Our Next Meeting is Thursday, May 18, 2006

The Augusta Coin Club Meets on the 3rd Thursday of the Month at America’s Best Value Inn on Washington Road
Club Mailing Address
Augusta Coin Club
P.O. Box 2084
Evans, GA 30809
Web site:
www.augustacoinclub.org
The Augusta Coin Club since 1959
Pres. William Myers
V .P. Arno Safran
Sec. John T. Attaway
Treas. Xavier Pique
Special Duties
Webmaster: Xavier Pique
Newsletter editor, Arno Safran
Bourse Chairman, David Chism
Auction: David Chism & Glenn Sanders
Sgt. in Arms: Marvin Blalock
Bids Recorder, Marvin Blalock
Volume 6, Number 5
THE AUGUSTA COIN CLUB MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
May, 2006
Our Next Meeting is Thursday, May 18, 2006 from 6:30 to 9:30 PM
Club Schedules Next Dinner for Thurs. June 29
Club Meeting Calendar for 2006
Jan. 19
Feb. 16
Mar. 16
Apr. 20
May 18
June 15
July 20
Aug. 17
Sept. 21
Oct. 19
Nov. 16
Dec. 21
U.S. Coins in Transition: The Coins of 1836
An Incredible Year
By Arno Safran
Our Next Club Dinner Set for Thursday, June 29 at Logan’s
Fall 2006 and Spring 2007 Show Dates Set
At the April 20m meeting President Bill Myers
announced that the next official club dinner will take place on
June 29, a fifth Thursday at Logan’s Steak House; same site as
the February diner get together. The dinner will begin at 7:00
PM but members may arrive around 6:00 to 6:30 for drinks, soft
or hard, your choice. With the exception of wine or liquor, the
club will pay the cost of the dinner and all gratuities for all
members who have paid their 2006 dues. A charge of $15 will
be made to non member spouses or guests. Please let Bill or
Xavier, our treasurer know whether you plan to attend by the
May 18 meeting as we have to let Logan’s know approximately
how many to expect.
In other news, President Myers reported on the Atlanta
ANA Show and the success of our club table and efforts at
recruitment. He singled out Marv Blalock for outstanding
service in the club’s behalf along with other members who
helped out as well; David Chism, Arno Safran, Glenn Sanders
and Bill himself. As reported in the previous newsletter, Bill
was also the recipient of two ANA exhibit awards; one on
“Clasped Hands”, the other on “Puffin Coins”, the subject of an
article he wrote for the March, 2004 Newsletter.
Show Dates Announced
Bourse Chairman David Chism announced that the Fall
Coin Show has been set for Nov. 17 & 18; a Fri. Sat. at the
Belair Conference Center located at 4081 S. Belair Road in
Augusta just beyond I-20 at Exit 194. This is a larger hall and
will accommodate up to 45 dealers. The hours will be from 9
AM to 5 PM both days. The Spring, 2007 show is slated for the
same facility for May as all April dates have been taken.
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(More Club News on page 5, lower part of column 2)
Obverses of the 1836 Reeded Edge 50¢ piece at left (XF-45) and the
1836 Gobrecht Liberty Seated dollar Judd-60 ‘original’ (NGC-58) at right
If 1816 represents the lowest point in US coinage, the
coins struck twenty years later in 1836 suggest a reawakening
akin to a Renaissance. Beginning in 1804 our annual coinage
output began to drop dramatically. That year the silver dollar
and $10.00 gold Eagle were suspended due to lack of use. From
1806 to 1828 the coinage of half dimes were also suspended.
Between 1809 and 1820 no $2.50 gold pieces were struck. Even
the lowly half cents were similarly affected as none were coined
after 1811 until their resumption in 1825. In addition to all these
long term stoppages, both the dime and quarter denominations
suffered a series of shorter term gaps and were seldom issued in
consecutive years. The two war horses of US coinage were the
large cent; at that time the smallest denomination and the Bust
half, the largest. They were struck in prodigious numbers.
By the early 1830’s most denominations began to be
issued on a regular basis but it would not be until 1834 when the
Government decided to reissue the Bust dollar dated 1804 for
inclusion in presentation proof sets as gifts to foreign potentates
that the Congress began to seriously consider a new dollar type.
