Posts by admin-cona

CONA January 2021 Newsletter

When: 7 p.m., January 20, 2021
Oakstone Academy: 900 State St. Westerville, Ohio 43081
Topic:  When Man Created Coins
Speaker:  Michael Shutterly video

January Presentation

Michael Shutterly, four-time Jeopardy champ, discussed the origin of coinage in a Money Talks presentation at last year’s National Money Show in Atlanta, one of the last major coin shows held before the pandemic hit.

Most of us are aware that the first coins were struck about 2,700 years ago in Asia Minor. Shutterly gives a detailed look at these first bean-shaped attempts at coinage. One tiny electrum coin (above), he said, was worth two months of food for a family.

Meeting Details

The virus rages across the nation and Ohio, but the vaccine is becoming available, with shots planned for over 80s next week and people in their 70s in February. In the meantime, we’re trying to keep things as safe as possible. The building has a constant supply of fresh air, with outside vents.
Location: Oakstone gym, a newer pre-engineereed metal building west of the main building’s entrance.
Directions: Drive down the entrance road until you get to the front of the main building, and turn right.
Seating: This is a gym with bleacher seating, so bring you own cushion or lawn chair.
Snacks: BYO. No drinks or snacks provided
Masks: Required in Ohio

By: Gerry Tebben

Interested in past CONA Newsletters? Please visit the Newman Portal for a vast collection that dates back to 2011!

CONA November 2020 Newsletter

When: 7 p.m., November 18, 2020
Oakstone Academy: 900 State St. Westerville, Ohio 43081
Topic:  The Challenger
Speaker:  Diane H.

November Presentation

I have always been interested in the space program: men in space; man on the moon; the space shuttle – a reusable spacecraft that returns to Earth and lands like an aircraft! Amazing! Yes , there were other shuttles, and I liked them also, but the Challenger will always hold a special place in my heart. I hope that I can share some of those reasons with you. – Diane

Meeting Details

We’re going to try to make it as safe as possible, but be mindful, the disease is still out there. Today (Nov. 12 ) Ohio topped 7,000 new cases for the first time – 7,101 cases. More than 700 of today’s new cases were in Franklin County. So far, the virus has killed 5,658 Ohioans, including 646 in Franklin County.

The building has a constant supply of fresh air, with outside vents.
Location: Oakstone gym, a newer pre-engineereed metal building west of the main building’s entrance.
Directions: Drive down the entrance road until you get to the front of the main building, and turn right.
Seating: This is a gym with bleacher seating, so bring you own cushion or lawn chair.
Snacks: BYO. No drinks or snacks provided
Masks: Required in Ohio

By: Gerry Tebben

Interested in past CONA Newsletters? Please visit the Newman Portal for a vast collection that dates back to 2011!

CONA October 2020 Newsletter

When: 7 p.m., October 21, 2020
Oakstone Academy: 900 State St. Westerville, Ohio 43081
Topic:  Cause I liked it!
Speaker:  John Roberts

October Presentation

We all have things in our collection. They don’t necessarily fit our field or theme. Instead they caught our eye and we had to pick it up. I’ll share a dozen examples from my collection. – John

Meeting Details

We’re going to try to make it as safe as possible, but be mindful, the disease is still out there. Today (Oct. 15) Ohio set a record for new cases – 2,178. So far, the virus has killed 5,038 Ohioans. 

The building has a constant supply of fresh air, with outside vents.
Location: Oakstone gym, a newer pre-engineereed metal building west of the main building’s entrance.
Directions: Drive down the entrance road until you get to the front of the main building, and turn right.
Seating: This is a gym with bleacher seating, so bring you own cushion or lawn chair.
Snacks: BYO. No drinks or snacks provided
Masks: Required in Ohio

By: Gerry Tebben

Interested in past CONA Newsletters? Please visit the Newman Portal for a vast collection that dates back to 2011!

CONA September 2020 Newsletter

When: 7 p.m., September 16, 2020
Oakstone Academy: 900 State St. Westerville, Ohio 43081
Topic:  COVID-19 and 281 BC
Speaker:  Steve Petty and John R.

