ANA Board of Governors Meet

Nov 30, 2011 | ANA, commentary, shows

The American Numismatic Association Board of Governors held a teleconference last night. During the telecom, updates were provided on the ANA Twitter account @ANACoins. Here are the highlights with some commentary:

The Chicago Coin Club has been voted as the host for the 2013 World’s Fair of Money.

This is an anticlimactic type of announcement. With so many World’s Fair of Money shows scheduled for Chicago, is there really anyone else who could be the host club? What many people do not know is that if a club is designated as a host club, they automatically earn Life Membership in the ANA. With the shows being concentrated in Chicago and the decision to rotate the spring National Money Show between three cities, the chance for others to not only be part of the experience but earn life membership has diminished.

The board has just voted to hold the 2013 spring National Money Show in New Orleans.

I know where I will be in the spring of 2013! I love visiting New Orleans. There is no place like it in the world. Aside from the French Quarter, there are world class restaurants, the Audubon Zoo, the music, and more. Have you ever been to a Voodoo museum? I have, and it is an interesting sight. Have you ever ridden on a steamboat on the Mississippi? That is a lot of fun, too. Then there’s definition of heaven: sitting at Café Du Monde at the French Market while drinking café au lait and eating beignets, getting powdered sugar on your shirt, and watching the crowds. Try doing this at 2 AM while an event is in town.

The board has voted to reinstate early admittance (aka early birds) at future ANA conventions.

Why did they stop early birds in the first place?

The board OK’d an exhibit award for women in numismatics. An anonymous donor will sponsor the award on a 3-year trial basis.

As I said in a previous post, the hobby has to do better at diversifying. While this announcement is a good start, I think there should be more. What about exhibit awards for minorities? How about something to help the “Lost Demographic” (as I previously discussed)? I realize that this was probably initiated by the anonymous donor, but what about working with those in the donor community to sponsor a program for minorities or the Lost Demographic?

Last update: President Hallenbeck announced that NGC will continue as ANA’s official grading service for another five years.

As someone who has taken advantage of the self-submission benefit with NGC with much success, I feel this is a good decision.

Someday the ANA will have a better information management and communications policies so that this information is more accessible to the membership in ways other than relying on Twitter. While I appreciate the information appearing on Twitter, too many people cannot handle the level of noise generated on Twitter and how to separate real information from the noise. In fact, if I had not checked Twitter for realtime sports information, I would not have seen the ANA tweets about the Board meeting.

Stacking on a Dime

Nov 28, 2011 | fun, video

Today begins a relatively new tradition called “Cyber Monday.” Cyber Monday was first used by the National Retail Federation in 2005 to describe the Monday after Thanksgiving when people return to work and use their employer’s faster Internet connections to shop for bargains. Since I am not selling anything I had to find something that could substitute and be a little fun. I found a video.

According to the video’s main page, Tai Star stacks 3,118 coins on a dime. It claims to be a records, but that is not confirmed. However, it makes for an interesting video:

Happy Cyber Monday!

Whitman Expo Trip Notes

Nov 25, 2011 | Baltimore, coins, currency, shows

For the first time since the 2008 World’s Fair of Money, I went to a coin show. Attending the Whitman Baltimore Expo was timed so that I could be there before the Annual Meeting of the Maryland State Numismatic Association (MSNA), but so not to spend a lot of time on my bad leg. When I arrived after 1:30 PM, there was still nice activity on the bourse floor. Although some dealers had left the show, there was a significant presence. After carefully assessing the landscape, it appears that the folks at Whitman has moved dealers around so that the area near the entrance continues to have active dealers.

Seen on the way to the Whitman Baltimore Expo!

On my way to Baltimore driving north on I-95 from the Capital Beltway, I came upon an interesting looking turquoise truck. As I approached, I noticed it had Taylor Swift’s signature. While I am not one of her fans, seeing a concert equipment truck on I-95 is not a usual occurrence. Searching on-line, the truck must be traveling to New York from Columbia, South Carolina. Taylor was playing November 20-21 in Madison Square Garden.

