September 2011 - Ottawa Numismatic Society

Transcription

September 2011 - Ottawa Numismatic Society
Also in this issue:
√
√
√
√
What’s the value? | Qu’elle est la valeur?
The coins of the 1709 siege of Tournai Part 2
ANA’s Chicago convention
and more...
[September 2011]
– 237
is the official publication of the
Ottawa Coin Club.
It is published ten times a year and aims to
promote the hobby of coin collecting and the
science of numismatics throughout
the National Capital Region.
Submissions are welcomed. Please submit
text in Rich Text Format (.rtf) separately from
images. The images must be of high resolution (minimum 300 dpi) and should be in colour. The preferred file format for images
is jpeg (.jpg). Please consult the
publ i c a t i o n s t y l e g u i d e a t
< ottawacoinclub.com/style >
before submitting an article.
Les textes en français sont les bienvenus.
Editor:
Serge Pelletier
<editor@ottawacoinclub.com>
Assistant editors:
Tina Bartolini, Ron Cheek,
François Rufiange, Régent St-Hilaire,
Steve Woodland
Layout artist:
Serge Pelletier
Translator:
Serge Pelletier, Steve Woodland
ISSN 1922-4885
On the cover...
In the “O” of moneta, the reverse of
the Canadian 2011-dated niobium-silver
“Hunter’s Moon” 5-dollar coin.
Obverse of Manitoulin Island (Ontario)
2000 cents 2002, which honours the
Canadian rescue workers that
participated in the search of Ground
Zero.
238 –
[September 2011]
Y
ou may have noticed, on the cover of this issue and of the last one, as well
as at the bottom of page 192, that we have won first place in the American
Numismatic Association’s Outstanding Local Numismatic Publication
contest. Needless to say your editorial team was ecstatic because it is a significant
achievement. Why? Well, for two reasons. Firstly, at last count the ANA had
some 470 local member-clubs. Secondly, because the judging was done by, among
others, the staff of the ANA’s Numismatist, who produce an amazing publication.
So, although I had not planed to attend this year’s ANA convention, the guys
twisted my arm and convinced me to go accept the award in person. At the end of
this issue you will find my attempt at describing one of the largest coin shows in
the world.
While we’ve been working on several stories, I’m sad to report that many are
not complete yet so you’re stuck with mainly reading my work: Part 2 of my
article of the pieces of the 1709 siege of Tournai and a search for the numismatic
heritage of September 11, 2001. Thankfully, Steve is offering us an article that
explains the various factors that affect the value of numismatic items.
Il est encore temps de soumettre un article avant la fin de l’année mais,
dépêchez-vous.
Serge
Copyright Notice
All information herein, including the design, style, and format, are the property of the Ottawa Coin
Club (OCC). All rights reserved. No part thereof may be reproduced in any form or medium,
electronic or otherwise, without the express written consent of the OCC. Members of the OCC are
entitled, as part of their membership privileges, to make one (1) printed copy of this issue and to
store one (1) copy in electronic format. Further distribution is strictly prohibited.
François
© Ottawa Coin Club, 2011
I
Image sour
ces for this issue (page/figur
e)
sources
(page/figure)
Barbara Gr
egory: 268/10 | www.coinar
chives.com
Gregory:
www.coinarchives.com
chives.com:: 261/21, 261/22
Heritage Auctions [[www.ha.com
www.ha.com
]: 241/2, 241/3, 242/4, 243/5, 243/6, 244/7
www.ha.com]:
Jean Elsen & fils [[www.elsen.eu
www.elsen.eu
]: 240/1, 260/19, 260/15, 262/23, 263/24
www.elsen.eu]:
www.911memorailcoins.com
]: 250/3, 250/4, 250/5 | Nationl Collector’s Mint: 252/7
Mitch Mendler [[www.911memorailcoins.com
www.911memorailcoins.com]:
New Zealand Mint [[www.nzmint.com
www.nzmint.com
www.mint.ca
]: cover
www.nzmint.com]]: 271| Royal Canadian Mint [[www.mint.ca
www.mint.ca]:
Ser
ge PPelletier:
elletier: cover, 251/6, 253/8, 253/9, 253/10, 254/11, 254/12, 256/16, 265/1, 266/2,
Serge
266/3, 267/6, 267/7, 268/8, 268/9, 268/11, 269/12, 269/13, 269/14, 270
United States Mint [[www.usmint.gov
www.usmint.gov
]: 255/14, 267/4, 267/5
www.usmint.gov]:
Wikipedia commons: 248/1, 249/2, 255/13, 256/15, 259/13
Happy birthday Marilyn!
The Cook Islands issued two pieces to
commemorate the 85th anniversary of
Marilyn Monroe’s birthday: a silverplated copper 1-dollar coin and a silver
5-dollar coin.
Both coins are 38.61 mm in diameter
and share the same design. The big
difference is that the 5-dollar piece has a
diamond insert (as an earring).
OTTAWA COIN CLUB
since 1946
A
utumn is upon us once more; the leaves have begun to show off
their colours, the days have become cooler and shorter, the kids
(and grandkids for many of us) are back at school, and the
woodland creatures have begun their preparations for the upcoming
winter. On the other hand, the numismatic community is experiencing
a re-awakening after the conventions and the “dog days” of summer –
club meetings have resumed after taking a break for July and August,
shows are taking place in many areas, and collectors search anew in
hope of finding those elusive items for their collections.
En tant que président du club, je pense au programme d’activités
pour les prochains dix mois, aux élections pour le Conseil
d’administration du club, à trouver des nouvelles idées pour rendre les
réunions plus intéressants et éducatives; comment attirer des nouveaux
membres (surtout les jeunes) et à ce qu’on peut faire, en tant que club
numismatique, pour améliorer notre passe-temps, soit au niveau
municipal, régional, ou autre. Alors, je vous encourage à y penser et à
me faire parvenir vos idées, car c’est votre club.
As a club, we always need new ideas, new contributors, and new
members. By attracting new people to join, we gain from their expertise
and views about the hobby, and we make new friends. By offering up
ideas and suggestions for club activities and enhancements, we improve
our experience in numismatics, we make the club more attractive to
others, and we have more fun. And by contributing actively to the hobby
(writing an article, volunteering to organize an event, giving a
presentation, serving on the executive, seting up an exhibit – how you
contribute is only limited by your imagination!), you gain in experience,
ability, and knowledge about numismatics.
Étant donné que c’est notre première rencontre depuis l’été, je suis
certain que plusieurs de nos membres auront des histoires à nous raconter
au sujet de leurs expériences et de leurs acquisitions lors des derniers
deux ou trois mois. Apportez-donc vos articles et vos nouvelles à la
réunion mensuelle pour qu’on puisse en profiter aussi!
Our next meeting is Monday, September 26 at the Heron Road site.
Roger will speak to us about the metals used in making coins and medals
and where they can be found in the world. As always, don’t forget to
bring something for Show and Tell!
À bientôt!
Steve
P.O. Box 42004, R.P.O. St. Laurent,
Ottawa, ON K1K 4L8
Email: info@ottawacoinclub.com
Website: www.ottawacoinclub.com
The club meets every month, usually
on the fourth Monday. The meetings
begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Theatre
(on the 3rd floor) of the
Heron Road Multi-Service Centre,
1480 Heron Road, Ottawa.
Le club se réunit habituellement le
quatrième lundi de chaque mois.
La réunion ouvre à 19 h 30 dans le
théâtre (au 3e étage) du
Heron Road Multi-Service Centre,
1480 chemin Heron, Ottawa.
Annual dues: $12.00
Frais d’adhésion annuel : 12,00 $
Your Club Executive:
President:
Steve Woodland
<president@ottawacoinclub.com>
Vice-President:
Serge Pelletier
<editor@ottawacoinclub.com>
Secretary:
vacant
<secretary@ottawacoinclub.com>
Treasurer:
François Rufiange, FONA
<info@ottawacoinclub.com>
Appointed Officers:
Webmaster:
Barry McIntyre, FONA
Privacy Officer:
Jaime Flamenbaum
<privacy@ottawacoinclub.com>
[September 2011]
– 239
What’s the value?
Qu’elle est la valeur?
by Steve Woodland
par Steve Woodland
“
«
Mon grand-père m’a légué de vieilles pièces de
My grandfather left me some old coins, are they
monnaies, est-ce qu’elles valent beaucoup
valuable?” ... “I have some old bank notes, do you
d’argent? »… « J’ai de vieux billets de banques, en
know what they are worth?” ... I often get asked
questions like this, so I thought it would be useful to discuss connaissez-vous la valeur? » Voilà des questions qui
some of the factors that affect the value of a numismatic reviennent souvent, j’ai donc cru bon de vous parler de ce
qui influence la valeur d’un article numismatique.
item.
D’abord et avant tout, nous devons préciser ce
Before looking at how it is determined, we
que l’on veut dire par « valeur ». Dans
need to define what “value” means. In
l’excellent Dictionnaire canadien
his excellent book, The Canadian
de numismatique, Serge
Dictionary of Numismatics,
Pelletier précise qu’il y a pas
Serge Pelletier defines no
moins de sept types de
less than seven types of
valeur utilisée d a n s
value employed in our
notre
passehobby, 1 including
temps 1
y
“catalogue
(or
compris la
book) value,”
« valeur au
“market value,”
catalogue »
“trend value,”
(ou
« au
“numismatic
livre »), la
v a l u e , ”
« valeur du
“intrinsic (or
marché »,
m e l t )
la « valeur
value,”
selon les
“extrinsic
tendances »,
(or face)
la « valeur
value,” and
numis“purchase
matique »,
value.” For
la «valeur
the purposes
intrinsèque »
of this article,
(ou « de
h o w e v e r, I
refonte »), la
will use the
« v a l e u r
following
extrinsèque » (ou
definition:
« faciale »), la
“The value of a
« valeur libératoire ».
numismatic item is the
Aux fins du présent article,
amount a reasonable and
nous définissons « valeur »
knowledgeable seller (buyer)
comme étant « le montant qu’un
can expect to receive from (pay
vendeur raisonnable et
to) a reasonable and
averti s’attend recevoir
knowledgeable buyer
1. This silver denier of Septimus Severus, issued in 206, sells for less than $50.
(seller) as influenced by ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- d ’ u n a c h e t e u r
1. Ce denier d’argent émis en l’an 206 par Septime Sévère se vend moins de 50 $.
raisonnable et averti
market trends existing at
(et vice versa) selon les
the time of the sale.”
