Wednesday, August 20, 2014

George Klauba Obverse Designer of the 1995 WWII 50th Annv. Half Dollar



George Klauba 
Obverse Designer of the
1995 WWII Commemorative Clad Half Dollar  
92% copper  - 8% nickel - diameter 1.205

In 1991, my design was chosen for the obverse side of a new half dollar commemorative coin produced from 1991-95, by the United States Mint to honor the fiftieth anniversary World War II, "in accordance with legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President on October 14, 1992." (Image copyrighted by the artist. © George Klauba. All rights reserved.) The design represents three military personnel superimposed on a V for victory with a B-29, the plane ended the war with Japan. The five stars represent the five branches of military service. ~ George Klauba Website


















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Friday, August 8, 2014

Coins of New Zealand


Coins of New Zealand
Source: coins.obscurefinds.com

New Zealand is located in the southwest Pacific Ocean. This country has two main landmasses, the North Island and the South Island. Because of its coldness, it was settled the last land by people.

An explorer saw this country and he called it a Staten Landt, assuming that it is connected to the continent of its same name in the southern slope of another country. After the Dutch province, it was renamed again by the mapmakers as Nova Zeelandia. But the British explorers altered the name to New Zealand.

The monarchy of New Zealand was defined as the crown in the right of their country. This right is the legitimate system of their government which is the transmissible monarch is the independent and New Zealand head of state that forms the central of the nations’ democracy.

Kowhai is a native flower of New Zealand its name comes from Maori, their word for yellow, referring to the color of the flower. In some areas, it is called kohai. It is also the national flower of New Zealand.

New Zealand is separated into twenty five terrestrial regions, and each of them has their physical qualities, various nation, antiquity, and sole points of curiosity. Form its substitute tropical remote polar you can stand on the tilt of its north island to observe the integration of two seas, to the bottom of south islands. The last continent before the frost drops of Antarctica, each in New Zealand region has separate personality and stories.

Several states in the whole world can display New Zealand series of natural geographies from a high speaks in the massive mountain arrays to substitute tropical forests, rich systematic countryside to geothermal movement, the black and white sand seashore to wasteland as unpopulated islands and grasslands. For thousands of years, the governor of New Zealand protracted some British laws to New Zealand. It means that the definite unit of the grand coinage became applicable to the new society. This British coin is allowing the typical silver, gold, and bronze to mix easily in New Zealand together with the current variety of overseas coins. These coins are made lawfully affectionate in relations of some act by the transient of acts. Before, there was a risky lack of coins, specifically copper coins. Dealers tried to cure the issue of a low prices paper record, but this was presently discarded. In its place of this shortage strengthened thru the years, commercial in the other country decide to this matter their major copper tokens. In all traders or retailers deliver their own money and half tokens. This preparation survived for a year with their use slowly decreasing.

Previously it’s understandable that somewhat had to be completed around the coin trafficking and the scarcity of lower values of coins in New Zealand. It was sure that the New Zealand must start distributing coinage from a bank. New Zealand Numismatic culture proposed that the New Zealand must adopt a number system of money. On the other hand a unique coinage of New Zealand was presented based on a decimal system.

The New Zealand currency happened over the year when New Zealand strike was substituted by the dollar ranging of one pound into two dollars. On the similar day there are new decimals coin are presented to substitute on the current pound coins. The first coin in New Zealand is: one cent, two cent, five cent, ten cent, and fifty cent. One cent, two cent and fifty cent are the new sizes, 1c and 2c are minted in bronze, 50c in cupronickel. 5c, 10c, and 20c are same size, same weight, and same value as their former sixpence, florin, and shilling coins. In fact, the 10 cents accepted as additional to legend. The front design of all coins is featured in a portrait of Elizabeth II. Numerous designs are finally accepted for maximum coins. Another design of coin in New Zealand was the fern coin it is an ionice symbol and it is recognized in the whole world.

New Zealand officials are honoured to be the only issuer of authorized collection of coins with partnership with the bank of New Zealand. They work with highly cherished mints from all in the world to create a high standard memorial coin, the coinage they issue are the legal of New Zealand tender and that was the features portrait of Queen Elizabeth II and the opposite face. The coins that comes from New Zealand was reflect piece of the uniqueness and their traditional identity. New Zealand has distributed valuable and non-valuable commemorative money collections. New Zealand coins celebrated their heroes, recognises the dilemma of their rare species, platform their breath taking land and they honour its greatest adored bird and the kiwi. They collect their coins because they are securing an exclusive piece in their homeland.

