WBCC Newsmail 367

WBCC Newsmail 367, Volume 8, August 23, 2003
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Composed with help from members of the
Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club (WBCC)
and weekly published by Martin Peeters, Netherlands,
Focal Point of the WBCC,
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Dear WBCC members and non WBCC members,

Welcome into the World Of Bi-metallics. I really hope you enjoy reading this
weeks WBCC Newsmail. Thanks goes to Jack Hepler and Cliff Anderson from the
US, the last 3 WBCC Newsmails was composed and send while I was in
Mexico/Guatamala.

1. Bi-metallic 1 and 2 Euro 2003 news..by Frans Dubois, Netherlands

Since 2002 12 European countries and also Monaco, Vatican City and San
Marino use the Euro as their currency.
Some of these countries, Finland, France, Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands
started the mintage already in 1999 and Monaco started in 2001. The others
started in 2002 when the Euro replaced the former coinage.
But this does not mean that all years will be minted for circulation in the
future. Coins of Vatican City are even not minted for circulation but only
for the sets.
If we want to collect all dates of these Bi-metallic 1 and 2 Euro it is
sometimes neccesary to buy some sets. For instance
Austria will not issue a 1 euro for circulation in 2003 but only in the BU
or Proofset. The first 2003 Euro were issued already in 2002 (In a BU-set))
by the Irish Mint!
Till now the following 1 and 2 Euro 2003 are found in circulation or
available at the Mint/Banc:
* Austria 1 Euro,
* Belgium 2 Euro,
* Netherlands 1 and 2 Euro (at the Mint),
* Finland 2 Euro,
* Luxembourg 1 and 2 Euro (at the National Banc),
* Portugal 1 and 2 Euro at the banc,
* Spain 1 and 2 Euro.
* San Marino,
* Vatican City 2003 only in the BU and Proof sets.
* Germany will not issue the 1 and 2 Euro from all 5 different Mints.
Till today I havn't heard about a 2003 dated 1 or 2 Euro in circulation. In
the Bu sets 2003 all 5 mints are represented with a 1 and 2 euro.
* France will not issue the 2003 1 and 2 Euro for circulation, only in the
sets 2003.
* Greece issued a 2003 set last month,
* Monaco and Italy 2003 are not issued at the moment, maybe later this
year.
* Ireland will probably issue next week the 1 and 2 Euro 2003 and already
issued different BU sets 2003.
If there is news about new issues this will be mentioned in one of the next
WBCC Newsmails.

2. Bi-metallic commemorative 2 Pound G.B. 2004..by Paul Baker, UK

The 2002-03 annual report of the British Royal Mint recently appeared on
their website. The on-line version of this annual report comes in the form
of a rather large (approx 4 MB) pdf file. Pages 21 and 22 of the 38 page
report are on the subject of the Royal Mint Advisory Committee. They include
information on future circulation coins design for Great Britain - namely
the 2004 circulating commemorative of 50 Pence and Bi-metallic 2 Pounds and
also the new 4 year series of 4 new 1 Pound coin designs (to commemce next
year). So what about the Bi-metallic 2 Pounds coin - the report details that
the reverse will feature a design by Robert Lowe to celebrate the 200th
anniversary of the first railway locomotive, built by Richard Trevithick.
The design is said to feature a detailed view of Trevithick's locomotive but
no image was given. I would very much expect that both the standard design
and the locomotive design will appear in circulation at some stage during
2004. The only other notable "bi-metallic" in the report was an image - as
part of the illustrations shown on the pages regarding foreign coinage
contracts the report showed a Bosnia-Herzegovina 2 Konvertible Markka coin
with date 2003.

3. Bi-metallic Euros from Poland and Malta..by Jose Ramirez, Spain

Look at this Ebay auction, you can see the new Euro test set from Poland and
Malta.
* Malta 30.000 sets, obverse: Jean Parisot de la Valette
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3042520871
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3042557481
* Poland 30.000 sets
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3042655642
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3042656249

--Remark WBCC Focal Point: The text says that the set have "Certificate".
I'm sure it is not a certificate given by the Malta or Poland Mint. So I
think a clever busseniss is making money like the UK Eurosets. Or a'm I
wrong?

