WBCC Newsmail 73, Vol. 3, Januar 3 , 1998 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Composed with help of several members of the Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club and published by Martin Peeters, The Netherlands, Focal Point of the WBCC, martinp@concepts.nl -------------------------------------------------------------------- Dear WBCC members, The first WBCC Newsmail in 1998 has much interesting Bi-metallic stuff. Also a large article about US Bi-metallic Trade Tokens. So, I hope you will enjoy this week's WBCC Newsmail. 1. A new member...by Martin Peeters, WBCC Focal Point May I introduce a new member. This new member is the first from France. Name: Arnaud Buathier (WBCC member #79), France E-mail: arnaud.buathier@hei.fupl.asso.fr Age: 18 Profession: Engineer Hobby: Collecting Bi-metallics 2. My E-mail address..........by Massimiliano Aiello, Italy I have now an E-mail address: GandG@iqsnet.it Please refer to my name when you will send a message to this address. 3. My new E-mail address......by Wadim Nensberg, Russia Please find my new E-mail address: nensberg@postman.ru 4. A new Argentina Bi-metallic 1 peso 1997..by Federico Amor, Spain A few days ago one friend brought me from Argentina a Bi-metallic 1Peso 1997 coin. In the obverse is coined the bust of Eva Maria Duarte of Peron. When you want to see a picture of it look into the WBCC Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/RodeoDrive/7513/wbcc/wbcc.html 5. Canadian Bi-metallic medal Available...By Serge Pelletier, Canada The Royal Canadian Mint issue a 39 mm Bi-metallic medal last year. It is Bi-metallic on one side only with the centre in nickel and the rim in copper. It shows a polar bear in the centre surrounded by a wreath of maple leaves. The back, which is in copper only, has the following inscription: Royal Canadian Mint//Presitent-President/Danielle W.Wethrup/Mintmark/Monnaie Royale Canadienne. Of interest to Bi-metallic collectors, the master die used for Canada's $2 coin was used to prepare the master die for this medal, so you have exactly the same polar bear. It is available for US$7.50 (postpaid) each from: Bonavita Ltd.(Visa & Mastercard accepted) Box 11447, Station H Nepean, ON K2H 7V1 Canada E-mail: mrmtt@aracnet.net 6. Varieties Austria Bi-metallic 50 Schilling..By John Bucek, Switzerland I like to report on a finding which I never have seen discribed or discussed anywhere. 50 Schilling Austria Bi-metallic 1996, circulation type, Austria Millenium issue: Variety 1: The surface of the number 50 is mate, to say the same as the entire coin. Variety 2: The surface of the number 50 is high grade polished (proof) whilst the other surfaces of the coin is like variety .1I have both coins in my collection. Comments are welcome. 7. French Bi-metallic Euro MTT's...by Frans Dubois, Netherlands This week I could obtain 2 Bi-metallic Euro MTT's (Municipal Trade Token) from France: * 1.5 Euro 1997 of the French city D'Uzes * 1.5 Euro 1997 of the French city Carcassonne When you look into the WBCC Hemopage you can see a picture of them: http://www.geocities.com/RodeoDrive/7513/wbcc/wbcc.html 8. French Bi-metallic Euro MTT...by Arnaud Buathier, France I saw the following new French Bi-metallic Euro MTT: 10 Euro 1998 of the French city d'Annecy. Weight 10.55 grs, diameter 30 mm. It costs 65 French Francs and there are 5000 pieces made. 9. New KM numbers.......by Eugene Canham, USA I have some new KM catalog numbers for the following Bi-metallics: Croatia 25 Kuna 1997, Map, KM 47 Croatia 25 Kuna 1997, 5th Anniv UN membership, KM 48 Croatia 25 Kuna 1997, Esperanto Conference, KM 49 Finland 25 Markkaa 1997, 80th Anniversary of Independence, KM 85 San Marino 1000 Lire 19976, Lion, KM 368 10. Message in the RCC Newsgroup...by Martin Peeters, Netherlands The following message I could read in the RCC Newsgroup: --Quote The new 1998 British Coin sets are being issued in January. The sets are very interesting because they show the new aged portrait of Her Majesty the Queen. Sets also contain the bimetallic £2 coin which was due to be issued on November 3rd 1997 but was postponed until 1998 due to problems with Vending machine industry. The standard and also the new EEC 50p coins are also included. Available separately in uncirculated or as part of the proof set is the Prince Charles 50th Anniversary £5 crown in blister pack. Our prices are as follows, including postage. 