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JAA

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Journal Entries posted by JAA

  1. JAA
    This picture gives a better view of the turned together ends of Siamese Bullet Money.
    For background information on Siamese Bullet Money, and the history of this specimen please see my previous Journal entry: "Siamese Bullet Money of 1237 - 1886 (1 Baht Silver Bullet)"
    http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=11105

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  2. JAA
    Lest we forget today is the sixty-eighth anniversary of D-Day.
    Pictured is a 50th Anniversary of World War ll commemorative silver dollar.

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  3. JAA
    I just recieved an email from NGC indicating that they will have a special label and pedegree for the SAN FRANCISCO EAGLE SET
    According to the email "NGC is offering a unique San Francisco label. Coins from these sets will be pedigreed as SAN FRANCISCO EAGLE SET."
    Here is a link to details on the NGC web site:
    http://www.ngccoin.com/news/viewarticle.aspx?IDArticle=2790&utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=sanfrancisco_label_collectors&spMailingID=4337190&spUserID=MTI4MzA5NTgyMTES1&spJobID=45243090&spReportId=NDUyNDMwOTAS1
    The attached picture is from the NGC email.

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  4. JAA

    Gold Love Tokens

    By JAA,

    Due to their small size United States gold dollars were often used by 19th century jewelers to manafacture "Love Tokens".
    In his collectors Journal entry "The Lighter Side of California Gold Tokens" http://www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=11448 Cal Gold "Token" Guy reports that California Gold Tokens and California Denomination Gold Pieces were heavily holed for jewelry.
    United States Gold Dollars were another common raw material for jewelry. Due to their small size gold dollars were the perfect choice for "Love Tokens". "Love Tokens" were made by smoothing down one side of a Gold Dollar and re-engraving it with the initials of the recipient.
    During the 19th century many gold dollars were defaced to make this popular gift item.
    The "Love Token" pictured below was engraved on the smoothed reverse of a U.S. Liberty Head (Type 1) Gold Dollar. The initials "E W" are engraved in very elaborate -script. Instead of punching a hole in the "Love Token" the jeweler sodered a loop on the top of the piece.

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  5. JAA
    This Collectors Journal entry presents additional information and a front view photograph of my Two Tical Burmese Beast Weight. This photo gives a clearer view of some of the important symbolic facial features, such as the lion face, horns, antlers, and all-seeing third eye.
    Please see my previous Collectors Journal entry "Royal Burmese Animal Weights (1044 - 1885)" for background information on this specimen and an additional photograph.
    http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=11340
    The symbolism and mythology attached to the lion in Burma is mainly Buddhistic. As in India, Gautama Buddha is referred to as Sakyasimha, "the lion of the Sakya" and Burma's kings sat on lion thrones.
    "The protuberance on the forehead between the weight-beast horns represents a third eye, the all-seeing eye, the eye which sees all things in their entirety, the eye of transcendent wisdom. All Buddhas and bodhisattas have a usually lens-shaped mark on their forehead, symbolising the third eye. ... It was because the kings of Burma were potential Buddhas that their representations on the weights bore them." (Grear, 1992, page 172)