4. Bi-metallics from China...by Manuel Gonzalez, Spain

Last week I saw in Internet one page with Bi-metallic China silver gold
pieces issued. There is 3 giant Bi-metallic
* 500 Yuan 1995 with 5 Oz Au and 2 Oz Ag (already listed in TWOB)
* 500 Yuan 1996 with 5 Oz Au and 2 Oz Ag
* 500 Yuan 1997 with 5 Oz Au and 2 Oz Ag
You can see in next web: http://www.chinacoins.net/modern/Bime.htm

6. Bi-metallic 1792 Silver Center Cent... by Cliff Anderson, USA

This week's new images show the obverse and reverse of a beautiful replica
of the Bi-metallic 1792 US Silver Center Cent minted by, and available at,
Gallery Mint Museum (GMM).
See the WBCC image library section for the United States, where this item is
more fully described, and the paragraph in the "History of Bi-Metallic
Coins"

The Guide Book of United States Coins (the "Red Book"), the standard
reference on U. S. coins, 51st edition, page 10, gives this information:
"Several pattern coins were prepared in 1792 before regular mint operations
commenced. These included the silver center cent by Henry Voigt, a smaller
piece than that of regular issue. The small plug of silver, worth about
three-quarters of a cent, was evidently intended to bring the intrinsic
value of the coin upp to the value of one cent and permit production of a
coin of more convenient size. Alexander Hamilton had mentioned ayear before
that the proposed 'intrinsic value' cent would be too large, and suggested
that the amount of copper could be reduced and a trace of silver added. The
pattern cent with a silver center may have been designed to conform to this
recommendation." The catalog itself states that there are only 13 known
specimens to exist, with an estimated value of $65,000 each.

See other descriptions from CoinWorld and other authorities:
http://www.coinworld.com/ebay/NewCol...lverCenter.asp
http://www.coinfacts.com/Patterns/17...92_judd_01.htm
http://historywired.si.edu/object.cfm?ID=428

The GMM flier in this item of June 2002 says the following:
"Our latest offering is a reproduction of one of the most interesting coins
created as a pattern for the new coins to be minted at the U.S. Mint in
1792.
The silver center cent was created that has 3/4 cent worth of silver, and
1/4 cent worth of copper.
Other patterns were struck from the same dies that contain the same
percentages of copper and silver alloyed together. Alloys using low
percentage of precious metal are sometimes referred to as "billon" or
"fusible alloy". The low percentage of silver is not enough to distinguish
it from pure copper, and the silver center cent was determined to be too
time consuming to produce, so it was later decided that large cents, or what
Thomas Jefferson referred to as the "real cent" would be made of pure
copper.
This, the latest reproduction from Gallery Mint Museum, is now available for
$20 each. Available with COPY stamp on reverse or obverse, it features a
reeded edge. Actual size is approximately .88"."

The Gallery Mint Museum can be reached at P. O. Box 706, Eureka Springs, AR
72632. They welcome VISA or Mastercard orders toll free at 888 558-MINT
(558-6468); fax 479 253-5056, and/or email at . But check
out their website for a lot of other great items: www.gallerymint.com

I noticed that the Patrick Mint produced its own replica in 1997. See the
additional scans of this item which may have been done as an advertising
piece. I have no idea if the Patrick Mint still has any of this item, but
look at their website http://www.sonic.net/themint/. And notice its address
on the reverse of the piece.

7. Bi-metallic from Pobjoy..by Manuel Gonzalez, Spain

There are other new Bi- and Tri-metallic pieces from Pobjoy.Mint.
http://www.pobjoy.com/pobjoy.asp
Search tri metal and you can see new piece...
* Gibraltar Centenary of Powered Flight 2003
and search in bi metal and you can see 3 new pieces...
* Gibraltar Europa and the Bull 2003

8. Bi-metallic 1 and 2 Euro 2003 Vatican..by Martin Peeters, Netherlands

This week I received Vaticane one BU 2003 Euro set (price 18 Euro, = 20US$)
with the Bi-metallic 1 and 2 Euro. In the next WBCC Auction 59 the set is
listed with a start price of 20US$. This offers is only for WBCC members, so
no new WBCC members are accepted till Auction 59 has ended.