September Presentation

Two CONA members stepped up to answer a last-minute call for speakers this month. 

A Tale of Three Kings 
Some time in the Year 281 BC, a great battle was fought between two former comrades, Lysimachos, king of Thrace and Macedonia and Seleukos Nikator King over the bulk of Alexander the Great’s Asian conquests. 

History does not tell us where, exactly, in modern Turkey this battle occurred nor even what time of the year, but it pitted two massive armies, both using phalanxes trained under Alexander the Great, and both making use of elephants. In the end, they would face each other in hand to hand combat. One was 80 years old, the other 78. 

Before the year was over, both would be slain. The first at the hand of his former friend, the other assassinated by the oldest son of another of Alexander’s companions, Ptolemy Soter, the Pharaoh of Egypt: Ptolemy Keraunos: in an act of open treachery. 

My presentation will touch upon three coins near the time of this battle; the first immediately before the battle, the second and third shortly thereafter. Each coin has a connection with one of these three men: all of whom had died by the sword. – John R.

Health and Safety
 With many of the concerns regarding COVID-19, I thought it might be helpful as a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH) with many years of testifying on exposure and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), to provide some information on concepts that may help you protect yourself. — Steve Petty

Steve’s expertise was put to use in the preparation of our meeting room at Oakstone and the hotel ballroom where we held the show. 

Curiously, a key can be found in Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman’s memoir, Steve says. 

“The tent or the shelter of a tree is a better hospital than a house, whose wall absorb fetid and poisonous emanations, and then give them back to the atmosphere. To men accustomed to open air, who live on the plainest food, wounds seem to give less pain, and are attended with less danger to life than to ordinary soldiers in barracks.” 

Thus, stay outdoors, or maximize fresh air indoors, to provide the best opportunity to stay healthy. 

This is what we did at the show – insisted all ventilation systems were at maximum fresh air capacity! 

Meeting Details

We’re going to try to make it as safe as possible, but be mindful, the disease is still out there. Today (Sept. 9) there were 286 new cases in Franklin County, 7 hospitalizations and 2 deaths. 

The building has a constant supply of fresh air, with outside vents. 

Location: Oakstone gym, a newer pre-engineereed metal building west of the main building’s entrance. 
Directions: Drive down the entrance road until you get to the front of the main building, and turn right. 
Seating: This is a gym with bleacher seating, so bring you own cushion or lawn chair. 
Snacks: BYO. No drinks or snacks provided 
Masks: Required in Ohio 

What a Show!

 Here’s Patty C. (bourse chair) initial report:
 This Ohio State Coin Show was different from so many others, but the same in so many respects. Almost everyone followed the COVID-19 protocols. When attendees called to ask about whether the show was still going to be held, and if safety measures were being followed, I was able to put their fears at ease. 

 Stephen worked with the hotel maintenance man, Gaga, to open the ventilation system on the roof so that fresh air was circulating at all times. You could feel the difference in all the bourse areas. Another great health benefit. Thank you!

I am writing this on Sunday after the show and I have not had time to figure out any numbers yet. That report will come in October when I have had time to verify everything. I have heard from many of the dealers, however, so I will share some of their comments: 

“Thanks for a great show, you put on one of the best productions around. Thank all your volunteers for me.” And another, “I just want to say you guys put on a wonderful show – terrific job. You have one of the best clubs I’ve ever seen, especially helpful to dealers making us welcome. Keep up the good work. See you next year. I appreciate you all very much. Thanks again.” 

This came as a text to me: “Hi Patty. I just wanted to thank you for all your efforts and hard work. I had the best show I’ve had in years. I am really glad that you decided to have the show with all the issues going on. Thanks again and keep up the good work.” 

Quote from Lexa: “The dealers said the Green Hats were so respectful and attentive and again one of the greatest shows because of that.” 

Our sales representative, Samantha, from Embassy Suites was wonderful to work with and every staff member, from the manager on down, was incredibly helpful. There were a few glitches but we were all learning from this “Covid-19 experiment”. We have paid the down payment for the 2021 show at Embassy Suites Dublin. 