In 1835 Mint Director Robert Maskell Patterson brought in two
renowned painters--Thomas Sully and Titian Peale—to draw up
sketches for a new dollar coin based on the Britannia motif seen
on British copper coins going back to the reign of Charles II.
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(Continued on page 2, column 1)
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Vol. 6, No. 5
The Augusta, GA Coin Club Monthly Newsletter
May, 2006
170 Years Ago: The Coins of 1836
(Continued from page 1, column 2)
the date, 1836 but directly above on the base is inscribed C.
GOBRECHT F. The F is an abbreviation for the Latin word Fecit
for “made it”. The reverse depicts a magnificent soaring eagle
in a sea of stars with the legend, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
encircled above and the denomination ONE DOLLAR centered
below. The coin was struck in proof in the then standard alloy
of .8924 silver and .1076 copper weighing 416 grains but with a
diameter of 38.1 mm; slightly reduced from the 39 to 40 mm of
the early dollars (1794-1804). 1,000 coins were placed into
circulation on December 31, 1836. Many of these were
distributed to dignitaries including President Andrew Jackson.
1806 British One Pence
Showing King George III on the obverse and Britannia on the reverse
At the time, the Chief Mint Engraver was William
Kneass who had replaced Robert Scot in January 1824 after the
former Chief Engraver had died in November of the previous
year. Kneass is best known not so much for creating any new
designs but for refining those already in existence such as the
Classic head half cents in the late 1820’s and early ‘30s as well
as the two gold denominations; the reduced size Classic Head
$2.50 Quarter Eagle and $5.00 Half Eagle. He was also
responsible for the switch over to closed-collar slightly smaller
size dimes around 1828 and the reduction in the diameter of the
quarter beginning in 1831 in which the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM
was removed. By 1836 the regular circulating silver coins
featured these changes.
This specimen of the 1836 Gobrecht Dollar, JR-60 graded Proof 63 by PCGS
is believed to the one presented to President Andrew Jackson.
It realized $29,900 at the Bowers and Merena Rarities Sale
held June 29, 2002 just prior to the ANA Convention in New York City.
In early 1837 the Mint decided to change the
proportion of silver to copper by slightly increasing the silver
content to .900 fine bonded by .100 fine copper while reducing
the weight from 416 to 412½ grains. Six hundred more of the
new proofs were put into circulation on March 31, 1837 but still
showing the 1836 date. To distinguish between the two, the
1837 was aligned in medal turn, (i.e., when flipping from obverse to
reverse one turns the coin horizontally or side to side as opposed to coin turn
which is end over end.) Both versions were originally catalogued as
1836 half dime, dime and quarter obverses
1836 half dime, dime and quarter reverses Notice the motto, still
appearing on the two smaller coins has been removed from the quarter.
In 1835 Kneass fashioned a Britannia-like sketch for
the proposed new dollar coin but shortly thereafter suffered a
debilitating stroke. Christian Gobrecht who had recently joined
the Mint was told to continue working on the new Liberty
Seated dollar design. The obverse of the final product featured a
lightly clad Miss Liberty seated on a large rock supporting a
tilted shield with her right hand while holding in her left a pole
bearing a Phrygian cap tilted in the opposite direction. Below is
J-60 patterns by J. Hewitt Judd, M.D. author of “United States
Patterns, Experimental and Trial Pieces” (1959). Extensive
research by noted numismatic scholar Robert W. Julian (1982)
indicates that these 1,600 coins--despite being issued as proofs-are bone fide coins of the realm and not patterns. Not too long
ago an 1836 original Gobrecht $1.00 grading AU-50 was priced
around $5,000. Today it is about 2½ times that amount. Many
consider this dollar design to be our most beautiful.
Unfortunately it was discontinued after 1839.
