WBCC Newsmail 50, Vol. 2, July 26, 1997 Dear WBCC members, it is celebration time. This weeks WBCC Newsmail is the 50th edition. Again a highlight in the (short) history of the Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club, thanks to all active WBCC members!! In this weeks edition some very nice Bi-metallic news from around the world, enjoy it!! 1. New WBCC Chatroom...By Rod Sell, Australia and Marion Slaten, USA Today courtesy of member Marion Slaten we have a new Chat Room that I hope members will make good use of. The Site is linked to our WBCC Homepage and is at Http://www.geocities.com/RodeoDrive/7503/chat.html When you have finished reading the Newsmail drop in and have a chat. Marion and I hope to speak with you when you drop in. 2. Profile of a new member.......By WBCC Focal Point Again a new member joining the WBCC Name : Ken Humberston (WBCC member #59), USA E-mail: kesix@juno.com Age: 74 Profession: Retired Hobbies: Collecting Encased Coins. Still have the collection I started when I was 9!! Against: Prejudice---in other words I am prejudiced against prejudice! Goal: More and better Encased coins in my collection! Am very willing to talk about same and would like to meet other collectors. 3. A note from...........Larry Friemel, WBCC Helpdesk, USA This week marks the 50th issue of the WBCC Newsmail, just two weeks short of one full year. I want to commend Martin for his dedication and the time it must take to screen the various inputs and pull together a weekly Newsmail, in addition to his own collecting interests and preparing the Bi-monthly catalog. I also want to thank all of the members of the club for their various contributions, because without them there would have been little news to report and many Bi-metallic collectibles out there that I did not know even existed. A year ago, I expressed to Martin my doubts that he could find enough information on the topical area of Bi-metallic collecting to publish an interesting weekly Newsmail. I had suggested that a monthly might be the best that could be realized. Plus it would take some of the strain off of him trying to get it out every weekend. But so far, I feel he has proven me wrong (and I am glad). Every week someone finds a new Bi-metallic tidbit which continues to feed my interest. I have heard numerous dealers at recent local coin shows and several that I have used in the past for mail orders, talking about the cooling off of Bi-metallics. I kind of wonder about that because: * Look at the growth of the WBCC. It has expanded at an average rate of about one member a week. That is pretty good in my estimation given the "virtual" aspects of the organization. * We now have members in 12 different countries. * Europe in 2000/1 is about to embark on a major Bi-metallic release of 1 and 2 Euro coins. But these same coin dealers tell me that sales have fallen off considerably and they are no longer purchasing Bi-metallics from their dealers. However, the token dealers are telling me that they are experiencing a rising interest in Bi- metallic tokens. Given the interest of the members in the club, I started wondering why this may be? I began looking back through past issues of the Newsmails and I think I see why, at least, US dealers might get that impression. I notice that the majority of WBCC members are in the United States. Historically collectors of US coins have collected by series, date and mint mark. Type collectors, however, develop where the series is harder to acquire or costly and/or very large like foreign coins. Well, here in the US, all current Bi-metallic circulating coins are foreign and many of the Bi-metallic medals are precious metal and expensive. Therefore, I believe that most of the WBCC members (at least in the United States) are collecting by type. If you are type collecting, once you have one, you do not need another until the country changes the design (if it ever does). This approach provides little or no repeat business to the dealer and he finds he does not want to maintain inventory which just sets there. However, we all know that the United States during the 1800s-early 1900s produced a great many different Bi-metallic tokens. These tokens are much easier to find at local shows, they are relatively inexpensive with an average price in the $10-$20 range and they are indigenous to the country. You can add to these older tokens the newer vintage of Bi-metallic gaming tokens and numerous bridge/metro fare tokens being used today. Is it therefore little wonder that circulating Bi-metallic coins are not selling in the US and that Bi-metallic tokens are? I think not. But at the moment I see this as hurdle a new collector will encounter if s(he) tries to start a collection today, in that many of the coins dealers were carrying last year just are not available locally today. That stock has been disposed of and is not being replenished. We, however, have several dealers which are members of the WBCC and I have found them to have at least a good selection of "current" material with a smattering of some earlier pieces. This situation, however, I do not believe to be the case for WBCC members in other countries especially those living where they produce circulating Bi-metallic coinage. There are many bi-metallics being produced in Euro-Asia and I sense the interest there is strong. I feel we are not seeing this because computer technology is not as readily available and many of these (potential) collectors are not connected to the internet. Given the local nature of the coinage, I see many of these collectors aspiring to the more familiar series, date and mint collection approach that many of us here in the US grew up with as kids when we began collecting pennies, nickels, etc. from our allowances. Would US collector interest grow if either a new $1 or the 50 state 25 commemoratives being discussed were to be produced as a Bi-metallic? I personally think it would expand in an instant. Let me end, with again thanking Martin and the other WBCC members for their contributions, the numerous interesting discussions we have engaged in, and the coins you have helped me add to my collection. I am looking forward to the next 50 issues of the WBCC Newsmails. But, if we are going to continue to grow, we may need to begin thinking of how to reach those other potential Bi-metallic collectors that do not surf the internet and how to help the new collector that may get frustrated by the difficult they may encounter in obtaining some of those now 15 year old early Bi-metallics. 4. My new E-mail address...By Frans Woons, Canada My new E-mail address is: mwoons@sos-connect.com 5. France new Bi-metallic Euros...By Martin Peeters, Netherlands In the last cataloque (July '97) of the German firm 'A. Jorg Numismatik' I saw 2 new Bi-metallic 10 Euro of France. * 10 Euro 1996, depicts Le Havre/Bridge, UNC, Br/CuNi, price DM 72.20 * 10 Euro 1997, depicts Portiers/Future, UNC, Br/CuNi, price DM 54.50 (1 DM = 1.80 US Dollars) Further details unknown. Available at: A. Jorg Numismatik Postfach 1216 88341 Saulgau Germany 6. Coin World article...........By Krish Khambadkone, USA The following article came with the July 7th issue of the American Coinpaper Coin World. --Quote Mexico ends an experiment in Silver Bank of Mexico withdraws silver ringed Bi-metallic coinage Mexico authorized debasement of its precious metal ringed Bi-metallic coinage May 7. Prior to debasement, Mexico was believed to be the only country in the world currently using precious metal coins in circulation. Three of the denominations used in Mexico featured .925 fine silver separated from base metals by using a combined ring and center planchet. The change of metal of the central disk of the 10-peso 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 with a weight of 4.75 grams. If this metal changing is successful, it is planned to realize the same substitutions on the 20 and 50 peso coins. But for now, the 10, 20 and 50 pesos are withdrawn from circulation. --Unquote --Remark of the WBCC Focal Point: This message was earlier reported by WBCC member Luis Wulschner from Mexico in WBCC Newsmail 44 item 13 of June 14th 1997. 