CoinWeek News Wire for October 13, 2017: Swiss 10 Franc, Money Monopoly

October 13, 2017

CoinWeek News Wire Swiss 10 Franc Money

By Coinweek ….

CoinWeek News Wire for October 13, 2017:

Brain Food

1.) Silver dollar artist: Orem sculptor designs WWI commemorative coin

The most common mistake beginners make, contest officials told LeRoy Transfield, is adding too much detail.

So the Orem sculptor meticulously planned every detail of his 8-inch plaster masterpiece: a soldier with a crooked nose clutching a rifle, poppies blooming amid twisted barbed wire, and the words “In God We Trust” square to the soldier’s face.

After several weeks of work, Transfield’s finishing artwork was chosen as the winning design for the 2018 World War I American Veterans Centennial silver dollar…

Under the Radar

2.) Snowflake photographer designs new $20 coin for Royal Canadian Mint

The one-ounce $20 Royal Canadian Mint pure silver coin features three blue snowflakes with 13 smaller snowflakes surrounding them. The smaller ones are engraved to the exact size as the real snowflakes.

[Don] Komarechka specializes in nature and macro photography. He’s worked with the BBC, Discovery Channel and National Geographic to document different aspects of nature up close…

In Memoriam

3.) Albert “Al” Saavedra

Al enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II and worked as an airplane mechanic. After the war he worked in the automotive service industry for a few years then seized an opportunity to become an apprentice letter engraver at the American Bank Note Company in the Bronx, NY. In 1967 he relocated to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington, D.C. During his 20 years at the Bureau he engraved many commemorative and regular issue postage stamps, including the 1969 First Man on the Moon stamp and his proudest accomplishment, the lettering on the back of the 1976 re-issue of the two dollar bill…

Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency

4.) Blockchain May Help Prevent Voting Fraud, Increase Governments’ Responsiveness

With the increasing fear of voting fraud, Blockchain projects can now secure a digital ballot box or voting system based on Blockchain to prevent voter fraud during elections. Once cast, votes would be unalterable results and available for everyone to see…

5.) The Satoshi Revolution – How and Why Government Outlawed Private Money

The Bechtler coin is both an inspiring and a cautionary tale. It speaks to the consequences of integrity and of debasement, both of which are non-issues with bitcoin because it is trustless and cannot be altered. The Bechtler story also demonstrates how the free market outperforms government in terms of moving swiftly into an empty niche and in the quality of goods and services it delivers…

6.) The Pirate Bay caught mining crypto coin through users’ PCs, again

According to Bleeping Computer, the miner is running with no opt-out option. “The Pirate Bay, the internet’s largest torrent portal, is back at running a cryptocurrency miner after it previously ran a short test in mid-September,” it said.

“The technology in question is called Coinhive, a JavaScript library that allows The Pirate Bay’s owners to make money by using the site’s visitors computers to mine Monero, a very profitable cryptocurrency”…

Banknote News

7.) Switzerland Debuts New 10-Franc Note

With the introduction of its new 10-franc bill, the Swiss National Bank will be half way through its new series. Introduced in April 2016, the notes feature motifs depicting typically Swiss characteristics and have cutting-edge security features. The newest is yellow and based on a theme of time and the country’s reputation for impeccable organization…

8.) Somalia Months Away From Having New Currency

The Somali central bank has not properly functioned since 1991. The country’s old currency has almost disappeared or is worn out and was replaced by U.S. dollars, or privately printed notes, most of which are worthless fakes. The government plans to issue both coins and paper money. The only banknote that is still used is the 1,000 Somali Shilling, which buys a cup of tea or a packet of chewing gum…

9.) Brits want Sir David Attenborough on next £20 note, survey reveals

Sir David Attenborough has topped a list of “ethical champions” Britons want to feature on the next £20 note, a survey has revealed.

He was ahead of other “ethically minded” figureheads, including Richard Branson, Stella McCartney and Jamie Oliver…

Crime & Punishment

10.) NCIC Crime Bulletin

From the Numismatic Crime Information Center (NCIC):

Virginia Burglary

The Gloucester County, Virginia Sheriff’s Office is investigating a burglary resulting in the loss of over $42,000 in gold and silver coins.

Investigator’s are requesting information on any dealer or coin/pawn shop who has done business with an individual identified as Ronald Shawn Altizer.

Anyone with information contact Investigator T.M. Iverson, Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office, at [email protected] or (804) 210-1909.

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

* * *

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

11.) Sheriff’s Department selling coin collection seized during bust

The Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department is auctioning off a coin collection with an estimated value of $15,000, which was seized during a drug bust several years back.

Sheriff David Allison said the coins were seized during an arrest of a 72-year-old county resident for allegedly selling prescription medication…

12.) Two Cleveland-area men sentenced in federal explosives case

Two Mahoning County men were sentenced in U.S. District Court this week for conspiring to purchase explosives to crack safes at jewelry stores and coin shops, according to court records. A third man involved in the conspiracy … received a 10-month prison sentence in June…

13.) Prosecutors cite evidence in coin-case theft of missing woman’s husband

Federal prosecutors have detailed in court a trove of evidence related to Lewis Bennett’s arrest on charges he transported as much as $100,000 in stolen coins.

The evidence also might shed light on what authorities know about the reported disappearance of Bennett’s wife, suburban Delray Beach real estate broker Isabella Hellmann…

14.) ‘In total disbelief’: Mississauga thief steals $1.3 million in collectibles in broad daylight

Joseph Iorio was looking forward to showcasing his rare and collectible coins and bank notes.

The 68-year-old Vancouver, B.C. man flew here all the way from the west coast for a coin convention in Toronto. But, just seconds after checking in to the Monte Carlo Inn on Edwards Boulevard in Mississauga just after 1 p.m. on Sept. 26, Iorio returned to his car to find his two briefcases stolen.

Inside the two briefcases were about 800 pieces of collectibles valued at more than $1.3 million. They included coins dating back to 1858, old, rare bank notes in mint condition and gold nuggets.

“It happened so fast,” he said. “I was shocked, in total disbelief.”

Iorio, owner of J&M Coin & Jewellery Ltd., is offering a $200,000 reward for the return of his two brief cases, with all the collectibles in tact…

Treasure & Archaeology

15.) Roman silver coin declared as Treasure at Harrogate Magistrates Court

The coin which has been dated back to the period AD 193, was found on January 17 in the Skipton area, by Patrick Law, while he was using a metal detector.

Single precious coins do not usually constitute treasure under the Treasure Act 1996 but noting that the coin in question contained at least 10 per cent precious metal and was more than 300 years old, Coroner Turnbull decided that the item should be declared treasure…

Museums & Exhibits

16.) Mary Gillick: Her Art in Your Pocket

Trained as a sculptor at Nottingham School of Art and the Royal College of Art, Mary Gaskell Gillick (née Tutin) (1881-1965) won a competition in 1952 that would see her art in everyone’s pockets: her portrait of Queen Elizabeth II appeared on British and Commonwealth coinage until decimalization in 1971…

17.) Valuable numismatic collection presented in Historical Museum

Some of these ancient coins were revealed through the discovery of a treasure in Molodechno district. Several coins were presented by private collectors…

18.) Australian Museum to unveil the nation’s greatest 200 treasures in landmark new exhibition

FROM an Irish Elk skeleton to our first bank note, you won’t believe what is the Australian Museum’s list of the nation’s greatest treasures…