Volume 7 Issue 8                            INTERNET EDITION                           August  2002.

We trust that this issue of the Internet Edition will continue to provide interesting reading. The name of this Internet based newsletter is in keeping with the content so, bearing in mind our disclaimers, the Internet links selected are usually complimentary to the featured article in regard to: (1) illustrations and, (2) additional important information. Please also bear in mind that some Internet links are of a temporary nature.

TASMANIAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY.

Anyone who wishes to apply for membership to the non-profit making organization, and who is prepared to abide by the rules of the Society and its aim of promoting the study and enjoyment of the hobby of numismatics, should contact the following address for an application form and details of subscriptions: 

THE SECRETARY.

Tasmanian Numismatic Society.

G. P. O. Box 884J

Hobart. 7001.

Tasmania.

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SOCIETY SNIPPETS

JULY BBQ-MEETING

With the Northern Chapter visitors out-numbering the Southern Tasmanian Numismatic Society contingent for the first time at a BBQ meeting held in Hobart, it was invigorating, particularly for the Committee members who attended, to find that the enthusiasm since the last gathering in Launceston had not abated. 

In fact, conversations virtually took off where they had stopped two months ago.

Due to the very real threat of inclement weather, the decision was made to cook outside as planned but then head inside to do our eating in warmth and comfort. The conditions outside did not abate too much during the day and several of the visitors who journeyed the 123 miles from Launceston commented on the fact that the drive was a non- stop battle against a very nasty gusty crosswind and they weren't looking forward to the return trip. Most got away before 4.00 p.m. so as to travel in daylight.

However, looking out at the weather wasn't really on our agenda on Sunday 7th July, 2002, and the meeting retained its wonderful informality as has been the practice now since January. 

Thanks are due to those ladies who brought along those little extras (that always make the difference) and then helped out.

After lunch, those who had the urge partook of a little swapping and 'horse-trading' and everyone seemed pleased with the format that we have developed to get some fun back into the proceedings and our hobby.

Several matters regarding necessary internal Society procedures were brought to the attention of the members and it is expected these items will be resolved by the Committee during the course of the balance of the year. 

Our next BYO - BBQ gathering will be in Launceston at 11.00 a.m. on Sunday 13th. October, 2002 at the Blackstone Heights home of Northern Chapter Committeeman Robert Newbold and his wife Marianna, who is also an active T.N.S. member.

All T.N.S. members and invited guests will be welcome and, as usual, it will be BYO everything.

A courtesy R.S.V.P. to our Secretary or another Committee member would be appreciated for the obvious reasons, and those who need transport or destination advice should check through normal channels A.S.A.P.

How about it?

'Quick on the Internet finger' would have to describe the response to the query in the last newsletter of "How about it?" in regard to suggested definitions that could be incorporated in the study of coin varieties. 

No sooner than the last newsletter with the article 'BENT, BROKEN, BRUISED & BATTERED - BUT NOT BEATEN' hit the airwaves than an email lobbed in from fellow T.N.S. Member, Ian McConnelly, with a few kind suggestions.

Evidently, Ian had been considering the same lack of information problem for some time but had decided that it was a real 'can of worms' and had held back for other more experienced collectors to broach the subject - although none did.  

Ian is the first to admit that he is still a novice in regard to the study of varieties, but the challenge could no longer be ignored - so hence the email. Initially, the correspondence was at a private explanation level to answer some queries about coins that are currently turning up regularly in our change. 

However, a rough  A - Z  definition list compiled mostly from various existing texts - both local and international - was soon forthcoming. (References will be acknowledged with the list.)

Ian had also suggested several more logical explanations of variations he had encountered and, after further discussion, it was decided that 'nothing ventured nothing gained', and that, hopefully, the relatively simple list  might become a realistic starting point for any debate if it was made it public. 