New Zealand has issued two kinds of coins brilliant uncirculated ad proof quality. The first one is made from a mixture of non-valuable materials it is produced with a shiny surface. Brilliant Uncirculated coins are aluminium bronze while Proof quality coins are the highest quality coin produced in a snowy finish and reflected background. These coins are hit more than one with Medias functioning at slow hustles with high remarkable weight, to make a coin with severe detail. Their proof coins are discovered from valuable metals with 24 carat bullion. An great example would be the Donald Duck coins 2014-80th Anniversary of Donald Duck Gold/Silver Coins.

Nowadays, New Zealand has a modern, wealthy and industrialized market with an assessed major native product. Their money is the New Zealand dollar also known as kiwi dollar they are likewise socialized in Cook Islands. This country was classified as number 16 last year. Traditionally, extractive trades have strongly donated to economy of New Zealand it will focus in various times on finalizing, flax, whaling, kauri gum, gold and natural woods. New Zealand achieves their higher living by the help of the other country. They became dependent on global trade mostly in agricultural goods.

New Zealand Culture they reformed the east culture with the trials related with a large and assorted environment, developing their culture. The large country life in first New Zealand runs to the image of their country being rough, productive problem solvers. Glad to say that New Zealand is a progressive country in the world.














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Saint-Maurice Ironworks Silver Dollar


1988 - Elizabeth II - Saint-Maurice Ironworks 


250th anniversary of the first industrial refinery in Canada 
Source: coinhistory.info 

A Royal proclamation specifies the design of the 1988 $1 silver coin and the $1 bronze-plated nickel coin. The silver dollar commemorates the 250th anniversary of the first industrial refinery in Canada, the Saint-Maurice Ironworks. The nickel dollar continues the loon design. [455.1081] 

REF 


Commemorative Silver Dollar 
Source: en.wikipedia.org 
Year 1988 
Theme Saint-Maurice Ironworks 
Artist R.R. Carmichael 
Mintage (Proof) 259,230 
Issue Price (Proof) $20.00 
Mintage (BU) 106,702 
Issue Price (BU) $15.00 

REF



Saint-Maurice Ironworks 
Source: en.wikipedia.org 

Forges du Saint-Maurice ("St. Maurice Ironworks"), just outside of Trois-Rivières, Quebec, is a National Historic Site of Canada, and birthplace of the country's iron industry. 

Forges du Saint-Maurice was created on 25 March 1730, the second company (after the failure of the first) granted a monopoly to employ the iron ore deposits at Trois-Rivières. 

The forge started working in 1738 and remained in virtually continuous operation until closing. It employed about 100 craftsmen (most originally from Burgundy) and 300-400 labourers in production of forged and molded iron products, including pots, pans, and stoves. Director F. E. Cugnet went bankrupt in 1742, leading to a state takeover and handover to Britain after the Treaty of Paris. 

In 1747, the company experimented unsuccessfully with cannon making and steel production. From 1738 into the mid-1830s, the Forges were "the most technologically advanced ironworks in America", but had become the oldest operating blast furnace in North America, and far out of date, by the time it shut down for good in March 1883. 

In 1973, Forges du Saint-Maurice became a national historic park. Archaeological research there continues. 

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Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Tunisia Olive Tree Coin Reverse

tunisia_olivetree.png

Olive tree on the back of Tunisia coin's.

Olive tree as found on the 1, 2 and 5 Millim coins of Tunisia. The olive tree is a symbol of Tunisian agriculture. The image was made from an image of a coin. [3]

Olive Growing In Tunisia

Tunisia is the most important olive-growing country of the southern Mediterranean region; over 30% of its cultivated land is dedicated to olive growing (1.68 million ha). Tunisia’s olive resources are estimated at over 65 million olive trees, grown on 1 680 000 ha, of which 75 000 ha are for certified organic crops. It is a source of employment for 269 000 or 57% of the country’s farmers and accounts for 45% of the agricultural exports, averaging 120 000 t per year. At a world level Tunisia is ranked fourth in terms of the number of olive trees and second in terms of acreage. [1]

Tunisia is one of the world's largest olive oil producers. Olive oil production plays a key role in the Mediterranean country's economy, employing more than 300,000 farmers and providing some sort of income to an estimated one million Tunisians. [2]

Top Exports - Tunisia - 2011 [4]

