Winning Ways: Official Publication of Women in Numismatics, vol. 16, no. 1

2 MB·English

by  Women in Numismatics

WOMEN NUMISMATICS
IN
ways
winning
VOLUME ISSUE
JANUARY 2007 16, 1
MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS
A “ROCKY MOUNTAIN
MY SUMMER
HIGH”
-
SEMINAR STORY
THE SHIPWRECK
OF THE GEORGE
TAULANE...
SUMMER
SEMINAR!
Fitts: President's Corner
Board of Directors President’s Corner
President Prue Fitts
By Prue Fitts
Vice President Lisa Loos
Secretary- Jacquie Flanigan
with the New England Numismatic Association.
Treasurer Cindy Mohon
On Saturday, there was a YN program run by
Editor Katie Heinrich
Jack Haroian and Jack Riley. I was fortunate to
Publicity Carrie Best assist them. There were only two girls in the
Member-at-Large Lorraine Weiss group of ten. I am constantly surprised (and I
shouldn’t be) at the depth ofknowledge and the
i have just come back from an 80 mile
WIN Contacts ride on the Turnpike from the west- interest they all have. Jack H gives them all do-
ern part of Massachusetts through what my nated Red Books and gives them questions to
Organization MailingAddress: granny called Tapestry get them used to looking things up in it. There
are donated prizes galore
Cindy Mohon colors - burnt siennas,
and everyone goes home
moss greens, burnished
Treasurer
with a huge sack full. One
PO Box 8955 browns, and the breath-
boy celebrating his birthday
catching ceruleans of the
CA
Redlands, 92375-2155 swamp maples. It was like that day said it was the best
driving through a medieval birthday present he got! I
Winning WaysMailingAddress: wall hanging. These are no hope 1 will get to include a
Katie Heinrich longer the splashy colors part on ancient coins next
PO Box 446 that all the magazines print year. If you get a chance to
OH — get involved in your local
Miamitown, 45041 the adolescent in-your-
area, please do so. The
Email: [email protected] face phase but the more
— rewards are tenfold.
settled, confident almost
“I will always be the last WIN
business:
hurrah” wisdom phase. It
Newsletter Policy is truly my favorite season Your WIN board
Winning Ways is the publication of Women (but I say this at every voted to donate an unre-
In Numismatics. The acceptance of an ad change ©). stricted gift of $300 to the
(business or classified) does not constitute ANA library this year.
approval or endorsement by WIN. WIN Our first ever WIN-ANA joint sympo-
claims no liability for content of business or sium in Denver was a great success. Not as well There will be elections in the fall of
classified ads. All ads are accepted on a space attended as I had hoped, but for a first effort, it 07 for the next two year terms. Please think
limited basis. was truly remarkable. Anne Bentley of the Mas- about joining this very vital group. With this
sachusetts Historical Society and Barbara Greg- issue, we have a new editor, Katie Heinrich who
Letters-to-the-Editor Policy ory*, editor of Numismatist, were our lead-off was one ofour scholarship winners for the sum-
Letters-to-the-Editor are welcome from both speakers followed by a forum of women updat- mer seminar last year. Carrie Best has joined us
members and non-mem-bers and must in- ing us on several different areas of present nu- as Parliamentarian. We will have short job de-
clude your name, address and phone num- mismatic activities. Linda Fenton, Marilyn Ree- scriptions in the next issue. Please feel free to
ber. Letters will be published in Winning bak, Jane Colvard, and Patti Finner participated contact any ofus for more information.
Ways as space and publication deadlines per- as did I, as the moderator. They covered new
mit and are subject to editorial discretion. legislation regarding ancient coins and the fu- The next WIN general meetingwill be
Whenever a letter addresses a specific prob- ture of our hobby in the Girl Scout, Boy Scout, at 9 am at FUN in Orlando on Saturday, Janu-
lem that the Board can assist in resolving, it and YN programs. ary 6. I hope to see you there !
will be forwarded to the appropriate people.
The symposium was a good segue into
Feature Articles the last show I went to at the beginning ofOcto- With bcst wishes for a haPPY and prosperous
NH NewYear!
her. It was held in Bedford, in conjunction
Articles, photos and features pertaining to
the numismatic industry are welcome and are
*Just awarded the prestigious Clemmy Award by
subject to editorial discretion and editing. / [email protected]
CNG.