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  6. JAA
    The Royal Animal Shaped Weights of the Burmese Empires are one of the most interesting and unusual numismatic collectables.
    I purchased the Beast Weight pictured in this journal entry from a local coin dealer in the early 1960's. At the time I was told that it was "Burmese Lion Money". Since that time I have learned that my so called "Lion Money" was in reality a "Royal Burmese Beast Weight".
    During the eleventh through eighteenth centuries the Burmese Empire was one of the superpowers of Southeast Asia. Although the size of the empire varied over the centuries at various times Burma controlled Arakan, Toungoo, Northern Siam, Laos and Yunnan.
    "When establishing their rule over conquered peoples, the Burmese did so over regions noted for the diversity of their languages. There were also diversities of currencies and perhaps to a lesser extent, of weight systems. Colonial rule had to be paid for by revenues in kind obtained from the conquered peoples. To the Burmese in particular it was obviously simpler to use their own weight system in order to measure the revenues, so avoiding difficulties caused by the difference in language and weight systems." (Gear, 1992, p. 180)
    In order to establish a standardized weight system for their diverse empire very Burmese King or Queen selected an individualized highly symbolic animal shape to represent their monarchy. A perfect set of master weights cast in the form of the Bird or Beast of the monarchs choosing was kept in the Hlut-taw or Supreme Council of State. The weights used in daily commerce throughout the empire had to be certified by the government as conforming to these master weights.
    The Burmese unit of weight was the Tical or Kyat which was equal to @ 16 grams. A typical set of weights would include 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50, Tical weights.
    Weights were cast in Bronze using the lost wax method. These bronze zoomorphic weights were used to weigh a variety of valuable materials including silver and gold ingots, pearls, rubies, coral, personal ornaments, spices, musk, and costly medicines.
    When the British took over Burma in 1885 they began to refer to the Royal Animal-Shaped Weights as "Opium Weights". Although these weights were no doubt also used to weigh opium the term Opium Weight really does an injustice to these beautiful pieces and fails to recognize their true role in the Burmese economic system.
    Burmese Animal Shaped weights fall into two representations -- the Bird and the Beast. There is deeply symbolic meaning behind these two forms. To the Buddhist the shapes conveyed the message of a powerful monarch legitimately ruling over his extensive domains. To animists the shapes conveyed the message that the monarch was the god-protector of soils and crops.
    The bird was associated with Buddhism and spiritual purity and provided a link between heaven and earth and therefore was thought to accurately reflect mass and distinguish between pure and impure metals.
    The beast is thought to represent the Bodhisattva - one who seeks enlightenment out of compassion to release others from suffering, and a Chakravartin or divine universal monarch. The Burmese believed the beast weight to have magical powers.
    The Beast shaped weight is commonly referred to as a Lion, Chinte', Ch'i-lin, To-naya, To-aung, or Toe. This mythical creature was supposed to inhabit the Himalayan forest. It was said to have the face and mane of a lion, the horns of a deer, the feet of an elephant, and the tail of a horse.
    The symbolism of the Beast Weights is discussed in detail in "Earth to Heaven: The Royal Animal-Shaped Weights of Burma" by Donald and Joan Grear (1992) which is the defining work on this subject.
    Since the features of the Beast shape and the shape of the base varied with each monarch an expert can determine the dynasty and king or queen associated with a particular weight. Since I am far from an expert on this subject all I can say with any certainly is that my specimen is a two Tical Beast Weight.
    Based upon my research my best guess is that my specimen is a group 2® weight which dates to the Konbaung dynasty (1752 -- 1885) and King Bodawpaya (1782 -- 1819). http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/70932/Bodawpaya
    The Burmese believed that the King Bodawpaya Beast Weight had the power of healing.
    My specimen is made of Bronze and has a weight of 32 grams. It is 1.5 inches in height and has a 7/8 inch diameter octagon base.
    If you are interested in reading more about the early coinage of South East Asia see my earlier Collectors Journal entries listed below:
    Egg Yolk and Chicken Blood: The Domed "Ngon Hoi" of the Kingdom of Lannatai (thirteenth - sixteenth centuries) http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=11121
    Canoe/Boat Money or Lats of the Kingdom of Lanchang (thirteenth - sixteenth centuries) http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=11100
    Siamese Bullet Money (1237- 1886)
    http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=11105
    http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=11106
    Siamese Porcelain Money (1760 -- 1885) http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=11112
     
    REFERENCE
    "Earth to Heaven: The Royal Animal-Shaped Weights of Burma" by Donald and Joan Grear, 1992.

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  7. JAA
    A few minutes ago the mailman rang my doorbell and handed me a Priority Mail package from NGC. This was a real surprise since I currently have no coins in for grading and have already received my plaque for 2011 Best Presented Registry Set.
    When I opened the package I found a copy of "The Expert's Guide to Collecting & Investing in Rare Coins" by David Bowers but no note or explanation as to why the book was sent to me. Then I remembered that this book was the first place prize for last week's "Numismatic Trivia" quiz. A quick check of the "Collectors Society" web site confirmed that I was indeed last week's "Numismatic Trivia" quiz winner.
    Obviously I have not had an opportunity to read the complete book but a quick scanning suggests that it is very well written and illustrated. The chapter that I find the most interesting is the one on preparing exhibits for coin shows. For a long time I have been contemplating entering my USA/Philippines Type Set http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/registry/coins/SetListing.aspx?PeopleSetID=51257 as a competitive exhibit at a major coin show, and the information in Bower's book will be extremely useful when I prepare my display.
     
