mmarotta

Christmas -- But, also, my sister is more religious so over the years, I sent her several like these: That from a recent online CNG auction listed on CoinArchives. The significance may be to show the advent of the messiah, the Lamb of God, as the sun moves from Ares and into Pisces. The wise men said, "We have seen his star in the East..." That is taken literally (as so much is) but, as they were WISE men, i.e., astronomers/astrologers, could mean that they read the sign in the stars. Again, the change in vernal equinox from Ares to Pisces (as we now enter the Age of Aguarius), or something else... ... and a more obvious reading of this coin would be to declare Nero ruler of the world...

I had a complete semester in college with Goethe's Faust, Part I. I have not revisited that in many years -- and I sure you, it was hell sitting through 15 sophomoric translations of the greatest work in the German language (second to Luther's Bible, of course). That said... The 25 Pf looks like "Walpurgis Nacht" nominally SAINT Walpurga's Night, but somehow transmogrified into a coven celebration. There was one other scene in which Dr. Faust has his youth restored, but I have a hard time seeing that in the notes, perhaps the smaller 50 Pf at the left. The 1.60 Mark is clearly echoic of a line "es fartzt die Hexe; es stinkt der Bock" -- a line from the ceremony of rejuvenation, I think, or maybe die Walpurgisnacht again: "... a farting witch on a stinking goat..." The 50 pf top center at the fireplace seated is Faust, to the right standing at the bookcase is Mephisto and behind Faust to the left is the "Familiar" or spirit whom Faust commanded as a servant. At least, that's my take -- and thanks! Nice array. Some ancient Greek coins have the gorgon Medusa on them. Apollonia Pontica is famous for them, but see also the coins of L. Plautius Plancus, a Republican moneyer circa 47 BCE.

A cent is lucky if it is found heads up. If I come across one reverse up, I turn it over for the next person to find. Thanks, Dave, that was interesting. It is a long list. One thing: about knives and scissors. In the movie The Edge I forgot who gives what exactly, so I looked it up. Charles Morse (Anthony Hopkins) is given a knife for his birthday and he returns a coin to the giver saying that when a man gives you a knife, you give him a coin in return lest the bond of friendship be cut. I did that for my sister. They knew where to come for a sixpence.

Flowing Hair Bust Heraldic Reverse.

In another thread, speaking of Avesta Swedish 5-kopek Russian coins, the point was made that these are well-documented, limited quantity items pursued by knowledgeable collectors. Those same collectors know and condemn copies of these. That same line of thought would apply to the 1804 Dollars and 1913 Liberty Nickels. The first five 1804 Dollars have some validity. Created at the request of the White House to be included in gift sets to foreign rulers by diplomatic missions, the original 1804 Dollars have some marginal historicity as curios. (I realize, also, that the mandate to make them was ambigous, but nonetheless, they were made openly and for a public reason in service to the government. At worst they are official medals.) The later coins, Series II and Series III are worthless knock-offs. As curios of the Mint, they might have some value, as would a private medal struck by one of the Eckfield Family using Mint resources. The 1913 Liberty Nickels are worthless. Known to be made by a dishonest employee for his own gain, they were foisted on the unsuspecting in a clever ruse. That other people pay millions of dollars for these things is no different to me than the millions of dollars invested in Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC. It might be argued that every market is so-called "Ponzi" scheme as all that matters is food on the table and a roof over your head: of what value is anything else? Who decides? Ultimately, does not the buyer have a right to be happy with their purchase? Why should the government step in at all? So, in the context of a completely unruled and unlimited market where anything goes and the customer is always right, 1804 Dollars and 1913 Nickels and Madoff Securities are all worth millions of dollars ... as long as there is another buyer... Is that your view of the hobby of numismatics? Does historicity have no bearing on value? Is a copy of a Roman coin as valuable as a Roman coin?

