Current Currency with George S. Cuhaj

The passing of Radford Stearns

George — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:49:18 GMT

This week I was saddened to learn of the death of Radford Stearns.

I first meet him at the 1976 New York ANA convention where he won the Howland Wood best in show exhibit award for his display of Colonial Georgia Paper Money. That convention was my first exhibiting experience, and exhibit room was probably the largest ever at an ANA show (It took up the full venue of Albert Hall, the large basement room of the then named Americania Hotel on 7^th Avenue and 52^nd street .)

The next year, the ANA was in Atlanta , we got to meet again. Ten years later when the ANA returned to Atlanta he was named general chairman, and asked me to run a Boy Scout coin collecting merit badge program which has grown into the successful programs offered at conventions since.

Recently, I enjoyed spending time with him at the CICF show in the spring of 2007 when he spoke on Russian plate money (similar to the more popular Swedish plate, but scarcer) and his presentation was very informative, especially in pointing out the later date Novodels and counterfeits.

Another project he was very willing to help me on recently was in sharing color images of his Colonial Georgia notes which will be used in that chapter in the forthcoming fifth edition of Eric P. Newman�??s Early Paper Money of America, which had gone to press about a month ago.

He wanted to speak more about things in the hobby rather than his illness. Quite noble.

George

BSA releases color Coin Collecting Merit Badge Booklet

George — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:47:09 GMT

The 2008 Coin Collecting Merit Badge Booklet has just been released by the National Office of the Boy Scouts of America.

It now includes improved photos, many of which are in color. Some of the scout photos were taken at last fall�??s Long Beach Coin Expo, one even includes dealer Julian Leidman showing the scouts some nice coins!

I�??ve been involved with the ANA�??s participation with the Coin Collecting booth at the Merit Badge Midway during the National Jamborees since 1981. Those opportunities made me the point person for both the ANA and the BSA to get a revision done in the requirements and booklet. That 2002 edition was the first major revision in requirements and the information booklet in over 25 years.

This 2008 revision of the Merit Badge booklet replaces the previous red-toped (two scouts on the cover) booklet which was introduced in 2002.

To stay current with the changes in U.S. circulation coinage, namely the introduction of the Presidential circulating dollars, some wording changes were needed to a few of the requirements so that these new coins can be included by scouts working on the badge. Councilors and troop leaders should be aware of these changes and start using the new requirements as soon as they can.

The booklet is in the familiar 8x5-1/2 size, and continues at 64 pages. It is BSA stock #35874, and ISBN 978-0-8395-3390-9-0. The list price at scoutstuff.org is $4.49 plus shipping.

George

The ANS, ANA, Stacks and the NYNC. What a tangled (numismatic) web we weave!

George — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:54:43 GMT

Many people have the idea that the "Numismatic Fraternity" is vast. Howevetr, in my 36 years of membership in the American Numismatic Association, and 31 years involvelemnt in the American Numismatic Society and a mear 29 as a dues paying member of the New York Numismatic Club, I can observe with humor that it is a very close knit, and at times inbred group.

In the first three decades of the last century, numismatics was very much a "gentleman's" diversion. The men who had the time to be collectors were industrial tycoons or at the very least men of leasure.

The young American Numismatic Association was starting to expand its base from just a monthy publication to holding annual conventions.

The philantropist Archer M. Huntington built the ANS a building in NYC within his expanding 155th St. Terrace complex. It concentrated the numismatic likes of Edward T. Newell, J. Sanford Saltus, Howland Wood and Albert Frey.

In a huff over some ANA politics, in 1908 the New York Numismatic Club was formed.

That began monthy meetings in December of 1908 which continue uninterpted to this day. They also have a tradition of honoroing their presidents with a portrait medal.

The sculptor of the first group of medals as well as the seal was Victor D. Brenner. The second club sculptor was Johnathan Swanson, and as he was also a president, his medal is at left. In the 1950-1970s the club used Karl Gruppe, then a brief appearance of Joseph DeLorenzo, Eugene Daub has been the sculptor since 1994.

