| Volume 61 No. 5 | May 2015 |
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Are you thinking about giving a one-hour Money Talks presentation at the ANA summer anniversary convention? The deadline for proposals is later this month!
Or maybe you are thinking about showing an exhibit in the Collector Exhibit Area. Although the available size has been greatly increased — we have all of Hall D to play with! — the exhibit applications must be at ANA by June 19. Your exhibit need not be complete before you send in the application — the deadline is seven weeks before the convention — you will have time to make small adjustments. The application and rules for exhibiting are on the ANA’s web site, at https://www.money.org/numismatic-events/convention-exhibits, and this Chatter issue has an article providing some hints.
Remember, August 11-15! Email any questions and comments to chatter_editor@yahoo.com and someone from the local committee will respond.
Session I of the 1156th meeting of the Chicago Coin Club was held April 9, 2015 in the Chicago Bar Association Building, 321 S. Plymouth Court, Downtown Chicago. President Elliott Krieter called the meeting to order at 6:50 PM with an attendance of 29 members and 1 guest, Dr. Richard A. Feely.
A motion was passed to accept the March Minutes as published in the Chatter. Treasurer Steve Zitowsky reported for the month of March revenue of $410.00 expenses of $197.22 net income of $212.78, total assets of $24,832.30 held in Life Membership $1,830.00 and member equity $23,002.30. A motion was passed to accept the report.
Announcements:
First V.P. Rich Lipman introduced featured speaker Jeffrey Rosinia who delivered a program “The Basics of Numismatic Exhibiting.” Jeff also made available copies of ANA Exhibit Rules as well as Applications to Exhibit forms. Following many questions and comments, Rich presented Jeff with an engraved speaker medal and ANA Educational Certificate.
Second V.P. Marc Stackler introduced the twelve exhibitors. EUGENE FREEMAN: 4 coins from Colonial Mexico/Mexico City; JOHN CONNOLLY: coin club medals from New York and Chicago; STEVE ZITOWSKY: 1702 Queen Anne Coronation Medal designed by Sir Issac Newton; DARREN HOOPER: 6 coins found in circulation by a friend; DEVAN KANE: coin from Umayyad Caliphate, coin from Chingiz (Genghis) Khan, 3 Mexican Pesos, and the meaning of the Phrygian cap on coinage; ADAM OLSZEWSKI: 4 coins of early Roman Imperial era; RICHARD LIPMAN: 3 modern banknotes; RICHARD HAMILTON: stock certificate of REO Motor Car Company; ROBERT FEILER: 2 enameled coins, U.S. $1 bill with handwritten note by WWI soldier, counterfeit scale, $20 U.S. gold coin made into a box holding a watch; RICHARD FEELY: one silver and three gold coins of the Vatican; JEFFREY DOHM: 3 coins found in Las Vegas; MARK WIECLAW: 2 ancient Roman coins and a 10-year service award from the late 1980s consisting of 10 French 20 franc gold coins.
The meeting was recessed at 9:22 PM to be reconvened 1 PM, Saturday, April 11 at the Chicago International Coin Fair.
Session II of the 1156th meeting of the Chicago Coin Club was held April 11, 2015 in conjunction with the Chicago International Coin Fair, Crowne Plaza Hotel, 5440 N. River Road, Rosemont, IL. President Elliott Krieter called the meeting to order at 1 PM with 23 members and 11 guests in attendance. A motion was passed to adopt an abbreviated agenda.
Jeffrey Rosinia, Host Chairman of the 2015 ANA Convention, invited everyone to attend the World’s Fair of Money August 11-15, and introduced:
First V.P. Rich Lipman introduced featured speaker John Wright who delivered a program “Roman Coinage of 238 AD — The Year of Seven Caesars.” Following a question and answer period, Rich presented John with an engraved speaker medal and ANA Educational Certificate.
The meeting was recessed at 1:28 PM to be reconvened 1 PM, Saturday, April 25 at the Central States Numismatic Society Convention, Schaumburg, IL.
Session III of the 1156th meeting of the Chicago Coin Club was held April 25, 2015 in conjunction with the 76th Anniversary Convention of the Central States Numismatic Society, Schaumburg Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Drive, Schaumburg, IL.
