“The Bulletin” June, 2003 Collecting Chinese Coins

The next meeting of the North York Coin Club, will be held on Tuesday, June 24, 2003, at the Edithvale Community Centre, 7 Edithvale Drive. We start gathering about 7:30 p.m. with meeting start scheduled for 8:00. President’s Message This month we will have a subject which is not familiar to many of us. Shawn The most important message that I must Hamilton and Del Murchison will talk about Chinese numismatics. Del, along with a deliver this month is that our June meet- few of his books, will tell about the oldest Chinese coinage while Shawn will talk ing will be our last until September. about his approach to collecting and more recent Chinese coinage. Unlike other years, there will be no meet- ing in July or August. We will return with We have a small listed auction this month (see page 3) and you are encouraged to meetings on September 23, the first day bring additional auction material for this meeting. Hope to see you at the meeting! of fall.

As I announced at the May meeting (and is also mentioned in the minutes), Paul Coming Events Johnson has agreed to be our delegate to the C.N.A. Convention. There seem to be Torex, June 28-29 at the Novotel To- 9:30am, CMNS Sat. 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., quite a few of our members planning to ronto - Centre, 45 The Esplanade. Sat. CPMS Sat. Noon to 2 p.m., CTCCC Sun. register or at least planning to make the 10am-5pm, Sun. 10am-3pm. Admis- 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. trip and attend for a day. It will be much sion $6 - Under 16 Free! Coins, paper Auction Sessions Sat. 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. easier to attend next year when it is held money, cards, books, supplies, pens, and 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and on Sun. at the Holiday Inn by Toronto Airport. A watches, and militaria. Contact Brian R. from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. few of us had a tour there recently and we Smith (416) 861-9523. Web site: http:// For more information, contact T.L (Tom) were all very impressed with the facili- www.torex.net. Clarke (519) 735-0727, ties. e-mail [email protected]. Canadian Numismatic Association If you are now on the Internet, please 2003 Convention, July 17-20, hosted South Western Ontario Numismatic send an e-mail to the editor at “p. by the Windsor Coin Club, Cleary In- Coin and Collectable Show, Aug. 10, [email protected]”. This will allow us ternational Centre, 201 Riverside Dr. 9am-4:30pm at the Convention Centre, to send you any last-minute emergency W. Contact T.L (Tom) Clarke (519) Paris Fairgrounds. Admission $2. More announcements. You may contact the 735-0727, e-mail mclarke@wincom. than 50 tables of tokens, coins, paper President, Bob Wilson, at 905-677-3765 net. The following events are open to money, sports cards, jewellery militaria, or the Editor, Paul Petch at 416-303- the public: postcards and artifacts. Contact Ted Bai- 4417. Bourse floor and displays Sat. ley (519) 442-3474. Web site: http:// 10:15am-6pm and Sun. 10am-5pm www.weare.ca/tedcollectables. Educational Forum Sat. and Sun. Next Meeting: 3:30pm-5pm Specialty Clubs CATC Sat. Noon- (Continued on page 3) June 24 1:30pm, CAWMC Sun. 7:30am- Page 2 North York Coin Club Bulletin, June 2003