1998 UK Proof set £5 to penny (blue case), £32.95, US$53.00 1998 UK Proof set £5 to penny (red case), £39.95, US$65.00 1998 UK Uncirculated set £2 to penny, £10.95, US$18.00 1998 UK £5 crown Prince Charles in pack, £9.95, US$17.00 Discounts available for Trade/Wholesale orders. Expected middle January. Payment by Visa or Mastercard, please quote internet prices. Full Free list of coins available on request. Airedale coins have been trading for 20 years and are established members of both the American Numismatic Association and the British Numismatic Trade Associations. Airedale Coins P.O. Box 7 Bingley, West Yorkshire. England BD16 4AL Fax/24hour Answerphone (44) 1274 563869 Telephone (U.K. time 8am - 6pm only) (44) 1274 770414 Lauri Andrews, E.Mail: aireco@globalnet.co.uk Web page: HTTP://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~aireco --Unquote 11. Several Bi-metallic Tokens.......by Jack Hepler, USA I have found a couple of ringed Bi-metallic tokens you may not have seen: a) One about 24 mm in diameter, reeded, withferrus center and what appears to be a gilded brass outer ring. It is dated 1860, with inscription "Herschel. V. Johnson". The reverse is also dated 1860 and inscribed, "Stephen Douglas". It may be political. b) Second Bi-metallic token has a 4.5 mm hole in the center of a 13 mm ferrous inner ring. The outer ring is brass. Overall diameter is 21mm. The inscriptions: "Property of Morris Vender", the other side; "Accepted Subject to Restrictions" c) The third Bi-metallic token is about 20 mm in diameter with a 10 mm square center of aluminum, the outer ring is brass. The aluminum is inscribed with a large 5 with Patn, July 1899 and the outer ring inscribed "Good for-In Merchandise". The reverse had no inscription in the aluminum but the brass reads "A.C.L.CORP'N-Logging DEPT." --Remark WBCC Focal Point The Bi-metallic mentioned in c) is listed on page 26 in 1990 issued book: "Bimetallic Trade Tokens of the United States" written By David E. Schenkman, USA. In Item 19 of this WBCC Newsmail you can read more about the US Bi-metallic Trade Tokens. 12. Swiss Bi-metallic Municipal Trade Token...by Serge Pelletier, Canada The Republic and Canton of Neuchâtel, in Switzerland, will celebrate in 1998 its 150th Anniversary. It has therefore decided to issue a Municipal Trade Token (MTT) to commemorate the event. This token, called the "Alexis" in honour of the "Father of the Nation", Alexis-Marie Piaget, will be struck in three versions: a 38 mm circulation version (face value 10 francs), a silver version (also 10 francs) and a gold version (value 150 francs). The circulating version is Bi-metallic with a centre in Cupro-Nickel-Aluminum and a rim of Cupro-Nickel. The obverse shows the 150th Anniversary logo while the reverse shows the coat of arms of the Canton. The circulating token will be struck at 40,000 copies which are going quickly. This is the first Bi-metallic swiss piece. It is available for US$15 (postpaid) from: Bonavita Ltd. (Visa & Mastercard accepted) Box 11447, Station H Nepean, ON K2H 7V1 Canada E-mail: mrmtt@aracnet.net 13. Trading Bi-metallics.......by Arnaud Buathier, France I have Bi-metallic coins from West African States, 250 Franc) and Ghane to exchange woth other collectors. You can reach me by E-mail:E-mail: arnaud.buatier@hei.fupl.asso.fr 14. My Bi-metallic Tradelist........by Wouter Eversdijk, Belgium Here you find my Bi-metallic Tradelist. The prices you see are given in Dutch Gulders. Postage not included. 1 Dutch Guilders is 0.50 US Dollars. Cape Verde KM35, 100 escudos 1994, Salao Flowers, Unc, 10,00 KM40, 100 escudos 1994, Raso Bird, Unc, 10,00 KM45, 100 escudos 1994, Sailship Madalan, Unc,10,00 Europe (Aus) 250 Euro 1997, Gustav Klimt, The Kiss, Au/Ag, Proof, 500,00 Europe 5 Euro/Ecu 1996, Churchill, Unc, 12,50 5 Euro/Ecu 1996, Juan Carlos, Unc, 12,50 Europe (G) 200 EURO 1997, With Kinegram, Brandenburg Gate, Semper Operahouse and Cologne Cathedral, Proof 500,00 Europe (NL) 10 Euro 1997, Joh. van Oldenbarnevelt, Unc, 29,00 200 EURO 1997, J.P. Sweelinck, With Kinegram, Proof, 600,00 200 EURO 1997, Michel Lentz, With Kinegram, Proof, 500,00 Portugal 200 Escudos 1997, Expo Mundial - Dolphins, Unc, 8,50 San Marino 1000 lire 1997, Libertas, Lion and Statue, Unc, 6,00 My adress is: Bosch Coins, Wouter Eversdijk E-mail: boschcoins@club.innet.be P.O. Box 8 2382 Ravels Belgium Phone (00) 32 14 650077 Fax: (00) 32 14650078 15. Homepage with Bi-metallic MTT's...by Martin Peeters, Netherlands I found a Homepage