240 –
[September 2011]
Using this definition of value, I will examine several factors
that influence the value of a numismatic item.
Supply and demand
tendances du marché au moment de la transaction. » Voyons
maintenant ce qui peut influencer la valeur d’un article
numismatique telle qu’on l’a définie.
L’offre et la demande
First and foremost, a numismatic item’s
Ce qui influence, d’abord et avant
value is set by the traditional economic
factors of supply and demand. This
tout, la valeur d’un article
numismatique c’est le bon vieux
means that the fewer the number
of a specific piece available
principe économique de l’offre
et la demande. Ce qui veut
(low supply), or the greater
dire que moins un article est
the number of people
seeking to own a piece
disponible (offre réduite),
ou plus l’article est désiré
(high demand), the greater
the value.
(demande élevée), plus la
valeur est élevée.
To a numismatic
collector, “supply” refers
Pour un collectionneur
de monnaie, « l’offre »
to rarity, which can be
c’est la rareté, ce qui
estimated from available
peut être estimé selon
information about the
l’information disponible
number of items originally
made (available from
sur le tirage original de la
pièce (cette information est
various references and
catalogues), the number that
disponible dans les catalogues
de référence), la quantité que
are known to have been destroyed
l’on sait avoir été détruite (tel que
(e.g., official coin melt), and the
lors d’une fonte officielle de
regularity with which the item appears
pièces) et la régularité à laquelle cet article
for sale, i.e., its availability on the market
est mis en vente, c’est donc dire sa
(garnered from population reports, auction
disponibilité sur le marché (selon les
catalogues, and specialty reports).
rapports de population statistique,
Supply, or rarity, must also be
les catalogues de ventes
examined in conjunction with the
aux enchères, les rapports
demand for the numismatic
spécialisés).
piece; if no one wants it, then
L’offre, ou la rareté, doit
the price will be lower than
être étudiée en fonction de
if many people are seeking
la demande pour cet
to own one. Demand
article numismatique. Si
is more difficult to
determine than supply,
personne ne veut de cet
and it fluctuates more
article, la valeur sera
frequently and can vary
moindre à celle qu’il
r e g i o n a l l y. F a c t o r s
aurait si beaucoup de
gens le désirent. Il est plus
influencing demand
difficile de déterminer la
include the number of
demande pour une pièce que
collectors seeking the piece
sa disponibilité. La demande
(the collector base), the
peut être influencée par divers
importance attached to the piece
by the collector community or the
facteurs : le facteur géographique
(l’article est plus facile à obtenir
individual collector (is it noted as a
dans une région qu’une
“key date”, or a “must
autre), le nombre de
have” item? Does it have
2. Canada 1948 silver dollar – the “key” to the series. 3. Canada 1949 silver dollar – a
collectionneurs
historic or cultural
popular commemorative featuring HMS Matthew reverse.
intéressés dans le
importance?), and the
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2. Canada, dollar en argent 1948 – la pièce clé de la série. 3. Canada, dollar en
domaine, l’importance
piece’s visual appeal
argent 1949 – une pièce populaire à cause de son revers orné du HMS Matthew.
[September 2011]
– 241
4. United States, 1881 silver dollar (Liberty Head or Morgan type) with attractive
rainbow toning.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------4. États-Unis, dollar en argent 1881 (type « tête de Liberté » ou
« Morgan ») avec patine « arc-en-ciel » attrayante.
(beautiful artwork, physical condition,
and eye appeal).
Given the above, you can see that
supply is fairly straightforward and
with some diligent research it can
be determined with relative
accuracy. Demand, on the other
hand, is much more esoteric as it
involves an analysis of
information that is less readily
available (number of collectors
seeking a specific piece) and it
involves personal emotions (how
attractive is the piece to someone
and how badly do they want it).
To illustrate this, let us look at the
silver dollars of two adjacent years,
1948 and 1949 (Figs. 2 and 3); fewer
than 19,000 of the former were struck,
while over 670,000 of the latter were
produced. These numbers are reflected in their
market price: an uncirculated 1948 dollar will cost
you over $1500, while its 1949 colleague, which features
what many consider to be one of the most beautiful and
desirable reverse designs on Canadian dollars, the HMS
Matthew, can be found in the same, or better, condition for
less than $100.
Given the above general understanding of the basic
aspects of supply and demand and their impact on value in
numismatics, let us examine some of the other factors that
influence value of coins, notes, tokens and medals.
Condition
Pelletier defines condition as “the quality or level of
preservation of ... [an item] compared to when it was
produced. ... Usually, the better the condition, the more the
item will be worth.”
Determining the condition of a particular numismatic
item is not a simple task, and collectors should learn as much
as they can about evaluating the condition of the pieces they
collect. Reference texts abound for both coins and bank notes
and these should be consulted. However, the best source of
learning is to practise, whenever you get the chance, by
attending workshops, examining professionally evaluated
coins at shows and auctions, and discussing the topic with
more experienced collectors.
As a rule of thumb, coins and medals that display less
evidence of wear (ideally none) from circulation, have a
242 –
[September 2011]
attribuée à l’article (s’il s’agit d’une « date clé » ou d’un
article « essentiel », si l’article a une importance historique
ou culturelle), l’attrait visuel de l’article.
Comme vous pouvez le constater, il est relativement
facile d’établir, suite à quelques recherches, l’offre d’un
article. Déterminer la demande pour un article est une tout
autre histoire parce que les données requises à la
détermination ne sont pas aisément trouvées et que les
sentiments peuvent affecter le tout (la beauté de l’article, le
désir qu’un collectionneur a pour cet article).
Regardons un peu comment tout cela affecte la valeur
de deux dollars en argent : ceux de 1948 et 1949 (fig. 2 et
3). Le tirage du dollar 1948 n’est que de 19 000 pièces,
alors que celui du dollar 1949 est de 670 000. Une pièce de
1948 de qualité fleur de coin vaut 1500 $ alors que la valeur
d’une pièce 1949 de même qualité n’est que de 100 $. Et ce
malgré que le motif du dollar 1949 (qui représente le HMS
Matthew) est considéré par plusieurs comme étant l’un des
plus beaux motifs à jamais être utilisé sur une pièce
canadienne.
Voilà donc comment l’offre et la demande affectent la
valeur d’un article numismatique. D’autres facteurs rentrent
en ligne de compte.
high lustre and a full strike, and possess few marks due to
production (“bag” marks) are the most desirable and will
have the highest value.
For paper money, the highest value is associated with
bright, rich colours (no fading), a crisp, unsoiled, unfolded
note with no rubs, tears, or holes, and a design that is
precisely centered on the paper.
Eye appeal
The Canadian Dictionary of Numismatics defines eye
appeal as “the quality of a ... [numismatic item’s]
attractiveness, distinct from any quantifiable measure of
condition.” For coins, it is most often associated with toning.
Coloured toning (Fig. 4), particularly when radiating
symmetrically from the centre of a piece in a rainbow of
colours, is highly desirable by many collectors, while others
prefer a “blast white” coin with no toning whatsoever. Dark
toning (grey or black), on the other hand, is viewed almost
universally as undesirable, primarily because such toning
can hide faults.
Coins with beautiful designs, such as the United States
20-dollar gold coins designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens,
also demand a premium price for their attractiveness. For
paper money, eye appeal is also associated with exquisite
artwork and design, as well as the effective use of colour.
It should be noted that the evaluation of eye appeal is
not done in the same manner by all professional, third-partygrading services. Some allow for it in the grade they assign
a coin or note, while others do not, preferring to grade solely
on the piece’s condition and leave the assessment of eye
5. Newfoundland, silver 5 cents silver 1870 – much more affordable than its
rare, yet modern 1946 companion. 6. Canada, cupro-nickel 10 cents 1969
Large Date variety – only a handful are known to exist.
L’état de conservation
Pelletier définit l’état de conservation comme étant : « La
qualité ou le niveau de conservation d’une pièce, d’un billet,
en comparaison au moment de sa fabrication… En général,
plus une pièce est bien conservée, plus elle vaut cher. »
Déterminer l’état de conservation d’un article n’est pas chose
simple. Les collectionneurs devraient chercher à apprendre
les facteurs considérés pour l’évaluation de l’état de
conservation dans leur domaine de collection. Il existe de
nombreux textes à ce sujet. Mais la meilleure façon
d’apprendre est la pratique : en suivant un séminaire sur le
sujet, en regardant de nombreux articles évalués par des
services indépendants d’évaluation d’état de conservation,
en discutant du sujet avec d’autres collectionneurs
spécialisés dans le même domaine.
En règle générale, les pièces ou médailles les plus
désirables sont celles qui ont le moins d’usure ou de marques
de circulation, qui ont un beau lustre et qui sont bien
frappées. Conséquemment, elles seront celles dont la valeur
sera la plus élevée.
Pour les billets, les plus désirables sont ceux qui ont le
moins d’usure ou de marque de circulation, dont la qualité
du papier est à son optimum, qui ne sont pas souillés et dont
les couleurs sont riches.
L’attrait visuel
Le dictionnaire canadien de numismatique définit l’attrait
visuel comme étant la « description qualitative de la beauté
d’une pièce, elle est distincte de la mesure quantifiable de
l’état de conservation. Elle se rapporte habituellement à la
5. Terre-Neuve, 5 cents en argent 1870 – beaucoup moins dispendieuse que
la plus rare, mais plus récente, pièce de 1946. 6. Canada, 10 cents 1969 au
gros millésime en cupronickel – une très petite quantité existe.
[September 2011]
– 243
7. United States, 1-dollar “radar” note. | 7. États-Unis, billet de 1 dollar à palindrome.
appeal to the individual collector. In any case, whether
incorporated into the grade or not, an item with strong eye
appeal will command a premium when sold.
Intrinsic value
The value of the precious metals contained in an item is
not usually a significant factor in determining its value,
particularly in high-end pieces. For low-end pieces, however,
strong upward fluctuations in the market, such as we are
experiencing at present, may mean that the bullion value of
low-end pieces rises beyond the established market value,
and such pieces are then sold as “melt.”
Emotional attraction
This is the individual collector’s personal desire to
possess a specific numismatic item – “I gotta have it to
complete the set!” or “I want it because (insert your personal
reason here), so I’ll pay a premium just to get it.” Collectors
have many personal reasons to pay higher-than-normal
prices to obtain specific pieces. The reasons may relate to
completing a collection set, filling a gap in a theme
collection, an attraction due to regional or local history, a
connection to a family member or personal memory, or any
imaginable personal reason. In this case, the increased value
of the item is unique to the collector and will unlikely be
evident to others.
