NENA News: 2005

2005·1.5 MB·English

by  New England Numismatic Association

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VOL 59 Winter 2005 NO. 1
NENA.il
The President's Comments
by William Stone
Let the Buyer Beware!
by Jan M. Dyroff
Medal Design Contest
finother Great Wonderful
Resource
Book review by Jan M. Dyroff
61st Annual Conference
Information
NENA News 1
NORTHEAST NUMISMATICS, INC.
ACTIVE BUYER AND SELLER OF ALL
BETTER UNITED STATES COINS
Collectors, Dealers and Investors have been dealing with Northeast
Numismatics, Inc. for the past 40 years we have been in business.
If you are buying, we have an inventory of over 2,000 NGC, PCGS
and ANACS coins that change daily. For a free list and to receive a
periodic listing of our current inventory, we request your address
or fax number. We also service want lists on an aggressive basis.
Visit us at www.northeastcoin.com. We update daily!
If you are selling, we would like to be given the opportunity to
purchase your material. It does not need to be certified. Single
coins or complete collections, we will buy it all!
With a high percentage of our business being with other dealers,
doesn’t it make sense to deal with Northeast Numismatics, Inc.
directly? We invite you to see us at major shows, call, fax or write
us today. Authorized dealer in all major grading services.
10 Concord Crossing, Suite 220
Concord, MA 01742
1-800-449-2646
978-369-9155
978-369-9619 (Fax)
Thomas
[email protected]
Caldwell
www.northeastcoin.com ANA LM
2 Nena News #1318
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
NEW ENGLAND NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION
PRESIDENT William Stone
P. O. Box 920586
Needham, MA 02492-0007
email: NENAOrg.aol.com
VICE PRESIDENT Robert Hewey
P. O. Box 920586
Needham, MA 02492-0007
TREASURER Robert S. Anderson
P. O. Box 920586
Needham, MA 02492-0007
DIRECTOR EMERITUS John Kittredge
DIRECTORS George Bilodeau
Joe Duval
Mike Moylan
Ernie Botte
John Kiley
STATE DIRECTORS
Connecticut Frank Hoerzer
Maine Currently Vacant
Massachusetts Jack Haroian
New Hampshire Robert F. Fritsch
Rhode Island Richard Lavimodiere
Vermont Currently Vacant
NENA NEWS EDITOR Joe Duval
P. O. Box 28
Willimantic, CT 06226-0028
email: [email protected]
MEMBERSHIP Robert S. Anderson
P. O. Box 920586
Needham, MA 02492-0007
YN ACTIVITIES Larry Gentile
Jack Haroian
MEDALS COORDINATOR Robert S. Anderson
EXHIBITS COORDINATOR Frank Hoerzer
HISTORIAN Jan Dyroff
The NENA NEWS is the official publication of the New England Numismatic Associa¬
tion (NENA). It is published quarterly and mailed to all members of the association in
good standing. For information about NENA or this publication, write to:
NENA NEWS, P. O. BOX 920586, Needham, MA 02192-0007
NENA News 3
PRESIDENT'S
COMMENTS
by William Stone
T
he Officers and Board currently looking at the
members of NENA want possible choices for another
to take this opportunity two day seminar, and hope that
to wish each of you a happy you will consider attending this
new year, and hope your class. By all accounts the last
numismatic hobby will again be one not only was well attended
an enjoyable endeavor during but much positive feedback
the upcoming year. was received. So for our recent
With the successful (major) step into providing
annual NENA meeting in useful education and training
October 2004, this association for our members was a real and
held a ANA two day grading positive move. We will keep
seminar for mint state coins. you informed on what class
This was a well received and may be offered and hope that
attended course held at the you will sign up early so proper
Wayfarer Inn in the days planning can be arranged for
preceding the EBWcoin show getting the necessary
and our annual meeting on instructors and class room
Saturday afternoon. The material can be obtained. And
Officers and Directors are who would not want to spend a
looking into holding another few extra days in the fall in
ANA seminar prior to this New Hampshire?
year’s coin show and NENA Keep your eyes open
annual meeting. We are for the next NENA News for
4 Nena News
additional information on this please mail us a letter or go
educational opportunity. online and drop us a line at:
NENA is also looking [email protected].
for your suggestions on the The scheduled meetings of the
2005 NENA metal to be issued officers and directors are held in
for the Annual meeting in New Auburn MA. on selected
Hampshire. Please read the Saturday’s at 10:00 and are
article on details and timing of limited to a maximum of two
your submission. This is a hours in length.