WINNING WAYS
2 •
1
Table ofContents
Table of Contents
Board of Directors Page 2
Contacts Page 2
Policy Statements Page 2
President’s Corner By Prue Fitts Page 2
Table of Contents Page 3
Mary, Queen of Scots By Prue Fitts Page 4
Adventures at the Summer Seminar 2005 By Susan Zarit Page 8
A “Rocky Mountain High” - My Summer Seminar Story By Alex Troxell Page 9
The Shipwreck of the George Taulane, Its Congressional Gold Medal
and the Men Who Received It By Kari Brower Page 1
Summer Seminar! By Marianne A. Musella, MBA Page 13
From Your Editor By Katie Fleinrich Page 16
Secretary’s Page By Jacquie Flanigan Page 17
An Irreplaceable Seminar By Katie Fleinrich Page 18
WIN Scholarship Award Page 19
WIN
Membership Application Page 20
WIN
Advertising Rates Page 20
Various Advertisements Pages 12, 15, 16, 18, and 20
Deadlines
All content or advertisements submitted for use in Winning Ways should be received by the following deadlines for
each issue:
April Issue February 15th
August Issue June 2nd
January Issue November 1st
JANUARY 2007 3
Fitts: Mary, Queen ofScots
Mary, Queen of Scots
By Prue Fitts
the Scots to heel; rather it made them more languages, needlework, drawing and horseman-
determined to sever their ties. ship. And none of the skills needed to run a
c
country for she was not expected to do so. Coin-
Most ot the gold coinage was struck in age continued to be struck in her name in Scot-
the period ot 1542—1558 called the "First Pe-
land. From 1553, silver testoons show a crowned
riod" or "Before Marriage". Her name appears
he was a Queen at six days old; a Mary or an initial with a crown above, or a
with the initials IG Jacobus Gubernator or
queen in waiting at 15; a Queen shield with a crown above. The reverses have
James, Earl ot Arran, Regent and Governor of
at 17; and a Queen Dowager at 18. She had Scotland. Some have the initial A for the mint either a shield or cross potent. Both the testoon
three husbands - one ot whom she was accused master. There are Abbey Crowns at 20 shillings and the half testoon bear the legend "In thy
of murdering and a son who would be ruler not strength deliver me." (Note: All inscriptions are
(later raised to 22 shillings), and 20 and 44 shil-
just ot her own country, bur also of the country in Latin. I have given just the translations into
ling pieces in gold. In billion, there was the
she believed she was entitled to rule. She was English.)
curiously named Bawbee (equal to 6 shillings),
cheered, reviled, forced to abdicate, and be-
the half bawbee, the plack (equal to 4 pennies), By 1555, Mary's mother became re-
headed by the woman she hoped to supplant.
the lion at 1Vi penny (with a lion rampant on gent for her in Scotland and issued a three
the reverse), and the penny. pound gold piece (equal to 60 shillings) or POR-
TRAIT RYAL, showing an older Mary.
From 1547, this shows afacing infant head with an
Shefaces rightwith an inscription similar to the
open croton. The reverse has a Cross forchee with
testoon on the obverse. The reverse reads, "Thejust
cinquefoils and cross in angles. This was struck in
man lives byfaith."
Edinburgh.
Henry VIII died in 1547 and, by the Three years later, Mary married Francis in 1558
summer of 1548, Mary was sent to France as the when she was 16 and he was 15. Scotland issued
fiancee of the Dauphin, Francis, the eldest son a Ducat1 equal to 20 shillings
,
of Henry II. She was raised in his family as a
French speaking Catholic and learned all the
Mary at age 12. crafts she would need as his ornamental wife;
And who was she? Mary, daughter ot
V
James of Scotland and Marie de Guise was
born on 8 December 1542. She became Queen
ofScots upon the death of her father. Hoping to
Facing busts ofthe newlyweds show that they rule
unite this kingdom with his own, Henry VIII of
not only over France but also its geo-political county
England proposed marriage between his 5 year
old son and heir, Prince Edward and Mary but ofVienne. The reverse has a cross of8 interlinked
the independent Scots didn't want to be ab- dolphins, a play on the word Dauphin, with Lorraine
sorbed, so they crowned Mary in September of crosses in the angles.
1543. Henry retaliated by sending an army to
Scotland for a campaign called the "rough woo- and festoons and half-testoons. There was a new
ing". Its carnage and devastation did not bring Mary and Francis. issue of half alloy called a twelvepenny Groat or
4 WINNING WAYS
i-irts: Mary, Ljueen or boots
"nonsunt" (Note: So called because ot the in- with him. Coin legends from Scotland state that their Queen who was called the most beautiful
scription, lAM NON/SUNT DVO/SED the couple is now King and Queen ot France woman in Europe.