President Elliott Krieter called the meeting to order at 1 PM with 44 members and 5 guests in attendance. A motion was passed to adopt an abbreviated agenda.
CSNS Governor and Club Member Brett Irick announced an upcoming numismatic tour (Sept 9-25) of Poland, the Baltic States, and Russia hosted by the Polish-American Numismatic Society where he serves as Treasurer.
Jeffrey Rosinia, Host Chairman of the 2015 ANA Convention, invited everyone to attend the World’s Fair of Money August 11-15 and introduced:
Walter Ostromecki, ANA President from Encino, CA, spoke of how Chicago is the home to 15 ANA conventions, more than any other city. He cited the Chicago Coin Club as a backbone of the hobby, referenced the great work performed by Club members at recent ANA conventions, saying “you guys have it down pat,” and told of how the ANA is looking to return in 2019. Walt went on to say that for these reasons (and more) he recognized the Club with a “Points of Numismatic Light Program” for their commitment to the numismatic community.
The application of Rhonda Scurek, Colorado Springs, received first reading. Tyler Rusnak, suburban Chicago, was introduced as the first recipient of the ANA $1000 college scholarship.
Convention organizer Kevin Foley was presented with the Club’s Medal of Merit for providing invaluable contributions to the success of the Club, including the recruitment of nationally recognized speakers, using his professional contact list to promote the Club, and providing the Club for twenty+ years with a complimentary table and meeting room at coin shows.
First V.P. Rich Lipman introduced featured speaker Robert D. Evans, best known for his work with the S.S. Central America, who delivered a program The First U.S. Money Made in California. Following a question and answer period, Rich presented John with an engraved speaker medal and ANA Educational Certificate.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:00 PM.
Respectfully Submitted,
Carl Wolf,
Secretary
a presentation by Jeffrey Rosinia,
to our April 8, 2015 meeting
Jeff started his program by distributing the most recent NUMISMATIC EXHIBITING outline written by Joe Boling, the ANA’s chief judge. An exhibit is a great way to tell a story, but if you are going to tell a story, tell it well! In this program Jeff emphasized certain points by citing both his past exhibits and some he is preparing for August. Exhibiting is something anyone can do, but it does take some effort. Exhibiting is a great teaching method — benefitting both you, while doing your research, as well as the viewer of the finished exhibit.
Draw in the viewers with the title and displayed objects, hold their attention with interesting details, but be careful not to drive them away with too much! Start building your exhibit by picking a theme/topic, and then gathering supporting material — do not be afraid if the topic has to be adjusted to match what has been accumulated. Jeff showed us some of his acquired items that relate, directly or indirectly, to the March of Dimes. He acquired them from a number of sources, and now is trying to determine which items go together in telling a story. relating
Years ago, typewriter and paper were used in both planning and producing an exhibit, but these tasks have been greatly simplified by the use of word processors. We saw one possible outline of subtopics for a March of Dimes exhibit. Jeff’s challenge now is to reduce the amount of text, either by being succint or by removing extraneous items. He often asks himself, “Why am I including this?” Content is important, but do not forget about presentation.
Jeff’s exhibits use straight lines and rectangles, so his equipment includes a right-angle and paper cutter. No matter the style or effect you wish to achieve, it is important that you have the proper tools for it; a poorly made mashup of contrasting styles seldom works.
The final step in exhibiting is setting up the exhibit for the public. Pre-fabricate as much of the exhibit as possible, to reduce the needed time and the chance of mistakes. Exhibitors used to make a map of each case, to ensure nothing was missing and everything was in the right place. Now, with a smartphone, it is possible to photograph each case at home once its layout is complete, and then compare each setup case against its photo.
An excellent reference is John Eshbach’s article Preparing a Winning Exhibit at https://www.money.org/numismatic-events/convention-exhibits/john-r-eshbachs-preparing-a-winning-exhibit
by John D Wright,
presented to our April 11, 2015 meeting
The establishment and development of the Roman Empire led it through at least four Civil Wars.