Meeting News from the May 27 Meeting

The 485th meeting of the North York Coin Albert Kasman recommended two videos of order in a sequence of new coupons – it Club was held on Tuesday, May 25, 2003 with a numismatic theme to the member- being obvious that it had been inserted in at the Edithvale Community Centre, 7 ship. These were “Who’s Minding the place of another coupon – or to have the Edithvale Drive, Willowdale, Ontario. The ” and “The Black Coin” a 1936 serial ‘inside knowledge’ that serial numbers President, Bob Wilson, opened the meeting centred around 12 black coins, which to- higher than a particular number are replace- at 8:00 p.m. and welcomed 22 members gether form a treasure map. ments. Roger passed the notes among the and 3 guests. He introduced the guests as members and then donated them to the auc- Dr. George Gale, Martin Zelikovitz and Marvin Kay gave background on the Af- tion. Peter Baiocco. rican country of Guinea-Bissau, a former Portuguese colony, which produced a note John Regitko brought false newspaper front depicting the slave trade. Noting the recent passing of long-time pages with personal commemorations. The member Jean Orr, the President invited first was a Canadian Coin News front page George Gale had recently acquired 3 uni- members to stand for a moment of memo- reporting on John and his wife Monina’s face coins with minimal inscriptions and rial silence. recent wedding. The second was a front no identification of origin. He invited page from Today’s Seniors reporting on members with any ideas to assist him in th Following a reminder from the Chair for Monina’s 5 birthday. Both were gifts from their attribution. Don Atanasoff, who produced CCN at the everyone to sign in and put on the name badge, the $6 On Time Attendance Draw time. Dick Dunn had attended the Chicago Coin was won by Mark Argentino. Show and brought back a souvenir article Paul Petch had reviewed the Royal Cana- produced by the Chicago Coin Club on the dian Mint Annual Report and highlighted It was announced Lucille Colson had been subject of Salt and Pepper Money from directed to place herself in voluntary isola- some of the bad news that it contained. He which he read excerpts to the members. commented that it was little wonder there tion because she had been to North York was a change in senior management at the General Hospital and might have been ex- Mark Argentino brought a 3-ring binder end of 2002, considering the $5.4 million posed to SARS. Paul Petch served as Sec- filled with background information on dollar loss, a failed initiative to sell foreign retary for the meeting. The Minutes of the Propaganda Script. This is typically made numismatic products and the loss of so April 22 meeting were read by the Secre- to look like the paper money of the area on much foreign circulation coinage business. tary and were accepted by the Chair. one side but has a message to the populace He directed members’ attention to the fig- from another country or military force on ures printed in the May issue of The Bulle- John Regitko provided copies of a free the other side. Items such as these were tin. Stamp and Coin hobby publication from dropped in before invasion in 1991 Trajan Publications. Len Kuenzig remarked and 2003. Mark reported that there is The President thanked everyone who par- on an article by John Regitko inside that much information on the web on the sub- ticipated. publication which took readers behind the ject, especially at the Iraq CenCom site scenes at the Mint. regarding scrip currently in use and the Roger Fox continued to make it look easy to deck of cards of Iraq’s most wanted lead- be an outstanding host and served up a cou- The Chair invited comments on recent coin ers from the old regime. ple of varieties of juice, fresh coffee and a shows. John Regitko reported that he had variety of cookies for the break. Thank you operated a C.N.A. and coin hobby informa- Paul Johnson collects memorabilia from Roger! tion table at TNS on Friday evening, Satur- the American Numismatic Association and day and Sunday. Members indicating they brought along a small display of Conven- Lucky Draw winners were: Martin Zelik- had made the trip were Len Kuenzig, Dick tion badges, auction catalogues and souve- ovitz(2), Dick Dunn(2), George Gale, Bill Dunn, Bill McDonald, Vince Chiappino nir programs – many of the items being O’Brien, George Fraser(2) and Russ Brown. and Paul Petch. from the 1920s and 30s. Of particular in- The draw was run by Roger Fox with Albert terest were a couple of Convention badges Kasman selling $27.00 worth of tickets. Birthday greetings were extended to worn by J. Douglas Ferguson. Thanks to Bill McDonald for donations. George Fraser on his recent 92nd birthday and endorsed by applause from the floor. Roger Fox spoke on Canadian Tire Cou- The auction of 14 lots was ably run by Bob pon replacement notes. He alerted the Porter with the assistance of Mark Argen- The Chair announced that Paul Johnson has members to both the traditional style, eas- tino and Marvin Kay and in brought in the agreed to serve as the North York Coin ily recognizable by an asterisk, and the fabulous amount of $66.80 in commissions Club delegate at the C.N.A. 2003 Conven- new style that shows a serial number that with donations from Frank Zahra, Rick tion in Windsor in July. is out of range. That is, the serial number Craig and Roger Fox. is a higher number than the total number This was a member participation evening. of coupons being issued in a particular There being no further business the meeting We had very good response. series. He said it was necessary to either closed 9:50 p. m. Thanks to those who discover such a coupon because it was out stayed on and help to clean up. North York Coin Club Bulletin, June 2003 Page 3

