Coin News for March 9, 2010

By Tim Shuck on Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Filed Under: Coin News Daily

Elgar £20 Banknote to be Withdrawn
Bank of England
The £20 banknote carrying the portrait of composer Sir Edward Elgar is to be finally withdrawn from circulation from 30 June this year. This note has been gradually replaced by the Adam Smith £20 which was introduced in 2007. Announcing this today, the Bank of England assured holders of the Elgar £20 banknote that they could certainly use the notes up to, and including, 30 June. After that date the note will no longer have ‘legal tender’ status. The note will not have to be accepted in payment, or in change, in retail outlets after this date.
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Little Coins Get a Little Bit Bigger
Heritage Blog
By size (though not value), the dime is the smallest coin used regularly in the United States, with a diameter of just under 18 millimeters. In the past, particularly during the 19th century, this wasn’t always the case. The half dime (same face value as today’s nickel, but made out of silver) was just 15.5 millimeters across when the denomination ended in 1873. From 1851 to 1873, the three cent silver coin was even smaller, only 14 millimeters in diameter. Its weight was just four-fifths of a gram—less than the average paper clip. They were nicknamed “fish scales” for their thinness and size. Even the three cent silver pieces don’t take the tiniest-coin honor for regular U.S. coinage.
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New Features for the Memphis International Money Show
Numismaster
With only a few months to go before the International Paper Money Show, June 18-20 at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, Tenn., Lyn Knight reports two new developments for the show which is now owned by his LFK Tradeshows Inc. First, Peter Huntoon, a leading authority and researcher on U.S. paper money, has agreed to set up an educational forum for Saturday, June 19. … In the second development, the International Paper Money Show and the American Stamp Dealers Association jointly announced the addition of ASDA dealers to the show. Estimated at 15 to 20 additional tables.
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Coins With the Image of Jesus
The E-Sylum
Justinian II summoned a Ecumenical Council in 692 in Trullo whose Decrees and Canons were never signed by Sergius, the Pope. Justinian went so far as to attempt kidnapping Sergius to obtain his signature, nevertheless, Justinian proceeded as if they were in effect. Canon LXXXII states in part “In order therefore that ‘that which is perfect’ may be delineated to the eyes of all, at least in coloured expression, we decree that the figure in human form of the Lamb who taketh away the sin of the world, Christ our God, be henceforth exhibited in images, instead of the ancient lamb, so that all may understand by means of it the depths of the humiliation of the Word of God, and that we may recall to our memory his conversation in the flesh, his passion and salutary death, and his redemption which was wrought for the whole world.”
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Punch Coins Mark an Era of Commonality
Express Buzz
The concept of common coins was very much in currency in ancient India, according to historians. Coins that belong to the fourth century BC, appear in different shapes — circular, rectangular, square, oblong or irregular. Their contours differ in thickness as well. While some are thicker and smaller, others are thinner and larger. While most of the coins are in gold, copper and silver, the Government Museum, Chennai is in possession of punch marked coins made of silver and copper obtained from treasure troves, Dr TS Sridhar, commissioner of museums, said.
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Korean Kim Yu-na Coins to be Issued in Tuvalu
The Chosun Ilbo
The Korean Olympic Committee on Friday said it will issue commemorative coins to celebrate Kim Yu-na’s Olympic gold medal and share the moment of joy. But they will be issued in Tuvalu instead of Korea and have been minted in Perth, Australia. Tuvalu, a member of the British Commonwealth, lies northeast of Australia and has a population of just 12,000. The Kim Yu-na commemorative coins come in gold and silver, with the face value denominated in Australian dollars. The gold coin with the face value of 25 dollars will sell for W880,000 (US$1=W1,141) and the 1-dollar silver coin for W121,000.
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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.