Weekly World Numismatic News for May 22, 2022
One of the cans found as part of the Saddle Ridge Gold Coin Hoard
Of course, the metal detectorists are looking for treasures. Few save any of the coins they find. They will consign the coins to an auction and collect the payment. The coins will end up in the hands of collectors and museums that will enjoy them for years to come.
I have never been interested in exploring with a metal detector. In the United States, most finds are limited to the 200-300 years. Detectorists find belt buckles, watches, rings, some coins, and other items dropped along the way. But nothing compares to finding coins from over 1,000 years ago or medieval coins from 500 years ago.
These unburied coins are sometimes the only record of history. Recently, a hoard revealed a problem with inflation during the Roman Empire that taught historians about ancient economics.
I am not saying that there are no exciting finds in the United States. The Saddle Ridge Gold Hoard is a recent example, but the finds in England and the rest of Europe can change our knowledge of history.
I do not know if I will be able to go to Europe to see if I can find a treasure, but it is interesting to watch from afar.
And now the news…
May 13, 2022
→ Read more at ft.com
May 18, 2022 → Read more at nbcnews.com
May 20, 2022 → Read more at menafn.com
May 20, 2022 → Read more at jwire.com.au
Being amused by a nickel dime
With everything going on, it is nice to find something amusing. Over the weekend, I wanted to listen to a couple of podcasts. I reached into my pocket for the case containing my wireless earbuds and found something came along for the ride.
Stuck to the magnetic closure was a coin. A closer look found the coin is a 1978 Canada 10-pent coin. Or that is what the coin appears to be.
The Canada 10-cent coin is slightly larger than the U.S. dime (18.03 mm versus 17.91 mm), and today, the Canadian coin is made of plated steel. But this is a 1978 coin and may not be steel. While investigating the coin’s specification, it is supposed to be made of nickel. I thought nickel was not magnetic. Time to review my basic science
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- My earbud case magnetized the Canada 10¢ coin made of nickel.
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- The Canada 10¢ coin is very slightly larger than the U.S. dime.
Nickel is one of the transition metals, an element used to form bonds with other elements. While I let you explore the chemistry on your own, let us say that it mixes well with other elements to create valuable compounds. In numismatics, nickel provides the silver color on many base metal coins.
But that does not explain why the coin stuck to my wireless earphone case.
I found that nickel is a ferromagnetic metal, meaning that it can become magnets or be attracted to magnets. Nickel is not naturally attracted to magnets or easily magnetized. But nickel is one of only four elements that can be magnetized easily at room temperature. The other three are cobalt, iron, and gadolinium.
For help, I turned to a high school chemistry teacher to refresh my memory. During the refresher lesson, I flashed back to the high school chemistry demonstration on magnetism, creating a magnet from a ferromagnetic item.
While the coin was in my pocket, the coin rubbed next to the magnet. The rubbing caused the nickel atoms to become orderly that turned the coin into a magnet. The Canadian ten-cent coin that stuck to the earbud case could pick up a straight pin to test the theory.
But why won’t any of my United States coins turn into a magnet in my pocket?
Since U.S. coins are made up of an alloy of 75-percent copper and 25-nickel, the copper and the nickel’s strong bond with the copper stops the ferromagnetic process. It would take a very strong magnet to order the nickel atoms in a U.S. coin to turn it into a weak magnet.
Not only can coins teach history, but they can also teach chemistry.
Weekly World Numismatic News for July 18, 2021
The U.S. Mint announced the new ordering procedures for upcoming silver products and that there will be changes to the bulk purchase system. Most collectors met both news items with a collective yawn.
For many years the U.S. Mint has promised improvements for the collector and access to their products. During that time, the collecting public held their collective breaths hoping that they will get it right. After failing to show progress, collectors are not optimistic.
According to the U.S. Mint, the problems are a low supply of planchets and Internet robot ordering on a broken ordering system. The supply issue has acceptable reasons external to the Mint. The broken ordering system and managing against the bots is the direct responsibility of the U.S. Mint.
Even if they fix the ordering and distribution systems for the upcoming product, it will take a long time for the U.S. Mint to gain the trust of collectors.
And now the news…
July 13, 2021 → Read more at recyclingtoday.com
July 14, 2021 → Read more at thenationalherald.com
July 14, 2021 → Read more at smithsonianmag.com
July 15, 2021 → Read more at dw.com
July 15, 2021 → Read more at bbc.com
July 16, 2021 → Read more at manilatimes.net
Weekly World Numismatic News for July 11, 2021
From 2019: An example of a $100 Federal Reserve Note printed on a bleached $5 note (Image courtesy of Prescott Police Department via AOL.com)
Stories that do not appear on the front page of the printed edition or the top of a website rarely receive the attention of the headline writers. Unless there is a murder or other major crime, most local crime stories do not earn over-the-top headlines. This week’s news has three examples of mundane headlines that display a concerning pattern about counterfeit coins and currency.