Coming Events Question of the Month

(Continued from page 1) The April question of the month, asked “How many branch Mints are there in Collingwood-Georgian Bay Coin and ? What Mint mark do they use? Stamp Club Annual Show, Aug. 16, And, list the coinage where the mint 9am-4pm at the Leisure Time Club, 100 mark appears.” There are two branch Minnesota St. Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. mints in Canada. The original is in Ot- Free admission and parking. Contact tawa and it uses the “C” for Canada mint mark. The second is in Winnipeg Horst Bolik, (705) 429-4061. and uses the “W” mint mark. The “C” appears on gold sovereigns struck from Woodstock Coin Club 14th Annual 1908 to 1919 and the coinage of New- Coin Show, Sept. 7, 9am-4pm at the foundland stuck in various years and Special collector coins and coin sets com- South Gate Centre, 191 Old Wellington denominations after 1917. The “W” memorating the 50th anniversary of the Street S. Public Welcome - Door prizes mint mark is found on uncirculated sets Queen’s coronation are now available on and displays. Contact Tom Rogers (519) of 1997, 1998, 2000 and 2003. The the RCM web site and include: Corona- 451-2316. 2003 sets have just been released. tion Proof Silver Dollar; Coronation Spe- cial Edition Uncirculated Set featuring the Guelph Coin Show, Sept. 14, 9:30am- For a change of pace, we gave an an- traditional seven circulation coin designs; 4pm at the Colonel John McCrea Legion, swer in May. The answer is “1911 and the 1953 Coronation set featuring the 919 York Rd. (Highway 7). Free admis- 1936.” No one could get the matching original 1953 effigy and the double dates sion and parking, 40 or more dealer ta- question, which can be found in the of 1953-2003 on all obverse sides of the bles, penny draw prizes, displays and Charlton Standard Catalogue of Cana- 1-cent, 5-cent, 25-cent, 50-cent and 1- lunch counter. Contact Don Robb (519) dian Coins. Look under the 1936 silver dollar coins, and the Queen Elizabeth II 888-9655 dollar and you will find the answer is Coronation Stamp and Coin Set, a joint “In what years did the Sir E.B. offering by Canada Post and the Royal

MacKennal design appear on silver dol- Canadian Mint. London Numismatic Society 11th An- lars?” nual Coin Show, Sept. 21, 9:30am- Circulation coins are produced to meet 4:30pm at the Ramada Inn, 817 Exeter For the June question of the month we demand. Circulation coins featuring the Rd. Admission $1. Contact Len Buth, will turn our attention to the newly re- updated effigy will be available in most (519) 641-4353, [email protected]. leased portrait of Queen Elizabeth. On regions of Canada in the fall of 2003.” ca. June 2 the an- nounced: “The new and more contem- How many coins and from what years Courtesy of Canadian Coin News porary effigy of Her Majesty Queen would you need specimens to complete a (http://www.canadiancoinnews.ca). Elizabeth II will appear on the obverse Canadian 50¢ type set of royal portraits? side of all Canadian circulation coins.