    The coin pictured is a 1905 Half Centavo PF64 RED with an Eliasberg pedigree.

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  8. JAA
    This journal entry features a photo of the reverse of the 1856-S Quarter Eagle featured in my Collectors Journal entry "Grandma's Gold".
    For the story behind this coin and a photo of the obverse visit my Collectors Journal entry "Grandma's Gold" at http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=11309

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  9. JAA

    Grandma's Gold

    By JAA,

    My feature coin for this Mother's Day journal entry is a 1856-S Quarter Eagle that my paternal grandmother saved from the melting pot in 1933.
    My grandmother was born in Bialystock Poland in 1896 and immigrated to this country as a teenager. She married my grandfather in 1916 and together they ran a small tailor shop. Over the years my grandparents put aside a small number of gold coins including this 1856-S Quarter Eagle.
    In 1933 U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued Executive Order 6102 which required all persons to turn in their gold coins, gold bullion and gold certificates to the Federal Reserve. Violation of the order was punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 or up to ten years in prison or both. http://www.the-privateer.com/1933-gold-confiscation.html
    Although exceptions were made for gold jewelry, rare gold coins, and up to $100.00 in gold coins or bullion per person millions of dollars worth of common to scarce U.S. gold coins were melted down and sent to the United States Bullion Depository at Fort Knox.
    My grandparents being good citizens turned in all but the allowed $100.00 in gold coins. One of the coins they saved from the melting pots was this 1856-S Quarter Eagle. The coin was given to me by my grandmother in 1965.
    This is one of the favorite coins in my collection. As a family heirloom and gift from my grandmother this coin has an emotional value which makes it priceless.
    In addition to being a family heirloom this specimen has a historical and numismatic significance which makes it a "really cool" coin.
    As everyone knows the California Gold Rush of 1849 - 1855 was one of the defining events in American History. In order to coin the gold pouring out of the California gold fields the U.S. government established the San Francisco branch mint in 1854.
    Quarter Eagle production commenced at the San Francisco mint with a paltry delivery of 246 pieces in 1854. The rarity of the 1854-S and the lack of an 1855-S Quarter Eagle combine to make the 1856-S the first collectible U.S. Quarter Eagle from the San Francisco mint.
    Although collectible the 1856-S Quarter Eagle is a rough coin to find. The San Francisco mint produced only 71,120 Quarter Eagles in 1856 and the number of surviving specimens is far less. PCGS has graded only 48 specimens in all grades and estimates that this coin has a Numismatic Rarity of 7.2. NGC has graded 179 specimens in all grades with the average grade being AU53.
    This specimen is boldly struck with only the slightest hint of wear and plenty of eye appeal. The scan really does not do the coin justice. I plan to submit this coin to NGC for certification and will have a high resolution image taken at that time.
    For a picture of the reverse of this specimen see my Collectors Journal entry "Grandma's Gold" (The Other Side Of The Coin) at http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=11316

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  10. JAA

    The Penny with a Soul

    By JAA,

    My feature Primitive Money for Saturday April 21 is the West African Gizzi Penny. (1880's until the late 1930's)
    Gizzi Pennies (also known as Kissi Pennies) were smelted and hand-forged by native blacksmiths of the kizzi (Gizzi), Bande, Kpelle and Loma tribes of West Africa (present day Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia). Long strands of iron were twisted together and the ends hammered into a "T" shape at one end, and a rounded blade at the other. Generally considered to be a degraded form of hoe Gizzi Pennies typically measured from 8 to 18 inches long.
    Gizzi Pennies were used interchangeably with British and French coins for every day transactions from the 1880's until the late 1930's and are still used today for ceremonial purposes.
    Gizzi Pennies were believed to have souls, as well as magical powers. If one was broken it would have to be taken to a shaman who could repair the Gizzi and restore it's soul. You can tell a "reincarnated" Gizzi penny by the slight bulge of solder where the penny has been rejoined.
    I purchased my Gizzi Penny over fifty years ago at a local coin show. It measures 12.75 inches long and has a weight of 20 grams. My specimen is undamaged and has never been "reincarnated".