When I arrived I did a quick tour of the bourse floor toward Halls B and C. For this show, I found that the dealers in Hall C were the most active and had the some of the more interesting items. Before going into the Hall C area, I found a dealer in foreign coins to sell some Canadian silver dollars. With that money, I went to Hall C and purchased 2011 silver Panda and Britannia coins.

Time was short, so I went to the third floor to find the meeting room for the MSNA meeting. Since the floors above the bourse were reserved for educational seminars for the American Physical Society, meeting rooms for the Whitman show were reserved more than half-way to the Camden Yards end of the Baltimore Convention Center. If you have not visited the BCC, it is a very large structure and the walk is not easy for someone with a bad leg. But I made it and the MSNA Board accomplished some work.

2012 Maryland State Numismatic Association Officers

Amongst the agenda items was the installation of officers. With that, I am now the Vice President of the MSNA. Since this is the first time I am an officer, I have to buy a red sports jacket like the rest of the board. I should have one by the Whitman Expo in March.

On my return to the bourse floor, I noticed more than half the dealers had packed and left the show. For me, this is not a problem since I was more interested in the interesting item from the dealers that were left, primarily at the far end of Hall B and the dealers in Hall C. For the first time, I stopped at the table of a dealer who was selling ancient coins. Although I am not a collector of ancients, I have supported Ancient Coin Collectors Guild (ACCG) and their efforts to prevent import/export restrictions on ancient coins. I spoke with the dealer for a few moments asking questions about the ancient coin market.

I also had the chance to speak with Bob Hall, a numismatic book dealer. Every time I see him at a show, I make sure I stop by his table. Hall has a wide selection of books from the current to the old. He is also a good conversationalist who really knows his stuff. Even though I did find a book I was interested in, it was a bit out of my price range. I will try again in March.

One thing I noticed is that there did not seem to be a currency area. Currency dealers were found in different places and not in one particular area.

At the end, I sat at the table of one dealer in Hall C and went through his “junk bag” of foreign currency. Flipping through those notes gave me an idea for a collection and potential exhibition. If I can find currency with the appropriate characteristics, I will have an exhibit ready for the Whitman Expo in March.

After the show closed for the evening, returned to my car happy to be off of my feet. After a stop for an appropriate beverage, I spent the next hour driving home.

That was a lot of fun, even for a few hours. I will have to look into going to a smaller show before the next Whitman Expo.

coinsblog's 2011 Whitman Baltimore Expo - Fall album on Photobucket

O Baltimore!

Nov 19, 2011 | Baltimore, fun, shows

Today is the Annual Meeting of the Maryland State Numismatic Association (MSNA). The meeting is being held at the Baltimore Convention Center during the Whitman Baltimore Expo. I am looking forward to this meeting because I was nominated as Vice President of MSNA.

The MSNA was founded in 1972 that could function as a central organization for Maryland. From humble beginnings out of John Henry’s vision with nine charter clubs, MSNA now represents 20 Maryland clubs.

Another reason why I am excited is that I have not been to a coin show since the 2008 World’s Fair of Money that was held at the Baltimore Convention Center. A bad knee has prevented me from going to coin shows. Although my knee does not feel better, I am going to the convention center a few hours before the MSNA meeting and visit the bourse. I am going to try to limit my walking, but I look forward to doing this. (And this will allow my wife to stay home read in peace!)

Obviously, I will bring my new iPhone 4S with me which will allow me to tweet about my adventures. Follow @coinsblog on Twitter to read my tweets. Hopefully, I will be able to take pictures and pass them along in real time.

Stay tuned for my show report!

How Can We Expand Our Hobby

Nov 18, 2011 | commentary, education

Are you a member of a club?

Are you a member of a club within your collecting interest whether that is collecting coins, banknotes, tokens, medals, scripophily, or ephemera?

If not, why?

