Also in this issue: √ Glossary | Lexique √ Anatomy of a coin | Anatomie d’une pièce √ Mahatma magic √ News of the numismatic world [January 2010] – 1 is the official publication of the Ottawa Coin Club.
It is published monthly and aims to promote the hobby of coin collecting irst and foremost, HaHaHappppppy NeNey w YYYear!ear!ear! May it be filled with and the science of numismatics health, happiness, wealth, and lots of money collecting pleasure! throughout the National Capital Region. F Now, welcome to (Latin for “coined money”), the new Submissions are welcomed. Please publication of the Ottawa Coin Club. It was with a great deal of pleasure that I submit text in Rich Text Format (.rtf) accepted François’ offer to become the new editor. I would be remiss if I did not separately from images. The images extend a huge thank you to David for his five years at the helm of the club’s must be of high resolution (minimum publication. His outstanding contribution was highlighted when the Royal 300 dpi) and should be in colour. The preferred file format for images is Canadian Numismatic Association awarded him the prize for Best Editor of a jpeg (.jpg). Please consult the Local Bulletin. He has done a fantastic job and I have big shoes to fill. publication style guide at I also wish to thank Ron and Steve for agreeing to help me. I trust that we
Serge ISSN 1922-4885 The intent of this presentation is to highlight the JAN difficulties collectors of Canadian coins experience OCC when determining whether a coin has circulated or 25 Meeting not. It is often very difficult to uncover minute signs On the cover... Speaker: François Rufiange of circulation, especially with today’s nickel-plated Topic: “Grading Difficulties” Reverse of 2010 Silver Dollar from the coins. This problem is compounded by the lack and Proof Set, reverse of the Canadian often contradictions within existing Canadian literature. Navy Centennial coin and reverse of Using many large high-resolution pictures, François will show what to look for and 2008-dated 25-cent coin issued to explain why these fine details are not easily seen. This presentation is for all collectors. commemorate the 90th anniversary of For the less experienced collector, it will cover basic grading principles and for the the end of World War I. more experience ones, grading is very much a ‘perishable’ skill and one can always use a refresher!
2 – [January 2010] OTTAWA COIN CLUB since 1948 P.O. Box 42004, R.P.O. St. Laurent, Ottawa, ON K1K 4L8 Email: [email protected] ye appeal: “The quality of a coin’s attractiveness, distinct from any Website: www.ottawacoinclub.com quantifiable measure of condition. It is usually related to toning.”1 Just Elike a coin, our new journal is all about eye appeal, attractiveness. The quality of the articles, I am sure will continue to be as good as it has been in the previous years. But our new editor tells me it is all about the The club meets every month, usually on look! So as you embrace the New Year, we ask you for your feedback about the fourth Monday. The meetings begin . You are also very much encouraged to write articles. Articles can at 7:30 p.m. in the St. Peter meeting room be about anything. Add a picture and voilà, you have a great article, but most of (on the 3rd floor) of the all, you have helped others to learn! Why not make a New Year resolution: I will Heron Road Multi-Service Centre, write at least one article this year! 1480 Heron Road, Ottawa. So, how did we do in 2009? We not only retained our current membership, it has increased, thanks to Rod and to Frank at Universal Coins for actively Le club se réunit habituellement le promoting our club. Our meetings were very well attended averaging over 30 quatrième lundi de chaque mois. La réunion ouvre à 19h30 dans la persons per meeting. For those that have been members for many years, I do not salle St. Peter (au 3e étage) du know if you have noticed, but there is more energy in the air when a meeting is Heron Road Multi-Service Centre, well attended. That means more participation, more questions, better auctions 1480 chemin Heron, Ottawa. and more people to befriend and to learn with. Two new junior members also joined, which is just great. Did you know that last year, between Ron, David, Peter, Wilfred, Jaime, Serge and I, we wrote 32 articles for our journal? And that does not include Annual Dues: Kim’s, Steve’s, and Barry’s contributions for the minutes, the welcome remarks, Junior: $10.00 or the maintenance of our website. We were offered some fantastic presentations Regular: $20.00 thanks to Steve, Barry, Jaime, Serge, and John. Thank you all for your valued Family: $25.00 contributions and I hope that you will continue your devotion to our club. International: $30.00 As for the special projects we had planned to accomplish, they moved forward, but were not completed. For example, I have been working on a new club logo design, but progress is very slow. The Club award and the revised Club constitution projects are the same. Completion of these is much closer though. I Your Club Executive: will present our Club priorities for 2010 in February since the Executive has not President: had a chance to meet yet to discuss this issue. François Rufiange In closing, I wish you all a Happy New Year and I hope that your club will
[January 2010] – 3 To enjoy fully your electronic copy... of download it to your hard drive. While If you have difficulties reading, you can switch the view viewing it with Adobe Acrobat Reader you can see it as if it back to [SINGLE PAGE]. were a magazine. To do so, simply click on [VIEW] in the You will also notice that we have built some bookmarks upper left corner of your sscreen. A pull-down menu will that act somewhat like a table of contents. To access them appear. Point at [PAGE DISPLAY] and a second pull-down menu simply click on the bookmark icon on the left side of your will appear. To view the publication like a magazine simply screen. point to [TWO-UP] and click. A check mark will appear beside that option. Repeat until you get the second menu but this time point and click on [SHOW COVER PAGE DURING TWO-UP]. Voilà!
Hope this helps! Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions: [email protected].
4 – [January 2010] glossary will be included in whenever it n lexique sera inclus dans lorsque ce sera is judged appropriate. Its aim is to help readers jugé approprié. Son but est d'aider les lecteurs à mieux Aunderstand why certain terms were used over others. Ucomprendre pourquoi un terme a été favorisé plutôt qu'un The definitions are taken from Serge Pelletier's The Canadian autre. Il aide aussi les lecteurs francophones puisqu'il donne les Dictionary of Numismatics or from the upcoming The Canadian traductions, entre crochets [], des différents termes. Les définitions Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Numismatics. The expression in sont issues du Dictionnaire canadien de numismatique de Serge brackets [] is the translation in the other official language. Pelletier ou du Dictionnaire encyclopédique canadien de numismatique (en développement).
