World Money Fair- Reports

WBCC Special Report from the World Money Fair,
February 1 to 3, 2008 in Berlin, Germany
 
February 1, 2008, first day of the WMF
At first, the WBCC Team at the booth are Cliff Anderson, Martin Peeters, Max Aiello and Frans Dubois, with special red colored poloshirts (sponsored by Max) with the WBCC logo. We started building the WBCC booth early Friday morning February 1.

At 10 o’clock the Fair opened for the public and they all went to the Luxembourg Bank to buy a roll of the new 2 Euro 2008.

Several WBCC members visited our booth: Benjamin Swagerty, from the USA, Jose Lopez from Spain, Andrzej Kasprzycki, Jacek Stacel both from Poland, Reijo Saine from Finland, Gerhard Schoen from Germany and Wouter Beerekamp from the Netherlands. Also potential new WBCC members came at our booth.

Now the Bi-metallic news so far:

The Luxembourg Bank was selling the new Bi-metallic 2 Euro 2008, commemorating Chateau de Burg.


The Dutch Mint was selling a special WMF Mint Set with the 2008 Euro’s in it. Price 23 Euro.               

At the South African Mint available the 5 Rand 2007 Proof, price 20 Euro.

The Czech Mint was selling the new 2008 Mint Set, 13 Euro.

At the World Money Fair everybody could vote for the new Bi-metallic 2 Euro 2009 commemorating 10-year anniversary of the launch of EMU and of the creation of the Euro.

 One can also vote at: www.ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/vote

WBCC Team member Max Aiello had made special red colored poloshirts with the WBCC logo (See picture above).

Saturday February 2, 2008, second day of the WMF

Early start for the WBCC Team to go to the Estrel Convention Center, after a good breakfast at our Hotel Park Blub.

At the opening hour, 10am, a lot of people rushes in to buy new coins. Regarding Bi-metallics, we can report the following news:

At the Polish Mint was available a set with tiny polish coins in it, including the tiny Bi-metallic 2 and 5 Zloty. This miniature set is very nice..


The German Mint offered the Bi-metallic 2 Euro commemorating the church Michel in Hamburg. As in previous years, this new German design is packaged in a set with pieces from all 5 pieces German mints.

The Singapore Mint representative had the 2007 and 2008 annual Mint Set for us.

An Egyptian dealer had available the new Bi-metallic 1 Pound for 2007.

 
The 2006 Bi-metallic 50 Kurus from Turkey,though not officially issued, was still available at the WMF. In addition, the complete 2007 set with the Bi-metallic 1 Lira and 50 Kurus was sold.



The Krause and Mischler publishers gave away both an Encased Buffalo Nickel and the US Georgia quarter, also Encased, for free.

(Encased Buffalo Nickel)

Never could buy it, but now I could get the Ebay's series of Bi-metallic, Germany depicting the Branderburger Tor


Today WBCC member Wolfgang Schuster from Austria visited our booth, and had the new Bi-metallic 1 Euro 2008 from Austria with the new European map design.

A coindealer had the Venuzuela Bi-metallic 1 Bolivar 2007 available


Two journalists visited the WBCC booth, one from Russia, and one from Italy (Cronaca Numismatica), and they interviewed us about the Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club. Pictures were also made.

We also welcomed Mr. Albert Beck at our booth. He is the founder of the World Money Fair 36 years ago!

 (Mr. Albert Beck receiving a choclate Bi-metallic coin from Martin)

Most impressing was Mr. Enzo Bianco from International Mint. He had many Bi-metallic pieces with him, and a special one made for this year’s WMF.
 

Sunday February 3, 2008, third and last day of the WMF

The Slovakian Mint displayed the new 2009 Euro design, including the Bi-metallic 1 and 2 Euro pieces.
 
 
The Swiss Mint was selling the new Bi-metallic 10 Franken 2008, depicting the Golden Eagle. The Swiss Mint’s representative said that the next 10 Franken issue for 2009 will depict a Deer and the next 10 Franken dated 2010 will depict the Marmot, to complete the National Park series.
 
 (The WBCC Team at the Swiss Mint with a huge Bi-metallic 10 Franken 2008)
 
Here is at last an overview of only one of the conventions exehibition rooms
 

 
Next years World Money Fair will also held in Berlin, from February 6 to 8, 2009.
 
