Thursday, August 28, 2008

ANA Establishes Government Affairs Committee









Government Affairs Committee Established

http://assets.listpilot.net/images/money/Capitolrevised.jpg

ANA President Barry Stuppler has instituted a Governmental Affairs Committee. The committee was created to promote Association and coin collector interests in Washington, and keep members abreast of federal legislation that affects the hobby. Updates will be featured in The Numismatist and on www.money.org. The ANA thanks Mark Olanoff and Diane Piret for co-chairing this new committee.

ANA Legislative Update as of August 2, 2008

With the support of the Board of Governors, President Barry Stuppler created the ANA Government Affairs Committee and appointed Mark Olanoff and Diane Piret as co-chairs. Mark Olanoff has 10 years of lobbying experience at the federal and state level. Diane Piret has been an Industry expert for over 20 years and currently is employed by the Industry Council for Tangible Assets (ICTA).

COMMENTARY:
------------------

First off, I want to congratulate President Barry Stuppler on seeing a need and filling it by forming this committee. Some of us collectors have felt we are in a nearly adversarial relationship with the US government over the last decade. I also know the ANA and ANS used to play a more active role in our government and it is nice to see that role being restored. Coin and banknote collectors often have more collective wisdom about money than many of our politicians do and you can take that to the bank! I also want to congratulate Mark Olanoff and Diane Piret on their appointments and hope they are successful in their positions and wish them every success.

But I must express this one concern. The page is full of bills that mainly address possible new coin designs. What I would also like to see dealt with is the current struggle with the US State Dept and cultural property issues addressed too. As numismatists we need to stay united on these issues. Not all of us collect US money, plenty of us collect Ancient and Foreign / World coinage too. I hope that just because the ACCG is doing so much on that front that the ANA won't neglect the concerns of other coin collectors.

As cultural property laws continue to spread outside of the United States, Foreign / World coin and banknote collectors will begin to feel the squeeze just as ancient coin collectors already have. That a hobby as innocent as coin collecting even needs to defend itself from government action is an atrocious attack on personal freedom and an abuse of government power - and both US political parties can take a share of the blame.

So while I am pleased to see the ANA taking a more active role in the hobby as it relates to government, I hope this new department won't only act as a committee for suggesting new collectible proof sets so that the government can 'cash in' on US coin collectors. Proof sets and other collectible issues do serve an important purpose in commemorating US History and Americana in general but that shouldn't be sole focus of our hobby.

We are in another 'golden age' of coin collecting right now because of the perfect storm of forces at work in history right now:

  • New circulating coin programs such as the 50 State Quarter program
  • The widespread use of the internet and venues such as eBay
  • A much more reliable global postal system
  • The emergence of the Euro leading to an abundance of inexpensive foreign coins
  • The growth of new finds in ancients coming from Europe and the Middle East
But all this can come to a grinding halt if we give in to international pressure from foreign governments who push the failed policies of Cultural Property Nationalism, Protectionism and Statism. If we do not resist these forces, only the rich will be able to collect ancient coins and the only foreign coins that will remain collectible will be current 'pocket change' issues and annual proof sets, often minted right here in the USA and made to appeal to less than genuine historic or culturally important themes.

TTFN,

Jim McGarigle
Polymath Numismatics
ANA, ANS, ACCG

My Ebay Store
http://stores.ebay.com/Polymath-Numismatics-and-Etcetera

My Myspace Page
http://www.myspace.com/numismatistguy

My eBay 'ME' Page
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My Coin Blog
http://awcoingeek.blogspot.com/


Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Possible Future Barack Obama Appointee Is A Cultural Property Advocate








I just found this out:

Patty Gerstenblith Named to Obama Arts Committee

More about Patty Gerstenblith:

DePaul University Faculty Page

ACCG Afghanistan - Looted Coins Found

Cyprus Renewal Letter PDF

Patty Gerstenblith Bio

Either collectors will have to make more inroads within the Democratic Party (as some of us have within the Republican Party) OR vote for McCain OR a little of each to preserve our freedom to collect here in the USA. The AIA has allies in both parties, collectors are not beholden to any one party - speak up people!