The list should appear in a forthcoming edition of the 'Australasian Coin and Banknote Magazine' if it is deemed acceptable for publication by that magazine. Any positive input from 'Tasmanian Numismatic Society members and other readers who also get the 'CAB' would be more than welcome to write directly - or through the 'CAB' - to Ian (postal address below) and  fine tune, or add to, the list of compiled definitions. At a later date we will seek to publish the outcome of any correspondence. 

Ian McConnelly.

237 Fourteen Turn Creek Rd;

Grove. 7109

Tasmania. Australia.

The 'Tasmanian Numismatist' has also received recent email correspondence from Jon Saxton of New York, who has been regularly contributing ideas and comments for over 3 years. Jon has advised that he is now in friendly contact with Ian McConnelly about several differences in opinion regarding definition - and that he also will be submitting an article on varieties to the 'Australasian Coin and Banknote Magazine' for publication later in the year. 

This affirmation of interest will, no doubt, stimulate this area of numismatics  and hopefully, it will remain positive and constructive - as intended. No input - no growth!

"VIVE LA DIFFERENCE!"

An Observation by T.N.S. Member #332 Graeme Petterwood.

It is interesting to note that there are noticeable variations between the original Facsimile Euro notes that were featured in an article in February, 2002 and a Specimen set, included as a bonus with a boxed and bound catalogue containing the 12 set range of Euro coins, recently received from Tasmedals of 41 Victoria St; Hobart.  (Further details below). 

The Specimen notes do not bear the words ©European Monetary Institute, 1997 FACSIMIL on the obverse - nor the word FACSIMIL on the reverse just above the note's value - but they do present the word SPECIMEN in red print running from bottom to top diagonally across the centres of both sides of the note.  

The paper used in producing the SPECIMEN notes was also a slightly different background colour and texture than the earlier training notes and the colours of main features also exhibited a more 'washed out' appearance - more in the style of the real circulating currency - but the notes still featured the same patterns as the FACSIMILES.

During the production stages of the genuine notes, these initial patterns were altered slightly to accommodate the re-positioning of the holographic images and provide additional security features.

No issue date or copyright information was evident on the Specimens.

Facsimile Euro Note Set dated 2001(issued 1997)

Facsimile 50 Euro

(not to scale)

Circulation Issue 50 Euro

(not to scale)

The Specimen notes were a bonus, as mentioned, to a packaged set of Euro coins covering all participating states currently involved in the European Economic Union. 

Each carded and encapsulated coin set consists of the 8 coins of the individual state, ranging from the Copper-clad Steel 1, 2 and 5 Eurocents through to the Cupro-Nickel/Nickel 10, 20, 50 Eurocents and on to the two different bimetallic combinations of the 1 and 2 Euro. Dates that were noted on the individual coins cover the time frame from 1999, when some of the first coins were manufactured, until 2002 when the Euro became the official coinage and currency for most of Europe.

Those sets labelled as having mixed dates (1999 - 2001) are: 

Belgium, Finland, France, Netherlands and Spain. 

However it was noted that, in certain sets, coins dated 2002 were present: 

Finland 20 cents; Netherlands 2, 20, 50 cents, 1 and 2 Euro; Spain 1 and 2 Euro.

Those  labelled sets which contain coins only dated 2002 are: 

Austria, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal and Greece.

The German coins are mint-marked with the letter 'A' signifying that they were minted at Berlin; however, several other mints have also known to have produced German 1 and 2 Euro coins - Munich 'D', Stuttgart 'F', Karlsruhe 'G', Hamburg 'J' - so it is reasonably logical to assume that some of the lower denominations may have also made at those mints.

The French, Italian, Luxembourg and Greek coins also appear to have their usual assortment of privy-marks or a letter to designate the mint used to produce the coin. No doubt there will be variations in coin dates and mintmarks in some similar unofficially issued starter catalogues. 

Whilst this is obviously not the complete range of coins that have actually been issued, it is a very attractive presentation package of early dates gathered together in uncirculated condition.