The ANS Assocaiton continued with Curators Henry Grunthal, Alan Stahl and Jerimiah Brady, and ANS editor Marie Martin all serving two year stints as NYNC presidents. Stack's has been represented with the recent presidency of cataloger David T. Alexander. New York numismatics is a small world of very big numismatic names.

The September 10th, 2008 Coin Galleries sale will be offering about 15 lots of NYNC presidential medals, including those which are in this posting.

December 2008 will see the club members of today gather in the same resturant in NYC at which the club was founded. It should be a nice event. In addition the ANS will be hosting the first exhibition in their new space on Varrick Street, an exhibition of selected items from NYNC member's collections as a tribute to the close ties between the ANS and NYNC members.

George

Book for WWI and WWI bank note for countries under German control

George — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:55:48 GMT

A recent book has come my way from the european publishing house of Gietl Verlag.

Titled: Auslandische Geldscheine unter deutscher Besatzung im Ersten und Zweiten Weltkrieg it is a study of notes issued in areas under German infulence during World War I and World War II.

Authors Hans Grabowski, Henning Huschka and Wolfgang Schamberg present an extensively detailed German language catalog with color illustrations of the bank notes throughout. These are presented with full date variety descriptions, listings and prices in Euros. The catalog listings are crossed referenced to catalog numbers in the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money.

What I found quite interesting were the detailed historical introductions setting the political climate and economic scene under which these notes were issued. The historical chaper introductions are interspersed with sepia-tone contemporary photographs of the German Military operations.

A nice book for both the bank note collector and military historian.

It is ISBN# 978-3-86646-505-3. The page count is 320 and the book is published in a 5-3/4 x 8-1/4 format. Ordering information can be had at the Gietl site: www.gietl-verlag.de

George

New Book for Paraguay's Paper Money!

George — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:27:29 GMT

Miguel Angel Pratt Mayans has released a second edition of Billets del Paraguay. An active member of LANSA, he had a table at the ANA Baltimore Convention with plenty of the new books!

Presented in a 6-1/4 x 8-1/2 inch format, the 262 page work has color illustrations throughout. The pages are designed very nicely with detailed information such as issuer, type description, printer, colors as well as signature varieties. Pricing in several grades is also presented.

The retail price is $25 USD. He can be reached at nisa@pla.net.py

If Paraguay is of interest, this book is a must.

George

Bejing Olympics - Medal collector Michael Phelps?

George — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:39:49 GMT

At this year�??s ANA convention in Baltimore there was a very educational and nicely done display on the participation medals awarded to every Olympian. These are the medal one gets for �??getting there.�??

However, what we all come to know as Olympic medals are those presented on the podium, in gold, silver and bronze and make the �??medal count�?? charts.

Every Olympics has a headliner, some from the summer games of the past that come to mind have been Jim Thorpe, Mark Spitz, Bruce Jenner; and this year we have Michael Phelps. In this medal presentation photo (by Martin Bureau -AFP - Getty Images) Michael is proud of his acheivement, and he is collecting medals but it certainly seems he is not yet a medal collector based on the way he is holding his prized item!

The award medals make use of a red ribbon with a cloud pattern woven into it and in contrasting white color the logo-type for the games. The medals are 70mm in diameter and 6mm thick. The International Olympic Committee design side depicts the winged goddess of victory �?? Nike and the Panathinaikos arena. The Bejing side has the Olympic logotype within a center of jade which is inscribed with a dragon pattern.

The award medals are gold plated silver (minimum of six grams of gold in the plating), silver and bronze. Jade is being used in the medals for the first time. In addition to the medals, which are presented with a wooden lacquer box the winner also receives a small group of flowers and a diploma made of traditional Chinese silk and rice paper.

The design competition was announced in January 2006, and over 265 entries were sent in. After several elimination rounds, the final proposal was approved in February 2007. However, I have not been able to yet find credit for the individual designer or manufacturer.

George

Baltimore ANA - exhibiting and educating

George — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:24:33 GMT

One of the main ANA missions is education.