VNA/CARO or They are no more twain but and Scotland and a new coat ot arms appeared
one flesh.) Coinage trom this second period, on the testoon. At the coronation was Henry,
1558-1560, is called the Francis and Mary pe- Lord Darnley, 14, who would become Mary's
riod. second husband and whose murder would ulti-
mately lead to her abdication. During the next
In less than seven months, Mary Tu- year, both Mary's mother and her husband died.
dor, Queen of England, died and her halt sister, Suddenly, trom being Queen of two countries,
Elizabeth, succeeded. Devious Henry II, King of she was still Queen of one but Queen Dowager
France, proclaimed Francis and Mary as King
of the other, and worse, a childless Queen
and Queen ot England, on the very day that
Dowager. Her options were limited. She could
Elizabeth
remain in France with her mother-in-law, an-
other Queen Dowager, effect a brilliant second
marriage, or go home.
The brilliant marriage did not materi-
alize and in August of 1561, she sailed home to
a completely unfamiliar country. Coinage from
this period 1560- 65 is called "The first widow-
hood". Gold is represented by a unique piece
with a crown over arms on the obverse and four
crowned M's crosswise on the reverse, with this- She was six feet tall, slender with a pale complex-
tles in angles. The silver testoon ion and frizzy auburn hair. She was composed
was crowned Queen of England. The Scottish
and dignified. But they soon complained that
Parliament voted that Mary could award Francis —
the French court she had brought with her
the Crown Matrimonial, which meant he could —
about 250 persons were frivolous and con-
inherit her crown ifshe died first. Scottish coin- cerned only with balls and banquets which the
age proclaimed that they were King and Queen
Scots regarded as “devilish”. All agreed that she
of Scotland and Dauphin and Dauphiness of
must marry again soon and produce a son to
Vienne. There were numerous testoons with an
ensure the succession.
FM monogram on the obverse and the coat of
arms ofthe reverse. shows a dowdy Mary (she was only 18) in con- Re-enter, Henry, Lord Darnley of the
temporary costume. (Note: The obverse has the
O
normal inscription. The reverse states Lord,
save They people.) No gold coinage was struck
after this period.
The Scottish system ot government
was tripartite: the nobles ruled their own fief-
Mary did have a claim to the English doms as princes (resenting any interference from
throne through her grandmother, Margaret, the the Monarchy); the gentry ruled lands received
elder sister of Henry VIII. But Margaret had trom the crown with their own rules; and the
given up her family's claim when she married burgesses were the urban class.
James IV, Scottish grandfather to Mary. It was
The majority ot the Scots were Catho-
this quest for the English throne which shaped
Mary's later life. Had she paid more attention to lics but most of the Lords were Protestant. A
devoted Catholic, Mary nevertheless promised
the throne she was on, some theorize, she might
to uphold Protestantism. Her strong-minded
have retained it and later, her head.
Guise uncles were in control ot the government
Lite changed swiftly tor Mary. Her and she left it that way. Her duties were for the
father in law, Henry II died in 1559. Three most part, only ceremonial.
months later, Francis was crowned King of
The Scots were initially delighted with ambitious Lennox family. He also had a claim t<
France. Already a Queen, Mary was not crowned
JANUARY 2007 5
Fitts: Mary, Queen ofScots
the English throne and he was a Catholic. For below. His name is given precedence. The sec- in triumph to Edinburgh to reclaim her throne.
both reasons, Elizabeth withheld permission for ond one has a crowned shield with a thistle on In a wise political move, she pardoned some of
the marriage. She did, however, agree that he each side on the obverse and gives precedence to the conspirators who had murdered Rizzio.
could visit his cousin, Mary, in the spring of Mary's name. The reverse shows a tortoise climb- Darnley came before tbe Privy Council, stating
1565. Darnley made an excellent first impres- ing a palm tree. There are two-third and one- that he was never involved in the plot. It was a
sion as he was proficient in all the gentlemanly third ryals as well with the same designs. blatant lie, but Mary protected him. This pro-
skills. Mary was entranced. Since her return to tected her reputation and gave legitimacy to
Immediately, Queen Elizabeth seized
Scotland, Mary had been trying unsuccessfully their unborn child.
to get Elizabeth to name her as successor to the all of Darnley's family holdings in England. The
Scotts who were not Catholic renounced their On the 19th of June, after 26 hours of
throne of England. There ensued a period of
allegiance to Mary, becoming outlaws. The ensu- labor, her son James VI
verbal fencing as Elizabeth seemed to agree even
offering her own favorite as a possible husband. ing battle between them and the royalists re-
sulted in a significant victory tor Mary and
Then she would withdraw the offer and any
Darnley. By the end of October, Mary was preg-
commitment. Mary realized that Elizabeth
nant. All events seemed to justify her marriage.
would not agree under any circumstances.
