Chronicles The Newsletter of the Trenton Numismatic Club December 2017 Happy Holidays! Volume 35 Issue 12 In the Anglosaxon region, the Na- Christmas and tivity is traditionally celebrated on December 25, at Christmas, by Serge Pelletier but this date is simply a conven- tion and has nothing to do with a “birth day.” The date was like- The Holiday Season is upon us, ly established by the church in a time when we gather in family Rome during the 4th century, per- tradition to share a scrumptious haps in 354, to coincide with the dinner, tell stories... So why not pagan holiday of Sol Invictus, also take advantage of the occa- which celebrated the birth of the The ’s 2010 Christmas sion to share your passion and god Mithra. This choice enabled show off your collection? Why not coin feature “six geese-a-laying” an assimilation of the coming of for the sixth day of Christmas. build a collection of Christmas Christ “the light of justice” with Source: Pobjoy Mint. pieces? Oh yes, many beautiful the rising of the sun following coins have been struck that com- the winter solstice. Prior to this, the coin is accessible to all budg- memorate this most celebrated of the Nativity had been celebrated ets and has been issued annually events we call Christmas. on January 6, as it still is today since the start of the series. Dur- Christmas – Sacred Holiday, within the Armenian Apostolic ing the first ten years, this Christ- Secular Holiday Church, the date on which the Ro- mas coin features typical Holiday Traditionally, Christmas cele- man Catholic Church celebrates scenes from over the years, high- brates the solemnity of the Nativ- the Epiphany. lighting various means of trans- ity, a Christian commemoration In the 21st century, Christmas has portation, symbolizing family of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth also acquired a significant secu- members travelling to gather for who, according to the Gospels lar aspect. It has become a com- the holiday. The only exception of Matthew and Luke, would mercial holiday, a high point in is the 1982 piece, which features be born in Bethlehem. Only the the year that is celebrated even a huge Christmas tree. During Gospel according to Luke actual- by non-believers. The holiday is the 1990s, the themes become ly tells the story of Christ’s birth. characterised by families gather more traditional: the Nativity, The Gospel according to Mat- ing around the dinner table for a children playing, family scenes, thew traces Christ’s genealogy, grand meal and by an exchange and Christmas stories. In 2000, only mentioning the birth event of gifts, which in many western celebrated Christmas tales, such in passing, while the Gospels of countries is associated with the as Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Mark and John begin their story figure of Father Christmas or San- Carol, start of Jesus’ life with his meeting of ta Claus. John the Baptist. Christmas coins The fact that Christmas coins ex- ist was mentioned earlier, so let’s In This Issue: have a look at a few. The first coin devoted to this holi- day was issued by the Isle of Man Christmas and Coins Cover in 1980: a 50-penny piece that is Show Schedule 2 seven-sided (heptagonal) and has Christmas and Coins 3 a 30 mm diameter. Struck in cu- pro-nickel, sterling silver, gold, Christmas and Coins 4 The reverse of the 1996 Meeting Schedule 4 and platinum by the Pobjoy Mint, Christmas coin shows Father Christ- mas getting ready to get into an aero- plane. Source: Serge Pelletier.

Continued on Page 3 Coin Chronicles December 2017 TNC’s 65th Year Volume 35 Issue 12 The Newsletter of the Trenton Numismatic Club

COIN SHOW SCHEDULE By Bill Liatys

January 2018 LOCAL SHOW SCHEDULE

Parsippany January 7th Sunday 9 AM – 3 PM Pal Bldg 33 Baldwin Road Parsnippany NJ New York International Numismatic Convention Jan 12th - 14th, 2018 Fri 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sat 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM Sun 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM Waldorf Astoria Hotel 301 Park Avenue New York City, NY 10022

Colts Neck Coin & Currency Show January 13th Sunday 9 AM – 3 PM St Mary’s Church Rt 34 North & Phalanx Rd. Colts Neck, NJ 07728

Old Bridge January 28th Sunday Old Bridge First Aid & Rescue Bldg. 200 Marlboro Rd. Old Bridge, NJ 08857

FUN Show 2018 January 4 - 7, 2018 Thursday – Sunday Tampa Convention Center 333 S. Franklin St Tampa, FL 33602

Whitman Coin & Collectibles Baltimore Expo Mar 22nd - 25th, 2018 Thursday – Sunday Thursday – Noon – 6 PM Friday – Saturday - 10 AM – 6 PM Sunday – 10 AM – 3 PM Baltimore Convention Center One W. Pratt Street Baltimore, MD WORLD’S FAIR OF MONEY Pennsylvania Convention Center Philadelphia, PA — August 14-18, 2018 Tuesday 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Wednesday-Friday 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (FREE admission on Saturday!)

