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Chicago Coin Club
Volume 47 No. 12 December 2001


Minutes of the 994th Meeting

The 994th meeting of the Chicago Coin Club was called to order on November 14, 2001 at 7:01PM by President Carl Wolf. The meeting was held at 1 Bank One Plaza.

October minutes were not available but will appear in the December Chatter.

Secretary/Treasurer Lyle Daly gave a treasury report as follows:

Dreyfus Money Market $1826.80
Bank One CD 1408.09
Bank One CD 1485.85
TCF Checking Account 1898.78
Un-deposited Funds 134.00
TOTAL $6753.55

There was neither a featured speaker nor a show & tell.

Old Business:
The past dues letter was sent. Eleven members remain unpaid. We will discuss what to do with the unpaid memberships at the January meeting.

Jeff Rosinia advised the club that arrangements were made for the December 12th banquet. Price will be $44 each. A motion was made, seconded and passed to proceed with the banquet as arranged by Jeff at the Mid Day Club.

It was suggested to the club that we proceed with First Chicago banknote souvenir card for the CPMX show. A motion was made, seconded and passed to proceed with the card at a cost not to exceed last year's expense.

Paul Hybert has reestablished the club's web site with the ANA and registered our site as www.chicagocoinclub.org. A motion was made, seconded and passed to reimburse Paul $150.

Several club members suggested we send a letter of intent to bid on the ANA Convention for the year 2019 and a second date prior to 2019. This will coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Chicago Coin Club. A motion was made, seconded and passed to proceed with the letter.

Mark Wieclaw, chairman of the committee for planning the 1000th meeting, presented the club with drawings and examples of planchet size for the commemorative medallion. The proof medallion will be available in a 5 oz. silver for $55. It can be trimmed in gold for an additional $15. It is also available in a 6 - 8 oz . gold medallion that would be available on a preorder basis only for approximately $2500. A motion was made, seconded and passed to proceed with the recommendations of the committee.

A motion was made, seconded and passed to proceed with the development of a hanging ornament, for $290, as a give away to the attendees of the 1000th meeting banquet.

The price of the banquet will be $45 per person.

A motion was made, seconded and passed to encourage sponsorship of the 1000th meeting at the following levels:

Bronze$50
Silver 100
Gold250
Platinum500

A motion was made to conduct a raffle to raise funds for the 1000th meeting. The motion was not seconded and failed.

After a discussion of fund raising activities, a motion was made, seconded and passed to encourage the sale of congratulatory advertisements in good taste in the printed program for the 1000th meeting.

The 1000th meeting committee recommended that we create an elongated handout for the 1000th meeting. The die has been paid for. A motion was made seconded and passed to proceed with the elongated hand out.

As reminder to all, the 1000th meeting will be held during the CICF on April 6, 2002.

Mark Wieclaw received a well deserved round of applause for his work as chairman of the committee.

New Business:
To gain admittance to Bank One for future meetings, you must have a picture ID. You must also call Lyle Daly or Jeff Rosinia in advance if you plan to bring a guest. They will require the guest's name, to be added to the list of attendees.

The souvenir card for the CICF will be the history of gold dust. Three flakes of gold will be included with each card.

Mike Metras noted that the statue The Pioneers created by James Earl Fraser, was dedicated on Saturday the 10th in Elgin. The motif is the same as that on the 1936 Elgin half-dollar.

A ten-minute recess was called prior to commencement of the annual auction.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted by Lyle Daly


Minutes of the 993rd Meeting

The 993rd meeting of the Chicago Coin Club was called to order on October 10, 2001 at 7:03PM by President Carl Wolf. The meeting was held at the offices of Harlan Berk Ltd. in lieu of 1 Bank One Plaza.

A motion was made, seconded and passed to, approve the minutes of September 13, 2001.

There was no treasury report.

Featured Speaker
First Vice President Robert Feiler introduced featured speaker Mark Wieclaw. Mark gave a historical overview of the events leading up to and surrounding the minting of Morgan Silver Dollars at the Carson City Mint.