The first of these began with the assassination of Julius Caesar on the Ides of March in BC44. Julius had been proclaimed by the Senate as “Dictator for Life” in February and within a month a subset of the Senate held a “recall election”. The ensuing Civil War ended with the supremacy of Octavian over Marc Antony in August of BC30 — a period of fourteen years and five months, though it was not until January of BC27 that the Senate proclaimed this Civil War victor as Caesar Augustus. Most of the portraits shown in this presentation are from portrait sestertii struck by the Roman Empire. For the ones who struck no sestertii, I have used Provincial bronzes.
The second Civil War ran from the execution (or suicide) of Nero in June of AD68 through Galba, Otho, and Vitellius until the supremacy of Vespasian in December of AD69 — running through five emperors in eighteen months.
The third Civil War ran from the assassination of Commodus on the night of 31 December AD192 through Pertinax, Didius Julianus, Pescennius Niger, and Clodius Albinus until the supremacy of Septimius Severus in February of AD197 — running through six emperors in four years and two months.
But the fourth Civil War broke all previous records. In a mere four months of AD238 the Roman Empire went through seven Caesars. This is the period of military anarchy, where succession is by assassination.
AD238 is a momentous year, the fourth civil-war upheaval of the Roman Empire. Actually, the “Roman Empire” began when Octavian was proclaimed by the Senate as “Caesar Augustus” at the conclusion of the first internal war mentioned above. In AD238 Maximinus Thrax (the “Thracian giant”) is Emperor, along with his 22-year-old son Maximus. Neither has set foot into Italy since Maximinus was proclaimed Emperor by his troops on the murder of Severus Alexander three years ago. He was likely involved in that assassination. Sestertii of Maximinus and Maximus are common.
Maximinus has demanded a massive tax-increase to support the German war.
Gordian I, the governor of North Africa (present-day Algeria and Tunisia) and reportedly the richest man in the Empire, has dispatched an assassin to Rome to eliminate Vitalianus, the Praetorian Prefect and a strong supporter of Maximinus. After this murder and the ensuing bloody purge of Maximinus supporters, the Senate proclaims Gordian I and his son Gordian II as co-Emperors to oppose Maximinus and his son Maximus. In mid March of AD238 the mint of Rome begins to crank out coins picturing the new Emperors. The Roman citizens applaud the new regime to replace the uncouth and demanding absentee Emperor — considered a “barbarian,” since he is from Thrace and not Italy.
Unfortunately for the Gordiani, their province is an agrarian one with no legions, while neighboring province Numidia (present-day Libya) is ruled by Capellianus who commands the Third Legion with full cavalry, is strongly loyal to Maximinus, and has a long-standing grudge against the Gordiani. As Emperor, Gordian I has demanded that Capellianus step down — BAD MISTAKE! Instead, Capellianus marches his Legion towards Carthage.
Gordian II, aged in his mid-40s, frantically raises whatever “army” he can from the resident herdsmen, vinedressers, and merchants. A large gaggle of many thousands of farmers and such meets a Roman Legion whose orders are “no survivors, no prisoners.” The slaughter is so massive and so complete that the body of Gordian II cannot even be identified on the field of blood. Gordian I, age 80, hangs himself before Capellianus’ Legion reaches his home in Carthage (present-day Tunis). The Gordiani have been co-Emperors of the Roman Empire for just three weeks, becoming the second pair of Caesars to never see Rome during their reign, and the shortest-term Caesars in history. Sestertii of Gordians I and II are scarce, not “rare” as they are often touted.
When word reaches Rome of the slaughter of the Gordiani, the Senate is VERY justifiably terrified. They know that each of them is a dead man when Maximinus addresses this issue.
They proclaim two of their own, Pupienus and Balbinus, as co-Emperors to oppose Maximinus. Both of these men are senior, pompous, and are liked only by other Senators of their respective (and opposing) factions, like Democrats and Republicans of today. Balbinus is to be responsible for domestic affairs — keep the taxes coming in, the water running, the grain delivered, and the citizens pacified (a Democrat). Pupienus is to mobilize an army (a Republican) to march against Maximinus. Sestertii of Pupienus and Balbinus are a bit scarce, as their reign lasted only three months.