finish– [fini] Quality of the surface of a piece. In Canada, we 30 sous – [quarter] Expression familière utilisée au Québec usually speak about: bullion finish, proof finish, and specimen pour désigner la pièce de 25 cents. Cette expression vient de la finish. période prédécimale où le dollar valait 5 shillings, le shilling lui hybrid edge – [tranche hybride] Edge that combines two valait 12 pence et le penny, 2 sous. C’est donc dire que 1 dollar = or more characteristics. The Canadian 2-dollar coin has a hybrid 5 shillings = 60 pence = 120 sous. Comme la pièce de 25 cents edge since segments are alternately plain and reeded. (hybrid plain/ vaut le quart d’un dollar depuis son introduction en 1870, un quart reeded). de 120 est 30 sous. medal – [médaille] 1. A piece of metal bearing devices and épreuve numismatique – [proof] Pièce frappée selon des legends commemorating an event or person, or given as an award. critères qualitatifs optimaux. En France, on dit belle épreuve. A medal varies in size between 26 and 49 mm. 2. In North America, fini– [finish] Qualité de la surface d’une pièce. Au Canada, on the tendency is to reverse medal and medallion (i.e., medal is used parle de : fini épreuve numismatique, fini lingot et fini spécimen. for pieces larger than 50 mm in diameter). jeton – [token] Selon la définition la plus contemporaine, pièce medallion – [medaillon] 1. A large medal, often uniface, de métal ou d’autre matière, représentant une valeur exprimable generally 50 mm or more in diameter. 2. In North America, the en monnaie, ou en bien mais non garantie par l’État. tendency is to reverse medal and medallion. jeton militaire – [military coin] 1. Pièce émise par une unité military coin – [jeton militaire] 1. Check issued by a unit to militaire, ou para-militaire, pour identifier les membres actuels identify the members that are serving or have served with it. et anciens. Elle est habituellement numérotée. SYN. défi. 2. Pièce Syn. challenge coin. 2. Check given out by a military remise par un commandant militaire en guise de reconnaissance. commander as a token of his appreciation. jeton municipal – [municipal trade token] Pièce Mint – [Monnaie] Governmental organization responsible for communautaire émise par un organisme sans but lucratif à laquelle the production of coinage. It may operate several facilities (also l’autorité locale appropriée accorde cours libre dans une région called mints). spécifique pendant une période donnée. Elle peut être utilisée mintage – [tirage] Quantity struck. Also, mintage figure. comme monnaie dans les transactions commerciales pendant la municipal trade token – [jeton municipal] A community période de validité. Ces jetons sont habituellement émis comme token, sponsored by a local non-profit organization and given legal moyen de levée de fonds ou de commémoration. tender by the appropriate local authority, for a specific area and a médaille – [medal] 1. Morceau de métal, habituellement rond, limited time. It is used as currency in normal commercial portant des motifs et légendes, commémorant un évènement ou transactions during the period of validity. These tokens are usually une personne ou remise en qualité de prix. Le diamètre d’une issued for both commemorative and fundraising purposes. médaille varie de 26 à 49 mm. 2. En Amérique du Nord, on a proof – [épreuve numismatique] 1. Originally a trial strike tendance à confondre l’utilisation de médaille et médaillon, c’est- testing the dies. 2. Coin struck for collectors with dies that have à-dire que l’on a tendance à utiliser médaille pour une pièce de been specially polished on planchets with a mirror finish. plus de 50 mm de diamètre. quarter – [30 sous] 1. Nickname given to all United States médaillon – [medallion] Médaille, habituellement uniface, 25-cent and quarter-dollar pieces. 2. Nickname given, qui dépasse en taille et en poids une médaille normale. inappropriately, to the Canadian 25-cent piece. Monnaie – [Mint] Organisme gouvernemental ou para- reeded edge – [tranche cannelée] Edge showing close gouvernemental responsable de la production des pièces de vertical ridges. The Canadian 10-cent piece has a reeded edge. monnaies. Elle peut gérer plusieurs ateliers monétaires. token – [jeton] A piece of metal or other material, bearing a tirage – [mintage] Dans le monnayage, quantité frappée. value in money or in goods, that is not guaranteed by a State. tranche cannelée– [reeded edge] Tranche marquée de fines rainures parallèles. La tranche de la pièce canadienne de 10 cents est cannelée. tranche hybride – [hybrid edge] Tranche qui combine deux ou plusieurs caractérisques. La tranche de la pièce canadienne de 2 dollars est hybride, combinant des portions lisses à des portions cannellées (hybride lisse/cannelée).
[January 2010] – 5 Anatomy of a coin Anatomie d’une pièce by Serge Pelletier par Serge Pelletier
obverse | avers reverse | revers
1. rim 2. beading 3. issuing country 4. field 5. signature 6. denomination 1. listel ou cordon 2. grènetis 3. pays émetteur 4. champ 5. signature 7. date 8. device or type 9. legend 10. portrait 11. corporate mark 6. dénomination 7. millésime 8. type 9. légende 10. portrait 11. marque corporative
ny field of interest normally has terminology out champ d’intérêt a sa unique to it. Coin collecting is no different. propre terminologie. La collection des AWe thought it would be appropriate to start with T monnaies ne diffère aucunement. Nous avons words used to describe a coin and have chosen a Canadian cru bon de vous faire connaître les termes utilisés pour example. The graphics are from The Canadian Dictionary d’écrire une pièce de monnaie. L’image est issue du of Numismatics. Dictionnaire canadien de numismatique. The chosen coin is the 1 dollar loon type, commonly C’est la pièce de 1 dollar type huart que nous avons called the “loonie”. choisie pour cet exercice. obverse – The obverse is the side that bears the avers – L’avers est le côté principal d’une monnaie monarch or coat of arms, the side that represents the issuing présentant, généralement, le souverain ou les signes du authority. Because it normally bears the monarch’s portrait, pouvoir émetteur. On l’appelle aussi droit ou face. it is the side commonly called “heads”. revers – Le revers est considéré comme étant le côté reverse – The reverse is regarded as having lesser d’une pièce le moins important. On l’appelle souvent pile importance. In colloquial parlance, the tails side. It usually dans le langage populaire. Il porte habituellement la bears the denomination. dénomination. rim – The rim is the raised border around the listel – Le listel est le rebord de la face d’une pièce en circumference of a coin, and should not to be confused with légère saillie par rapports aux reliefs. Il protège les reliefs,
