Weekly World Numismatic News for January 13, 2019
Pairing U.S. coins with a foreign coin for sale has been done in the past by the U.S. Mint. In 2002, the U.S. Mint offered the “Legacies of Freedom” This week, the U.S. Mint announced a collaborative project with the Royal Australian Mint to produce a commemorative coin set in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Moon landing. The set will feature a U.S. Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Half Dollar paired with an Australian 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing 1 oz. $5 Silver Coin.
The announcement noted that the set will be produced and sold by the Royal Australian Mint with marketing help from the U.S. Mint who will put a link on their website.
set. A limited edition of 50,000 sets that included an uncirculated American Silver Eagle $1 coin and a £2 Silver Britannia from the Royal Mint. These sets were created and marketed by the U.S. Mint with a price of $49.88 per set, noting that the spot price of silver was $6.39 per troy ounce.
Prior to that, the U.S. Mint produced the 2000 Leif Ericson Millennium Commemorative Set that included a 2000 Leif Ericson Proof Silver Dollar and a 1000 Kronur proof silver coin produced by the U.S. Mint for Iceland. It was the last coin the U.S. Mint produced for a foreign government. The U.S. Mint sold 86,136 sets at a price of $63 per set.
Since the set will be produced by the Royal Australia Mint, there are questions regarding the opportunities that may be missed by the U.S. Mint to do the same. For example:
- The press release says that it will be a “limited production set” but does not specify how many sets will be produced.
- Other than the legal requirements that the U.S. Mint shall not lose money on a commemorative coin program and that the half-dollar includes a $5 surcharge, what are the financial arrangements between the two government mints?
- Who will handle the fulfillment of orders from the United States? Those who have purchased items from Australia and New Zealand know that the because of shipping and customs restrictions, items can take 6-8 weeks to enter the United States before it can be given to the Postal Service for delivery.
These questions will be addressed to the U.S. Mint as soon as Tuesday. Even though the U.S. Mint continues to operate during the shutdown, offices in Washington, D.C. will be closed on Monday because of 8-12 inches of snow that covers the region.
And now the news…
January 5, 2019Coins expected to bring increased security to economies of British territories and dependencies 
→ Read more at theguardian.com
January 9, 2019A penny that a Massachusetts teenager found in his change from lunch money could be worth as much as $1.65 million (£1.3 million) when it is auctioned off. → Read more at foxnews.com
January 9, 2019My grandfather was a numismatist. William Evans Mullan II died over the weekend. The coin collection lives on. → Read more at djournal.com
January 10, 2019Don Lutes Jr. kept the 1943 copper penny he stumbled upon in his high school cafeteria seven decades ago in a safe behind a wall in his Massachusetts home. → Read more at cnn.com
January 11, 2019Jim Cramer shares his favorite ways to add gold to a portfolio and encourages investing in the precious metal if you’re nervous about 2019. → Read more at cnbc.com
January 11, 2019BERLIN — Four young men have gone on trial over the brazen theft of a 100−kilogram Canadian gold coin from a Berlin museum. → Read more at manitobapost.com
Rock Me Amadeus
I woke up this morning to the 1985 hit by Falco being played on a local classic rock station to celebrate the 250th birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In his day, Mozart was the 18th Century’s Elvis, John Belushi, and Beatles all rolled into one genius, but tragic figure. Since Mozart is a favorite of mine from that era of music, I wondered if there were any commemorative coins released in his honor.
My first stop was the Austrian Mint to see what they had to offer. There, I found that Mozart graces the reverse of the Austrian 1 Euro coin. I also found The official Collector’s Set for the Mozart Year 1991 memorializing the 200th anniversary of his death. The commemoratives are a series of four gold and silver coins. Two were dedicated to the operas “The Magic Flute” and “Don Giovanni.” The other two were dedicated to Salzburg and Vienna, where Mozart worked. But no 2006 commemoratives.
In keeping with the 200th anniversary of his death, I found a Turkish 50 thousand Lira coin at the Turkish Mint. Not being fluent in Turkish I do not understand the writing on the coin, but it is a very pretty design.
Then I went to eBay, where you can buy just about anything! I searched for “Mozart” in coins and found a 1991 gold 500 Franc coin from France commemorating Mozart in Paris, several 1991 Austrian 100 Shilling proof coins, various 1931 coins honoring his 175th birthday, and a German gold coin from 1991. Still, no 2006 commemorative for Mozart.
Another web search led me to the 2006 Austrian Mint Coin Release Schedule. There, it says that a 5 Euro circulating commemorative will be issued for Mozart on May 10, 2006. Otherwise, I found nothing else to suggest that a Mozart commemorative has been issued. Too bad!
Here is a project for a young numismatist: research and catalog all of the Mozart coins and medals that one could collect. In fact, finding other coins by topic, such as composers, might be a lot of fun. Too bad I do not have the time for this.
Encourage a Young Numismatist
Over the weekend I spoke with my nephew who will be 13 this year. He told me of his interest in collecting quarters. He wants to find out how to find other coins and how to work with dealers. This has come after I had given him the 50 State Quarters map sold by the US Mint with what was then a current set of uncirculated quarters. Since then, he has accumulated more coins and is interested in finding more.
His interest was infectious. All he wanted to do was find more and do more. I told him to find a local dealer and talk with him about coins. But he wanted more information. There was only so much I could tell him on the phone, especially from the car!