With the encapsulated coins packaged by Mietens®, the sets are housed in 6 x 2 pocket plastic sheet inserts within a leather bound cover, embossed with a representation of the flags and a coloured map of the current European Economic Union, and protected by a custom made cardboard sleeve all made by Leuchtturm® - which is the German translation for Lighthouse®.

Tasmedals advises that they are still able to obtain these quality albums for Aust$295.00 - but stocks in Australia are limited and, with allocations in place already, they would need to be ordered. Orders: rogermcneice@tasmedals.com.au

As a matter of interest, I am quite sure that those of our members who are into varieties would find that the Euro coins will offer a nice challenge. Many minor oddities have been already noted in the 1 and 2 Euro bimetallic coins, in particular, according to some of our European colleagues at Worldwide Bi-metallic Collectors Club (WBCC)

WBCC Website: http://wbcc-online.com

READERS' MAILBAG

Readers' Mailbag is a section of our newsletter that will focus on readers' requests for contacts or information as well as any relevant and constructive comments about numismatics or the contents of articles in this newsletter. This section is provided as a service only and our usual disclaimers, regarding dealings between parties, will continue to apply.

AUSTRALIA (1)

A very nice group of Australian 'phonecards - including some mint condition in the earlier punch-hole types as well as pristine condition magnetic strip insert types - is being offered for sale in part or as a whole. Expressions of interest welcome and reasonable offers considered. For details contact: dmmartyn@tassie.net.au

AUSTRALIA (2)

A hobby numismatist reader is interested in receiving details of those 'harder to get'  Australasian tradesmen's tokens with a view to - eventually - completing a collection, if possible. Fair prices paid for suitable quality items. Reply in first instance:

The President, 

Tasmanian Numismatic Society

P.O. Box 12, Claremont, Tasmania. 

Australia. 7011.

AUSTRALIA (3)

INDIA.

The following email included details of banknotes and coins and their details, with appropriate Pick and KM catalogue numbers. 

As the list was substantial and would have altered by this time, we suggest any interested readers contact the sender directly.

ISRAEL

Hi! I live in Israel and collect coins like you. I found your address via Net  (Uri's site).
I'm interesting in foreign coins, especially from Australian and Oceania. I have lot of doubles from Israel, Former USSR, Europe, etc. If you want to swap some coins please mail me. Email: alex1203@lycos.com

Dr.Alex Bronshtein  

Ashdod, Israel.

ITALY.

DID YOU KNOW!

Did you know - Back in the early 1990's when the European Economic Community prospect was finally getting started, a series of pattern 'coins' known as ECU were made for Great Britain, Greece, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and it is also known that France, Spain and other countries also produced pattern Euros in 1997. 

Some of these patterns were minted at private mints whilst others were made at official mints.

Most of the higher denominations were individually presented in a see-through hard plastic display box, and there were non-official presentation sets containing a full range of values in base metals - although Ireland, for instance, is known to have produced a Proof 50 ECU in gold. This is an interesting area and would make a nice collection in its own right.

The 'coins' displayed below are from the United Kingdom in values of 5 and 25 ECU and a 5 ECU from Greece, but many other denominations were made. Refer: http://www.coincraft.com/ecus/ecuset.html

The ECU - European Currency Unit
As the European Economic Community, or the European Union made its moves towards a common currency, the ECU came into being. Although at first the ECU was a unit of account, it had long been expected to be converted into a circulating currency. In most European countries there were pattern coins issued exploring the design possibilities of the anticipated new coinage. Some of these issues were design exercises carried out by official mints, others were privately issued.

No official ECU coins or currency ever existed, although it had been mooted in the early 1990's that the ECU was probably going to be the name of the monetary units. The ECU unit of account equalled the value of the Euro at changeover time and all transactions or accounts that had been done in ECU were automatically translated into Euro.

