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Vol. 8, No. 7 July, 2009
"Some Face Vignettes of Dom. of Canada Notes, 1897-1900" "Some Varieties of Modern British Coins of Elizabeth II" "Variety Hunter: 50-Cents, 1917" Above: The official British coronation medal for Edward VIII. Scheduled for May 12, 1937 , the event never took place following Edward's abdication on 11 Dec. 1936 , his place being taken by his younger brother as George VI. Engraved by William McMillan. Silver, 32.6 mm. The Mid-Island Coin Club, Dues: $12 per year Mailing Address: Mid-Island Coin Club, c/o West Coast Stamp & Coin, Executive Officers: President: Felix Stawski
The June meeting was attended by 26 members and guests. Don't forget our club's participation at the VIEX in August. Preliminary advice is that we will be housed in a different building this year. Also that we are not allowed to sell coins. We need material for the "Kids' Jug" giveaways; if you have a handful of scruffy old foreign that needs a new home, please bring such material to the July meeting. Those kids are tomorrow's collectors - even if they don't know it yet. * * * * * And now for the bad news. We sadly note that we have another empty chair with the passing of Ernie Voyageur at the middle of June. Ernie was one of our longest members, nearly an original. His specialty was Canadian errors and he had some unusual pieces. Our second Christmas Party for charity was a huge success in large part because of the donations of handcrafted gifts Ernie made. For a few years, he was a club Director and will be greatly missed.
************************************************************************ Some Face Vignettes of Dominion of Canada Notes: 1897-1900
By the late 19th Century, few bank note companies such as those who produced the Canadian government paper currency - the British American Bank Note Company and the American Bank Note Company - engraved the plates for one side as a single design. Nearly always, it was made up of two or more components (called vignettes) engraved beforehand. This allowed a lot of mixing and matching as well as continuation of an identical design when the small vignette plate was used to impress a master plate, in turn replicated into as many identical impressions as required for an entire sheet. Circa 1990, the American Bank Note Company archives released a lot of duplicate vignettes as printed on paper, including those of the designs used to make up the faces and backs of the Dominion of Canada notes 1897-1900. These are shown below.
Top: ABNCo vignette " Canada B-4", the logging scene as used on the 1-Dollar notes of 1897 (shown: black on green tint) as well as those of 1898 (black on light brown tint). There were also individual vignettes of the Countess of Aberdeen (" Canada A-2") and the Earl of Aberdeen (" Canada A-3"). The backs of the issues of 1897, 1898 and 1911 carried the vignette of the Parliament Buildings (" Canada B-3").
Although all were dated July 2, 1897, there were actually four series of the matching $2 note: Courtney/ red-brown back / no series letter; Courtney / dark brown back / no series letter; Courtney/ dark brown back / series letters A through C; Boville/ dark brown back / series letters D through I. As usual, the face was made up of vignettes, one being of Edward, then Prince of Wales, but Edward VII as of 1902 (Vignette "Canada A-4") - oddly, the only time he appeared on a Dominion of Canada note. The second vignette, six men in a fishing dory (Vignette "Canada B-5") is shown below along with a finished note of the first issue. The reverse of the $2 carried a central vignette of a harvest scene (Vignette "Canada B-7").
At the time, the Dominion of Canada was issuing only four denominations for general circulation: 25-Cents, $1, $2 and $4. Everything from the $5 up was reserved for the circulation of the chartered banks (large-denomination "bank legals" excepted). Under the issue date of July 2, 1900 appeared new $4 notes, the faces again composed of three vignettes: Lady Minto (Vignette "Canada A-6") and Lord Minto (Vignette "Canada A-7") as well as a central vignette showing the canal locks at Sault Ste. Marie (Vignette "Canada B-9" shown below). This particular vignette proved to be something of an embarassment to the government in that it showed the American rather than the Canadian locks. Presumably the engravers at the ABNCo had been operating from a photograph and never noticed. Immediately an order went out for an issue with the correct vignette and "B-9" was scrapped. The early issue was in release until February, 1902 when superceded by the corrected notes but no $4 notes were produced between January, 1903 and the summer of 1911 when cash needed to buy crops (wheat, generally) brought out an additional issue (Boville signature) as well as all those still in storage. But this was the last of the $4 notes; the advent of the new Dominion of Canada $5 denomination in 1912 (much to the displeasure of the chartered banks) saw the rapid and fairly complete withdrawal of the old "fours".