I am a member of a few organizations, but my most satisfying experiences has been with my local coin club. Aside from the camaraderie of meeting with fellow collectors, I can be a participant in a way that I may not be able to as a member of a larger organization.

My local club meets once a month. At our meetings we encourage members to bring in some of their numismatic-related collectibles for an exhibition section to show to other members. One evening, I brought my iPhone to show off the Money Reader apps that visualize currency and announce the denomination. Our members have such varied interests that we never know what a member will show off.

We also have an education segment that is a 30-45 program focused on something related to numismatics. Speakers have included noted authors, prominent dealers, government officials including members of the U.S. Secret Service, and club members presenting something of their interest. We have also screened videos related to numismatics. This summer, I plan to screen a video from the History Channel about U.S. Bullion Repository at Fort Knox.

After a light snack that is paid for by members contributing money in a jar at the table, we hold an auction of up to 40 items that are mostly under $50. There are door prizes of (mostly) foreign coins and a raffle of a gold coin worth $50 or less—the coins are usually made from one-twenty-fifth of an ounce of gold.

Our goal is to allow everyone to participate in their own way.

Like a lot of clubs, we have one significant problem: our membership is mostly white, male, and aging.

The aging membership is not a problem if there are younger members to provide balance. But like a number of clubs, I am not seeing that many younger new members in my club or in other clubs I have observed. We want younger members to join our aging members—we can learn from our different perspectives.

The divide between the sexes has been documented in a lot of areas. While Women In Numismatics tries to engage and recognize the accomplishments of women participating in numismatics, they have worked more on a national level without reaching out to clubs to help bolster the participants of local women.

And why is numismatics almost an exclusively white hobby? We have had African-American visitors to our club meetings and have tried to make them feel as welcome as other visitors. Unfortunately, they never return. When I go to the Whitman Baltimore Show this weekend, it will be mostly a white affair. Where are the minorities? I am sure there are minorities who collect, but why do they not come out?

Local, regional, and national clubs must think about diversifying. Numismatics must recruit younger people aside from the Young Numismatists, women, and minorities. But how do we do that? Since I am not a member of any of these demographic groups, I need help to figure out how to recruit existing young, women, and minority collectors as well as new collectors.

If you have an idea, please leave a comment here.

BOOK REVIEW: One of a Kind

Nov 14, 2011 | books, review

Could you build a story around the appearance of a fabled coin and make it an interesting read? We know there are true stories about the 1913 Liberty Head nickels and the 1933 Saint-Gaudens Double Eagles. But what would happen if the little known 1873-S Seated Liberty Dollar was discovered and put up for auction?

Numismatist know that the Coinage Act of 1873 put the United States on the gold standard and demonetized silver. This law hurt western mining interests who wanted both gold and silver to remain in circulation. It became known as the “Crime of ’73.”

At the U.S. Mint, the branch mint in San Francisco reported that it struck 700 Seated Liberty Coins but none have ever surfaced. What happened if one was found that was a heirloom of a rich family from the west coast? Then what would happen if the patriarch dies, wills the coin to a maid/personal assistant who then consigns it to an auction that attracts worldwide attention. This is the premise of the novel One of a Kind by Barbara Erlichman.

According to her bio, Barbara Erlichman was raised in England and came to the United States intending to work her way across America. Arriving in New York, she met her future husband and they started a rare coin business. Based in New York, they traveled throughout the United States and Europe buying coins and collectibles. When she contacted me about her book, she and her husband retired to Florida and this this is her first book.

One of a Kind weaves together four plot lines surrounding the auction of this one of a kind coin. Adam Sloan is the son of the business man who died and left the coin, a family heirloom, to his maid. Sloan, who is successful running the family business in his own right, wants the coin back because of its family heritage. Claire Waring, the efficient assistant of the head of the company handling the auction, has a personal stake in wanting this auction to go well. Ex-union boss Salvatore Corelli and his daughter Lucia returns to New York from their self-imposed Florida exile where Salvatore was convalescing after having two heart attack, to add this one last coin to his collection. Howie Roth is a vest pocket dealer, working the shows just to make it through his life, comes up with a scheme to try to get the coin before the auction. Finally, Lord Welton, whose passion are unique items, brings his American wife “back home” in his quest for the elusive coin.