The Mint was in operation from 1869 to 1893. In 1873 the official exchange rate for silver to gold was 16:1 by weight. In the free market, gold was trading at a higher rate. The cost of silver on the east cost was high as it was shipped from western mines. Western mines wanted to sell at those prices. Through successful lobbying by mining interests, in 1878 the Bland-Allison Act was passed. It obligated the US government to purchase between 2 to 4 million dollars worth of silver at market price each month.

George T Morgan designed the dollar. His design was the winner in a design competition in which he and Charles Barber, Chief Engraver for the Mint, submitted designs. Relations between Mr. Barber and the Director of the Mint were strained. It was generally thought that Morgan had significant coaching by Henry Linderman, Director of the Mint, prior to the selection of the winning design.

The government held sales of silver dollars in 1960 and 1964. President Nixon ordered the sale of the remaining Carson City silver dollars in October of 1972 and in July of 1974.

First Vice President Bob Fieler thanked Mark for his presentation and noted that his certificate and medal were forthcoming. Bob did have a certificate for Bob Leonard.

Bob Leonard took the opportunity to make each attendee a millionaire by passing out a 1,000,000 Lira notes, worth 67 cents. The notes were brought back from a trip to Turkey.

Second Vice President Don Dool introduced the following individuals, who presented material during the meeting's Show and Tell:

  1. Reid Giesler presented a 2001 clipped planchet Sacagawea dollar.
  2. Bob Leonard presented information on a Neolithic village that he visited in Turkey and obsidian money.
  3. Mike Metra presented an uncut banknote sheet of the Western Exchange Fire & Marine.
  4. Mark Wieclaw presented roman coins. Two of Caracalla featured the wolf & twins, while another pair featured an owl.
  5. Carl Wolf presented Framed Ivory Money. Highly prized by many, even in pieces and fragments. Used in trade and commerce from the 16th through the 19th century; value measured by weight. Still used as bride money today; considered having magical powers.
  6. Sharon Blocker presented odd and curious money. A Krause Publications "Good For" note used for subscriptions. A rubber check on the "Ricochet Bank". A Hologram Train on a Canadian token from 2000; bought at the ILNA show. A medal representing the 1st Canadian postage stamp. An oval Zambian 1000 Kwacha coin with enamel.
  7. Don Dool presented Indian coins. 10 Cash, 1843 from Mysore. A Pie (dump) 1827, East India Company. 1 ½ Pice, 1791, EIC. A 1770 coin from Danish Travencore. An atia, 1748, from Portuguese Diu. A 1740 coin from French India.
  8. Harlan Berk presented items from his personal collection, 4000-3000 BCE from Vinça in modern Yugoslavia. Two prehistoric terra cotta idols - a woman's head and a head with antlers; possibly a shaman. Also a piece of worked antler, possibly for a ceremony.

Old Business
Web Site - Paul Hybert looking for a new site.

Past Dues Letter - Carl Wolf, speaking for Lyle Daly, said letters were sent and some dues were remitted to the Club.

December Banquet - status unknown, various members voiced some concerns. Carl Wolf said that he would try to contact Jeff Rosinia.

1000th Meeting Committee - Mark Wieclaw reported a Medal, Fund Raising, etc. still under discussion. Next committee meeting will be October 18.

CICF Give-Away - Bob Leonard said that he was looking into Gold Dust as currency. Used from King Midas to the present, he suggested a grain or two in the smallest possible Cointain. Bob and Bill Burd to look into the practicality and availability for ultimate sale for less than $5.

The Auction will be at November meeting. Notify Paul Hybert by October 24 to include your Lot in the Chatter.

New Business
Carl Wolf has asked Lyle Daly or Jeff Rosinia for a meeting with BankOne's security head to ease access on meeting nights.

There will be a Board meeting soon, possibly Wednesday, October 24.