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  11. JAA
    My feature Primitive Money for Friday April 20 is the West African Manilla (15th to mid-20th century).
    Manillas are copper or bronze horseshoe shaped armlets, which served as a general purpose currency in West Africa (Guinea Coast, Gold Coast, Nigeria) from the 15th century to the mid-20th century. Manillas were used for ordinary market purchases, bride price, and as burial money. Cowry shells, valued at a small fraction of a Manilla, were used for smaller purchases.
    Copper was the "red gold" of Africa and had been both mined and traded there since ancient times. When early European traders came to West Africa in the 15th century they found that Copper braclets and leg bands were in wide spread use as money. Picking up on this tradition several European nations including the Portuguese, Dutch, French, and British, produced Manillas for the West African trade. Manillas were also manufactured in West Africa by native blacksmiths.
    Manillas are sometimes referred to as "Slave Trade Money" as they served as the principal money of the 16th through 18th century slave trade.
    In the 19th and early 20th centuries Manillas co-existed as legal tender alongside British and French West African currencies. In order to encourage the use of coined money Nigeria prohibited the import of Manillas in 1902. The British undertook a major recall campaign in 1948 which resulted in the exchange of 2,460 tons of Manillas for British West African currency. Manillas ceased to be a legal tender in British West Africa on April 1, 1949. Manillas continue to be used in West Africa for ceremonial purposes such as marriages and burials.
    I purchased the Manilla in the attached picture from a local coin dealer over fifty years ago. It measures 2.25 inches across at the widest spot and has a weight of 80 grams. This bronze piece is of later British origins, probably from the 18th to early 19th centuries.

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  12. JAA
    My feature Primitive Money for Thursday April 19 is the (thirteenth to sixteenth century) "Domed Ngon Hoi" of the Kingdom of Lannatai (present day Thailand).
    Ngon Hoi were the earliest coinage of South East Asia. Flat Ngon Hoi were the only form of metallic money in use in South East Asia at a time when no such thing as national borders existed. By the thirteenth century Flat Ngon Hoi had evolved into a dome shaped piece of silver or silver alloy. Domed Ngon Hoi formed the subsidiary coinage of the Kingdom of Lannatai (present day Thailand) from the thirteenth to the sixteenth centuries. It is possible that production continued beyound that period for use as temple offerings or marriage payments.
    Several subtypes of domed Ngon Hoi exist and each can be attributed to a particular region or city. An interesting characteristic of some of the subtypes is a hard, enamel like encrustation, or stain whose color is varying shades of brown. Historically these surface encrustations have been attributed to the molten silver or alloy having been poured onto the yolk of an egg and the blood of a chicken during the process of manufacture.
    The domed Ngon Hoi in the attached picture is one of the most interesting and attractive specimens of primitive money in my collection. I purchased it from a local coin shop over 50 years ago. When I purchased it the coin dealer identified the piece as "Siamese Egg Yolk Money". It is made of silver or silver alloy and is 1.75 inch in diameter and has a weight of 76 grams. The yellow/brown encrustation is on the domed upper surface. The lower surface is concave and has no encrustation or stain. There is a single perforation which may have been used to string the pieces together for carrying or wearing.
    REFERENCES:
    "Early Coinage of South East Asia" by Oliver Cresswell

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  13. JAA
    My feature Primitive Money for Wednesday April 18 is Siamese Porcelain Coins.
    Siamese Porcelain Coins were used in Siam (Thailand) between 1760 - 1875. They come in many shapes, sizes and designs. Siamese Porcelain Coins are actually gambling tokens that were made in China for use by the Chinese in private gambling houses in Sia, but were also used in the surrounding area as small change.
    The gambling houses were "tax farms" where every year, or some say every three years, the government accepted bids for the right to operate the gambling monopoly for the next period. There were between 500 and 1,000 different firms called "hongs", that issued tokens. To reduce counterfeiting, issues were recalled frequently, and new pieces were issued to replace them. More than 10,000 different varieties are known. They were issued in denominations of from one Att to one Salung. It is believed that between 2,000 and 6,000 pieces of each design were minted.
    In 1875 the government prohibited the circulation of the tokens to facilitate the circulation of the government's new flat metallic coinage. In 1907 the government prohibited gambling everywhere except Bangkok, and in 1917 it was prohibited there also.
    I purchased the five Siamese Porcelain Coins in the attached photo over fifty years ago. They range in size from .25 inch to 1.25 inch in diameter. My favorites are the two smallest specimens. The tiney .5 inch diameter specimen in the center of the photograph is really beautiful. It has scalloped edges a blue border and features a red, yellow and green butterfly in flight. My other favorite is the round specimen with the red border, blue lettering, and green bird.
    REFERENCES:
    "Am Ethnographic Study of Traditional Money" by Charles Opitz