6 – [January 2010] the edge. It has several functions. First, it facilitates the permet l’empilage et facilite la mise en rouleaux. On piling of coins. Second, it helps to protect the portions of l’appelle aussi cordon. Les Français l’appellent parfois the coin that are in relief. crénelure. beading – It is a continuous line of beads, in relief, grènetis – C’est un cordon perlé fait de petits points around the circumference of a piece. It actually has technical ou grains en relief placés sur le pourtour d’une pièce ou purpose in that it helps avoid flow lines, which result from entre la légende circulaire et le listel. Techniquement, il aide the flow of the metal during the striking process. à prévenir les lignes de refoulement qui résultent du field – The field is the flat part of the surface of a piece, déplacement du métal pendant la frappe. between the legend, the effigy and other raised parts of the champ – Partie plate de la surface d’une pièce, située design. entre la légende, l’effigie et toute autre partie en relief. signature – The mention on the face of a piece, in signature – On appelle signature la mention sur une whole or abbreviated, of the name of the engraver or designer face de pièce, en entier ou abrégé, du nom du graveur ou du is called the signature. In Canada, it normally consists of dessinateur. Au Canada, c’est habituellement les initiales initials of the designer. On the obverse, you can see the du dessinateur. À l’avers de cette pièce, vous pouvez voir letters SB, for Susanna Blunt, who designed this portrait of les lettres SB, pour Susanna Blunt, dessinatrice du portrait Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On the reverse, you can de Sa Majesté la Reine Élizabeth II. Au revers, les lettres see the letters RRC for Robert-Ralph Carmichael, author RRC sont les initiales de Robert-Ralph Carmichael. of the famous loon design. dénomination – La dénomination est le nom de la denomination – The denomination is the name of the pièce, la valeur faciale d’une pièce, ce qu’elle vaut. coin, the face value it bears, the purchasing power it has. type – Motif principal d’une pièce, qui sert de référence device – It is the principal element of the design of a pour son identification. piece. It is often a portrait, shield or heraldic emblem. A légende – Inscription sur une pièce. Désigne synonym is type. principalement les mots qui figurent sur le pourtour. Lors legend – The inscription on a piece is called legend. It de la description d’une pièce, le texte de la légende est refers mainly to the words on the circumference. When habituellement écrit en lettres majuscules et on utilise un describing a piece, the text in the legend is normally written « / » pour indiquer un changement de ligne, alors que les in capital letters with a “/” indicating a change of line, while dessins sont décrits entre parenthèses en lettres minuscules. the designs are described in parentheses in small letters. If On décrirait donc l’avers ainsi : (portrait mature de la reine we were to describe this obverse we would write: (Mature Élizabeth II à droite) ELIZABETH II D.G. REGINA (marque portrait of Queen Elizabeth II facing right) ELIZABETH II D.G. corporative à 6 heures). REGINA (corporate mark at 6 o’clock). D.G. REGINA est l’abréviation du latin Dei Gratia Regina, D.G. REGINA is an abbreviation for the Latin Dei Gratia qui veut dire Reine par la Grâce de Dieu. Vous trouvez Regina, which means Queen by the Grace of God. You might peut-être cela curieux que l’on retrouve du latin sur les think it funny that there is Latin on a Canadian coin. The monnaies canadiennes. L’utilisation du latin sur les use of Latin on coins dates back to, well, Ancient Rome. monnaies remonte au temps des Romains. L’Angleterre a England was once a Roman province called Britannia, and même déjà été une province romaine qui s’appelait the use of Latin on English and now British coins has Britannia. C’est pour cette raison que l’on utilise le latin continued ever since. It was also used on French coins. In sur les pièces britannique encore aujourd’hui. On le retrouve Canada, there is an additional reason for having Latin, the même sur d’anciennes pièces françaises. Au Canada nous fact that we have two official languages, English and French. utilisons le latin non seulement à cause des traditions, mais So Canadian money has to be bilingual. Since the use of aussi pour aider au bilinguisme des pièces puisque le latin Latin is traditional and it was used on both English and est à la source de nombreux mots tant en français qu’en French coins, and since Latin is a dead language that is the anglais. root for many words in both languages, its use is well Quant au revers, on le décrirait comme suit : CANADA / accepted and facilitates somehow bilingualism. (huart) RRC à 3 heures / 2007 / DOLLAR. As for the reverse, we would describe it as follows: marque corporative – Marque ajoutée à une pièce CANADA / (loon) RRC at 3 o’clock / 2007 / DOLLAR qui est semblable au logo corporatif de la Monnaie, mais corporate mark – A corporate mark is a mark that is qui, contrairement à la marque d’atelier, n’identifie pas similar to a Mint’s corporate logo and, unlike a mint mark, un atelier spécifique. Le « M encerclé », comme on does not identify a specific facility. The “circle M” as the appelle la marque corporative de la Monnaie royale Royal Canadian Mint’s corporate mark is called, was used canadienne, fut utilisé de 2006 à 2009, mais est aussi from 2006 to 2009, but is found on some 2010 pieces. retrouvé sur quelques pièces millésimées 2010.
[January 2010] – 7 Celebrating Canada’s Navy by Serge Pelletier
anada’s history is intimately linked with the HMS Niobe, a Royal Navy cruiser, became the second oceans that surround it. After all, the European ship commissioned into the Canadian navy on forefathers had to master those oceans to find their September 6, 1910, at Devonport in England. She arrived C at Halifax, Nova Scotia, on October 21 of that year. way to this fantastic country. That attachment to the sea remains, as highlighted by the fact that Canada’s motto is A On August 29, 1911, “His Majesty having been Mari Usque Ad Mare (from sea to sea). graciously pleased to authorize that the Canadian Naval The task of defending the oceans that surround Canada fell to the Royal Navy in 1760 and the responsibility continued after the creation of the Dominion of Canada. But there were growing discussions at the turn of the 20th century as to the role the Dominion would play in the defence and foreign affairs of the British Empire. Concerning naval issues, it came down to two options: provide funds, support, and manpower to the Royal Navy or form a Canadian navy. At the end, Canada chose to form its own navy. On the eve of elections in 1910, Liberal Party leader Sir Wilfrid Laurier remarked: “ ... but mark my words, who ever may take over the reins of power will have to have a navy, as every nation with a sea shore must have and has had in the past.”1 The government of Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier HMCS Rainbow¸ the Royal Canadian Navy’s first ship, at anchor in Esquimalt (date unkown). introduced the Naval Service Bill on January 12, 1910, based Le NCSM Rainbow, premier navire de la Marine royale canadienne, au on a Conservative resolution that had been defeated in March mouillage à Esquimalt (date inconnue). of the previous year. The Naval Service Act received royal > National Defence | Défense Nationale < assent on May 4, 1910, and created the “Naval Service of Canada” (also known as the “Canadian Naval Forces”). Forces shall be designated the ‘Royal Canadian Navy,’ this The act called for: a permanent force, a reserve, a title is to be officially adopted, the abbreviation thereof being volunteer reserve (both to be called up in an emergency), ‘RCN’.” and the establishment of a naval college. The Royal Canadian Navy acquired two submarines in The British cruiser Rainbow was the first ship August 1914 from the British Columbia government. Yes, commissioned into Canada’s navy on August 4, 1910, at from the provincial government! The premier of British Portsmouth, England. She arrived at Esquimalt, British Columbia, in a fit of public spirit, had purchased, Columbia, on November 7, 1910, and carried out fishery immediately before the First World War, two submarines patrols and training duties on Canada’s west coast. from a shipyard in Washington State. They had been built for Chile but the purchase had fallen through. continued on page 10 1 MARC MILLER. Canada’s Navy - The First Century. Dedication. 8 – [January 2010] Célébrons la Marine canadienne par Serge Pelletier
