NENA News: 2008

2008·3.5 MB·English

by  New England Numismatic Association

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VOL 62 February 2008 (Winter) NO. 1
©
NEN/V'NC-
The President's Comments
by Bob Hewey
It Doesn't Hove to be fill
Greek to You!
Book review by Jan M. Dyroff
NENfi Medal Design Contest
$1,000 ffNfl Scholarship
Kittredge Foundation
by Matthew F. Erskine, Trustee
NENA News 1
NORTHEAST NUMISMATICS, INC.
ACTIVE BUYER AND SELLER OF ALL
BETTER UNITED STATES COINS
Collectors, Dealers and Investors have been dealing with Northeast
Numismatics, Inc. for the past 40 years we have been in business.
If you are buying, we have an inventory of over 2,000 NGC, PCGS
and ANACS coins that change daily. For a free list and to receive a
periodic listing of our current inventory, we request your address
or fax number. We also service want lists on an aggressive basis.
Visit us at www.northeastcoin.com. We update daily!
If you are selling, we would like to be given the opportunity to
purchase your material. It does not need to be certified. Single
coins or complete collections, we will buy it all!
With a high percentage of our business being with other dealers,
doesn’t it make sense to deal with Northeast Numismatics, Inc.
directly? We invite you to see us at major shows, call, fax or write
us today. Authorized dealer in all major grading services.
10 Concord Crossing, Suite 220
Concord, MA 01742
1-800-449-2646
978-369-9155
978-369-9619 (Fax)
info @ northeastcoin.com Thomas
Caldwell
www.northeastcoin.com ANALM
#1318
BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
NEW ENGLAND NUMISMATIC ASSOCIATION
www.nenacoin.org
PRESIDENT Robert Hewey (term expires 2008)
VICE PRESIDENT Bill Harkins (term expires 2008)
TREASURER Robert S. Anderson (term expires 2009)
DIRECTORS Prue Fitts (term expires 2008)
Ernie Botte (term expires 2008)
John Kiley (term expires 2008)
George Bilodeau (term expires 2008)
Steve Pearsall (term expires 2009)
STATE DIRECTORS
Connecticut Joseph S. Duval (term expires 2009)
Maine Currently Vacant
Massachusetts Jack Haroian (term expires 2008)
New Hampshire Robert F. Fritsch (term expires 2009)
Rhode Island Richard Lavimodiere (term expires 2009)
Vermont Peter Irion (term expires 2009)
NENA NEWS EDITOR Joseph S. Duval
P. O. Box 28
Willimantic, CT 06226-0028
email: [email protected]
MEMBERSHIP Robert S. Anderson
P. O. Box 920586
Needham, MA 02492-0007
YN ACTIVITIES Jack Haroian
MEDALS COORDINATOR Robert S. Anderson
HISTORIAN Jan Dyroff
WEBMASTER Steve Pearsall
NENA NEWS is the official publication of the New England Numismatic Association
(NENA). It is published quarterly and mailed to all members of the association in good
standing. For information about NENA or this publication, write to:
NENA NEWS, P. O. BOX 920586, Needham, MA 02192-0007
NENA News 3
President's
Comments
by Bob Hewey
T
hese are exciting times looks rather shaky at the
for numismatist. Last moment and the stock market
issue I mentioned has taken quite a tumble. And
skyrocketing precious metals, now we hear that NGC has
and that was before gold topped reported counterfeit slabs
$925. Two exceedingly rare containing counterfeit coins.
1969-S double die cents were At NENA, the board has
found in the space of a few gotten word that the late John
months and more Presidential Kittredge, long time member of
Dollar errors have appeared, NENA, is making a major
showing that there are still finds contribution via his estate to
to be made from circulation. fund a permanent home for
The coin market is certainly NENA and other clubs in the
robust, with new records Worcester, Massachusetts area.
recorded with each major In addition, he is looking for a
auction and good attendance at permanent place to house his
coin shows. extensive collection of
On the other side of the European Crowns and Thalers
coin (so to speak), the economy for access by the public. And,
4 Nena News
additional funds may provide will be Saturday, October 11.
scholarships for NENA Once again, we will have a
members to attend ANA competition for a design for the
presentations. annual medal. Send in your
Speaking of suggestion with a New England
scholarships, look elsewhere in theme by April 1, 2008. Your
this issue for the announcement design may win you a set of
and rules for a scholarship to medals.
the ANA Summer Seminars Finally, check out our
donated by Prue and Arthur web site www.NENAcoin.org.