Pedigree
Also referred to as provenance, the pedigree is the list of
previous owners of a numismatic item. Such owners could
include famous collectors (Pittman, Remick, Eliasberg, etc.),
well-known personalities in the numismatic community
(mint masters, past presidents or founding members of
244 –
[September 2011]
patine. »
De nombreux collectionneurs apprécient particulièrement
les pièces dont la patine émane symétriquement du centre
de la pièce et dont la couleur varie telle celle d’un arc-enciel (fig. 4), tandis que d’autres préfèrent les pièces sans
patine. Une patine foncée est généralement méprisée parce
qu’elle peut cacher des défauts.
Les collectionneurs sont souvent prêts à payer plus cher
une pièce au motif attrayant, tel que celui de la pièce étatsunienne de 20 dollars d’Augustus Saint-Gaudens. La qualité
des motifs et de la gravure des billets affectent également
leur valeur.
Il est à noter que certains services indépendants
d’évaluation d’état de conservation considèrent l’attrait
visuel d’un article dans l’attribution d’un grade. D’autres
en font fi et n’attribuent un grade qu’en fonction des marques
d’usure.
La valeur intrinsèque
La quantité de métal précieux contenu dans une pièce
affecte généralement peu la valeur de cette dernière, surtout
dans le cas de pièces de haute gamme (qualité). Mais il en
est autrement pour les pièces de basse gamme,
particulièrement lorsque le marché des métaux précieux est
volatile comme il l’est aujourd’hui. C’est généralement
pendant ces périodes que les pièces de basse gamme sont
vendues pour la refonte.
L’attrait émotif
L’attrait émotif est le niveau de désir qu’un collectionneur
peut avoir envers un article numismatique : « Ça me le prend
pour compléter ma collection! », « Je me fiche du prix, ça
me le prends absolument. » Un collectionneur peut avoir
societies and associations, historic figures in numismatics,
etc.), or autographed items (the artist, the author, the mint
master, governor of the bank, etc.). Knowing an item’s
pedigree attaches a personal touch, a historical record of
the piece, and this could also include a noteworthy story
linking it to a historical event or personality. Such historical
collateral often adds a premium to the value of a coin, token,
medal, note or book.
Specialized Interest
This broad category includes errors and varieties, which
are found with both notes and coins, as well as many features
unique to notes, such as serial number varieties (radars
[Fig. 7], ladders, millions, solids), signature combinations,
plate number sets, and more. While the number of collectors
seeking such items of special interest is limited, it is
nonetheless significant. Specialized clubs and associations
exist for errors and varieties, and numismatic errors and
varieties are “hot” commodities that often demand
significant premium.
Age
Many non-collectors (and novice collectors) have the
impression that older pieces are more valuable. Usually, such
is not the case. The factors of rarity, condition, eye-appeal
and others as noted above play a much more important role.
To illustrate this point, let us take the example of an ancient
Roman coin, which is over 1000 years old – such a piece
can be found easily for less than $50 (Fig. 1). On the other
hand, a Newfoundland 5-cent piece from 1946 is priced in
the four-figure range; while a Canadian 1969 large date
variety 10-cent piece (Fig. 6) will set you back five figures.
Why the difference? Supply and demand – the Roman coins
are readily available in quantity to meet the needs of the
collector community, while the other two pieces are available
in limited quantity (only a handful in the case of the large
date 10-cent piece) and are highly sought after by many
collectors.
There you have it, a brief overview of some of the key
factors that affect the value of coins, notes, tokens and medals
in the numismatic arena. Next month I will look at where
you can purchase your numismatic items and the impact
this can have on the price you pay.
Note:
1
Pelletier offers the following definitions of value used in numismatics in
The Canadian Dictionary of Numismatics:
• catalogue value (also book value) – The value of a numismatic item in
the reference usually used for that specific series. Dealers will usually
sell at Catalogue Value or Trend Value.
• market value – Value of a numismatic item at which a collector can
expect to sell it; usually less than the Catalogue Value or Trend Value.
bon nombre de raisons pour désirer un article au point de
payer très cher pour l’avoir. Ce peut être pour compléter
une collection; pour combler un besoin d’une collection
thématique; parce qu’il est relié à la région ou à l’histoire
locale; parce qu’il a des liens familiaux. Dans un tel cas, la
valeur ajoutée n’existe que pour le collectionneur.
Les antécédents
Une pièce qui provient de la collection d’un
collectionneur célèbre (tel que Pitman, Remick, Eliasburg)
ou d’une personnalité du milieu numismatique (maître de
la Monnaie, membre fondateur d’une organisation, etc.) peu
avoir une plus-value. Les antécédents d’une pièce lui
convient une touche personnelle, une valeur historique et
une plus-value.
Attrait particulier
Le collectionneur peut avoir un attrait particulier dans
un type de pièces, telles que les pièces fautées, les billets à
palindrome (fig. 7), les billets à numéro de série dit
« solides », etc. Il existe même des organismes de
collectionneurs qui se spécialisent dans de tels domaines.
L’âge
Mais il y a une chose qui ne donne pas de plus-value à
un article – au grand désarroi des néophytes : l’âge. L’âge
n’affecte aucunement les facteurs énumérés jusqu’à présent.
Un exemple est une pièce romaine de plus de 1000 ans qui
peut valoir moins de 50 $ (fig. 1). Un autre exemple est une
pièce terre-neuvienne de 5 cents millésimée 1946 qui vaut
quelques milliers de dollars tandis qu’une pièce canadienne
de 10 cents 1969 au gros millésime (fig. 6) vaut dans les
dizaines de milliers de dollars. Pourquoi? Encore une fois,
l’offre et la demande.
Voilà, c’était donc un bref aperçu des différents facteurs
qui influencent la valeur d’une pièce.
Nota :
1
Le dictionnaire canadien de numismatique contient les définitions
suivantes :
• valeur au catalogue – Valeur d’un article numismatique selon la
référence appropriée. Comme cette référence n’est publiée que
périodiquement, la valeur selon les tendances peut différée et est
habituellement plus à jour. Syn. valeur au livre.
• valeur du marché– Valeur à laquelle un collectionneur peu s’attendre de
pouvoir vendre un article numismatique. Habituellement de 10 à 20% en
deçà de la valeur au catalogue ou de la valeur selon les tendances.
• valeur faciale– Valeur légale, conventionelle, d’une monnaie, telle
qu’elle est libellée sur la pièce. Syn. valeur extrinsèque.
• valeur intrinsèque– Valeur conférée à une monnaie par son contenu
métallique.
• valeur libératoire– Valeur qu’une monnaie, un billet, un jeton, a pour
acquitter une obligation, une dette.
suite à la page 271
continued on page 271
[September 2011]
– 245
246 –
[September 2011]
Seen in Chicago!
[September 2011]
– 247
par Serge Pelletier, CD
L
e 11 septembre 2001 restera à jamais gravé dans la mémoire des témoins du
monde entier et dans l’histoire. Qui peut oublier l’image des tours du célèbre
World Trade Center qui s’effondrent comme des châteaux de cartes, qu’elle
ait été vue « en direct » ou en reprise? En moins de deux heures, quatre avions de
ligne se sont écrasése, dont trois utilisés comme des missiles pour attaquer les
symboles de la « suprématie » états-unienne en matière de commerce et d’affaires
militaires. Près de 3000 personnes perdent la vie. Mais elles ne sont pas toutes
américaines, elles viennent de 42 pays différents, de tous les continents : 14 pays
des Amériques, 13 pays d’Europe, 9 pays d’Asie, 5 pays d’Afrique et d’Australie.
Certes, les Américains ont été les plus touchés par les évènements de cette
journée fatidique puisque, pour la première fois, ils étaient attaqués à l’intérieur
de leurs frontières continentales. Ces attaques en sol états-unien ont eu le même
effet qu’une goûte qui tombe dans l’eau… les répercussions se sont vite propagées
dans le monde entier. Il est triste à dire qu’on a perdu plus que des vies humaines
ce jour-là, on a perdu le sentiment de sécurité. Depuis dix ans, lorsque nous
sommes dans un endroit de grande affluence, nous regardons par-dessus notre
épaule, nous analysons les gestes de tout un chacun, nous sommes méfiants.
Pour ma famille et moi les évènements du 11 septembre 2001 ont grandement
marqué nos vies. Ce fut la fin de l’innocence pour mes filles alors âgées
respectivement de 7 et 10 ans. Ce fut un virage dans ma, carrière militaire. Ce fut
une hausse marquée dans le poids des responsabilités parentales pour mon
épouse… Depuis juillet 2000, nous vivions
en banlieue de Washington et je travaillais
au sein de l’armée états-unienne à moins
de cinq kilomètres du Pentagone. Le World
Trade Center m’était également très
familier, car j’avais été détaché auprès de
l’armée états-unienne de 1990 à 1993, mais,
à cette époque, je travaillais en banlieue
de New York, à moins de cinq kilomètres
des célèbres tours, et les voyais tous les
jours en allant au boulot.
Outre la tragique perte des passagers des
vols détournés et des employés et visiteurs
du World Trade Center et du Pentagone, ce
qui a marqué le plus la population
américaine c’est la perte des quelque 400
secouristes, ambulanciers,policiers et
pompiers, ces gens qui risquaient
volontairement et régulièrement leur vie
pour aider les gens en détresse, qui furent
suite à la page 250
248 –
[September 2011]
by Serge Pelletier, CD
T
he date of September 11, 2001 will forever remain engraved in the memory
of all of us, the world over, who witnessed that day’s tragic historical events.
Who can forget the image of the towers of the World Trade Center, whether
you saw it “live” or after the fact, collapsing like a house of cards? In less than
two hours, four passenger jets had crashed, three of which were used as missiles
to attack symbols of American “supremacy” in business and military operations.
Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives, but not all of them were American; they
came from 42 different countries, from all continents: 14 from the Americas, 13
from Europe, 9 from Asia, 5 from Africa, and Australia.
Certainly, the United States was the most affected by the events of this fateful
day because, for the first time, Americans were attacked within their own
continental boundaries. These attacks on American soil, not unlike a single drop
into a glass of water, initiated a ripple-effect of repercussions that quickly
propagated around the world. Sadly, we lost more than human lives that day; we
lost our feeling of security. Since then, over the last ten years, whenever we are in
a large, crowded space – we always check over our shoulder, we constantly
examine each and every person’s actions, and we trust no one.
