According to the Houston Chronicle, the Federal Reserve is set to distribute the first coin of the Presidential $1 Coin Program featuring George Washington in Houston and Chicago. As part of the initiation of the program, George Washington reenactor Carl Closs will visit a Houston elementary school to introduce the coin and George Washington to the students.
The image is from the Houston Chronicle and is an example of the real coin.
The Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC) is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, January 23, 2007. On the agenda is the final approval of the designs for the 2008 50 State Quarters® reverses to commemorate Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska, and Hawaii.
The CCAC meets at 801 9th Street NW, Washington, DC (US Mint Headquarters) in 2nd Floor Conference Room A starting at 10:00 AM. Meetings are open to the public.
The Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) is scheduled to meet on Thursday, January 18, 2007. On the schedule is the final approval of the designs for the 2008 50 State Quarters® reverses to commemorate Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska, and Hawaii. Unless H.R. 392 passes, 2008 will be the last year of the program.
The CFA meets at the National Building Museum, 401 F ST NW, Washington, DC in Suite 318 starting at 10:00 AM. Meetings are open to the public.
Defense Security Services (DSS) issued a press release stating that summary report claiming that radio frequency transmitters were found in Canadian coins is not true. “This statement was based on a report provided to DSS,” according to the release. “The allegations, however, were found later to be unsubstantiated following an investigation into the matter.”
DSS is blaming an editing error with the item appearing in the report.
Although the release said the story was not true, The Associate Press quoted agency spokeswoman Martha Deutscher saying, “What’s in the report is true. This is indeed a sanitized version, which leaves a lot of questions.”
During the recent FUN Convention, Chris Napolitano of Summit Rare Coins was stolen during an armed robbery in front of the Peabody Hoted in Orlando. To help located the coins, Heritage Auction Galleries distributed a spreadsheet with the list of the stolen coins (click the link for the list). If you have any information on these coins or the robbery, contact:
Chris Napolitano
Summit Rare Coins
651-227-9000
chrisssummitrc@aol.com
Sometimes, it is just fun to play with your money. Rather than stacking them like dominoes, this person using Lincoln cents to create a portrait of Lincoln. From the maker of the video:
I used 1,702 pennies to make a portrait of Lincoln. Sorting the coins took about seven hours, and making the image took just under six. May 2005.
My only question is how did he deal with oxidation of the copper? Click the play button at the bottom left of the video display to enjoy.
United State Defense officials are reporting that American contractors were carrying coins planted on them in Canada that contained radio frequency identification (RFID) transmitters. RFID transmitters are small chips that contain a small power source to allow these items to broadcast small bits of information. RFID is used for inventory tracking, security tagging, keyless door locks on cars, and electronic toll systems. Transmission ranges can vary by the type of chip used and the environment.
Reports confirm that an unidentified Canadian coin was hollowed out and its metal replaced with the RFID transmitter. The coins were “planted” on three security cleared contractors between October 2005 and February 2006 as they traveled through Canada.
RFID transmitters can be used to track the movements of those carrying the coins. “You might want to know where the individual is going, what meetings the individual might be having and, above all, with whom,” said David Harris, a former Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) officer. “The more covert or clandestine the activity in which somebody might be involved, the more significant this kind of information could be.”
Containers made to look like US dollar coins are a familiar tactic to US intelligence agencies. The CIA displays such a case on their museum website. The International Spy Museum in Washington, DC has similar displays. 
As for Canadian coins, the most likely coin used is the $1 coin, nicknamed the Loonie because its traditional reverse design features a Common Loon, a dominant bird in Canada. The Loon is 26.5 millimeters in diameter and 1.95 millimeters thick. The $2 coin, nicknamed the Twoonie, is a bi-metallic coin and would be more difficult to modify.
Although the type of RFID chip has not been identified, experts are saying that the transmitter in a coin would have a limited transmission range. It is said that the metal casing could constrain its range. Some of the technologies do have limited transmission ranges, but there are versions of the technology that could be tracked for a few kilometers.
“I’m not aware of any (transmitter) that would fit inside a coin and broadcast for kilometers,’ said Katherine Albrecht, an activist who believes such technology carries serious privacy risks. “Whoever did this obviously has access to some pretty advanced technology.”
The risk of the carrier spending the coin is great. but the ability to track a potential target would be a risk spies might take. As our Canadian friends search their change, they may want to see if the coins have been hollowed and contains an RFID chip. That would be an interesting find!
Today at noon, the US Mint made the first coins of 2007 available for purchase from their on-line catalog. To celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the first permanent settlement in North America at Jamestown, Virginia, the Mint is issuing proof and uncirculated gold and silver commemorative coins.
The Mint will be offering all coins at a pre-release discount until February 12. The proof silver sells for $35 but will be raised to $39 after the pre-release period. The uncirculated coins will sell for $33 then be raised to $35. The gold proof is selling for $232 and the uncirculated gold coin for $220. Both gold coins will be increased by $25 after the pre-release period. Shipping is expected to begin in late January or early February.
Coins may be ordered from the Mint on-line or via the telephone at 800-USA-MINT (800-872-6468).
Surcharges from the sale of these coins will be donated to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation of the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Department of the Interior, and the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities to support programs that promote the understanding of the legacies of Jamestown.
Whitman Publishing, publisher of A Guide Book of United States Coins, has purchased the Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention. Reports say that the announcement was made by Ed Kuszmar and Gordon Berg, the show’s founders, at the Florida United Numismatics (FUN) convention in Orlando. Although an official announcement has not been published, the contact information for the Baltimore show’s website says “Whitman Baltimore Coin and Currency Conventions, L. L. C.” in Atlanta.
More information as it becomes available.
The US Mint announced that the launch of the Jamestown 400th Anniversary Commemorative Coins will be held on January 11, 2007, 10 A.M., at the Jamestown Settlement in Virginia. Collectors attending the ceremony will be able to purchase the gold and silver collectibles on site. Those unable to attend may order these coins from the Mint’s online catalog starting at noon on January 10.
Images from the US Mint. Click to see larger versions.
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