mint is trying to convince the public to use. If it would make them circulate, I am sure the Mint director would scatter them on the floor at a barn dance.
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An Interview with Mike Byers, Author of “World’s Greatest Mint Errors”
Mint Error News
This book is accessible to any coin collector or numismatist that is interested in mint errors, regardless of experience. For the advanced collector, there are price guides of each major mint error type. For the beginning collector there are color photos and descriptions of how each mint error type occurs.
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The Attraction of Carson City Gold Coins
Nevada Appeal
Carson City has long been known for its famous silver dollars, but what many people do not realize is that the Carson City mint made more than just Morgan dollars. Dimes, 20-cent pieces, quarter dollars, half dollars, seated dollars, trade dollars and Morgan dollars were all coins struck here in the Silver State, but we also struck gold. Carson City minted $5, $10 and $20 Liberty gold coins, albeit in limited quantities. Carson City gold is far rarer than its silver counterparts and has become a popular arena to collect in. Carson City minted less than two million gold coins in its 23-year existence (of which it only minted coins 20 of those years).
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About the Author

Tim Shuck is a life-long Midwestern resident, and started collecting coins after finding an Indian Head cent on the ground at his childhood farm home. Additional encouragement came from looking through a collection of well-worn late 19th and early 20th century coins kept by his grandfather in an old leather coin purse. Current collecting interests include U.S. types from the Civil War era through the early 1930's, and Colonial and Early American coins.