In March, 1836, the Steam Press was installed at the
United States Mint in Philadelphia. The new device made it
possible to strike the obverse and reverse dies and closed-collar
Reeded edge as opposed to milled edge onto the planchet in a
single operation. Despite the striking of some 6,545,000 1836
Capped Bust lettered edge half dollars; the largest mintage in
Bust half’s 30 year history, the Mint decided to introduce a new
smaller sized Reeded Edge 50¢ piece that same year. The design
bears the stylistic stamp of William Kneass’s refined handiwork
and it is possible that Gobrecht tinkered with it as well. The
new half dollar was reduced to 30 mm in diameter compared
with its 32.5 mm lettered edge predecessor. The weight was
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(Continued on page 3)
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Vol. 6, No. 5
The Augusta, GA Coin Club Monthly Newsletter
May, 2006
170 Years Ago: The Coins of 1836
(Continued from previous page)
lowered from 13.48 grams to 13.36. The obverse design
appeared similar to John Reich’s Capped Bust design though
more refined; suggestive of a cameo-stylized broach. On the
reverse, the motto E PLURIBUS UNUM was removed above the
eagle. As only 1,200 of the 1836 dated Reeded edge halves were
minted, the coin is considered a rarity but in actuality, it is not
all that scarce and available for a price. This gives the collector
an opportunity to acquire two 50¢ types for the same year.
Reverses of the 1836 electro ½¢ and 1836 1¢
The electrotype half cent was probably done sometime after the Civil War.
The Two Gold Coins of 1836
An 1836 Lettered Edge Capped Bust 50¢, O-103 R4 variety
Normally early US gold coinage--struck prior to
Gobrecht’s Coronet Liberty types begun in 1839--has been
considered prohibitively rare but both the 1836 dated Classic
Head $2.50 Quarter Eagle and $5.00 Half Eagle of William
Kneass represent fairly large mintages for the short series (183439) as more than half a million were minted for each. Because
of this, both denominations are considered affordable for one
with the discretionary income to acquire them, even in today’s
bull market and despite the recent spike in gold bullion prices.
Of the two denominations, Kneass’s version of the Classic Head
$5.00 coin is arguably more successful. The obverse of $2.50
coin appears compressed and distorted by comparison. For
those who prefer collecting gold coins—even to Morgan
dollars—the two 1836 pieces are probably the least expensive of
any early US gold.
The 1836 Reeded Edge 50¢ piece. Only 1,200 were struck.
On the obverse, notice the more finely re-engraved
Bust of Liberty with smooth outer rims surrounding tiny beading.
On the reverse, observe the smaller lettering on the legend, UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA; also the word CENTS which is now spelled out below
and the removal of the scroll and motto above the Eagle.
As for the minor coinage of 1836, the Coronet large
cent is fairly common with a mintage of more than 2 million but
the Proof only Classic Head half cent is extremely rare with an
indeterminate number minted. One can get around this obstacle
by acquiring a 19th century electrotype copy for a fraction of the
price of the real thing. An electrotype is a method by which impressions of
the obverse and reverse of a coin are made and coated in the approximate alloy
often bonded with lead; then joined together usually leaving a tiny seam along
the edge.
The 1836 $2.50 and 1836 $5.00 gold Classic Heads
Notice the original John Reich designed eagle on the reverse,
but the wings spread upward instead of downward as on the silver coins
There was also a special Mint medal struck in copper
commemorating the introduction of the steam press. It bears a
Liberty Cap at the center with thick rays emanating outward.
The inner edge is beaded. The inscription on the reverse reads,
UNITED STATES MINT, First Steam Coinage – March 23, 1836.
All in all, 1836 was a banner year for the US Mint.
1836 Classic Head ½¢, left & 1836 Coronet Large Cent, right obv.
The half cent is an electro made from one of the rare proofs.
The Coronet cent is real.
The 1836 Mint Medal Celebrating Steam coinage
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Vol. 6, No. 5
The Augusta, GA Coin Club Monthly Newsletter
May, 2006
Netherlands East Indies Japanese Invasion Money
By Bill Myers
The Netherlands (or Dutch) East Indies, now known as
Indonesia, were conquered by the Japanese in March 1942. The
JIM from this area is the most varied. For this series of JIM the
block letter is “S”, for Sumatra. There are specimen notes for
most of the denominations and they will not be mentioned
below.
Counterfeit
notes
are
post-war
products.
and the denomination both spelled out and as repeated numerals.
The back of the 1 and 5 gulden have the numeral repeated on an
ornate design. The back of the 10 gulden has the addition of a
vignette of a ship on the horizon. All notes have a quatrefoil
(flower with four petals) watermark, unless noted otherwise
A ½ Gulden JIM note from the Netherlands East Indies
The first series fractional notes have “DE
JAPANSCHE REGEERING”, instead of “THE JAPANESE
GOVERN- MENT”, on the face. The notes also have the
denomination spelled out on the face and the numeral
denomination repeated on an ornamental design on the face and
back. The fractional notes come in one, five and ten cent (this is
not a typographical error-it is cent, not cents). They are lithographed and
have no watermark. Block letters are black.