The nation rejoiced. However,
Mary required permission to marry
Darnley realized that a child would forever block
from the Scottish Lords, and because they were
annoyed with Elizabeth's interference, they HIM from tbe crown. He could succeed only it
tbe Crown Matrimonial were bis and both Mary
agreed to the marriage with Darnley. Mary
knighted him and he swore an oath ofloyalty to and the child died. Mary refused to grant it to
him until he came of age (he was 18 to her 22).
her. This was a blatant act of treason to Queen
Her love tor him had quickly burned out when
Elizabeth who commanded him to return to
England at once. He refused. On the 29th of she saw the violent man he was when thwarted.
In her Court was David Rizzio, an Italian and
July, 1565, Mary and Darnley were married in a
Mary's constant companion who gradually be-
Catholic ceremony and they threw handfuls of
came a powerful advisor. Rumors started that he
gold and silver coins to the crowds outside.
was the father of her unborn child and a plot to
Darnley was proclaimed King and Mary, besot-
kill him developed. The real motive was to re- was bom and her popularity soared. James was
ted with love, deferred to him in all things.
move Mary from power and install her half also a player in the larger game of succession as
brother James Stewart, Earl of Moray as the real Queen Elizabeth was still not married. (Note:
ruler with Darnley as a puppet King. Many He would indeed inherit Elizabeth's crown and
signed the contract and Darnley himself was an become James I of England.) Atypically, Mary7
enthusiastic conspirator, insisting that the mur- kept the baby with her instead of setting him up
der take place in front ofMary in hopes that she in his own rooms. She, too, felt that he was in
would miscarry. danger from his father.
I
On March 9, 1566, the conspirators The marriage deteriorated. Mary knew
pounced. Mary felt cold steel on her throat and that Darnley continued to work against her. He
a gun aimed at her misfired. As Rizzio was wrote the Pope that Mary's religious beliefs were
dragged away, Mary was put under house arrest. "dubious" and that sbe was not taking care of
Queen Elizabeth was horrified when she learned the Catholic cause as she should. He refused to
of Rizzio's murder and the imprisonment of the go to James' baptism, an unforgivable insult to
anointed sovereign of Scotland. She sent imme- his wife. The sendee was Catholic, which of-
M
This medalwas struck with the inscription, ary
diate word of support. Darnley soon realized his fended the Protestants. Queen Elizabeth's repre-
and Henry Grace ofGod, Queen and King ofScot- own vulnerability and begged Mary to take him sentatives were told not to address Darnley as
land. back, stating that he only wanted the Crown King.
Matrimonial.
The Lords proposed to Mary that they
Not surprisingly, this period of coinage, 1565- Mary pretended to go into labor and would help her end the marriage if she would
67, is called Mary and Henry Darnley. A silver, two days later, she slipped out of the castle tak- pardon those Lords who had plotted against
dollar sized coin, called a ryal was struck equal ing Darnley with her. Within a week, 4,000 her. She agreed bur only if tbe divorce were
to 30 shillings. The first and rarer type shows troops gathered and within a second week, sup- lawful and not prejudicial to her son. Tbe "law
facing busts of Henry and Mary with a dare
porters had doubled in numbers. Sbe returned of consanguinity" bad been given a dispensation
WINNING WAYS
6
Fitts: Mary, Queen ofScots
so could not be invoked by the church. In Scot- deed. Mary did not realize that it was in the best the 2/3 ryal and the 1/3 ryal.
land, a King could not be found guilty of trea- interests of many ofthem not to solve the mur-
A speedy trial acquitted Bothwell who
son. Further, to arrest the father ot the Prince der.
was home in bed with his wife when the explo-
would cause embarrassment and a scandal. She
An autopsy concluded that Darnley sion occurred. Mary does not appear to be suspi-
told the Lords that she would have to wait for
had been blown into the garden by the explo- cious of his involvement at this time and stood
Darnley's death. This simple statement sealed
sion and had suffered grave internal injuries. by him. This and her increasing dependence on
his fate.
Mary offered a substantial reward and a pardon him produced a placard in Edinburgh.
James Hepburn, Lord Bothwell, for the identification of the murderers. The
candidates were numerous. Many of the Lords
pardoned for Rizzio's murder wanted revenge on
Darnley. Any real evidence had been blown up
at the site and the one document which listed
the names of the conspirators was carefully
guarded by them.