about German Ecu/Euro's MTT's. Some in the homepage are Bi-metallic, like from the German City Gadebusch, Pirmasens and Waldkirch. Look into: http://home.t-online.de/home/carstensen.holger/homepage.htm 16. My Bi-metallic Trade list...by Fabio Guerrieri, Italy Here you find my Bi-metallic Trade list. Prices are in US Dollars and you can reach me: E-mail: guerrif@iol.it Croatia 25 Kuna 1997, unc, 9.00, map 25 Kuna 1997, unc, 9.00, ONU 25 Kuna 1997, unc, 9.00, Esperanto San Marino KM 140 500 Lire 1982, unc-, 2.50 KM 153 500 Lire 1983, unc, 3.00 KM 167 500 Lire 1984, xf, 1.70 KM 181 500 Lire 1985, xf, 1.70 KM 195 500 Lire 1986, xf+, 1.90 KM 209 500 Lire 1987, xf+, 1.90 KM 226 500 Lire 1988, unc-, 6.00 KM 239 500 Lire 1989, unc, 2.20 KM 256 500 Lire 1990, unc, 3.50, xf, 2.50 KM 269 500 Lire 1991, unc-, 2.00 KM 286 500 Lire 1992, unc, 2.00 KM 301 500 Lire 1993 xf+, 1.90 KM 314 500 Lire 1994 xf+, 3.00 500 Lire 1995 unc, 1.70 500 Lire 1996 unc, 1.60 1000 Lire 1997 unc, 3.50 Seborga Token 1/2 Luigino 1995 unc, 9.00 Monaco KM163 10 Francs 1995, 1996 unc, each 4.60 KM165 20 Francs 1992, 1997 unc-, each 9.50 Vaticano KM166 500 Lire 1982 unc, 4.50 KM257 500 Lire 1994 unc, 3.70 17. Coin World article (1)...by Martin Peeters, Netherlands In the US Coinpaper Coin World of November 17th. 1997. I saw the following article: --Quote Austria's first latent image coin sell out Stocks of the IOOth anniversary of the Vienna Secession 1997 ringed bimetallic 50schilling coins of Austria were depleted within 48 hours of the release of the coin, according to an Oct.15 announcement by the Austrian Mint. The.coin is Austria's first to include a latent image as a security device. The image changes depending on how the coin is viewed; leaves appear as if they are moving right or left when the coin is tilted. The latent image appears on the dome ·on the facade óf the building on the reverse. The image was achieved through a computer-driven engraving device. Ringed bimetallic 50-schilling coins were placed into circulation in Austria in 1996 to introduce Austrians to ringed , bimetallic circulating coins in advance of the introduction of ringed bimetallic euro-denominated coins of the European Union. The EU euro coins and notes are planned for release possibly as early as 1999. According to Austrian Mint infórmation, "Within 48 hours after its introduction, both the 1.5 million circulating coins were withdrawn from circulation by collecting enthusiasts, as well the 100,000 special collector editions were sold out" Technical details of the composïtion of the coin were not immediately announced, but if it corresponds to its 1996 predecessor, the 1997 coin has a 26.5 millimeter diameter, a gold-color outer ring of copper-nickelaluminum, and a silver-color inner core composed of "copper-nickel enclosing a pure nickel core. The obverse of the 1997 50 schilling coin depicts the face value at center with the shields of the nine Austrian provinces about ît and an outer circumference legend reading Republik Osterreich Schilling (Republic Austria schilling). The reverse shows a portion of the front of the Vielma Secesssion Building with its dome of golden leaves and its ormate portal with the inscription Zeit Ihre Kunst. Der Kunst Ihre Freiheit ("time has its art. Art has its freedom"). The outer ring reads Wiener Secession 1897 1997. The Vienna Secession was established by artists dissatisfied with the prevailing school of art in Vienna at the time. They included the famous Jugendstil artists Gustav Klimt and Otto Wagner. Circulating commemorative coins are nothing new to Austria. The country has been issuing 20 schilling coins with different commemorative reverse types since the 1980s: The 1997 50-schilling coin is no longer availability through the Austrian Mint due to the sell out; but it may be available through coin dealers on secondary market. --Unquote 18. Coin World article (2)...by Martin Peeters, Netherlands On the Homepage of the US Coinpaper Coin World (issue Jan 5th. 1998) an article about a possible US Bi-metallic 5 Dollar Gold/Platinum commemorative. Part of the article reads as follows: --Quote CCCAC recommends 11 programs Committee makes recommendations to Congress to 2003 Paul Gilkes, Coin World Staff Eleven commemorative coin programs, five of which have already been authorized by Congress, are recommended by the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee for 1999-2003, according to its fourth annual report to Congress