Commodity: Olive oil, virgin
Quantity: 100,294(tones)
Value: 285,866(1000 $)
Unit value: 2,850($/tonne)



Sources:
REF[1]sarrahuiles.com.tn
REF[2]cnn.com
REF[3]wbcc.fsnet.co.uk
REF[4]aostat.fao.org
Related To: 

Tunisia - 5 Millimes
Tunisia










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Tuesday, August 5, 2014

1999-2000 - Elizabeth II - Millennium Quarter

1999-2000 - Elizabeth II - Millennium Quarter 

In April 1998, the Mint announced the Millennium Coin Design Contest, a contest open to all Canadians to submit designs for twenty-four millennium quarters, one for each month of 1999 and 2000. The 1999 designs were meant to look back on Canada's past, while the 2000 designs looked to the future. While the 1999 coins were labeled with their month of issue, the 2000 coins were labeled with the relevant theme. Obscure Finds Coin collection OFCC has documented this set of coins see below for link or see the entire set by clicking here. 



Canada: 1999-2000 Millennium 25 Cent Series 
Source: typesets.wikidot.com 

To celebrate the new millennium, Canada created a two year circulating commemorative program that would be conducted in two parts (one in 1999 and one in 2000). Each program released 12 quarters per year ( 1 per month) and each featured a unique design. The 1999 plan featured designs representative of Canada's past. In an open design contest called “Create a Centsation” over 33,000 designs were submitted for consideration. The 2000 plan featured designs representative of Canada's dreams for a new millennium. A second design contest was held and over 66,000 designs were submitted for consideration. 

1999 - January - A Country Unfolds - Mintage: 12,181,200 
When put together the four images in this coin form the year 1999 

1999 - February - Etched in Stone - Mintage: 14,469,250 
Design features native petroglyphs that capture the historical heritage & spirituality of Canada 

1999 - March - The Log Drive - Mintage: 15,033,500 
Historical reference of Canadian raftsmen and the significant contribution they made to the growth and prosperity of Canada 

 Design features Inuit art 1999 - May - The Voyagers - Mintage: 15,566,100 Homage to the explorers & pioneers that mapped the new lands and created the fur trade 

1999 - June - From Coast to Coast - Mintage: 20,432,750 
Celebrates the historic Pacific Railway that connects Canada from coast to coast 

1999 - July - A Nation of People - Mintage: 17,321,000 
One continuous line depicts six people, representing law & order, learning, teaching, the arts, nature, and sports 

1999 - August - The Pioneer Spirit - Mintage: 18,153,700 
Celebrates pioneers who came to Canada from other countries to enjoy prosperity and new beginnings 

Three children holding hands representing a united nation 

Symbolic representation of Canada's first inhabitants, the eagle, bear and killer whale represent the air, land, & sea 

Design pays tribute to the bush plane and its contribution to opening access to northern Canada 

1999 - December - This is Canada - Mintage: 43,339,200 
The 13 gear teeth on a wheel represents the 13 provinces, symbol celebrates Canada's rich variety – wheat fields, forests, mountains, native dwellings, and cities 



Monday, August 4, 2014

A glance at David Rittenhouse First Director of the US Mint

David Rittenhouse First Director of the US Mint

IMG REF[2]
David Rittenhouse was treasurer of Pennsylvania from 1777 to 1789, and with these skills and the help of George Washington, he became the first director of the United States Mint. On April 2, 1792, the United States Mint opened its doors, but would not produce coins for almost four months. Rittenhouse believed that the design of the coin made the coin a piece of artwork. The first coins were made from flatware that was provided by Washington himself on the morning of July 30, 1792. The coins were hand-struck by Rittenhouse, to test the new equipment, and were given to Washington as a token of appreciation for his contributions to making the United States Mint a reality. The coin design had not been approved by Congress. Coin production on a large scale did not begin until 1793. Rittenhouse resigned from the Mint on June 30, 1795, due to poor health. In 1871 Congress approved a commemorative medal in his honor.