The events of September 11, 2001 had a striking effect on the lives of my
family and me: for my daughters, aged 7 and 10 years, the day marked the end of
their “innocence.” For me, it triggered a significant change in my military career.
For my wife, it meant a significant increase
in the weight of parental responsibility.
Why?...We had been living in the suburbs
of Washington, D.C. since July 2000, and I
was working within the US Army less than
five kilometres from the Pentagon. The
World Trade Center was also quite familiar
to me because I had also served with the
US Army in the New York area, from 1990
to 1993, and worked only a few kilometres
from the twin towers, a landmark I saw each
morning while heading to work.
While the deaths of the passengers on
the highjacked planes and the people
working and visiting the World Trade Center
and the Pentagon were tragic, what most
affected the American population was the
loss of more than 400 emergency workers
– paramedics, police, and firefighters –
heroes who risked, and lost, their own lives
while attempting to save the lives of others
continued on page 251
[September 2011]
– 249
3. Médaille dédiée aux policiers et
ambulanciers paramédicaux.
4. Médaille dédiée aux pompiers.
5. Médaille dédiée aux pompiers
décédés le 11 septembre 2001 et
arborant l’iconique image de Thomas
Franklin.
-----------------------------------------------------3. Medal dedicated to policemen and EMS
technicians. 4. Medal dedicated to
firefighters. 5. Medal honouring the
firefighters who died on September 11, 2001
bearing Thomas Franklin’s iconic image.
suite de la page 248
pris au piège lorsque les tours se sont effondrées. L’image
des ambulances stationnées à la base des tours, portes
ouvertes, gyrophares allumés, prêtes à se lancer une fois
remplies de leur précieuse, cargaison, mais maintenant
recouvertes d’une épaisse couche de poussière et dénudées
de toute activité, me hante encore.
Nous profitons donc de ce dixième anniversaire pour
évaluer l’héritage numismatique de cette date fatidique.
Hommage aux héros disparus
Je mentionnais plus tôt que ce qui avait marqué le plus
la population américaine c’était la perte des quelque 400
250 –
[September 2011]
secouristes, ambulanciers, policiers et
pompiers, pris au piège lorsque les tours se
s o n t e ff o n d r é e s . U n g r a n d n o m b r e d e
m é d a i l l e s commémoratives leur a été dédié. Dans la
majorité des cas, les fonds recueillis grâce à la vente de ces
médailles (ou une partie) ont été remis à des associations de
soutien aux familles des victimes.
On peut regrouper ces médailles comme suit : celles
dédiées aux pompiers (fig. 4 et 5), celles dédiées aux policiers
(fig. 3), celles dédiées aux ambulanciers et secouristes
(fig. 3), les patriotiques, les génériques.
L’une des images les plus iconiques du 11 septembre
2001 et des jours qui suivirent est sans contredit celle de
Thomas Franklin, photographe du journal The Record du
comté de Bergen, au New Jersey, qui montre trois pompiers
hissant le drapeau états-unien sur un mât englouti dans les
décombres du Ground Zero (qui rappelle la célèbre photo
suite à la page 252
Continued from page 249
when the towers collapsed. I am still haunted by the image
of the ambulances waiting at the base of the towers, doors
open, lights flashing, ready to transport injured victims to
nearby hospitals, but now devoid of any activity and covered
in a thick, black, and grey blanket of dust and ash.
On this tenth anniversary of an event that changed our
way of life, let us take some time to survey its numismatic
heritage.
Honouring fallen heroes
I mentioned earlier that what most affected the American
people were the deaths of some 400 emergency workers,
tragically trapped in the debris when the towers collapsed.
Many of the commemorative medals struck were dedicated
to these heroes. In the majority of cases the proceeds from
the sale of the medals, or at least a portion of them, were
donated to associations and groups dedicated to the support
of the families of victims.
These medals can be grouped as follows: those dedicated
to firefighters, those dedicated to police officers, those
dedicated to the emergency medical services, patriotic
medals, and general medals.
Without a doubt, one of the most iconic images from
that fateful day, and the days that followed, is that captured
by The Record photographer Thomas Franklin of Bergen
County, New Jersey, showing three firefighters raising
the United States flag on a mast sticking out
of the rubble in the area of Ground Zero
(reminiscent of the famous photo of
the Marines at Iwo Jima taken
during the Second World
War). It is not surprising
therefore, that we find
this and similar scenes
on many of the
medals (Fig. 3).
Ground Zero site, it measures 115 × 92 mm. In fact, slightly
more than 54,000 tons of steel were recovered from the site
and sold to foreign companies. Prior to this large-scale
export, however, a small foundry in the state of Georgia
purchased several tons and produced these medals one-byone. The obverse depicts the New York City skyline (with
the celebrated twin towers still intact) with a US flag in the
background. The legend above reads GOD BLESS AMERICA,
while the lower half comprises the date SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
and UNITED WE STAND in the exergue. As for the reverse, it is
simply inscribed with the following text: PSALM 37 / IN
MEMORY OF THOSE / WHO PERISHED / CAST IN THE USA / WITH
STEEL FROM THE / WORLD TRADE CENTER / IAM / © 2003.
Controversy
To this day, much controversy surrounds many of the
medals mentioned above, particularly with respect to the
contributions to various funds by those who struck the
medals – it seems that many of them failed to deliver on
their promises. It goes without saying that the American
public now sees these companies as “profiting from the
misfortune of others.”
There was a public outcry in 2004 when the National
Collector’s Mint of Port Chester, New York, began selling a
“Freedom Tower Dollar” from the Commonwealth of the
continued on page 253
A relic medal
One of the most
impressive
numismatic
items related to
September 11, 2001
is the relic medal
shown in Fig. 4.
Cast from the steel
recovered from the
6. This relic-medal contains steel
recovered from Ground Zero.
------------------------------------------------------------6. Ce médaillon-reliquat contient de l’acier récupéré
de Ground Zero.
[September 2011]
– 251
suite de la page 250
Un des items numismatiques reliés aux évènements du
11 septembre 2001 les plus impressionnants est un
médaillon-reliquat (fig. 6). Faisant 115 × 92 mm et 360 g,
ce médaillon est coulé à partir d’acier récupéré sur le site
du Ground Zero. En effet, un peu plus de 54 000 tonnes
d’acier ont été récupérées du site et vendues à des entreprises
étrangères. Toutefois, une petite fonderie de l’État de la
Géorgie a acheter quelques tonnes avant l’exportation pour
produire ces médaillons, un à un. L’avers montre la ligne
d’horizon de la ville de New York (qui comprend la célèbre
silhouette des deux tours) devant un drapeau états-unien.
Au-dessus on peut lire GOD BLESS AMERICA (Dieu bénisse
l’Amérique) et dessous SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 (11 septembre
2001) avec à l’exergue UNITED WE STAND (Nous sommes
résolus). Pour ce qui est du revers, il est simplement inscrit
: PSALM 37 / IN MEMORY OF THOSE / WHO PERISHED / CAST IN
autres ».
Des tollés se sont levés contre National Collector’s Mint
de Port Chester (New York) en 2004 lorsque ce dernier
mît en vente un Freedom Tower Dollar du Commonwealth
des Mariannes du Nord soi-disant plaqué d’argent récupéré
du World Trade Center. Ultimement, le procureur général
de l’État de New York, Eliot Spitzer, logea une plainte contre
le National Collector’s Mint citant que les inscriptions IN
GOD WE TRUST, ONE DOLLAR et 100 MIL .999 PURE SILVER
(« mil » étant un terme créé par cette compagnie pour
désigner un millionième de pouce d’épaisseur de placage)
étaient trompeuses. La Cour de l’État de New York émit
une injonction citant que la publicité du National Collector’s
Mint était « trompeuse » et « fallacieuse » et qu’elle
cherchait à capitaliser sur « l’importance historique et
émotionnelle des évènements du 11 septembre… »
D’autres tollés contre le National Collector’s Mint se
sont levés au début de 2011 lorsqu’il lança une publicité sur
une médaille qui souligne le dixième anniversaire du triste
jour (fig. 7). Bien qu’aucune injonction n’ait été émise, la
compagnie ne vend plus les produits touchés par cette
poursuite.
THE USA / WITH STEEL FROM THE / WORLD TRADE CENTER / IAM
/ © 2003 (Psaume 37 / À la mémoire de ceux qui ont péri /
Du côté militaire
prise à Iwo Jima pendant la Seconde Guerre mondiale). Il
n’est donc pas surprenant que l’on retrouve une scène
semblable sur bon nombre des ces médailles (fig. 5).
Un médaillon-reliquat
Moulé aux États-Unis d’Amérique à partir d’acier du World
Trade Center / IAM / © 2003).
Controverses
Beaucoup de controverse a entouré, et entoure toujours,
bon nombre des médailles ci-haut mentionnées
particulièrement en ce qui concerne les
contributions des émetteurs à des fonds :
il semble qu’ils sont nombreux à ne pas
verser les ristournes promises.
Il va de soi que le
public américain
considère ces
entreprises
comme des gens
qui « profitent
du malheur des
Dès le soir du 11 septembre 2001, les forces armées étatsuniennes furent mobilisées. Les seuls avions à sillonner le
ciel pendant plusieurs semaines furent les avions militaires.
La marine déploya des navires et porte-avions le long des
côtes comme premier périmètre défensif. L’armée de terre
fut mobilisée et se propagea partout, particulièrement aux
aéroports qu’elle devait sécuriser afin de permettre la reprise
des services aériens. Ce sont les soldats qui assuraient la
sécurité des passagers, c’est l’opération NOBLE EAGLE.
Une autre opération fut rapidement mise en branle,
ENDURING FREEDOM qui vit des militaires de partout
dans le monde se diriger vers l’Afghanistan pour combattre
El Qaïda. Le patriotisme américain était à son plus haut
depuis probablement la Deuxième Guerre mondiale et les
suites de l’attaque sur Pearl Harbor, le 7 décembre 1941.
