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Coin News for June 8, 2010
First Collector Euro Coin Made of Finnish Gold
Mint of Finland
Finnish currency 150 years is the first collector euro coin that is made of Finnish gold. To mark this, the coin is minted with the domestic gold’s symbol of a reindeer horn. When Finland was joined to Russia, the silver rouble was declared as the only legal means of payment. Nevertheless, Russia had to leave the silver standard almost immediately and paper roubles with varying values were being used. The situation became even more difficult because according to the old practice, the Swedish riksdaler was the most common currency. The return to the silver standard was carried out in 1840 but the stable situation thereafter lasted for only 15 years. After the Crimean War, Russia and Finland – that was tied to Russia’s system – had to leave the metal standard.
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Unusual Paper Money
Numismaster
Once during our years working together in the Whitman Coin Products Division of Western Publishing Co. in Racine, Wis., my boss Ken Bressett regaled me with this question: “You’ve heard of salt being used as money, but have you ever heard of a Pepper Mint?” At that particular moment I had no reply, nor was one expected because it was all in fun, obviously. But now I do have the answer as found in a new book by well-known Chicago collector and researcher Bob Leonard. He says, “yes!” In fact, salt and pepper are included as unusual money forms in his brand new tome, Curious Currency, The Story of Money From the Stone Age to the Internet Age. Bob was an attendee at the recent Chicago International Coin Fair, and that was where I obtained a signed copy of his volume. It is a very attractive and well illustrated work. Page size is 6 by 9 inches, with a total of 152 pages.
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Life Without the Cent
Dave Harper’s Buzz
If I asked a poll question, “Should people be able to take four cents out of the dish for a $1 transaction?” I would expect a sizable number would say no, feeling uneasy taking what amounts to four percent of the amount tendered. Had I purchased gasoline and the bill was something like $22.04, that would be a different story. Perhaps the take-a-penny dishes are more than just conveniences for those of us who need an odd cent from time to time. Perhaps they are a back-door way of training us all how rounding would work in practice. After all, what difference does it make if the merchant rounds the purchase price down by two cents or whether the clerk grabs two cents out of a dish?
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World War II U.S. Steel Cents
Heritage Blog
While the Man of Steel dates to 1938, America’s “cents of steel” date to 1943—the vast majority of them, anyway. Comic book superheroes, Superman included, were influenced by World War II, and so too was America’s coinage. The steel cents of 1943, such as this 1943-D/D variety cent in the upcoming July Summer FUN Auction, came about this way, with bronze (and its scarce component copper) taken out and more plentiful steel substituted. The switch didn’t work out so well; circulated steel cents became dull quickly and were easily confused with dimes. In 1944, the coinage metal for cents reverted to a copper-based alloy, not strictly bronze but similar.
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Royal Australian Mint to Hold Mint Directors Conference
Royal Australian Mint
In September 2010 the Royal Australian Mint will host the International Mint Directors Conference (MDC 2010) in Canberra. A $30,000 grant from Tourism Australia will facilitate the participation of delegates from regional countries such as Tonga, Papua New Guinea and Bangladesh. The funding, which was secured in partnership with the Canberra Convention Bureau, will assist in showcasing Australia to its international delegates and further boost tourism dollars in the Australian economy. Delegates are scheduled to visit Perth, Canberra, Sydney and Cairns. “As the host of MDC 2010, we are excited by the opportunity to invite these international industry representatives to Australia to take part in the conference,” said Ms Marlene McClelland, Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Australian Mint.
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2011 Medal of Honor Commemorative Coin Designs
Mint News Blog
The United States Mint recently provided design candidates for the upcoming 2011 Medal of Honor Commemorative Coins to the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and Citizens Coinage Advisory (CCAC) for review and comment. The program includes a $5 gold coin with a maximum authorized mintage of 100,000 and a silver dollar with maximum authorized mintage of 500,000. The Medal of Honor Commemorative coins are issued in recognition and celebration of the establishment of the Medal of Honor in 1861. This is America’s highest award for valor in action against an enemy force that can be bestowed to an individual in the Armed Service of the United States. The coin designs are intended to be emblematic of the traditions, legacy, and heritage of the Medal of Honor and the distinguished service of its recipients.
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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.
