What's Happening

From the desk of your Secretary

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March 23/06 -

March 16/06 - The United States Mint today announced that the 2006 United States Mint Proof Set will be released Wednesday, March 22, 2006, at 12:00 noon (ET) via its online catalog at www.usmint.gov, and by telephone at 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468).

The 10-coin set, priced at $22.95, features proof versions of the Lincoln cent, the “Return to Monticello” 5-cent coin, the Roosevelt dime, the Kennedy half-dollar and the Golden Dollar, all in one sealed presentation case.

A separate presentation case contains proof versions of the commemorative quarter-dollar coins from each state honored this year in the United States Mint’s 50 State Quarters® Program – Nevada, Nebraska, Colorado, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Proof coins are manufactured by the United States Mint at San Francisco using specially prepared, highly polished dies, and bear the "S" mint mark. Each coin is struck at least twice to ensure the finest detail in a frosted cameo image on a bright, mirror-like background. The sealed cases containing the coins are inserted into specially printed sleeves and are accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.

There is no household order limit for the 2006 United States Mint Proof Set. The United States Mint Proof Set is also available through the United States Mint’s Online Subscription Program. For more information about this convenient ordering method, please visit www.usmint.gov.

The 2006 United States Mint 50 State Quarters Proof Set™, featuring proof versions of the 2006 quarters issued under the 50 State Quarters Program, may be purchased separately for $15.95.

Customers can purchase the 2006 United States Mint Proof Set online through the United States Mint’s secure website at www.usmint.gov/catalog, or by calling toll-free 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468) 8:00 a.m. to midnight (ET), seven days a week.

Hearing- and speech-impaired customers may order by calling 1-888-321-MINT (6468) 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (ET), Monday through Friday. A shipping and handling fee of $4.95 per order will be added to all domestic orders.

March 07/06 - The following is an very interesting note from Regional Director Rod Sell #96, Australia.

"The Australian Numismatic Society has been encasing some of our (Australian) coins. The Society turns 100 in 2013 and since 2003 we have been giving members either an encased or a medal every year. In 2003 they got an encased 1963 halfpenny, in 2004 an encased 1963 sixpence, 2005 they got a bimetallic medal. This year they will get an encased 1963 shilling. In 2007 they will get a medal and in 2008 a SPECIAL encased 1913 halfpenny. In 2009, 2010 and 2011 we will give them encased 1938 halfpenny, sixpence and shilling. In 2012 an encased 1988 2 cent and finally in 2013 a SPECIAL encased 1913 shilling. I just hope we can find sufficient coins, as we have 180 financial members. The 1913 shilling is a difficult one. So far I have managed to get 70, so I need another 110."

It is great to know the encasing coins is indeed and international endeavor. You can bet that it will be many years before any of the pieces reach the collector's market.

~ The following is a note sent to an ECI member from another that I thought was worth passing on.

"Dear *** Wanted to let you know that the “encased cent” you bought yesterday on eBay from *** ******** -- St. Mary’s Cathedral – is a phony. I have several hundred of the frames – there was never a cent encased. I could put into the frame any date cent you want. Provide me with your mailing address and I’ll send you one. I got these from the estate of a collector who had connections with the token-making company of Irvine-Jachens in South San Francisco, and I tend to think they were the maker. I’m not sure the things were ever issued.  I do list the frames as San Francisco 64 in my “Catalog of California Encased and Stickered Coins” with an Estimated Value of EV1 = up to $2."

February 07/06 - Today marks the beginning our third year. It also introduces a complete revamping of our website; the first major overhaul since organizing in 2004. We have redesigned about every feature on the site. Several new features have been added while old ones have been modernized. We believe that the site is more user friendly, allowing us more room to grow in the future. Over the past several months we have completely redid the "Newsletter", "Show Case", "the Wrangler" and the "ECI Store" features making them stand-alone websites in their own right linked to each other. The next major feature to be added will be a "Bid Board". Look for it to be introduced by late winter.

~ A restructuring of the Board of Officers has been announced. The Executive Committee has been reorganized along with adding new Regional Directors and Standing Committee members. A big THANKS to all who have agreed to serve in the various capacities for the next two years. It is with gratitude that we thank all those who served for the past two years.

January 19/06 - Happy 2006 everyone. This year has started off simply great with Kelly Finnegan #119 being named the first recipient of the "Earl Fankhauser ECI Service Award". My congratulations goes out to Kelly with heartfelt appreciation for his tireless effort in keeping the manufacture of encased coins going for another generation. This award will only be presented on occasion when a member has made a major contribution to the hobby in general and to ECI specifically.

~ As we have not met our goal in doubling our membership during the second year, we are setting a new goal of reaching 300 members by February 1, 2007. At present we are 216 members strong. Over the past year we have lost a member by death and three have resigned.

~ A special THANK YOU to Steve Swingenstein #123 for his generous contribution of several of his personalized encased state quarters for the ECI Store.