To enhance support from the Citizens and to appropriate the family wealth of the Gordiani, the Senate searches for any surviving male of the Gordian family. Gordian II has no surviving brother and no legitimate heirs, though he is reported to have over seventy bastard children by over twenty mistresses. A thirteen-year-old legitimate grandson of Gordian I survives from Gordian I’s daughter Maecia Faustina. This lad is acclaimed as Caesar Gordian III, and the wealth of the Gordiani becomes Imperial property, since by Roman Law the family wealth of the Caesars belongs to the Empire and vice versa — they are one and the same.
Meanwhile, no army has marched from Rome, but word has reached the camp of Maximinus of the events of the last few months. Maximinus marches his army from Germany towards Rome, but hits resistance at Aquileia in extreme northeastern Italy, still almost 400 miles from Rome. Expecting to meet a massive army from Rome, tired of continual warfare with no respite, with dwindling food supplies, and discouraged at the thought of battling against the Rome they have pledged to defend, Maximinus’ officers hold a council of war and decide that their best strategy is to dispatch a messenger to the Senate with the heads of Maximinus and Maximus.
The Senate receives this gift with great joy and relief, but Balbinus and Pupienus are still unpopular with the citizenry and with the Praetorians, who are miffed that they had no voice in their choice. Within a month the Praetorians storm the palace, drag out the two Emperors, and the hacked-up bodies of Pupienus and Balbinus are dragged through the streets of Rome and are tossed into the Tiber as garbage.
Thus Gordian III becomes the seventh Emperor of AD238 and the third thirteen-year-old Emperor in the past twenty years, following Elagabalus, who became Emperor at age 13 in AD218 on the murder of Macrinus, and Severus Alexander, who became Emperor at age 13 in AD222 on the murder of his first cousin Elagabalus. Sestertii of Gordian III are extremely common.
So AD238 has now become the year of the shortest civil war in the history of the Roman Empire, as well as the year boasting the greatest number of Caesars.
Gordian III will lead a troubled Empire for five and a half years (age 13 to 19), at first guided by the senate, then under the tutelage of his father-in-law Timesitheus, the Praetorian Prefect. Gordian at age 16 has married Timesetheus’ daughter Tranquillina. But Timesitheus is murdered in 243 and “Philip the Arab” becomes the new Praetorian Prefect. Within a few months Gordian III is assassinated and Philip becomes the new ruler of the Empire.
| CSNS Convention | Chicago Coin Company |
| PCDA Convention | Harlan J. Berk, Ltd. |
Items shown at our April 8, 2015 meeting,
reported by Marc Stackler
In 2002 Bill Burd took over the position of Archivist from Phil Carrigan, who subsequently delivered all items in his possession to Chicago Coin Company. They included ledgers, club publications, photos, correspondence, and financials. Tokens, medals, and important papers remained in a Club safe deposit box which was first opened in the late 1980s.
In 2002 a committee was formed and all items in the box were reviewed and matched against the inventory. Duplicates were removed and placed in the Club auction in November of 2002.
In 2012 the items were again inventoried and the box closed. The contents of the box were taken to Chicago Coin Company for safekeeping.
At a Club Board Meeting in 2014, it was agreed a master list of all items in the archives should be produced. Bill Burd created the list, and after review by several Club officers, it was decided to go to print. In March of 2015, one hundred copies of the inventory were printed in booklet form and is now available to any club member wishing a copy. Email Bill at wildburd@att.net and he will mail you a copy.
All items listed in the booklet are at Chicago Coin Co., Inc. at 6455 W. Archer Ave., Chicago, IL 60638. Any member wishing to see a particular item should contact Bill Burd at the above address.
All expenses incurred in the production of this booklet were paid for by Chicago Coin Company with no costs incurred by the Club.
April 24, 2015
The fifth meeting of the 2015 ANA Convention Committee was held April 24, 2015 in conjunction with the 76th Anniversary Convention of the Central States Numismatic Society Convention, Schaumburg Convention Center, Schaumburg, IL.
Convention Host Chairman, Jeffrey Rosinia, called the meeting to order at 1 PM in the Prosperity Room with the following committee members in attendance: Steve Zitowsky, Mark Wieclaw, Melissa Gumm, Eugene Freeman, Sharon Blocker, Paul Hybert, Rich Lipman, Scott McGowan, and Carl Wolf. Also in attendance were ANA Director of Conventions Rhonda Scurek, and members of her staff Jennifer Croak and Sam Joseph. ANA President Walter Ostromecki joined the meeting in progress.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:00 PM.