Mary was the chief beneficiary of
Darnley's death. It treed her ot his embarrassing
behaviour, his plots to overthrow her and take
precedence as ruler from her and their son. But
in spite of the Casket letters, (Note; These fa-
had rescued her after the death ot Rizzio and mous letters no longer exist except as copies.
had become her greatest supporter. Another Used to show that Mary was by now in an adul-
man with a motive, his goal was to marry her terous affair with Bothwell and an active plan-
and rule. There was never any doubt ot his com- ner in Darnley's murder, there is ample evidence
The mermaid was the traditional portray ofa whore;
plicity in the conspiracy to kill Darnley. In Feb- that these letters are deliberate forgeries made to
ruary of 1567, Darnley and Mary moved to the implicate her.) there is no evidence. And there Mary is depicted with a whip to protect the hare,
south ot Edinburgh, where he was in the last are arguments that her claim to the English Bothwell's heraldic device. The hare is protected by
stages ofrecovering from his latest bout ofsyphi- throne was stronger with him alive. Further, pointed swords. This version carries the motto, which
lis (Note: Ironically, this illness prevented his Archbishop Hamilton was being restored to a
translated reads "Destruction awaits the wicked on
planned escape from Scotland on Christmas position of adjudicating matrimonial cases and
A every side".
Eve.) and its ghastly treatment. curious omis- would be sure to support her against his long-
sion in his retinue were his guards. Both he and standing enemy, the Lennoxes. Mary always Her downward spiral continued. Bothwell, still
Mary were concerned about his safety. She vis- maintained that she was the intended victim in married, proposed to Mary. She refused. He
ited him daily but stayed nearby. the bombing, and that merest chance had saved kidnapped her, raped (Note: Rape on the per-
her. She took her son to Edinburgh castle and son of a Queen is treason. She publicly par-
The evening of the 9th Mary spent
retired into seclusion. Her subsequent behavior doned him for this.) her and kept her a virtual
part of the evening with Darnley. It was his last
seems to prove that she was not involved either prisoner until she changed her mind. A mar-
day of convalescence but she demurred on stay-
in the murder or in an affair with Bothwell at riage contract was signed by Mary, promoting
ing the night. As she left, she noted that one ot
the time. Coinage for this period is referred to the lie that she was still in charge of her own
Bothwell's men was filthy. "Howr begrimed you
as the Fifth Period or "Second widowhood" and actions. On the 15th ot May, they were married
are!" she said. She did not know the "grime" was
A consists ofthe ryal, in a Protestant ceremony, clearly demonstrating
gunpowder. scant two hours later, a massive
her complete submission. She wore her widow's
explosion shook the whole town and awakened
weeds
Mary who thought it was cannon fire. Darnley's
house was totally destroyed. Three servants were
found dead, but there was no trace of the King
for another three hours when someone checked
the garden. The King and his valet were nearly
naked and had not a mark on them. An emer-
gency session of the Privy Council was called to The identical design as thesecond type ofthe ryal of
deal with this latest major political scandal and Mary and Henry except that Maiy's name appears
how to find the traitors who committed the
alone. The reverse is the same as is the date of 1567
JANUARY 2007 7
^
Fitts: Mary, Queen ofScots
as she had when she married Damley. burgh to the shouts and jeers ofher subjects and years later, would cost her her head.
soldiers, "Bum the whore! Kill her! Drown her."
Ultimately, it was the marriage rather Her reign was over. There was no trial for she Post script. Bothwell died on 14 April
than the murder which caused her downfall. held the damning evidence against her accusers. in 1578 from imprisonment in barbaric condi-
Most Scots were outraged, believing that the She was imprisoned at Lochleven Castle where tions. There is no record of Mary’s reaction to
murder had been for just this. Queen Elizabeth she miscarried twins, and while still recovering, his death. Because she spent the rest of her life
also believed in Bothwell's guilt and his danger was forced to abdicate in favor of her 13 month plotting the assassination of her cousin, Eliza-
to the young Prince. Catholic Europe consid- old son. beth, she was beheaded on February 8, 1587.
ered that Mary had married a heretic in an She wore red which was the liturgical color for
Elizabeth refused to negotiate with the
unlawful ceremony and had committed bigamy. Catholic martyrdom.
Scottish Lords as long as Mary was imprisoned.
Her personal confessor left and worse, the Pope She declared that war would result if they de-
broke off communications. No one considered posed or executed her. The Lords hurriedly Mary's son James succeeded to the
that she had been a virtual prisoner when this crowned James in a Protestant ceremony, the throne of Scotland at the age of one in 1567
when Mary abdicated. By 1578, the value of
happened or that she had been desperately ill first ever in Scottish history. Bothwell w'as in the
for months, probably with a nervous break- North but by September, he was placed in hon- silver had risen so much that the silver coins of
down. Scotland moved ever closer to civil war orable confinement by King Frederick of Den- 3oth Mary and James were countermarked with
with the Confederate Lords on one side, and mark and Norway. a crowned thistle. The ryals were re-issued at 36s
Mary and Bothwell on the other. The Lords 9d and Mary's testoom were valued at 7s 4d.
