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Coin News for March 26, 2010
Collectors Back in Force at CPMX
Numismaster
Collectors were back out in force at the 16th Annual Chicago Paper Money Exposition, March 18-21, at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare Hotel, Rosemont, Ill. “At the close of the show Sunday, one dealer – who asked us where the restroom was because he hadn’t had time to get away from his table the previous four days – told us that activity was so strong, we may look back at this CPMX as a watershed event in the paper money market,” said CPMX bourse chairman Scott Tappa. “We certainly hope he’s right.”Around 75 paper money dealers, auction firms, grading companies and related groups occupied the bourse floor. General attendance was up about 20 percent from the 2009 show, Tappa said.
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A Texas-Sized BBQ at the BEP Western Currency Facility
Dave Harper’s Buzz
With all the waiting this week for big announcements, it wasn’t until today that I could take a breath and comment on a special event. It wasn’t a big event. It was a nice event. It was an event that makes me think I am glad I am a collector. The American Numismatic Association arranged a Texas-Sized BBQ at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing’s Western Currency Facility on Wednesday night. The one thing they couldn’t control was the weather. We all got a little wet in a downpour. Nevertheless, it was a great time, because it was a very relaxed and social occasion for convention attendees who ordered tickets. It was a perfect opportunity to look the place over.
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History of Ottoman Coins
The E-Sylum
This is the first in a projected series that will eventually comprise eight volumes, taking the story from the very beginning of Ottoman coinage under Osman Gazi (ruled AH699-724, 1299-1324CE) all the way down to the early twentieth century, and the end of the Turkish Empire itself. Dr. Damali’s first volume covers almost exactly two centuries, from Osman Gazi down to Selim I (ruled AH918-926, 1512-1520CE). The catalog portion of the work is prefaced by a general historical sketch; a detailed account of manufacturing techniques used in Ottoman coinage (of particular interest to me); valuable explanations concerning symbols and motifs appearing on the coinage across time; history of the various denominations introduced and superseded across the centuries; metrology of all sorts, lucidly presented; and useful information about the plethora of mints striking coinage for the Empire, scattered from western Africa all the way to the Persian Gulf.
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Were Carson City Coin Errors Deliberate?
Numismatic News
Were Carson City Mint error coins currently in the Nevada State Museum evidence of an employee deliberately creating them and smuggling them out in 1873? More information has come to light that indicates that this could be the case. It was spring of last year when I first had published an article detailing the exciting find of a broadstruck, brockaged 1873 Trade dollar and a reverse die cap 1873-CC half dollar, found within the Dr. Simeon L. Lee collection of the Nevada State Museum. The pair of coins excited a large audience of coin enthusiasts, drawn not just by the rarity of such errors but also by the allure of the CC mintmark.
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A Road Report from the Forth Worth National Money Show
Coin Rarities Online
Then we walked across the aisle and perused the collection of Mercury Dimes being previewed at the Heritage table for one of their upcoming auctions, which I would describe as stunning. And then went to the PCGS table and checked out the cool set of Indian $10s and the Simpson Collection of Peace Dollars, both of which were housed entirely in the new Secure Plus holders with a number of + coins thrown in (all of which looked absolutely frickin’ fantastic). Come to think of it, all of the + coins we saw on the floor (and there were a few at a couple of different early-adapter dealer tables) looked extremely high end. Heck, we even bought one of them and plan to unleash it on our next EB on Tuesday.
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A Decoration and a Safeguard: The Bank of England Museum
Londonist
Although monarchs’ heads have long adorned our coinage, it wasn’t until 1960 that a youthful Elizabeth II’s portrait was printed on the £1 note. This operated both as jolly royalist decoration, given the Bank of England had just been nationalised, and to foil forgers who weren’t as adept at portraiture as the first designer, Robert Austin. There have been 5 banknote portraits used to date. Austin (1960), Reynolds Stone (1963), two from Harry Ecclestone (1970 & 1971) and the latest by Roger Withington (1990).
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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.