June Meeting Auction List Listed Auctions

Starts at This concludes our listed auctions for the 1) Greek Coins and Their Values, by H. A. Seaby and J. Kozolubski, 1959. season. Please hold any material you 157 pp, paper covers worn but contents complete. Illustrations in text would like to be considered for the listed plus four plates. Condition is fine overall. Est. $20...... $10.00 auction in October, 2003 until the Sep- 2) Canadian Patterns, 1957, by Fred Bowman 11 pp, orange paper card tember meeting. covers, Fine. Copies with orange covers are from the original printing. Est. $14 ...... 7.00 th Those members not requiring this service 3) 1957 Catalogue of Canadian Coins, Tokens & Fractional Currency, 5 are still invited to bring along any mate- Edition, by J. E. Charlton, perfect condition. Dark brown paper card cov- rial they wish to enter into the auction to ers. Very nice copy with no rusting at the staples. Est. $20.00 ...... 10.00 th any meeting. 4) A Guide Book of U.S. Coins, 16 Edition, by R. S. Yeoman 1963 256 pp. Photo illustrations throughout. Red hard cover. Close to mint condition. The listed auction is a way of publicizing The series is considered to be highly collectible by U.S. collectors. Est. your more premium material in advance $20.00 ...... 10.00 of a meeting, to give notice to all Club 5) North York Coin Club Founding Medal, Bronze, dated 1960 but struck members and to generally raise the cali- in 1963, Donation to the Club ...... 5.00 bre of material offered. Page 4 North York Coin Club Bulletin, June 2003

Birmingham Mint Closes

tion. After the scandal broke concern- Origins in 1794 made firm ing the BRM’s operating losses, Vernon world’s oldest private mint argued that the contract for UK coinage production should be put out to bid. “This has had a significant impact on our busi- The Mint, best known to ness,” Vernon told the British Broadcast- Canadian collectors as the Heaton Mint, ing Corporation (BBC). “We also feel we ended operations on May 22. It had been have not received the true allocation of in financial trouble for the past few years, work during that period.” but there was little hope of recovering from the loss of a contract with the Royal The annual report of the British in 2001. After eight weeks of trying, Mint showed an operating loss of £6.5 the administrators were unable to find a million during the period from 2001 to buyer for the facility. On these two pages 2002. It makes the problems of our Royal appear a summary of a story by Paul Canadian Mint and its $5.4 million loss Gilkes from Coin World and an outline of look small by comparison. its rich 210 year history as presented on its web site. In 1997 to 1998, the BRM engaged in a £25 million expansion program. Of this, Officials for KPMG Corporate Recovery The Birmingham Mint operated un- £9 million was used to refurbish the pro- claim the closing of the operations was der various names during its 206- duction plant and £16 million was used to the result of massive cashflow problems year history. It struck coins for expand capacity. The intention was to caused by losing major contracts. Re- enable the BRM to take advantage of the cently, in addition to fabricating many nations in the British Com- blanks and finished euro coins for several monwealth and elsewhere. Shown is countries, the Birmingham Mint pro- a Canadian 50-cent coin bearing duced zloty-denominated Polish coins, the H Mint mark of the Heaton Venezuelan pesos, and medals and tokens for various clients. The Birmingham Mint continued to fulfill orders while KPMG sought new ownership for the firm.

Officials for the British Royal Mint con- firmed that it has bought up a small num- ber of assets of the Birmingham Mint. BRM officials say that the news about the closure of the Birmingham Mint is regret- table, but it is indicative of the pressures involved in the highly competitive global minting business.

by former chief executive Roland demand generated by the introduction of Trade dropped significantly in 2001 after Vernon, from the worldwide venture the euro in continental Europe on Jan. 1, the British Royal Mint ended a 40-year capital conglomerate, 3i. 3i had ac- 2002. The expenditure of the £16 million agreement that accorded the Birmingham quired the Birmingham Mint in 1998 was based on the ambitious target that the Mint a fixed proportion of any BRM from the British engineering firm IMI. BRM would secure 20 percent of the con- overseas contracts. Some of those con- Last October, the Birmingham Mint tracts for euro blanks. tracts involved the production of euro brought a £5.4 million ($8.5 million in blanks and finished coins, an area where U.S. funds) damages claim against the “However, the BRM secured only 5 per- business drop-off resulted in the BRM British Royal Mint in London over the cent of the contracts. The explanation put suffering financial losses of its own. alleged breach of contract. forward by the new deputy master for Those annual contracts with the BRM failing to meet the target was that it was accounted for a significant part of the The Birmingham Mint could only pro- ambitious and additionally the BRM was Birmingham Mint’s business. duce coinage for countries outside the slower than its competitors in achieving