Les militaires états-uniens ont une longue tradition
numismatique, celle d’émettre des jetons d’unité qui sont
échangés entre les militaires et offerts par les hauts gradés à
titre de remerciement pour un travail bien fait. Ces pièces
sont très souvent polychromées. Il n’est donc pas
surprenant que les unités mobilisées et déployées
suite à la page 254
7. Le National Collector’s Mint a fait face à la controverse une
fois de plus lorsqu’il lança une publicité sur cette médaille qui
commémore le 10e anniversaire des attentats du
11 septembre.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------7. Controversy was raised once again when the National
Collector’s Mint started to market this medal that commemorates
the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
252 –
[September 2011]
8. “Commander’s coin” struck for the U.S.
Army’s 257th Transportation Battalion
(Movement Control) for Operation NOBLE
EAGLE. 9. “Unit coin” of the U.S. Air
Force’s 40th Expeditionary Wing, based in
Diego Garcia as part of Operation
ENDURING FREEDOM. 10. Generic medal
struck for Operations NOBLE EAGLE and
ENDURING FREEDOM.
-----------------------------------------------------------8. « Jeton du Commandant » frappé pour le
257e Bataillon de transport (contrôle des
mouvements) de l’armée de terre états-unienne
pour l’opération NOBLE EAGLE. 9. Jeton d’unité
de la 40e Escadre expéditionnaire de l’armée de l’air
états-unienne basé à Diego Garcia dans le cadre de
l’opération ENDURING FREEDOM. 10. Médaille
générique frappée pour les opérations NOBLE EAGLE et
ENDURING FREEDOM.
continued from page 251
Northern Mariana Islands, allegedly plated in silver
recovered from the World Trade Center. Ultimately, New
York State Attorney General, Eliot Spitzer, lodged a
complaint against National Collector’s Mint, stating that the
inscriptions IN GOD WE TRUST, ONE DOLLAR and 100
MIL .999 PURE SILVER (“mil” being a term created by
National Collector’s Mint to designate one millionth of an
inch of plating thickness) were misleading. The New York
State Court issued an injunction stating that the publicity
by National Collector’s Mint was “deceptive” and
“disingenuous” and it sought to capitalize “on the emotional
and historical significance of the events of Sept. 11th…”
Further outcry against National Collector’s Mint was
heard at the beginning of 2011 when the company advertised
the release of a medal commemorating the 10th anniversary
of this tragic day. Although no injunction has been issued,
the company no longer sells products related to this lawsuit..
On the military side
The US military was mobilized on the evening of
September 11, 2001. Military aircraft were the only planes
permitted to fly the skies over North America for several
weeks. The Navy deployed ships and aircraft carriers all
along the US coasts as a first defensive perimeter. The Army
continued on page 255
[September 2011]
– 253
suite de la page 252
déterminée par le secrétaire de la Défense. »
Bien que, selon le décret, je ne qualifie pas pour ces
médailles, n’étant pas un membre des Forces armées étatsuniennes, elles m’ont été présentées par mon commandant
de l’époque – à titre de souvenir – puisque j’ai participé
tant à des opérations qu’à des expéditions pour combattre
le terrorisme.
un peu partout dans le monde aient émis un jeton d’unité
pour l’occasion (fig. 8). Certains font même référence
directement au 11 septembre 2001 (fig. 9).
On peut regrouper ces jetons comme suit : ceux d’unités
de la marine (y compris les Marines), ceux d’unités de
l’armée de terre (fig. 8), ceux d’unités de l’armée de l’air
(fig. 9), ceux des forces armées – c’est-à-dire génériques
(fig. 10). On peut même compter dans ce type de pièces Enfin quelque chose d’officiel!
toutes celles émises par les troupes canadiennes en
Bien que de nombreux projets de loi ont été proposés
Afghanistan.
depuis 2002 pour la frappe de monnaies ou médailles
Le 12 mars 2003,
visant à rendre
le président George
hommage aux
W. Bush a autorisé
v i c t i m e s
l’attribution de deux
américaines du
médailles militaires
11 septembre
créées suite aux
2001, un seul vit
évènements du
le
jour,
la
11 septembre
N a t i o n a l
2001 : la Global
S e p t e m b e r 11
War on Terrorism
Memorial
&
Expeditionary
M u s e u m
Medal (Médaille de
Commemorative
s e r v i c e
Medal Act of 2010
expéditionnaire de la
(Loi de 2010
guerre contre le terrorisme)
sur la médaille
et la Global War on Terrorism
commémorative des
Service Medal (Médaille de
monument commémoratif et
service de la guerre contre le
musée nationaux du
terrorisme).
11 septembre). Cette loi,
Selon ce décret du
autorisée par le
président Bush, la Global
président Obama le
Wa r o n Te r ro r i s m
6 août 2010, prévoit
Expeditionary Medal
la frappe de
( f i g . 11 ) « s e r a
2 millions de
décernée aux
médailles en
membres des Forces
argent contenant
armées des États1 oz. d’argent
Unis qui servent ou
chacune.
ont servi au sein
L’avers de cette
d’expéditions militaires
médaille, disponible
pour combattre le terrorisme,
depuis le 1er septembre
telles que définies dans les
dernier, montre Mlle Liberté
11. Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.
règlements d’exécution appropriés, le
12. Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
tenant la Lampe du Souvenir avec, en
ou après le 11 septembre 2001, et avant
arrière-plan, deux faisceaux lumineux
une date de conclusion à être déterminée par le secrétaire se dressant ver le ciel. La légende est ALWAYS REMEMBER
de la Défense. »
(rappelez-vous à jamais) et 2001-2011.
La Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (fig. 12)
Le revers montre un aigle éployé devant une cascade. À
quant à elle, « sera décernée aux membres des Forces armées l’exergue on lit HONOR / HOPE (honneur / espoir) en deux
des États-Unis qui servent ou ont servi au sein d’opérations lignes.
militaires pour combattre le terrorisme, telles que définies
Les médailles, frappées par les ateliers de Philadelphie
dans les règlements d’exécution appropriés, le ou après le et de West Point (et arborant la marque d’atelier appropriée),
11 septembre 2001, et avant une date de conclusion à être
suite à la page 256
254 –
[September 2011]
13. Two beams of light representing the former Twin Towers of the World Trade
Center rise into the sky above the New York city’s skyline on September 11, 2004,
during ceremonies marking the third anniversary of the faithful day.
14. The recently issued silver medal of the U.S. Mint.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------13. Deux faisceaux lumineux représentant les tours jumelles du World Trade
Center s’élèvent vers le ciel au-dessus de la silhouette de la ville de
New York lors de cérémonies commémoratives le 11 septembre 2004.
14. Médaille en argent récemment émise par la Monnaie états-unienne.
continued from page 2253
was deployed throughout the country, particularly to secure airports
so regular air traffic service could resume. Under the name of Operation
NOBLE EAGLE, soldiers were employed to ensure passenger security.
Another operation, called ENDURING FREEDOM, was also mounted
quickly, assembling military forces from around the world and directing
them toward Afghanistan, with the goal of eliminating Al-Qaeda’s base of
operations there. American patriotism reached the highest levels since
December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor during the
Second World War.
The military forces of the United States have a long numismatic
history of issuing “challenge coins” that are exchanged between
military members and presented by senior personnel as a reward for
“a job well done.” These pieces are often colourized. It is therefore
not surprising that units deployed throughout the world have
produced and issued “challenge coins.” Some even refer directly to
September 11, 2001.
We can group these “coins” as follows: those of Navy and the
Marine Corps, those of the Army, those of the Air Force, and general
military ones. One can also add the pieces issued by Canadian units in
Afghanistan.
On March 12, 2003, US President George W. Bush authorized the
creation of two military medals: the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary
continued on page 257
[September 2011]
– 255
15
C’est une image comme celle-ci (15
15), montrant un pompier entouré de débris et de
16
fumée, qui a inspiré le dessin de ce jeton municipal de l’île Manitoulin (16
16).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15
It is an image like this one (15
15), showing a firefighter amid rubble and smoke,
that inspired the design of this Manitoulin Island municipal trade token
16
(16
16).
suite de la page 2254
font 39 mm de diamètre, ont une tranche lisse et sont de
qualité épreuve numismatique. [Pour de plus amples
informations consultez le site Web de la Monnaie étatsunienne au www.usmint.gov]
Un hommage canadien
Au printemps 2002, alors que les fouilles se poursuivaient
encore au Ground Zero, le Club Lions de Little Current
(Ontario), émetteur de jetons municipaux pour l’île
256 –
[September 2011]
Manitoulin depuis 1969, me demanda de les
aider à produire un « jeton de l’amitié » pour
souligner les liens d’amitié qui existent depuis
des décennies entre les habitants de l’île
Manitoulin et les Américains et en guise de
solidarité. En effet, l’île est un endroit de
villégiature particulièrement prisé et apprécié
des Américains. De nombreuses familles
américaines y ont un chalet où ils se rencontrent
d’année en année.
Inspiré des nombreux secouristes canadiens
qui ont ratissé le site du Ground Zero dans
l’espoir d’y trouver des survivants, le jeton
montre, en silhouette, un chien, un pompier,
un policier, un militaire et des travailleurs –
hommes et femmes. Ces silhouettes sont flanquées par les
drapeaux canadien et états-unien, émaillés aux couleurs
appropriées. À l’exergue ont lit : IN MEMORIAM SEPT. 11, 2001
/ TOGETHER WE STAND / FOR FREEDOM (In Memoriam 11 sept
2001 / Ensemble nous nous battons pour la Liberté).
L’utilisation de « 2000 cents » plutôt que 20 dollars veux
dire 2000 fois merci aux secouristes.
Les jetons ont été frappés sur des flans bimétalliques
(cœur de bronze-aluminium et couronne de cupronickel) qui
font 38,6 mm de diamètre, pèsent 23,3 g et ont une tranche
suite à la page 257
continued from page 255
Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
According to the Bush decree, the Global War on
Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (Fig. 11) “... shall be
awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United
States who serve or have served in military expeditions to
combat terrorism, as defined by such regulations, on or after
September 11, 2001, and before a terminal date to be
prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.”
As for the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
(Fig. 12), it “... shall be awarded to members of the Armed
Forces of the United States who serve or have served in
military operations to combat terrorism, as defined by such
regulations, on or after September 11, 2001, and before a
terminal date to be prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.”
While it is clear from the decrees related to these two
medals that they are only to be awarded to members of the
US armed forces, they were both presented to me by my
commander at the time – as a commemorative gesture –
because I had participated in both operations and expeditions
to combat terrorism as part of my duties while serving with
the US Army.
Finally something official!
While numerous bills to strike coins or medals to
commemorate and honour the victims of September 11 have
been proposed since 2002, only one has managed to see the
light of day and become law – the National September 11
Memorial & Museum Commemorative Medal Act of 2010.