See you there !!
 
Your,
WMF WBCC Team from Berlin
=======================================================
Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club (WBCC) at the WMF 2007
 

Berlin 2007 Reports

World Money Fair Berlin Report
by Martin Peeters, WBCC Focal Point

Thursday February 1:
 
While Frans Dubois, Frans Woons and myself left The Netherlands for a 7 houres drive by car to Berlin, the same time Max Aiello from Italy and Alexei Malykh from Russia, left by plain for Berlin. Altogether we met in the evening in the Park Hotel Blub were we stay for 3 days.
 
Max Aiello had made special for the WMF keycords for the kids and a waistcoat for the WBCC Team at Berlin. And as every year Martin had made WBCC T-shirts.
 

WBCC 10th Anniversary keycord
 

The WBCC Team (Alexei Malykh not on the pictures) with the special made waistcoat at the Slovenian booth, holding the Bi-metallic Euro in its place.


At the Swiss booth.
 
Friday February 2:
 
* The first day of the World Money Fair we got good news. Just for opening the Coin Fair we got a sponsor. Hasse Wiersma of Muntplaats.nl ( http://muntplaats.nl/index2.php ) gave some money for the costs we have. Thanks Hasse !!
 
* The fair opened at precisly at 10 o'clock and most of the peolpe went strate to the German Mint to get their new 2 Euro's 2007 commemorate Schweriner Schloss. The German Mint sold them only in a pack of the 5 Mintcities (A, J, D, G and F).

The price was 16 Euro in UNC quality.
Some dealer had later at the fair loose 5 pieces and the lowest price was then 13 Euro in UNC quality
 
* Another "hot" Bi-metallic was the Luxembourg 2 Euro 2007 commemorate Palace Grand-Ducal
 
A very long line of collectors waited at the booth of the Luxembourg Bank to collect their piece, but the Luxembourg Bank only sold them in a roll ! At sunday the rolls were sold out.
 
* The Mint of Kazakhstan, who was the Guest Of Honour of the Worlf Money Fair 2007 showed the set new Bi-metallic 100 Tenge 2006. Also they had for sale the Bi-metallic 500 Tenge 2006.

 
 
Saturday February 3:
* At the Swiss Mint booth was avalable the new Bi-metallic 10 Franken 2007 depicting the Ibex. Price 10 Euro in UNC quality.

Also we heard what will be the theme for the 10 Franken 2008: Montain Eagle.
 
* At the Slovenian Booth they sold the new Bi-metallic 1 and 2 Euro 2007.

 
* At the booth of the Czech Mint one could buy the 2007 annual set with the Bi-metallic 50 Korun. Price of the set was 12 Euro. The set commemorate the Unesco Herritage List of the Czech Republic
 
* A representive of the Singapore Mint had for us the 2006 annual Mint set with the Bi-metallic 5 Dollar.
 
* The Italian International Mint ( http://www.internationalmint.it/ ) had struck special for the WMF some medals depicting the Estrel Convention Center, with different metals and different second side. The ring of these Bi-metallics is very small.


 
* The following WBCC members did visit the WBCC Booth, Gerhard Schon, Michael Reissner, Hasse Wiersma
 
Sunday February 4:
The Italian coinpaper Cronaca Numismatica made a special WMF edition. It this edition they mention about new Bi-metallic 2 euro 2007 for San Marino commemorate Giuseppe Garibaldi

 
* From the Vatican City booth we heard that the next 2 Euro 2007 will Commemorate 80 Birthday of the Pope Benedict XVI
 
* This last day of the World Money the WBCC Team had to leave the Fair at 13.00 Hours.
                       
Max  Aiello with Ezio Bianco of International Mint.       Frans Dubois and Frans Woons
                                   
Max Aiello with Robert Ganganelli of Cronica Numismatica                 Martin doing the thumb test.

Martin with Ezio Bianco


Martin Peeters, Frans Woons, Max Aiello & Frans Dubois at Berlin Money Fair.
Image from Roberto Ganganelli

Greetz,
Martin and the other WBCC Team members.