released Dec. 17. The report recommends Congress only approve coins made of precious metals and discontinue authorization of copper-nickel clad commemorative coins. One of the programs recommended suggests the United States' first bimetallic coin in gold and platinum. The CCCAC also supports an amendment that offers copyright protection to the coin designs that will be part of the statehood circulating commemorative quarter dollar program. Three programs have already been approved by Congress for 1999: Dolley Madison, 500,000 silver dollars, surcharges for the preservation of Montpelier; George Washington, 100,000 $5 gold half eagles, surcharges to Mount Vernon preservation; and 500,000 silver dollars for Yellowstone National Park, surcharges to National Park Service for Yellowstone preservation. Because the Yellowstone program is not tied to an anniversary and because having three coin programs in one year violates commemorative coin program reform legislation passed last year, the CCCAC recommends moving the Yellowstone program to the year 2000. The second program recommended for 2000 is for a $5 bimetallic coin in gold and platinum honoring the Library of Congress, with a maximum mintage of 200,000 coins and a $35 surcharge. The surcharge would be dedicated to making the Library's collection available on the Internet. --Unquote 19. US Bi-metallic Trade Tokens...by Martin Peeters, Netherlands The following article is from in the book: "Bimetallic Trade Tokens of The United States" written by David E. Schenkman and published by: Jade House Publications P. O. Box 265 Bryantown, Maryland 20617 USA Library of Congress Catalog Card number: 89-092521 ISBN: 0-942596-02-1 --Quote Bimetallic Trade Tokens Most token collectors are familiar with the "Pat. July 1899" inscription which appears in smaii letters on the reverse of many bimetallic trade tokens. It is generally considered that 1899 was the year in which these tokens were first manufactured. This date notwitherstanding, the idea of striking coinage from a combination of two metals predates 1899 by more than a hundred years in this country. During the earliest days of the United States Mint, copper one cent coins w'tth silver centers, dated 1792, were struck. The reason for doing so was simple; it resulted in a coin of full intrinsic value (three-quarters of a cent silver and onquarter cent copper), while keeping the planchet size much smaller than could be possible irf only copper was used. This rare pattern coinage was never adopted, and the following year the Mint started striking large copper cents. Privately manufactured medals of bímetallic composition also considerably pre-date 1899. In 1860 a political medalet, in German silver with a brass center was struck to promote the presidential campaign of John C. Breckenridge (the piece is cataloged as JCB 1860-3 in J. Doyle DeWitt's ciassic work, A Century of Campaign Buttons 1789-1889). The dies for this token were cut by M. H. Miller and Company of Louisville, Kentucky, according to Alfred H. Saterlee's 1862 catalog, Medals and Tokens Struck in Honor of the Presidents of the United States, and of the Presidential Candidates. There is no logical explanation for the striking of these unusual medalets, which were also manufactured in brass, copper, silver and white metal. Bimetallic specimens exist with small holes at the top, an indication that they actually circulated and were worn as campaign medalets. Otherwise they might be considered varieties created to satisfy the demands of collectors of the period. Nicholas Veeder of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania issued his "Utopia Dollar" a silver medal with a gold center in 1886. Veeder conceived his "Model for Cometallic Coins and Medals" as a way to publicize the feasibility of combining two metals into one coin and thus establishing "A Composite Single Standard Dollar of Account." This idea was furthered eleven years later when Dana Bickford issued various "patterns" for an international coinage. Most of Bickford's medals were made of aluminum, with brass or bronze centers. One type is bronze, with an aluminum center, and two rare varieties are silver with gold centers. The medals of Veeder and Bickford are cataloged in Hibler and Kappen's So-Called Dollars. On 16 January 1899 George G. Greenburg filed an application entitled "Art of Making Bimetallic Coins or Checks" w'tth the United States Patent Office. Patent number 632,938 