Claire, who was tasked with organizing the auction, becomes a central focus as the lot viewing begins four days before the auction. As the organizer, she meets with each of the potential bidders as they view the lot and with Adam Sloan, who was trying to convince the auction house not to auction his family’s prized possessions.

With everyone in New York and vying for this prize, Lucia, whose physical appearance is first described in a less than flattering light, meets Howie and Lord Welton’s personal aide. Lucia falls for both but did not like ones approach over the other. She ends up falling into the arms of one of these men whose life changes from then on.

After arguing with the auction house and being stood up to by Claire, Adam Sloan becomes intrigued with her but finds out that her situation is more complicated than expected. Still, Adam pursues Claire almost losing interest in the coin. Then Lady Welton comes in to make the interaction interesting.

In the mean time, Howie looking for easy money convinces Salvatore Corelli to go along with his scheme until Lord Welton somehow finds out and makes Corelli an offer he cannot refuse.

Intrigued? You will have to read One of a Kind to find out more. Most of the interactions between these story lines in pursuit of the coin are nicely woven. The romance that is struck between some of the parties seem a little shallow. While certain passages make this book adult reading, some of these encounters seem like they move too quickly.

As for the description of the auction, the circumstances around the auction, the life of a dealer, coin shows, and the attitudes of all involved, Erlichman relies on her many years of experience traveling with her husband to coin shows to make the scenes more realistic. Her English heritage and life in New York City also adds to the richness of how the characters interact, especially when dealing with collecting coins. Erlichman’s handing of the setting allows the reader to absorb the story without the background becoming a distraction.

By the way… you have to read the book through the “Epilog” in order to find out what really happened to this one of a kind coin. It is a worthwhile twist!

I do not read fiction that often. Aside from my numismatic interests, my interest in history and politics have been filling the ebook apps on my iPad. After receiving a copy of the book from the author, I decided I would finished reading other books I started to concentrate on this one. Since this is not a numismatic book but a work of fiction surrounding a numismatic setting, I am giving One of a Kind a specimen grade of SP67 (remember, the Sheldon scale is based on 70 points) downgrading it just a little because the relationship development seems a little shallow. Over all, the book is a comfortable read for those interested in numismatics. New Yorkers, or transplanted New Yorkers, should also feel a home with the mental image of the scenery. If you are uncomfortable with the description of sexual encounters, then you could scan past those passages—these sections are not overly graphic but not suitable for younger people. Otherwise, you should enjoy reading One of a Kind.

Honoring Our Veterans

Nov 11, 2011 | celebration, commemorative, museum

On the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” in 1918, hostilities were ended on the Western Front of World War I. Although this is accepted as the end of the “War to End All Wars,” fighting continued across the Russian Empire and in areas of the old Ottoman Empire. A year later, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11 Armistice Day as a national holiday to celebrate those who served and honor those that died.

Alvin King, a shoe repair shop owner in Emporia, Kansas, had the idea to celebrate all veterans on November 11. King lobbied the city of Emporia to close in honor of all veterans. Representative Ed Rees of Emporia shepherded a bill through congress to rename the holiday Veterans Day to honor all who have served. President Dwight Eisenhower signed the bill into law in 1954.

On Veterans Day, we pay tribute to our veterans, to the fallen, and to their families. To honor their contributions to our Nation, let us strive with renewed determination to keep the promises we have made to all who have answered our country’s call. As we fulfill our obligations to them, we keep faith with the patriots who have risked their lives to preserve our Union, and with the ideals of service and sacrifice upon which our Republic was founded.†

If you are looking for a way to honor veterans, consider supporting The Army Historical Foundation and their effort to build The National Museum of the United States Army. You can support their efforts by donating to the organization or by purchasing a 2011 United States Army Commemorative Coin. Available as a $5 gold coin, $1 silver coin, and half-dollar clad coin, the surcharges ($35 gold, $10 silver, and $5 clad) will be paid to The Army Historical Foundation to support the construction of the museum.

