WBCC Newsmail 64, Vol. 2, November 1, 1997 Dear WBCC members, Again this week very nice news about Bi-metallics. The hightlight, offcourse, this week was for me the announcement of the WBCC own Bi-metallic. You must know I have more plans/ideas for the future. I'll keep them secret now, but you can read them in one of the future issued WBCC Newsmails. Enjoy this weeks WBCC Newsmail !! 1. Two new members...By WBCC Focal Point We have again 2 new members. Unfortunally without Internet connection. Please let me introduce them to you. Name: Tom Galway (WBCC member #68) E-mail: No Internet entry Age: 49 Profession: Micrologist Hobby: Collecting coins Against: Non-circulating legal tender Goal: A complete collection of the mordern (since 1982) Bi-metallic circulating coins by types and date. Name: Li Tiesheng, China PRC (WBCC member #69) E-mail: No Internet entry Age: 65 Profession: Retired professor Hobby: World coin collecting and writing Goal: Introducing world coins knowledge to Chinese collectors 2. My E-mail address......By Koen Helling, Netherlands Finally I've got an E-mail addres: Koen Helling, Email: stea.utrecht@wxs.nl 3. New Bi-metallic Euros....By Martin Peeters, Netherlands From R. Barthel of the German firm EMK (Erfdtstadter MunzenKabinett), I've got the follwing message: Two new Bi-metallic Euros are coming out soon: * Germany, 5 Ecu/Euro, 1997, Konrad Adenauer, Bi-metallic (CN-based) unc, 10.000 pieces, 20 grams. * Great B., 5 Ecu/Euro, ´97, W. Churchill, Bi-metallic (CN-based) unc, 10.000 pieces, 20 grams. I will let you know the pricing - when these Bi-metallic EcuEuro are available. --Remark of the WBCC Focal Point: Read the next item about pricing. 4. Several Bi-metallic news...By Eugene Canham, USA Now for some Bi-metallics news Have catalog numbers for you and also 2 new Bi-metallics. * New KM catalog numbers: Croatia 1997 25 Kuna = KM-47 Cape Verde (new metals) Plant = KM-38a Cape Verde (new metals) Bird = KM-39a Cape Verde (new metals) Ship = KM-40a Macao 1997 10 Patacas = KM = 83 Portugal 1997 100 Escudo Seal = KM-693 Portugal 1997 200 Escudo Dolphins = KM-694 Thailand 1997 10 Baht Rice Award = Y-339 * I have seen advertised from Bosch Coins (Belgium) 2 new issues in the 5 Ecu/Euro series: 1996, 5 Ecu/Euro (Germany) Conrad Adenauer 1997, 5 Ecu/Euro (Britain) Winston Churchill The price is 12,50 Dutch Guilders (about 6,25 US Dollars) each VAT included. Hope this news is of some interest and help to the club! Email address of Bosch Coins is: boschcoins@club.innet.be 5. New Bi-metallic 200 Euro Luxemburg...By Cees van der Hulst, Belgium There is a new 200 Euro struck by the Dutch Mint. There are only 3000 made of them and all are sold out already. It is the same with Kinegram as the first and as I let you know. They will made two of them each year. This is now is related to Luxemburg. The weight is the same as the first one and the issue price is also 495 Dutch Guilders (about 250 US Dollars). For a picture look into the WBCC Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/RodeoDrive/7513/wbcc/wbcc.html 6. Bi-metallic Belgium patterns......By Martin Peeters, Netherlands According to the 1998 Standard Catalog of World Coins 1901-present (KM catalog), I saw on page 182 the following: * Pn 197, 1915, 5 Centimes, Copper-Iron Bi-metal, reeded edge, KM 66 * Pn 198, 1915, 10 Centimes, Copper-Iron, Bi-metal, KM 81 * Pn 200, 1916, 10 Centimes, Copper-Iron, Bi-metal, KM 81 * Pn 203, 1918(ND), 25 Centimes, Copper-Iron, Bi-metal, flan, obv. 2 tranches around legend, ESSAI MONETAIRE Bi-metal, rev. legend around 25 CENT. So, this was new to me. Who knows more about these Pattern Bi-metallic from Belgium? 7. New Bi-metallic UK commemoratives.... By Rod Sell, Australia From a friend, Michael Doran, I've got the following message: I was just on the British Royal Mint website, and discovered that a new portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II pictured in the website. This portrait will be used from 1998 onward (which will affect the 1998 and later-dated 2 Pound coins of Great Britain, Jersey, Guensey, and also on other Bi-metallic coins issued in the British Commenwealth. To view this, go to the British Royal Mint website: http:///www.royalmint.com/ 8. New Bi-metallic commemorative from Finland (1)...By Rod Sell From a friend, Juha Hyötyläinen From Finland, I've the following message: I know that in the end of November a new Bi-metallic 25 FIM commemorative will come for the 80th celebration of the independence of Finland. The coin will be minted 100,000 pieces in proof and will cost FIM 40 a piece. This is obvious money making of the Finnish mint. 9. New Bi-metallic commemorative from Finland (2)...By Gerhard Schon In honour of the eightieth anniversary of independence, Finland will issue a Bi-metallic commemorative coin, designed by sculptor Tero Lounas. 25 Markkaa, 20.2 grams, 35.0 millimeters Ring: CuNi, Center CuAlZnSn Obverse: stylized landscape with a river Reverse: stylized silhouette of a town with waves of water in the foreground Maximum mintage: 100,000 Finish: specially polished Same coin is also included in the 1997 proof set Maximum mintage: 2,000 Finish: proof-like 10. UK Bi-metallic 2 Pound postponed......By Larry Friemel, USA Refering to WBCC Newsmail 61, item 10, I can add the following: In CoinWorld this week one interesting article by Richard Giedroyc on the British 2£ coin. Because of vending machine problems it has not yet been introduced into circulation. It introduction has now been delayed until the no sooner than March. If released then they plan to release the 1997 coins, but if further delayed they may have to reprocess the 1997 coins into 1998. The great thing about that is only those that have purchased the set would then have the 1997s. A very limited number of people. I do not wish bad luck on anyone or any organization, but that would be nice from the collectors standpoint. 