Weekly World Numismatic News for January 20, 2019
The 2019 coin commemorating currywurst has been called everything from ugly to the wurst (Image courtesy of Staatliche Munze Berlin)
Currywurst is considered the national fast food delicacy of Germany. It is a pork sausage that has been sliced part of the way through, boiled then grilled, and served smothered with ketchup mixed with curry powder. Curry powder is sprinkled on top.
According to a friend who spent time working in Germany, currywurst stands are as ubiquitous in Berlin and many other cities as hot dog stands are in New York. Depending on the stand, they can be served on buns, with sauerkraut, or fries. Since returning to the United States several years ago, he says that his family enjoys the German dish frequently.
Coins have been used to commemorate many things. Commemorating food on coins is nothing new. Coins have been used to commemorate agricultural products like wheat and corn. But aside from the (in)famous bottlecap-shaped coin, I cannot remember when a coin was used to commemorate a prepared food.
Now that the Berlin State Mint has broken this barrier, who’s next? Will the Royal Canadian Mint produce a coin honoring poutine? Or will the Royal Australian Mnt grace a coin with Vegemite? I don’t even want to think about a coin commemorating haggis!
And now the news…
January 7, 2019Click image to enlarge MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – A coin collector from Lewiston, Maine, with no prior connection to Middlebury, has donated more than 1,000 ancient coins to the Middlebury College Museum of Art. 
→ Read more at middlebury.edu
January 13, 2019A German coin manufacturer has commemorated the country’s love of currywurst with a speciality coin to mark 70 years since the savoury snack was first sold in Berlin. The silver alloy coin, made by Staatliche Munze Berlin, or the Berlin State Mint, features an image of the delicacy’s inventor alongside two giant sausages drowning in curry sauce and pierced with a wooden fork, as is tradition. → Read more at expressandstar.com
January 13, 2019A silver medal-thaler, issued by Romanian ruler Constantin Brâncoveanu in 1713, sold for USD 16,000 at a numismatic auction in New York, Profit.ro reported. Brâncoveanu, who was a prince of Wallachia between 1688 and 1714, was deposed from his throne by Sultan Ahmed III. → Read more at romania-insider.com
January 13, 2019New Delhi: A new book traces India's numismatic history through 133 rare coins which are illustrative of the country's antiquity, ethos and traditions. In Suvarna Mohur: India's Glorious History Illustrated through Rare Coins by Arun Ramamurthy, Indian history has been divided into 20 epochs. → Read more at firstpost.com
January 14, 2019The Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services (MBVS) is pleased to announce the final design selection for the new State of Maine Honorable Service coin and plaque, which will honor all Maine veterans, past and present, regardless of their branch or era of service. → Read more at boothbayregister.com
January 14, 2019SINGAPORE: The number of coins that a buyer can use in a single transaction will be streamlined and standardised to 20 coins per denomination after Parliament passed the Currency (Amendment) Bill on Monday (Jan 14). → Read more at channelnewsasia.com
January 14, 2019Mobile coin exchange units are hitting the roads to encourage people to swap the loose change they have collected for easier to handle banknotes, so the coins can be recycled. The modified trucks, which are green and clearly marked with the Treasury Department logo, have a window along the side where the coins can be exchanged for notes of equal value. → Read more at bangkokpost.com
January 14, 2019In Berlin, the participants of the most unusual robbery of recent years went on trial. Three young Arab migrants stole a considerable gold coin from the museum using only an ax handle, ropes, stairs, and carts. → Read more at en.crimerussia.com
January 16, 2019Greater Houston Coin Club members have been on a mission to get kids involved in the hobby. → Read more at abc13.com
The Best Laid Plans
“The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry” is the best way to describe my attempt to go to the Baltimore Coin Convention. Rather than go on Saturday and see the bustling three hall show, I arrived at two o’clock on Sunday afternoon to a mostly empty Baltimore Convention Center.
While I made a few purchases, I found more interesting numismatic items outside off the bourse floor. First, before traveling to Baltimore, I stopped at my bank’s ATM where I withdrew a few new, consecutively numbered $10 bills. It appears my bank filled the cash machine with the new bills for the weekend. I was a bit taken aback by the new color. Even when combined with the new $20 bills, the $10 bill looks more yellow than green. When I spent the bills on the bourse floor, nearly everyone referred to these notes as Monopoly® money. I have to agree with that assessment.
On my way out of the convention center, I purchased a soda for my trip back to the DC-area. When I examined my change later that night, I found a 1962 silver FDR dime and a 1970-D Washington Quarter that is rotated about 10-percent and broadstruck where the obverse is struck over the “bottom” of the rim.
The dealers I spoke with said that it was a good weekend. Judging by the number of tables, it must have been incredible to see. I hope to make it for the next show. In the mean time, I cannot make the National Money Show™ in Atlanta but I hope to make the World’s Fair of Money® in Denver this August.
Bigger Baltimore Begins
The Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention began yesterday at the Baltimore Convention Center with the dealers’ bourse. Today, it was open to the public. This show is supposed to be Baltimore’s largest with 50-percent more table space being open to the show. Bowers and Merena will conduct three auction sessions.
The highlight of the show will be the exhibition of the 1787 Brasher Doubloon. Considered America’s first gold coin, it is noted for having that “EB” (for Ephraim Brasher who produced the coin) counterstamped on the eagle’s breast. It is a very interesting coin that is now owned by Rare Coin Wholesalers who bought the coin in January 2005. I look forward to seeing this wonderful coin.