Wonderful job once again CONA Members! You are the heart and soul of the show. – Patty C. (Bourse Chair)

By: Gerry Tebben

Interested in past CONA Newsletters? Please visit the Newman Portal for a vast collection that dates back to 2011!

CONA August 2020 Newsletter

When: 7 p.m., August 19, 2020
Oakstone Academy: 900 State St. Westerville, Ohio 43081
Topic: Ohio State Coin Show Planning
Speaker: No Speaker

August Presentation

Our August meeting will be largely devoted to the show. However, we will have the quiz, auction and raffle – just no speaker. 

Help is needed from Thursday setup to Saturday teardown. Green Hats are what make our show special. Signup sheets will be available at the meeting and at the picnic. 

 The Ohio State Coin show will be smaller than usual, just 65 tables; and shorter. No Sunday hours this year. 

Meeting Details

We’re going to try to make it as safe as possible, but be mindful, the disease is still out there. Today (Aug. 10) there were 166 new cases in Franklin County, 8 hospitalizations and 1 death. 

The building has a constant supply of fresh air, with outside vents. 

Location: Oakstone gym, a newer pre-engineereed metal building west of the main building’s entrance. 
Directions: Drive down the entrance road until you get to the front of the main building, and turn right. 
Seating: This is a gym with bleacher seating, so bring you own cushion or lawn chair. 
Snacks: BYO. No drinks or snacks provided 
Masks: Required in Ohio 

In Memoriam 
Chet Britt 
1947 – 2020 

James Chester Britt, Jr, age 73, passed away Thursday, July 16, 2020. Chet was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, son of the late James C Britt and Nan Beardmore Britt. He is also preceded in death by his father-in-law, Otto G. Acker and mother-in-law, Mildred Miller Acker. Chet was a resident of Grandview Heights for 44 years before moving to Powell in 2018. 

He practiced Law for 33 years at Britt, Campbell, Nagel, and Sproat. Chet served on Grandview Heights City Council, Grandview Heights Marble Cliff Education Foundation Board, Grandview Heights Public Library Foundation Board, and led the Grandview Charter Review Committee. 

In addition, he was also a Grandview Bobcat Booster and member of the Central Ohio Numismatic Association, CONA Coin Club. 

Following retirement, Chet collected coins and worked on family genealogy and truly loved traveling. He drove to 48 states in his motor home, took countless family vacations and cruises, and enjoyed spending time at his Folly Beach House. 

His favorite family time was his weekends at the Wilds with his grandchildren. Chet’s illnesses or handicaps later in life never slowed him down nor discouraged him from new adventures big and small. You could see him scooting about the neighborhood or listening to books or music on his porch. 

Most of all, Chet loved his family. He found the greatest joy just being surrounded by his children and grandchildren. He taught us, he inspired us, and he took care of us. 

He will be greatly missed by his loving wife of 49 years, Shirley Acker Britt; children, James O. (Katy) Britt and Lydia (David) Britt DeCarlo; grandchildren, Madeline, James Otto, Evan, and Clara; brother, Jeff (Lynn) Britt; brother-in-law, Gary Acker; nieces and nephews; and other extended family members and dear friends. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Chet’s memory to Flying Horse Farms (FHF is a medical specialty camp that provides healing, transformative experiences for children with serious illnesses and their families). Donations can be made online at www.flyinghorsefarms.org/donate. Or mail donations to: Flying Horse Farms, 5260 State Route 95, Mt. Gilead, OH 43338. 

By: Gerry Tebben

Interested in past CONA Newsletters? Please visit the Newman Portal for a vast collection that dates back to 2011!

CONA May 2020 Newsletter

When and Where: at your leisure on your own computer
Topic: Numismatic engraving
Presenter: Gilroy Roberts (Newman Numismatic Portal)

June Virtual Presentation: Kennedy half designer Gilroy Roberts

Hear and see the great medallic sculptor Gilroy Roberts in this in-depth 1991 interview conducted by David Lisot.