======================================================================================
Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club (WBCC) at the WMF 2006
 

Berlin 2006 Reports

WBCC at Berlin Movie  from Eelco Soeteman

World Money Fair Berlin Report
by Martin Peeters, WBCC Focal Point

You can read now a little report about the Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club (WBCC) attending the World Money Fair in Berlin Germany.
 
--Thursday, February 2, 2006
While 3 WBCC members (Frans Dubois, Eelco Soeteman and Martin Peeters) went by car from the Netherlands, the same time 1 WBCC member (Max Aiello) did take his flight from Bari, Italy and 1 WBCC member (Alexei Malykh) took his plane from Moscow.
All came together in the evening in the Atlantic Hotel in Berlin.
Max gave us all a "WBCC" cap, named for each person and the WBCC logo and the text "10th Anniversay 1996-2006". Great idea !
 
--Friday, February 3, 2006
Early in the morning after a good German breakfast we went all 5 to the Estrel Convention Centre to build up the WBCC Booth. It was located directy at the fair entrance. Everybody who came in, saw the WBCC booth.
When the doors opened, most of the people went directy to the Germin Mint, to collect their 5 * 2 Euro pieces commemorate "Holsteiner Tor". Cost 10 Euro.

Eelco Soeteman, Frans Dubois, Martin Peeters, Max Aiello, Alexei Malykh
 
--Saturday, February 4, 2006
The following WBCC members visted the WBCC booth: Gerhard Schon (Germany), Wolfgang Schuster (Austria), Tomas Serrano (Spain), Juan Correa (Spain) and Kjetil Kvist (Norway)
Max Aiello gave an interview to the Italian Coinpaper Cronica Numismatica.
In the evening we had a cosy dinner at a Mexican resataurant, the foor was very good. In Basel we had always the traditional WBCC diner at Hans Buceks house and we missed it this time !!
Later that evening we had the annual WBCC meeting in our hotel. Present were: Frans Dubois, Eelco Soeteman, Max Aiello and Alexei Malykh. The follwing was discussed:
* WBCC 10th Anniversary and activities, the following is decided:
* Investigate WHEN, WHERE and HOW many WBCC members would come the WBCC meeting to celebrate the 10 Anniversary. Martin will investigate this and reports it to the Club members.
* Investigate to strike a WBCC token for the 10th anniversary. Frans tolks to Mauquoi Mint (Belgium) and Max talks to International Mint (Italy) and the costs and possible designs. They will report it to the Club members.
The meeting was closed with a large cold German Beer.
 
--Sunday, February 5, 2006
Normally sunday's are quiet at the WMF, but this time in Berlin even on sunday there were many visitors at the WMF. At 12 a.m. Mr. A. Beck, president of the World Money Fair visited the WBCC booth. At 2 a.m. we closed the WBCC booth, and went back to the Netherlands, and say good by to Max and Alexei.
 
Bi-metallic news from the Berlin World Money Fair 2006......by Martin Peeters, Netherlands
 
The following news we noticed at the WMF:
* The Germany Mint offered the 5 (Minthouses) * 2 Euro commemorate "Holsteiner Tor", costs 10 Euro
* The Royal Dutch Mint offered as earlier years, the Benelux Set, with Euros 2006 sets of Belgium, Netherlands and Luxemburg), cost 60 Euro. The RDM also offered "Good Goal Set" with the 2006 Euros, costs 20 Euro
* The Czech Mint ofered the 2005 and 2006 annual set with the Bi-metallic 50 Korun. With the set of 2005 was also a CD with Czech music.
* The Greece Mint offered the official 2005 annual set with the Bi-metallic 2 Euro, cost 25 Euro
* The Singapore Mint offered the 2006 annual set with the Bi-metallic 5 Dollar 2006
* The Slovakia Mint offered the 2006 annual set with a Bi-metallic token, cost 10 Euro
* The Luxemburg Bank offered the 2 Euro 2006, only in rolls.
* The Finland Mint offered a 2006 Euro set with Bi-metallic 2 Euro, costs 24 Euro
* The French Mint offered a special WMF Euro set with the 2006 Euros, 500 pieces made and the price was 39 Euro. The 2006 annual Euro set costs 31 Euro
* The Swiss Mint offered the 10 Franc 2006 Unc, price 10 Euro. Also a proof version price 24 Euro, the 2006 annual set, costs 25 Euro and the annual proof set, costs 60 Euro
* The Royal Britsh Mint will issue a proof and Unc set with the 2 speical Bi-metallic 2 Pounds depicting Brunel
 