Counterfeit money has been a problem since its invention. Governments try to stop criminals from counterfeiting, but their efforts almost seem inevitable. The new trend appears to be the small-time criminals caught trying to make money from selling fake money to survive.
Recent stories about the arrest of counterfeiters report that the people are not career criminals trying to get rich. Those who are getting arrested are using the counterfeits for survival. The world economy has deteriorated to the point that buying and selling counterfeit money was worth the risk to buy a scooter to use as primary transportation.
The people caught passing counterfeit money admit it is not a mistake. In the statements to the police, they admit to using counterfeits to fill to earn a survivable living. Authorities continue to look for the distributors of the counterfeits.
And now the news…
July 4, 2021 → Read more at dailymail.co.uk
July 7, 2021 → Read more at tribuneindia.com
July 7, 2021 → Read more at fox2now.com
July 8, 2021 → Read more at ancient-origins.net
July 8, 2021 → Read more at saharareporters.com
July 9, 2021 → Read more at sootoday.com
July 9, 2021 → Read more at greekreporter.com
The Polls Are Closed and the winner is…
Dr. Ralph Ross (photo credit: ANA)
The rest of the Board of Governors will consist of:
- Mary Lynn Garrett
- Clifford Mishler
- Shanna Schmidt
- Michael Ellis
- Rob Oberth
- Charles Morgan
- Mark Lighterman
Although this was not my choice for leadership, I will support them for their two-year term. The President, Vice President, and the Board of Governors deserve the support of the entire membership regardless of what you thought about the election.
In responding to the last election, I wrote, “The ANA is at a critical juncture in its modern history. There is a societal change happening that is affecting many hobbies and traditional institutions.” Rather than the situation getting better, it has only heightened the urgency.
The reaction to the pandemic showed that the ANA is an organization bogged down by people with old ideas and very little creativity when it comes to adapting to the changing culture. The ANA and its Board of Governors were dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st century to survive and not because they wanted growth.
At the time, the ANA looked clueless because the leadership of the Board of Governors was clueless. When they took the reigns off the people at the ANA headquarters, it was evident that they were working in the Association’s best interest despite the Board’s dysfunction. While the people at the headquarters were helping the ANA to survive while working from home, the Board seemed lost.
As I said two years ago, the status quo is no longer acceptable. Zoom is yesterday’s technology and not something to use to build a future. There are better technologies that have emerged from the pandemic that the ANA can use to expand its outreach.
In addition to the technology, the ANA must become a leader in consumer protection for the hobby. For the last year, the number of Chinese counterfeits has increased. Scammers are using new tactics to fool buyers into thinking they are getting a deal on silver coins. Rather than help the public, the ANA has been silent.
The ANA must be the organization to lead the effort against these counterfeits. They can partner with National Coin & Bullion Association (formerly ICTA) and the Professional Numismatic Guild (PNG) to create a nationwide anti-counterfeit education program. A plan can be formulated by the fall, with a national education program occurring shortly after.
President-elect Ross made his platform about education. Here is the first idea to make an educational impact for the ANA.
Overall, 19,027 ANA members were eligible to vote in this election. That is down from 19,737 in 2019. There were 5,560 votes cast, representing 29.22 of the eligible voters. That is down from 31.06 percent in 2019.
Fewer members and fewer voters are just one legacy of this past Board of Governors. If the ANA does not find ways to better engage with members and draw in new members, these numbers will be reduced in 2023.
If members have ideas that could help the ANA, let them know what you think. As a member, your input carries weight, and you should be able to participate. When you do write, please keep it respectful and include your membership number.
It is your ANA. Your ANA needs your input. Support the new Board and help them find their direction.
Note About the Makeup of the Board
Following the announcement, there were two persistent comments appearing in my Inbox about the demographics of the Board of Governors. I am very disturbed by the comments.
I do not subscribe to the idea that a person is not qualified for the job because of demographic characteristics. I never have. This is not because I am “woke,” but this is how I have been for as long as I can remember.
I will not respond well to a statement like, “I don’t like this person because…” and insert some ridiculous demographic reason. Let us all get along and work together to make the ANA better.
OMG! 2000!
1999-Series Romanian 2000 Lei Banknote
On April 14, 2013, I posted my 1,000th article.
Today, July 6, 2021, I am posting my 2,000th article!
When I started this blog, there were few websites for coin collectors. Numismatic publications were barely online. Their web presence was used to lure subscribers to their print editions. Since starting this blog, there has been a growth in numismatic news outlets and other information. I welcome everyone who has joined me online.
It has been 6,003 days since my first post. That translates into 16 years, 5 months, and 8 days. Over that time, many of those producing numismatic information has come and gone. However, after 2,000 posts, I am still here as the sole author of everything posted here.
I did not know what would happen as I kept writing, but I never thought about reaching 2,000 or lasting more than 16 years!
To those who have been around from the beginning, thank you for staying with me.
To those who joined since the beginning, thank you for reading.
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