Mary escaped from Lochleven during
promised to restore Mary to the throne if she a May Day celebration the next year, 1568. She
abandoned Bothwell. Pregnant, she was not Coins ofScotland, Ireland and the Islands Standard cata-
rallied an army, stating her abdication was un-
willing to do this. logue of British Coins, Volume 2 by Peter Seaby and
der duress. Briefly, it looked as it she would P. Frank Purvey.
On the 15th of June, the two armies regain her kingdom and her titles. But at the Coins ofScotland, Ireland and the Islands (Jersey, Guernsey,
met at Carberry Hill. Reinforcements for the Battle of Langside, two weeks later, her forces Man and Lundy) Pre-decimal issues. Second edition.
Queen never arrived and so many men drifted and her hopes were crushed. Her friends tried Standard catalogue of British Coins, Spink 2003
off or deserted that the outcome of a battle was to persuade her to flee to France where she had .Volume 2 by PeterSeabyand P. Frank Purvey.
foregone. An agreement was reached whereby lands and income, but she decided to cast her Elizabeth and Mary, Cousins, Rivals, Queens by Jane
she would surrender to the Lords in exchange lot with her cousin Elizabeth. It was yet another Dunn. Alfred A Knopf, 2004
for Bothw'ell's freedom. She returned to Edin- bad choice. The resolution, when it came 19 Mary Queen ofScots and the Murder ofLord Damley by
Alison Weir Random House, 2004
Adventures at the Summer Seminar 2005
By Susan Zarit
W
We
handle numismatics. were challenged and in evident'as you sit and rest at the beautiful park
turn challenged each other. In getting to know downtown.
the other members of our class, we learned how
each person came to the class. I learned from "townsfolk", that at one
time, the city was divided in half. On one side
V
hat a thrill!!! I was chosen to Several of us were "numismatic wid- were the "good" businessmen and bankers.
attend the summer session in ows". Our spouses were collectors and we Across the street were the "houses of ill-repute".
Colorado Springs. I was so excited that 1 was wanted to understand the attraction of the In order to remain respectable and keep their
packed and ready to go three weeks in advance. hobby. We also had "young" numismatists. We wives from knowing, tunnels were dug under-
were all at different levels of understanding and neath the street. The visits remained discreet
I chose to take the "Adventures in learned from each other. and commerce continued to prosper.
Numismatics" course. It was for beginners but it
was by no means boring. We attended "class" In touring Colorado Springs and the This experience has left me wanting to
every morning and then toured the city in the surrounding area, we discovered how the city learn more. I now have a better understanding
afternoon. got its wonderful charm. The shopping is great. and appreciation for the fantastic world of nu-
The quaint shops offer a variety of items to mismatics. Words can not express my gratitude
We learned the basics in grading, how satisfy even the best of shoppers. The history is to WIN for this opportunity.
to spot a counterfeit and how to examine and
WINNING WAYS
8
Troxell: A “Rocky Mountain High”- My Summer Seminar Story
A “Rocky Mountain High” My Summer Seminar Story
-
By Alex Troxell
located the Loomis dorms, and how to get to Class started at 1 PM, right after
C Worner Center. Before long, 1 knew pretty lunch. I was taking “Feisty Women in Power on
much where I was and how to get where I Coins and in Art”. It was a very interesting class.
needed to go. My dorm was on the second floor Prue Fitts, ANA governor and president ofWIN
of Loomis; my class was upstairs in Worner, and (Women in Numismatics), was my instructor;
aturday, July 1st, was the begin- meals were on Worner’s main floor. Once 1 was she was extremely nice and very interesting.