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  14. JAA
    The picture attached to this Journal entry was taken by my father in early February 1945 during the approach march to Manila. The picture shows one of the many highway and railroad bridges which were destroyed by the Japanese to slow the American advance.
    After securing Ft. Stotsenburg and the important Clark Field Air Base the XVI Corps attacked south through the Central Plains toward Manila.
    (See my earlier Journal entry for historical details and picture of Ft. Stotsenburg http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=10743)
    The Central Plains between Ft. Stotsenburg and Manila is crossed by many deep and broad rivers. The main bridges over these rivers were the route 3, route 5 and Manila Railroad bridges. In order to slow the American advance the Japanese destroyed these bridges as they retreated.
    The Route 3 and Manila Railroad crossing at Calumpit are located twenty-five miles below Clark Field and about an equal distance from Manila. This was an important XVI Corps objective because the crossing at Calumpit was "a flat land defile through which passed the only highway and rail connections providing direct access to Manila from the western side of the Central Plains. To the northeast of Calumpit lies the formidable Candaba Swamp, passable only to light vehicles even in dry weather; to the south and west are virtually impassable swamplands, fish pounds, and marshy river deltas forming the northern shore of Manila Bay. Although the Japanese had destroyed the bridges at Calumpit XVI Corps had to secure the crossing sites before the Japanese took advantage of the natural defense opportunities afforded by the deep, unfordable Pampanga to block the western approach to Manila." (Ross, 1993 page 211)
    The destroyed bridges in this photo are the Route 3 and Manila Railroad Bridges over the Pampanga River at Calumpit.
    If you are interested in U.S./Philippine coins please visit my USA/Philippines Type Set at: http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/registry/coins/SetListing.aspx?PeopleSetID=51257
    REFERENCES
    Original letters written by my father during the Luzon Campaign
    Smith, Robert Ross, "Manila: The Approach March" in U.S. Army in World War ll. The War In the Pacific: Triumph in the Philippines, (Center of Military History United States Army, Washington D.C., 1993) pages 211-236.

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  15. JAA
    My feature Primitive Money for Tuesday April 17 is Siamese Bullet Money.
    The bullet money of Siam (Thiland) was issued from 1237 to 1886.
    To produce these bullets molten silver or gold is poured into a wooden form and shaped into an elliptical bar. Then two shallow parallel crosscuts are made in the bar, and it is hammered into a nearly round shape. The ends of each piece appear turned together so that the finished money is almost round - very much like a real bullet. Stamps are made by hand by resting the bullet in the hollow of an elephant's bone and striking using a punch.
    Bullet money was valued in Bahts. The denominations of the silver bullets ranged from the tiney 1/128th Baht (.12 grams silver) to 80 Bahts (1185.00 - 1232.00 grams silver). Silver Bullet money was make in .900 to .950 fine silver.
    Gold bullet money was made in the same way and in denominations of 1/32 Baht (.48 grams gold) to 16 Baht (246.4 grams gold).
    Gold and silver bullet money have been a medium of exchange since Medieval times. An interesting fact is that a 1 Baht bullet made of gold (15.4 grams of gold) weighs the same as a 1 Baht bullet made of silver (15.4 grams of silver). The reson for this is that the Baht origionally was a weight not a denomination. Usually 1 gold Baht was equal to 16 silver Baht.
    Bullet money was demonetized on October 28, 1904. They were allowed to be exchanged for flat coins until October 26, 1905. This date was extended to July 24, 1908. The bullet money had lasted for more than 600 years.
    The specimen pictured is a Silver 1 Baht Bullet that I purchased in the early 1960's. It has a weight of 15.4 grams and is about .5 inch in diameter. The stamp on this specimen is the "Chakra", symbol of the god Vishnu, and the mark of the Bangkok Dynasty.
    For an additional picture that offers a better view of the turned together ends click here: http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=11106
    REFERENCES:
    "An Ethnographic Study of Traditional Money" by Charles Opitz
    "Strange Moneys Of The World" by Ted Wear