11. Asked information RCM..........By Kyle Mutcher, Canada I have written to Pierre Morin, the relations officer for the Royal Canadain Mint in Ottawa and asked for information on the production of Canadian Bi-metallic coins and tokens. I also asked for pictures and information about the different test tokens that were made for the $2 coin. Hopefully I'll be able to get some nice information that I can share with WBCC members. 12. An ancient non-ringed Chinese Bi-metallic...By Li Tiesheng, China In Xan Dynasty, Wang-Mang period (7-23 AD), China issued Key-(Knife-)shaped coin called "Yi Dao Ping Wu Qian". "Yi Dao" means "One Key-(knife-)shaped coin", "Ping Wu Qian" means "Equals to 5000 cash. The first 2 characters "Yi Dao" which on the head of the Key-shaped coin are made of Gold filaments and inlaid into the Bronze coin body. Conventionly this coin is called "Jin Cuo Dao", which means "Gold inlaid into Key-(Knife-)shaped coin". I suppose this one of the earliest non-ringed Bi-metallic coin in the world in nearly two thousand years. Truly, it's very rare. The present price is about 500 US Dollars, but you could hardly find it on the ordinary market. 13. The UK Trial pack.........By Martin Peeters, Netherlands The unique British two Pound test Token Set (also called Trial Pack and 6000 sets produced) is a four-piece set to capture the development of England's new 2 Pound coin - including superb Bi-metallic "Galleon" Test Token and a blank 2 Pound Planchet with full edge lettering. When you look into the WBCc Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/RodeoDrive/7513/wbcc/wbcc.html you can see a picture of this set. In an article in Coin World was mentioned that the price was 29.95 US Dollars (I don't beleve this because the UK Mint offers it for 29.95 Pounds) and it is in the US available at: British Royal Mint Cheyenne, WY 82008-0031 USA Phone Toll-free (800) 221-1215 Also available in Canada for a price of 69.96 US Dollars (including shipping) at: Arctic Coin (Ottawa) Inc. 2573 Carling Ave. Ottawa, Ontario Canada K2B 7H7 Phone 613-596-9648 Fax: 613-596-6908 E-mail: coinstore@accu-rate.ca 14. New Bi-metallic from Schuler Pressen...By Martin Peeters The German coin/medal firm Schuler Presen has struck a new Bi-metallic medal. It is for 125 Years jubilee of the fire brigade of Esslingen/Zell in Germany. If you want to see a picture of it look into the WBCC Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/RodeoDrive/7513/wbcc/wbcc.html Schuler Pressen has now 7 different Bi-metallic medals. Schuler Pressen has also an representive in the US, on their webside http://www.schulergroup.com I saw the address: Schuler Incorperated 222, South Third Street Columbus, Ohio 43207-2494 Phone: +1 614-443-9481 Fax +1 614-443-9486 Btw: The Schuler Pressen webside shows the activities of the firm and that's more them striking Bi-metallics. 15. Ajax soccer team Bi-metallic...By Henk Zuidinga, Netherlands I have still 1 blisterpack left with the Ajax Soccer Team Bi-metallic. So if somebody has interest please let me know. First in, first out. Henk Zuidinga: eyelash@worldonline.nl. If you want to see a picture of the Bi-metallic token, look into the WBCC Homepage. 16. France Montesquieu and KM...By Martin Peeters, Netherlands In the 1998 Standard Catalog of World Coins (KM catalog) there are listed the 10 Franc Montesquieu in 1989, 1990 and 1991. PLEASE NOTICE this is not correct. With conformation from the French Mint, I can tell you ONLY in 1989 (300Th. Anniversary - Birth of Montesquieu !!) is made in 3 types. The following message I've got from Daniel Paris of the French Mint: --Quote The 10 Francs Montesquieu was struck exclusively in 1989, in common metal (BU series and essai) and in Gold (yellow gold and white gold). None in palladium. --Unquote 17. Different metal Russian Bi-metallic Coins...By Larry Friemel, USA As listed in the cataloque "The World of Bi-metallics" there are different metal versions of some of the Russian Bi-metallic coins. It appears they too have switched metal composition of the copper colored ring/center much like Cape Varde. You can see into the WBCC Homepage http://www.geocities.com/RodeoDrive/7513/wbcc/wbcc.html for pictures of 6 Bi-metallics from my collection. You can see the darker ring or center of the 10, 50 & 100 roubles come in a lighter color and a darker copper color. 18. WBCC Newsflash 3..........By Martin Peeters, Focal Point You could all read in WBCC Newsflash 3 sended october 30th., about the WBCC Bi-metallic token, which is finish now and have send this week to all those members who ordered one or more. Those members who could not load the picture I have send with this WBCC Newsflash 3, look into the WBCC Homepage, there you can see it. As you could read in the WBCC Newsflash 3 there are 113 WBCC Bi-metallics struck. Why 113? The strickingmachine who struck them has a capacity of 650 pieces per minute !! So it takes about 10 seconds to struck 100 pieces as original was planed. Those 13 extra pieces were struck while the strickingmachine was stopped !!! (About 1.2 second) "See" you next week, Martin Peeters, Netherlands Focal Point of the Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club martinp@concepts.nl