We had 10 attend our coin collectors group held on 27th March including a new member.
I have introduced two new segments (Coin of the Month and Coin Trivia) to complement our usual Show and Tell session where members present a coin and explain it’s background.
Coin of the Month for March was for members to bring along their oldest dated coin. This yielded some interesting coins and required members to dig deep into their collections. A range of coins presented included
1858 Dutch two and half
1861 English Queen Victoria
1867 French 50 Francs
1803 East Indies token coin
1799 George 3rd farthing
1858 French 10 francs
1797 English George 3rd penny
The 1797 George 3rd penny (below) was declared the winner and the monthly prize presented to the winner. This coin was called the Cartwheel because of its significant size and weight.
I have introduced two new segments (Coin of the Month and Coin Trivia) to complement our usual Show and Tell session where members present a coin and explain it’s background.
Coin of the Month for March was for members to bring along their oldest dated coin. This yielded some interesting coins and required members to dig deep into their collections. A range of coins presented included
1858 Dutch two and half
1861 English Queen Victoria
1867 French 50 Francs
1803 East Indies token coin
1799 George 3rd farthing
1858 French 10 francs
1797 English George 3rd penny
The 1797 George 3rd penny (below) was declared the winner and the monthly prize presented to the winner. This coin was called the Cartwheel because of its significant size and weight.
The oldest recorded coin was 495 BC from Zarkle now Messina Sicily. The earliest Christian era coin was from Denmark dated 1234.
The April Coin of the Month will be – “Most Attractive” - as determined by a vote of those present (with a winner’s prize)
Some members of the Group now have the app Coinoscope on their mobile phones. This has proved very useful in identifying and clarifying the origin of unfamiliar coins.
The Coin Trivia session consisted of eight questions about Australian coins and was designed as a learning/education experience.
1. Why do some coins have milled edges?
1a. What was the first commemorative coin?
2. Why is the 1930 penny so rare?
3. When did the kangaroo appear on the penny and halfpenny and replace the words One Penny and One Half Penny?
4. Why was 50cent 12 sided coin introduced?
5. When were paper one dollar and two dollar paper notes replaced by $1and $2 coins?
6. When were one and two cent coins withdrawn from circulation?
7. Who is on the reverse side of the $2 coin?
8. What influenced size of $2 coin?
Our Show and Tell session presented a set of 28 coins of all Olympics sports from the 2000 Olympics, a7 sided UK 50 cent piece, a 2023 PNC Legacy set with an Australia Post mintmark.
Also presented was a 1998 UK two pound bi metal coin. This coin was unusual with the outer yellow metal nickel-brass ring made from 76% copper, 20%zinc and 4% nickel and an inner steel-coloured cupro-nickel disc made from 75% copper, 25% nickel. Of interest is the inscription around the edge of the coin. The design of the coin traces the story of technology. The edge inscription complements this theme: Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants. Taken from a letter written by Sir Isaac Newton in 1676 acknowledging the debt he owed to other scientists “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants”. Sir Isaac Newton was also Master of the Royal Mint from 1699 to 1727.
Doug Smith
Convenor
The April Coin of the Month will be – “Most Attractive” - as determined by a vote of those present (with a winner’s prize)
Some members of the Group now have the app Coinoscope on their mobile phones. This has proved very useful in identifying and clarifying the origin of unfamiliar coins.
The Coin Trivia session consisted of eight questions about Australian coins and was designed as a learning/education experience.
1. Why do some coins have milled edges?
1a. What was the first commemorative coin?
2. Why is the 1930 penny so rare?
3. When did the kangaroo appear on the penny and halfpenny and replace the words One Penny and One Half Penny?
4. Why was 50cent 12 sided coin introduced?
5. When were paper one dollar and two dollar paper notes replaced by $1and $2 coins?
6. When were one and two cent coins withdrawn from circulation?
7. Who is on the reverse side of the $2 coin?
8. What influenced size of $2 coin?
Our Show and Tell session presented a set of 28 coins of all Olympics sports from the 2000 Olympics, a7 sided UK 50 cent piece, a 2023 PNC Legacy set with an Australia Post mintmark.
Also presented was a 1998 UK two pound bi metal coin. This coin was unusual with the outer yellow metal nickel-brass ring made from 76% copper, 20%zinc and 4% nickel and an inner steel-coloured cupro-nickel disc made from 75% copper, 25% nickel. Of interest is the inscription around the edge of the coin. The design of the coin traces the story of technology. The edge inscription complements this theme: Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants. Taken from a letter written by Sir Isaac Newton in 1676 acknowledging the debt he owed to other scientists “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants”. Sir Isaac Newton was also Master of the Royal Mint from 1699 to 1727.
Doug Smith
Convenor