The varieties are:
1 cent – block letters and fractional block letters
5 cent- block letters and fractional block letters
10 cent-block letters and fractional letters
A One Gulden JIM note from the Netherlands East Indies
The 5 gulden note has a coconut palm on the left and a
pawpaw on the right. The varieties are:
5 gulden – block letters, serial number- block letters only
A one cent JIM note from the Netherlands East Indies
The half gulden note has the addition of a fan palm on the right
of the face. The varieties are:
½ gulden – block letters, no watermark
- block letters, with watermark
The gulden notes have an engraved face and lithographed back.
The block letters and serial numbers are black. The
denominations are 1, 5 and 10 gulden. The face has “DE
JAPANSCHE REGEERING”; “BETAALT AAN TOONDER” (pays to bearer)
The 10 gulden has bananas, breadfruit and coconuts in the
center of the face. The varieties are:
10 gulden – block letters, serial number
- block letters only
- block letters only, on woven quadrille paper
- block letters only, on horizontal quadrille paper
The Japanese determined there was a need for higher
denomination notes. At the time, anti-Dutch sentiment was
prevalent in the Netherlands East Indies. The Japanese took
advantage of this and changed the denomination on these notes
to “roepiah”. They were issued as 100 and 1,000 roepiah.
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(Continued on page 5, column 1)
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Vol. 6, No. 5
The Augusta, GA Coin Club Monthly Newsletter
May, 2006
Netherlands East Indies J.I.M. (Continued from previous page)
Why Collect Ancient coins?
There are many deceptive recent replicas of the roepiah
denomination notes. These are slightly larger than the original
reopiah notes and have staining on the edges. The staining is
identical on all of the notes as it was part of the printing plate.
The silk threads are printed on the paper, so they, too, are
identical on each note. The ½ reopiah has an ornamental design
on the face and back. The varieties are:
By Jim Barry - reprinted from the April, 2002 SJ CSRA CC Newsletter
½ roepiah – block SP
-unfinished note: no block letters
The 1 reopiah note shows workers in a field on the face and a
banyan tree in the center on the back. The varieties are:
1 roepiah – block SN
Unfinished note: no block letters-replica
A One ROEPIAH Netherlands East Indies replica J.I.M. Note
Rome: Nero Sestertius c. 64 A.D Laureate Bust o; Triumphal Arch r.
People have been collecting coins for thousands of
years. One of the first known collectors was the Roman
Emperor Augustus who lived before the birth of Jesus. Holding
an ancient coin one can only wonder what important person may
have held the same coin in antiquity. Was it Julius Caesar,
Jesus, Constantine the Great (the founder of Christianity) or a
soldier in a Roman Legion? Coins of the ancient world connect
us with our past. In many cases the only known portraits of early
rulers can be found on their coins. The coins of Alexander the
Great, Tiberius, Marc Antony and Cleopatra are just a few of
those important persons whose portraits can be found on ancient
coins.
Ancient coins form the basis for many of our modern
coin designs. The Saint-Gaudens $20 gold coin, the “Mercury”
Dime and the Walking Liberty half dollar are all examples of
coins whose designs have been taken from antiquity. Yes,
owning an ancient coin is like having a fragment of history that
you can hold in your hand and connects us to the past. Ancients
are not only fun to collect but in many cases they are not
expensive to own.
Showing Workers in a field on the face; banyan tree on the back.
The face of the reopiah has a native home on the left of
the face. The back has a Buddha and native temple on each side
and an oriental design in the center.
Thrace – Lysimachus Tetradrachm c. 297/6 to 282/1 BC
Obv. Head of Alexander; Rev. Athena seated
Our Liberty Seated silver coins owe its genesis to this coin’s reverse
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_
More Club News (continued from page 1)
The program featured a full length power point presentation of
J.I.M. Notes; World War II Japanese Invasion Money by
President Bill Myers. The topic has been the subject of an
ongoing series appearing in this newsletter. Many of thee notes
show beautiful designs; are priced anywhere from 25¢ to a few
dollars except for some of the rarities which can run as high as
$80 to $100. Still virtually every note tells an interesting story
and is affordable to own. Thanks Bill.