Carl Wolf said that not all mail and email sent to the Club were reported at meetings or forwarded to the Club email list, as some appear to be scams.

An open discussion took place on various topics including the unperceived value of silver coins.

Meeting adjourned at 8:40 pm.

Respectfully submitted by Lyle Daly
with Addendum by Steve Zitowsky


Auction Results
November 14, 2001

1$13.00
220.00
3325.00
43.00
511.00
66.00
75.00
83.00
93.00
105.00
113.00
123.00
133.00
145.00
153.00
16$15.00
175.00
18&195.00
202.00
212.00
1018.00
10210.00
1031.00
10445.00
1053.00
10617.00
10720.00
1085.00
10910.00
11030.00
111    $3.00
11215.00
11335.00
11425.00
11512.00
1165.00
1173.00
1181.00
2011.00
2025.00
2037.00
2045.00
20530.00
20640.00
301passed
302passed
303passed
304$4.00
305passed
3065.00
4012.00
4023.00
4031.00
4041.00
4053.00
501passed
502passed
503passed


Our 995th Meeting

Date:December 12, 2001
Time:6PM to 7PM Hors d'oeuvre reception (compliments of Harlan Berk) and cash bar
7PM to 9 PM Dinner and Meeting
Location:The Mid-Day Club, an exclusive private club established in 1903 with a breathtaking skyline view from the 56th floor of the Bank One Building and a place in Chicago history.
Enter on either the Dearborn (near Madison) entrance (regular meeting entrance) or the Clark (near Madison) entrance.
Please bring a photo ID to facilitate entry.
This year's banquet will be held in the "East Room" with a great view of the lake and north Chicago.
Menu:The cost per meal is $44.00 and the featured menu is a choice of Breast of Chicken Oscar sauteed with asparagus spears and finished with a bearnaise sauce. OR Grilled Salmon Fillet Dill Beurre Blanc.
Dinner will include a fresh house salad, Chef vegetable selection, rice or potato, and dinner rolls.
Dessert will be an Apple almond tart with cinnamon ice cream.
Reservations with your dinner choice must be made by Friday, December 7 by calling the Banquet Chairman Jeff Rosinia at 312-336-2548. If he is not in, leave your name and number on his voice mail.
Program:Reid Geisler on Error Coins

Error coins are the result of one or more accidents during production at the mint. We will hear if that is always true, and be treated to some wonderful examples of what can go wrong when people and fast machines interact.


Important Dates

December 12 CCC Meeting - Annual Banquet Meeting - Featured Speaker - Reid Geisler on Error Coins
March 1-3 8th Annual Chicago Paper Money Expo (CPMX) at the Holiday Inn O'Hare, 5440 North River Road, Rosemont. Admission is $5.
April 5-7 27th Annual Chicago International Coin Fair (CICF) at the Holiday Inn O'Hare, 5440 North River Road, Rosemont. Admission is $5.
June 28-30 21st Annual MidAmerica Coin Expo at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 North River Road, Rosemont. Admission is $5.

Birthday and Year Joined

January 2 Al Sawyer 1999
January 16 Michael Metras
January 18 Denise Kitchen 1998
January 26 Jennie Sochon 1982

Chatter Matter

All correspondence pertaining to Club matters should be addressed to the Secretary and mailed to:

CHICAGO COIN CLUB
P.O. Box 2301
CHICAGO, IL 60690

Visit Our Web Site

http://www.ChicagoCoinClub.org/

Contacting Your Editor

Paul Hybert
ECE Dept, IIT
3301 S. Dearborn
Chicago, IL 60616
prh@ece.iit.edu
1-312-567-3976

Club Officers

Carl Wolf- President
Robert Feiler- First Vice President
Donald Dool- Second Vice President
Directors:Lyle Daley
William Burd
Jeff Rosinia
Mark Wieclaw
Other positions held are:
Lyle Daley- Secretary Treasurer
Paul Hybert- Chatter Editor
Phil Carrigan- Archivist