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September:
Featured Article
History of American Pottery
Spotlight Dealer
Keith and Sue Straley of Cousin Belle's Antiques |
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August Lecture |
All About the Dollar
Join Jim Paper of
Mint and Print
as he discusses the history of the dollar from it's early American origin to the Presidential Series.
Bring your own coins and currency for complimentary identification.
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Greetings~
August is here...time to enjoy the last, lazy days of Summer. Many of you have vacations planned and some of you have loved ones and friends visiting from out of town.
Don't forget that Savage Mill is a great spot to spend the day. It's a unique marketplace offering shops that you won't find anywhere else, artist's studios, great restaurants as well as nature trails and the historic Bollman Truss Bridge. You can get a massage, take a dance class, or go on a spooky ghost tour. There are also regular events such as the Family Game Store's Game Nights on Friday and Saturday evenings and the Summer Lunch Concert Series. You can enjoy lunch while you listen to live music on Fridays and Saturdays from Noon - 1:30 in the New Weave Building.
Entertain your guests or just treat yourself to a day of shopping, exploration and relaxation. For more information on all that Savage Mill has to offer, visit www.savagemill.com.
And remember to re-visit the best antique marketplace in the Mid-Atlantic region. We hope to see you soon at the Antique Center and the International Antiques & Home Design Center!
~Enjoy! |
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Spotlight Dealer:
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 Jim Paper has been a dealer in Numismatics since 1975 and has had a booth at the Antique Centers at Historic Savage Mill since 1988. He travels throughout the United States and the world and participates in most of the major shows in the US. He recently participated in the national coin show which was held at the Baltimore convention center from July 29 through August 2, 2008.
He began collecting coins as a young boy. His mother gave him some old coins of hers and it immediately sparked his interest in coins. He would take the money he earned from delivering newspapers and go to the bank every day and exchange several rolls of coins he had already looked at for new and unsearched coins. He soon learned which Tellers were more supportive of his daily visits. Back then you could find Indian Head pennies and Buffalo nickels in circulation.
When he joined the Navy and started visiting countries around the world Jim got interested in their coinage, especially since their countries were much older and more interesting. Since then, he has been an avid collector of European and Medieval coins.
Jim is a member of many numismatic organizations such as the American Numismatic Association and a respected professional Numismatist. He is an authorized PCGS (Professional Coin Grading Service) dealer. His goal has always been to provide a fair and valuable service to the collector community. Since recently retiring from the engineering profession, he now spends a lot of his time playing golf and helping with his 6 grandchildren when not attending shows or meeting with a collector at the Mill.
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August 24, 4pm
All About the Dollar
The Early American Origin to the Presidential Series with
Jim Paper, Mint and Print
September 14, 4pm
Let's Talk Pottery
History and examples of American pottery including Roseville, Weller, Rookwood and Van Briggle with
Keith & Sue Straley, Cousin Belle's Antiques | |
Frequently Asked Numismatic Questions
by Jim Paper, Mint and Print |
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 Many people can't pronounce the word numismatics and even fewer know what it means. That's where I would like to help answer some frequently asked questions related to coin collecting.
1. What is the value of my coin, note, token or medal? Collector or numismatic value is heavily based on rarity and condition, as well as market factors of supply and demand. Rarity is established by the mintage, the market is determined by the number of collectors wanting to own the piece versus the number that exist, and condition is the physical state of the item. Due to the large numbers of U.S. coins and paper money produced throughout the 20th century, most circulating currency produced during that era will hold only a nominal collector's value over the face value or legal tender amount. A retail value range can be ascertained from many published sources. A Guide Book of United States Coins by R. S. Yeoman, Comprehensive Catalog of U.S. Paper Money by Gene Hessler, as well as the Standard Catalog of World Coins and the Standard Catalog of World Paper Money (both published by Krause Publications), are readily available at most libraries, bookstores, and they can be purchased at the Antique Center. An exact value can be established only by a careful physical examination of the item by an experienced Numismatist. 2. How can I identify my coin, note, token or medal?
You can identify many numismatic items by using the published sources listed in Question 1. 3. Can you tell me if my numismatic item is genuine?
Replicas and counterfeit copies have been produced of all known numismatic rarities. The "Hobby Protection Act of 1973" dictates that all reproductions produced after that date be marked as such. If your item bears the words "Replica," "Copy," or the letters "R" or "C," it is undoubtedly a copy. As such, it holds no legal tender or collector value.