was assigned to him on 12 September 1899. Greenburg was, at that time, employed by S. D. Childs and Company of Chicago, a large manufacturer of tokens and medals. Greenburg noted, in his patent specifications, that tokens made entirely of aluminum, although desirable because of their light weight, "have proven objectionabie becausetheywould soon becomeworn, and more particularlyaround the rim." His "invention" overcame this problem via a token constructed with an outer rim of a hard metal such as brass, and a center section of aluminum (or otherlight metal) The patent papers describe Greenburg's "improved" manufacturing bimetallic tokens. The center portion is placed in th form a complete planchet, which is then struck with a regular pair coinage dies. When struck, the center section (which is slightly thicker than the rim) expands and locks into the outer rim (which has been beveled or ribbed on the i facilitate the locking process). As noted previously the date of Greenburg's patent was 12 Se Several years ago I made a careful search of the Patent Office record; determined that no other patents for bimetallic coinage were grant year. Why then the July 1899 patent date which appears on a lar bimetallic tokens? The only logical explanation is that the Childs firr the patent being granted during July, cut the dies. It is reasonable t the error was of little concern to anyone at the company; the only ir was to let it be known that the product was protected by patent. It is not known exactly when S. D. Childs and Company s bimetallic tokens. Of the tokens which utilize reverse dies mentioni two types are commonly encountered. One includes the words PA while the other says PAT (or PATD) JULY 1899. A rare variety has just t below the denomination. Jack F Burns, in a The Numismatist articl issue) titled "Bimetallic Tokens Patented in 1899" mentions a revs PATENTED 1899; I have not seen a specimen. A frequently made assumption is that the patent information j can be used as a means of dating bimetallic tokens. Indeed, Russ Tokens of the Gay Nineties 1890-1900, lists several tokens of Ginzel fv Trenton, Illinois, including two bimetal varieties of the 50 denoi PAT APPLD. FOR and a bimetal 100 denomination having PATD. JULl these he comments as follows: "It is reasonable to suppose that the la were issued just prior to and just after the granting of the maker's patenl Rulau assigns 1899 as the year of issue for other tokens listed in his bi the use of the PAT JULY 1899 reverse die by the maker. As a study of the tokens described in this catalog will re assumption is entirely without basis. The Childs company manufactu tokens until it went out of business during the 1930s. It is not possible from the reverse die, when a token was struck. Once "stock" reverse they were used until they became unserviceable, regardless of type, tc tokens. More often than not, when several token denominations wei merchant, some were made using PAT APPLD. FOR reverses PAT JULY 1899 dies, and still others with no mention of a patent. In whatever die was handy was used. The tokens of Tatum Lumber Company, Bonhomie, Mississi excellent example of how long these "stock" dies were used. Mar tokens were struck for this merchant with the PAT JULY 1899 revers have, on their obverses, various dates ranging from 1922 to as late a: post-1899 "dated" tokens exist with the Childs PAT APPLD. FOR or Pi reverse dies. The Childs company itself has left us with convincing evid meaningless their reverse dies are as a means of dating tokens. This form of a 1920 advertisement for the firm which illustrates their "Pat Metal Coins" with the PATD JULY 1899 reverses. The folks at Childs ol not concerned with the fact that by 1920 their patent rights had expired. I have only examined a few of those tokens purported to have 1898 dates. However my collection includes several 1.00 denominations which appear on first glance, to be of this type. A close examination reveals that they are, in actuality, not 1898 dates at all. Rather they were struck with a reverse die on which PAT JULY 1899 has been cut over PAT APPLD. FOR. The last "9" in the date, which is over the lener "R," appears to be an "8." Very likely at least some of the other "1898" dates are actually the result of re-engraved or filled dies. At Childs, if a die cutting error occurred, it was corrected whenever possible to save the time and expense of cutting a new die. One such error is found on Childs' own 