It would also be worthwhile for collectors who have already decided to support Barack Obama to CONTACT HIM and tell him how you feel about Cultural Property Nationalism (as opposed to Cultural Property Internationalism), Import Restrictions & Coin Collecting. Blog about it, no better time than now to let Obama know!

Mental Shorthand Time

Cultural Property Nationalism = Anti-Collecting

Cultural Property Internationalism = Pro-Collecting

TTFN,

Jim McGarigle
Polymath Numismatics
ANA, ANS, ACCG

My Ebay Store
http://stores.ebay.com/Polymath-Numismatics-and-Etcetera

My Myspace Page
http://www.myspace.com/numismatistguy

My eBay 'ME' Page
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/polymath_numismatics

My Coin Blog (New)
http://awcoingeek.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Scholarly Pedantics - More Extreme Archaeology









Greetings,

Recently a certain archaeologist said,

"Basically any archaeological material found in UK soil or UK territorial waters, more than 50 years old and regardless of monetary value, requires an individual export licence to leave the UK."

Source?

Yes, I know you are shocked.

When I read it, one word came to my mind, Pedantic.

At the risk of looking pedantic myself:

Pedant
Ped"ant (?), n. [F. pédant, It. pedante, fr. Gr. to instruct, from pai^s boy. See Pedagogue.]

1. A schoolmaster; a pedagogue. [Obs.] Dryden.

A pedant that keeps a school i'th' church. Shak.

2. One who puts on an air of learning; one who makes a vain display of learning; a pretender to superior knowledge. Addison.

A scholar, yet surely no pedant, was he. Goldsmith.

ped·ant·ry (pdn-tr)
n. pl. ped·ant·ries
1. Pedantic attention to detail or rules.
2. An instance of pedantic behavior.
3. The habit of mind or manner characteristic of a pedant.

pedantry
Noun
pl -ries the practice of being a pedant, esp. in the minute observance of petty rules or details.

Emphasis mine.

I think documenting any coin 50 years old or older, regardless of value qualifies as a demonstration of pedantry or pedantic behavior.

For example, according to Krause & Mishler's Standard Catalog of World Coins, the lowest mintage for a British Victorian Farthing is 713,000 for a 1875 Farthing which has a collector value of $9 USD in Fine-12. That is about £4.50 GBPs. Many that are found by metal detectorists in the UK are only found in AG-3 to VG-8 condition which I think would be about Poor to Fair by UK grading standards. Coins like this are routinely and legally sold in group lots on eBay often inexpensively at a cost less than £0.50 pence each.














A coin listed on eBay for £3.00

http://blogs.news-journalonline.com/fanboy/Indiana%20Jones%20Talking%20Indy.jpeg
Hey - that belongs in a museum!

http://www.predecimal.com/forsale/shilling1958s.jpg
1958 Elizabeth II Shilling - 50 Years Old:

1958 Mintage:14,392,000 Fine $0.25 VF $0.50 EF $3.00 UNC $22.50

http://blogs.news-journalonline.com/fanboy/Indiana%20Jones%20Talking%20Indy.jpeg
That belongs in a museum too!

Provenance, pedigree and/or export licenses for a coin like that shilling? Extreme.

TTFN,

Jim McGarigle
Polymath Numismatics
ANA, ANS, ACCG

My Ebay Store
http://stores.ebay.com/Polymath-Numismatics-and-Etcetera

My Myspace Page
http://www.myspace.com/numismatistguy

My eBay 'ME' Page
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/polymath_numismatics

My Coin Blog (New)
http://awcoingeek.blogspot.com/


Saturday, August 23, 2008

Open Reply To Paul Barford on Terminology









Recently Paul Barford said,

There is a pattern here, most of the speakers are US coin collectors or dealers. Secondly, they all refer to a law they call “treasure Trove”, though ascribe it variously to Britain, the United Kingdom or England (forgetting Wales), interestingly none of them mention Scotland (see below). Thirdly they all seem agreed that for some reason this “Treasure Trove” law is very “fair” and it should be adopted as a pattern by all other countries in forming new antiquity protection laws, when collectors and dealers would be willing to respect them.

