A Medal Remembering OpSail ’86
USCGC Eagle from OpSail 2000.
(Image courtesy of OpSail Inc.)
I recently searched the popular online auction site and came across a bronze medal that made me smile. I found a 1986 OpSail commemorative medal.
Operation Sail (OpSail) was founded in 1963 with the support of President John F. Kennedy to celebrate significant milestones in the New York Harbor. OpSail features tall ships of the past but welcomes all sorts of ships from around the world. The first OpSail was the 1964 World’s Fair Parade of Ships. All OpSail events are on July 4th.
The third OpSail was the 1986 Statue of Liberty Centennial, and it was a big year that would become a year-long party for New York City. The Mets started hot and ran away with the National League East, leading to a World Series victory in the fall. The Giants ended their 1985 season in great shape during January. While the Mets were winning the World Series, the Giants were putting their imprint on the NFL, which led to a Super Bowl victory the following January.
In 1986, I lived on Long Island and worked on Wall Street, enjoying life. My parents came to New York for a visit, and we had to go to OpSail. We piled into my car and drove to the Fort Hamilton neighborhood, and we parked and walked to the park area south of the Belt Parkway.
I do not know if the park area along the shore has a name, but we joined the throngs of other people milling around the park to watch the ships sail by. While the parents stayed in one area, the group of cousins walked closer to the Verazzano Bridge to get a better look at the harbor. We had a good view of the water show from the FDNY fireboats. Later, we drove back to Long Island for dinner and took the train into Manhattan to watch the fireworks.
We made our way downtown to the area just north of the entry to the Staten Island Ferry to watch the fireworks. When the fireworks ended, we walked up a few blocks, grabbed some drinks, and let the crowd lighten before taking the train back to Penn Station and back to Long Island.
I dropped my parents off at their hotel before returning to my tiny one-bedroom apartment. The last thing I remember was sitting in a chair drinking water before waking up a few hours later in the same chair.
Finding the medal brought back the flood of memories from that day, and I had to add it to my collection.
While looking for more information about the medal, I came across a 1986 story in The New York Times that described the medals produced for the Statue of Liberty Centennial.
The medal’s obverse is the logo used by OpSail ’86, representing the tall ships surrounded by a rope tied in a square knot. The initials “gd” are along the rim under the left loop of the square knot. The reverse shows a tall ship passing by the Statue of Liberty.
The bronze medal is part of an official three-medal set issued for the celebration. The gold and silver medals contain one troy ounce of the medals. The one-ounce gold medal sold for $595 ($1524 in today’s funds), the one-ounce silver medal sold for $34.95 ($89), and the 51 mm 1.75 ounce bronze medal sold for $19.95 ($50).
The “gd” initials are likely for the Green Duck Mint of Hernando, MS, who struck the medals for OpSail ’86. Maranatha Holdings of Jersey City sold the medals for the organization.
Now that I know there are gold and silver medals for OpSail ’86, I have to find them to complete the set.
The New York Times article said that the Statue of Liberty Foundation issued 11 medals featuring different reverse themes. Frank Gasparro designed the medals. He retired as Chief Engraver of the U.S. Mint in 1981.
I added all 11 medals to my growing wishlist.
Numismatic Legislation Review
I did not realize that it has been a few months since I did a Numismatic Legislation Review. It is time to look back at the past months of Congress meddling with coin designs.
December 2019 Numismatic Legislation Review
The first piece of legislation is a lesson in why watching Congress is not for the faint of heart!
H.R 1865, sponsored by Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), started as the National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act. Its original purpose was to create a three-coin commemorative coin program for the National Law Enforcement Museum in the District of Columbia in 2021. From the time it was submitted until passage by the Senate on November 12, 2019, it was just another commemorative coin bill.
Then the sausage-making process began.
It starts with the necessity to fund the government. With time running out, the House of Representatives sends a message to the Senate that they have a resolution to start the funding process. The Senate objects to the House’s actions and looks around for something so they can add funding amendments.
Although H.R. 1865 passed in the Senate, the bill did not go to a conference committee to resolve differences. It became a convenient vehicle for the two chambers to negotiate a budget.
By the time the bill passed Congress, it was renamed to the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, and the provisions for the National Law Enforcement Museum Commemorative Coin Act became “Division K” of the signed law.
The following is the unedited status of what is now Public Law No. 116-94 (there is more below this section):
H.R. 1865: Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020
- the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020;
- the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020;
- the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020;
- the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020;
- the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2020;
- the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020;
- the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2020; and
- the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2020.
In addition to providing appropriations, the bill includes legislation that extends several expiring programs and addresses a wide range of policy issues throughout the federal government.