English 5 and 25 ECU - Obverse Design
The obverse design, which we believe was by Raphael Maklouf, shows a globe with a map of Europe edged by twelve stars representing the twelve member states, with Neptune and Europa reaching across the top. The inscription reads:-
EUROPE   EUROPA  ENGLAND

English 5 ECU - Reverse designs

The Three Graces
Although the three graces, Faith Hope and Charity have never appeared on a circulating British coin, they have appeared previously on pattern coins. Among their attributes appear a shield bearing the Union Flag, a harp, oak leaf, thistle and a leek. The inscription is as the previous coin.

S.S. Great Britain
Ships and the sea have appeared on many British coins over a long period of time. The reverse of this coin, which shows a value of 5 ECU's shows the Steam Ship Great Britain together with its launch date 1843. The Great Britain was Britain's largest and most powerful ship, and was an engineering masterpiece of its time by the great I.K. Brunel. It was the first propeller driven iron ship to cross the Atlantic, and the forerunner of all modern ocean liners. It is possible that this pattern coin was issued in 1993 for the 150th anniversary of the Great Britain.
The inscription reads:- UNITA TUEAETUR DEUS
S.S. Great Britain 1843
EUROPE   EUROPA

English 25 ECU - Reverse Designs 

St. George and the Dragon
This very English theme shows St. George on horseback, holding a shield bearing the three lions as the arms of England, and killing a dragon with a spear. This reflects the well known design by Benedetto Pistrucci which was adopted on crowns, sovereigns and other coins in 1817, and is still in use today. The inscription reads:-
TWENTY FIVE ECU  1992

Greek 5 and 20 ECU Obverse Design
The obverse design of the 5 ECU, features Alexander The Great on horseback surrounded by twelve stars representing the twelve member states. The 20 ECU features the bust only of Alexander facing left surrounded by the twelve stars of the member states. The inscription reads translated into English:-
1994 ALEXANDER THE GREAT OF MACEDON

Reverse Design 5 and 20 ECU
Ancient Greek Galleon & Greek Flag
The reverse of this coin shows an ancient Greek ship with a sail and many oars, surrounded by the twelve stars.
The inscription in Greek and English reads:-
HELLAS ( Greece) EUROPA  5 ECU

Specifications -

English 5 and 25 ECU Patterns. Diameter 38mm, Weight 20 grams, Alloy Cupro-Nickel.

Greek  5 and 20 ECU Patterns.  Diameter 38mm, Weight 20 grams, Alloy Cupro-Nickel.

Some of the explanations and the illustrations regarding ECU's are from the official homepage of CHARD - an English company that has recently acquired some limited stock of English and Greek ECU.  Most of these base metal ECU pieces sell at about US$8.00 in Uncirculated condition. (Postage extra).

CHARD

521 Lytham Road, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY4 1RJ, England.
Telephone (44) - (0) 1253 - 343081; Fax 408058; 

E-mail: enquiries@24carat.co.uk
The URL for their main page is: http://www.24carat.co.uk/index.html

http://www.24carat.co.uk/1992patternecucoins.html

Did you know - Last month the comment was made in this column about a hint that the U.S.A. may be contemplating using colour in their banknotes. The following email, from T.N.S. member Jerry Adams of Texas, was received too late for inclusion in the July edition but it might mean that any pessimism was misplaced.

"There was a large piece in the paper on Friday that the USA is going to start using some colour in our paper bills, soon.  They say it will mean more jobs and an expansion of the paper money printing plant here.  Right now, the plant here prints half of the paper money for the US, and there are only 840 workers employed there." - Jerry.

A very good article was recently located on the internet: http://vis-www.cs.umass.edu/~dima/psych/project.html

Whilst it was originally written in 1996 it will be of interest as it also highlights the fact that the idea of coloured U.S. currency has been around for a while and nothing has been happening - at least, until now. 

It bears out the statement made in last month's article:

"Do you think the idea will even get a fair hearing if it ever gets to the next stage? Not on present attitudes I would suspect!"
However, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating!

ETHIOPIA: Travels of a Youth

As promised, Mike Metras' CD-ROM 'ETHIOPIA: Travels of a Youth' has more than lived up to expectations.

