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  • Minutes of the 1275th Meeting
  • Bombing with Banknotes
  • Exhibits
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  • Important Dates
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Chatter

Minutes of the 1275th Meeting

Session I of the 1275th meeting of the Chicago Coin Club was called to order by President Melissa Gumm at 6:46pm CDT Wednesday, April 9, 2025. This was an in-person and online meeting with 13 members at the CBA and 23 members plus one guest applying for membership remote, giving a total of 37.

Club Meeting Minutes

The March club meeting minutes were approved as published in the Chatter, both in print and on the CCC website.

New Members

Secretary Scott McGowan completed the second membership application reading for Alvaro Jacome of Calumet City, Illinois, a new coin collector. The club voted to approve membership. The first reading was completed for Elizabeth (Liz) Benge, a collector of Greek Coins of Sicily and South Italy, Numismatic Books, and African Currency. She is a member of ANA, ANS, and the International Primitive Money Society, and was referred to the club by Bob Leonard and Carl Wolf.

Treasurer’s Report

The March 2025 period Treasurer’s report was reviewed, with revenue of $93.00 (Dues, Rtnd Check) and Expenses $631.00 (Webex annual fee, Corporate Filing, CSNS Expense), for a period total of -$538.00. The report was accepted and approved by the club membership.

Old Business

1. President Melissa Gumm reminded members that 2025 dues were due by March 31, 2025. Any members not yet paid are in arrears. Dues are $20 regular/$10 Youth. If your dues are still outstanding, pay by check to the PO Box, or via ZELLE banking app and use treasurer.chicagocoinclub@gmail.com
2. Committee Reports: Special Projects, Hall of Fame, and Legacy committees all indicated no report.
3. Reminder to club members: anyone willing to help with the annual banquet planning for December, please reach out to Mark Wieclaw or Scott McGowan.

New Business

1. Mark Wieclaw reported for the Finance Audit Committee that they met to review the club financials, and everything is in proper order.
2. Scott McGowan announced to the club that 2025 is an election year for ANA 2025-2027 officers and Board of Governors (BOG). All current members of the ANA are eligible to vote. The ANA Board of Governors candidate forum, at which you can learn more about BOG candidates, will be videoed this year and available for viewing on or about April 25th on the ANA’s YouTube channel. The candidates for positions of President and Vice President are running unopposed, but there are 12 candidates for BOG, from which only seven will be elected. Ballots will be mailed around June 1 and will be due back before July 1 2025. More information at http://www.money.org/election

Featured Program

Tyler Rossi on Bombing with Banknotes. After the presentation, First Vice President Deven Kane presented Tyler with an ANA Education certificate and a CCC Speaker’s Medal.

Show and Tell

Second Vice President Ray Dagenais announced the 12 Show and Tell presentations for the evening.

President Melissa Gumm recessed the meeting at 8:47pm CDT, to reconvene as Session II at 12:00pm on April 26.

Session II of the 1275th meeting of the Chicago Coin Club was called to order by President Melissa Gumm at 12:00pm CDT, Saturday April 26, 2025, in conjunction with the Central States Numismatic Society 86th annual convention in Schaumburg, Illinois. This was an in-person only meeting with 30 members plus three guests, with one applying for membership, giving a total of 33.

President Melissa Gumm called for a motion for an abbreviated agenda due to the meeting being at a numismatic show. The motion was approved.

Melissa issued a warm welcome to visiting guests and asked them to raise their hand or introduce themselves.

New Members

Secretary Scott McGowan reviewed the qualifications for membership and asked if any visitors wished to apply for membership. Scott completed the first reading of membership application for Howard Hecox of North Aurora, Illinois, a collector of Roman and US Coins, and was referred for membership by Adam Olszewski and Steve Zitowsky.

Due to the abbreviated agenda there was no Old and New Business discussions; however, one announcement was made regarding the upcoming 2025 ANA election for new officers. Official election ballots will be sent by the independent auditing firm on or before June 1, 2025 to all ANA members entitled to vote. Included are a pre-printed return envelope and candidate biographies/platforms. July 1, 2025 is the deadline – completed ballots must be received by the independent auditing firm. Visit http://www.money.org/election for more details.