’histoire du Canada est intimement liée aux « … soyez assurez que, quiconque prendra les rênes du océans qui l’entourent. En effet, les aïeux pouvoir, devra avoir une marine, comme tout pays maritime européens durent apprendre à maîtriser ces océans a dû ou doit en avoir une. »1 [traduction libre] L C’est donc le 12 janvier 1910 que le gouvernement du pour rejoindre ce merveilleux pays. Ce lien avec la mer demeure, comme en fait foi la devise du Canada : A Mari premier ministre Wilfrid Laurier présenta un projet de loi Usque Ad Mare (d’un océan à l’autre). sur les services navals. Ce projet de loi était fondé sur une La défense des océans qui entourent le Canada fut confiée résolution du Parti Conservateur qui avait été rejetée en à la Royal Navy en 1760 et demeura de son ressort après la mars de l’année précédente. La Loi sur les services navals confédération. Mais il y avait, au tournant du xxe siècle, reçu l’assentiment royal le 4 mai 1910 et créa les « Services des discussions au sujet du rôle du Dominion au sein de navals du Canada » (aussi appelé « Forces navales l’Empire britannique en matière de défense et d’affaires canadiennes »). extérieures. Pour ce qui est des questions navales, deux Cette loi établit : une force permanente, une force de réserve, une force volontaire de réserve (toutes deux pouvant être appelées en cas d’urgence) et un collège naval. Le croiseur britannique Rainbow fut le premier navire à être commissionné dans la Marine canadienne, le 4 août 1910 à Portsmouth (Angleterre). Il arriva à Esquimalt (Colombie- Britannique) le 7 novembre suivant, où il assuma des tâches de patrouille et d’entraînement. Le HMS Niobe, un croiseur de la Royal Navy, devint le second navire à être commissionné dans la Marine canadienne le 6 septembre 1910, à Le NCSM Niobe. | HMCS Niobe. Devonport (Angleterre). Il > Défense Nationale | National Defence < arriva à Halifax (Nouvelle-Écosse) le 21 octobre de la même année. options se présentaient : fournir argent, soutien et main C’est le 29 août 1911 que « Sa Majesté fut enchantée d’œuvre à la Royal Navy ou créer une marine canadienne. d’autoriser que les Forces navales canadiennes soit En fin de compte, le Canada choisit de créer sa propre dorénavant désignée la ‘Marine royale canadienne’, et que marine. ce titre doit être adopté, avec l’abréviation appropriée À la veille des élections de 1910, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, ‘MRC’. » [traduction libre] chef du Parti Libéral nota : La Marine royale canadienne acquerra deux sous-marins en août 1914 du gouvernement de la Colombie-Britannique. suite à la page 11 1 MARC MILLER. Canada’s Navy - The First Century. Dédicace. [January 2010] – 9 continued from page 8 the end of the Battle of the Atlantic, the RCN was the primary When the First World War broke out, two Coast Guard navy in the northwest sector of the Atlantic Ocean. It was ships (CGS) Canada (renamed His Majesty’s Canadian Ship responsible for the safe escort of innumerable convoys and [HMCS] Canada) and the CGS Margaret, were immediately the destruction of many German U-boats. pressed into naval service, joining HMCS Niobe, HMCS The RCN’s expansion stopped with the end of the war Rainbow and the two submarines, to form a six-vessel naval and the decades ahead brought a severe reduction in strength. force. Ottawa, in discussions with London, was planning to On February 1, 1968, the Royal Canadian Navy was merged expand the RCN significantly. But it was decided to allow with the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Canadian Army Canadian men to enlist in either the Royal Navy or the RCN, to form the unified Canadian Forces. The naval forces were and many chose the Royal Navy. restructured as Canadian Forces Maritime Command The RCN mainly patrolled the west and east coasts but, (MARCOM), which has come to be known as “Canada’s by the end of the war, Rainbow, Niobe, and the two Navy”. submarines had been retired, having been declared unfit MARCOM currently has 33 warships, submarines, and for service. Even the Royal Canadian Naval Air Service, coastal defence vessels divided more or less evenly between formed on September 5, 1918, was discontinued following the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The home ports of the fleet the Armistice. remain Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Esquimalt, British Following a draw-down in the RCN after the war, the Columbia. The ships of the fleet can be deployed in a number RCN sought a new mission. It found its new role by taking of roles: as a uniquely Canadian response to a domestic or over many of the civilian responsibilities of the Marine international need, or as part of a larger multinational Service of the Department of Transport, and during the deployment. Deployments can involve the insertion of one 1920s the RCN was threatening to become a civilian service. ship into a multinational force, or a large essentially self- By the 1930s, the RCN, along with its sister services, sufficient task group of complementary ships, submarines were starved of funding and equipment. However, this and aircraft. decade saw the RCN begin its rebuilding because of growing One hundred years after its creation, Canada’s Navy concern over politics in Nazi Germany, Italy, and Japan. continues to serve proudly. We salute it and the brave men The first custom-built RCN ships, destroyers HMCS continued on page 12 Saguenay and HMCS Skeena, were commissioned at Portsmouth, England, in May 1931. By the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, the RCN had only six destroyers and a handful of smaller ships. But the Second World War would have a different effect on the RCN. Indeed, the RCN expanded greatly making it, at the end of the war, the third largest navy in the world, behind the United States and the United Kingdom. Despite its inexperience during the early part of the war, the RCN exceeded the expectations of its allies, even though it was made up of men from all across the country, including HMCS Penetang, manoeuvering at sea. many who had never before seen a large body of water. By Le NCSM Penetang manoeuvrant en mer. > National Defence | Défense Nationale < 10 – [January 2010] Le NCSM Sackville circa 1942–44. | HMCS Sackville circa 1942–44. > Défense Nationale | National Defence < pour les besoins de la MRC, les destroyers NCSM Saguenay et NCSM Skeena, furent commissionnés à Portsmouth suite de la page 9 (Angleterre) en mai 1931. Lorsque la Seconde Guerre Oui, du gouvernement provincial! Le premier ministre de mondiale éclata en septembre 1939, la MRC comptait six la Colombie-Britannique, dans une crise de ferveur publique, destroyers et une poignée de plus petits navires. avait acheté, juste avant la Première Guerre mondiale, ces Mais la Seconde Guerre mondiale aura un effet tout à deux sous-marins d’un chantier naval dans l’État de fait différent sur la MRC que la précédente. En effet, la Washington. Ils avaient été construit pour le Chili mais MRC accroitra à un tel point qu’elle sera, à la fin de la l’achat n’avait put être complété. guerre, la troisième marine au monde, en taille, après celle Quand la Première Guerre mondiale éclata, deux navires des États-Unis et celle du Royaume-Uni. La Marine de la Garde côtière (CGS), le CGS Canada (rebaptisé Navire canadienne dépassa les attentes de ses alliés et ce malgré canadien de Sa Majesté [NCSM] Canada) et le CGS son manque d’expérience au début de la guerre et le fait Margaret, furent immédiatement assignés au service qu’elle soit constituée de Canadiens de toute part du pays, maritime et joignirent le NCSM Niobe, le NCSM Rainbow y compris plusieurs qui n’avaient jamais vu une grande et les deux sous-marins, formant ainsi une marine de six étendue d’eau. À la fin de la bataille