At the national conventions the opportunites for clubs to meet, for participation in over 25 numismatic theater presentations and having space for educational exhibits.

Exhibiting is a fun way to share your collection in an educational way. Telling a story ( and a bit of braging about what you have) for the enjoyment of others. Hey, I've even started to collect ofther stuff because I saw it presented in an interesting display.

This year the Best-in-Show exhibit was a presentation on Civil War era Currency of Georgia. It was wonderful. The exhibit I presented was in the local interest / convention theme category and it was on medals of Cardinal Gibbons, the long serving Archbishop of Baltimore. It was judged to be a first place award.

If you seem interested in participating at future Early Spring or Summer convention of the ANA with an exhibit, the exhibting rules, categories and judging sheet samples can be found at the ANA website under the conventions link at www.money.org.

George

Baltimore ramblings - part two, people

George — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:12:03 GMT

Some of the other folks I got to spend time with at the ANA Convention in Baltimore were current and former exhibitors.

John and Phil Greenslet of the Baltimore area were folks whom I meet in the early 1980s when we were all actively exhibiting at conventions at locations from Washington to Boston. We would see each other sometimes six or eight times during the year. Phil's exhibit eventually became the start of a book on Benjamin Franklin in Numismatics. Phil also won a best of whow award at a Canadian Numismatic Association convetnion. John has taken a back seat in numismatics since going off to college, starting a career and getting married!

I first meet Vincent Alones at the 1973 NY International Show, and then at successive Grand Central and AINA conventions following. He got me involved with the Long Island Coin Club, the most active of the NYC area clubs. An ardent exhibitor, until this year he held the record for most exhibit awards won at ANA convetions. He and his wife Agnes are the last active Numismatic Ambasador award winners from the first year of the program, 1974. They were both supporters of the early Young Numismatist programs in the New York City area. Now in his 90s he recently relocated to be near his daughter. He was brought to the convention by his grandson.

Emmett McDonald, the glue that is currently holding the Long Island Coin Club together, is the co-instructor at two past ANA Summer Seminar classes which we taught at (World Coins, 1600-present). He has two first place and two second place exhibits at this year's convention.

It was great to spend time with each.

George

Baltimore ramblings, part one - People

George — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 13:53:57 GMT

People in the hobby.

Baltimore was a fine place to meet contributors and collector friends.

Firstly, I'd like to mention Mark Anderson and Scott Lindquist, contributors to our U.S. Paper Money catalogs, Mitch Battino contributor to our World Coin Catalogs, and Jon Morowitz and Art Matz contributors to our World Paper Money Catalogs.

It was especially nice to meet Art. He has been most helpful with organizing contributors with suggestions on Latin American notes, then sending them in on a regular basis. I've been corresponding with him for over ten years and this was our first face-to-face meet. We even made time to have a very nice lunch with good conversation.

Fellow railroad medal collectors Daniel Benice was in attendance with his son and we had a good first meeting. Another medal collector who I spend time with was Paul Johnson, current executive director of the recently re-named Royal Canadian Numismatic Association was also in attendance. Paul was an active exhibitor in the late 70s and 80s, we had first meet when I went up to exhibit at a Toronto TOREX show in 1977, and then later CNA conventions in London and Montreal.

Wayne Homren, editor of the weekly on-line e-newsletter on numismatic books and the hobby was honored with the Burnett Anderson award for writing. He and I worked together nearly 20 years ago as research assistants on Fred Reed's historic book on Encased Postage Stamps.

My former co-editor of the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, Neil Shafer was inducted into the ANA Hall of Fame.

George

ANA show always offer collectibles of its own.

George — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:58:41 GMT

As final packing is being done by those traveling to Baltimore for the World's Fair of Money - the annual convention of the ANA, collectors should take a look at the show specific commemoratives.

Offered by the ANA are badges, 1.5 inch and 3 inch medal sets depicting Edgar Allen Poe. There is also the convention bar, a city name and tate item which you add on to existing bars, creating a railroad-tie type of hanger. It has generally lost favor in recent years, but as mine now number more than 25 (out of 35 years of ANA membership) I keep it up.

