Letters to the Editor (May 1, 2018)
Letter spurs thoughts as well as questions
Reading the letters to editor online today. Someone from Sherman, Texas, wrote about buying copper rounds. What are they?
There’s a National Coin Week event at the Brockton, Mass., Library each year in April, and sometimes attendees receive a copper blank and a cent in cellophane; a little package, call it. Is the “copper round” the reader writes about a pre-minted coin? Shame on me I don’t know the terminology, but a round piece of copper with an edge but no die has hit it? What’s it called, a blank with the upset rim?
You don’t have to put my name in the newsletter! Why broadcast my ignorance? Maybe a copper round is a one-ounce round chunk of copper? (Too old too soon, too smart too late!) Keep learning.
Thanks again.
Name withheld
Editor’s note: You are quite right. Silver rounds are one-ounce silver medals of various designs made by private firms. Copper rounds are the same thing, only in copper. A coin blank is unstruck and does not have upset rims. A planchet is a blank with rims upset and ready for the coining press.
Denver nickel shows up in North Carolina
I received my first 2018 nickel on Thursday, March 29, at a CVS Pharmacy in Jamestown, N.C. Surprisingly, it has a “D” mintmark. We seldom, if ever, get Denver coins in change here, particularly this early in the year. It appears that the Denver Mint invasion of the East Coast includes more than just cent coins!
Bob Klippstein
Greensboro N.C.
Cent and quarter first finds of the 2018 collecting year
It took until mid March of this year to find my first 2018 mintmark coin. Oddly enough, I found a 2018 Philadelphia (no mintmark again) new penny and a 2018 Pictured Rocks state park quarter the same day in everyday pocket change. Another oddity (to me, at least) is that down here in my dead-end corner of the country, I have found over three rolls of the supposedly somewhat rare 2017 “P” mintmarked pennies in my everyday change. A few other finds but nothing outstanding.
Name withheld
Passing of hobby friends brings sadness
As seems to happen more and more nowadays, another late night email reports that Ray Lockwood, of Indiana and the august Central States Numismatic Society lost his battle with cancer and passed away.
My contacts and crossing paths with Ray were few and infrequent but always with his wife, Fran, and usually attending the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (RCNA) Conventions. He was always jovial, somewhat quiet, never opinionated but passionate about the world of money, and friendly and ready for a good joke and laugh.
Ray, along with Fran, and I had one commonality: we were all retired educators, and at the junior high level. Boy, junior highers and their puberty! In addition, we were passionate about numismatics and serving our hobby. Ray’s record for and with the esteemed CSNS is confirmation of that fact.
My personal remembrance was last fall 2017, when Ray and Fran took a train trek out to Sacramento, Calif., to relax and to rest. We met up, and the respected Lloyd G. Chan drove us up to Carson City, Nev., and the legendary Carson City Mint.
Having complimentary passes to the Nevada State Museum, which is housed within the CC Mint, we toured and viewed the exhibits. When done, we walked across the street to a well-known upscale coin shop.
Being devoted coin hobbyists, us four spent more time in that shop than the CC Mint across the street. Ray, going through CC dollars, found a semi-rare one, adding it to his collection. This purchase certainly made his trek to Carson City and train trip out West worthwhile, as he remarked.
Ray was one of the numerous coin celebrants that enlightened and enthralled our hobby, this world of money. Our hobby endures their passing and enjoys what they paved for us today. The question, though, is who shall continue their good work?
Marie Osmond once remarked, “Being in service to others is what brings true happiness.” Ray’s devotion to our “world of money” is evidence enough for that thought.
RIP, Ray.
Most all Numismatic News readers may not have heard of Harry W. Davis (1929-2018), who passed away recently just two weeks before his 89th birthday.
A native of upstate New York and longtime resident of Vallejo, Calif., Harry was the longest-serving president of the Vallejo (California) Numismatic Society and served several terms as the Northern California Numismatic Association president, leading during its last famous Nor-Cal Shows.
Harry, with the love of his life, Irene Carrillo, was for over a decade a regular presence at most all northern California coin club meetings and shows. At times, they would drive to a distant show the night before and assist with evening setup, then stay at a local motel. Awaking early, they would again work and assist all day at the show.
While they had no favorite local northern California coin show, a preference was the Livermore Valley Coin Club’s annual show, for the then-caterer had these “to die for” huge roast beef sandwiches they both craved!
Harry was an old-school hobbyist. A rarity nowadays, he collected both coins and stamps, adding collecting Greyhound memorabilia, being a retired Greyhound driver with an exemplary safety record.
Only health and age curtailed his organized numismatic involvements in recent years. Yet, even restricted to a wheelchair, he still collected and enjoyed the two hobbies of coins and stamps.
Harry, RIP.
Michael S. Turrini
Vallejo, Calif.
2018 Philadelphia cents arrive in New Jersey
At lunchtime today, the cashier had to break open a roll of cents to give me correct change. She handed me three shiny new Philly Lincolns. I had not seen any 2018-dated currency prior to this.
Name withheld
Flemington, N.J.
Ozark quarter joins 2018 Philadelphia cent in change
Yesterday, March 27, I found my first 2018 U.S. coin, a shiny new “no P” Philadelphia Mint Lincoln cent. Got it in change at a McDonald’s in Millington, Tenn. This morning, I finally got the 2017 mid-year release, an Ozark Riverways quarter in change, an item for which I’d been searching for months.
David Smith
Somerville, Tenn.
Three new Denver cents fill out change at market
Thought you might like to know that I received three 2018-D Lincoln cents in change at the Tubac Market in Tubac, Ariz. (about 45 miles south of Tucson) on March 24.
They show like proof coins, very brilliant compared to the other Mint State coins I received that day. One cent looks like it has an impression of a wreath leaf running through the “8” in the date.
Bill Graney
Address withheld
ATB quarter first 2018 coin received by reader
Yes! Today I received my first 2018 coin in change at Half Price Books, a 2018-D Pictured Rocks quarter. Very pretty. Had wonderful bookstore day.
Ginger Rapsus
Chicago, Ill.
Shipwrecked ‘Pulaski’ not a naval vessel
I believe you will find that the Pulaski was not a United States navy vessel, therefore making the use of the prefix “U.S.S.” (for United States Ship) inappropriate. This mistake is common. I find it a little grating when people refer to “my” shipwreck, the S.S. Central America, as the “U.S.S. Central America.” And the Central America even had a naval master, as designated by the government. Anyway, “S.S.” will suffice.
Thanks for any attention you can give to this matter of editorial significance.
Bob Evans
Address withheld
Editor’s note: Thanks, Bob. Good luck as always with “your” shipwreck coins.
Fractional silver Eagles might bring youth to hobby
I understand that the metals markets are always changing, and that does have something to do with the falling numbers of silver Eagles. It is a perfect time to redesign the reverse of the silver Eagle. Now would be a great time to issue half-ounce and quarter-ounce silver Eagles. This would kick start interest not only in buying silver but also in the collecting of new fractional sizes. Plus a great benefit could be to attract future young numismatists to collecting with less expensive bullion. If the U.S. Mint were truly interested in stopping the dropping sales of ASE, and finding a way to rekindle the flame of excitement of a new series to collect, this could potentially be a win-win situation for all.
Sean K. Stanczyk
Lincoln, Neb.
This article was originally printed in Numismatic News. >> Subscribe today.
• Check out the newly-updated Standard Catalog of World Coins, 2001-Date that provides accurate identification, listing and pricing information for the latest coin releases.
• The Standard Catalog of United States Paper Money is the only annual guide that provides complete coverage of U.S. currency with today’s market prices.