Many counterfeit copies are produced utilizing the same casting methods as in mass jewelry production. During this process, molten metal is poured into molds of the obverse and reverse designs, and the two sides are fused together to form a single piece. This process often leaves two telltale signs: a highly pitted appearance, particularly around the perimeter, as evidence of metal that was poured at the wrong temperature; and a seam or line around the edge where the two sides were joined together. Since genuine coins are struck from a single planchet of solid metal, they will have a smooth appearance and will not bear any seam. However, absence of these characteristics does not necessarily mean the piece is genuine.
Genuineness cannot be determined from a scan, photocopy or description. If there is some question, or if you believe that your item may be genuine, we suggest that you submit it for examination. 4. I would like to collect coins. Where do I begin?
You must collect what you find attractive and interesting so that the hobby will be enjoyable to you. Experienced as well as financially successful collectors advise beginners to collect the "best" coins that are financially feasible. Since numismatic value is heavily based on rarity and condition, coins that have not circulated have historically held a higher numismatic value than those that have been in circulation. Depending on your choice of U.S. or world coins and currency, the references listed above make an excellent source of information for getting started. |
The Department of the Treasury
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The Department of the Treasury was brought into existence by an Act of Congress on September 2, 1789, but the story of American currency started well before.
All wars need to be financed, but during the run-up to the Revolutionary War, we were not a sovereign nation. As such, the Continental Congress had no power to raise funds through any of the standard channels. They decided to issue bills of credit, to be redeemed for coin on faith that the Revolution would be successful.
Congress issued $2 million in bills of credit just a few days after the Battle of Bunker Hill and, on July 29, 1775, the Joint Continental Treasurers were named. Each colony was required to contribute to the Continental government's funds.
In February of 1776, a committee was formed to oversee the Treasury and, in April, the Treasury Office of Accounts was established. Upon the signing of the Declaration of Independence in July, loans from abroad were obtained to contribute to the settlement of claims.
The story of the Treasury doesn't end there. It was reorganized three times between 1778 and 1781 and the dollar collapsed in May of 1781. Ever hear the expression, "Not worth a Continental"? It came out of the angry protests regarding the worthless money.
A wealthy merchant, Robert Morris, can be credited with restoring some stability to America's finances. He resigned in 1784, but the Treasury continued to operate under the system that he put into place until the Department of the Treasury as we know it today was established in 1789.
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 Vintage Recipe of the Month:
Aunt Martha's Sand Dollar Cookies |
 Thoroughly mix the butter, sugar, eggs, and almond extract. Combine flour, baking powder and salt and add to butter mixture. Mix well, form a ball and chill the dough for one hour.
Roll out the dough on a floured surface to 1/8"-1/4" thick and cut out cookies using a 3" cutter or water glass.
Place on lightly greased, parchment paper-lined baking sheets; brush with lightly beaten egg white. Sprinkle on cinnamon sugar and gently press 5 almond slivers into each cookie in a star-shaped pattern.
Bake at 350° for 4 minutes; remove pan from oven, and gently press almonds into cookies again. Bake approximately 4 more minutes or until cookies have lightly browned edges.
Remove cookies from pan and lay them on a rack to cool.
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The Antique Center
at Historic Savage Mill
in the Old Weave Building
An Antiques Marketplace Beyond Compare!
150 Select Dealers in 20,000 Square Feet |
Furniture~All Periods & Styles
China~Glass~Silver~Lighting~Books
Paintings~Prints~Oriental Rugs~Jewelry
Carousel Horses~Pottery~Coins
Sports Memorabilia~Military~Toys
Linens~Lace~Much, Much More
410.880.0918 ~ 301.369.4650
antiquec@aol.com
www.antique-cntr-savage.com
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Home Design Partners at The International Antiques & Home Design Center present a wide array of home improvement services including landscaping and water features, fabric and wallpaper, faux finishes, kitchen refacing, closet and garage organization, sunrooms, metal restoration and refinishing and complete kitchen and bath renovations.
(click on a logo to visit our partners' websites) |
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Daily 10 am-6 pm 410.792.4872 /301.470-4373
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Need a sign?
Visit our friends at Sign-A-Rama of Columbia
Signs, Banners, Digital Graphics, Custom Logos, Individual Letters, Ad Specialty Items, Directory Signs, and More!!
9691 Gerwig Lane, Unit 2-F
Columbia, MD 21046
Phone: 410-381-4324
Fax: 410-381-4326 |
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