Exhibitors, judges and speakers get medals. Hard to get colectibles unless you participate.

The Token and Medal Society will have a Baltimore medal, as will many local clubs, and individual collectors.

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing has a twice daily drawing for an opportunity to purchase (at $50.) a spider press proof done at the BEP exhibit. A spectacular item.

About 14 international mints will have current items for sale and the ANA make available a Mint Passport to insert coins from participating countires.

Some dealers may have items at their tables, be sure to look!

George

A busy summer and now ANA too!

George — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:13:14 GMT

This summer has been very busy.

I have been out to the ANA summer seminar. In the office I have been working on the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, General Issues, 12th edition. That volume for the first time will be fully electronic, thus our four year behind-the-scene project of getting some 50,000 paper money images into a digital format will see the light of day! The user of the book will see sharper images as illustrations, with more even tone.

The Book will also be released with a bound-in DVD.

My other summer project has been assisting with the editing of the 17th Century World Coin Catalog. This product is also a first pass thru on the digital production method, so there is always extra items to be careful about (mis-labeled images seem to come to mind).

Tuesday, I leave for 5 days in Baltimore at the ANA's World's Fair of Money, the national convention. I will be at the Krause Publications table most of the week, as well as doing a stint as an exhibit judge, and participation in a few of the educational talks.

Stop by and say hi!

George

Zimbabwe has economic problems too!

George — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 13:09:45 GMT

Zimbabwe has been in the news the better part of the last two years with particular attention paid to their political situation - a contested election and many random ethnic killings.

Much of that hate stems from the spiraling economy. The past several years the national inflation rate has been around 40,000 %. An awful situation for a poor country.

In August, 2006 the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe instituted a monetary reform, and this year several new notes have been issued in a series which began with denominations of 1, 5, 10 50 cents and 1 dollar.

Within the last few weeks the Reserve Bank has issued a 50 Billion Dollar and a 100 Billion Dollar note.

Yikes.

George

Summer break with Mom !

George — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:54:37 GMT

Car show week in Iola is the time of year when my Mom likes to visit. Usually it is part of a month rest for her from the Astoria NY neighborhood where she grew up, however this year, she is only visiting for two weeks, and tomorrow it is up, and she flies back to NYC.

However, as this is year 13 of such visits, she has gained a wide circle of friends who want to spend time with her, so it ment squashing four weeks of dinners, breakfests and a four day trip into Michigan (via the Lake Michigan Car Ferry) to visit sculptor friends.

This past weekend was that visit, and it was quite relaxing for us. I got to share some ideas with a fellow artisit, and he got to unload from his studio a table-top kilm and a large box of enameling colors.

So expect some expansion to the art portfolio in the future. The above drawing was done by sculptor friend Eugene Daub for mom's 75th birthday.

George

DVD of World Paper Money - Modern Issues now available independently

George — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:01:16 GMT

Okay - Perhaps you wished this happened earlier, but the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, Modern Issues, 14th Edition is now available independent from the book.

As you may recall, a DVD of the book was included mounted inside the back cover of the 14th edition book. Now it is packaged seperately.

The retail cost is $44.95, product code #Z2997.

DVD format, PDFs of each page, which can be clearly enlarged up to 300% on your screen.

George

Annual Car show rolls into Iola !

George — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 13:36:56 GMT

The annual car show opened today.

It is an event which this year features Ragtops and Roadsters. Which makes for nice displays and nice summer evening rides.

The show is expected to dway over 2500 show cars, some now more than a centruy old. There are 4400 vendor spaces in the swap meet area, with folks selling everything from valve covers and chrome to glass and bumpers.

The expected 125,000 visitors will be served by an army of community volunteers who handle everything from gate admissions and food service, to the clean-up. Proceeds get distributed in the Fall to the community organizations who participate.

My 1982 propane powered Checker Marathon is participating!