The dime is a truly American coin. For instance, although other nations such as Canada and Singapore have "dollars" only America has the dime. Futhermore, our other coins carry their denominations -- "Quarter Dollar" and "One Cent" and so on -- but what is a "dime"? The name is unique to our nation. (Facts here originally appeared in “Building a U.S. Dime Type Set,” The Numismatist, Vol 16. No. 5, May 2002.) If you start with the current issue Roosevelt dime, you can find examples certified Proof 70. One problem with such easy perfection is that it is impossible to complete a type set of dimes entirely in Proof-70. While a Proof-70 "Roosie" can be had for less than $20, a Mint State 60 uncirculated Draped Bust Dime from 1796 will cost at least $4,000 -- if one is on the market at all. The Mercury dime is properly called the "Winged Head Liberty" dime. The designer, Adolph A. Weinman based his coin on a bust he made of Elsie Kachel Stevens. Mercury dimes were struck in astronomical quantities. As a result of these populations, high grade examples are affordable. The collector with an eye for sharp detail in a Mint state coin will appreciate the fact that the 1916-P can be found certified in MS-63 or above for about $100. The dimes designed by Charles Barber carried a lot of commerce that wore these coins flat. Therefore, Barber coins in higher collector grades (Extemely Fine and About Uncirculated) are always in demand. Proof Barber dimes are available for under $500. It is technically possible, though practically difficult, to find a certified Mint State Barber dime for less than $100. Chief Engraver Christian Gobrecht's Seated Liberty coins enjoyed an unparalled run of 56 years 1837-1891. The original design was the work of Thomas Sully. Miss Liberty herself bears a strong resemblence to Blanche Sully, the painter's daughter, looking over her right shoulder, in a work executed in 1834. The collector building a "complete" type set of dimes must make some choices. The reverse of the Seated Liberty from 1837 to 1859 featured olive branches. Starting in 1860, the reverse carried "Newlin's Wreath of Cereals." The first two years of issue, 1837 and 1838, are another major variety. The dimes of 1838-1853 are considered a single major type of Seated Liberty. In 1853, the weight of the dime was reduced from 2.67 grams to 2.49 grams. To mark this change, the Mint added arrows to the date for the years 1853-1855. Arrows again bracketed the date in 1873 and 1874 when the weight of the dime increased to 2.50 grams. Another choice is whether to include an 1860-S. The Mints at Philadelphia and New Orleans began striking dimes with "Newlin's cereal wreath" in 1860. However, the San Francisco Mint struck the older reverses in 1860. Proofs for the common dates 1875-1891 (no arrows) cost about $600. Certified Mint State coins from these years can be found near $150. Coins graded Extremely Fine are known at the $20 level, however finding a truly problem-free Seated Liberty dime in this grade can be a challenge. Pursuing Capped Bust Dimes 1809-1837 requires the same kinds of choices that come with the Seated Liberty series. On the one hand, production levels for common years make Mint State examples affordable for the average collector who is willing to use a savings account while learning about the series: for $1000 you can have your pick and get money back. There are two major varieties of Capped Bust Dime. In 1828, the Mint made several changes to the design of these coins. Hardly noticeable except to a numismatist, specialists in the series consider these changes significant. Numismatic legend says that the model for the Draped Bust coinage was Philadelphia socialite Ann Willing Bingham. Like the Seateds, the Draped Bust dimes 1796-1807 feature two different reverses. From 1798-1807, the "heraldic eagle" is a stylized symbol of the republic. The "small eagle" of 1796-1707 is a more natural image. In no sense are these coins "cheap" or "affordable." Only in grades near or below Very Fine do their prices drop below $1000. Even in Good, the Heraldic Eagles run about $200 and that will not open the bidding for a Small Eagle in Good.

Was there not an article and some letters recently in The Celator on the subject of what exactly the elephant is "trampling"? Dragon, snake, or palm tree? Trampling or approaching? Also, the Python was known from mythology; and from contact with Egypt, they knew about crocodiles; but is not the "dragon" a medieval confabulation of several source images?