Melissa turned the meeting over to first VP Deven Kane to introduce the featured program speaker, Mark Wieclaw.

Featured Program

Mark Wieclaw: The Princess and the Saint. The presentation discussed the career of Italian gem engraver Benedetto Pistrucci, and focused on his iconic St George and the Dragon design that has graced British coinage since 1817. In addition to the story behind the design, various design changes, and mint locations, Mark also discussed how the late Princess Diana is connected to the actual inspiration of this over two-hundred-year-old design.

After the presentation, Deven presented Mark with a CCC speaker’s medal and an ANA education certificate for his presentation.

President Melissa Gumm adjourned the meeting at 12:36pm CDT.

Respectfully Submitted,
Scott A. McGowan, Secretary

Speaker’s Wor[l]d
Bombing with Banknotes

presented by Tyler Rossi
to our April 9, 2025 meeting

Explosives are not the only thing dropped on enemies from aircraft during wartime. In this presentation, Tyler Rossi gave us an overview of some of the types of “banknote” type propaganda leaflets dropped by US aircraft during the past 85 years. Although Tyler had stumbled upon this topic through Bosnian items, his program started with World War II.

In the Pacific, the US overprinted captured and counterfeited Japanese notes. The first note we saw was a 5 Pesos note issued by The Japanese Government (of the Philippines) – the back bears the four-line counterstamped message “I SHALL RETURN” • DON’T BLOCK THE ROAD • FOR THE FIGHTING MEN • GEN. D. McARTHUR

Noah showed us a photo of a large stock of captured currency in Tacloban, Philippines, to give us an idea of the large amount of paper notes that had been produced. Once US troops arrived and the locals were no longer forced to accept/use it, it was garbage.

In Burma, the Japanese government produced paper notes in various dollar denominations. One slide compared an original $10 note to a propaganda note, where the front had an added diagonal banner with a message that translates to Japanese money will die just like Japan. The back contains the same message stated in three different local languages (in latin alphabet, Arabic script, and Chinese characters): The Japanese have been chased out of Burma. Japanese currency in Burma is like waste paper, but British currency can be used again. … British currency will last forever, unlike the currency of Japan which will perish…

Also in Burma, the Japanese government produced paper notes in various rupee denominations. We saw a slide comparing the front side of a genuine and propaganda 5 Rupees note – the design elements were the same, but slight differences in coloring and quality were noted. The back contains only propaganda messages, in two boxes. The left box translates to: …The Military Government is issuing currency notes for your [the Japanese] use in Burma. Spend as much as you like … but don’t tell … people the secret of the money.. The right box translates to: Kachin! The Japanese are making these valueless notes for your use … Avoid these notes or you will be cheated!

In the summer of 1945 Japan was showered almost daily by aerial leaflets in such quantity that the Japanese people developed a kind of apathy towards them. We saw a slide comparing the fronts of a genuine and propaganda 10 Yen Japanese banknote – maybe good enough to pass in a rushed transaction in low light. The back has only text, translating to: JAPANESE! What good is money in the bank or in bonds? Buy articles you need now and … future use. The remaining supply is low. As a result of the bombing by America, many of your stores will close their doors … This was one of the four propaganda messages known on notes. After the war, Japanese officials stated this was a powerful message; some pieces were used in commerce.

The first shown propaganda note from the Korean War was loosely inspired by the design of a 100 won North Korean note. Tyler identified it as Leaflet 8529 – The Van Fleet Banknote; the English on the back states: Safe Conduct Pass. This certificate guarantees good treatment. (Signed) James A. Van Fleet, Commanding General, UN Forces in Korea. Two versions of the front message in Chinese are known, as well as two versions in Korean. These were mainly dropped by helicopters from a US battleship in 1951. The response from the Chinese and Koreans was to spread the word that the ink was poison!

That same 100 won note inspired the Ridgway Banknote Leaflet, with the front closely copying the original, while the back had messages in three different languages. The general message is: ATTENTION KOREAN / U.N. / CHINESE SOLDIERS. This official United Nations certificate is your guarantee of safety. When you decide to cease resistance, present this certificate to any United Nations soldier. My official instructions (in English center) order all United Nations soldiers to treat you honorably and well when you come over to the United Nations lines.