George

Gilroy Roberts Art of Engraving Fellowship at ANA Summer Seminar

George — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:17:38 GMT

This year I took part in the second year of the two-year Gilroy Roberts Art of Engraving fellowship. The program was taught by Laura Stocklin, a participant in one of the yearly years of the program.

Last year, you may remember, I learned engraving and modeling in plaster. This year we hand engraved a steel die, as well as making the gravers for that purpose.

At the end of the week we also got to strike pewter examples of our designs.

One example of each die made (five participants) struck in pewter, with a uniform reverse of the ANA lamp of knowledge and Summer Seminar legend is available for $20. postpaid from the group (and may soon be on the ANA Website too).

George

ANA Summer Seminar the place to be in late June!

George — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:27:00 GMT

So some may be saying: Why has not George Posted last week?

The simple answer is that I was attending the second week of the American Numismatic Association's Summer Seminar program at the facilities of Colorado College in Colorado Springs, the site of the ANA HQ and Museum.

The program is set up as a "Coin Camp" This year was its 40th Anniversary, and the founders - Ed Rochette and Adna Wilde were both on hand to speak with participants. In addition, ANA's new executive director, Larry Shepherd as well as several current and past officers were also on hand.

Classes are offered in one-week sessions. In each week, there may be as many as 12 classes on various topices from grading, authentication and photography, to specialty areas such as Early American Coppers, Coins of Mexico and World Paper Money.

The sessions run 9-4 with a break for lunch. After dinner, a selection of several two-evening long, six-hour long "mini seminars" are offered on additional topics. Finally, each evening, two 90-minute "bull sessions" are available.

Several highlights of each week include a duplicate book sale from the library (which raised over $6,000 for the two weeks) and a donation auction for YN scholarships (netting a two week total of over $35,000.)

It was a great time, and I would say that everyone would benifit from attendance.

George

Historical Society Festival and Whatsit Identification Day

George — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:00:22 GMT

This past Sunday (The 4th Sunday of June) the Iola Historical Society held the annual stawberry festival.

The Society owns seveal hisotric buildings, a one-room schoolhouse, a old village hall, the Iola Depot of the Iola and Northern Railroad and a re-created, enlarged Iola Fire House with three early trucks.

As an added draw to this year's event the Historial Society took over something that KP formerly did - held an identification and evaluation day.

Experts from the company - both current and retired employees were brought toghter for a pleasant afternoon of looking over treasures which were brought in by the public. The historical society requested a contribution of $2 per item or $5 for three.

I did the coin and paper money table, and this year I got to see a 1909-D $5 gold piece which the owner received on Christmas as a little girl!

The coolest item brought in (to another table) was a 1876 print of a Gettysburg Battle, which was bases on one of those large cycle-o-rama paints which toured museums in that time (Beatuifully framed, with the identification chart)

It was a nice day spent sharing informaiton with community members.

George

Summer Project - 17th Century World Coins! Olmutz updated

George — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:38:29 GMT

With the Standard Catalog of World Coins 20th and 21 Century catalogs back from the printer, as well as our Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, Modern Issues and the U.S. Coin Digest, we have been busy working on other projects for fall 2008 release.

However, users of Numismaster will be noticing the changes as we editors progress.

One of these is now evident with Austrian States - Olmutz. Extensive re-organization and additional listings have casued it to be renumbered. (As well as re-priced).

Available on Numismaster, today! (as well as the other changes we make each day as we progress thru the production of the 17th Century book.)

George

Standard Catalog of World Coins, 20th and 21 Century editions now available

George — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:02:19 GMT

The 2009 editions of the Standard Catalog of World Coins, 20th Century (36th edition), and Standard Catalog of World Coins, 21st Century (3rd edition) are now available.

This year, in addition to tremendously updated prices, improved discriptions and images you will receive in each book a DVD of the book, which you can then download onto your laptop and travel to shows lighter.

And for readers of this blog you can receive a 20% off-list-price discount if you use coupon code NB28 when you check out using the on-line bookstore at www.krausebooks.com

George