9. The WBCC Bi-metallic Quiz Game #367...by Jack Hepler, USA

In 1999, the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, USA began a series of
Bi-metallic tokens. The 1999 version shows a picture of the city skyline. In
2000, the token honored Queen Charlotte. Other featured designs include a
trolley, sister city of Arequipa, Mexico and the 1774 Hezekiah Alexander
home. How are these Bi-metallic tokens intended to be used?
a. Parking
b. Car Wash
c. Taxes
d. Highway Toll
Please send your answer to me:
Note: The image of these tokens on the WBCC Website and can be found at
http://wbcc-online.com

Answer to Bi-metallic Quiz Game question #366.
In 1998, gambling machines using Bi-metallic tokens or Jetons
were used in game machines at the David Ben Gurion Airport in
Israel. These machines had been installed in one of
the passenger halls. The tokens are described as follows:
Obverse Center Venus profile / Ring 15 stars VENUS
Reverse Center H for Horton / Ring B.G. Airport Horton
diameter = 24.3 mm
The machines have been removed from the Ben Gurion terminal and
it is reported that they were sold along with a load of tokens
to the Ukraine! Where is the Ben Gurion Airport located?
a. Amman
b. Jaffa
c. Lod
d. Ur
Answer to Question #366 is "c"; Lod
Summary of answers to Quiz Game Question #365: 9 players.

10. WBCC Quiz Game Prize...by Jack Hepler, USA

The special prize to be awarded to a member who correctly answers the WBCC
Quiz Game this week (#367) will be a Bi-metallic Charlotte Token. If more
than one member gets the question right, a random drawing will be conducted
to select a winner. The winner of the Bi-metallic Ben Gurion Airport Token
(WBCC Newsmail #365) is Max Aiello (WBCC member #73).

11. New Bi- or Tri-metallic images....by Rod Sell, Australia

The new Bi and Tri-metallic image shown at:
http://wbcc-online.com/new-releases/new-images.html
New listed a
* Canadian Off Center 2 dollar
* USA Silver Center Cents
* Trial strike of The Australian Numismatic Society 2005 Medal
* WBCC Encased 2002 Sweden 1 Krone
* WBCC Encased 1973 Portuguese Guine 5 Escudos
* Charlotte Tokens 1999 to 2003

WBCC Auction 59...by Rod Sell, WBCC Auction Provider

You have just 2 weeks to list your lots for WBCC Auction 59 which will start
on the 6th September.
The items listed can be seen at.
http://wbcc-online.com/auction/auction59.html
Please note this Auction will close at 11.30 PM Sydney time on Sunday 14th
September. This is early Sunday morning in the USA and mid afternoon in
Europe. Please send your lots as soon as possible to

"See you" next weeks,
Martin Peeters, Focal Point of the
Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club

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The Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club (WBCC)
was established September 14, 1996 and is the very first Worldwide
Collectors Club using the Internet. Goal of the WBCC is exchange
Bi-metallics and exchange knowledge about Bi-metallics
WBCC Organisation:
WBCC Webmaster: Rod Sell, Australia,
WBCC Auction Provider: Rod Sell,
WBCC DoCu-Cent Frans Dubois, Netherlands,
WBCC Public Relations: Cliff Anderson, USA,
WBCC Research Cent Paul Baker, UK,
WBCC Developement Cent Jack Hepler, USA,
WBCC Focal Point ANA Conventions: Ray Lockwood, USA,
WBCC Focal Point: Martin Peeters, Netherlands,
WBCC Website: http://wbcc-online.com
Bi-metallic Coin Forum page: http://www.network54.com/Forum/86625
The WBCC is sponsored for the Basel World Money Fair 2003/4,
http://www.worldmoneyfair.com/ , by:
* Schuler Presses, Germany, www.schulergroup.com
and
* The Portuguese Mint (INCM), http://www.incm.pt