CoinWeek News Wire for January 5, 2018

January 5, 2018

Coin News Wire

By Coinweek Coin News Wire ….

Coin News Wire for January 5, 2018

Brain Food

In March 1995, the Australian Cabinet’s expenditure review committee put forward a submission to sell the mint. Cabinet was told the mint could be sold for $15 million and with circulating coinage diminishing its production could be outsourced…

2.) A century ago, India got its rare, and strange, Rs 2.5 note

On January 2, 1918, the British government of India released an exotic bank note of Rupees Two and Annas Eight, or two and a half rupees, as one rupee in British India was divided into 16 annas — a term adopted from the pre-British Muslim monetary system. The value of the currency (‘adhai rupya’) was stated at the back in eight Indian languages. Significantly, the value of Rs 2.5 was the exact equivalent $1 at the time…

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Under the Radar

3.) Wilfred Owen: Shropshire poet’s words to feature on £2 coin

The £2 coin features a quote from Owen’s poem Strange Meeting – “the truth untold, the pity of war”.

The Royal Mint today revealed its special coins that will find their way into our pockets in 2018. They include one that honours the Royal Air Force, which was formed on April 1, 1918 with the amalgamation of the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS).

Mary Shelley’s classic novel Frankenstein, which was first published anonymously on January 1, 1818 and depicted the birth of Dr Frankenstein’s infamous creature, is also being commemorated with a £2 coin design.

And The Royal Mint is issuing special 50p coins marking a century since the passing of the Representation of the People Act, which gave women over the age of 30 the right to vote, if they met certain criteria.

4.) No Royal Australian Mint line-up as collectors enter draw for first 2018 coin

The Royal Australian Mint is ending an annual line-up for the first coin of the year that once had some waiting for a week, replacing it with a new raffle system randomly awarding the sought-after prize.

Avid collectors won’t be allowed on site until 6am on New Year’s Day when they can begin queueing to receive one of 100 raffle tickets for the first coin struck anywhere in the world in 2018…

5.) New Canberra resident wins prized first coin of the year at the Royal Australian Mint

Six-year-old Henry McArthur has scored a lucky start to 2018 by beating the one-in-a-hundred odds of drawing his own winning ticket at the Royal Australian Mint … The boy was then guided into the mint, where he pressed his own one-dollar coin – the first one for 2018.

Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency

6.) Russian Cryptocurrency Designed to Evade Western Sanctions

According a Financial Times report yesterday, Putin’s economic advisor Sergei Glazev explained:

“This instrument suits us very well for sensitive activity on behalf of the state. We can settle accounts with our counterparties all over the world with no regard for sanctions.”

7.) Criminal underworld is dropping bitcoin for another currency

The European Union’s law-enforcement agency, Europol, raised alarms three months ago, writing in a report that “other cryptocurrencies such as monero, ethereum and Zcash are gaining popularity within the digital underground.”

8.) Cryptocoinopoly Is the Game That Lets You Play the Cryptocurrency Markets with Friends

Go to Hodl, Do Not Pass Go…

Crime & Punishment

9.) NCIC Crime Bulletin

From the Numismatic Crime Information Center (NCIC):

Residential Burglary

We have received information from a Chicago dealer regarding a residential burglary in the Chicago area where 300 gold German 20 marks were taken. No further information is available at this time. However, be aware of this offense in case any person or persons brings in quantities of 20 marks.

Assistance Needed

The Numismatic Crime Information Center on behalf of law enforcement is looking for anyone who has done business with an individual identified as Ken Shearn.

Please contact the NCIC’s Doug Davis if you have any questions or information about any of the cases above. You can reach him at (817) 723-7231 or email him at [email protected].

Happy New Year

I want to thank everyone who donated in the recent matching grant campaign. We were successful due to your participation and provides us with a great start for the year. I hope everyone has a prosperous and safe 2018.

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!

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The Numismatic Crime Information Center is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation. P.O. Box 14080 Arlington, Texas 76094.