Top: Vignette " Canada B-9", the "American Locks" view soon superceded. Bottom: Face of the Dominion of Canada $4 note, first issue. The corrected notes of 1902 were very similar with the exception of the new view; those of 1911 carried "FOUR" at the top instead of 4. The backs of all issues carried the same vignette: View of the Parliament Buildings and Library as seen from across the Ottawa River .
The use of vignettes in making up a design continued for many years. Perhaps it's still done.
Some Varieties of Modern British Coins of Elizabeth II.
Of the three major English-speaking countries that touch the Atlantic Ocean – Canada , the U.S. and Britain – the numismatic trend of the first is probably the greatest in regard to the varieties of her native coin. We have only to briefly enumerate such examples as the cents of 1948/49, the High and Low Relief 5¢ of 1952, the High and Low Relief 25¢ of 1951/1952, and the 1978 25¢ to show that this is so. Both the relative rarity and corollary market values of the varieties have been calculated. In a great many cases, it is the relationship of the lettering to the rim denticles that determine the variety – and this is true even when determining a worn “Shoulder Strap” of 1953 to indeed be that or its sister “No Shoulder Strap”. It was roughly 1979 before the obverses of our coins ceased to use denticles – and 1993 in the case of the reverses. “Denticles” are here defined as the ring of any “bead-like” or “tooth-like” objects that touch the rim – they later gave way to circles of “beads” away from the rim. It was the nature of die manufacture that caused the legend-to-denticles relationship to shift with each new production punch. The entire design except for the denticles were reproduced by the reducing machine – usually exactly . But the denticles were applied to the master dies separately as the final operation by a sort of conical knurling tool in a lathe and only that the first denticle coincide with the last was important, slight further feeding of the tool making it so. It was less important that the exact number of denticles be the same – and the relationship to the legend scarcely at all. Therefore many of our varieties. American collectors have not had this advantage since their mint did away with denticles during the First World War. British coins have also used denticles until recent times although they, too, have since gone to rings of beads (like Canada ) or no denticles at all (like the U.S. ). The move has been to eliminate the final knurling step completely and allow the entire design to be reproduced by the reducing machine alone. But varieties have not been especially popular with British collectors, even though (as we shall see) there are a number of them easily detected. Outside the U.K. , they are almost unknown. Perhaps they should not be; perhaps some of them are future “sleepers”. Certainly modern British coins in anything less than Unc command little respect in Canada . They are common; they are cheap. Most are relegated to the junk box or given away to young collectors. But using the following checklist, perhaps we would be advised to give some of them a second look. Those listed below are all of Elizabeth II using the old Sterling Standard – 1953 to 1967 (there were none struck for circulation after that year until the introduction of the decimals in 1971 – save only 1970 proof sets). By denomination and year, they are:
Farthings. • Obv. 1: + in legend points to a denticle. Obv. 2: + in legend points between denticles. Rev. 1: Foot of T points between denticles. Rev. 2: Foot of T points at a denticle.
All four die pairings – Obv 1/Rev.1; Obv. 1/Rev.2; Obv. 2/Rev. 1 and Obv. 2/Rev. 2 – are known. However, it is believed that all those with Reverse 1 appeared only in the 1953 Specimen sets and, except for the date, are identical with the last farthing reverse for George VI.
Halfpennies.
1953. Obverse 1: + points at a denticle. Obverse 2: + points between denticles.
1954 to 1967. All obverses have the legend modified to drop “BRITT: OMN:” Obverse 1: The I of DEI points at a denticle. Obverse 2: The I of DEI points between denticles.