More here in his original post

Here is my expanded reply (Paul often chooses not to publish or to edit my replies)

Paul,

I don't know why you spilt so much ink over this. It is simply 'mental shorthand' on the part of collectors that you seem to be taking issue with and let me explain.

Some people on my side of the pond (both Americans and Canadians too) often refer to England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey, Man & Lundy (and I know there are more) simply as 'England'. At other times we might collectively call those areas 'Great Britain' and at other times we might call them the 'United Kingdom'.

It's mental shorthand. You may be right on the technical aspects of your argument but I think you misunderstand the thought processes of those you are attacking.

I also get the feeling that you operate on the highly ideological assumption that we are in favor of looting and that the aspects of the PAS and Treasure Act and the preceding Treasure Trove laws that were in any way restrictive we were automatically opposed to.

On the contrary, I have felt and have the distinct impression others have felt/do feel the same as I in that the regulations contained in the PAS, Treasure Act and preceding Treasure Trove law were/are fair regulations that make sense.

If you want to split hairs over the muddy use of PAS, Treasure Trove and the Treasure Act, fine, go ahead - but only people who have read Wittgenstein and Frege will care about your sense and nominatum hairsplitting.

Respectfully,

Jim McGarigle
Polymath Numismatics
ANA, ANS, ACCG

My Ebay Store
http://stores.ebay.com/Polymath-Numismatics-and-Etcetera

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Sunday, August 10, 2008

Knowing The Difference









Greetings gentle readers,

In the blog Looting Matters, blog author David Gill asked,

"This is emotive talk ("sold out", "price of betrayal") from Tompa. Is he suggesting that organisations that "honour" individuals have ulterior motives? What about organisations that reward congressmen for supporting "collector rights" or intervening "in issues of importance to ancient coin collectors"? Or is that different?"

Fair question and the answer is yes - it is different and Gill being a citizen of the U.K. (Britain) may not understand why it is different. This is my expanded reply to him:

Yes, to your last question, it is different, substantially different. As someone who studied International Relations when I attended university, I can tell you that the loyalty of an embassy or State Dept employee who works for the U.S. Govt is to the U.S. both 1st and above all other countries. For a U.S. diplomat to be rewarded by a foreign country for going against the interests of it's own citizens could be grounds for both dismissal and likely jail time. It is foreign influence over a U.S. diplomat against the wishes and interests of the citizenry he/she is meant to serve, protect and defend. That person would be acting contrary to the very description of their job. I expect the same kind of loyalty would be required of any home office or foreign service employee in any other country. The mission statement of the U.S. State Dept says,

Advance freedom for the benefit
of the American people and the
international community by
helping to build and sustain a more
democratic, secure, and prosperous
world composed of well-governed
states that respond to the needs of
their people, reduce widespread
poverty, and act responsibly within
the international system.


Take note it says, "Advance freedom for the benefit of the American people" FIRST and mentions the international community second.

A U.S. State Dept employee has taken an oath to protect and defend the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic and to defend U.S. interests at home and abroad. Nicholas Burns may have violated his oath if he gave favored treatment to foreign based Greek and Cypriot organizations over U.S. citizens. Career diplomats of many countries often face the temptation to do this as a means of getting along better with politicians of their host countries or with colleagues who serve other countries. Mr. Burns has made it eloquently clear where his feeling lie and he was a fool to do so.

By contrast, for a group like the ACCG (which is based in the U.S.) to thank a U.S. Congressman is thanks coming from a constituent group whose members are of the same country. This is normal in the U.S. and is consistent with U.S. Constitutional norms. U.S. Congressman have taken an oath much like the State Dept employees and it is their Constitutional duty, their *JOB*, to represent the citizens of the Congressional District and/or State in which they reside. For example here are the pages used by Barack Obama and John McCain for that function as U.S. Senators. The congressmen from Wisconsin all represent congressional districts that have coin clubs, coin dealers and in 2 of them, coin & stamp publishing & paraphernalia businesses. When those congressmen helped the ACCG, they were serving their constituents and that is their job.