The US Mint produced coins every year from 1792 to the present.
Source: coins.obscurefinds.com

Half-cent 1792–1857
Cent (Penny) 1793–present
2-cent 1864–1873
3-cent 1851–1889
Half Dime 1792–1873
Five-cent Nickel 1866–present
Dime 1792–present
20-cent 1875–1878
Quarter 1796–present
Half dollar 1794–present
Dollar coin 1794–present
Quarter Eagle ($2.50 gold coin) 1792–1929
Three-dollar piece 1854–1889 (gold coin)
Four-dollar piece 1879–1880 (gold coin)
Half Eagle 1795–1929 ($5 gold coin)
Eagle 1795–1933 ($10 gold coin)
Double Eagle 1850–1933 ($20 gold coin) 

REF




David Rittenhouse Summary
Source: en.wikepedia.org

David Rittenhouse (April 8, 1732 – June 26, 1796) was a renowned American astronomer, inventor, clockmaker, mathematician, surveyor, scientific instrument craftsman and public official. Rittenhouse was a member of the American Philosophical Society and the first director of the United States Mint.

REF


David Rittenhouse Birth and Death
Source: http://www-history.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/Biographies/Rittenhouse.html

Born: 8 April 1732 in Paper Mill Run, near Germantown, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: 26 June 1796 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA


REF



Other Notes on David Rittenhouse


Influence on the Flag Act of 1777
Source: en.wikepedia.org

One admirer and colleague of Rittenhouse, Francis Hopkinson, was on the Navy Board that wrote the Flag Act of 1777, which defined the Flag of the United States of America and explained the blue field of stars as a representation of "a new constellation." This is thought by some** to be a direct tribute to Rittenhouse. Biographer Brooke Hindle wrote, "Few admired Rittenhouse more unrestrainedly than Francis Hopkinson."

** Noted on Wikipedia as [who?][citation needed]

REF







1783 Nova Constellatio coin
Source: A Grand Old Flag

The 1783 Nova Constellatio coin was first minted in Philadelphia.
David Rittenhouse was consulted on the design.

Title A Grand Old Flag - linked to Google Books
Authors Kevin P. Keim, Peter Keim
Edition illustrated
Publisher DK Publishing, 2007
ISBN 0756628474, 9780756628475
Length 192 pages

IMG REF







IMG REF [2] Main image of Rittenhouse Above
"Rittenhouse, David".Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Web. 04 Aug. 2014.
<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/media/140256/David-Rittenhouse-after-a-painting-by-Charles-Wilson-Peale>










Saturday, August 2, 2014

OFCC Coins + Pinterest + Foursquare = Interactive Numismatic Map

Utilizing Pinterest/Foursquare 

New Map Feature

Interactive Numismatic Map


Obscure Finds Coin Collection (OFCC) on Pinterest
Obscure Finds Coins on Pinterest 


Pinterest About our maps and data
Our maps are designed by Stamen Design, served by MapBox and created using data from ©OpenStreetMap contributors. Some geographic data from Geonames.org is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0. REF














After playing with the map and options for a few minutes I was pinning away...
Coins from all over the world, marked on a map powered by big names like Pinterest and Foursquare, This could be FUN!

While building my map I placed each coin based on mint location, popular city, or content of the coin if location specific. The map was response and worked well with social plugins across the board. All the coins on this interactive map are back linked to Obscure Finds Numismatic Coin Collection Database, where you can find more specific information about the coin you chose to learn more about...


From the Creative Team At Pinterest

Over the past year, we noticed more and more people were using Pinterest to plan trips and collect their favorite places around the world. We decided we wanted to make that process better through Place Pins, which let you add a map to any of your boards.

To help people learn more about how we work at Pinterest, we wanted to share the story behind Place Pins. Building a location-based product is a huge undertaking that can take many years to get right, and we wanted to make something that was beautiful, useful and different from other products right out of the gate. A small team of engineers and designers set out to figure out how we could accomplish this. We’re still planning to add lots more to the product, but we’re proud of what we’ve done so far.

 — Michael Yamartino, Product Manager @ Pintrest

READ FULL ARTICLE 















Friday, August 1, 2014

2015 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program Coin Designs

United States Mint Announces 2015 America the Beautiful Quarters® Program Coin Designs
Source: usmint.gov

The United States Mint (Mint) today announced the five new reverse (tails side) designs that will appear on the 2015 coins released in the America the Beautiful Quarters Program.

The coin designs honor Homestead National Monument of America (Neb.), Kisatchie National Forest (La.), Blue Ridge Parkway (N.C.), Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge (Del.), and Saratoga National Historical Park (N.Y.).



Homestead National Monument of America This design represents the three fundamentals of survival common to all homesteaders: food, shelter, and water. Inscriptions are HOMESTEAD, NEBRASKA, 2015, and E PLURIBUS UNUM. The reverse was designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) artist Ronald D. Sanders and will be sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Jim Licaretz.