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  16. JAA
    My feature Primitive Money for Monday April 16 is Siamese Canoe Money or Lats.(13th - 16th century Kingdom of Lanchang)
    Lat or Bar Money was the coinage of the 13th - 16th century kingdom of Lanchang, in what is now northern Thailand. Lats money was uncoined copper, white medal or silver ingots that came in many varieties. Leech Money, Tigers' Tongues, Boat Money, and Canoe Money are all forms of Lats. Canoe Money is usually pointed or tapered at each end, the center sometimes is hollowed out, and they closely resemble a tiney canoe.
    I obtaied this specimen in the late 1950's. It is made of silver or silver alloy, measures 3.5 inches long, and has a weight of 44 grams. This specimen dates from the last days of the independence of Lanchang during the second half of the sixteenth century.

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  17. JAA

    Cowrie Shell Money

    By JAA,

    My feature Primitive Money for Sunday April 15 is the Cowrie Shell. (1200 BC to mid 20th century)
    Historically, many societies have used cowries as money. The cowrie is the most widely and longest used currency in history.
    The use of Cowrie Shells as money dates from ancient times (1200 BC). As a form of money it spread from China and India eastward to the Pacific Islands. It traveled across and encircled Africa to the west and even penetrated into the New World.
    As late as the middle of the last century Cowrie Shells were still used as money in isolated areas of New Guinea. At that time one Cowrie Shell would pay for a man's labor for half a day and three would be enough to purchase a pig.
    The Cowrie Shells in this picture were obtained by my father in New Guinea during the Second World War.

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  18. JAA
    Change in Money: Cowries To Credit Cards
    If you have been checking the ANA web site or reading any of the numismatic papers you know that National Coin Week started yesterday (Sunday 4/15/2012) and runs through Saturday April 21st. The theme for this year's National Coin Week is "Change In Money: Cowries To Credit Cards".
    I have had a long standing interest in Primitive Money and have been collecting interesting examples of them for over fifty years. In honor of National coin week I plan to share a different example of Primitive Money from my collection for each day of the National Coin Week celebration.
    Enjoy

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  19. JAA
    Thankyou NGC for freeing us from the 200 KB image restrictions for Registry and Collectors Journal Images!
    On 4/10/2012 NGC anounced "TWO ENHANCEMENTS TO THE NGC REGISTRY" ngccoin.com/news/viewarticle.aspx?IDArticle=2674&Registry
    To Quote NGC: "Registry enhancements include image uploading and more scores for XF, AU, Plus- and Star-graded coins.
    In an effort to provide the best experience for Collectors Society members, we have made two enhancements to the popular NGC Registry. The first change has already been released although most people probably haven't noticed it. A common issue for many Registry users was the 200 kb maximum size for images uploaded to a Registry Set. Many people wanted to add larger images, and the new NGC Imaging Services provide high quality images that had to be scaled down to fit in a Registry Set. For those without image editing software, this could be challenging and time consuming. Now, using the same technology as many social networking sites, the NGC Registry allows users to upload images of any size without prior editing. This upload tool appears identical to the old one, but automatically optimizes the images for website viewing. All images can be uploaded quickly and hassle-free."
    Although NGC announced that the image uploading enhancement was for the Registry I was hopefull that the enhancement would also work on the Collectors Jopurnal. I ran a test for this morning by uploading a 3.6 MB photo of the Manila Mint and the image uploaded quickly and hassle-free.
    Thankyou NGC for freeing us from the 200 KB photo limit.
    The attached image of the U.S. Manila Branch Mint was uploaded from a 3.6 MB JPEG image file.

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  20. JAA

    New Die Variety

    By JAA,

    1944 S 50C with obverse of 1921
    On January 30, 2012 coin928 posted a Journal entry describing what he believed was a new die variety of the 1944 S US/Philippine Fifty Centavos. http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=10460
    In my journal entry of the same date http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=10463 I responded that the coin appeared to be a new die variety but that I would really like to see pictures of a mint state example of this coin to be sure.
    A dealer in the Philippines recently offered one of these coins on eBay and provided some very nice pictures depicting the two die varieties. http://www.ebay.com/itm/170812855005?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
    The coin, which was uncertified, was listed as "1944 S 50 Centavos OBVERSE of 1921 NEW Discovery Unlisted Error". It was described as Lustrous Uncirculated, previously cleaned, with light contact marks, and sold for $22.49.
    The attached photo is from the dealer's eBay posting. The difference between the two die varieties is the detail and contours of the volcano.
    If you are interested in learning more about US/Philippine coins please visit my US/Philippine Type Set at http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/registry/coins/SetListing.aspx?PeopleSetID=51257