Gilroy shares his childhood and what inspired him to become an artist. He discusses his days at the U.S. Mint when he had the opportunity to design the Kennedy half dollar. He tells of his prolific artistic creations at the Franklin Mint.

This interview is an inspiration into the creative spirit as told by one of the most successful sculptors of all time.
Roberts, Part I
Roberts, Part II
Roberts in his workshop
Roberts on numismatic engraving

ANA show canceled

The American Numismatic Association announced Wednesday the suspension of the 2020 World’s Fair of Money. The show, originally scheduled for August 4-8 in Pittsburgh is the largest annual coin and paper currency event in the United States.

The ANA Board of Governors has been deliberating the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the show and whether aggressive mitigation requirements to ensure the safety of attendees made continuing with the Pittsburgh event feasible. Pennsylvania guidelines restrict indoor gatherings to a maximum of 250. The World’s Fair of Money typically attracts upward of 10,000 during its 5-day run.

ANA convention presentations

Although the show is no longer being held in Pittsburgh, you can still attend convention events online, including Money Talks and the Women in Numismatics Sundman Lecture Series. These presentations and lectures will be presented throughout August via Zoom and are free to attend but registration is required.
Money Talks registration: https://info.money.org/elearning/moneytalks
Sundman registration: https://info.money.org/elearning/sundman

Free ANA classes

During what would have been the ANA’s annual Summer Seminar event, June 29-July 10, the Association will instead offer free virtual courses through its new ANA eLearning Academy. Eleven courses that would have been offered during Summer Seminar will be offered in a condensed one- to two-hour online format. Courses are open to both ANA members and non-members; there is no charge to participate but preregistration is required.

After this first round of courses, the ANA eLearning Academy will continue to offer two to three classes each month to the collecting community.
Register at: https://info.money.org/elearning

CONA show in flux

The Board will make final decisions regarding Ohio State Coin Show 2020 by mid-July based on information provided by the state, local health departments and the hotel.

Newsletter By: Gerry Tebben

Interested in past CONA Newsletters? Please visit the Newman Portal for a vast collection that dates back to 2011!

CONA May 2020 Newsletter

When and Where: at your leisure on your own computer
Topic: Yellow Fever and the U.S. Mint
Presenter: Newman Numismatic Portal

Stay Safe

Every time I go out now, I ask myself, How safe is it? Many of us, because of our age or health, have corona crosshairs on our back. One of my neighbors has died from it, so it’s gotten a bit more real to me.

We won’t be meeting this month and it’s impossible to say when we will be able to get back together in person.

There is a possibility we may be able to meet via computer in June or July. The Cincinnati and Chicago coin clubs have done this. The MPC Fest in Port Clinton was held that way, too. Details to come.

We’re still planning, at least for the moment, on holding a summer picnic, Labor Day show and Christmas banquet. All subject to change. — Gerry

May Virtual Meeting: Yellow Fever and the U.S. Mint

In 1793, just as the U.S. Mint was getting started, Yellow Fever attacked Philadelphia, killing 5,000 people or 10 percent of the population. Dr. Benjamin Rush, who would go on to be the Mint’s treasurer, had the cure – massive amounts of mercury and draining 4/5ths of the blood from the victims. The Newman Numismatic Portal has created an informative video about the Mint and the epidemic. Watch the video: Yellow Fever and the U.S. Mint

Ohio State Coin Show Update

The CONA Board of Directors met last Tuesday, May 12, and have decided to continue planning for this year’s Labor Day Show. Of course, everything is subject to change as we live with Covid-19, but we need to prepare. We continue to work with Embassy Suites Dublin and we will meet again with them in late June to assess things at that time. One option may be to hold a smaller event, based on recommendations and rulings from the State of Ohio guidelines, county and state health departments, and Embassy Suites requirements. The Board will make final decisions regarding OSCS 2020 by mid-July based on information provided by the state, local health departments and the hotel. — Patty (Bourse Chair)

Newsletter By: Gerry Tebben

Interested in past CONA Newsletters? Please visit the Newman Portal for a vast collection that dates back to 2011!