A close copy of a different note is on the front of a propaganda leaflet made by the 7th PSYOP Group and dropped over North Korea. The message on the back translates to: TO SOLDIERS OF THE PEOPLE’S ARMY - This … safe conduct certificate provides you with an opportunity for a new life … your present toil will never change until the Communist regime collapses … cross over to the South without hesitation … this certificate will guarantee your personal safety when shown to any … serviceman.

The first US leaflet that Tyler showed from the Vietnam War was identified as Leaflet number 12, a 50 Dong Propaganda parody. The genuine note was produced under poor conditions and looks it, much worse and different than the propaganda piece. It is called a parody note because the back parodies the Three Readies movement of North Vietnam in Vietnamese. In English, it reads: PARTICIPATE IN THE THREE READIES. 1. Ready to end the invasion of South Vietnam advocated by the Lao Dong Party. 2. Ready to retain the rice that the Lao Dong Party takes to exchange for weapons from Communist China. 3. Ready to oppose all hardships that the Lao Dong Party imposes upon you to support the war of invasion of South Vietnam.

The front of an original 5 Dong note shows a rural scene, a hut by water. A Propaganda Leaflet started with that scene, and added a standing woman holding a child in front of the hut. The back has a message that translates to: This leaflet has the value of a passport … people of all walks of life are requested to absolutely assist the bearer of this leaflet … and guide him to the nearest … agency of the government, which will take care of all procedures so that he can return and be united with his family.

Officially, the US does not counterfeit money of other countries. Getting close to the limit of that policy is a parody leaflet that includes a complete note, but slightly smaller, with extra paper on which the propaganda message appears – if the finder cuts off the propaganda part to obtain a very good counterfeit, that is on the finder. The “Inflation Series” of propaganda leaflets was made by the CIA. A 1 Dong parody note, with serial number TO 309592, has messages on the part that can be clipped off, messages that translate to: Money is worth less and less. As the war goes on, there will be less and less to buy. Prices will go higher and higher. Your savings will become worthless paper on one side and Beware of another monetary reform such as that of 1959. You may lose all your wealth, fruit of your sweat and tears on the other side.

Between 1987 and 1989, there were several attempts by POW/MIA activists to disseminate genuine banknotes in Vietnam and Laos with handwritten, stamped or printed messages offering rewards for the safe return of an American prisoner of war. On the back of a shown 5 Ruble note is a sticker in Vietnamese and English, offering a $2,400,000 reward for the safe return of an American prisoner of war; Tyler only has pictures of this note, not an actual one.

During Operation Desert Storm (1990-1991), more than 100 different types and varieties were made, with one source saying 29 million pieces were dropped. To maintain the “no counterfeiting” policy, the text and images of an original note are intentionally out of focus. We saw a genuine Iraqi 25 Dinar note, and a propaganda note using its front while the message on the back translates to: Saddam’s daily ration for you is? • The daily ration for coalition soldiers is: Breakfast: eggs, bread with butter, meat, two fruits, juice, milk, coffee, and tea. Lunch: meat, beans or potatoes, biscuits with cheese, candy, juice, and coffee. Dinner: meat, bread with butter, vegetables, cake, milk, juice, coffee, and tea. • Prisoners are fed the same meal as coalition soldiers.

On another series of leaflets, one of four messages appears on the back, translating to:

1. Saddam lives in luxury while you and your family starve.
2. Saddam has made your money worthless while he hoards gold.
3. No amount of money will buy back your honor.
4. You cannot cleanse your hands when they have been stained by the blood of decent Arabs.

From the Kosovo War (1998-1999), Tyler could only show us Reward for Justice Banknotes, “wanted” posters on the backs of counterfeits.

During the Ukraine War (2014-present) both sides, Russia and Ukraine, produced propaganda notes. We saw fake Russian 1,000, 2,000, and 5,000 rubles notes made by Ukraine; both sides of the originals are used, with added messages in the left and right fields of both sides. The messages on the left are in Russian, while the messages on the right give a phone number to call, the names of apps (Whatsapp, Signal, Telegrám, Viber), and the 24savelife at gmail.com email address. Who needs a printed safe conduct pass when a smart phone can be used to arrange everything – there’s an app for that!

Tyler’s presentation gave us a small glance into what has been described as “bombing the enemy with ideas.”