So far, you can see that how you define your pursuit is up to you. Doug Smith's "eastern denarii of Septimus Severus" is certainly a specialty. Benz Gemz's "Women on Roman Coins" is more general, but still also a personal decision. Collecting ancients is not lthe buying of a Whitman Folder and filling in the holes ... but then, little outside of US Federal Type is. How you collect is up to you. In truth, I gave up material collecting almost ten years ago, but toward the end, I pursued banknotes with airplanes and banknotes with scientists. That last actually brought my collecting full circle. About 1993 or 94, I was new to collecting, new to the ANA and MSNS and had some interest in ancients, but everything else, as well, with no firm agenda. Then, I was watching a rerun of Carl Sagan's Cosmos episode "Backbone of the Night." I decided to collect ancient Greek coins worth a day's wages from the towns and times of philosophers. What coin was likely to passed through their hands? My guidebook was Lives of the Eminent Philosophers by Diogenes Laertius but I went beyond that. In about five years, I pretty much had Thales of Miletus all the way through to Hypatia of Alexandria. With Romans, my interest was more limited: The Five Good Emperors; and Cato the Younger, to satisfy my political philosophy. But, also, for all of that, my first username was Mercury and often still is, so I have a few Romans with Mercury (and a few Greeks with Hermes). It is pretty much up to you. As for fakes, they are a universal problem, but reputable dealers are reliable for a good reason. I stick to advertisers in The Celator, VCoins dealers, ANA PNC IAPN members, and so on. I like to meet people at conventions and shows. You get to know them. I never bought anything on eBay.

Noting also the differences between the Catholic and Protestant versions.

Ah! The start of a new collection ... The Cent and the Nickel have an intersection, of course, in the first issues of Small Cents were 12% nickel. They are obviously lighter in color (also thicker) than copper or bronze coins. The new "nicks" lead to lobbying by Joseph Warton (for whom the famous Business School is named, and owner of a nickel mine) for other nickel coins.

I got this in 2003 but I missed the convention itself. The one from 1996 is the same, but in silver and I did go to Denver to pick it up.

Like you, I am always impressed by the workmanship evidenced in these old books. Even newspapers of the time required armies of skilled laborers whose efforts are missed today. I think of compositors, proofreaders, copyboys, editors... and they turned out several editions each day, continuously updating the paper. With books, we think nothing today of illustrations, and photoengraving certainly made a difference. But before that, they still illiustrated books, cutting plates by hand. (Paul Revere's engraving publicized the Boston Massacre the next day. You can't get a snapshot of the company picnic through Photoshop in that time. Of course, Paul Revere did not need a departmental kick-off meeting to start a project.) My latest purchases: Fischer's Ding and Schjo"th, both from Frank Robinson.

That seems to be the accepted theory. Someone should just go interview these people and write up the facts.

I am not sure about those theories. I am a doubter by nature and I often find evidence lacking or internal inconsistencies in stories like those. (Recently, I published an article about so-called "emergency coins" or "plated Owls" from ancient Athens. I dispute the claim in its entirety.) However, I find this to be more compelling from See323: However, again, there is some internal inconsistency. While it is true that finding your own chopmark does save you time, I think that this is as unlikely as having your own check come back to you with multiple endorsements. By analogy, the first theory I demolished was Seltman's "merchant theory" for the origins of coinage from the Encyclopedia Britannica. (The ANA gave me a literary award for that, so I accept my assertions as having been reviewed.) Seltman said that the first coins were simply lumps of electrum given a merchant's stamp so that the merchant would not need to reweigh it. One problem is that no one has ever found any order or semblence in the stamps to show weights. More basic is the fact that the purpose of trade is exchange. You are unlikey to see your own chopmark once you pass the money in the next transaction. What happened was that I was writing an article and citing the merchant theory and then I told myself a joke: "If any merchant ever punched a lump of electrum, it was to avoid taking back a bad penny." I think that these chopmarks appear on notes to show that they are genuine because of the prevalence of counterfeit US currency, apparently a huge problem that we Americans are unaware (kept unaware?) of. Anyway, thanks to the Lost Dutchman for starting the thread and thanks also to See323 for helping it along. (I just added to the COINS forum ARTICLES area an essay I wrote a while back on SHROFFS. I wrote it a couple of years ago for the MSNS MichMatist. (It was rejected by the ANA Numismatist as too specialised.) I made a few updates for it to have been reprinted recently by the MINTMARK of the Numismatic Society of Auckland.)

My brother-in-law (wife's brother) and his wife are moving back to the States from Merrye Olde and in advance of that, sent us a CARE Package. Inside was a GUY FAWKES 2-Pound coin in an explanatory folder. On the edge: "Remember Remember the Fifth of November."