ning of my ANA Summer Semi- satisfied that I knew where I was, I was ready for Equally interesting were die two other people in
nar trip and it is also etched in my memory as bed. my class: Phyllis and Liz. Phyllis was a little bit
ogc3eh:nt4eet5cikonAefgdMtthihenraonlatuodngtghsheteissltlefcrdeuoarnnyidtsteyddoefastukmpytahnseldpiefaemn.idrypIiondwrgato.dkaenApfautihepdorutarotI Tc1ahutencrpheaucpwkaeosdOnnmnmyoytSthushilninednegagpys.,mWaunh1cdehssnektitt1oplpfeieddndaoilnlbyturondetiamidklyfgaresltotuonumcpt.h,o otturlhsideepedrwtetotoehIkars,rnuaneIYlmNlaaearatrgaenetw.ehdSownhetseehkahutsapdsphurnjeeutvsiiatlonuradse.tfhueTerwhrnreyedohauurfgssrhboaaomgnuodta,
walk me to my gate, the Delta attendant told me started at 1 PM, so 1 went down and took she’s seen all seven continents, and she recently
that 1 had missed my flight. The plane hadn’t a look at the book sale at ANA. I bought
left yet, it was still on the ground, and they weie some great books, and 1 got to take a look
still boarding passengers, but because I was there at the ANA Headquarters. It was an amaz-
at 6:52 and not 6:50, they had given away my
ing place, and though I didn’t really have
ticket. I was stunned. a chance to look around too much, from
Needless to say, my trip started out a what I saw, the whole building was filled
with coins and collections and infinite
little differently than I had hoped. Everything
turned out fine though, and the airline put me information. There were museum exhibits
on a flight that left at 7 PM that night. It was and collections on display, a library filled
with books, and many knowledgeable staff mem-
great because the flight was straight through retired from being a school teacher. Liz w’as the
(with no layover in Salt Lake City) and I was in bers on hand. I couldn’t wait to get an opportu- other woman in my class. She was a younger
nity to spend some time there.
first class, but the 13 hours I spent in the airport lady, a newlywed. She wasn’t really into coins,
waiting tor that three-hour flight was not so but she came to the seminar with her husband,
There was no time for further investi-
wonderful. When I finally made it to Colorado gation of the headquarters then, because lunch and this had looked like the most interesting
Springs later that night, I was exhausted! I was was only an hour away and I still wanted to see class to her.
AM
up from 3:45 Georgia rime to midnight
the campus. I had a little bit of time on Saturday The class did turn out to be genuinely
Colorado time, 22 hours!
night to figure out where things were, but it fascinating. We learned about many women,
Going that long on five hours of sleep wasn’t until Sunday morning that 1 got a chance from prehistory to Egyptian pharaohs, and from
was tough, but somehow (I have no idea how) I to really explore my surroundings. I found that the empress of China to Maria Theresa, Joan of
managed to stay awake through the entire YN there were pool tables downstairs in Loomis and Arc, and Isabella of Spain, as well as many,
meeting that evening. I met all three chaper- Worner; plus Worner had a book store, a com- many more. We studied their influence on his-
ones, Scott, Greg, and Ginger, and the mentors, puter lab, a grand piano, and a mail room, all of tory and on coinage, and their reigns in power.
Cameron (who I already knew from the Atlanta which were useful to me. Itwas a great class and I feel like learned a lot.
ANA Show) and Amanda (who turned out to be
my roommate). I also met the other 15 YNs campus, lIunncthhesnmuicdkstuopfomnymeexplroartahteironquoifcktlhy,e During my time at the seminar, I
learned a lot from things outside of class-like
attending the seminar that week. Everyone
seemed very nice and I knew I was in tor a great stoo eIatp.utThalel cmayfetsenriifaf fionomdywadsorprmetatyndgoroudshaenddosfof dfiorsrtmnilgifhetawnadsthhoet,vaalunedotfhearirecwoansdintioonaiinrgc.onTdhie-
trip.
was the company. I got to talk to some of the tioning. Each room had a tan in the window,
I was really tired after that meeting, other YNs and some of the chaperones. They but that didn’t blow much air. After that first 24
but before I went to bed I tried to get a feel for were all great people. We had some interesting hours, things cooled down a little. Warm morn-
my surroundings. I did a little navigating to and funny conversations. I really enjoyed being ings with showers in the afternoons became the
figure out where things were. I got a map and in their company. daily routine. The reprieve from the tempera-
JANUARY 2007 9
Troxell: A “Rocky Mountain High"- My Summer Seminar Story
ture usually came by dinner when it cooled off Tuesday was the fourth of July and questions. Everyone’s hand shot up with com-
We
significantly. there was an outdoor barbeque to celebrate. ments, questions, and complaints.
had chicken and ribs and corn and Iriscuits. It
Before dinner on Sunday, while it was was a good meal, but I have to tell you, it wasn’t The YNs were quite upset about the
still raining, there was a wine and cheese recep- changes. Almost every YN made a comment or
as good as the lunch 1 had on Wednesday.