I should be there on Saturday to roam the aisles. It should be fun!
A Special Collectible from Hawaii
In this time of uncertainty, I feel that we Americans need to remember those who have given their lives in defense of this country. This is not a political statement on the current Middle East situation, but an appreciate of those with their boots on the ground who risk their lives daily. As part of that, my wife and I visited the U.S.S. Arizona (BB-39) Memorial at Pearl Harbor during our trip to Hawaii. Unfortunately, rain prevented us from visiting the U.S.S. Missouri (BB-63) Memorial.
In front of the gift shop that is inside the Visitors Center was a table with gentleman selling Pearl Harbor commemorative medals and sets produced by the Honolulu Mint. I was very intrigued by the items and gravitated to the commemorative set that contains two .999 Silver, 1 Troy Ounce medals, an uncirculated 1943 Steel Lincoln Cent, and a Series 1935A Hawaii issue Silver Certificate. Even though I am not a commemorative collector, I do tend to buy numismatic items from my personal experiences. While standing in the Memorial, and with my wife’s urging, I could not pass up buying this set.
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- Series 1935A Silver Certificate with “HAWAII” Overprint Reverse
The set includes a medal commemorating the 65th Anniversary of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. The obverse shows the U.S.S. Arizona and the anniversary date. The reverse shows an arial view of the memorial with the outline of the sunken ship in the water. On the image are the words “Honoring all those who made the ultimate sacrifice on Dec. 7, 1941.”
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- Obverse of the Pearl Harbor 65th Anniversary silver medal
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- Reverse of the Pearl Harbor 65th Anniversary silver medal
The other medal commemorates the Japanese surrender aboard the U.S.S. Missouri. It was prophetic that the articles of surrender were signed on her deck. The obverse of this medal recreates the signing of the document by General Yoshijiro Umezu, Chief of the Army General Staff, with Lieutenant General Richard K. Sutherland standing across the table. The reverse has the inscription on the deck of the Missouri where the articles were signed.
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- Obverse of the Japanese Surrender Silver Medal
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- Reverse of the Japanese Surrender Silver Medal
Personally autographed COA from the Honolulu Mint
Although everyone should visit the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial and the rest of Pearl Harbor, I know it is not a trip that every can take. So if you are interested in this collectible and other medals honoring those who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice, you can visit the Honolulu Mint’s website or the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial Bookstore. Portions of the proceeds benefit the Memorial.
ANACS Is Getting Clearer
I picked up the March 7, 2006 of Numismatic News and read the front-page article about the new ANACS slab. The new slab is thinner than their previous holder and thinner than the holders from other grading services so that 25 will fit in a “standard” box. It was also reported that the new design and the clear plastic allows the encased coin’s edge, sometimes called “the third side,” to be seen.
Recent interest in being able to see the edge lettering has been revived with the passage of the Presidential $1 Coin Act. The Act says that in order to provide more room for artistic impression, the mottos “E Pluribus Unum” and “In God We Trust” will be incuse on the edge of the coin. There are also collectors who wanted to be able to see the edge of other coins, such as the Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles. In response NGC created a new holder and announced it with the encasing of a 1907 Proof Saint-Gaudens Double Eagle.
I have to admit that I have been a fan of the NGC holder. The holder has a solid feel and seems to show off the coin better. When I read about the new NGC holder in December, I thought that changing the insert of the holder to use “prongs” cut into the slab’s insert to hold the coin in place and maintain the current holder was a great idea. But as I look at the pictures of the new ANACS holder, I may be swayed.
First, the all clear holder will show the entire surface of the edge and not just some areas. Since it is a good idea to certify gold coins to ensure authenticity, it would be wonderful to be able to see around the entire edge of the beautiful Saint-Gaudens design. The thinner slabs are also a great idea. With the increase in the number of coins being graded, the ability to store 25 coins in the area where we used to store 20 will make it easier for those with larger collections.
One of the problems I have with many of my graded coins is that in order to look for a specific coin, I have to pull the slab out of the box in order to read the label. Someone at ANACS must have had the same experience because the new design places the grading information and barcode so that it is readable from the top of the slab. These slabs can then be stored in the new clear plastic box ANACS now offers.
On the surface, there is a lot to like about the new ANACS holder, but I would like to see it for myself. Since ANACS will be attending the Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention next week, I hope to stop at their booth and see the holder.
Ohio Capital Coin Fund Goes On Sale
One of the biggest stories in the numismatic industry is the alleged mismanagement of the Capital Coin Fund by former dealer Tom Noe. The Capital Coin Fund was created to be an investment vehicle for the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC). It has been reported that Noe has been charged with 53 felony counts including “a pattern of corrupt activity under the Racketeer Influence Corruption Organization (RICO) Act” which carries a possible prison sentence of up to 175 years.
On February 22, 2006, a press release issued by Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro announced that the BWC will sell 100 coins to recoup some of the original $50 million investment. The sales is expected to bring in $7.5 million, which is reported to be a $1 million profit. Spectrum Numismatics International, Inc. is guaranteeing the $7.5 million.
It is being reported that there will be 3,400 items sold in 100 lots via a mail bid sale. Most coins have been certified NGC and PGCS. In-person viewing is scheduled for Tuesday, March 21 in Columbus, Ohio. The auction closes at 5:00 PM on Wednesday, March 29. To get more information about this auction, visit www.frostbrowntodd.com/coins. Good luck to all bidders!
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