The problem rests with me. Let me take care of it. I will get a new Model, have it engraved with the names of Whohah, Art, and the others, and then send it to Ykraina Devi. In the mean time, I am almost done with the second roll and I'll get the pictures and travelogue uploaded. (I am impressed with your "holder." We have cats, actually, and I am not much of a dog kind of guy, but I appreciate a sense of humor and dogs tend to be better natured than cats. The biggest advantage to cats is that they are great at leaving you alone... until they want attention, of course... whereas dogs always want attention unless they want to be left alone.)

Miss V is missing. She has been gone for about 10 days now and has not made her way back through the usual channels. I checked Lost & Found at campus security and I checked my car, briefcase, etc., etc., about 100 times. I think that she was kidnapped during a photoshoot. However, one or more of those subjects has since been suspended for smoking on campus, so if that is the case, Miss V has a new home. I will, of course, find a new Model and send her on her way. To make things as right as possible, the new Miss Model will have the old names on her when she begins her journey. I will post the snapshots to a website in a few days or so and post the link here. I have one roll of film still in my camera with some snapshots of Miss V. So, I need to work my way through the remaining frames. Michael

Pictures follow later when the roll is developed... On Sunday the 5th, V's time in Ann Arbor started with a trip to the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum where she was photographed in the second floor "soap bubble" gallery. She spent most of the afternoon in my shirt pocket as I performed four demonstrations in the Science Works room: Kitchen Chemistry, Air Pressure, Bicycle Physics and Flaming Acid Salts. I took her to school with me on Tuesday the 7th. I have four classes actually -- Intro to Criminal Justice, Constitutional Law, Criminal Investigations and College Algebra -- but I just took her to one, algebra where she learned about graphing rational functions, and was photographed atop the overhead projector and in front of the blackboard. V went out on patrol with me Wed, Fri and Sat, but only got photographed on Fri night in the campus safety satellite office in front of a computer screen displaying Coin People. We'll see if that comes out. She got a little bit of fresh air -- but not much sunshine -- today, sitting on my barbeque grill, looking out over my back yard. (The house behind us is the U of M athletic director.) Tomorrow (Sunday, the 12th) V is going to the Lansing Coin Club show on the MSU campus. I'll take a few snapshots there and we'll see what comes out best. Monday, I will arrange for laser engraving and when she's out of surgery, she'll be on her way to the next host. Who might that be?

"V" arrived on the 31st. I will take her out on the town. I'll show her a good time and put her in a taxicab. Where should I tell the cabbie to drop her off?

My check for editing the MichMatist arrived today. As the editor, I handle the payments to authors and that includes my own. I do not issue the checks, though. The president and treasurer do that. I just prepare invoices and envelopes and such. Well, getting paid was a big deal for me. I live in Ann Arbor, zipcode 481xx and I addressed my own envelope zipcode 418xx and sent my money to Kentucky. I was happy to see it today, I assure, you.

I celebrate the spirit of creation. Everything I collect -- except maybe rocks and metereorites -- are artifacts of the highest achievement of the spirit of human reason. "To trade by means of money is the code of the men of good will. Money rests on the axiom that every man is the owner of his mind and his effort. Money allows no power to prescribe the value of your effort except the voluntary choice of the man who is willing to trade you his effort in return." http://capmag.com/article.asp?ID=1826 My numismatic collections include these themes (sometimes overlapping): Tiimes and towns of famous Greek philosophers; Aviation; Music; Writing -- Poets, Authors, and Printing. I am a big fan of private issues. Money is created by productive effort, not by government fiat. Some government money is pretty, to be sure, but the true value comes from something else. I have stocks, checks, drafts, scrip, tokens. I have taken a shine to the Central Mining Company of Eagle Harbor, Michigan, for instance. "Not an ocean of tears not all the guns in the world can transform those pieces of paper in your wallet into the bread you will need to survive tomorrow. Those pieces of paper, which should have been gold, are a token of honor... " I also have a few pieces of bitter irony, communist money, such as the large silver Roubles of 1922 with the proletarian showing the farmer the glorious new sunrise. The communists promissed a world without money. They might as well have promised a world without gravity. In short, my collecting area is "applied philosophy."