Jim McGarigle
Polymath Numismatics
ANA, ANS, ACCG

My Ebay Store
http://stores.ebay.com/Polymath-Numismatics-and-Etcetera

My Myspace Page
http://www.myspace.com/numismatistguy

My eBay 'ME' Page
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My Coin Blog (New)
http://awcoingeek.blogspot.com/


Monday, August 4, 2008

My eBay Feedback Just Hit 900 - Woo-Hoo!









Greetings,

A special thanks to all who have bought from me as I have sold on and off over the years. I have just hit 900 with my feedback (which is really 1100+ received and 1300+ given!) on eBay and am hoping to reach 1000 soon. So thank-you one and all and if you have not bought from me yet, check me out and give me a try.

Speaking of 1000, my goal is to hit 1000 by the end of this August and make at least $1000. I have a trip in September and some bills to pay. As a result, besides the usual smattering of Ancient, World & U.S. coins, I will have some higher quality and unusual material - stuff out of my own collection also being listed.

Here is my current coin offerings:

ANCIENT:
------------

PMN - GETA AS CAESAR - AR DENARIUS - PONTIF COS II - EF
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320282655664

PMN - VICTORINVS - SILVER-BILLON ANT - INVICTVS
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320282657753

PMN - GALERIUS - AE FOLLIS - EF
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320282660729

PMN - ANTIOCHUS IV EPIPHANES - SCARCER ISSUE - TYRE
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320282648864

PMN - ARETAS IV AND SHUQAILAT - NICE!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320282650032

PMN - SCARCE TRAJAN DUPONDIUS - NICE MATTE BLACK PATINA
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320282651363

PMN - ARETAS III PHILHELLENOS - NABATAEAN
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320282653251

PMN - SYLLAEUS AND ARETAS IV - RARE
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320282654667

PMN - EAGLE - ANTIOCHUS VIII GRYPOS - RADIATE BRONZE
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320282661517

PMN - MALICHUS II AND SHUQAILAT
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320282662821

WORLD:
------------

PMN - 1944 LAHORE MINT 1/2 RUPEE - KGVI
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320282651471

PMN - 1943 SILVER 1/4 RUPEE - KGVI - CALCUTTA - BU-UNC
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320282652759

PMN - MOOSE - 1971 PROOFLIKE QUARTER - BU
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320282653473

PMN - 1978 - 10 FILS - JORDAN - UNC - RED
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320282654083

PMN - LION - I YEAR TYPE - BELGIUM - 1939 - 1 FRANC
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320282654375

PMN - RAM - SILVER AUSSIE SHILLING - 1961 - QEII
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320282655381

PMN - LION - UNC 1951 5 STOTINKI BULGARIA - 1 YR TYPE
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320282656000

PMN - KNIGHT ON HORSEBACK SILVER 5 SHILLINGS AUSTRIA
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320282657206

PMN - 1936B 1/4 RUPEE - BU-UNC SPECIMEN - GEORGE V
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320282658439

PMN - BU/UNC - 1936 - BRITAIN - 3 PENCE - GEORGE V
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320282660904

PMN - LION - 1 YR TYPE - 1953 25 CENTS - PARAGUAY UNC
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320282662570

PMN - HEN - 1968 PENNY *FULL RED* REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320282664357

More material to be posted soon, keep checking back!

Jim McGarigle
Polymath Numismatics
ANA, ANS, ACCG

My Ebay Store
http://stores.ebay.com/Polymath-Numismatics-and-Etcetera

My Myspace Page
http://www.myspace.com/numismatistguy

My eBay 'ME' Page
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/polymath_numismatics

My Coin Blog (New)
http://awcoingeek.blogspot.com/