Take this opportunity to honor the nation’s veterans and support this worthy effort.

To all that have served…
To all that have given the ultimate sacrifice…
To the families of these honored service members…

THANK YOU!

† From the Veterans Day, 2011 Presidential Proclamation signed by President Barack Obama.
Veterans Day 2011 poster courtesy of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Coin image courtesy of the U.S. Mint.

And the Coin of the Year Nominees Are…

Nov 9, 2011 | coins, COTY, foreign

Krause Publications announced the Coin of the Year (COTY) nominations for 2012. Coins nominated for the 2012 COTY Award were released in 2010. According to Krause, nominees are judged by a panel of mint and museum officials, numismatic journalists, and individual experts from around the world. Winners are selected in each category (see below) and one coin is selected as COTY.

Once the category winners are announced, an online poll will be made available on their website numismaster.com for readers to vote on their favorite. The winner will be awarded the People’s Choice award.

Awards will be presented at the World Money Fair in Berlin, Germany during the first weekend of February 2012.

And the nominees are…

Most Historically Significant Coin

  1. Bank of Lithuania – Battle of Gruenwald, 500 Litas, gold, KM #173
  2. Royal Canadian Mint – 400th Anniversary of Hudson Bay, 100 Dollars, gold KM #997
  3. Coin Invest Trust acting as agent for the country of Cameroon, Shroud of Turin, 1000 Francs, silver, KM #38
  4. Israel Coins and Medals Corp, Old Akko, 10 New Shequalim, gold, KM #470
  5. British Royal Mint, 350th Anniversary of the Restoration of the Monarchy, 5 Pounds, silver, KM #1151a
  6. Mint of Poland acting as agent for Niue – Czar Peter the Great, One Dollar, Silver, KM #433
  7. Netherlands Mint – Max Havelaar, 5 Euro, silver, KM #294
  8. National Bank of Ukraine – 600th Anniversary of Gruenwald, 20 Hryvin, silver, KM #596
  9. National Bank of Portuagal, Torres Defense Line, 2.5 Euros, Silver, KM #800
  10. National Bank of Belarus, Battle of Gruenwald, 50 Roubles, Silver, KM #270

Best Contemporary Event Coin

  1. National Bank of Cyprus – 50th Anniversary of the Republic, 5 Euro, silver, KM #94
  2. Monnaie de Paris – Georges Pompidou Center, 10 Euro, silver, KM #1066
  3. Mint of Poland – 65th Anniversary of Auschwitz Libertion, 10 Zlotych, Silver, Y #713
  4. German Federal Ministry of Finance – Unity, 10 Euro, Silver, KM #290
  5. South African Mint – World Cup, 1 Rand, gold, KM #508
  6. Hungarian Mint – The Ballpoint Pen, 1000 Forint, copper nickel square, KM #818
  7. National Bank of Morocco – 35th Anniversary of Green March, 250 Dirhams, Y #132
  8. China Gold Coin Corp – 30th Anniversary of the Founding of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone, 10 Yuan, silver, KM #1953
  9. Royal Canadian Mint, 75TH Anniversary of Canadian Banknotes, 500 Dollars, gold, KM #1007
  10. Bank of Latvia – 20th Anniversary of Modern Republic, 1 Lats, silver, KM #113