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  21. JAA
    Education, information and research are critical to the full enjoyment of numismatics. The American Numismatic Association (ANA) library is the world's largest numismatic lending library and an invaluable research tool.
    If you are a serious numismatist and are not familiar with the American Numismatic Association Library you really need to check it out.
    ANA Library Home Page: http://www.money.org/explore/library
    ANA Library Research Services: http://www.money.org/explore/library/research-services
    ANA Library Online Catalog: http://www.money.org/explore/library/library-catalog
    You do not have to be an ANA member to use the library research services or on line catalog however the charges for photocopies and digital scanning of library materials is substantially more for non members and only members can check out books, auction catalogs, slide sets, and videos.
    ANA members can check out books, auction catalogs, slide sets, and videos for six weeks and have an option of renewing for up to six more weeks. The only costs involved with checking out material are the outgoing and return Media Mail postage and insurance.
    The ANA library currently has over 30,000 books, 80,000 auction catalogs and 3,000 Numismatic Journals. If you cannot find what you need via the online catalog the library staff is very knowledgeable about the collection and can help guide your search. The library phone number is (719) 482-9821. The library email is library@money.org
    The library staff has been very helpful to me in researching US/Philippine coins. For example last year I acquired a Silver So-Called Wilson Dollar (HK-449) with a Bill Weber Collection Pedigree. As a collector of US/Philippine coins I am very familiar with the Wilson Dollar however I knew nothing about the Bill Weber Collection. My first step in researching my coins pedigree was a phone call to NGC. NGC had very little information about the Bill Weber Collection but suggested that I contact Holabird-Kagin, the firm that auctioned the Bill Weber Collection. Holabird-Kagin provided an interesting verbal history of the Bill Weber Collection and gave me the catalog and auction lot number of my coin however they no longer had any of the catalogs in stock. Fortunately the out of print catalog was available in the ANA library and I was able to obtain color photocopies of the pages describing the Bill Weber Collection and my pedigreed coin.
    Thanks to the verbal information from Holabird-Kagan and the auction catalog photocopies from the ANA library I was able to determine that my Wilson Dollar had a particularly distinguished pedigree. Bill Weber was one of the foremost collectors of So-Called Dollars and one of the co-authors of the definitive So-Called Dollar reference "So-Called Dollars: An Illustrated Standard Catalog". After Mr. Weber's death his So-Called Dollar collection was auctioned by Holabird-Kagin Americana (HKA Auction #2 - December 2, 2008). My specimen (lot # 10414 1201) was described in the auction catalog as "A rare spectacular uncirculated example with very original toned surfaces. Mint green hues along the edges with an even mixture of grays and tans centrally. Certainly one of the finest toned examples to exist. Reverse is unusually well struck. According to Weber's personal notes, "Nice early strike"."
    The coin pictured is 1920 HK-449 SC$1, Wilson Dollar, NGC MS62, Bill Weber Collection.
    If you are interested in U.S./Philippine coins please visit my USA/Philippines Type Set at: http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/registry/coins/SetListing.aspx?PeopleSetID=51257

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  22. JAA
    The photo attached to this Journal entry was taken by my father in early February 1945 during the approach march to Manila.
    The Central Plains of Northern Luzon are crossed by many unfordable rivers. The main bridges over these rivers were destroyed by the Japanese to slow the American advance.
    One of the major problems the XIV Corps faced during the drive to Manila was logistical in nature, deriving from the speed of the advances, the distances covered, the chronic shortages of motor transportation, and the destruction of bridges. To span the many rivers on the way to Manila, Sixth Army engineers leap-frogged bridging equipment southward, sending pontoon and heavy treadway bridging forward as Baileys and other semi-permanent crossings were erected over the Agno and other streams back to Lingayen Gulf. By a complex continuation of such processes, the engineers assured a constant flow of supplies and heavy equipment down Route 3 behind the 37th Division. (Smith.1993. Pages 232-233)
    The bridge in this picture is a Heavy Pontoon Bridge constructed by XIV Corps engineers over the Pampanga River at Calumpit(@ twenty-five miles Northwest of Manila). Note the troop trucks crossing the bridge.
    See my earlier Journal entries for historical details and pictures of Ft. Stotsenburg/Clark Field and Destroyed Highway and Railroad Bridges
    http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=10743) http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=10929
    If you are interested in U.S./Philippine coins please visit my USA/Philippines Type Set at: http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/registry/coins/SetListing.aspx?PeopleSetID=51257
    REFERENCES
    Original letters written by my father during the Luzon Campaign
    Smith, Robert Ross, "Manila: The Approach March" in U.S. Army in World War ll. The War In the Pacific: Triumph in the Philippines, (Center of Military History United States Army, Washington D.C., 1993) pages 211-236.