For good measure, Rep. Steve Watkins (R-KS) introduced the Conan Commemorative Coin Act to honor Conan, a Belgian Malinois who has worked with the United States Special Operations Forces in the Middle East. If passed, the money will be given to the Department of Veterans Affairs to support vetinary care for service animals.
H.R. 5537: Conan Commemorative Coin Act
January 2020 Numismatic Legislation Review
In January, Congress passed the President George H.W. Bush and First Spouse Barbara Bush Coin Act to extend the Presidential Dollar and First Spouse Gold coin programs to include the late President and First Lady. The law requires the coin to be issued in 2020.
S. 457: President George H.W. Bush and First Spouse Barbara Bush Coin Act
This bill requires the issuance of
- $1 coins bearing the image of President George H.W. Bush for a one-year period beginning on January 1, 2019, and
- bullion coins bearing the image of Barbara Bush during that same period.
February 2020 Numismatic Legislation Review
Finally, in February, Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) introduced the Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act. Even though Tubman was born in 1820, the bill calls for a three-coin commemorative program in 2022 to celebrate 200 years since her birth. If passed, the money raised from this program will be paid to the Project Legacy of Brooklyn, NY, to advance its mission.
H.R. 5873: Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act
And with that, we are all caught up!
Weekly World Numismatic News for March 1, 2020
Show of hands: how many of you have found an old coin only to think it was a reproduction?
As an avid junk box diver at flea markets, antique shows, and other venues, I regularly come across reproductions of old coins made of various materials. The most common are brass and pewter.
In 2018, someone found a pewter coin that resembles a Continental Currency dollar in the same design as the Fugio Cent. After consulting a dealer, the coin was sent to Professional Coin Grading Service for authentication.
PCGS determined that it was a period created coin. They graded it MS-62.
1776 Pewter Continental Dollar, PCGS MS-62
(Image courtesy of PCGS)
It is not clear where the coin was made. Some experts say that it was a pattern made in Philadelphia. Others speculate that it was made in England as a satire piece to mock the newly formed country.
The problem is that PCGS does not describe the criteria that they used to determine the coin is authentic. Neither their public news article or the PCGS Coin Fact entry does not provide details of what makes this a genuine coin. With all due respect to PCGS, I have learned the hardway: trust but verify!
https://www.pcgs.com/news/pcgs-paris-office-certifies-1776-continental-dollar?gid=47
https://www.pcgs.com/coinfacts/coin/1776-1-curency-pewter/794
Someday, I hope to find something similar in one of my junk box dives. But I hope PCGS would help the community by publishing what to look for when junk box diving. I would not mind sending a proper find for authentication, but I do not want to pay for a service if it is not necessary.
And now the news…
February 24, 2020
→ Read more at mesquitelocalnews.com
February 25, 2020 → Read more at masslive.com
February 25, 2020 → Read more at pennlive.com
February 27, 2020 → Read more at wmar2news.com
February 29, 2020 → Read more at mysuncoast.com
February 29, 2020 → Read more at thesun.co.uk
February 29, 2020 → Read more at thenewsminute.com
February 29, 2020 → Read more at tcpalm.com
Opening my eyes about growing the hobby
While thinking about how to grow the hobby, I was reading the numismatic-related news from around the world. What do other people consider when they are collecting coins?
Stories about buried coins or hoards of ancient coins generate a lot of interest. Whether it is builders and archeologists digging in the Middle East or metal detectorists hunting the British countryside, the stories about these finds make for exciting reading.
Largest hoard of Roman coins found in Lincolnshire
(Image courtesy of the BBC)
Modern error coins seem to be of interest. News outlets in Great Britain and Australia regularly publish stories about an error someone found or sold online. Although these stories cause people to become treasure hunters, there have been reports that some have turned into collectors.
First new £1 coin error found with missing detail on the thistle
Finally, when a mint issues a coin with a different, the interest grows. Both Royal Mint and the Royal Australian Mint issued coins with letters of the alphabet and an image of something that begins with that letter. The news created a buzz and new collectors in both countries.
2018 Paddington Bear 50p reverse.
Recently, the U.S. Mint issued the quarter honoring the National Park of American Samoa with the reverse image of a fruit bat mother hanging in a tree with her pup. It is such an unusual design for a United States coin that it made the news.
It also has people talking about the coin. On a recent trip to the grocery store, I quickly looked at my change to see if anything was unusual. The cashier, whose accent suggested she was not a native of the area, asked if I was looking for “coins with the bat?” She was looking for one for her young son after a neighbor showed him the coin.
Through 2019, there were 50 coins released as part of the America the Beautiful Quarters program. Before the American Samoa quarter, these quarters only generated local interest, as the Fort McHenry quarter did in Maryland.
The only other coin that I can recall generating national interest was the 2014 National Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin. Aside from baseball’s popularity, the curved coin was something different.
I love the image of the fruit bats!