Kisatchie National Forest This design features a wild turkey in flight over blue stem grass with long leaf pine in the background. Inscriptions are KISATCHIE, LOUISIANA, 2015, and E PLURIBUS UNUM. The reverse was designed by AIP artist Susan Gamble and will be sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Joseph Menna.



Blue Ridge Parkway This design depicts the grace and curvature of the road hugging the side of a mountain, with the North Carolina state flower in the foreground. Inscriptions are BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY, NORTH CAROLINA, 2015, and E PLURIBUS UNUM. The reverse was designed by AIP artist Frank Morris and will be sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Joseph Menna.



Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge This design features a great blue heron in the foreground and a great egret in the background. Inscriptions are BOMBAY HOOK, DELAWARE, 2015, and E PLURIBUS UNUM. The reverse was designed by AIP artist Joel Iskowitz and will be sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Phebe Hemphill.



Saratoga National Historical Park This design is a close-up of the moment General John Burgoyne surrendered his sword to General Horatio Gates, a pivotal moment many believe marked the 'beginning of the end of the American Revolutionary War.' Inscriptions are BRITISH SURRENDER 1777, SARATOGA, NEW YORK, 2015, and E PLURIBUS UNUM. The reverse was designed by AIP artist Barbara Fox and will be sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Renata Gordon.

The obverse (heads side) of the coins will continue to feature the familiar 1932 portrait of George Washington by John Flanagan. Required inscriptions are UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, LIBERTY, IN GOD WE TRUST, and QUARTER DOLLAR.

The United States Mint America the Beautiful Quarters Program is authorized by the America's Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act of 2008 (Act) (Public Law 110-456). The Act directs the bureau to design, mint, and issue quarter-dollar coins emblematic of a national park or other national site in each state, the District of Columbia, and the five U.S. territories. In accordance with the Act, the Mint is issuing the new quarters at the rate of five per year until 2020 in the order in which each honored site was first established as a national site. The final coin will be released in 2021.

READ FULL ARTICLE
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On Obscure Finds:   http://coins.obscurefinds.com





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A look at the word Numismatic

Obscure Finds Coin Collection 
Source: coins.obscurefinds.com

Obscure Finds Coin Collection (OFCC) has created a new way to look at coins on the internet including a responsive design that helps user that are on the ever growing popular mobile devices.

The OFCC has approached this project with some simple ideas.
- document with trusted sources coins that was in our collection
- learn more about coin collecting and numismatics

During the process the OFCC has created the website located at http://coin.obscurefinds.com.
Sometime between the design process and schema creation a side project was created and segregated. This project is known as the Numismatic Coin Collection Database (NCCD) more information about the intentions of this project will come in the next few months.

Below we look at the word Numismatic


Numismatics
Source: en.wikipedia.org

Numismatics is the study or collection of currency, including coins, tokens, paper money, and related objects. While numismatists are often characterized as students or collectors of coins, the discipline also includes the broader study of money and other payment media used to resolve debts and the exchange of goods. Early money used by people is referred to as "Odd and Curious", but the use of other goods in barter exchange is excluded, even where used as a circulating currency (e.g., cigarettes in prison). The Kyrgyz people used horses as the principal currency unit and gave small change in lambskins;[1] the lambskins may be suitable for numismatic study, but the horse is not. Many objects have been used for centuries, such as cowry shells, precious metals, and gems.

Today, most transactions take place by a form of payment with either inherent, standardized, or credit value. Numismatic value may be used to refer to the value in excess of the monetary value conferred by law, which is known as the "collector value."

Economic and historical studies of money's use and development are an integral part of the numismatists' study of money's physical embodiment.

Modern numismatics

Modern numismatics is the study of the coins of the mid-17th century onward, the period of machine struck coins. Their study serves more the need of collectors than historians and it is more often successfully pursued by amateur aficionados than by professional scholars. The focus of modern numismatics lies frequently in the research of production and use of money in historical contexts using mint or other records in order to determine the relative rarity of the coins they study. Varieties, mint-made errors, the results of progressive die wear, mintage figures and even the sociopolitical context of coin mintings are also matters of interest.

REF






Numismatic Definition
Source:  merriam-webster.com

Definition of NUMISMATIC

1
:  of or relating to numismatics
2
:  of or relating to currency :  monetary

Origin of NUMISMATIC

French numismatique, from Latin nomismat-, nomisma coin, from Greek, current coin, from nomizein to use, from nomoscustom, law — more at nimble
First Known Use: 1792

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