United Kingdom, since the BRM has the technical tolerance levels specified in At the same time the Birmingham Mint’s exclusive rights to UK coinage produc- the contracts.” management bought out the firm, headed North York Coin Club Bulletin, June 2003 Page 5

A Short History of 1891 1973 The Birmingham Mint Ralph Heaton III dies at the age of 64 on In April of this year Mr King turns over the 10th of November. responsibility for Group operations to Mr 1794 Colin Perry. Ralph Heaton I forms a company in 1901 Slaney Street Birmingham. Metal Company produces 1977 Century Commemorative medal for em- I.C.I. sells its’ sharehold in Imperial 1808 - 1812 ployees. Metal Industries. Kynoch Mint renamed Moves to Shadwell Street. IMI Mint. 1911 - 1912 1810 Birmingham Mint loses monopoly with 1988 Ralph Heaton II apprenticed to Thomas Royal Mint coinage. Shares contracts Birmingham Mint purchases Green Duck Willetts as a Die Maker. with Kings Norton Metal Company. Corporation in USA. Birmingham Mint Group restructured into 4 divisions. 1817 1918 Ralph I gives Ralph II tenement and shop Kings Norton Metal Company becomes 1991 at the corner of Bath Street and Shadwell part of Nobel Industries. IMI acquire a controlling interest in Bir- Street. mingham Mint Group plc after a con- 1919 tested take-over bid. 1847 Last Issue with Heaton “H” mark. Business becomes Heaton and Son. IMI Mint moves to Birmingham Mint 1920 site. Company Name changes to The IMI 1850 Ralph Heaton IV retires after bringing the Birmingham Mint Ltd. Ralph II purchases equipment from Soho company through the hard times of the Mint. The equipment, including four First World War. Commissioning of Plating Line steam-powered screw presses and six Mr W.E. Bromet, the husband of for nickel-plated coin blanks and coins. blanking presses, is moved to Bath Street. Heaton’s sister Constance, succeeds him During the 1850s, the Heaton Mint was as Managing Director. 1993 also under contract to operate the Mar- Purchase of Casino Tokens inc. USA. seilles Mint in . 1926 Nobel Industries becomes I.C.I. Metals 1998 The Heaton Mint employed a number of division. 3i plc acquires a majority shareholding Mint marks on various coinage issues from IMI. Company name reverts back to depending on the country for which the 1930’s “The Birmingham Mint Ltd”. coins were intended; it used the Mint Mr W.F. Brazener becomes General marks to identify the coins as products of Manager in May of 1935, at the same 1999 the Heaton Mint. Many coins, such as time Ralph Heaton V is appointed American companies closed down due to those struck for Canada, bear an H Mint as Secretary to the Company. structured changes in the U.S. Casino mark. token market. This marks the end of the Heaton Fam- 1860 ily’s stewardship of the company. 2000 Icknield Street site bought. The Birmingham Mint Ltd secures big- Kings Norton move to Witton, centre of gest ever-single order, over £45 million 1862 I.C.I. Metals Division. Becomes known Sales Value, to supply German Mints Move to Icknield Street. The Proprietor- as Kynoch Mint. with 1 & 2 Euro Coin Blanks. Strikes 50 ship of Ralf Heaton III begins. million 2 Euro coins for another Euro- 1960 pean National Mint. 1887 Mr Brazener retires on the 30th of April. Contract to build and equip Canton Mint. He is replaced by William Raymond 2001 Pearce King on the 1st of May. Company sold by 3i to former CEO. Ro- 1889 land Vernon and colleagues. Backed by On the 22 March the company becomes a 1962 GE Capital Finance. Limited Liability Company. The com- Imperial Metal Industries, including pany name is changed from Heaton and Kynoch Mint, separated from I.C.I. 2003 Sons to “The Mint Birmingham Lim- March, 20, 2003 goes into Administra- ited”. Ralph Heaton III retires with the 1964 tion with the joint administrators Mark proviso that his son, Ralph Heaton IV, be Consortium established, Royal Mint, Bir- Orton and Myles Halley being appointed. taken on as General Manager. mingham Mint and Kynoch Mint to bid May 22, 2003 closes its doors for the last for minting work. time.