1.00 "Sample" token, issued to advertise the firm's "Geometrical Barter Coin." On the reverse, the words IN MERCHANDISE were placed on the die too far to the left. This was corrected by obliterating the word "IN" and the first "E" with a series of dots, and then re-punching IN MERCHANDISE over the original letters. A letter "R" can be seen under the "M," a "D" is under the letter "A," and so forth. George Greenburg's employment with S. D. Childs and Company came to an end in 1906, at which time he formed a partnership with Harvey Ducgheisel. Their firm, the Greenduck Company (the name being a combination of a portion of each partner's last name) became a major manufacturer of tokens, medals, badges, and advertising novelties. A theory advanced in previous articles on the subject is that the Greenburg patent remained with Childs, and that Greenduck never struck bimetallic tokens. This is contradicted by the fact that at least two tokens exist which are signed, in tiny letters, THE GREENDUCK CO. CHICAGO. One Greenduck-signed token, issued by the Grand Pacific Hotel of Chicago, has the standard "Childs" PAT JULY 1899 reverse. R. E. Boener, another Chicago merchant, issued a Greenduck-signed token struck with a PAT JULY 1898 reverse die. It is possible that Childs struck these tokens to the order of Greenduck. More likely, the two firms shared the patent rights. If this is true, many ot the tokens assumed to be of Childs manufacture were probably struck by Greenduck. The relationship between the two firms, as it relates to the striking of bimetallic tokens, may never be learned. Although the Greenburg patent rights remained in effect until 1916, there is no indication that any attempt was made to enforce them. Without question, other die sinking firms manufactured bimetallic tokens during this period. It is possible that some were made by arrangement with the patent holder. Scrip, a book by Stuart E. Brown, Jc, illustrates pages from the catalogs of many token manufacturers. Included are the following firms which advertised bimetallic trade tokens for sale: S. G. Adams Stamp and Stationery Company, St. Louis; C. H. Hanson Company, Chicago; Meyer & Wenthe, Chicago; Mois-Klinkner Company, San Francisco; R. & S. Engraving & Die Works, Chicago; and S. M. Spencer Manufacturing Company, Boston. Another company which evidently manufactured bimetallic tokens was the Safford Stamp Works of Chicago, Illinois. A token issued to advertise the firm's product says, on its obverse, SAFFORD STAMP WORKS / SAMPLE / CHICAGO, ILL. The reverse of this bimetallic, 21 mm, piece reads GOOD FOR / 5 / IN TRADE. It is interesting to study the advertisements of three firms (R. & S. Engraving & Die Works, S. M. Spencer and Moise-Klinkner); all picture the same bimetallic tokens of the Illinois & lowa Fuel Co., Ottumwa, lowa. Of course one merchanYs set of tokens wasn't struck as a collective effort by three firms in different parts of the country. thisillustrates a fact which seems to be ignored by some token catalogers - that some companies advertising the manufacture of trade tokens didn't strike them. They merely took orders, and had the tokens struck by other firms. The advertisement illustrations were, no doubt, supplied to the order-taking companies by the firm which actually did the work. One company not mentioned above which struck bimetallic tokens is Wright and Sons of Cincinnati, Ohio. Their work was sometimes signed WRIGHT CIN. O. or WRIGHT & SON, CIN. O. The Existence of a piece with an "Ingle System 1914" reverse die, issued by the M.B.S. Co., establishes the fact that the Ingle Company of Dayton, Ohio also struck bimetal tokens. Other die sinker-signed tokens exist from the following companies: L.A. RUB. STAMP CO., MEYER & WENTHE CHICAGO, MURDOCK CINCINNATI, and P & MK (for Patrick & Moise-Klinkner Co.). Most bimetallic tokens were manufactured, as the Greenburg patent suggests, with brass (or occasionally copper) outer rims and aluminum center sections. There are, however, numerous exceptions to this, and they will be noted in the descriptions of the tokens listed herein. Several tokens exist which have aluminum rims and brass or copper centers, a reversal of the normal combination. This was possibly done to circumvent the Greenburg patent, which specifies that the center "be of soft metal with a rim of harder metal." Such tokens are aesthetically pleasing, but the aluminum rims hardly gave the protection from wear afforded