[Tyler will speak on this topic as part of the Newman Numismatic Portal Symposium at the CSNS convention in late April, 2025. A video of that presentation should be available for online viewing about two weeks later. Visit https://nnpsymposium.org/ for the details.]

Sources

• https://www.cabinetmagazine.org/issues/12/peffer_friedman.php
• Benjamin Seet Collection talk - https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/vol-11/issue-3/oct-dec-2015/wartime/
• https://navonanumis.blogspot.com/2013/05/united-states-propaganda-wake-no.html
• http://www.banknote.ws/COLLECTION/countries/ASI/JAP/JAP0040.htm
• https://medium.com/war-is-boring/the-pentagon-dropped-billions-of-leaflets-which-no-one-read-bd7a59ecfe8b
• Confidential booklet entitled United States Pacific Fleet and Pacific Ocean Areas - Psychological Warfare - CINCPAC-CINCPOA Bulletin No. 164-15, 15 August 1945.
• SGM HERBERT A. FRIEDMAN (Ret.)
  - https://www.psywarrior.com/WWIIAlliedBanknotes.html
  - https://www.psywarrior.com/KoreaSCP.html
  - https://www.psywarrior.com/Vietnambanknote.html
  - https://www.psywarrior.com/ColdWarInsurgencyBanknotes.html
  - https://www.psywarrior.com/GulfWarBanknotes.html
• https://www.thecurrencycollector.com/pdfs/The_Use_of_Bank_Notes_as_an_Instrument_of_Propaganda_-_Part_I.pdf
• Anna Jungeun Lee; Paper Bomb Warfare: Propaganda Leaflets about Consumerism in South Korea during the Park Chung Hee Period (1961-1979). Journal of Korean Studies 1 October 2022; 27 (2): 249-273. doi: https://doi.org/10.1215/07311613-9859824
• ERDMANN, J. M. (1962). The Monroe Leaflet Bomb Its Evolution And Significance. The Air Power Historian, 9(2), 101-128. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44512713
• Gabrys, Jennifer. Leaflet Drop: The Paper Landscapes of War. https://www.npr.org/2006/07/19/5567863/the-best-way-to-drop-propaganda-leaflets

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Show and Tell

Items shown at our March 12, 2025 meeting,
reported by Ray Dagenais.