de l’Atlantique, la vaisseaux. Ottawa, en discussion avec Londres, visait à MRC était la marine principale dans le secteur nord-ouest développer la MRC de façon significative. Il fut toutefois de l’Atlantique et était responsable de l’escorte sécuritaire décidé de permettre aux Canadiens de joindre soit la Royal d’innombrables convois et de la destruction de nombreux Navy soit la MRC, et un grand nombre choisirent la Royal U-Boot allemands. Navy. La croissance de la MRC cessa avec la guerre. L’après- La MRC patrouilla les côtes est et ouest mais, à la fin de guerre et les décennies qui suivirent amenèrent des la guerre, Rainbow, Niobe, et les deux sous-marins avaient réductions d’effectifs. Le 1er février 1968, la Marine royale été mis au rancart après avoir été déclarés inapte à servir. canadienne fusionne avec l’Aviation royale canadienne et Même le Service aérien de la MRC, formé le 5 septembre l’Armée canadienne pour constituer les Forces armées 1918, avait été dissout après l’Armistice. canadiennes. Les forces navales sont réorganisées sous le L’après-guerre amena une réduction de la MRC et cette Commandement Maritime des Force canadiennes dernière chercha une nouvelle mission. Elle assuma donc (COMAR), qu’on appelle couramment la « Marine les responsabilités du Service maritime du ministère du canadienne ». Transport. Ceci engendra la menace que la MRC devienne Le COMAR possède présentement 33 navires de guerre, un service civil au cours des années 1920. sous-marins et navires de défense côtière partagés sur les Au début des années 1930, la MRC était en manque de côtes Atlantique et Pacifique. Les ports d’attache demeurent fonds et d’équipement. Toutefois, les inquiétudes du Halifax et Esquimalt. Les navires peuvent être déployés de gouvernement quant aux politiques de l’Allemagne nazie, diverses façons : comme une réponse purement canadienne de l’Italie et du Japon, amenèrent une reconstruction de la à des besoins domestiques ou internationaux, ou comme la MRC. Les premiers navires à être construit exclusivement contribution canadienne à une force multinationale. Cette suite à la page 13 [January 2010] – 11 continued from page 10 and women who serve in it.
The Navy in numismatics Let us now see how the Canadian Navy has been portrayed in numismatics, starting with the new silver dollar. Issued to commemorate the Navy’s centennial, the reverse features HMCS Sackville (recognized by the marking K181 on its hull) the last surviving Flower Class corvette of the Second World War. Built at Saint John, New Brunswick, Sackville entered service in December 1941, as an escort for Northern Atlantic convoys. She gained recognition for engaging three U- boats. Although she sustained heavy damage, Sackville was retained for post-war service, first as a training ship and afterwards as a research vessel for the Bedford Institute of Oceanography. In 1982, she was acquired by The Canadian Naval Memorial Trust and, in 1994, was reconverted to her original state. Today, Sackville serves as The Canadian Naval Memorial, a living museum dedicated to the courageous people who have served in Canada’s Navy. She is berthed at the Sackville Landing Wharf, Lower Water The 2010 1-dollar coin features the last of the Second World War vintage Flower Class corvettes, HMCS Sackville. Street in Halifax. Keen eyes will notice that there are Morse La pièce de 1 dollar 2010 nous présente le NCSM Sackville, une corvette de code messages at the top and bottom of the piece. These classe Flower issue de la Seconde Guerre mondiale. simply state the Navy’s motto: READY AYE READY / PRÊT OUI > Royal Canadian Mint | Monnaie royale canadienne < PRÊT. Designed by Yves Bérubé, the dollar is struck of sterling converted to a Prestonian Class ocean escort in 1954 and silver (.925), measures 36.07 mm in diameter, weighs was lent to the Norwegian Navy in March 1956 and renamed 21.175 g and has a reeded edge. It is available in brilliant- Draug. She was transferred outright three years later and uncirculated finish, in proof finish, and in proof finish with served until 1966, when she was then broken up. selective gold plating. The latter is found only in the 2010 Designed by Peter Mossman, this 50-cent piece is struck Proof Set. of sterling silver (.925), measures 27.13 mm in diameter, The next piece we would like to mention was one of the weighs 9.30 g and has a reeded edge. Royal Canadian Mint’s “The Canadian Quest for Peace and Another Navy-related piece is the 2003 20-dollar piece Freedom during the Second World War” collection. This referred to as “Coin No. 10 in the Land, Sea, and Rail” collection is composed of six sterling silver 50-cent pieces, collection that features HMCS Bras d’Or (400). Bras d’Or each honouring a moment in the Second World War. The was a fast hydrofoil escort test vessel based on Alexander last piece honours the Battle of the Atlantic and features Graham Bell’s and F.W. Baldwin’s 1919 hydrofoil craft. HMCS Penetang (K676) at sea. Penetang was a River Class She was built in Sorel, Quebec, and commissioned in 1968. frigate built in Lauzon, Quebec, in the fall of 1943 and Named for the scene of the first test, she was powered by a entered into service at Québec City in October 1944. She diesel engine and when she reached 23 knots, her hull would was assigned mid-ocean escort duties until June 1945 when clear out of the water and a gas-turbine engine took over she returned to Canada to become a troop carrier between propulsion pushing to speeds as great as 63 knots. Despite St. John’s, Newfoundland, and Québec City. Penetang was continued on page 14
12 – [January 2010] suite de la page 11 fut mis en action en décembre 1941 comme escorte de contribution canadienne peut prendre la forme d’un seul convois dans l’Atlantique Nord. Il s’est fait connaître par navire dans une force multinationale ou d’un groupe de ses engagements avec trois U-Boot. Bien qu’il eut été navires canadiens sous le commandement d’une force sévèrement endommagé, on le garda après la guerre d’abord multinationale. comme navire-école puis comme navire de recherche pour Cent ans après sa création, la Marine canadienne poursuit la Bedford Institute of Oceanography. Le Trust du Mémorial son service. Nous la saluons et saluons les braves hommes naval canadien l’acheta en 1982 et lui redonna son allure et femmes qui la constituent. d’origine en 1994. Aujourd’hui, le Sackville est le « Mémorial naval canadien », un musée vivant dédié aux La Marine dans la numismatique courageux gens qui ont servi dans la Marine canadienne. Il Voyons maintenant comment la Marine est représentée est accosté au Sackville Landing Wharf, sur la rue Lower dans la monnaie, en commençant avec le nouveau dollar en Water, à Halifax. L’œil averti remarquera que des messages argent. en Morse ont été ajoutés au haut et au bas de la pièce. Il Émis pour souligner le centenaire de la Marine, le revers s’agit simplement de la devise de la Marine : READY AYE du dollar montre le NCSM Sackville (reconnu grâce au READY / PRÊT OUI PRÊT. numéro K181 peint sur la coque) le dernier survivant des Dessiné par Yves Bérubé, cette pièce de 1 dollar est corvettes de classe Flower de la Seconde Guerre mondiale. frappée d’argent sterling (925‰), fait 36,07 mm de Construit à Saint-Jean (Nouveau-Brunswick), le Sackville diamètre, pèse 21,175 g et a une tranche cannelée. Elle est disponible en qualités hors-circulation, épreuve numismatique et épreuve numismatique avec placage sélectif d’or. Cette dernière version n’est disponible que dans l’ensemble épreuve numismatique 2010. L’autre pièce que nous désirons souligner fait partie de la collection « La quête canadienne pour la Paix et la Liberté pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale » de la Monnaie royale canadienne. Cette collection se compose de six pièces de 50 cents en argent sterling. Chacune souligne un moment important de cette guerre. La dernière pièce est dédiée à la bataille de l’Atlantique et est ornée du NCSM Penetang (K676). Le Penetang était une frégate de classe River qui fut construite à Lauzon (Québec) à l’automne 1943. Il fut commissionné en octobre 1944 et assuma le rôle d’escorte mi-océan jusqu’en juin 1945. Il retourna alors au Canada pour servir de transport de troupes entre Saint-Jean (Terre-Neuve) et Québec. Le Penetang fut converti en escorte de classe Prestonian en 1954 et fut prêté à la Marine norvégienne en mars 1956. Il fut alors rebaptisé Draug. Trois ans plus tard, il fut transféré de façon permanente et continua à servir jusqu’en 1966, date à laquelle il fut mis au rancart. Cette pièce de 20 dollars millésimée 2003 nous montre le NCSM Bras d’Or, un hydroptère inspiré des travaux d’Alexander Graham Bell et de Dessiné par Peter Mossman, cette pièce de 50 cents F.W. Baldwin. est frappée d’argent sterling (925‰), fait 27,13 mm de This 2003-dated 20-dollar piece features HMCS Bras d’Or, an hydrofoil diamètre, pèse 9,30 g et a une tranche cannelée. inspired from the work of Alexander Graham Bell and F.W. Baldwin. suite à la page 15 > Monnaie royale canadienne | Royal Canadian Mint < [January 2010] – 13 continued from page 12 by the Joseph Howe Festival, in Soldier in Ottawa. her evident success, Bras d’Or was laid Halifax, to mark the Navy’s 70th A sailor may also be represented up in 1971. She was presented to the anniversary. on the 1995 1-dollar circulating coin. L’Islet-sur-Mer, Quebec, marine This is hard to tell, however, because museum in 1982. Sailors all members of the Canadian Forces Designed by Donald Curley, this But all these coins feature ships. – regardless of service – used the same 20-dollar piece is struck of sterling What about people, sailors? “combat uniform” when silver (.925), measures 38.0 mm in We can recognize sailors, with their deployed on operations, diameter, weighs 31.103 g and has a distinctive “bottle cap” pre-unification particularly on peacekeeping missions. hybrid reeded-plain edge. The design head dress on two pieces: the silver 5- shows a selective gold-plated Bras dollar piece issued in 2005 to Navy Centennial Coin d’Or at high speed on a southeast commemorate the 60th anniversary of In closing, I would like to note that heading with a cameo at one o’clock the end of the Second World War and MARCOM has had 2000 military coins that contains a profile image of the the 25-cent piece issued in 2008 to produced for the centennial. These ship. mark the 90th anniversary of the First pieces are made of enamelled bronze, One can also find an unidentified World War. The latter shows an airman, measure 44,7 mm in diameter and modern frigate on the 1-dollar a sailor, and a soldier in that war’s weigh 44.6 g. They bear the Command municipal trade token issued in 1980 uniforms, standing guard in front of the badge on one side, with the legend Tomb of the Unknown CANADIAN NAVY / 1910 2010 / MARINE CANADIENNE, and the centennial logo on the other side, with the legend COMMEMORATE - CELEBRATE - COMMIT / COMMÉMORONS - CÉLÉBRONS - ENGAGEONS-NOUS. The Commander of the Navy and his formation commanders will be giving out these military coins to dignitaries throughout the centennial year. I would like to thank Dr. Richard H. Gimblett, the Navy Command Historian and Lt(N) Wendy Goulet, Public Affairs Officer of the Canadian Naval Centennial for their assistance.
Ready Aye Ready!
References
CROSS, W.K. Canadian Coins, 61st ed. Charlton Press: Toronto, 2007.
MACPHERSON, KEN AND RON BARRIE. The Ships of Canada’s Naval Forces, 1910-2002, 3rd ed. Vanwell: St. Catharines, 2002.
MILLER, MARC. Canada’s Navy - The First Century. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1999.
www.navyheritage.forces.gc.ca [2009-12- 03] This 25-cent piece was issued in 2008 to commemorate the 90th anniversary of Armistice. Pièce de 25 cents émise en 2008 pour souligner le 90e anniversaire de l’Armistice. > Royal Canadian Mint | Monnaie royale canadienne < 14 – [January 2010] suite de la page 13 militaires – peut importe l’armée – Une autre pièce reliée à la portait le même ‘uniforme de combat’ Marine est celle de 20 dollars lorsque déployé en opération, surtout millésimée 2003 connue lors de mission de maintien de la sous le nom de « pièce # 10 paix. de la collection ‘terre, mer et chemin de fer’ » sur laquelle on La pièce du Centenaire retrouve le NCSM Bras d’Or de la Marine (400). Le Bras d’Or était un En terminant, j’aimerais navire d’essai pour le projet souligner que le COMAR a fait d’hydroptère rapide d’escorte frapper 2000 jetons militaires basé sur l’hydroptère pour le centenaire de la Marine. qu’Alexander Graham Bell et Ces pièces sont faites de bronze F.W. Baldwin construisirent en émaillé, font 44,7 mm de diamètre 1919. Construit à Sorel (Québec) et pèsent 44,6 g. Un côté est orné de et commissionné en 1968, le Bras l’insigne du commandement et la d’Or tient son nom de l’endroit des légende CANADIAN NAVY / 1910 2010 / essais de Bell et Baldwin. Mu par un MARINE CANADIENNE. L’autre côté porte moteur diesel à basse vitesse, sa coque le logo du centenaire et la légende sort de l’eau lorsqu’il atteint 23 nœuds COMMEMORATE – CELEBRATE – COMMIT et une turbine à gaz assume alors la / COMMÉMORONS– CÉLÉBRONS – propulsion pour le pousser jusqu’à 63 ENGAGEONS-NOUS. Le Commandant de nœuds. Malgré les succès marqués la Marine et ses commandants de du Bras d’Or, il fut mis au rancart formation présenterons ce jeton en 1971 et présenté au musée militaire aux dignitaires tout au maritime de l’Islet-sur-Mer long de l’année. (Québec) en 1982, où l’on peut J’aimerais remercier le toujours l’admirer. Dr Richard H. Gimblett, Dessiné par Donald Curley, Historien du Commandement cette pièce de 20 dollars est de la Marine canadienne et frappée d’argent sterling le Ltv Wendy Goulet, officier (925‰), fait 38,0 mm de des affaires publiques du diamètre, pèse 31,103 g et a une Centenaire de la Marine tranche hybride cannelée-lisse. canadienne, pour leur précieuse Sur la pièce, le Bras d’Or, qui fait aide. cap vers le sud-est, a reçu un placage d’or sélectif. On le retrouve aussi en Prêt oui prêt! profil dans un camée à 1 heure. Enfin, une frégate moderne, non Références identifiée, orne le jeton municipal de 1 dollar émis par les Festival Joseph 60e anniversaire de la fin de la Seconde CROSS, W.K. Canadian Coins, 61st ed. Howe (Halifax) en 1980 pour souligner Guerre mondiale et la pièce de 25 cents Charlton Press: Toronto, 2007. le 70e anniversaire de la Marine. émise en 2008 pour souligner le MACPHERSON, KEN AND RON BARRIE. The Ships 90e anniversaire de l’Armistice. Cette of Canada’s Naval Forces, 1910-2002, 3rd ed. Les marins dernière nous montre un aviateur, un Vanwell: St. Catharines, 2002. Mais toutes ces pièces nous marin et un soldat vêtus des uniformes montrent des navires. Que dire des de l’époque, faisant la vigie devant la MILLER, MARC. Canada’s Navy - The First marins? Tombe du soldat inconnu à Ottawa. Century. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, On peut reconnaître des marins, Un marin peut également être 1999. avec leur coiffure « cap de lait » présent sur la pièce de 1 dollar de distincte d’avant l’unification, sur deux circulation millésimée 1995, mais c’est www.navyheritage.forces.gc.ca [accédé pièces : la pièce de 5 dollar en argent difficile à dire. En effet, après 2009-12-03] émise en 2005 pour souligner le l’unification des forces, tous les
[January 2010] – 15 Mahatma magic by Ron Cheek
