Chatter

Minutes of the 1064th Meeting

The 1064th meeting of the Chicago Coin Club was held August 15, 2007, a week later than normal to accommodate the American Numismatic Association Convention in Milwaukee. The meeting was called to order at 7 PM with President Robert Feiler in the 6th floor conference room, Dearborn Center, 131 S. Dearborn. In attendance were 26 members and 1 guest, Svetlana Mefford.

The July Minutes as published in the Chatter were approved as written. Treasurer Steve Zitowsky reported July income of $310.00, expenses of $250.00 (Dec. banquet deposit) with $11,117.77 in total assets. He also announced that Kevin and Sharon Blocker donated $400.00 to be evenly split between postage for the Chatter and December banquet costs. Carl Wolf reported sales of $60.00 in the Club’s CICF souvenir cards at the recent Milwaukee ANA convention. The applications for membership of Leroy Gayden and Steven Ambos received second readings and separate motions were made and passed to accept them into the Club.

First Vice President Jeff Rosinia introduced Marc Stackler, the featured speaker for the evening. Following his presentation A Numismatic Overview of the Mexican War of Independence, 1810-1821, he was presented with an ANA Educational Certificate and an engraved Club medal.

Second Vice President Lyle Daly directed the exhibitor portion of the evening with members showing many purchases from the recent ANA Convention. ROBERT KULYS: from Lithuania 5 silver proof coins and a 200 litas coin; DON DOOL: bronze coins from Araucania & Patagonia, Dutch city of Elburg and Italian city of Casale; EUGENE FREEMAN: 6 coins including 2 German notgeld, a 1944 proof set from The Philippines, 1930 coin from Iceland, a Portuguese coin struck for the Azores and an ancient Roman denarius; JASON FREEMAN: a 2007 Jamboree Scouting coin, an autographed $10 bill from the BEP booth at the ANA Convention and a Polish coin honoring the breaking of the enigma code; ROBERT FEILER: box medal made of German coin with 24 interleafed 4-color WWI scenes from the German front; MARK WIECLAW: numismatic memorabilia from the ANA convention, a silaqua of Constantius II, a steel plated 1944 Lincoln cent in a bottle, and a 1964 Kennedy half dollar promoting the Illinois Tollway; SHARON BLOCKER: 3 proof world coins and acrylic block with the image of Liberty from the Mercury dime; WINSTON ZACK: Bust halves, Morgan dollars and a Roosevelt dime; STEVE ZITOWSKY: 4 Medieval coins with exceptional detail and decoration on the holders; ROBERT WEINSTEIN: 6 coins from Parata Raja; JOHN RILEY: British Boy Scout coin and 3 world coins that never circulated; ROBERT LEONARD: imitation and genuine Venetian ducat of Giovanni Gradenigo and 2 huckleberry tokens from Heflin, Alabama; LYLE DALY: 2 subscription series dollars from Australia, 1990 un-circulated $50 federal reserve note, and 1935 20-centavo. SVETLANA MEFFORD showed 4 silver proof coins from the Soviet Union and asked members for any information they could share.

Under old business it was announced that reservations are in place for the December 12th banquet at Marcello’s Restaurant, 645 W. North Ave., Chicago. Under new business Phil Carrigan announced the publication of Canadian Numismatic Bibliography in a 1200-page, 2-volume set. Carl Wolf called for members to exhibit and/or deliver a program at the Illinois Numismatic Association Coin Show, September 7-9 in Countryside. It was also announced that the Central States Numismatic Society will hold their annual coin show in Rosemont in the spring of 2008. Members were encouraged to begin preparing exhibits. Sharon Blocker spoke on how much she and Kevin enjoyed meeting many people at the Milwaukee ANA Convention.

Sincerely Submitted,
Carl F. Wolf, Secretary

Speaker’s Wor[l]d
Coinage from the Mexican War of Independence, 1810-1821

presented to our August 15, 2007 meeting by Marc Stackler

Marc started with an overview of the situation in New Spain in 1810. The rigid class structure gave power to those born in Spain, provided few opportunities for those locally born to Spanish parents (the creoles), and offered even less to those of mixed Spanish and native ancestry (the mestizos); the natives were at the bottom. Only a single newspaper was allowed in all of New Spain; the church and Spanish-appointed government held all power. But this system was about to change, starting at the very top.

After Napolean invaded Spain, he placed his brother on the throne. While those ruling New Spain were distracted by the political situation at home, the local-born populace did not remain silent. Some of the ostensibly social and literary meeting groups likely discussed politics quietly; some possibly even planning rebellion. A riot in the province of Guanajuato turned into an insurection under Father Miguel Hidalgo, moving from town to town, looting, and killing Spaniards, while moving towards Mexico City. Although no Spanish army garrison protected the capitol, the mob, weakened by a hard vicyory, was turned back by an arriving Spanish army and was never again that close to Mexico City. It was bloody, scorched earth fighting on both sides, with both sides securing some provinces. Mints opened in Republican provinces starting in 1811; Loyalists opened provincial mints reluctantly, sending dies from the mint in Mexico City. Marc then showed some pieces.