1. Richard Hathaway showed two French Ecus issued by Louis XV (1715-1774) in the later part of his reign. This type is known as the Ecu au Bandeau (Ecu with headband) and was primarily minted from 1741-1770, with a few mints striking this type until 1774. At that time, 1 Ecu was set to equal 6 Livre tournois.
   1. The 1761 Ecu (R mintmark for Orleans) is cleaned but has retained a significant amount of detail, particularly in the hair. It features significant flow lines in the head and neck area on the obverse, and likely die corrosion appears on the reverse when viewed under magnification.
   2. The 1770 Ecu (L mintmark for Bayonne) is unfortunately harshly cleaned and exhibits a weak strike, but is still an excellent example of the type. These coins are about 91.7% silver.
2. Bob Leonard showed counterstamped copper coins related to voting, or not voting, in an election.
   1. U.S. 1837 large cent counterstamped “VOTE THE LAND FREE” in 1844, urging votes for the National Reform Association, whose platform called for free farms. A very common, but popular counterstamp; the logotype punch still exists.
   2. Spanish bronze 10 centimos dated 1870, struck as late as 1876 with frozen date, to show the coin when unmarked.
   3. Spain, 1870 10 centimos counterstamped “C.N.T./ OBREROS/ NO VOTAR/ F.A.I.” in logotype. (Workers! Don’t vote!). Issued by Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (C.N.T.) and Federación Anarquista Ibérica (F.A.I.), anarchist and anarcho-syndicalist unions, urging a boycott of the Spanish election of 1933.
   4. Spain, 1870 10 centimos counterstamped “NO/ VOTAD” (Don’t vote!), but with the letters punched individually. From the same issuer, apparently stamped by a worker. This example was acquired in the Medina of Marrrakech, probably arriving long ago from Spanish Morrocco.
   While the National Reform Association’s campaign failed – no one got a free farm – the Spanish anarchists were wildly successful: according to historian Andy Durgan, “This campaign deprived the Left of at least 500,000 votes and was an important contributory factor to their defeat” (by the Catholic and Royalist parties). It was not repeated for the election of 1936; the Left won easily, leading to the Spanish Civil War later that year.
3. Noah Graf showed a beautiful sestertius, struck in Rome, of Roman empress Faustina the Elder, wife of the Emperor Antoninus Pius, as a companion piece to a sestertius of Antoninus that he purchased last year. Coins of Faustina are relatively common through the course of Antoninus’ reign, but Faustina died only two years into her husband’s reign, so lifetime issues are substantially less common. This is a lifetime issue, dated to 139/140 AD. Noah was especially attracted to it because, despite the VF condition, details of the empress’ elaborately coiled hair remain very clear. The reverse shows Juno, Queen of the Gods, standing with a peacock at her feet facing forward with its tail fanned out. (The peacock is the iconographic symbol for Juno.) The reverse is apparently unpublished; this coin was formerly part of the collection of Curtis Clay, a prominent collector of unusual Roman reverse varieties. The Juno standing variety without peacock is recorded as RIC III 1077a; with a peacock facing left with no fanned tail is RIC III 1078; and with only the throne of Juno, below which is the peacock standing with spread tail, is RIC III 1079. This variety combines elements from each of those three. Strong strike with a beautiful chocolate patina.
4. Deven Kane showed three ancient coins, along with AI renderings produced from Deven’ description of the main design elements on each.
   1. A bronze coin of Trajan (98-117) from the Caesarea mint (Cappadocia) showing a pyramid in Cappadocia. At 13mm in diameter and dated RY 3 (100-101), the obverse has a turreted and draped bust of Tyche, while the reverse has a pyramid flanked by some letters. Lovely glossy dark green patina, and a desert patina on the edges.
   2. A bronze As (138-141) from the Rome mint – a lifetime issue of Faustina the Elder who died in 141 AD. A draped bust of Faustina is on the obverse, while the reverse has a standing figure of Concordia, holding a patera in her extended right hand and double cornucopiae in left hand. It has a lovely glossy green patina, with a slightly pitted surface on the obverse. VF.
   3. A bronze dupondius featuring a draped bust of Faustina II (died 176 AD) on the obverse, while the reverse features a standing Juno, holding a patera and sceptre, with a peacock at her feet. A very attractive example, having a lovely emerald green patina with brown spots on the obverse. Good VF.
5. Tyler Rossi showed a Letter of Credit by the Jewish firm of Knauth, Nachod & Kühne of New York, to be drawn from the Paris Bank in London UK, issued to a Mr. R. E. Mansfield on June 29, 1899 in the amount of £286. Tyler’s first slide was a photo of the hand-written-script letter delineating the terms of the of the deal. The second slide was a photo of the ledger page, where column headers included: Due when paid, By whom paid, Amount paid expressed in writing, and Amount in figures. There were 17 entries in each column. The entries paint a picture of the travel that was involved. The instructions at the top of the ledger stated, “Bankers will please inscribe payments in their order on these pages.” Mansfield had been appointed US Consul in Zanzibar, and the entries show his progress (Paris, Switzerland, Venice, and more) through the last entry on July 28, 1899.
6. For reference, Lyle Daly showed pictures of a nice taler of Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor from 1705 to 1711. The obverse features a large, armored portrait of Joseph I, surrounded by the Latin legend for “Joseph by the grace of God Roman imperator semper August Germany Hungary Bohemia king,” with an inner circle bordering the legend. The reverse features a crowned 2 headed imperial eagle surrounded by a Latin legend identifying Joseph as Archduke of Austria, Duke of Burgundy, and Count of Tyrolia; and the date 1705. Lyle is interested in contemporary events associated with his coins and noted the brutal treatment of the Romanii in the Empire during Joseph’s reign, and the degradation of the status of indentured African American servants and any people of color in the Virginia colony, which was legally changed from indentured servitude to slaves to be held as real property, with ownership entitled to corrections with impunity under the Virginia Slave Codes. Lyle owns an inexpensive former jewelry piece, with a mount removed at 12:00 in Joseph’s hair on the obverse and in the crown above the eagle on the reverse. The coin had been harshly cleaned and is unnaturally bright. For educational purposes, Lyle provided photographs of how the coin has been recently artificially toned, and what to look for in artificial toning.