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  23. JAA
    Photograph of hand written Aerogramme dated March 7, 1986 from Aldo P. Basso author of "Coins, Medals And Tokens Of The Philippines 1728-1974".
    See my Collectors Journal Entry: "My Numismatic Library - Basso Catalog and Hand Written Letter by Aldo P. Basso" for additional information regarding this letter and photograph of the outside of the Aerogramme.
    http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=10957

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  24. JAA
    For the serious collector building a personal numismatic library is an essential part of the hobby.
    One of my prize posessions is a "Like New" copy of Coins, Medals And Tokens Of The Phillippines 1728-1974, Second Edition by Aldo P. Basso, and a hand written letter by Mr. Basso.
    http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=10892
    On the inside cover of the book is a stamp reading "AL Zaika, TOKEN COLLECTOR, PO Box 65, Bellmawr, N.J.".
    The hand written letter by Mr. Basso is dated March 7, 1986 and is addressed to Al Zaika at the address stamped on the book. The letter is an Aerogramme mailed from Manila.
    I purchased this book and letter from Cookie Jar Collectibles, in their WWll and Philippine Book Mail Bid Sale XV, May-June 2011. Cookie Jar Collectibles is owned by Ray Czahor who is one of the leading authorities on Philippine coins and notes. Ray's semi-annual Mail Bid sales are a great source for high quality Philippine coins, notes, reference books and historical documents.
    The attached picture is the outside of the AEROGRAMME. Note the vintage pictures of a Fishing Village and Native Dancers and the stamp depicting the Philippine flag.
    For picture of the handwritten letter inside the AEROGRAMME click here: http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/JournalDetail.aspx?JournalEntryID=10966

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  25. JAA

    There Ought to be a Law!

    By JAA,

    Buyer Beware, The Flim Flam Man is alive and well on eBay.
    There has been a lot of talk in the Journals lately about great buys on eBay. While this may be true for the knowledgeable collector eBay can be a dangerous market place for the novice or overly trusting.
    In my area of collecting, US/Philippine coins, some of the claims of rarity and asking prices are borderline criminal.
    For example one of the current eBay listings is a 1944 D Ten Centavos in NGC MS62 which is listed at a starting bid of $825.00. The coin is described as "NGC GRADED Rare Tuff Grade in MINT STATE MS62"
    There is certainly nothing rare about the 1944 D Ten Centavos. 32,592,000 1944 D Ten Centavos were minted and BU rolls are readily available, at a modest cost, from dealers that specialize in U.S. Philippine coins. The only thing tough about finding a 1944 D Ten Centavos in MS62 is that nobody in their right mind would submit anything short of a GEM of this common coin to a third party grading service. According to the NGC population census a grade of MS62 would place this coin in the bottom 11% of NGC Certified 1944 D Ten Centavos.
    In addition to the misleading description of this as a rare coin the $825.00 asking price is off the wall. The Allen catalog price for a 1944 D Ten Centavos is $3.50 in MS63 and $15.00 in MS65. I have a 1944 D Ten Centavos in the NGC Top Grade of MS66 that I purchased for $56.10. In reality a 1944 D Ten Centavos in NGC MS 62 is a five dollar coin in a twenty-five dollar holder.
    Of course there is nothing wrong with a seller listing a common low value certified coin on eBay as long as the coin is not presented as rare and the asking price is at least close to fair market value. I phoned eBay this evening to discuss the ethics of this misleading listing. eBay customer service informed me that as long as the coin in question was as genuine NGC certified 1944 D Ten Centavos the seller did not violate eBay guidelines.
    So BUYER BEWARE!!!
    The coin pictured is my NGC MS66 1944 D Ten Centavos.

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