TIME sensitive action, so we Looking forward to
can get the engraving done: and seeing more faces, members and
as usual get your order in early prospective (new) members at
as no one wants to be left out in the next annual meeting in
getting these sets. October 2005.
We are also as you will
see, looking for Directors for Sincerely,
the states of Maine and 7
( illiom Stone,
Vermont. Anyone interested
William Stone, President
Look
This is the Place
for COIN & PAPER MONEY COLLECTORS in the Northeast to get
a jump on the Convention Season. Join us again this year for the
largest gathering of Coin & Paper Money Dealers and Collectors in
the New York/New England Area. Bourse info:
[email protected],Fax [phone]
75 32nd Annual Show 75 <-
-»
TABLES
The "Biggest" little Bourse & Exhibition
coin and paper Public Invited
money show in Free Admission
New England
m am Prospect Street School Gymnasium _ _
[ k 233 Prospect St., at corner of High St. f k
■ SJ Willimantic, Conn. f \J
TABLES Sun., April 3, 2005, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. TABLES
<-
NENA News 5
Let the Buyer Beware!
Let the Buyer Rejoice!
by Jan M. Dyroff
W
ith the promise of or vest pocket dealers, have
more clement particular areas of information
weather in the and expertise; however, once
offing, it will soon be time again they pass beyond the borders of
for open flea markets and yard their own part of the
or estate sales, many of which numismatic world, things can
appear to have opportunities for get shaky.
coin collectors. Those little trays Now, on the plus side,
or bins of miscellaneous dealers in Canadian or
numismatic items are always American coins tend to be
fun to look through, and pretty sharp in the issues of
sometimes, though not their country of interest. They,
increasingly of late, you can and the buyer, share in the same
find a “treasure.” But, and resources. The reference books
here’s the important point, you are standard. Systems of
have to know what you’re grading are clearly established
looking at. and well understood. Current
As apart from the pricing is readily available. But
informal atmosphere of the front this expertise can drop off
lawn, there is a more structured quickly, for example, once a
realm of numismatic Canadian dealer gets outside of
merchandising, which exists Canadian coins or an American
somewhere between the yard beyond the issues of the United
sale and the major dealer. For a States.
variety of reasons, you cannot As a consideration, let
always rely on all sellers for us shift our attention to such
absolutely accurate information areas as world coins, paper
regarding an item. Many small, money and medals, or to
Continued on Next Page
6 Nena News
antiquities (ancient Greek or value. You will notice that I’ve
Roman, Byzantine, or the world left marketability and general
of medieval Europe), or to the collector interest off this list.
various and curious issues from When a sense of
the Orient. If a collector has an “belief’ enters the seller’s
interest in any of these venues, outlook, there is a good chance
then he or she may be “one up” that all will not always work
on the dealer and have some out well. To begin with, there
sense of what the coin is and are a few common and still held
what it might be worth. The misconceptions. One of the
seller, on the other hand, might most insidious of these is, “If
have a less finely tuned and it’s old, it has to be worth a
more inflated notion of the lot!” Now this is simply not
merchandise, and therein may true. Low grade but readable
reside a point of friction. Roman bronzes can be had for
When it comes to pitting less than a dollar, as a case in
your own knowledge against the point.
“unknown”, easily the simplest Another misconception
and most enjoyable is the notion that a low mintage
circumstance is an encounter automatically commands a high
with a good old-fashioned “junk price (with “low mintage”
box.” In this case, the rules are being a relative term). The rule
clear. The seller doesn’t know to be applied is to consider how
or doesn’t care what’s in the desirable a particular low
box - all that is wanted is the mintage coin (or token) may be.
price asked (fifty cents or a If there is no market for it, the
dollar, as these things tend to be item will probably be worth
real bargain basements). If the less than hoped - consider the
buyer finds a treasure, as in low mintage coins produced by
“one man’s junk is another the Franklin Mint in the
man’s treasure”, then so much eighties and the fact that they
the better, all the way around. have not really blazed their way
A second variation on across the market.
knowledge of a coin is when the So, a few problems
seller believes he has some solid come together here. The first
idea of what the item is, and its and foremost, I believe, has to
condition, rarity and (hence) do with grading. As noted
Continued on Next Page
NENA News 7
earlier, there are excellent know how much you have into
guides for grading Canadian it - how much will you take for
and United States coins as well it?” This is the give and take
as for those of the United of the marketplace, and it
Kingdom (and most of the frequently works out for the
nations of Europe if you can best.
