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Category Archives: coins
Pass the Coin
The BBC picks up on the Diocese of Brooklyn’s efforts to reach out online. This see was the origin of that “original hipster” campaign if you recall. What do you think? Just another fad? Or have our sister and brother Catholics … Continue reading
Posted in coins, evangelization, Ministry
Tagged Diocese of Brooklyn, new evangelization
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Hildegard in the Family
I’m not a fan of the practice of taking a confirmation name. I have “Andrew,” the first apostle and my boyhood parish’s patron. But I didn’t know better in ’72. The young miss settled on Hildegard. I approve of that. … Continue reading
Check The Change
When I was a boy, I enjoyed a nightly routine with my dad. When he came home from work, I got to “check the change.” It was something of an allowance supplement–as long as I didn’t overdo it. I would collect … Continue reading
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Farewell, Maple Leaf Cent
Growing up in upstate New York, it was a common find in pocket change: Then the dove cent popped up once an a while. When I was eight, I wondered if it was really an 1867 coin: As of 1965, … Continue reading
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Calibration Cent
This might be the only chance I’ll ever get to post one piece in the two categories of astronomy and coins. Universe Today picked up the story of a 1909 Lincoln Cent being mounted on a calibration target on the … Continue reading
Posted in Astronomy, coins
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1931: Another “Good” Year
Experienced coin collectors know that a depression, panic, or recession often has an effect on mintage figures. When I was a boy, I didn’t always make the connection that coins of the early 1930’s were hard to find, or priced … Continue reading
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Continental Dollar: Mind Your Business
As the Continental Congress was emboldened to declare independence, it also made plans to issue its own money. Ben Franklin provided the design–including that cheeky motto. And some rich folk contributed silver, brass, and pewter for some pattern strikes. … Continue reading
Posted in coins, US History
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A Bit of Americana
Before you buy that slice of apple pie today, reflect a moment before you hand over that $2 bill.
Posted in coins, US History
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JP2 Coin
The Polish mint has produced many coins depicting their native son pope over the years. The latest is this 1000 zloty piece (face value over $300) in gold, honoring this year’s beatification. Somewhat imiliar to this earlier design from 1982, … Continue reading
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1909 S
Gold, and to a lesser extent, silver, had been the primary work of federal government’s branch mint in California since 1852. They had to do something with all the precious metal they were finding in pans and such. Rather than … Continue reading
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Vatican 50 Cent
While not a member of the European Union, Vatican City does mint EU coins. The EU has told the Vatican to more than double its annual production of coins from €1,074,000 to €2,300,000. Part of the agreement includes a stipulation … Continue reading
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A Fancy Toilet
Has anybody found any of the new quarters in pocket change yet? With the economy in the tank, coin production continues to slip downward. I’ve only found two, and had to pass one on to the young miss. I like … Continue reading
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Designing Money
The latest issue of Coin World showed the new design for the $100 FRN (above, compared to the current, below). About a dozen shots of the printing and details, too. I commented to the young miss that they’re giving counterfeiters … Continue reading
Palin Expertise On Coins
I missed this piece when it came out. With all the internet fussing about how ignorant the press (and others) are about Catholicism, and with me going on my usual meme: it’s not just religion, but science, history, geography, classical … Continue reading
Making Cents of the Economy
Serious coin collectors search for “key dates” in series of coins. These are years in which mintages were low, resulting in a relative scarcity. Often low mintages point to financial upheaval within the nation. (I’m still looking for a nice … Continue reading
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Catholic Sensibility 