Greetings,
Martin Peeters, Focal Point of the Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club
WBCC@kabelfoon.nl


=======================================================================================

Basel 2001 Reports

World Money Fair Basel Report
by Martin Peeters, WBCC Focal Point

Finally on Thursday Feb 1st late in the evening, WBCC members Frans Dubois, Jack Hepler, Martin Peeters and future WBCC member Roy Roper went by car from the Dutch city Gouda to Basel. A drive of about 800 kilometers through 6 countries. Earlier in the norning of Feb 2nd we arrive in Weil Am Rhein in Germany where we had our hotel. It is just over the border nearby Basel, and here the story about the World Money Fair 2001 starts.

--Day 1, Friday Feb 2:


At 9 AM we arrived at the Basel Convention Centre were the World Money Fair is held. Our car was loaded with much material for building the WBCC booth (see the picture below and to the right). The organization (Mr. Beck and Miss Karina Voggel, of the WMF) had given booth 257 to the WBCC. The spot was really great. Just inside of the big room where all of the coin dealers were located.

Around that big room all the National Mints were located. The first day is a special day for the Minthouses, the public and coindealers are not allowed in. The day is for information exchange between the Mints and producers of coins and other coin related goods (in total 200 exhibitors were present). Precisly at 9.30 AM the President of the WMF Mr. Albert Beck started his speach in the Media Forum. Mintmasters of the Mints did the same and it was about the future in coins. For this years World Money Fair we had a special limited made Encased Coin of the Bahamas.

--Day 2, Saturday Feb 3

Exact at 9 AM the doors of the World Money Fair opened for the public. All the incomming people passed a Gräbener striking machine on which they could strike a (Bi-metallic !!) commemorative which is designed and issued by Huguenin and Kramers Medaileurs of Switzerland. This special medal called the Basel 1 Doppelstäbler 2001. One could buy (10 Swiss Franken) a blank Bi-metallic went to striking machine and (you) struck your own.

For the WMF event we wearing all special made WBCC T-shirts (see for a picture: see below). At the WBCC booth we had running a slideshow on a portable computer. It showed some facts about the Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club and pictures of the future 2002 Bi-metallic 1 and 2 Euro of all the 12 EU countries.

WBCC member Hans Bucek (Switserland), Christan Dolt (France) and Stanislav Stiblar (Slovenia) visited the WBCC booth. They received a WBCC certificate and a WBCC T-shirt (limited edition of 10 pieces). Of course, we had a great time talking about Bi-metallics.

Below are several more photographs for the 2001 WMF.
 


 

 

Bi-metallic news from several Mints and Banks

  • The Austria Mint: The Austria Mint showed for the first time to the public the new Bi-mewtallic 100 Schilling 2001, "Mobility". It was offered by a related firm and costs 35$.
  • The Royal Canadian Mint: This year "Guest of Honor" of the WMF, showed the complete range of Bi-metallic 2 Dollar pieces. At their booth I met Andy Czajkowski of the RCM and some good talks.
  • The Slovakia Mint: A representive of the Slovakia Mint offered the 2001 Mint set with, as every year, a Bi-metallic medal, this time depicting the Slovakia Mint.
  • The Singapore Mint: The 2001 Mint set was available. Again with a Bi-metallic 5$ with the latent 2001.
  • The Czech Mint: A really nice team in the Czech Mint booth. They offered the 2001 Mint set with the Bi-metallic 50 Korun 2001 for 9 US$.
  • The Britsch Royal Mint: The new Bi-metallic 2 Pound 2001, Marconi, was shown and it is a proof set.
  • The Poland Mint: The Polish Mint showed the Poland 2001 tri-metallic. Three different alloys of gold 900 (red with admixture Cu, yellow with admixture Cu and Ag, and white with admixture of palladium). At the Polish booth one could strike a medal using a big hammer to hit the die, a really nice idea.
  • The Royal Dutch Mint: In their booth they showed the future Bi-metallic 1 and 2 Euro 2002 in a set. Unfortunally it was not for sale.
  • The Swiss Mint: For sale was the Swiss, Bi-metallic 5 Franken 2001, called the Zurcher Sechselauten.
  • The Finland Mint: They announced a new Bi-metallic 25 Markkaa 2001, which will be issued on February 12th.
  • The Turkisch Mint: They offered a Bi-metallic 150 Million Lira 2001 in Gold and Silver (price 275US$).
  • The National Bank of Ukraine: For the first time they were at the WMF. Really new was the Ukraine Bi-metallic 5 Hryvnias 2000 and 3 Bi-metallic commemoratives coins of 20 Hryvnias. More about these 3 Bi-metallic commemoraties you can read in WBCC Newsmail 232, item 3. The Bi-metallic 5 Hryvnias 2000 was available for 8 Swiss Franken. More to read at: http://www.kpnews.com/displaypr.php?arid=7321. All these Bi-metallics are Legal Tender in the Ukraine.