by brass rims. Morris Saylor of Molus, Kentucky, owner of the Saylor Coal Company, issued bimetallic tokens for his company store. They were made with brass outer rims and copper centers. Tokens such as these are quite attractive when in new condition, but the brass rims of circulated specimens often darken to the point where it is difficult to tell that they are bimetallic. As is the case with their singlmetal counterparts, the majority of bimetallic tokens are round. Other shapes which were occasionally used include clover leaf, hexagonal, horseshoe, octagonal, oval, and scalloped edge. The tokens issued by the Linton Supply Company of Linton, Indiana are most unusual; they were struck on oval, scalloped edge planchets. The center sections of most tokens are also round. A small number of tokens have crescent, cross, square, star, or triangular shaped centers. The aluminum sections of the Linton Supply Company tokens are in the shape of the letters "L S." The tokens of this merchant are extremely rare. Most bimetallic trade tokens were struck in the same denominations as were official U.S. coins -1 cent through $1.00. Of these, the 1 denomination was used much less frequently than the others, undoubtedly due to the high cost of manufacturing a token with such a low face value. $5.00 denominations are not uncommon, and $10.00 bimetals are occasionally encountered. Several merchants in western states utilized 12 1/2 cent tokens, this denomination usually representing the cost of a drink. Other denominations found on bimetallictokens include 2, 2 1/2, 3, 3 1/3, 7 1/2,15, 20, 44, 2.00, and 2.50. Assembling a denomination set of these tokens would prove a formidable challenge, since several are exceedingly rare. The H. C. Evans Company of Chicago issued tokens in many unusual denominations not listed above, including 3.50, 5.50,17.50, 20.50, 23.50, 25.00, and 50.00. These are not trade tokens in the same sense of the word as are the majority of tokens cataloged herein, although they did represent value. They were used in conjunction with gambling machines manufactured by the Evans company. Not all tokens have monetary "good for" denominations. Some specify a value such as "1 Pint of Milk," "One Drink or Cigar" or "One Shot." A few pieces with monetary denominations specify how they can be used. For example, one token's inscription is "12 1/2 Cents Good For Lunch Ci ars & Bac Another says: "This Check and 10 cent Good For a 15 cent Drink of Whiskey" Considering the immense number of trade tokens which were struck during the first three decades of the twentieth century, one might wonder why such a minute percentage was bimetallic. Notwithstanding the reference in Greenburg's patent application to their low cost, these tokens were considerably more expensive to manufacture than were tokens struck in a single metal. This fact is weil illustrated in a Meyer & Wenthe catalog of 1930, in which two styles of bimetallic tokens are advertised. The cost for one hundred 5 cent tokens of one type was $8.20, while the same quantity of the $1.00 token was priced at $14.00. The company's other style of token, with "the two-metal feature and the engine turned back which afforded a double protection against counterfeiting" was even more expensive; $13.20 for one hundred 5 cent pieces and $23.00 for a hundred dollar tokens. In each instance, it cost less, per hundred, to order tokens in larger quantities. Even an order of one thousand 5 cent pieces, however cost about as much as the face value of the tokens. A comparison of these prices with the cost of the aluminum or brass tokens advertised by Meyer & Wenthe in the same catalog makes 'rt easy to understand why most merchants elected to use single-metal tokens. One hundred 5 cent tokens in aluminum cost only $3.40 (in brass the price was $3.70). The same quantity of aluminum one dollar tokens cost $4.80 ($6.00 in brass). The bimetallic trade token era encompasses a period of less than forty years. During this period these tokens were used by a very diverse group of merchants. Bars and saloons, billiard parlors, cigar stores, coal and lumber companies, eating establishments, general merchandise stores, grocery stores, military post exchanges, and textile mills are among the many businesses represented within the pages of this catalog. --Unquote "See" you next week, Martin Peeters, Focal Point of the Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club martinp@concepts.nl