Apr 22, 2009 | fun, gold, RCM, video
Not long ago, a Canadian friend passed along a funny video of a tour of the Royal Canadian Mint. Today, someone else sent the link to the video so I decided to share. The video is by Rick Mercer. Mercer is the host of the popular Rick Mercer Report on Canadian Broadcast Company network. He is a popular political satirist in Canada whose show is described as a cross between something he has done in the past and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
In this video, Mercer and his crew visit the RCM’s Ottawa facility to take a tour of the gold storage areas and coin production. Mercer is very irreverent in the video giving his tour guides and nearby guards proverbial heartburn over his antics. See for yourself and enjoy!
Apr 11, 2009 | Britain, fun, gold
Even in a down market, there is always someone ready to capitalize on those who still have the money to afford extravagance. In Great Britain, the high-end retailer Selvridges is selling Melt’s Recession Proof Egg. Melt, the Selfidges house brand, is offering a hand-made to order chocolate egg made with a one-ounce gold bullion Britannia coin and decorated with 18-karat gold leaf.
Gold is currently $880.80 per ounce (£600.31 at the current exchange rate).
If you have a spare £1,000 ($1,467.25) and happen to be in the area of Selfridges’ Oxford Street store in London, you might want to pick up a unique easter gift.
Image courtesy of Selfridges.
Mar 24, 2009 | coins, fun, other
In January, 2007, there was a story about Department of Defense contractors inadvertently carrying a hollowed out Canadian dollar that contained Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transmitters that could be used to track their movement. Allegedly, the coin was given to them in change by a third party. Later, Defense Security Services (DSS) issued a press release stating that the story was not true.
I thought it would be fun to find a spy coin and see what could be done with it.
Earlier on Monday, a friend sent a link to Think Geek, an online merchant that sells technology-related items specifically to the technologist market. While looking through the items I found a listing for Hollow Spy Coins. The coins are hollowed out quarters or half-dollars with enough room for a very small memory card. The coins are advertised to come with an unlocking ring and are “indistinguishable from regular coins when closed.”
Think Geek is selling the spy quarter for $20.99 and the half-dollar for $24.99.
If these coin are indistinguishable from regular coins, I would be afraid to carry the quarter for fear of accidentally spending it. But keeping the half-dollar as a pocket piece with some “secret” inside could be fun. I might buy one!
Image courtesy of ThinkGeek.com.
Mar 23, 2009 | fun, video
I had to share this before retiring for the evening since it’s marginally coin-related. We’ve seen these stories before and they are just as amusing each time. A Romanian man was angry after being fined 500 lei for allegedly employing children to tend his goats. Angelo Rujinaru, 39, objected to the fine saying that a neighbor’s child was playing with his goats. Rujinaru said that the police refused his right under the law to pay half of the fine within 48 hours, which lead to his protest: Rujinaru paid his 500 lei fine with 50,000 one ban coins (100 ban is equal to one lei).
Rujinaru carried his coins in a backpack and two buckets to the community cashier, who is required to accept the coins in payment for the fine. Because Romanian law requires cash payments to be counted by hand, the clerk and two colleagues were able to count 15,000 coins. Rujinaru was quoted saying, “I’m sorry for the cashier lady, but this is my way to protest this unjust act. If they count one penny per second, they should be done in about two days.”
Here is how it was reported on MSNBC:
I am sure he is now the talk of the town… and maybe the police, as well!
Oct 21, 2008 | coins, fun
I was visiting the site for the New York Public Library looking to see what government records they have that would show information about my family when I decided to click the link for the The Library Shop. I wanted to find out what souvenirs could be found in a library gift shop, other than bookmarks.
It was surprising to find a section for Jewelry. While visiting the site, I clicked on the section for rings and paged through the section to find very interesting coin rings. Rather than the smooth, flat rings, like I wrote about in the past, you can see the design inside and out. It is almost as if the ring was folded over and formed.
Coin rings are custom made and can be made from a Walking Liberty Half Dollar, New York State Quarter, Mercury Dime, and Morgan Dollar. The listing says that the coins require 1-2 weeks and can be made in sizes of up size 12 for the dime and quarter, size 14 for the half and dollar coins.
I may buy myself an early holiday present!
Image courtesy of The Library Shop at the New York Public Library
Aug 31, 2008 | fun, state quarters, US Mint
Monday, August 25, 2008, had a lot of news for the political watchers. After Sen. Ted Kennedy appeared at the Democratic National Convention, Arizona Senator and Republican presidential candidate John McCain appeared on the Tonight Show. Even First Lady wannabe, Cindy McCain, was in the news by making a humanitarian trip to the war-torn nation of Georgia.
Meanwhile, quietly, without fanfare, the US Mint release the Alaska State Quarter into circulation.
Arizona was the previous State Quarter in the series.
For the previous 48 states, the US Mint has either had a first issuance ceremony on the first day of circulation. This time, the Mint waited until Friday, August 29 to issue its press release and hold its first issuance ceremony.
On Friday, August 29, John McCain announced that he selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his choice for Vice President.
Conspiracy theorists could say that the Mint was made aware of the pick by the McCain campaign and asked to delay their announcement until Friday. The Mint could say that they did not want to overshadow the Democratic National Convention with the announcement of the quarter’s release while accommodating the schedule of the Alaska State Fair, even though the Fair started on August 21. What do you think?
Image courtesy of the US Mint
Aug 11, 2008 | coins, fun
Reuters is reporting that a sweetshop owner in Avilés, Spain was counting change and found a one euro coin with the likeness of Homer Simpson engraved where the likeness of King Juan Carlos should be.
“The coin must have been done by a professional, the work is impressive,” José Martínez, the finder of the coin, told Reuters.
The one-sided design is reminiscent of Hobo Nickels that gained popularity in the United States during the period 1913-1940. Artists, mainly hobos of the time, would carve designs into nickels that would be sold for their sustenance. It is a unique concept not widely seen outside of the United States.
Reuters reports that Martínez was offered €20 ($30.01) for the coin.
Image from Reuters. Click to enlarge.
Jun 30, 2008 | coins, fun
On the Collectors’ Society Message Boards, a user name Stefanie (handle: coinsarefun) created this image on her computer. It is a compilation of various portraits and other main elements from US coins. I thought it was so cool I wanted to share it with my readers.
To see it as a full size version, click on the image. Right-click (Mac users can CTRL-click) to save it or even set it as your wall paper. Enjoy!
Apr 26, 2008 | coins, fun
Do you remember the coin dominoes video from YouTube? Well someone sent a link to the video that shows some of the behind the scenes of that video shoot. It’s a short clip and something fun for the weekend.
Now that you’ve seen the behind the scenes story, watch the full video (here) and enjoy!
Apr 22, 2008 | fun
This past weekend I was in Charlotte, North Carolina to spend time with my parents and the rest of my family. It was the first time in many years that my parents’ three sons, wives, and grandchildren were together. Even Boomer was able to join us for the festivities.
Driving down to Charlotte and back to the Washington area was an opportunity to search through change at various stops along the way. Unfortunately, I found nothing interesting in the change that made it to my pocket. This is the second time I trekked a distance from home this month and did not find anything significant.
Does this mean there are no more finds to be had in pocket change? I am sure that there is something to find circulating with the common currency. But for me, a trip north and then south left me a little empty handed. At least it was a good, albeit long, trip.
Loading ...