A cast 1813 8 reales from Chihuahua, has obverse countermarks of a “T” and pillars of Hercules topped by a pomegranate. The obverse of some pieces from Zacatecas shows two hills near the town, and the L.V.O. is for “Labor conquers all.” The reverse is similar to the traditional reverse, which seems strange until one realizes that many rebels, while against rule from Spain, favored a local emperor in Mexico. The legend on some early rebel pieces translates as Fernando VII by the grace of god. A subsequent congress identified the monarch as Fernando by the authority of congress, and another congress, tired of waiting for Fernando’s return to the throne, declared for a constitutional monarch.

The 1811-1813 period wa the high water mark of the rebellion. After Hidalgo was captured and executed, Morales was put in charge of the southern areas. He had little silver, so he coined copper pieces redeemable in silver after success. These pieces are common from 1813 and 1814, and the design elements include “SUD,” the date, a bow and arrow, and Morales’ monogram (the letters J and M, sharing a common upright). Later pieces include a floral pattern, possibly grapes or olives. Silver coins were struck when a silver cache was found in a taken town.

By 1815, Morales was on the defensive, and he was captured while protecting the retreating congress. Most rebels laid down their arms to take advantage of the viceroy’s offer of amnesty. The ensuing years were quiet, and Fernando was back on the throne by 1820. Plans were made and troops gathered in Spain to reclaim the colonies, but officers bound for South America revolted in January, 1821. The viceroy in Mexico City sent General Iturbide south to root out the rebels; instead, he negotiated with the rebels, became the leader of the rebels, and marched the combined forces back on the Viceroy. With the search for a House of Bourbon ruler unsuccessful, his troops made Iturbide emperor.

It took a few more years to sort out everything, from Fernando’s return to the throne, his repudiation of the viceroy’s treaty, and the Spanish soldiers still stationed in Mexico. The years of war that resulted in Mexico’s independence from Spain were marked by harsh fighting and shifting goals; fascinating for coin collectors, but tragic for Mexico.

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Show and Tell

Items shown at our August 15, 2007 meeting.