The purist will argue that these are gimmicks. I will counter that if you want to grow the hobby, you need to give the people something that will interest them.
It is not enough to push the collecting of every Morgan Dollar varieties in the VAM catalog. Some people do not have that kind of patience. And you cannot blame that on younger collectors since I am one of those people. I find the study of VAM fascinating but not something I want to do.
However, if you release coins honoring the rock band Queen, I will order as soon as possible. I will watch with interest to see who else the Royal Mint honors. I am looking forward to coins honoring bands like the Beatles, Pink Floyd, and The Rolling Stones. I own their vinyl, why not own their coins!
Unfortunately, the U.S. Mint is bound by the whims of congress. They cannot create programs that could generate interest in the general public without permission. Someday, if congress could get its act together, maybe they will allow the U.S. Mint to create a yearly program around a theme.
Think about the possibilities. One year the U.S. Mint can have a five-quarter series of dinosaurs. Another year would be for great discoveries. Whatever themes are selected, make it something that will generate enthusiasm, and allow the U.S. Mint the freedom to produce coins that would generate interest. Even if it means introducing colored coins into circulation, it has not hurt Canadian coins!
If we are to grow the hobby, congress has to be encouraged to let the U.S. Mint pursue new markets. Hopefully, those who think that their way is the only way to collect will either accept new ideas to increase the hobby or step away and let the rest of us enjoy what we collect, even if it is not Barber coins.
New ANA Registry has already picked winners and losers
Last month, the American Numismatic Association announced that they have partnered with Numismatic Guarantee Corporation (NGC) to launch the ANA Coin Registry.
According to the ANA press release, the ANA Registry will accept coins graded by NGC and Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS). The ANA Registry will be the only service that will allow both NGC and PCGS graded coins.
NGC has been a partner with the ANA for 25-years making it a natural choice to implement this program. Since NGC once allowed PCGS graded coins to count in their registry program, the facilities continue to exist for them to create a similar program for the ANA.
Participation is open to any collector. ANA members will receive a special icon of recognition next to their sets.
What is missing from the registry is the ability to include ANACS and ICG graded coins. Regardless of the opinion of these companies, they are competitive services to NGC and PCGS with a legitimate niche in the market.
By excluding ANACS and ICG, the ANA is telling the public that they decided who the best third-party grading services are. It is not the job of the ANA to pick market winners. Let the collecting public decide.
One advantage that ANACS and ICG has is that there are no memberships required to submit coins for grading. Anyone can directly submit coins to either company. Although ANA members can directly submit coins to NGC without an additional membership, only PCGS members can submit coins for grading.
Allowing open submission policies will allow for more people to participate. They can collect what they like and send it to ANACS and ICG without having to spend extra money or rely on a member. It will create greater access to casual collectors who might become more series if they can participate.
Could there be other reasons for not including ANACS and ICG? Since anyone can submit coins to ANACS and ICG, how will the dealers make money? If a collector buys a coin online or from another collector and sends their coins to ANACS or ICG for grading, how will the dealers make money?
Further, dealers have their own biases. They decided which grading service they like the best based on many factors, including perception and financial reasons. Whatever these reasons are should not be the policy of the ANA.
If the ANA is to fulfill its mission to encourage people to study and collect money and related items, then they cannot be picking market winners and losers. The ANA must revisit this policy and include the entire market without bias.
Weekly World Numismatic News for February 23, 2020
Aussie coin collectors are scouring through their change, looking for a Mule Dollar.
A woman from Melbourne found an Australian dollar coin where the obverse was different from the others. The lettering and portrait were smaller and had a doubled rim. The story went viral on social media.
Comparing the $1 mule on the left to a regular $1 coin on the right
(Image courtesy of the Australian Coin Blog)
The mule was first discovered in 2003, according to the Australian Coin Blog. Known as the “2000 $1 / 10 cent Mules,” the coins were sent to Perth for use in the casinos. At the time, the collectors and other interested people withdrew thousands of dollar coins from casinos and banks looking for the coin.
Australian coin experts suspect that the error occurred when someone accidentally installed the wrong obverse die into the coin press. Rather than using the die to strike the 25 mm dollar coin, the die that should strike the 23.6 10 cents coin was used. The 1.4 mm difference gives the impression of a doubled edge on the coin.
There are no statistics as to how many of these coins are in circulation. Considering they keep appearing every few years, the discovery causes a frenzy, especially amongst casual observers. It would be like someone finding an “extra leaf” Wisconsin quarter.
And now the news…
February 17, 2020 → Read more at eastbaytimes.com
February 18, 2020 → Read more at rnz.co.nz
February 21, 2020 → Read more at dw.com
February 21, 2020 → Read more at news.justcollecting.com
February 21, 2020 → Read more at dailymail.co.uk
February 21, 2020 → Read more at houstonchronicle.com
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