7. John Kent showed an 1890 British farthing (¼ of a penny) graded MS-64 Red/Brown by NGC; it is part of what was promoted as the “Crichel House Cache Raindrop Race Wager.” As the story goes, two gentlemen made a £5 bet about which of two raindrops on a window would reach the bottom of the window first. The loser was so upset he paid the £5 in the smallest denomination possible: as 4,800 farthings. The coins were stored in boxes at Crichel House, home of the Alington family, where the original bet had been made. Pieces were taken from the cache over the years, until the 2,794 remaining coins were auctioned in 2013. The cataloger feared his £14,000 estimate was too high, but the lot of ungraded coins sold for £63,000 to a UK coin collector; many of the coins now are slabbed by NGC as MS-64 or MS-65, with the Crichel House Wager mentioned on the insert. More details can be found in a July 22, 2013 article on Daily Mail Online.
8. Zach Filis continued and completed his introduction to the engraver George Mills by reviewing pattern crowns and Guinea.
   1. Images of a pattern crown by Thomas Webb and George Mills, for James Mudie. The obverse has a nice portrait of King George IV by Webb, while the reverse is by Mills. There were 221 minted in silver and they come up fairly often; Zach has seen three this year, but none is as nice as the shown images.
   2. A pattern crown made solely by George Mills for Richard Whiteaves. The obverse shows King George IV with wind-blown hair, while the reverse design has pendant badges of the Garter, Thistle, and St. Patrick below the Royal arms. Two varieties are known: one with collar and neckerchief, and one without. The mintage is unknown, with 10 to 20 mentioned by some; others say possibly more or even less. Only silver examples are known, with mention of one gold example. The last auction appearance was in 2014, and Zach is still searching for one.
   3. An image of a unique pattern Guinea crown.
   Mills was a talented engraver and Zach wonders – what if? What would his contribution be if he did not die at such a young age. Would he have achieved the prominence of such greats as William Wyon, who was his chief competitor at the time?
9. Mark Wieclaw warned that it pays to become educated about the coins you acquire. Mark presented examples of the care that must be taken when buying coins, even from established firms.
   1. He once bought four early US copper coins from an estate, with the original dealer envelopes, and sold them to collectors. The Massachusetts cent was returned from a grading service as an electrotype! After Mark took it back, he had the other three examined – the Fugio, New Jersey, and another coin were all genuine. Mark explained how an electrotype copy of a coin is made, and told us that the weight typically is off and that the rim would likely show a seam. The piece in question weighed less than 90% of the expected weight, and the edge showed copper flaking but no seam.
   2. Expanding on deceptive practices, he displayed two authentic dealer Certificates of Authenticity which accompanied some overpriced items in an estate. Both large paper certificates had the same serial number, but did not mention or describe the item being authenticated.
   3. When buying an ancient coin, the centering can be the most frustrating thing: one or both sides are off center; one or both sides are weakly struck; or one or both sides show corrosion. Mark showed a Roman coin with both sides nicely centered. This dupondius of Geta, circa 209-212 AD, has the obverse legend of P SEPT GETA PIVS AVG BRIT (“The pious emperor, son of Septimius, conqueror of the Britons”) and the reverse legend of PONTIF TRP III COS II (“High Priest, holding Tribunician power for the third time, Consul for the second time”). On the reverse, the letters S and C means the coin was approved by the Senate, while the central reverse figure, depending on the reference, is either Julia Domna or the goddess Piety, with two children at her feet.
10. Dale Lukanich showed his $1 Joliet note which is shown on page 125 of the book Financing an Empire; History of Banking in Illinois (Vol 1), by Francis Murry Huston and had been in the Waldo C. Moore (1874-1953) collection. In 1912 Moore served on the U.S. Assay Commission, and between 1912 and 1924 he held various positions in the ANA: General Secretary, Board of Governors, and President. The large hoard of Moore’s scrip collection was inherited by family members who had no understanding of it or its value. It was split into parcels and either stored away or sold to private dealers and collectors decades later. The Oswego & Indiana Plank Road Company was formed in 1848 to build a plank road from the Indiana state line, through Joliet, to Oswego in Kendall County. Depending on the route taken, this amounted to fifty or sixty miles. The project ran out of money and the western end of the road from Plainfield to Oswego was abandoned with the only completed section being from Plainfield to Joliet. In 1854 the right-of-way was sold, and the Joliet & Northern Indiana Railroad was built from Joliet to Lake Station Indiana, a distance of about 68 miles. The center vignette, which depicts a passenger train, was used a decade later on the T15 Confederate $50 Treasury Note; it also was used on an 1853 $3 note of the Farmers’ and Traders’ Bank of Charleston, Illinois.
11. Laurence Edwards showed three coins illustrating the development of the Seated Britannia motif.
    1. A coin of Antoninus Pius showing a seated Britannia in a slouching posture, of defeat. Antoninus Pius campaigned north of Hadrian’s Wall, creating the Antonine Wall but Rome abandoned it after some years.
    2. For comparison, another Antoninus Pius coin shows Roma seated, in an upright posture of victory. Will Nipper, in his book, In Yankee Doodle’s Pocket, writes: “In 1672 when Britain began making its own coppers, it was the Antoninus Pius design that … they chose to emulate.”
    3. A British Halfpenny of George II (1739) showing Britannia seated, similar to the upright, victorious posture of Roma. Nipper continues: “In modified form, the same concepts (seated Britannia) were used later on: William Wood’s Hibernia coinage, Voce Populi coppers, Vermont coinage, Connecticut state coinage, New York’s Nova Eboracs, counterfeit halfpence, Auctori Plebis tokens, and blacksmith tokens, all of which have American ties. The seated figure (i.e., as Liberty instead of Roma or Britannia) appears again on the obverses of many nineteenth century U.S. Mint issues.”
    4. To illustrate the American adaptation, Laurence showed an image of a Gobrecht Dollar of 1836, the first coin to display Seated Liberty, and added, “Alas, that is not in my collection.”
12. Jeff Amelse was in Prague, lecturing at Charles University Chemistry Department during the first week of April. Because he is a member of the Chicago Art Deco Society, he visited the Alphons Mucha Museum – Alphons Mucha is one of the best-known Art Nouveau artists. After returning home, Jeff picked up some Mucha Currency and Stamps on eBay.
    1. Sets of early Czech postage stamps designed by Alphons Mucha (1860-1939).
    2. Early Czech banknotes designed by Mucha.
    3. A Czech note with a portrait of Alphons Mucha.
    4. Czech stamps commemorating Alphons Mucha.
    5. A Czech stamp cover commemorating Mucha.
    6. A letter bearing a Mucha Czech stamp, used to mail one of Jeff’s eBay purchases; this stamp shows a Mucha print, and Jeff showed a photo of that Mucha print, which he had taken in the Mucha Museum in Prague.