7. France 10 and 20 Franc 1997...By Martin Peeters, Netherlands From Daniel Paris of the French Mint (Coinshop/boutique) I've got news about their products they offering. There is news about the Bi-metallic 10 and 20 Franc dated 1997. --Quote You can find, see (and if you want, order) our current sets of coins so : - Call www.monnaiedeparis.fr - Click on The Shop (or La Boutique) - When you get the LA BOUTIQUE page, click on the English flag at right - You get the page THE SHOP - Click on the series picture at top left (you will see a legend at the bottom of the screen saying "Numismatic Series) - you get a list of products avalilable now : Brilliant Uncirculated 1997 set (15,000 made), at 195F = 195 /6 = 35$ (1$ = 6F) or Proof Series 1997 (8,000 made), at 595 F = 100$, etc For ordering, click on "Add to Order". Shipping charges will be added according to your postal zone (100F in Europe). Pay attention : those series are rare (little world mintage), and will be soon out of stock. At that time, they will disappear from the shop. You can pay by Visa or Mastercard, or send a bank cheque. I hope that you will like our beautiful bicolored coins, 10 and 20 Franc. The silver 100 F is included only in the proof series. We are in the last years of existence of Franc coins: The Euro begin to be struck in 1998 ! (circulation in 2002). --Unquote 8. 10 Dollar Silver Gaming Tokens from Colorado..By Michael Ayrapetov, USA After Nevada, now Colorado has also Bi-metallic 10 Dollar Gaming Tokens. I could find 6 till now. The observe dipicts the value 10 Dollars and the text 'Wanted dead or Alive' (center) and '.999 Pure Silver' (ring). On each Bi-metallic Gaming Token the reverse depicts different bandits from the past like: Butch Casidy, Belle Starr, Sundance Kid, Harry Longabaugh, Billy the Kid, William Boney, Jesse James and Frank James and John Wesley Hardin. These Colorado Bi-metallic Gaming Tokens can obtain for the price of 12 US Dollars (+ 2 US Dollars shipping) at: Black Diamond 1653, Vine Street Denver, Colorado 80206 USA Phone: 303-394-2001 or Black Diamond P.O. Box 752 Cripple Creek, Colorado 80813 Phone 719-689-2898 9. Encased Coins Webside...By Rod Sell, Australia Bryan Ryker of Fort Wayne Indiana has just opened a web site on the encased coins of The Penny Man of Fort Wayne Indiana - Earl Fankhauser. I would suggest you have a visit at: http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Metro/5095/ as it has some encased coins and a lot of information. 10. Dutch Bi-metallic M.T.T.'s...By Frans Dubois, Netherlands In the following overview I have tried to give the most important information about the Dutch Bi-metallic M.T.T.'s (Multi Trade Tokens) which are liste in the cataloque 'The World of Bi-metallics'. The Erica The Erica was issued on the 1st October 1992 and has a value of 5 Dutch guilders in the city of Apeldoorn. It was issued to commemorate the 1200th. anniversary of the city. The design is made by Wigger v.d.Horst. On one side is the picture of the new townhall. The reverse it shows the 'Erica Tetralix', the Latin name for the flower which is on this side. The token is strucked at the Dutch Mint in 3 versions: circulation, F.D.C and proof. The proof-token seems to be 3-metallic because the ring has 'coloured' in the process of polishing. The 5 Piek Geertruidenberg The Bi-metallic 5 guilders of the city of Geertruidenberg was issued on the 1st July 1993. It commemorates the 400th. anniversary of the siege of Geertruidenberg in 1593. The design is from Willem Vis, a wellknown Dutch designer of coins and tokens. The token is strucked at the Dutch Mint. On the front side is a portrait of the 2 generals who fought eachother: Prince Maurits versus Count Pieter van Mansveldt. At the reverse is a stylised old map with the canals of Geertruidenberg and the value: 5 Piek ( is 5 Dutch guilders). There is only one Bi-metalic version. The Agaath The Bi-metallic Agaath was issued to raise funds for the restauration of the Agatha-church in the city Lisse. It was issued on June the 3rd. 1994 and had a value of 5 Dutch guilders till the end of 1994. One side it shows the Agatha-church in Lisse and on the reverse is the name, Agaath, and the value 5 guilders. The background is a wall of stones. The 2 versions, circulation and proof, are made at the Dutch Mint. The Alba This M.T.T. which was issued in May 1993 in the city Alphen a/d Rijn to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the city and is called the Alba. It has a value of 5 Dutch guilders. One side shows a castle with a knight who guards it. The text is 'Stad in het Groene Hart', which means that Alphen is the centre of the green district in the Netherlands. At the reverse side it shows the value, 5 Alba ( is 5 Dutch guilders ). There are 2 versions made at the Dutch Mint: a circulation and a proof version. The intention was to raise funds for the festivities. Molenaarsgraaf In 1994 the village of Molenaarsgraaf celebreted the fact that it was 750 years ago that the village was founded. For that reason the organizing-committee issued a special M.T.T. but it was for several reasons a special one. There is no special name on it and it also shows no value (Which was in fact 7,50 Dutch guilders) It was not strucked by the Dutch Mint (who only delevered the planchets) but they were strucked with a mobil-mintpress. The M.T.T. shows the windmill of Molenaarsgraaf on one side and on the other side it shows the church. The design was from W.v.d.Vliet and the token could be used as current money in Molenaarsgraaf from May till the end of 1994. (It was very hard to get these M.T.T.'s because they were nearly all hold by the local population) The Lierse Dubbeldaalder On January 12 1995 the city of De Lier issued a M.T.T. to commemorate the 750th anniversary of the city De Lier. The value of this 'Lierse Dubbeldaalder' was 5 Dutch guilders. The frontside shows the name of the token, 750 years and De Lier 1995. At the reverse are two years, 1245 and 1995 and also again 750 years. It is a rather stylised token and there is only one Bi-metallic version strucked at the Dutch Mint. The Knoop The city of Montfoort issued a M.T.T. on April 19th 1995 to commemorate the liberation after World War II in 1945. The name of this token was 'n Knoop and it had a value of 5 Dutch guilders for the period of 6 months in Montfoort. At one side there are the arms of Montfoort in a shield and the bhme Knoop. At the reverse side is a silhouet of a city and '50 years Liberation' 1945-1995. The Dutch Mint made 2 versions: F.D.C. and proof. Bolswarder Vlieger The Bolswarder Vlieger is the name of a coin which was circulating for the first time ine455 in the city Bolsward. This old coin gave his name to a M.T.T. issued in 1995 by the shopkeepers of Bolsward, a small town in Friesland. Every years this city organizes some festivities and for this event the Vlieger was issued in two variaties. There is a circulation type: white ring/yellow centre. The proof version: red copper ring/ white centre. Both versions are made at the Dutch Mint in Utrecht. On the front side you can see the picture of the festivities and on the reverse it shows the name above a 'double eagle' and Moneta Nova 1455-1995 De Delftsche Duyt On November 1st. 1995 The city of Delft issued a M.T.T. with the value of 5 Dutch guilders to commemorate the fact that it was 750 years ago that the city of Delft got the right of Count William the Second to be a city. The funds that are raised with this issue are given to a special school for handicaped children. On one side there are the portraits of 3 persons who are very important for Delt: Count William the Second, Prince William the First (Orange) and Queen Beatrix. On the reverse are the two towers of famous churches in Delft, 750 years and a 5 ( the value is 5 Dutch guilders). The designer is Willem Vis and there are two versions made at the Dutch Mint: a circulation and a proof- version. De Wachter In June 1997, there was a M.T.T. issued in the city Zuidlaren to raise funds for the restauration of the 'Wachter' an oil-mill in Zuidlaren. The mill is portraited on one side of the token and on the other side there are the arms of Zuidlaren hold by two horses. The value is 5 Dutch guilders which is on the ring of the token. It was strucked at the Dutch Mint. Note: The first issue was sent back to the Mint because the committee was not happy with the design. Only a few pieces are left of this first issue and also very rare!) The value on the M.T.T.'s is not the price people have to pay for a M.T.T. because the intention is to raise funds. An other intention is that a great deal of the tokens will not be used for paying and this is all profit. Some of these tokens are very hard to get after the period in which they I bought you the latest piece. Most of these M.T.T.'s you can see on the WBCC Homepage: http://www.Hlos.com.au/~rod.sell/WBCC.html "See" you next week, Martin Peeters, Focal Point of the Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club martinp@concepts.nl