Best Gold Coin

  1. Perth Mint – Kangaroos fighting, 100 Dollars, gold, KM #1365
  2. Denmark National Bank – 70th Birthday of Queen Margaret, 1000 Kroner, gold, KM #939
  3. Israel Coins and Medals Corp. Tower of David Near the Jaffa Gate, 20 New Shequalim, gold, KM #467
  4. Mint of Finland – 150th Anniversary of Autonomy, 100 Euro, gold, KM #150
  5. British Royal Mint – London Olympics, 100 pounds, gold, KM #1162
  6. China Gold Coin Corp – Year of the Tiger, 5 ounce, 2000 Yuan, KM #1914
  7. National Bank of Argentina –World Cup, 10 Pesos, gold, KM #163
  8. National Bank of Ukraine – Panticapeum Ruins, 100 Hyrvin, gold, KM #597
  9. Italian State Mint –Arts of Europe – Sweden, 20 Euro, gold, KM #335
  10. Royal Canadian Mint – Prairie Crocus, 350 Dollars, gold, KM #1019

Best Silver

  1. National Bank of the Republic of Belarus – Battle of Gruenwald, 20 Rubles, silver, KM #239,
  2. National Bank of Russia –Saint George, 3 Roubles, Y #1214
  3. National Bank of Hungary – Orseg National Park, 5000 Forint, silver, KM #820
  4. Czech National Bank – Marriage of John of Luxembourg, 200 Korun, silver, KM #115
  5. National Bank of Lithuania –Brazai Castle, 50 Litu, silver, KM #170
  6. German Federal Ministry of Finance – Konrad Zuse, 10 Euro, silver KM #289
  7. Japan Mint – Aomori Prefecture100 yen, silver, Y #168
  8. Austrian Mint –Erzberg in Styria, 10 Euro, silver, KM #3185
  9. Italian State Mint – Giorgione 500th Anniversary of Death, 10 Euro, silver, KM #333,
  10. New Zealand Mint acting as agent for the country of Niue – Antilocapra Americana, One Dollar, silver, KM #234

Best Crown

  1. National Bank of Ukraine – Pottery, 10 Hryven, silver, KM #605
  2. New Zealand Mint acting as agent for the country of Niue – Sitting Bull, One Dollar, Silver, KM #394
  3. Perth Mint –Koala Coin, One Dollar, Silver, KM #1464
  4. Andorra Mint – Brown Bear, 5 Diners, Silver, KM #315
  5. Monnaie de Paris– Mother Teresa, 10 Euro, silver, KM #1695
  6. Kazakhstan Mint –Deer Buckle, 500 Tenge, silver, KM #179
  7. United States Mint – Boy Scouts, One Dollar, silver, KM #480
  8. Coin Invest Trust acting as agent for the country of Samoa – Flying Fox, 10 Dollars, silver, KM #173
  9. Coin Invest Trust acting as agent for the country of Togo – Sunbird, 1000 Francs, silver, KM #48
  10. China Gold Coin Corp. – Year of the Tiger, 50 yuan, silver, KM #1921

Best Trade

  1. Mint of Poland –August of 1980 Solidarity, 2 Zloty, Brass, Y#737
  2. United States Mint – Native American Dollar, One Dollar, Copper-nickel, KM #474
  3. National Bank of Argentina –Silver Sea, One Peso, Copper Nickel, KM #158
  4. National Bank of Denmark –Greenland Kayaking, 20 Kroner, Aluminum-bronze, KM #940
  5. Japan Mint – Gifu Prefecture, 500 Yen, Bimetallic, Gifu Prefecture
  6. Lithuanian Mint – Battle of Grunwald 600th Anniversary, 1 Litas, Copper-nickel, KM #172
  7. National Bank of India –Mother Teresa, 5 Rupees, Stainless Steel, KM #381
  8. National Bank of Venezuela – 200th Anniversary of Independence, 25 Centimos, Nickel-plated steel, Y #99
  9. National Bank of the Republic of San Marino – 500th Anniversary Death of Botticeli, 2 Euro, Bimetallic, KM #494
  10. Royal Australian Mint –Sheep Industry, 20 Cents, Copper-nickel, KM #1502