When the bourse floor was closed (5 PM) we went to Hans Bucek's house, where we had a wonderfull diner together with Hans's wife and 2 lovely dauthers. Late in the evening we arrived at our hotel in Weil An Rhein and some very nice dreams about the day.

--Day 3, Sunday, Feb 4

This day is a free entrance to all the public and although that it was less busier than yesterday. Still several interesting people did visit the WBCC booth: Paul Gilkes senior staff writer of Coin World, Ulrich "Rick" Groth and Clifford Mishler of Krause Publications, Charles Chammartin of Huguenin and Kramers Medaileurs. Also WBCC members Gerhard Schon from Germany and Wouter Eversdijk (Bosch Coins) from Belgium visited to the WBCC booth.

News for this day:

  • Huguenin and Kramers Medailleurs Zwitserland) offered not only the new Bi-metallic MTT 1 Doppelstäbler 2001 (value 10 Swiss Franken) but also all earlier issued Bi-metallics MTT's they have issued.
  • VDN Eurocoin, specialists in services within the coinage industry showed some blanks of the Future Bi-metallic 1 and 2 Euro 2002, but they had also several scambled (defaced) Bi-metallic 1 and 2 Euro blanks.

The World Money Fair closed its doors at 4 PM, and this years WMF was ended.

--Day 4, Monday, Feb 5

On invitation of Dieter Merkle, Alexander Gaiser and Iris Blickle of Schuler Presses located in the German City Göppingen, we went to the Schuler Plant.

Schuler is one of the 2 sponsors of the WBCC who made it possible attending the World Money Fair. Just in time for lunch we arrived at Göppingen. Schuler Presses is the World leader of making strikingmachines, which is 10% of the Schuler activities. Schuler developes and construcs also presses for the Car industry. Dieter Merkle and Alexander Gaiser did give us a 3 hour guided tour to the Schuler factory. THE Bi-metallic striking machine worldwide is Schuler's "Ringmaster MRV 150". The press can be used for coining of round, multi-sided and Bi-metallic coins, for joining, piercing and for recycling of used Bi-metallic coins by separating ring and centre and get edge lettering. The speed is 700 coins per minut. We saw this Ringmaster MRV 150 working, woooow what a speed !! Late in the afternoon we say goodby from Schuler factory and drive back to the Netherlands.

SUMMARY

The World Money Fair is an unique and world bigest event in the Numismatic world and if you have the oppertunity, come to Basel next year and experience the event. Next year the World Money Fair will be held February 1 till February 3, 2002. The Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club will attend it in 2002 and THE hot item will be the just introduced (Bi-metallic 1 and 2) Euros!!

WBCC Encased Bahamas.........by Jack Hepler, USA

A limited number of Bahamas Cents were encased for the 2001 World Money Fair in Basel. They are now available for WBCC members of the Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club. To the best of my knowledge, these are the first coins of the Bahamas that have been encased and they are being offered to the WBCC membership before offering them to other collectors. The cost to WBCC members is $5 (Postage outside US $1, Insurance or registration is extra). Please send your request to Jack Hepler.
 
 
 

The WBCC Table at the 2000 Basel Show


From left to right
Frans Dubois, Martin Peeters & Jack Hepler