Stamps: Bhutanese playable records

One of the most unusual set of stamps ever issued is this set from Bhutan. It was issued in 1973 and each of the seven stamps is a plastic record that can be played on a phonograph. Each record contains folk songs and folk tales. The stamp denominations are: 9 Ngultrums (Yellow Stamp) 8 Ngultrums (White Stamp) 7 Ngultrums (Black Stamp) 3 Ngulturms (Purple Stamp) 1.25 Ngultrums (Blue Stamp) 10 Chetrums (Red Stamp) 25 Chetrums (Green Stamp) A complete unused set sells for between US$400 and US$600 on Ebay. Record stamps that have been postally used and cancelled on envelopes…

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Little-known Medal marks Nazi-Zionist co-operation in 1933

Nazi Zionist Medal

Ein Nazi faehrt nach Palestina (A Nazi  travels to Palestine) It was a struck by [ Goebbels’ ] Berlin daily Der Angriff to commemorate  the co-operation and support given by the Zionist Jewish Agency in helping to make Germany “Judenfrei”. It also commemorate  joint visit to Zionist Palestine by SS officer Leopold von Mildenstein and Zionist Federation official Kurt Tuchler. A series of articles on their tour, appearing under the heading “A Nazi Travels to Palestine,” appeared in Der Angriff in late 1934. “The Star of David side inscription reads: EIN NAZI FÄHRT NACH PALÄSTINA — A Nazi Travels to Palestine. The Swastika side inscription is UND ERZÄHLT DAVON IM Angriff — And tells…

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Bank Note: History of the Coffee Exportation in Costa Rica 1890

This 5 colones note was in circulation from 1968 to 1992 in Costa Rica. It was placed on sale at the Expo 86 Costa Rica pavilion and the envelope and note sold for 2 dollars. The note is dated 16(?)-10-1985. So it really must have circulated just after it was issued. It shows an allegorical painting in the National Theatre by a “J. Villa” (as credited on the banknote) in 1897 which is in the National Theatre. The Wikipedia website states that the painting was done by a Milanese artist named Aleardo Villa (1865-1906). Perhaps his first name is spelt…

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Jacque Cartier claims Iroquois land for France and calls it “Canada”

“On today’s date (September 14th)  in 1535, Jacques Cartier reached the Iroquois village of Kanata at “Kebec” on his second voyage up the St. Lawrence River. There, Cartier met Donnacona, chief of the village of Stadacona (present-day Quebec City)… In 1535, Cartier built a fort at the site, where he stayed for about a year, claiming the area for France and calling it “Canada”, which was an alteration of the Iroquois word “kanata,” meaning village or settlement.” Thank you Canada Coin news report on the Royal Canadian Mint’s 2013 $200 gold coin. In 2013, the Royal Canadian Mint struck a $200 gold…

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2015 Canadian Maple-Leaf shaped $20

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2015 Maple Leaf-shaped $20 coin

The Royal Canadian Mint recently issued the 2015 Maple Leaf-shaped $20 coin. It is a first for the Mint. “The coin recreates the familiar shape of a maple leaf—specifically that of the silver maple (Acer saccharinum) species. Here, the coin’s unique shape accentuates the palmate leaf’s beautifully serrated edges. An intricate series of deep veins are rendered with finely detailed engraving, as they run through each of the leaf’s five pointed, tapering lobes. Different finishes bring added dimension to the design, enhancing the engraving and lending the leaf a bright natural appearance.” Mintage: 15000 Composition: 99.99% pure silver Finish: Proof…

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Vote on the Canada 2017 Designs!

Hi everyone, 2017 is the Canada’s 150th Anniversary. The Royal Canadian Mint is asking individuals to vote on the design on the 2017 coins. There are five coins: 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, 1 Dollar and 2 Dollars and for each coin there are five designs to choose from. You have until October 9th to vote for the design you want to see on each coins. Here is the link: http://www.mint.ca/store/coin-design-contest/contest-vote-form.jsp?lang=en_CA&rcmeid=van_CoinDesignVote Have say on what your future coins will look like!!!

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Token from the PNE, Vancouver

At this small booth there was a roulette wheel and one could win the prizes seen.  However, one had to buy tokens to put one’s bet down and these were being sold at three for five dollars and five for ten. They are plastic and orange in colour and had (or have) a paper label stuck to them. I say “had” as there were many with this label worn off or mostly worn off. There were others, however, that were not so bad, but it took a number of purchases to find them. I used all the worn items.  All…

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Reminder: Coins, Stamps and Collectibles Fair

This is a reminder that the North Shore Numismatic Society is hosting another Coins, Stamps and Collectibles Fair at the Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre this coming Saturday, September 12th.  We have several new stamp and coin dealers at this show. The Nikkei Centre is located at 6688 Southoaks Crescent in Burnaby just 4km east of Metrotown.  The show hours are from 9am to 3pm and admission is $2 and free for those age 16 and under.  There is limited free underground parking at the Nikkei Centre and ample street parking on Beresford Street behind the Centre. If you…

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Patron Saint of Numismatists