Most Popular

  1. Perth Mint – 50 Cents, silver, Kangaroo Bush Babies, KM #1456,
  2. United States Mint –Hot Springs National Park, 25 Cents, Copper nickel, KM #469
  3. Coin Invest Trust acting as agent for the country of Benin – Marijuana Coin, 100 CFA Francs, Copper-Nickel Silver plated, KM #53
  4. Royal Canadian Mint – Poppy Coin, 25 Cents, Nickel finish on Steel, KM #1028
  5. Austrian Mint – Philharmonic, 1.5 Euro, One Ounce, Silver, KM #3159
  6. Coin Invest Trust acting as agent for the country of Tuvalu – Brown Snake, One Dollar, Silver, KM #134
  7. Mint of Sweden – Wedding of Princess Victoria, 300 Kronor, Silver, KM #917
  8. Royal Mint – London Olympics, 5 Pounds, Sterling Silver, KM #1139a
  9. Perth Mint – Discover Australia Koala, 15 Dollars, Silver, KM #1405,
  10. Banco de Mexico – Morelos, 5 pesos, bimetallic, KM #923

Most Artistic

  1. Israel Coins and Medals Corp. – Jonah and the Whale, 10 New Shequalim, Silver, KM #477,
  2. Perth Mint – Sydney Cove Medallion, One Dollar, Silver, KM #1568
  3. Fiji – H.C. Andersen’s The Nightingale, One Dollar, Silver, KM #127
  4. Kazakhstan Mint – Pelicans, 500 Tenge, Silver, KM #177
  5. Italian State Mint – Aquileia, 10 Euro, Silver, KM #334
  6. Bank of Latvia – Amber Eye, 1 Lats, Silver, KM #109
  7. Royal Canadian Mint – Polar Bear, 3 Dollars, Silver gilt square, KM #1051
  8. China Gold Coin Corp – Chinese Grotto Art, 300 Yuan, Silver, KM #1950
  9. Coin Invest Trust acting as agent for the country of Palau – Tiffany Art Rococo, 10 Dollars, Silver, KM #252,
  10. Czech Mint – Alphonse Mucha, 200 Korun, Sterling silver, KM #114

Most Innovative

  1. Coin Invest Trust acting as agent for the country of Cook Islands – Obama/King, 5 Dollars, Silver, KM #729 &730
  2. Royal Canadian Mint – Year of the Tiger Hologram 150 Dollars, Silver, KM #979
  3. Coin Invest Trust acting as agent for the country of Niue – Seven Pointed Christmas Star, One Dollar, Silver, KM #422
  4. Coin Invest Trust acting as agent for the country of Palau – Dealer Button Insert with Playing Cards, One Dollar, Silver, KM #307
  5. Coin Invest Trust acting as agent for the country of Ivory Coast – Qibia Compass, 1500 Francs, Silver, KM #7
  6. Japan Mint – Sakamoto, 1000 Yen, Silver, Y #160, First Effigy of a Real Person
  7. Perth Mint acting as agent for the country of Tuvalu – Gustav Mahler, One Dollar, silver, KM #124, Depicts Musical Score

Most Inspirational

  1. Royal Australian Mint –Fred Hallows Inspirational Australians – Healthcare, One Dollar, Aluminum Bronze, KM #1496,
  2. New Zealand Mint acting as agent for the country of Cook Islands – Windows of Heaven, 10 Dollars, Sterling Silver, KM #1258
  3. Mint of Poland – 30th Anniversary of Solidarity, 10 Zloty, Silver, KM #738
  4. Austrian Mint – Barron Clemons Von Pirquet Children’s Clinic, 50 Euro, Gold, KM #3194
  5. Royal Mint – London Olympics 2012 – Olympic Strength, 5 Pounds, Silver, KM #1155
  6. Royal Canadian Mint – Remembrance Day Poppy, One Dollar, Silver, KM #1050
  7. Andorra Mint –Gabriel and Mary Christmas Coin, 25 Diners, Gold, KM #288
  8. Mint of Finland – Children and Creativity, 20 Euro, Silver, KM #1532

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