Sincerely Submitted,
Carl Wolf,
Secretary
| Date: | May 13, 2015 |
| Time: | 6:45 PM |
| Location: | Downtown Chicago
At the Chicago Bar Association, 321 S. Plymouth Court, 3rd floor meeting room. Please remember the security measures at our meeting building: everyone must show their photo-ID and register at the guard’s desk. Nearby parking: South Loop Self Park, 318 South Federal Street; that is two short blocks west of our meeting site. Note: Their typical rate of $33 is reduced to $9 if you eat at the Plymouth Restaurant, 327 S. Plymouth Court (next to our meeting site at the CBA) — show the restaurant your parking ticket, and ask for a parking voucher. The restaurant offers standard sandwiches, burgers, and salads for members who want to meet for dinner. Members start arriving at 5pm. |
| Featured speakers: | Mark Wieclaw
— Peter the Great Beard Tax Tokens
Czar Peter the Great of Russia was convinced his country was backward and needed to be more like western Europe. To bring about modernization, Peter decreed in 1705 that men shave off their beards or pay a tax. Peasants and clerics were exempt, but all other men who wanted to wear a beard paid an annual fee and needed to carry a token as proof of payment. The tax was levied according to rank, reaching a maximum of 100 rubles for wealthy merchants. Peter the Great is one of history’s most fascinating people and many books were written on his efforts to modernize Russia. Those who attend this program will see examples and hear the history of these unique numismatic tokens. |
| Steve Zitowsky
— Platinum “Coins” Found in The Field Museum Collection
Steve Zitowsky is a 20+ year volunteer at The Field Museum in Chicago. Currently working in the Science and Education (Geology) Department, he recently discovered they hold platinum coins in their collections. Platinum was often discovered with gold ore, but it took years for technology to develop so that the “useless” metal could be efficiently refined, utilized, and valued as it is today. Although there are some examples of platinum used by ancient cultures, it was early 19th century counterfeiters in the Spanish colonies in the Americas who began to “mint” coins of platinum. This is a little-known era of numismatic history. Be sure to join us and hear the story of platinum’s first coinage. |
Unless stated otherwise, our regular monthly CCC Meeting is in downtown Chicago on the second Wednesday of the month; the starting time is 6:45PM.
| May | 13 | CCC Meeting - Featured Speakers - Mark Wieclaw on Peter the Great Beard Tax Tokens, and Steve Zitowsky on Platinum “Coins” Found in The Field Museum Collection |
| June | 10 | CCC Meeting - Featured Speaker - Jeffrey Paunicka on Currency Doctoring Detection |
| July | 8 | CCC Meeting - Featured Speaker - François R. Velde on Electrum Coinage |
| August | 8-10 | PNG/ANA Numismatic Trade Show. Admission by invitation or $10; details on the PNG Events Calendar at http://www.pngdealers.org/ |
| August | 11-15 | ANA in Rosemont, at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Admission is free for ANA members — for details, see http://www.worldsfairofmoney.com. |
| August | 15 | CCC Meeting - 1pm at the ANA convention,
which is held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 North River Road, Rosemont, IL.
No admission charge for our meeting.
Featured Speaker - to be announced |
http://www.ChicagoCoinClub.org/
All correspondence pertaining to Club matters
should be addressed to the Secretary and mailed to:
CHICAGO COIN CLUB
P.O. Box 2301
CHICAGO, IL 60690
| Elected positions (two-year terms): | |
| Elliott Krieter | - President |
| Richard Lipman | - First Vice President |
| Marc Stackler | - Second Vice President |
| William Burd | - Archivist |
| Directors: | Steve Ambos
Eugene Freeman Dale Lukanich Mark Wieclaw |
| Appointed positions: | |
| Jeffrey Rosinia | - Immediate Past President |
| Carl Wolf | - Secretary |
| Steve Zitowsky | - Treasurer |
| Paul Hybert | - Chatter Editor, webmaster |
| Robert Feiler | - ANA Club Representative |
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