Page 2 Coin Chronicles December 2017 TNC’s 65th Year Volume 35 Issue 12 The Newsletter of the Trenton Numismatic Club

The Royal Canadian Mint in- appearing on the coins, with the Season. troduces a new Christmas series countdown of the ever-popular The first is a colourized in 2007 that features lenticular English carol The Twelve Days of 25-cent piece (i.e., a piece (that shows a three-dimension- Christmas in progress since 2005. struck with a design in re- al image) 50-cent coins. Larger lief which has had paint ap- than regular 50-cent coins, they The tiny territory of Gibraltar plied through the process of are 35.00 mm in diameter, with begins issuing an annual Christ- pad printing) upon which we a weight of 12.61 g. Made of mas coin in 1988. Since it also has find none other than Santa brass-plated steel, they have a a 50-penny coin, similar to that Claus, dressed in his red suit lovely golden colour. The first of the Isle of Man, and because and adjusting his spectacles. piece features a large field of the Pobjoy Mint strikes the ter- The next year features a red decorative Christmas balls on a ritory’s coins, this coin is chosen Christmas stocking stuffed tree; the second (2008) features for the Christmas piece. From with a fuzzy Teddy Bear. San- a snowman; and the third (2009) 1988 to 1991, classical images are ta Claus returns in 2006, this shows a toy train underneath the featured: the Three Kings of the time in his sleigh pulled by a Christmas tree. This year’s coin Magi, the Virgin Mary, and chil- single reindeer, with several employs two images: one with dren. In 1992, Father Christmas red accents adding colour. Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer; appears for the first time on a coin, The Christmas 25-cent collec- and the other with Santa Claus and continues to appear regularly tion continues in 2007 with a in his sleigh, waving Merry thereafter, occasionally yielding multi-coloured, two-dimen- Christmas to all. the place of honour to characters sional design of a decorated from Christmas tales. Such was Christmas tree painted di- the case in 2003 when The Snow- rectly on the reverse field of man, hero of Raymond Briggs’ the coin, i.e., no relief. The 1978 children’s book of the same 2008 coin features a photo- title, graced the obverse of what graph of Santa’s head. Santa was also the first coin in the series is also represented on subse- available in colour. quent coins, but in drawing. All these coins have the same characteristics as the circu- lation 25-cent pieces, i.e., struck on nickel-plated steel, 23.88 mm in diameter, and a This charming 4-dollar coin from weight of 4.40 g. Canada shows kids hanging their stockings on the mantle of the chimney. Source: Royal Canadian Mint.

Silver coins are also issued. In 2009, a 4-dollar coin in fine silver The reverse of the 2006 25-cent features children hanging their coin from Canada show a colour- Christmas stockings over the ed Santa Claus in his sleigh fireplace. A 20-dollar coin, dated pulled by Rudolph. Source: 2007, features an old French-Ca- Royal Canadian Mint. nadian tradition – friends en- joying a holiday sleigh ride, Canada is also a member of the The reverse of the 2010 50-cent lenticu- while the piece from 2008 shows lar piece from Canada alternates from “Christmas Club.” Since 2004, the Christmas carol singers, an old an image of Santa to one of Rudolph Royal Canadian Mint has issued a English tradition. variety of pieces for the Holiday the red-nosed reindeer. Source: Royal Canadian Mint. Continued on Page 4 Page 3 Coin Chronicles December 2017 TNC’s 65th Year Volume 35 Issue 12 The Newsletter of the Trenton Numismatic Club

ly give gifts and collectable items, whether Coins, or Medals or traditional items that carry generations. I have travelled Israel exten- sively and most religious sites are multi religious. Trenton Numismatic Club The site of the Last Supper, in Christianity also houses, President : Andrew Waholek in the same room a Mus- Vice-President: John Janeczek The superb Christmas star from , produced by the Polish lim Lecturn and down the Treasurer: Randy Ricco Mint, shows kids opening their stairs, in the same building Secretary: Joe Pargola presents in front of a Christmas Sgt at Arms: Gary Elmer tree decorated with three zircons. is the Tomb of David. In Committees: Source: Mennica Polska. the competition for mem- Bourse: Bill Liatys bers, most sites and holi- Randy Ricco Why not add the new sil- days were placed near each Programs: Ray Williams ver 1-dollar coin from Niue other in time and geogra- Newsletter:Joe Pargola called “the Christmas star”? phy. Instead of division, it Auction: Bo Bobjak Struck from sterling silver, has had the effect of bring- this gorgeous piece is shaped ing people together in these like a seven-pointed star, is places. Hopefully, one day, 44.00 mm in diameter and also in their minds. Trenton Numismatic weighs 28.28 g. The reverse Club is members of: features kids opening their Merry Christmas, Happy gifts in front of a Christmas Chanukah, Happy Kwan- tree. The tree is decorated zaa, but mostly Happy with three zircons. Holidays! From my family All these pieces make excel- to yours! Joe Pargola lent gifts. by Serge Pelletier

The original was published Meeting Schedule in the Nov/Dec issue of mon- The Trenton Numismatic Club eta, the electronic journal of meets on the fourth Monday of each month at the the Ottawa Coin Club. HAMILTON PUBLIC LIBRARY ONE JUSTICE SAMUEL A. ALITO JR. WAY Epilogue HAMILTON, NJ 08619-3809

Mailing Address: T.N.C. P.O. BOX 8122 The tradition of giving is not Hamilton, New Jersey 08650 particular to the Christian Visit our Website: Faith. Many other religions www.trentoncoinclub.org American Numismatic and persuasions traditional- Association Page 4