CONA March 2020 Newsletter

 Our March meeting is canceled due to potential risks of the Corona virus to our membership. We intend to resume meetings in April, but that is subject to change too, depending upon the situation. Stay safe.

Cancelled

With the Corona virus moving toward and through Ohio at a rapid pace, the CONA board decided March 12 to cancel the March meeting.

Speaker Bill Bierly, author of In God We Trust, has rescheduled for the June meeting.

We are dealing with a great deal on unknowns, but made the decision in light of the governor’s decision earlier March 12 to close the state’s schools and ban large meetings.

Given the fact that our membership skews older (I’m 70) and the disease appears to be especially hard on senior citizens, the decision seemed prudent. 

I sincerely hope we’re overreacting and that disease is nothing more than annoyance. But it’s not something we can risk. — Gerry (As I wrote this, I received word that Whitman has canceled next week’s Baltimore show.)

Some Perspective

 While I think that the media and some have hyped the issue of Corona #19, as a health and safety professional there are some very real concerns.

1. Early data suggest that the rate of infection is ~2x that of flu and has an overall lethal rate ~10x that of flu – for all citizens. For those in their 80s the rate jumps to upwards of 16% lethality; anyone over 60 and especially those with underlying health issues is at increased risk.

2. Efforts to limit crowd sizes are intended to slow the rate of disease progression, to keep the peak infection levels at a given point in time level lower and to buy some time to get ready and find solutions. This is important because upwards of 10% of those getting #19 – mostly the elderly – will need breathing assistance. These types of breathing-support hospital beds are limited

 3. The rate of infection in the U.S. remains largely unknown until we have more people tested which has been limited by the number of test kits available at local doctor’s offices – at least until recently.

Given this information, along with the uncertainties facing all of us, and the age of our membership, I believe we should error on the side of public health and safety and cancel upcoming club meetings until things settle down. — Steve Petty

By: Gerry Tebben

Interested in past CONA Newsletters? Please visit the Newman Portal for a vast collection that dates back to 2011!

CONA February 2020 Newsletter

When: 7 p.m., February 19, 2020
Oakstone Academy: 939 State St. Westerville, Ohio 43081
Topic: Women on coins
Speaker: Gerry Tebben

February Presentation

For the U.S. Mint’s first 100 years, a woman appeared on just about every coin. She wasn’t a real woman, but a personification of Liberty. Sometimes her hair was a fright, sometimes in a bun or under a hat. But always she was clearly and unmistakably a woman.

Things changed in 1893 when Queen Isabella of Spain, of all people, became the first real woman to appear on a U.S. coin – a commemorative quarter dollar celebrating the Board of Lady Managers of the World’s Columbian Exposition. Since then nearly 50 identifiable women and girls have appeared on the nation’s coins — Gerry

January Presentation

For what may be the first time, at a CONA meeting, Heath’s presentation on the U.S. Mint medals of FDR included video.

Heath included three video segments in his presentation and Gary Moran succeeded in making them work.

The most remarkable one showed Chief Engraver John Sinnock working on one of the Roosevelt medals.

Since 1933 when Roosevelt took office, the Mint has produced 23, 25 or some other number of medals marking his presidency. No one knows for sure, Heath said, and no catalog exists of 20th century Mint medals. “I’m not sure I’ve found everything,” Heath said.

Heath’s collection includes the massive 3-inch bronze medals that are still available ($39.95) today as well as several little-known. 1.5-inch medals that were sold to Philadelphia Mint visitors.

The rarest medal, he said, is a pattern for Roosevelt’s first-term medal. The fleshy profile was panned by Mr. and Mrs. Roosevelt and never saw production.

When shown the medal, Roosevelt complained, “You make me look awfully fat.”

Heath believes the only known example came from the Sinnock estate.

Early examples of some of the medal show the “C’ in a circle copyright logo and the initials JRS. Heath said Sinnock claimed ownership of the image and licensed it to private medal manufacturers to his profit.