Later in the evening, I took the opportunity to clean up back copies of Numismatic News and Coins by clipping various articles on quarters. I also found extra Texas and West Virginia quarters in my collection, ones my nephew said he is missing. I packaged everything and mailed it earlier today. I am sure he will like what I sent!
Should you know a youngster interested in coins, do what you can to encourage him or her. Even if they are collecting from change, give them more to look through. Buy them the ubiquitous blue Whitman folder for their new collection. You will not only have a new connection with that young numismatist, but you will help build the hobby. Happy Collecting!
The Founding Father Looks Tired
In previous blog entries I have said that I liked the trend in the designs of new coins. I have said that I disagreed with others that we should not go back to depictions of Liberty on our coinage. While I will agree that some designs in the 50 State Quarters program are not very artistic, some are phenomenal like the Charter Oak of Connecticut. But it is an exciting program and I cannot wait to see this year’s coins.
Having read interviews with artists and engravers, and meeting Joe Fitzgerald, I understand how difficult it is to design and execute the design on a piece of metal that fits in the palm of a hand. I do not know if I can do better, but I would assume a professional engraver working for the Mint would understand how to just “get it right.” Unfortunately, the engraver who did the Benjamin Franklin “The Founding Father” commemorative did not do a good job. The engraver is not identified on the Mint’s website. With all due respect, the portrait depicts an old man and not the strength and wisdom of a gentleman of Franklin’s stature.
According to the Mint’s website, the “image is based on a bust originally executed by French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon in 1778.” If we look at the bust by Houdon and the coin side-by-side, the coin has Franklin’s neck looking like he has a goiter and his eyes are wrinkled and tired looking. Houdon’s bust shows a stronger face of an older gentleman without Franklin’s neck having to held in by his collar and strong eyes without the wrinkles that appear on the coin.
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Even if you take perspective and lighting into consideration, the coin shows Franklin’s neck out of proportion. The result is that the image does not seem to properly represent the man the coin commemorates. If there was a problem executing this coin, the Mint could have use the design of the Franklin Half Dollar by John R. Sinnock. That design was less wrinkled and better executes the bust by Houdon.
I am sorry the Mint did such a bad job with this coin. I hope they do better in the future!
Happy Belated Birthday, Mr. Franklin!
I want to wish Benjamin Franklin a belated 300th birthday! Aside from being a statesman and former ambassador to France, Franklin was a scientist, musician, philosopher, and inventor who continues to have great impact on our lives after inventing bifocals, the lightning rod, and the first odometer. He was truly a remarkable man.
Yesterday, Franklin’s birthday, the US Mint began taking pre-issue orders for the Franklin commemorative coins. The pre-issue prices will end at 5:00 PM (Eastern) on March 14, 2006. Authorized by Public Law 108-464, surcharges from the program will be forwarded to the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission of the Franklin Institute to commemorate Franklin’s tercentenary and to educate the public about his legacy.
Two commemoratives are being minted in this program. Both proof and uncirculated strikes will be 90-percent silver coins with the nominal value of $1. These coins are:
- “Franklin the Scientist” depicts his legendary kite experiment on the obverse. The reverse of this coin is a recreation of his political cartoon, “Join, or Die” that was published in The Pennsylvania Gazette on May 9, 1754.
- “Franklin the Founding Father” features a portrait based on a bust by French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon in 1778. The reverse honors Franklin’s contribution to the development of our national currency by using a replica of the 1776 Continental Currency dollar.
In addition to the individual coins, the Benjamin Franklin Coin and Chronicles set includes an uncirculated “Franklin the Scientist” coin; a set of four newly released US postage stamps honoring Benjamin Franklin’s many accomplishments; a reproduction of the 1758 edition of Poor Richard’s Almanac; and an intaglio print from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing created to honor Franklin’s role in the creation of the Declaration of Independence.
In all, this looks like a great tribute to a great American!
Albums for First Day Coin Covers
A letter appeared in the December 27, 2005 issue of Numismatic News asking albums for the 50 State Quarters First Day Covers. Having found a solution, I submitted the following letter to Numismatic News that was published in their January 17, 2006 edition.
Like Kenneth Rothschild (Numismatic News, Letters, 12/27/05), I was also looking for an album for the 50 State Quarters First Day Covers (FDC). After calling a number of stamp dealers and supply houses, I found that the Vario 9547V5 two-pocket album pages fit the width of these FDCs perfectly. The pocket is a bit deeper than what is needed for the height of the FDCs, but it ensures that the covers will stay in their place. The Vario pages will fit into three- and four-ring binders so you can purchase an empty FDC album from a dealer or purchase a three-ring binder from any other source.
I am using the Vario pages in a three-inch three-ring binder that was made for holding photographs. This binder now holds the 35 FDCs issued to date plus the FDC for the Sacagawea Dollar and the four Westward Journey Nickel FDCs with room to spare. I think this solution will work for the final 15 covers from the 50 State Quarters Program, although it may be a tight fit if congress adds the District of Columbia and the territories in 2009.
I commend Mr. Rothschild for wanting an album to enjoy these collectibles. Many have told me that I was foolish for removing these covers from the Mint packaging because it lowers their value. Since I am collecting these FDCs because I like them, not as an investment, I was able to take the time to look for a solution to this problem. I hope it helps Mr. Rothschild and others.
After writing this letter, I purchased a Lighthouse Optima-G album in blue to hold other coin covers, including Philatelic Numismatic Covers (PNC) from Great Britain.
The product links in this entry are to the dealers from which I bought these items with no problems.
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