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 Did you know that there is a patron saint of numismatists? His name is St. Eligius. Eligius was born near Limoges in France in 590.  He became an extremely skillful metalsmith and was appointed master of the mint under King Clotaire II of Paris. Eligius developed a close friendship with the King and his reputation as an outstanding metalsmith became widespread. Eligius later fulfilled his desire to serve God as a priest, after being ordained in 640. Then he was made bishop of Noyon and Tournai.  Eligius died on 1 December 659 or 660 and was buried at Noyon.  He is the patron…

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Diwali – the Festival of Lights

Diwali Gold Coin

The Royal Canadian Mint have brought out a lovely gold coin celebrating Diwali the Indian Festival Of Lights. It’s a $200 dollar coin and a small mintage of 275 means a price of C$2,700. RCM say > “East and West come together in this stunning design by Canadian artist Sarindar Dhaliwal that celebrates Diwali with elaborate patterns that typify Indian textiles, ornamentation and mandalas. A diya (clay lamp) at the coin’s centre reflects the essence of the Festival of Lights while symbols from the Hindu, Sikh and Jain faiths form a series of rings around it. The outermost ring is…

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Selvi Calyst – An ancient numismatist?

They’ve just found a roman hoard in consisting of 2976 silver denarii coins during excavations works in Sofia, Bulgaria. The owner of the hoard is actually inscribed on the ceramic container. Selvi Calyst. Selvi Calyst – could he have been an ancient numismatist? His coin collection spans a 100 years –  the Emperors from Vespasian to Commodus with the Antonines and their wives and daughters represented in full. Perhaps he was an Antonine descendent mapping his family history in coin… NEWS 5th September 2015, Novinite.com > “Bulgarian archaeologists discovered an ancient Roman hoard consisting of 2976 silver denarii coins during excavations…

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China celebrates 70th Anniversary of Victory in the war with Japan 1937 to 1945

70th Anniversary of the "victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the fight against fascism".

The People’s Republic of China has issued a set of 2015 coins to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the “victory in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the fight against fascism”. Zuo Xiuhui, deputy director of the People’s Bank of China’s Currency, Gold and Silver Bureau, said at a news conference that the set consists of one gold coin, two silver coins, and a nickel-coated steel coin. The gold coin, with a face value of 100 yuan, weighs a quarter of an ounce, while the five-ounce silver coin has a face value of 50 yuan and its one-ounce…

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Eastern Townships Bank, Keremeos, B.C., cheque

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Keremeos 827

Not knowing some banking history I thought it very unusual to see a “Eastern Township Bank” cheque from Keremeos, BC. I thought Eastern Townships usually relates to a group of towns back east and that it would be unusual for such a group to have branches out in British Columbia. I did know, however, that the Bank of Hamilton (Ontario) had at least one branch out here, so… For those mainland Vancouver types who do not go much into the interior, Keremeos is a village (which is sort of again another reason for wondering why an Eastern Townships bank office?)…

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Alice In Wonderland – the first working clock coin

Coin Week report  the first working clock coin ever struck. To celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s classic children’s book, the Perth Mint has struck a colorized Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Silvered Antique Clock Coin. Bearing a denomination of $2, this .999 fine silver coin is legal tender on the island nation of Tuvalu. Obverse: In the center, the back of a golden watch. A spiraling inscription reads “OH MY EARS AND WHISKERS, HOW LATE IT’S GETTING!”  The coin’s outer ring features an antiqued finish. At the top of the design, is Ian Rank-Broadley’seffigy of Queen Elizabeth II, which sits as if it the 12 o’clock position…

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Canada 1937 Dollar George VI

I was lucky enough to receive this coin as a Birthday present recently – and in a beautifully toned MS-63. The same “Voyageur” design by Emmanuel Hahn was used for the George VI silver dollar of 1937. There are two bundles of furs on the canoe and if look with a magnifying glass I can see that the forward bundle still has the initials “H.B.” standing for Hudson’s Bay (Company). I can’t see it on the image below mind. I’ll add a photo of mine later when the USB microscope thingummajig is set up. Checking the initials H.P. below the trunk in…

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Benin 100 Francs 2011, Cannabis Leaf – scented

  The African nation of Benin issued a series of coins in 2011 commemorating Famous Plants of the World. This unusual coin was minted in the shape of the Cannabis leaf and is also scented accordingly. The earliest recorded use of cannabis date from the 3rd millennium BC. Varieties of Cannabis plants have been used extensively to produce among other things, hemp seed foods, oil, rope, cloth and fuel. Other varieties that contain a higher level of the psychoactive chemical called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are widely used as a recreational drug commonly known as marijuana. This chemical is what causes the…

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Canada’s 1935 Silver Dollar

1935 Canada Dollar

Canada’s first silver dollar was issued in 1935 to commemorate King George V’s Silver Jubilee. Emanuel Hahn designed and engraved the iconic “Coureur Des Bois”  or “Voyageur” design.       Percy Metcalf designed and engraved the effigy of George V. The silver in the coin is currently worth C$ 10 but in MS-63 Uncirculated grading it has a 2015 value of C$ 110   Mintage 1 dollar 1935 : 428 707 Specifications Alloy: 80% silver, 20% copper Weight: 23.33 grams Diameter : 36.00 mm, thickness 2.84 mm Engraver: Obverse: Percy Metcalfe, Reverse: Emanuel Hahn Designer: Obverse: Percy Metcalfe, Reverse: Emanuel…

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