read the language), but beyond The thrust of this essay
these borders lurks a world of is not to say, “Stick to only
great subjectivity. The grading what you know”, because that
standards for these “orphans” could be sad. A whole universe
would probably look like what of numismatic adventures is
the Charlton guide proposed for out there, just waiting to be
Canadian coins in about 1970. taken up. The next time a junk
In short, I suppose I’m box presents itself, a coin just
talking about eye appeal. If the might be in there, which piques
buyer and seller agree on grade, your curiosity, so why not take
then that almost seals the deal. it home with you? Surely the
If they don’t agree, and both price will be right, and the
sides are open to discussion, rewards could be much more
then it can be a true learning than you would imagine.
experience. So, “Caveat emptor!”
Pricing has to be Let the buyer beware. You
realistic, or, at least, it has to be never know just what you
seen as realistic by all the might be letting yourself in for.
parties concerned. I suppose the It could be a lot more enjoyable
operative question from the and enlightening than you
collector to the dealer is, “You could ever imagine.
DAVID S RARE COINS
137 Beach St., Wollaston, MA 02170
David S. Hamilton Want List Service
[phone] Member ANA, NENA
8 Nena News
Medal Design Contest
Y
Win a set of 2005 NENfi Medal
ou could be the winner of a set of 2005 NENA Medals. The
set consists of one silver and one bronze medal. It’s easy to
win! Send us a drawing of what you feel the NENA medal
should look like and if your design is chosen it will be used for the
striking of the medal for 2005.
Entries are limited to NENA members and their immediate
families. The design should have a theme related to New England
or one of the New England states. Entry deadline is May 1, 2005.
Good Luck!!
Send your entries to:
NENA MEDAL ENTRIES
P. O. Box 920586
Needham, MA 02492-0007
2005 NENfl Dues fire Now Due
Dear Member:
Your 2005 dues are now payable. Dues are $12.50 for a
regular or club membership and $5.00 for a Junior membership.
For life membership and club life membership the dues are
$200.00. We would appreciate having all dues remitted as soon as
possible so that the membership list may be updated. Life Mem¬
bers do not pay annual dues. Please send your check or money
order payable to N.E.N.A. to:
NENA
P. O. Box 920586
Needham, MA 02492-0007
Thank you for your support of NENA. Please consider
including a donation to the Past Presidents’ Fund. This fund sup¬
ports our Young Numismatics activities and programs. Our YN
program needs your contribution to keep our hobby strong.
NENA News 9
Club Meeting Times
and Locations
Blackstone Valley Coin Club, Highlands, MA. Meetings all
Blackstone Municipal Center at 8 P.M. the first Monday, Oct.
Fire Department Meeting - June, except September: the
Room, Blackstone, MA. Meet¬ second Monday of the month.
ings third Tuesday, 7 RM. For information (978) 687-
2888
Boston Numismatic Society,
Newton Highlands Woman’s Gateway Coin Club, Ballard
Club, 72 Columbus Street, Hill Community Center,
Newton Highlands, MA. Meet¬ Comer Pleasant and Main
ings second Tuesday, Sept. - Streets, Lincoln, ME. Meetings
June. For information call 617 first Tuesday, 7 P.M. For
244-1972 (Colony Coin) or e- information [phone]
mail to [email protected]
Gorham Coin Club, Meets at
Central Connecticut Coin the Maine Veterans Home, 290
Club, South Windsor Public U.S. Route 1, Scarborough,
Library, Sullivan Ave., South ME, on the 1st and 3rd Sunday,
Windsor, CT. Meetings first September to June at 7 P.M.
Tuesday Sept. - June, 7 P.M. For information: Stephen A.
For information: (860) 568- Crain, 89 Varney Mill Rd.,
6601 Windham, ME 04062 (207)
892-7113.
Collectors Club of Boston,
Woman’s Club, 72 Columbus Greater New Bedford Coin
Street, Newton Highlands, MA. Club, Andrew Dahill V.F.W.,
Meetings fourth Tuesday, Sept. Park Street, New Bedford,
- June, 8 P.M. For information MA. Meetings second and
[phone] fourth Sundays, 7 P.M. For
information: John Izidoro, P.
Currency Club of New En¬ O. Box 2991, New Bedford,
gland, Woman’s Club, 72 MA 02741
Columbus Street, Newton