Page 6 North York Coin Club Bulletin, June 2003

Why this coin could improve the weight of your wallet by Peter Calamai, Science Reporter

A new 83-cent piece would ease burden says University of Waterloo Professor

Say goodbye to purses that feel like jubilee - the normal yearly out-put is His answer was a new 2-cent coin or an you’re carrying a sack of potatoes. Or 500,000 - and the special coins have 18-cent one, either of which would also trouser pockets that leak a trail of cop- effectively disappeared from circula- reduce change-making for Americans per and nickel. tion. But “it would definitely cut down by one coin on average. That proposal on the weight in your purse or pocket,” provoked a cybernet storm, with 1,129 A computer scientist at the University says Shallit. e-mail postings in just two days to the of Waterloo has a scheme to lighten the Slashdot Web site, which bills it-self as burden of Canadians — a new 83-cent To get an idea of the possible weight “News for Nerds.” “Actually the U.S. coin. Professor Jeff Shallit has pro- reduction, empty your pockets of all does have an 18-cent coin. It’s called a duced pages of equations to back his change. Take away one coin out of Canadian quarter,” said one poster. idea, mathematically if not practically. every six, favouring quarters and loonies. Here’s how it would work: You pay for Pocket the remainder a $3.14 purchase with a $5 bill and wait and feel the differ- for your change - $1.86. You expect the ence. Over-all, the usual handful of coins: a weight loonie, three quarters, a savings dime and a penny. Six coins would be to add to the ever-growing The number immense. weight already in your purse of coins The Royal or pocket. Instead, the - Canadian ier hands over just four needed to Mint esti- coins - two dimes and two of make mates that Shallit’s 83-cent coins. more than change 30 billions Shallit has calculated that would drop coins are Canadians would handle one sloshing less coin on average in every around the change transaction if we added the 83- country, piling up on cent piece. The precise change saving dressers and bed-side works out to four fewer coins in every tables much more of- three transactions. ten than being neatly “I hope you realize that this is a bit rolled up by banks. tongue-in-cheek,” he says. “After all, Shallit’s calculations found that Canadi- there are psychological reasons why no ans use 5.9 coins on average when mak- At the Mint in Ottawa, spokes-person one would want an 83-cent coin.” The ing change of up to $4.99. With the new Phil Taylor was unperturbed by Shal- extra mental effort of adding and sub- coin in circulation, that average drops lit’s call for change. “We’d want some- tracting such an ungainly amount would to 4.6. thing with application in the real market be a big hurdle for most people, the and not simply hypothetical,” Taylor computer scientist acknowledges. Not The 83-cent coin was essentially a post- said. to mention raising the stakes in the script to Shallit’s article in the May is- sofa-cushion search, forcing the redes- sue of Mathematical Intelligencer, an ign of vending machines and thinking American magazine where math-lovers This article appeared in the of a catchy name for the coin. let down their hair. The Waterloo pro- Toronto Star for fessor actually focused on the best new Yet, hoarders would likely love the new coin for the U.S., where change only Saturday, June 7, 2003 coin. Last year, the Royal Canadian needs to be made up to 99 cents, be- Mint distributed 14.4 million 50-cent cause the dollar bill is still in use. pieces to commemorate the Queen’s