WBCC Newsmail 44, Vol. 2, June 14, 1997 Dear WBCC members, in this weeks WBCC Newsmail again very fine, interesting and nice Bi-metallic news. Enjoy it !! 1. How I got interested in Bi-metallics.....By David Shapiro, USA My babysitter knew I collected coins so she gave me some. One had two metals on it. I went to coinmasters to ask what it was, they said it was a Bi-metallic. I knew Rod Sell was a collector of Bi-metallics so I went to him and he said to join the WBCC for more info, and here I am !! --- Remark of the WBCC Focal Point about this item: David is our youngest member, he is 10 years "old". The WBCC is for all ages !! 2. More Gun-money.....Frans Woons, Canada In addition to last week overview of Richard Giedroyc (Coin World) there is according the "Standard Catalogue of the Coins of Great Britain and Ireland" written by Herbert Allen Seaby and Peter John Seaby, 10th edition 1960, page. 95, unther number 3572, also a 1 penny of the years 1689 and 1690. The discription is as follows: 3572 Pewter penny, 1689 or 1690. Head as gunmoney shilling. Reverse: Crowned harp, date above, piece of prince's metal inserted. Value (in quality "fine"): 7 Pounds. 3. Nevada Silver Premium Gaming Tokens....By Marv Weaver, Non WBCC member More and more collectors are becoming involved with the collecting of Silver Premium Gaming (Bi-metallic) tokens. I specialize in the Tokens from Nevada. There are many other casino's outside Nevada that have these $10 Silver Premium Gaming tokens that fall under the WBCC Bi-metallics description. The gambit of casino's run from Atlantic City, New Jersey to the numerous Indian casino's that are spread thoroughout the United States, as well as the Riverboat casino's and Cruise Ships. As for Nevada there are currently 373 $10 Gaming tokens that have been issued. Of these, 91 have been "Retired from Play" and 8 have been made obsolete by casino's that have closed or changed Ownership and Names. With the total number of Silver Premium Tokens issued by Nevada casino's at 526, the majority of the tokens are of the $10 varieties. For more information regarding these tokens check out my web site at: http://home.earthlink.net/~mweaver 4. French production method is secret.....By Larry Friemel, USA The following e-mail I've got from the French Mint asking about the production method of Tri-metallics: -- Quote As far as I know, the first mint to produce Bi-metallic coins was the italian mint. Our Pessac factory produced the first Bi-metallic 10 Franc "génie de la Bastille" in 1988 and the first Tri-metallic 20 Franc "Pierre de Coubertin" in 1992. Our production method is secret and is protected by a license. Thank you for your interest in our products. For any information about coins products, call M. RENCKER. For artistic products, have a look to our shop on the net: http://www.monnaiedeparis.fr, LA BOUTIQUE. Best salutations from Daniel PARIS, MONNAIE DE PARIS. -- Unquote 5. Minthouses and Bi-metallics......By Ray Lockwood, USA I am of the opinion that WBCC needs to publish an article listing the mints where each Bi-metallic coin was made. For example, in what mint were the following made: The coins of Andorra and Algeria? The 100 fils coin of Bahrain? The 500 Reis of Cambodia? The 100 Escudos of Cape Verde? The coins of the Czech Republic and Ecuador? My list goes on and on. Maybe I am the only collector of Bi-metallics who doesn't know where these coins were made, but I seriously doubt it. Can you HELP? Thanks, Ray Lockwood, WBCC Member #30, sunray@comteck.com 6. Israel New Year token..........By Michael Ayrapetov, USA The Israelian New year greeting token of 1964 has in the center (Al) a 1 Agorah KM 24.1 of 1964 (JE 5764) and the text in the ring (Bra) is "Good Year 5724" (observe) and "The Israel Company for Medals and Coins" (reverse) This Information I've got from the "International Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Numismatics" issued 1996, page 123, 124 and 316. A picture of this Israel token you can see at the WBCC Homepage: http://www.Hlos.com.au/~rod.sell/WBCC.html 7. Definitions of numismatics pre-coinage terms....By Focal Point A WBCC member came with the idea to make a glosarry of pre-coinage terms retaled to Bi-metallics. He has given some examples and took them of the "Coin Dictionary and Guide", New York, 1960 made by Chamberlain and Fred Reinfeld. Here are some examples: * Essay (essai): A trial piece * Piedfort (French for Strong foot): A sort of pattern coin, struck upon a thick flan. * Pattern Coins: Pieces demontrating a new denomination, a new design or change in an existing design proposed for adoption as a regular issue. * Transitional Pattens: A coin issued at the time of a design chane incorporating features of both the old and new designs. Now I think of some terms which I need a deffinition of: -- Encased Coin -- Jeton -- Medal -- Token (Multy Trade Token, Transportation Tokens, etc.) What do you think, WBCC and non-WBCC members? 8. Brunei 1996 coin set............ By Larry Friemel, USA The following information I've got from a Singapore coindealer: 1996 Coin complete set issued are as follows: A. 50 SEN copru Nickel ringed type, 10grs with 27.3 mm diameter B. 50 $ Silver round shape gold plated/enamel ringed type 2tory Oz and 50 mm diameter. C. 50 $ Silver square shape with gold plated Silver ringed type 2tory Oz, 65 x 31 mm. D. 50 $ Gold 1tory Oz 22K with milticolor enamel ringed type and 32.97 diameter. The prices are: The 50 Sen coins is US$ 25, with SILVER round is $250, with the square $300 and with the Gold $800 + $15 shipping & registration.Payment can be send in US$ personal check, M.O., TC etc. 9. Canadian non-ringed Bi-metallic.......By Eugene Canham, USA There is a new Canadian Non-ringed Bi-metallic dated 1996 in the serie "Coins on Coins". This one is minted 15,000, .999 Ag/Au Inlay with Panda. 10 Mexican 1997 Bi-metallics........By Eugene Canham, USA I just received the new Mexico KM-603 1 Peso, KM-604 2 Peso and the KM-605 5 Peso all dated 1997. 11. Canadian Non-ringed Bi-metallic...By Frans Woons, Canada Kyle Mutcher, Canada, mentioned in WBCC Newsmail 39, item 12 about a Non-ringed Bi-metallic, I have a more detailed description: Recently the Royal Canadian Mint has issued a non-ringed Bi-metallic medal. A description is as follows: The main portion of the medal is copper or copper plated and has a centered inlay on one side of nickel or a nickel plated metal. The coin measures about 36 mm in diameter and has a thickness of about 4.2 mm. The diameter of the inlay is about 24 mm. The inlay shows the polar bear image as shown on the bi-metallic $ 2 coins, but larger. The inlay is surrounded by 24 maple leaves. The other side of the medal shows the RCM logo and the legend: ROYAL CANADIAN MINT MONNAIE ROYALE CANADIENNE PRESIDENT-PRESIDENTE Danielle V. Wetherup 12. French future 1 and 2 Euro.....By Martin Peeters, Netherlands The following question I have ask the French Mint in Paris: "Will the future 1 and 2 Euro (Legal Tender) made as a Bi-metallic?" And the answer was: -- Quote As far as we know to-day, the 1 euro and 2 euro coins will be Bi- or Tri-metallic. If I have further information on that point, I will write to you next week. Best salutations from Daniel PARIS, MONNAIE DE PARIS. -- Unquote 13. Mexican Bi-metallic 10 Pesos...By Luis Wulschner, Mexico On Wednesday (May 7th, 1997) the change of the metal of the central disk of the 10 pesos coin of Mexico was authorized. Before, the coin had a silver center with a total weight of 5.604 grams; now, the center will be of German silver (65% copper, 10% nickel and 25% zinc); and its total weight will be 4.75 grams. The Government and Bank of Mexico Authorities said that the design will remain the same. The changing of the metals is due to the fact that it was necessary to" REDUCE COST". Unfortunately we weren't informed when the coins will be released to circulation. If this metal changing is successful, they plan to realize the same substitutions on the 20 peso coins first and later on the 50 pesos. But for now, the 10, 20 and 50 pesos are withdrawn from circulation; and people can only acquire mint sets at the Bank of Mexico at very high prices. 14. Jersey new Bi-metallic...By Wolfgang Schuster, Austria In line with UK coinage change, the State Jersey are replacing the 2 Pound coin. At november this year it will be produced from 2 alloys with contrasting colours, Silver or Copper/Nickel with Nickel/Brass. As with the new UK 2 Pound a design competition was held and althought local winner Alan Copp didn't walk away with a prize as generous as the 10,000 Pound given to the UK winner. The Jersey Bi-metallic features all 12 Parish arms, as appeared individually on the parish 1 Pound coin series of the 1980's. Further details will be given in due course. 15. My new E-mail address.........By Frans Woons, Canada My new e-mail address is: Frans.Woons@gems9.gov.bc.ca 16. A historical article about Bi-metallics.By Martin Peeters, Netherlands This week I've got a copy of the Canadian coinpaper "Les Monnaies". In the april issue of this coinpaper, the only in French language for North America,.I saw an article named "L'univers merveilleux des pieces bimetalliques". The article gives an historical overview about Bi-metallics. And now the surprise: It was written by our WBCC Helpdesk, Larry Friemel from the USA. Congratulations Larry, a very nice and informative article. 17. Next week WBCC Newsmail....By Focal Point Every friday evening I have to complete the weekly WBCC Newsmail. It is always a lot of work but I like this very much, it gives me some kind of kick. On saterday morning (GMT time) I send the WBCC newsmail to all members and also to the RCC Newsgroup and some non-WBCC members. On saterday evening I'm already thinking what will be the contence of the next WBCC Newsmail, and I know now that with the help of you (WBCC members and non-members) I don't have to worry. "See" you next week, Martin Peeters, Focal Point of the WBCC martinp@concepts.nl