Fitts. Deadline for applications Our new webmaster, Steve
is April 1, 2008 Pearsall, will be making major
NENA’s 2008 improvements. If you’d like to
Convention and Annual see something added, send him
Meeting will again be held in a note.
conjunction with the New It may not be the best of
Hampshire Coin and Currency times or the worst of times, but
Expo. While the location is still they sure are interesting times!
up in the air, the date chosen
- Bob Hewey
NENA News 5
It Doesn't hove to be fill
Greek to You
Book Review by Jan M. Dyroff
Wayne G. Sayles, Ancient Coin Collecting II: Numismatic Art
of the Greek World. Iola: Krause Publications, 2007. $29.99
T
his book is the second has to be taken into account.
edition of the Greek There is a curious connection
portion of Mr. Sayles’ six between numismatics and
volume series on ancient coin history, because the coins can
collecting. He has written over pin down rulers and dynasties,
two hundred articles on ancient clarify trade routes and
coin collecting, in addition to his economic ties, and, indeed,
book Classical Deception. In uncover “new” cities and
addition to founding nations.
The Celator (the monthly Additionally, the subject
magazine for collectors of matter is vast. It is impossible
classical coins), he co-authored for one person to be
with the late William F. Spengler knowledgeable about all issues
the series on Turkoman figural that fall into the Greek category
bronze coins. (as a case in point, the British
One of the points made Museum collection is published
early on in this book is that in about thirty huge volumes,
while ancient history has not and that’s just the tip of the
changed much in the past few iceberg,). While many studies
years, there have been additions have been done in the last
to our knowledge of certain quarter century, it is a tribute to
series of ancient coins, and that the quality of research and
Continued on Next Page
6 Nena News
downright tenacity that many of
the studies done fifty or a
hundred years ago have not been
superseded.
As an example of the
question of timeliness, there is
the matter of the coins of
Bactria, which was Hellenized
after Alexander the Great
conquered the area (Bactria is
still in the news, comprising
parts of Pakistan and
Afghanistan - indeed one of the
most important archeological
sites there is under a runway of a is, where it came from, and
U.S. air base). After Alexander what we know about it.
left, the region, unsurprisingly, Recognizing that many
broke down into a number of people like to collect by region
kingdoms and satrapies. Mr. (or city or state), he has
Sayles uses the most very recent included a list of mint cities for
work of Robert Senior and Brian each, as well as maps which
Kritt to bring his reader up to identify the major coining
speed. centers of the region. This is a
In this volume we have a very helpful feature inasmuch
very good introduction to as the geography of Greece can
collecting Greek coins. Mr. be confusing (particularly in
Sayles focuses on textual and antiquity when due to conflict
bibliographical references. or treaty boundaries changed
Think of each one of his sections with regularity).
as an information pyramid, with Mr. Sayles most
an illustration and identification importantly focuses on the
of the coin at the top, then a concept of numismatics as art.
descriptive paragraph or two, While coins may aid the
and finally a bibliography to archeologist or historian, they
finish it off. Simply put, he are also in the bailiwick of art
answers the questions of what it history. All of these coins were
Continued on Next Page
NENA News 7
struck from hand-carved dies to get anyone started. I suppose
by an artist known as a celator. that Mr. Sayles’ work begins to
The designs and fabric of many answer the question of what it
Greek coins are unparalleled. is all about. His summaries of
Celators also engraved gems myths (with illustrations from
and seals, so numismatics ancient red ware vases are
begins to merge with artistic delightful), and his biographies
disciplines. are cogent and not at all
Allied to this concept is overwhelming.
the notion that you ought to Clearly, one of the
know what the coins are all difficulties in dealing with
about, and this you learn from Greek coins is intrinsic in their
the designs. One of the trade nature - the inscriptions (if any)
coins of antiquity was the are in Greek (often
Athenian tetradrachm (Athena abbreviated). Mr. Sayles has
on the obverse, and an owl with addressed this stumbling block
the letters alpha, theta and by including Latinized names
epsilon on the reverse). To or texts along with the Greek.
appreciate this silver piece you This is a wonderful and
ought to be aware Athena was practical notion, except that his
the patron of the city and that Latinizations are, at times,
the owl was her symbol. I quirky and not in line with what
mention this because the “owl” you would see in sale catalogs
is one of the most recognized or many of the standard
ancient coins. But every place reference works.
had its own patron with his or His bibliographies are
her symbol. Mr. Sayles takes extensive and clear, except
us through the major points of when it comes to abbreviation
mythology and symbols as they of periodical titles such as
apply. “BAR”, “SNR”, “SAN” or
This book is not “NNM.” Some you can guess
intended to be a reference at, while others remain a
source for any one topic or mystery. There should be a list
coin; however, there are enough of commonly used
illustrations, lists of mints, abbreviations.
explanations of alphabets, and Actually, the only real
correlations of denominations blooper I found in this book
8 Nena News Continued on Next Page
was on page 89, where there on the top of page 88 and
was a section on Magnesia in depicts a “sensitive portrait of
Ionia. In the text there was Apollo Grynios.”
described a very nice coin to be This ambitious book is
shown as illustration. It should highly recommendable. It does
have been Artemis with a a great deal in a very limited
stephane in her hair and space. It serves as an excellent
carrying a bow and quiver, with introduction to ancient Greek
Apollo standing on the meander coinage and as a jumping off
pattern on the reverse. Instead point for helping to identify any
there is a tetradrachm of Myrina ancient Greek coins that might
in Aiolis, which coin is found come your way.