1. Robert Kulys showed Lithuanian coins from a recent series honorng early rulers of Lithuania. The mintages for this multi-year series range from 4,000 to 6,000, which is a large amount for this country. The following proof silver 50 litas pieces were shown:
   • Archduke Mindaugas, 1990.
   • Archduke Gediminas, 1996.
   • Archduke Algirdas, 1998.
   • Archduke Kestutis, 1999.
   • Archduke Vytautas, 2000.
   A 200 litas gold and silver piece from 2003, honoring the crowning of Mindaugas, completed Robert’s presentation.
2. Don Dool showed three items acquired at ANA in Milwaukee:
   • An 1874 two centavos piece from the Kingdom of Araucania and Patagonia. The kingdom was established by a Frenchman; he was sympathetic to the local Indians who declared him king. He fought Chile and Argentina, and lost. The piece was won in an April auction, but delivered at ANA.
   • A half duit from the Dutch city of Elburg dated 1618 — or is it? Neumann lists four: from 1616, from 1621, and two undated. Some think that the characters are not the date 1618, but are “16 1S” representing “16 make one stuyver.“
   • A 20 florins 1630 siege coin from the Italian city of Casale while it was occupied by the French and besieged by the Spanish during the war of successiuon of Mantua.
3. Eugene Freeman had fun at ANA in Milwaukee, and he had an assortment of pieces to show.
   • A four-piece 1994 Philipine proof set for the 50th anniversary of “I shall return.”
   • 1919 and 1920 notgeld in aluminum and iron from Minden, Germany, featuring the skeleton of a cave bear.
   • A 200 mark notgeld in porcelain from Wildbad, Germany, featuring a boar. Due to their fragility, porcelain pieces were intended more for collectors than for any circulation.
   • Two of the three-coin 1930 set from Iceland, for the thousandth anniversary of the Althing, their local legislative body.
   • A 1930 50 centavos from Portugal — struck for use in the Azores, explaining the low mintage of 100,000.
   • A Roman denarius of Otho as augustus, with no reverse inscription and only a partial obverse legend present.
4. Jason Freeman showed some recent acquisitions:
   • While attending the recent Scout Jamboree, one of its medals.
   • A Polish coin commemorating the cracking of the Enigma code.
   • From the ANA in Milwaukee, a $10 bill signed by the engraver.
5. Bob Feiler did not make it to Milwaukee for the ANA, but he still had a new box medal to show. It is a duplicate of a piece he showed us some years ago; made out of a Ludwig III king of Bavaria medal, its 24 four-color inserts (rondells) feature military personnel and scenes from World War I.
6. Mark Wieclaw showed a range of items:
   • From the shop, 1964 Kennedy half dollar in a sealed plastic pouch, courtesy of the Illinois Tollway.
   • A good luck U.S. 1944 steel cent in a pinch bottle.
   • A siliqua of Constantius II from the Antioch mint. It is anipigraphic — without legends.
   • Mark was there when the Elongated Collectors met at ANA in Milwaukee, and he showed us some of their souvenirs: one of a hundred badges (an elongated Wisconsin quarter), and one of 50 enameled elongated Washington dollars.
   • “1793 large cents” both regular and elongated from Kevin Lipton — actually one-sided give-aways.
   • A Chester Krause medal from the Numismatic Ambassador breakfast.
7. Sharon Blocker showed some 2007 items:
   • A 2007 silver and gold plated piece from Mongolia; the design features a primate.
   • A 2007 $5 from Palau, featuring an oyster with a pearl.
   • A 2007 20 euro from Austria, featuring a steam train.
   • The 2008 World Coins, on DVD instead of three printed volumes. That led to a brief discussion of print and electronic versions.
8. Winston Zack showed some purchases from ANA in Milwuakee:
   • A 1954 toned Roosevelt dime.
   • An 1881-S Morgan dollar; proof-like on the reverse, and with toning.
   • An 1887 dollar with blue toning near part of the rim.
   • An 1814 bust half dollar struck from clashed dies.
   • A lustrous 1826 bust half dollar.
9. Steve Zitowsky showed some items from ANA in Milwaukee. The markings on the holders indicate that most were from the same collection.
   • A silver piece from Pfalz Neuburg, from 1508-1548, bearing busts of two Counts. The previous owner had placd much information onto the 2-by-2 cardboard holder, including hand-drawn shields and crests in color.
   • A bronze dinheiro of 1279-1323 from Portugal.
   • An English silver penny from 1246-1272.
   • A bronze piece from the Crusader Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem.
   From the handwriting on the holders, Bob Leonard identified these as being from the George Fisher collection. The general feeling is that this is how to collect coins!
10. Bob Weinstein showed a number of coins from an obscure Indian dynasty, issued from late in the first century BC up to the second cntury AD. These were first identified in the 20th century from only three coins; by 1972, only eight coins were available for research, but more now are listed in Senior’s work. Coins from the older part of the series use the Kharosty alphabet, with the more recent coins using the Brahmin system.
    • A copper piece of the Parata Raja Spajhama with a swastika.
    • A silver half drachm of the Parata Raja Spajhana, the son of Spajhama. The legend is in a localized variant of the alphabet.
    • A fouree (contemporary counterfeit) of the above coin, but with a nicer portrait and a cruder legend.
    • A silver half drachm of the Parata Raja Bhimajhunasa, thought to be the successor to Spajhana. Swastika on the reverse.
    • A silver quarter drachm of the Parata Raja Mirahvara; the small size does not allow for the swastika, but the king’s name is present along with the name of his father.
    • A silver drachm of the Parata Raja Mirahvara.
    • A silver half drachm of the Parata Raja Yolamira, the grandfather of Mirahvara.
11. John Riley showed pieces from ANA in Milwaukee, starting with a Boy Scout commemorative, struck in copper nickel by the British Royal Mint, in a nice pamphlet. Then he showed WW2-era coinage intended for circulation but never did:
    • A Vichy France 1941 5 franc with Marshall Petain.
    • A 1941 Sarawak 1 cent with Rajah Brooke; most were lost on a torpedoed transport ship.
    • A 1944 Japanese 10 sen for Netherlands East Indies. A puppet is featured on this tin piece.
12. Bob Leonard continued some previous exhibiting themes with:
    • A worn Venetian ducat of Doge Giovanni Gradenigo, 1355-1356. From the “Gypsy Hoard” dated to at least 1750, this worn and bent coin is the first of this piece Bob ever saw available.
    • An imitation of the previous piece, larger but thinner than the original. This piece came from a different hoard, found in Hungary and dated to at least 1382, that contained three duplicates of this piece.
    • Two huckleberry picker tokens from Heflin, Alabama circa 1900-1926. Good for ten cents, they carry the name of Atkins & Owens Merchants.
13. Lyle Daly showed some acquisition from ANA in Milwaukee:
    • A 1935 20 centavos from Mexico; common, but nicely and uniformly toned.
    • A 2006 Australian subscription series dollar featuring a Spanish Pillar Dollar dated 1758. This series commemorates the international currency of early Australia.
    • A 2007 Australian dollar from the same series, this features a Portuguese gold “Joe” dated 1723. Around 1800, governor King assigned values to foreign coins.
    • From a local bank, a 1990 $50 Federal Reserve note in surprising nice condition.

Our 1065th Meeting

Important Dates

Birthday and Year Joined

Chatter Matter

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CHICAGO COIN CLUB
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CHICAGO, IL 60690

http://www.ChicagoCoinClub.org/

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