Coin News for February 23, 2010

By Tim Shuck on Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Filed Under: Coin News Daily

The South Dakota Hudson’s Bay Company Token Hoard
The E-Sylum
This hoard came out of South Dakota, the seller indicating he had had them for many years. I have dubbed them the “South Dakota Hoard.” Even though the Hudson Bay Company did have posts in the Dakotas in the very early years, they were no longer operating in the 1940s, so it is highly unlikely they were used in that area. This was a large lot with many pieces badly corroded. Surviving this corrosion was (25) 100 Cent, (69) 50 Cent and (27) 10 Cent. There were (125) badly corroded 10 cent pieces. Variances in some of the 50 Cent and 10 Cent pieces have been noticed and will be discussed.
[ Read Full Article]

Fargo Hard to Beat for January Coin Show
Numismatic News
Tradition breeds success, I’ve heard it said. Nowhere is that truer, numismatically speaking, than in Fargo, N.D., at the end of January. The last weekend of January is the longstanding venue for the annual Red River Valley Coin Club show, which this year celebrated its 50th anniversary. This year I decided, for the first time in many years, to do another return engagement, opting to drive, with a certain degree of apprehension. I’ll always remember my first attendance, back in 1984. I flew there amidst a howling winter storm. The event has endured despite the fact that blizzard or semi-blizzard conditions have been pretty much the norm rather than the exception through the years.
[ Read Full Article]

Treasury of States of Jersey Unveils New Note Series
Banknote News
The Treasury of States of Jersey has unveiled its new note series to be issued in April 2010. Printed by De La Rue with imprint, the notes can also be seen in this YouTube video. All feature a portrait of Queen Elizabeth II on the front. The 10-, 20-, and 50-pound notes are protected by a new hologram, and all denominations have windowed security threads, map of Jersey as a registration device, and watermark of a Jersey cow, electrotype denomination, and Cornerstones. For the first time Jèrriais, the island’s native Norman French, appears on the note in addition to English and French.
[ Read Full Article]

Duo in £15m Faked Notes and Coins Con
The Star
A gang of fraudsters supplied and sold more than £15 million worth of counterfeit notes and coins in a year-long racket, a court heard. The eight men – including two from South Yorkshire – made and distributed forged £20 and 50 euro notes, as well as fake £1 and £2 coins. Sheffield Crown Court heard the scam was only discovered after the gang’s dealings were exposed by an undercover police officer, who posed as a customer and bought large quantities of the counterfeit cash from them.
[ Read Full Article]

Why the Mint Should Cease Striking Cents
The E-Sylum
“Goodbye, Lincoln cents.” That is what the U.S. Mint should have said this week, rather than “See our new Shield Reverse on the cent!” And not for the reason it is costing 1.8 cents to manufacture each new one cent coin — although that is a very strong reason. Nor for the reason the zinc industry is bearing down on the Treasury with their lobbying efforts to retain the contract to supply copper-coated zinc blanks to the Mint. Nor for the reason the polls say Americans wish the cent coin should be retained.
[ Read Full Article]

Gold Medal Found on Footpath Returned 85 Years Later
The Scotsman
A GOLD medal lost by a champion piper has been found lying on a footpath and returned to his family more than 85 years after he dropped it. The 3cm round medal was won by piper Archie MacCalman at the Mull and Iona Highland Games, held at Salen on Mull, in August 1924. He lost his coveted prize soon after the competition. He dropped the medal near the garage where he worked in Dunollie Road in Oban, Argyll, and finally gave up the search for it. But 85 years later, a walker spotted it “glistening” on top of some disturbed soil on the footpath – right where it was dropped in Dunollie Road.
[ Read Full Article]

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.