January Presentation #2 (From the E-Sylum)

Mint Medals of Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Recently added to Newman Portal is a slide deck presented by Heath at the January 15, 2020 Central Ohio Numismatic Association (CONA) meeting. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the subject of a surprisingly large number of U.S. Mint medals, and Heath’s presentation makes sense of it all, detailing a number of medal series that portrayed Roosevelt. These include the inaugural medals, presidential pieces, assay commission medals, the U.S. Mint visitor medals, and finally the Roosevelt memorial medals.

Heath’s die variety analysis of the presidential and memorial series is especially helpful. In all,

Heath counts nearly 30 varieties of Roosevelt medals produced by the Mint, and anyone who wishes to collect this material will do well to study the images in this presentation. Newman Portal acknowledges CONA editor Gerry Tebben for his assistance with this content.

David Fanning’s new book

Kolbe & Fanning Numismatic Booksellers have announced the publication of Thian’s Masterpiece and the Early Literature of Confederate Paper Money, by David F. Fanning. This publication traces the development of the study of the Treasury Notes issued by the Confederate States of America and outlines the literary history of the subject. Beginning with Thomas Addis Emmet’s 1867 articles in the American Journal of Numismatics, Fanning discusses the various publications devoted to the collecting and study of Confederate paper money in the 19th century, culminating with the publication in the early 20th century of Raphael P. Thian’s The Currency of the Confederate States of America.

In addition to the regular edition of Fanning’s study, a deluxe portfolio edition has been prepared. The Currency of the Confederate States of America is a very rare publication that combines Thian’s most thorough treatment of the subject with an album of around 300 actual specimens of Confederate currency. When an incomplete copy became available, the idea was formed to create a leaf book.

Twenty-four copies of Fanning’s study have been bound in a portfolio, each of which includes an original leaf from an incomplete copy of Thian’s book. Some of these leaves include the original specimens of Confederate paper money that Thian mounted to them, while other leaves are text only.

Fanning’s study can be purchased on its own for $25 plus $5 domestic postage. Only 100 copies have been printed, each numbered and signed by the author, with 24 of them reserved for inclusion in the portfolios. Portfolio copies are priced at $200 to $250, depending upon the leaf included.

Fanning will be part of a panel discussion scheduled for the April CONA meeting.

By: Gerry Tebben

Interested in past CONA Newsletters? Please visit the Newman Portal for a vast collection that dates back to 2011!

 

CONA January 2020 Newsletter

When: 7 p.m., January 15, 2020
Oakstone Academy: 939 State St. Westerville, Ohio 43081
Topic: U.S .Mint FDR medals
Speaker: Heath

January Presentation

Heath will give a presentation on the presidential medals of Franklin D. Roosevelt issued by the U.S. Mint.

November Presentation

Chris and Marie gave back-to-back presentations on the coinage of 1952 and the $1 million silver dollar display at the Seattle World’s Fair.

Chris, giving the famed ‘46ers a run for their money, collects coins from his birth year. The entire set, including trial strikes encompasses 525 coins.

One of the toughest coins, he said, is a 1952 20 centavos from Colombia With a mintage of just 3,887 pieces, the coin is unpriced in Krause.

Great British shillings, florins and half crowns, too, are impossible to obtain. Struck at the tail end of George VI’s reign, only a couple were produced for photography purposes. Private mint versions, though, are available.

Marie, who was born in 1962, told the tale of the massive silver dollar exhibit at the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle.

Two tractor trailers emblazoned with with gigantic words ON TO THE SEATTLE WORLD’S FAIR / ONE MILLION / SILVER DOLLARS carried the coins from Philadelphia to Seattle over 13 days, arriving just a few days before the fair opened April 21.

Marie said, “Today, the wholesale value of common date silver dollars is about $15 each, meaning you could have made a tidy $14,000,000 profit just by keeping them for nearly 50 years.

By: Gerry Tebben

Interested in past CONA Newsletters? Please visit the Newman Portal for a vast collection that dates back to 2011!