tion tor the Intaglio Engraving students to dis- asked a question. Cutting the seminar down to
play their art. It was really nice, and there was You see, every year Susan McMillan one week took away the second week of classes
some gorgeous art. Christopher Madden makes an Elizabethan feast tor Prue’s class. This tor us. We were frustrated because we are in
(designer of the new $10 bill) and his son both year was no exception and we drove to her school during some of tbe conventions, so even
had artwork on display. I found out that Katie, house tor one of the most amazing meals of my if the mini-seminars do come to our town be-
who had helped show me around campus, was a life. She made deviled eggs that looked like forehand, we couldn’t go. We were all fired up,
great artist. She had a tew stunning pieces on doves, and carved radishes like mushrooms. We bur we remained polite. Unfortunately, by the
display, too. Also, there was a guy named Jerry had gorgeous place settings with fine china and time the meeting ended, the YNs were left feel-
who wasn’t a student in the class, but a musi- crystal glasses. There was chilled carrot soup and ing mostly upset and disappointed about the
cian. He brought his cello and played terrific a wonderlul salad with the best vinaigrette dress- changes.
music. ing I’ve ever tasted. For the main course we had
The meeting ended at 6:30 because
Cornish game hens baked in puff pastry and
On
Sunday, after that magnificent the banquet was starting soon. Because of the
spinach tarts. It all tasted wonderful and authen-
evening and dinner, I went to work on one of tic. We all ate so much that we walked more meeting we just attended, some of the YNs did
my committees for the YN auction. The night ANA not want to go, but we were strongly urged to
than two miles uphill back to just to work
before, I had signed up for two committees, offour meal. attend. No one forced us to go, but Ginger said
cataloging and finance. Cataloging started on that we really needed to go, especially if we were
Sunday night and went on to Monday night. Wednesday night was the YN benefit there on scholarship. They announced all the
Sunday, we were up working until after 1 1 PM. auction. I was on finances, so I sat in the corner scholarship recipients at dinner. We stood up to
On Monday, we proofread everything and did most of the night, waiting for people to pay. I let others know who we were and show our
last minute additions to the catalog. We worked played poker with a few other people on the appreciation for this wonderful opportunity.
late into the night and when we finally finished committee for a while, and then I got to work
After the banquet and hanging out
around 1:30, I found myself upstairs eating ice the credit card machine. The auction went well,
cream and calming down for bed. The late considering the small crowd. We raised more into the wee hours tor the last night with my
hours and hard work were well worth the end than $8,000. The money came in part from the fellow YNs, I crawled into bed and tell asleep
result at the auction. sale of Katie’s artwork, part from Amanda play- almost as soon as my head hit the pillow. When
ing (and not playing) tbe bagpipes and part was my alarm went off at 7:45 AM, I got up and
On Monday afternoon, my class went from some vegemite we sold. Oh yeah, and we turned off the alarm, and then I went right back
to the money museum. I got a chance to get a did sell a few coins, too. to sleep. Later, I woke up to realize that it was
better look at tbe exhibits that were there. First, light outside. I had slept until 9:30, and my aunt
we went down and saw “The Faces of Money”. Thursday was a very controversial day, was going to be there to pick me up at 10! I
Then, we got to look around upstairs. I got a especially considering it was the last day. There hadn’t gven finished packing yet. I hurriedly
special passport from the front desk and looked were rumors spreading in the morning and by started to throw things in my bag. Ten short
at the “Money of the World Today”. I really lunch everyone had heard that they were chang- minutes later my aunt called saying she was
liked that exhibit and I am sure I could have ing the Summer Seminar. The ANA decided there, so I threw everything in my bag as well as
spent weeks reading everything on those posters. that they wanted to have mini-seminar classes I could make it fit and went to say my last good-
before all of their conventions. In order to fund byes. Then I turned in my keys and left the semi-
On Monday night, 1 also went to this endeavor, they wanted to condense the nar.
Pikes Peak. 1 was not used to the altitude, but it Summer Seminar into one week. That night
wasn’t that long of a trip, so it wasn’t very bad. they had a meeting for everyone to attend ex- I had a tew trials and tribulations on
Going up the mountain I got some great pic- plaining the changes. the way, but all in all I had a great trip. It was a
tures. When we got to the top, however, it was lot of fun. I learned so much, not just about
so cold and there was so much fog everything Lane Brunner and Cheryl Von Blu- coins, but also about tbe lives of the many
looked white. Since it was difficult to see, I went cher ran tbe meeting. They explained that they women who shaped the history of the world-
inside the gift shop and got lots of change for wanted to reach more people with the mini- and 1 learned about people in general, and Colo-
squishing pennies. I had also heard about some seminars, and they needed to cut down the rado, and tbe ANA and it’s staff. It was a won-
famous delicious doughnuts you could buy Summer Seminar in order to have enough derful experience, and I can’t wait to go again
there-unfortunately I had no money to buy any. money to fund the classes. Once they were fin- next year.
I guess I’ll bave to try them next time. ished explaining, they asked if anyone bad any
WINNING WAYS
10