Signed by President Obama on August 6, 2010, this Act
authorizes the striking of two million silver medals
containing 1 oz. of silver each.
Available since September 1, the medal’s obverse
features Lady Liberty holding the Lamp of Remembrance,
with two beams of light shining up into the sky in the
background. The legend reads ALWAYS REMEMBER and 20012011. The reverse depicts an eagle, with wings spread wide,
in front of a waterfall and the words HONOR / HOPE in two
lines on the exergue.
Struck by the mint facilities at Philadelphia and West
Point, these medals (with their appropriate mint marks) are
39 mm in diameter, have a plain edge, and are struck in
proof finish. [For additional information, visit the website
of the US Mint at www.usmint.gov]
A Canadian commemorative
In the spring of 2002, while searches were still ongoing
in the area around Ground Zero, the Lions Club of Little
Current, Ontario, issuer of municipal trade tokens for
Manitoulin Island since 1969, asked me if I would assist
them to produce, as a gesture of solidarity, a “friendship
token” to highlight the ties of friendship that have existed
for decades between the residents of Manitoulin Island and
the Americans. The island is, in fact, a popular vacation
spot favoured by American visitors, many of whom have
family cottages where they return year after year.
Inspired by the many Canadian rescue workers who raked
through the debris at Ground Zero, searching in the hope of
finding survivors, the token depicts, in silhouette: a dog, a
firefighter, a police officer, a military member, and various
workers – both men and women. These silhouettes are
flanked by the Canadian and American flags, appropriately
coloured in enamel. The exergue reads: IN MEMORIAM SEPT.
11, 2001 / TOGETHER WE STAND / FOR FREEDOM.
The tokens, struck on bimetallic planchets (bronzealuminum core and cupronickel ring), are 38.6 mm in
diameter, weigh 23.3 g, and have a plain edge. Mintage was
limited to 1,000 pieces. The denomination “2000 cents”
instead of “20 dollars” is a way of saying 2000 “thank yous”
to the emergency workers.
A portion of the profits realized from the sale of the tokens
was sent to one of the firefighting brigades in New York to
support the families of the victims.
This has been a quick overview of the numismatic
heritage of September 11, 2001. Sadly it is not the only
inheritance of that tragic day.
References:
Pelletier, Serge. “Attentats du 11 septembre : Héritage numismatique,”
Monnaie Magazine, 36 (septembre 2004), pp. 36-38.
Strack, Jeff. “9-11 The Day the World Changed,” Coin World,
Septembre 5, 2011.
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/medalsanddecs/l/blwotmedals.htm [201109-07]
http://www.publicsafety.net/coins_main.htm [2011-09-07]
http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/medals/?action=911NationalMedal
[2011-09-07]
11 SEPT — suite de la page 256
lisse. Le tirage a été limité à 1000 exemplaires.
Une partie des profits réalisés ont été envoyés à l’une
des brigades de pompiers de New York pour les familles
des membres disparus.
Voilà donc un bref survol de l’héritage numismatique
du 11 septembre 2001. Dieu sait qu’il ne s’agit
malheureusement pas du seul héritage de cette journée.
Références :
Pelletier, Serge. « Attentats du 11 septembre : Héritage numismatique »,
Monnaie Magazine, 36 (septembre 2004), pp. 36-38.
Strack, Jeff. « 9-11 The Day the World Changed », Coin World,
5 septembre 2011.
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/medalsanddecs/l/blwotmedals.htm
[2011-09-07]
http://www.publicsafety.net/coins_main.htm [2011-09-07]
http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/medals/?action=911NationalMedal
[2011-09-07]
[September 2011]
– 257
258 –
[September 2011]
by Major (Ret’d) Serge Pelletier, CD
[ED: In the first part of this four-part story, we looked at the historical background on Tournai, the War of the Spanish Succession, and on this 1709 siege.
Now we will delve into the obsidional coinage issued by the besieged Lieutenant-General de Surville.]
F
aced with a shortage of coinage, M. de Surville
spoke with the Parliament of Tournai on July 3:
It was said that M. le marquis de Surville declared that he
intended to strike silver and copper coinage, and that it was
therefore necessary to hear the gold and silversmiths as well
as the melters, and see appropriate working places. The gold
and silversmiths having been heard, it was determined that
the ‘grande sale de la conchiergerie’ [sic] would be used
to work the silver coinage and that the ‘lieu de marquage
des Eschevinages’ [sic] to work the copper coinage.
(Cocheteux 1856, 137. Quoting the recto of folio 116,
register #233 of the Parliament of Tournai)
De Surville had decided to strike a silver 20patard—yes patard, not sol, contrary to most
references—that was forced into circulation by
an edict of the Parliament of Tournai dated July
13, 1709, and copper 8- and 2-patard, equally
forced into circulation by an edict of July 20.
I would like to remark on the fact that, for
well over a century now, these pieces
have been misrepresented as 20, 8, and
2 sols. I believe that this
misrepresentation is based on
Lieutenant-Colonel Prosper
Mailliet’s Catalogue descriptif
des monnaies obsidionales et de
nécessité avec atlas [Descriptive
catalogue of obsidional and
necessity coins with atlas]
published in Brussels in 1870.
This work has long been
considered THE standard
reference on the subject. In it,
Mailliet lists all Tournai 1709
pieces as being denominated in
sol. (Mailliet 1870, 443-445)
However, Mailliet based his
18. Tournai Cathedral. The
Encyclopedia Britannica, Eleventh
Edition (New York: The
Encyclopedia Britannica Company,
1910)
[September 2011]
– 259
19. 2 patards struck on a reformed Liège liard of Maximilian Henry of Bavaria.
20. 2 patards struck from a new blank.
listing on Lieutenant Charles Cocheteux’s detailed article
entitled “Du Marquis de Surville et des monnaies
obisidionales frappées à Tournai en 1709” [Of Marquis de
Surville and the obsidional coins struck at Tournai in 1709]
published in the May 1856 issue of the Mémoires de la
Société historique et littéraire de Tournai. In it, Cocheteux
cites both the July 13 and July 20 edicts of the Parliament
of Tournai that clearly states that the pieces are denominated
in patards:
July 13, 1709
[…] The Court has ordered and orders that the aforementioned
pieces recently struck at a weight of a quarter écu worth three
livres and twelve sols of France, bearing the inscription M. de
Surville around a bust, will be accepted by the public during the
duration of the siege for the price and value of 20 patars [sic] or
25 sols of France; forbids anyone to refuse them, under threat of
a fine of fifty florins distributed one third to the informant and
the remainder to the poor of the city. (Cocheteux 1856, 149)
The 2-patard piece
July 20, 1709
[…] found it necessary to produce two copper [coins] of lower
value, to help the troops pay for the foodstuffs that they need, of
which coins the first will be worth two patars [sic] bearing the
inscription Tornaco obsesso around a tower, and the other worth
eight, showing on one side the arms of said marquis de Surville,
and on the other side the inscription: moneta in obsidione
Tornacensis cusa, […] (Cocheteux 1856, 142)
Let us now return to the pieces issued by de Surville.
260 –
[September 2011]
The 2-patard piece is uniface, made of copper,
25 millimetres in diameter and is described as follows:
TORNACO – OBESSO [during the siege of Tournai] A tower
with portcullis. Above the value: 2. Below, the date 1709.
(Mailliet 1870, 445 and Duby 1786, 110 for translation of
Latin inscription)
Cocheteux identified three varieties of this piece. Some
were struck on new copper blanks (fig. 20), others on
reformed liards (fig. 19).
The 8-patard piece
The 8-patard piece, also made of copper, is 28 millimetres
in diameter and is the only one struck on both sides.
Cocheteux identified two varieties that were described by
Mailliet as follows:
In the field, the crowned arms of marquis de Surville, in an
obsidional crown, accosted14 by the value: 8-S. [Fig. 21]
Rev. – In the field, the chronogram: MONETA – IN – OBSIDIONE –
TRONACENSI – CVSA [coin struck at Tournai during the siege}.
(Mailliet 1870, 444 and Duby 1786, 100 for translation of Latin)
Similar to No. 15 [previous], from another die, with the difference
that the crown is smaller and that the value 8 is below the arms.
(Mailliet 1870, 445) [Fig. 22]
I believe that the description of the first piece is somewhat
incorrect. Given that the July 20 edict defined it as an 8patard piece, I believe that the ‘S’ is more correctly a second
‘8’ that was made from an ‘S’. Indeed, this ‘S’ on all
specimens I have observed is closed off (but then again,
that is true of the S’s on the reverse as well). Mailliet simply
followed Cocheteux’s description that states in part “The
crown that surmounts the shield is accosted by the sign 8S, giving the value of the piece.” (Cocheteux 1856, 144)
This description is, I believe, the source of the mislabelling
of the pieces as sols.
The ‘de Surville coin’
The last piece was, as we saw, the first one approved:
the silver 20 patards. A uniface klippe,15 it is described as:
M DE SVRVILLE. Laurelled bust, left. Above, the value: 20. Below,
a small tower, mintmark of Tournai. (Mailliet 1870, 443) [Fig. 23]
This piece is commonly known as the ‘de Surville coin’
because it bears his name. The general view then, and indeed
often today, is that the effigy is also his. This statement
does not immediately raise concern with today’s collectors.
However, 300 years ago, such a thing would have constituted
21. 8 patards of the so-called “8-S” variety. 22. 8 patards with 8 below the arms.
[September 2011]
– 261
royales des inscriptions et médailles)
23. 20 patards showing a laurelled bust
and the name of Monsieur de Surville.
a lèse-majesté—an insult to the king—Louis XIV at that,
who did not take very kindly to those matters. Indeed, word
reached the French court that de Surville had struck coins
with bearing his own likeness. Even worse, this likeness
showed him as a Roman emperor! Of course, most of the
Court saw in this a violation of the king’s rights. The matter
was sent to the Académie royale des inscriptions et
médailles. 1 After reviewing the matter, the Académie
exonerated de Surville of the so-called lèse-majesté crime
stating:
[…] that the pieces called obsidional coins could not be
called coins, because they were really mere tokens, public
pledges and obligations contracted by a besieged governor;
that these pieces had no legal value; that posterity would
see in them medals struck for the need of the time while
glorifying forever the prince [presumably de Surville],
honour his troops and the one the king chose to command
them in the defence of a most important place, and finally,
that these pieces could in no way prejudice the indisputable
right to strike coinage, which is the sole right of the king,
etc., etc. (de Crazannes 1854, 63-64. Quoting the Académie
262 –
[September 2011]
The case was closed and it was never brought up again.