bought this little item from Graham Neale’s theater performer Frank Ducrot of New York City circa bargain box and it has 1935. [The] obverse depicts two facing lions Itaken several years to determine standing under a crown with 7 five-pointed what it really is. Of course, I stars above them. Below [the] lions in originally believed it was a medal [a] shield/crest is [a] lion with 3 six- or token from India. I even found pointed stars. [The] reverse reads one on the internet just like it – inside garland wreath: MAHATMA / described as a “token issued GANDHI / INDIA / 1932.” secretly by the Indian Who would have thought? National Congress Party in But, disappointed as I was, I 1932.” One sold for US$36 decided to at least track in 2008. Wow! Whatever down whatever details I could have been its could find about this curious purpose? There must be an little item and its producer. interesting story here, Armed with the knowledge I thought. Political that it is a magic token made intrigue, underground and used by a Frank Ducrot activities promoting Indian of New York, my googling had independence, support for immediate success. Gandhiji while he was All things related to magic and imprisoned by the British Raj? All magicians are enthusiastically these ideas seemed plausible, since collected, it seems. Some items are Gandhi was, in fact, in prison nearly all quite pricey. Old photos, autographs, of 1932 and Congress Party activities memorabilia, news stories of magicians, and were suppressed. magicians’ paraphernalia are sought. An But every bit of googling and excellent website on the subject, questioning of experts led to www.magictricks.com/museum/ nothing except for the internet tokens/mustoken.htm, provides misinformation noted above. this explanation of magicians’ My breakthrough came tokens: a few weeks ago from “Magicians’ tokens have a gentleman in been produced since the late the Netherlands who 1800s. Made of various responded through the materials including silver, online discussion forum copper, white metal, nickel, South Asia Coin Group. (I plastic and even wood, had posted photos of the these tokens or coins medal and asked for help.) served a variety of The medal is not from India purposes. First, these after all. It is a conjurer’s token, coins fulfilled audience used for coin tricks, and it expectations. If a magician could came from New York City. really do magic, he should be able Here is the description found and to produce money! Coins are great passed on to me: props, because they are easily “[This is an] Advertising & recognizable, and can be magician token coin for stage This quarter-sized copper Mahatma Gandhi “medal”, plated a silver manipulated in a dazzling colour on one side, turned out to be a New York magician’s token.
16 – [January 2010] providing a good idea of the range of magician’s token designs. Another site, www.magic-collector.com, displays even more magicians’ tokens, with descriptions and information on the performer. I was surprised to find Harry Anderson’s tokens among those catalogued on this site. Harry played the Judge on the old TV show “Night Court”. The best reference cataloguing magicians’ tokens seems to be an illustrated checklist by F. William Kuethe Jr. entitled “Magic Tokens and Related Items”, issued as the November 1978 TAMS Journal, Vol. 18 No. 9. This publication is said to be scarce and rather expensive. If anyone has a copy, I would like to borrow it. But who was this man Frank Ducrot? Apparently, he was well known and popular in his day. Born Theodore Francis Fritz, he became a career magician at a time when such performers made a living traveling and performing. He was part of the Chautauqua circuit in New York, an “educational” circuit of towns in which variety performers and lecturers entertained the local folk. Ducrot is credited with the creation of “Blendo”, “The Color Changing Silk” and the “20th Century Silk”, magic tricks that are still popular today. He also performed “chapeaugraphy”, the art of taking a ring-shaped piece of felt and manipulating it to look like various types of hats. And, of course there were the coin tricks. Ducrot also owned the famous (and still existing) Magician Frank Ducrot (1872-19239), whose real name Martinka Magic Store in New York City for several years was Theodore Francis Fritz. until his death in 1939. It is the oldest magic store in America > State Library of Victoria, Australia < and has been owned and operated by many great magicians, variety of ways. including Houdini. “Thus, some tokens were machined specifically with My Mahatma Gandhi token seems to have been made performance in mind; these coins were specially by Ducrot specifically for performing his magic tricks since manufactured for particular performers (T. Nelson Downs, it does not advertise his name. Digging further, I found a for example), and were unusually thin and well-balanced mention of Frank Ducrot’s “Mahatma Gandhi Coin for easy palming and manipulation. Some even had special Mystery” trick. Perhaps Ducrot was so well known by this reeded edges to make it easier to hold on to them. (Coins trick that he did not need to put his own name on his tokens. like these were often used by the magician during his show, The fact that my token is “silver” on one side and copper then thrown out to the audience as mementos.) on the other tells us it was a trick coin. The website “Other coins were meant to be advertising pieces and www.magictricks.com shows a Frank Ducrot “coin” set. souvenirs. Most of the tokens found today fall into this Several other Ducrot magic coins show up elsewhere on category. Many magicians such as Thurston and Blackstone the internet. Some are copper on both sides. All show the had coins imprinted with their names, to be given out or “coat of arms” with the two lions, shield and crown on at sold as souvenirs after their shows. Magic shops, too, coined least one side. Some have this “coat of arms” on both sides. their own tokens to promote themselves – Martinka, Others have a side resembling a Mexican coin. Yet others, Abbott’s, Ireland, and others can be found today. Of course, like mine, have the wording MAHATMA / GANDHI / INDIA / 1932 magic sets, like those produced by Gilbert, also contained on one side. This token was apparently part of a “Sun and their own magic coins.” Moon” set. As you would expect with any type of odd and obscure But why is Mahatma Gandhi’s name on Frank Ducrot’s item, there is an organization for people who avidly collect trick coins? I can only speculate it had something to do and write about magic tokens. The Magic Token Society with the magic periodical that Ducrot edited for many years. (www.magictokensociety.com), boasts 16 members It was called “Mahatma.” Why this connection between the worldwide. Membership is free. The group’s website has ascetic Mahatma Gandhi and magic tricks? I do not know. information and references, and it hosts a discussion group. Was Frank Ducrot a fakir faker? Some members have posted photos of their collections,
[January 2010] – 17 Monnaie de Paris launches Curie coins to fight cancer
The Monnaie de Paris, the French Mint, has issued five coins to help raise funds for the Institut Curie, which celebrated its centennial in 2009. The institute, founded by Marie Curie herself, supports some 2200 researchers, many of whom are working to find a cure to cancer. Three silver pieces and two gold pieces were launched in November 2009. All share the same designs. The reverse shows Marie Curie with the legend INSITUT / CURIE / CENT ANS / D’INNOVATION / RF [Curie Institute, 100 years of innovation, French Republic]. The mintages are as follows: silver 10 euros, 10,000; silver 20 euros, 5000; silver 50 euros (contains 5 oz), 500; gold 50 euros (contains ¼ oz), 1000; and gold 500 euros (contains 5 oz), 99.
> FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.MONNAIEDEPARIS.FR <
2010 Native American 1-dollar design released
The United States Mint announced the new reverse design of the 2010 Native American 1-dollar coin. The design, based on the theme “Government - The Great Tree of Peace,” depicts the Hiawatha Belt with five arrows bound together, with the inscriptions UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / $1 / HAUDENOSAUNEE / GREAT LAW OF PEACE. The Hiawatha Belt, made of wampum, is a visual record of the creation of the Haudenosaunee, also known as the Iroquois Confederacy, with five symbols representing the five original Nations. The central figure on the belt, the Great White Pine, represents the Onondaga Nation with the four square symbols representing the Mohawk, Oneida, Cayuga and Seneca Nations. The bundle of arrows symbolizes strength in unity for the Iroquois Confederacy. The designer is Thomas Cleveland. The obverse retains the Sacagawea design by sculptor Glenna Goodacre.
> FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.USMINT.GOV < New reverse design for Lincoln Penny in 2010
Beginning in 2010, the United States Mint will issue a new 1-cent coin with a reverse design emblematic of Lincoln’s preservation of the United States as a single, unified country. The new reverse will feature a union shield inscribed E PLURIBUS UNUM with a scroll draped across it bearing the denomination ONE CENT. The 13 vertical stripes of the shield represent the states joined in one compact union to support the Federal government, represented by the horizontal bar above. In addition, the shield device is featured throughout the halls of the U.S. Capitol Building on frescoes by Constantino Brumidi, the artist of the Capitol during Lincoln’s presidency.
> FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.USMINT.GOV <
18 – [January 2010] New World Coins makes its debut
A new section called World Coins made its debut in the January 4 issue of Coin World, which is celebrating its 50th year. This section replaces WorldWide Coins magazine that was published by Amos Press, the publisher of Coin World. This is but one of the changes tounted in Beth Deisher’s editorial: “Also new in 2010 is the advent of the monthly Special Edition of Coin World, which includes the new World Coins section. We plan to produce one Special Edition each month that will topically explore a variety of subjects and issues. As a salute to Coin World’s 50th anniversary, five of the Special Editions will explore, by decade, the events and people that have helped to shape and influence the hobby and the marketplace as we know it today. The look back will launch with our April monthly Special Edition.” Both Ron and Serge have been published in WorldWide Coins and we suspect they will continue to contribute to this “in-lieu magazine.”
> FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.COINWORLD.COM < Cartoon characters never get older
The Monnaie de Paris issued two coins to celebrate the 70th anniversary of France’s most popuplar cowboy: Lucky Luke. Seventy years old and he does not look one day older than when he first appeared in a cartoon book. Since then, 75 books have been published, which have been translated into 20 languages. On the obverse of the coins, Lucky Luke, France’s own Lone Ranger, is seen riding off into the sunset on the back of his faithfull friend, Jolly Jumper, and accompanied by the half-wit dog Rantanplan. The reverse features the wanted poster for his archenemy, the Dalton brothers. A .900 silver 10-euro coin was struck alongside a .920 gold 50-euro coin. The mintages are 5000 and 1000 respectively.
> FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.MONNAIEDEPARIS.FR <
Centennial of Boy Scouts of America
The designs of the 2010 Boy Scouts of America Centennial Commemorative Dollar were released in December 2009. The obverse depicts a Cub Scout in the foreground with a Boy Scout and female Venturer in the background saluting, with the legend: CONTINUING THE JOURNEY / 1910 / 2010 / IN GOD WE TRUST LIBERTY. The reverse design features the Boy Scouts of America’s universal emblem with the legend: BE PREAPRED UNITED STATES OF AMERICA E PLURIBUS UNUM / BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA / ONE DOLLAR. No other details are available at this time.
> FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.USMINT.GOV <
[January 2010] – 19 Sri Lanka issues note to mark end of civil war
he Central Bank of Sri Lanka has issued a victorious sons and daughters of the security forces and the commemorative 1000-rupee note to mark the police” is the theme of the back of the note. The design at T “ushering of peace and prosperity to Sri Lanka.” the center depicts the hoisting of the national flag by It is the second commemorative note to be issued by Sri members of the security forces [ED: very Iwo-Jima-esque]. Lanka, the first one having been issued in 1998 to mark the Images of the Mavil Aru annicut and Thoppigala rock 50th anniversary of independence of the country formerly (Baron’s Cap) that were turning points of humanitarian known as Ceylon. operations of the security forces appear in the background. The theme of the face is “one country and one nation in The note is 157 × 78.5 mm and the predominant colour harmony, progressing towards prosperity under the is blue. It contains several security features: a watermark leadership of His Excellency President, Mahinda depicting the heraldic lion of Sri Lanka with the sword, a Rajapaksa.” It shows President Rajapaksa, at right, waving 1.2 mm wide windowed clear text security thread, a see- in front of the national flag with a map of Sri Lanka with through feature in exact registration, and invisible the rising sun in the background and a “Punkalasa” with fluorescent printing. ears of paddy at centre left of the note. These last elements A limited number of notes with the first serial numbers represent “territorial integrity and prosperity respectively, were issued in an attractive folder. that are results of national harmony and peace.” The note is legal tender in Sri Lanka for the payment of “The valiant contribution made by the nation’s any amount. 20 – [January 2010]