2008 NENfi Medal
W Design Contest
e need your input. Planning for the 2008 Annual
Conference and Convention is well underway and we
need submissions for this year’s NENA Medal design.
It’s easy to win! Send us a drawing of what you feel the
NENA Medal should look like and if your design is chosen it will
be used for the striking of the medal for 2008. The winner of the
chosen entry will receive a 2 piece set of the medals, one is silver
and one in bronze as a prize. It’s easy, it’s fun. You can do it. Send
us your sketch today! Be sure to enclose your name, address,
phone number and email.
Entries are limited to paid up members and their immediate
families. The design should have a theme related to New England.
Entry deadline is April 1, 2008. Good Luck!!
Send your entries to:
NENA MEDAL ENTRIES
P. O. Box 920586
Needham, MA 02492-0007
NENA News 9
Club Meeting Times
and Locations
Blackstone Valley Coin Club, Blackstone Mansfield Center, CT. Meeting fourth Monday
Municipal Center Senior Center Meeting Room, Sept, through April (except December) 7:30
St. Pauley St ..Blackstone, MA. Meetings third P.M.
Tuesday, 7 P.M. Annual coin Show in April 2, 2006. See our ad
on page 8. Dinner/Donation Auction in
Boston Numismatic Society. Newton December. For information call (860) 429-
Highlands Woman’s Club, 72 Columbus Street, 6970 (6 - 9 P.M.).
Newton Highlands, MA. Meetings second
Tuesday, Sept. - June. For information call 617 Nashua Coin Club, Nashua Public Libraiy, 2
244-1972 (Colony Coin) or e-mail to Court Street, Nashua, NH. Meetings second
bosnumsoc @yahoo.com Wednesday 7 P.M., except October.
www.nashuacoinciub.org
Central Connecticut Coin Club, South
Windsor Public Library, Sullivan Ave., South Newport Country Coin Club, Meeting room
Windsor, CT. Meetings first Tuesday Sept. - at REAR, 333 Valley Road, Middletown, RI.
June, 7 P.M. For information: [phone] Meetings the second Tuesday of the month, 8
P.M. For information contact Carlton Johnson,
Collectors Club of Boston, Woman’s Club, 72 P. O. Box 3, Newport, Rl 02840
Columbus Street, Newton Highlands, MA.
Meetings fourth Tuesday, Sept. - June, 8 P.M. Pawcatuck Valley Coin Club, Neighborhood
For information [phone] Center, intersection of Routes 1 and 2,
Pawcatuck, CT. Meetings third Wednesday
Currency Club of New England, Woman’s year round, 7:30 P.M. For information contact
Club, 72 Columbus Street, Newton Highlands, David Barbone at [phone].
MA. Meetings all at 8 P.M. the first Monday,
Oct. - June, except September: the second Southbridge Coin Club, Knights of
Monday of the month. For information (978) Columbus Hall, 169 Worcester Street,
687-2888 Southbridge, MA. Meetings first Friday,
September - June, 7:30 P.M. (Doors open at
Gateway Coin Club, Ballard Hill Community 6:30 P.M.)
Center, Comer Pleasant and Main Streets,
Lincoln, ME. Meetings first Tuesday, 7 P.M. For West Springfield Coin Club, Church of the
information [phone] Good Sheperd, Elm Street, West Springfield,
MA. Meetings second Sunday,
Gorham Coin Club. Meets at the Maine September - June, 7 P.M.
Veterans Home. 290 U.S. Route 1,
Scarborough, ME, on the 1st and 3rd Sunday, Worcester County Numismatic Society, 203
September to June at 7 P.M. For information: Pakachoag St., Auburn, MA. Meetings second
Stephen A. Crain, 89 Varney Mill Rd., Friday, September - June, 7:30 P.M. For
Windham, ME 04062 [phone]. information: (This needs updating. Anyone
with information please let us know.)
Greater New Bedford Coin Club. Andrew
Dahill V.F.W., Park Street, New Bedford. MA. To list club meetings and activities in
Meetings second and fourth Sundays. 7 P.M. upcoming issues of NENA NEWS, send
For information: John Izidoro, P. O. Box 2991, information along with your name, title and
New Bedford. MA 02741 telephone number to:
Joe Duval, P. O. Box 28,
Mansfield Numismatic Society. Mansfield Willimantic, CT 06226 or
Center Library, Route 89, WarrenviUe Road, email the information to:
10 Nena News [email protected]