So the presumption that the effigy was de Surville’s
continued, as is recorded in many
documents of the 19th century.
But French numismatist, Baron
Chaudruc de Crazannes,
challenged that presumption in
his 1854 article Sur la monnaie
obsidionale de Tournai, dite de
Surville [On the so-called de
Surville obsidional coin of
Tournai].
De Crazannes bases his belief
on the many discussions he had
w i t h a f r i e n d , Vi c o m t e d e
Vanderbourg, who was a member of
the Académie des inscriptions et des
belles-lettres. 16 According to de
Vanderbourg, who was quite familiar
with the piece, Monsieur de Surville’s
grandson, and his good friend, “never
admitted that the head depicted on the
coin was that of his grandfather.” (de
Crazannes 1854, 68) But if it was not
de Surville’s effigy, why did he not just
come out and say it?
To understand why, we need to know
more about Monsieur de Surville. LouisCharles de Hautefort, Marquis de
Surville, was born of an old family in
the Périgord. He grew up as a page17 of
the king’s great stable and quickly embraced the profession
of arms, joining the Flemish army as a volunteer. He was
named colonel of the régiment de Toulouse in 1684. At the
head of this regiment he distinguished himself in battle at
Fleurus and Steinkerque. These faits d’armes led to his
promotion to brigadier and his assignment to the régiment
du Roi as lieutenant-colonel [sic]. During the War of Spanish
Succession, de Surville fought under the Duc de Bourgogne,
contributing to the victory over the Dutch at Nijmegen.
Promoted to lieutenant-general, he served in Germany at
the Battle of Speyer where, leading the King’s Regiment, he
defeated seven enemy battalions. This led to the eventual
rout of the entire Imperial Army. He participated in the
defence at the siege of Landau (1704) and served under
Maréchal Boufllers at Lille in 1708, where he was wounded.
The following year, he was tasked with the defence of
Tournai. He later retired to Paris, where he died on September
19, 1721, at the ripe old age of 63. (Weiss 1826 and
Cocheteux 1854, 133)
So we have a gentleman who grew up understanding
aristocracy and, obviously, was not a stranger to discipline
24. Lille, 10 sols 1708 showing the arms of Maréchal de Boufflers on the obverse.
and respect, since he served in his king’s regiment. It is
therefore somewhat illogical to believe that de Surville
would willingly do something to insult his king.
Furthermore, obsidional coins were nothing new. They had
been around since the 13th century and were quite common
in this war. Indeed, they had been issued both at Landau
and at Lille, sieges at which de Surville had served. De
Surville was therefore familiar with them. A comparison
between the 8-patard piece issued by de Surville in late July,
and the pieces issued by Boufflers at Lille, upon which he
had set his arms [Fig. 24], does show a resemblance in
design. De Surville was the first to put an effigy on a coin—
hence the unfavourable attention at the French court—but
why?
Coming back to a question raised earlier: if it was not de
Surville’s effigy, why did he not just come out and say so,
to clear his name? Understanding military ethos, I believe
that de Surville was quite satisfied with letting the matter
rest, and that he felt raising it could potentially offend his
king, which I believe he did not want.
Next issue, we will search for the ‘owner’ of the effigy
on the 20-patard piece.
17
Young nobleman placed with a king or a lord to learn the profession of
arms.
Sources cited:
Cocheteux, Ch. (1856). “Du Marquis de Surville et des monnaies
obisidionales frappées à Tournai en 1709,” Mémoires de la Société
historique et littéraire de Tournai, Tome 4. Tournai: Malo & Levasseur,
May 1856. pp. 125-152.
de Crazannes, Chaudruc (1854). “Sur la monnaie obsidionale de Tournai,
dite de Surville,” Revue de la numismatique belge, 2e série, Tome IV.
Brussels: Librairie polytechnique d’Aug. Decq. pp. 59-70.
Duby, Tobiesen (1786). Receuil général des pièces obsidionales et de
nécessité. Paris: Debure.
Mailliet, Prosper (1870). Catalogue descriptif des monnaies obsidionales
et de nécessité avec atlas. Bruxelles: Fr. Goddaerts.
Weiss (1826). “Louis-Charles de Hautefort, marquis de Surville,”
Biographie universelle, ancienne et moderne, Tome 44e. Paris: L. G.
Michaud. p. 235.
Notes:
14
Heraldic term meaning “flanked on either side.”
15
Rectangular or square piece of metal bearing the impression of a round
coin.
16
Created under Colbert in 1663, the role of the Académie royale des
inscriptions et médailles [Royal Academy of Inscriptions and Medals]
was to establish the inscriptions and mottoes of the monument and
medals in the glory of King Louis XIV. To do so, it studied the medals
and other rarities, ancient and modern, in the king’s cabinet as well as
ancient monuments in France. It was later renamed the Académie des
inscriptions et belles-lettres.
[September 2011]
– 263
264 –
[September 2011]
by Serge Pelletier
T
he American Numismatic Association (ANA) - the world’s largest
numismatic organisation - held its annual convention at the
Donald E. Stephen Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois (a few
minutes from Chicago’s O’Hare Airport) from August 14 to 20, 2011. Dubbed
the “World’s Fair of Money,” this show, one of three now held annually by the
ANA, stood out among all previous ones not only because it was the association’s
120th anniversary convention, but also because it had the largest bourse in ANA
history, with more than 450 dealers present. It is hard to summarize such an event, but
I will do my best.
Arriving a few hours after the official opening, on August 14, I made my way to the
convention centre and was greeted, as I walked in, by a labyrinth of velvet ropes that led
to a huge registration booth that could accommodate up to ten greeters. Luckily
for me, there was no lineup at the time. So I proceeded to register and purchased
the official convention “badge” as well as a “passport” to the world mints.
While this passport was really aimed at young collectors, I saw many
adults who, like me, enjoyed visiting the various booths of world Mints.
Ten countries are presented in the passport: Australia, Austria, Canada,
China, France, the Isle of Man, Israel, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, Taiwan,
Thailand, the United Kingdom, and, of course, the United States. Each
country has a page dedicated to it, which gives a very brief history of the
country, followed by an historical overview of the institution present on
the “Mint Promenade,” and two lines each for the monetary system,
circulating coins, circulating bank notes, and the institution’s website. The
idea is to visit the various booths on the “Mint Promenade,” get the passport
stamped, and receive a coin from that country. In the centre of the 13.5 × 19.75 cm
booklet is a plasticized page with 18 pockets in which to store the coins. Since
neither the Royal Australian Mint nor the Monnaie de Paris (French Mint) were present,
the passport came pre-stamped and “pre-populated” with Australian 5-cent and
French 1-eurocent coins. The other coins one could collect are: an Austrian 2eurocent, a Canadian 5-cent, a Chinese 1-jiao, a Manx 1-penny, an Israeli
10-agorah, a Japanese 5-yen, a Mexican 10-cent, a South African 20-cent,
a Taiwanese 1-yuan, a Thai 1-baht, a British 1-penny, and an American
Glacier Park 25-cent piece. All were, naturally, dated 2011.
Armed with my passport, I entered the bourse floor to head to the
“Mint Promenade” to fill it before I did anything else. My breath was
simply taken away when I walked
1. The obverse of the ANA convention medal
into the gigantic room where the
shows a Potawatomi warrior and recalls the
bourse was being held… The LBattle of Fort Dearborn in 1812, while the reverse
shaped room covered some 20,439
shows Capt Heald and Fort Dearborn, inspired by
the Henry Hering statue Defense. This medal was
square metres (220,000 square
designed by Jamie Franki, whose designs also grace
some U.S. coins.
[September 2011]
– 265
2. The World Mint Passport includes information on each country
featured. The centre of the passport hold a plasticized page in which
one stores the coins received at the various mint booths. 3. A smiling
Jennifer Curtin, of the Perth Mint, proudly displays the special “Little
Aussies” set produced for the ANA convention. Limited to 2000, the
set sold out during the convention.
feet), and I was in the smallest portion of the room (the
base of the L). I could not believe the size of it. So, I
pulled out the floor plan to gain a better understanding
of the layout and determine where to go from there to
reach the “Mint Promenade,” which, in this case, was
the outer perimeter of the largest portion of the room.
Along the “Promenade” I came across some old
friends. One of them was Mr. Ed Harbuz, CEO of
GoldCorp Australia and the Perth Mint, whom I had
the pleasure of meeting in Europe almost a decade ago and,
of course, my many friends at the Royal Canadian Mint.
These two Mints were the only ones that offered souvenir
mint sets made specifically for this ANA show.
The Perth Mint was offering a “2011 Australian Little
Aussies” set that bears the mention “American / Numismatic
/ Association / ANA World’s Fair of Money / Chicago 2011”
on the front. The postcard-sized set holds two encapsulated
coins: an Australian Koala containing 1/10 oz. of .999 silver
and an Australian Kangaroo containing 0.5 g of .9999 gold.
Only 2,000 such sets were made.
As for the Royal Canadian Mint, it offered a
“Commemorative Canadian Coin and Medal Set,” which
contains 1-cent, 10-cent, 25-cent, 50-cent, 1-dollar, and 2dollar uncirculated coins. The 5-cent coin was replaced by
a copper medalet that features the Mint’s corporate logo on
266 –
[September 2011]
the obverse, while the reverse bears the legend AMERICAN
NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION and the inscription in the centre
CHICAGO / ILLINOIS / 2011, in three lines. Three maples leaves
at 6 o’clock complete the design. Only 500 of these sets
were produced and each one is numbered.
At the end of the “Mint Promenade” I came upon the
booth of the New Zealand Mint with its brand new Star
Wars series.
I was now free to roam around the gigantic bourse floor
to hunt for some items for my collection. But wait…
immediately behind the New Zealand Mint’s booth was a
series of table of various coin clubs. One was that of the
local Chicago Coin Club, where I met Steve Zitowsky, a
great soul, who introduced me to his club and all its activities.
On display was a simple, yet beautiful, medal issued by the
club to mark the presence of the ANA. The obverse features
4. This “facing Jefferson” design found on the obverse of the U.S.
2006-dated 5-cent coin was designed by Jamie Franki. 5. The
“American bison” design found on the reverse of the U.S. 2005-dated 5-cent coin was also designed
by Franki. 6. Franki proudly displays the large version of the convention medal, which he designed. He
is wearing the three “badges” he designed for the ANA. 7. This copper medal was issued by the
Chicago Coin Club for the ANA convention.