Reminders:

• You can email to Ray a description of what you will show at a meeting, to give him a start on this write-up.
• Send it to cccshowandtell@gmail.com
• After a meeting, all members who viewed the meeting should email him their scoring sheet – a listing of each exhibit number followed by a score (from a low of 1 to a high of 10) is all that is needed.

Our 1276th Meeting

Important Dates

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Payments to the Club, including membership dues, can be addressed to the Treasurer at the above street address.

Payments

Renewing Members Annual dues are $20 a year ($10 for Junior, under 18). Annual Membership expires December 31 of the year through which paid. Cash, check, or money order are acceptable (USD only please). We do not accept PayPal. Email your questions to Treasurer.ChicagoCoinClub@GMail.com Members can pay the Club electronically with Zelle™ using their Android or Apple smart phone. JP Morgan Chase customers can send payments to the Club via Quick Pay. To see if your Bank or Credit Union is part of the Zelle™ Payments Network, go to https://www.zellepay.com Please read all rules and requirements carefully.

• The Club has registered the Treasurer.ChicagoCoinClub@GMail.com address with Zelle™ to receive payments.
• When you send a payment via Zelle™, we will receive a notification.
• Be sure to fill out the “What’s this for?” field – e.g., “Dues 2025”; or “Dues 2025 & 2026” to pay for two years
• Once the transaction completes, the Club will receive your payment typically within minutes, and you will know that the payment was received.
• Be sure to have your Location enabled on your phone for the transaction.

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