It is much, much more than a picturesque geographical travelogue, numismatic or historical treatise dated 1967 - 1970.

It is all of these - but it also entertains, it educates and, in places, it even hurts with the brutal honesty of its subject matter.

In October, 1967, a very youthful Michael Metras had just finished a nine month training stint in Swahili and communications intelligence training with the U.S. Army. He would then begin a two year tour of duty in Northern Ethiopia (later Eritrea) - which also had another year in Viet-Nam sandwiched in the middle. It was his experiences in Ethiopia, however, that awakened a continuing romance with the history and culture of this pre-biblical land on the Horn of Africa. 

Like Mike's earlier CD, Money Meanderings', this one also offers a huge amount of fascinating insights into the everyday life - and the turbulent times - of his experiences. 

Commenced in 1972, it has taken a 30 year period to drag out the memories and bring it to a matured fruition; and, it must be said, that this has to be one of the most memorable autobiographical CD's that you will have the honour to read and view from a fellow numismatist.

Read, for instance, how a harmless sight-seeing trip on a back road turned into a hair-raising confrontation with an armed and very dangerous group of freedom fighters during the long drawn out struggle for Eritrean independence from the rest of Ethiopia. Certainly, not the everyday stuff most of us expect to encounter at first hand during our lifetime .

"One day returning from Massawa on my motorcycle, I rounded one of the corners of this valley and happened on two burning gas trucks. Several poorly-dressed military types, each with his gun, loitered around the trucks and near the road. Looking closely at the truck as I passed, I made a point of waving and not looking too closely at the people. The smoke from the burning rubber and fuel coated my throat and burned my eyes. As I turned at the head of the side valley and headed out to the next ridge, someone with his weapon shouldered stood out in the road. He waved at me to stop. No, no, no. I didn't like that idea. I was not ready to stand around and be interrogated or whatever. So, without accelerating (Oh, how I wanted to!), I continued my 15 mph toward him and waved saying, "Salaam (Hello)" as I passed. He stepped back surprised as I drove by. I knew if he really wanted to get me I was dead anyway, sooner or later. But I also knew that neither the Ethiopian regulars nor the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) wanted to hurt relations with the US. They wouldn't shoot me was my (98% sure) guess. I accelerated evenly to the corner 100 yards (90 meters) away. Once around it, I'd be safe. I was."

The combination of well written texts and graphic and sometimes haunting word pictures make this another 'must have' - not only for numismatists but anyone who wants to own a substantial wedge of the history and awesome beauty from this part of the world we rarely think of. Along with the many actual pictures taken during this time in Mike's life, this CD is a real WOW!

Thank you, Mike, for the chance to see and hear this ancient land through your eyes and ears! 

The CD contains more than 75,000 words, 440 pictures, along with 12 video clips and 11 sound tracks including 60 minutes of genuine Ethiopian and Eritrean music. 

A sample entry below shows one of the coins of the late Emperor Haile Selassie (1891 - 1975) who was deposed in 1974.

With his coronation in 1930 (1923EE) Haile Selassie issued 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 Matonya (matonya=1/100th) coins all of the same design. The obverse reads in Amharic, "Haile Selassie I, King of Kings of Ethiopia." The date (unchanging 1923EE) is behind the head and the denomination below the bust, both in Amharic. The reverse reads, "Conquering lion of the tribe of Judah." The denomination is written as a number on the bottom. This series had no dollar-sized coin. England's King's Norton mint in Birmingham made the early one Matonya coins. The Addis Ababa mint made all the rest. The Maria Theresa Thaler remained the coin of choice in day-to-day commerce.

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TASMANIAN NUMISMATIST.

The ‘Tasmanian Numismatist’ newsletter is the only official newsletter of the ‘Tasmanian Numismatic Society’ and it is published periodically and distributed by post, or hand delivered, directly to members of the Tasmanian Numismatic Society and selected associates and institutions.