“Standing Lincoln,” a statue by famed coin designer Augustus Saint-Gaudens
that stands in Chicago’s Lincoln Park at North Dearborn Parkway. Behind
Lincoln is the legend. The reverse features the inscription AMERICAN / NUMISMATIC
/ ASSOCIATION / CONVENTION / CHICAGO / 2011 in six lines. Only 250 of these medals
were struck in antique copper. I just had to get one!
The ANA had its own area where it had activities for young collectors and
where one could meet different authors and coin designers throughout the show.
That is where I met Jamie Franki the designer of the convention medal, which
was available in three formats: a 70 mm antique bronze medal, a set that contains
one 38 mm medal in bronze and one in .999 silver, and the aforementioned
“badge” that is a 38 mm medal that hangs from a ribbon. Only 125 of each were
produced.
Franki, an art professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and
a former master designer in the U.S. Mint’s Artistic Infusion Program, was
commissioned to design this year’s convention medal as well as those of the 2013,
2014, and 2015 conventions, which will also be held in Chicago. Franki explained to
me that since he had been commissioned to design four medals, he took his inspiration
from Chicago’s flag, which has four stars, each representing an important aspect of
the city’s history. The first star represents Fort Dearborn, a U.S. fort built on the Chicago
River in 1803. The second star represents the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. The third
and fourth stars represent two World Fairs held in Chicago, in 1893 and 1933-1934.
Using Fort Dearborn as the topic of the 2011 medal, Franki chose to portray an
historic battle from the War of 1812 – the Battle of Fort Dearborn. On Augst 15, 1812,
the Fort commander, Captain Nathan Heald, evacuated the fort with his troops, on
orders from General William Hull, and headed for Fort Wayne (Indiana). A band of
[September 2011]
– 267
Outgoing ANA president Clifford Mishler (right) presented Serge (10
10) the
10
certificate of “First Place in the Outstanding Local Numismatic Publication”
8). One of the contributing authors – Dr. Ursula Kampmann, from Germany
(8
9).
(left) – was present during the award ceremony and rejoiced with Serge (9
11. Serge sat with Chet Krause (right) at the Krause Publications booth, to
reminisce about their last meeting, at the Canadian Numismatic Association’s
convention in Québec City, in 2001.
Potawatomi warriors ambushed the group 2 kilometres
south, killing 38 men, two women and 12 children. The
Battle of Fort Dearborn is commemorated on the fort’s site
with a monumental sculpture by Henry Hering called
Defense, which adorns the Chicago River’s Michigan
Avenue Bridge.
Franki ingeniously uses both sides of the medal to
commemorate both sides of the battle. The obverse features
one of the Potawatomi warriors and the reverse features the
fort and Captain Heald, both of which were derived from
Hering’s monument. Franki’s other numismatic work
268 –
[September 2011]
includes the American bison reverse of the 2005 5-cent coin,
which received the Coin of the Year award for Most Popular
Coin; the obverse of the “Jefferson 1800” 5-cent piece of
2006, which shows forward-facing portrait of Jefferson; the
2007 ANA National Money Show medal and the 2008 and
2010 ANA World’s Fairs of Money medals.
In addition to the great number of tables upon which the
dealers displayed their goods, there were booths for authors
and publishing houses. I was fortunate enough to catch up
with the legendary Chet Krause, founder of Krause
Publications, at that publisher’s booth. We had a good laugh
while talking about the last time we had met, at the Canadian
Numismatic Association convention held in Québec City in
2001. At another booth I was fortunate to meet Joel Orosz
and Leonard Augsburger, authors of The Secret History of
The real star of the show was moneta – the book: 12. Sabrina Duchesne, of
the Royal Canadian Mint, has a look at her picture in the story that related the
success of the R.C.N.A. convention in St. John, New Brunswick. 13. Tze
Ling Chen, of the Perth Mint, was proud to see many of the coins they
produced had been featured in moneta. 14. An employee of the United
States Mint was quite surprised by the quality of our publication and pleased
to see reports on some of their pieces.
the First U.S. Mint, a book that won the coveted Book of
the Year Award of the Numismatic Literary Guild (NLG).
Speaking of the NLG, it was one of dozens of associations
that held meetings during the convention. The NLG also
held its annual bash during which 476 awards were given. I
had the pleasure of accepting one on behalf of our friend
and Ottawa Coin Club member Ron Cheek for the “Best
Token & Medal Article published in a World Coins
Magazine.” Congrats again Ron!
Another meeting I attended was that of the Numismatic
Bibliomania Society, whose attendance list read like a who’s
who of American numismatics: David T. Alexander,
Q. David Bowers, Harvey Stack, David Sundman, etc.
But the greatest part of this convention for me was to
accept the award for first place in the Outstanding Local
Numismatic Publication competition.
For more information about the American Numismatic
Association, visit its website at www.money.org.
[September 2011]
– 269
Canadian trial pieces
on display in Chicago
Des essais canadiens
en montre à Chicago
by Serge Pelletier
par Serge Pelletier
awk-eyed collectors visiting the Royal Canadian
Mint’s booth at the American Numismatic
Association’s “World’s Fair of Money” held in
Chicago on
August 16-20,
may have
spotted, in the
last two days of
t h e s h o w, a
collection of a
different kind.
Indeed, there
in one of the
d i s p l a y
counters, was a
group of five
niobium-silver
5-dollar coins
that were
somewhat
different.
The coins,
which feature the “Hunter’s Moon” design, bore niobium
i n s e r t s o f various colours – orange, light blue, light
green, pale yellow, and dark purple. None of these colours
will be used for the actual released coin, on which the
niobium insert will be copper brown.
The Hunter’s Moon coin is the second in the series
announced in June 2011. The announced series uses two of
the colours present in these trial pieces: pale yellow and
light blue. The other pieces are copper brown and magenta.
The colouring of niobium is achieved through anodizing.
These 5-dollar coins are ringed bimetallic with a centre
of niobium and an outside rin of sterling silver.
Royal Canadian Mint spokesperson Alexandre Reeves
confirmed that the coins are first struck with the niobium
insert and then anodized.
Niobium is a rare, soft, grey, ductile metal found in the
minerals pyrochlore and columbite. Discovered in 1801, it
was initially called columbium. The current name was
officially adopted in 1949.
Some 44,500 tonnes of niobium were mined in 2006 in
Brazil (90 %) and Canada (10 %).
Austria was the first country to use niobium in coinage,
in 2003, in bimetallic (silver-niobium) 25-euro coins.
e kiosque de la Monnaie royale canadienne à la World’s
Fair of Money de l’American Numismatic Association,
tenue à Chicago les 16-20 août derniers, c a c h a i t
dans ses
comptoirs,
pendant les
deux derniers
jours de
l’évènement,
une collection
d’un autre
genre… un
groupe de
cinq essais de
l’une des
pièces de
5 dollars en
niobium et
argent.
Ces pièces,
au motif de la
« lune du
c h a s s e u r » , arboraient des c œ u r s d e niobium de
couleurs diverses : orange, bleu pâle, vert pâle, jaune et violet
foncé. Couleurs différentes de la pièce qui a été lancée, sur
laquelle on retrouve le cœur de niobium est de couleur
cuivrée.
La « lune du chasseur » est la seconde pièce de la
collection lancée en juin dernier. Cette collection utilise deux
des cinq couleurs retrouvées sur les essais : le jaune et le
bleu pâle. Les deux autres étant le brun cuivré et le magenta.
La teinte du niobium est obtenue par oxydation anodique.
Ces pièces de 5 dollars sont des pièces bimétalliques
concentriques avec un cœur de niobium et une couronne
d’argent sterling.
Alexandre Reeves, de la Monnaie royale canadienne, a
confirmé que les pièces étaient d’abord frappées avant d’être
partiellement anodisées.
Le niobium est un métal rare, ductile, mou et de couleur
grise que l’on retrouve dans le pyrochlore et la columbite.
Le nom actuel a été adopté en 1949.
On a extrait quelque 44 500 tonnes de niobium en 2006
au Brésil (90 %) et au Canada (10 %).
L’Autriche fut la première à utiliser le niobium dans son
monnayage, en 2003, dans la frappe de pièces de 25 euro.
H
270 –
[September 2011]
L
T
he New Zealand Mint will has launched its first series
of silver 2-dollar and silver-plated copper 1-dollar
coins dedicated to Star Wars.
The silver coin series are packaged as two unique
sets of four coins. One will be the Darth Vader head,
representing the dark side . The coins feature a fullcoloured image of Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine,
Death Star, and a Stormtrooper. The coins representing
the Rebel Alliance are presented in the Millennium
Falconship. Its coins feature your favourite character
duos from the side with The Force: Luke Skywalker/
Princess Leia, Obi-Wan Kenobi/Yoda, R2-D2/C-3PO,
Han Solo/Chewbacca. Both series are limited to 7,500 sets
each.
The silver-plated copper 1-dollar coins are sold individually
and features characters of the movies: Luke Skywalker, Princess
Leia, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, R2-D2, C-3PO, Han Solo,
Chewbacca, Darth Vader, and Emperor Palpatine.
VALUE —continued from page 245
>
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.NZMINT.COM
<
VALEUR — suite de la page 245
• valeur numismatique – Valeur conférée à un article par ses qualités
numismatiques et non par sa valeur intrinsèque. Syn. valeur au
catalogue, valeur selon les tendances
• valeur selon les tendances– Valeur d’un article numismatique
selon les tendances.
Référence :
Pelletier, Serge. Le dictionnaire canadien de numismatique, 1ère éd.
Ottawa : Eligi Consultants Inc., 2008.
• trend value – The most current Market Value, based on the average
derived from recent auction results, dealer advertisements, price
lists and other sources.
numismatic value – Value of a numismatic item to a collector.
•
• intrinsic value (also melt value) – Value conveyed to a numismatic
item based on the value of the metal it contains.
• extrinsic value (also face value) – Value of a numismatic item
based on its denomination.
• purchase value – Value of a numismatic item to settle an obligation
or debt.
Reference:
Pelletier, Serge. The Canadian Dictionary of Numismatics, 1st Ed.
Ottawa: Eligi Consultants Inc., 2008.
[September 2011]
– 271
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