The 5 roepia; a beautiful note!
_____________________________________________
-to be continued-
Treasurer Xavier Pique reported that with all expenses paid;
including the purchase of the 2006 medallions and power-point
projector, we still have $6,720.34 in the club treasury. Winners
of the door prizes were Marv Blalock and Bob Ward. Sandra
Lucree won the 50/50 $63.00. Congratulation all!
-6____________________________________________________________________________________________
Vol. 6, No. 5
The Augusta, GA Coin Club Monthly Newsletter
May, 2006
A Lion’s Tale by David Bailey
Articles Wanted
We live in a wondrous age. Cell phones are
everywhere. A recent television commercial explained that
under their plan, one could call England, Germany or China for
just 2¢ a minute. Allowing for a few seconds for hook-up,
conversation is virtually instantaneous. However, December 24,
1814 was a different story and therein lies this Lion’s tale.
We need more contributors to the newsletter. The editor
encourages members to write a short article based on one of
your hobby experiences. Here are a number of topics to consider
regarding your collecting or dealing experiences:
1. How I Got Into Coin Collecting (or Dealing)
2. My Favorite Coin Series
3. The Day I Completed my Set.
4. Good and Bad Coin Buys
5. The One that Got Away
6. Why I Collect Foreign Coins
7. Why I Collect Ancients
8. Collecting Tokens and Meals
9. Collecting Errors
10. Collecting Paper Money
Simply, E-mail your article to arnosafran@comcast.net.
If you have a picture, you can attach it as a Jpeg file and thanks,
in advance.
In 1812 an optimistic America declared war on Great
Britain. Impressions of sailors’ and other slights to our national
honor turned war fever into a national epidemic. Also, with the
British distracted in Europe, Canada seemed to be an easily
taken prize to be added to the American nation.
It was not to be and by 1814 America and Great Britain
both wanted to end the hostilities. Delegations were sent to the
city of Ghent which is located in Belgium. The peace treaty was
finally hammered out and signed on Christmas Eve day,
December 24, 1814. AQ medal was struck shortly afterward
which featured a figure of Peace standing on a globe. Peace
holds the symbolic olive branch as well as the cornucopia that
symbolizes the benefits to both nations peace will bring. The
obverse legend reads, ON EARTH, PEACE GOOD WILL TO MEN, the
universal holiday wish. The reverse featured a legend with a
wreath and the inscription, TREATY/ OF PEACE+AMITY/
BETWEEN/GREAT BRITAIN/ AND/ THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
/SIGNED AT GHENT /DEC 24, 1814.
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Aiken club Moves to New Ellenton Site
The Stephen James CSRA Coin Club has moved from the Aiken
Public Library to the Cedar Creek Club House near New Ellenton, SC.
They now meet on the second Thursday of the month. at 7 PM. The
new site is located off Banks Mill Rd if coming from Aiken or off
White Pond Rd from Whiskey Rd if driving from Rte. 278.
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Kindly Patronize Our Advertisers
England and America were finally at peace with each
other. Sadly, this news dispatched to America arrived to be
proclaimed several weeks later. On January 6, 1815, a coalition
of frontiersmen, militia, pirates and slaves defeated an invasion
of some of the finest units of the British army. Several thousand
were killed or wounded at New Orleans in a battle fought after
the war had officially ended.
I look at this medal from time to time and think of the
needless loss of humanity if only we could follow the message
of the obverse of a medal struck in 1814.
The Treaty of Ghent medal
As with all pictures in this newsletter, if the reader magnifies up to 200%,
more details from the image can be observed.
______________________________________________________
David Bailey is currently President of the Watchung Hills Coin Club
in New Jersey. His series of articles under the umbrella, “The Lion’s Tale” have
appeared in his club’s newsletter as well as the Stephen James CSRA Coin Club
monthly newsletter; Ed.
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Don’t forget, our next meeting is Thursday,
May 18, at America’s Best Value Inn starting 7:00 P.M.
on Washington Rd. in Augusta just past I-20. Come
early to check out dealers’ offerings and auction lots.