These two Obverses are paired with no fewer than twelve Reverses, their main differences being the “ship's height”, defined as the distance in millimeters from the tip of the mainmast to the base of the sea. They are:
Reverse A: Ship 19.25mm high. Reverse B: Ship 18.5mm high. Denticles longer. Reverse C: Ship 19mm high. Upright of L in HALF points between denticles. Reverse D: Ship 18.75mm high. L points at a denticle. Reverse E: Similar to D but sea now markedly wavy. Reverse F: Ship 19.0mm high. Denticles long. Reverse G: Similar to last but denticles short. Reverse H. Similar to G but ship 18.8mm high Reverse J. Ship 19.0mm. Rim broader. Reverse K. Ship 19.25mm high. Denticles short. Reverse L. Ship 19.5mm high. Reverse M. Ship 19.5mm high but incuse diagonal lines on right-hand flag.
Varieties are known for the following years: 1953 Obv 1 / Rev A 1953 Obv 1 / Rev. B 1956 Obv. 1 / Rev. C 1956 Obv. 2 / Rev. C 1956 Obv. 2 / Rev. D 1957 Obv. 1 / Rev. D There are no less than 7 sub-varieties of this particular combination, i.e.: • Pointed 7 pointing directly at a denticle • Pointed 7 pointing to left side of a denticle • Pointed 7 pointing to right top of a denticle • Pointed 7 pointing to space between denticles • Blunt 7 pointing directly at a denticle • Blunt 7 pointing to right top of a denticle • Blunt 7 pointing to left top of a denticle • Obv. 1 / Rev. E • Obv. 1 / Rev. E 1958 Obv. 1 / Rev. F 1958 Obv 1 / Rev G 1967 Obv. 1 / Rev. L 1967 Obv. 1 / Rev. M 1967 Obv. 2 / Rev. L • Obv. 2 / Rev. M
Pennies. Note: a very few 1953 pennies in specimen sets were struck using the reverse dies of George VI, using toothed borders instead of the later beaded ones.
1963 Gap between plume and shoulder; tieup of gown ends at right shoulder 1963 No gap between plume and shoulder; gown tieup continues over shoulder. 1964 Gap between plume and shoulder; tieup of gown ends at right shoulder. 1964 No gap between plume and shoulder; gown tieup continues over shoulder. 1966 Gap between plume and right shoulder • Plume of helmet touches right shoulder. • Plume of helmet touches right shoulder. 1967 Narrow gap between plume and right shoulder. 1967 Wide gap between plume and right shoulder.
Threepence.
1953 I in ELIZABETH points to a border corner. 1953 I in ELIZABETH points to right of a border corner.
Sixpence.
1953. Upright of cross to left of border dot. 1953. Upright of cross to right of border dot. 1955. I of SIX points between denticles; I of FID points at denticle. 1955. I of SIX points at denticle; I of FID points between denticle.
Shilling. (English: Lion on crown).
1953. I of GRATIA points at denticle. 1953. I of GRATIA points between denticles. 1956. I of FID points between denticles. 118 border denticles. 1956. I of FID points at denticle. 119 border denticles.
(Scots: Crowned lion shield).
1953. I in GRATIA points at denticle. 1953. I in GRATIA points between denticles. 1955. Second I of SHILLING points between denticles. 1955. Second I of SHILLING points at denticle.
Florin (2/ piece)
1953. I of ELIZABETH points between denticles. 1953. I of ELIZABETH points at denticle. 1968. First upright of H in ELIZABETH points between denticles; upright of P in PENCE points between denticles. 1968. First upright of H in ELIZABETH points between denticles; upright of P in PENCE points at denticle. 1968. First upright of H in ELIZABETH points at denticle; upright of P in PENCE points between denticles.
Halfcrown (2/6 piece)
1953. I of DEI points at denticle. 1953. I of DEI points between denticles. 1962. I of GRATIA points at denticle; left limb of N in CROWN points at denticle. 1962. I of GRATIA points at denticle; left limb of N in CROWN points between denticles. 1962. I of GRATIA points between denticles; left limb of N in CROWN points between denticles. 1962. I of GRATIA points between denticles; left limb of N in CROWN points at denticles.
Variety Hunter: 50 Cents, 1917.
In the 61st edition (2007) of The Charlton Standard Catalogue of Canadian Coins , the back section was devoted to varieties of the 50-Cent pieces. Under those of 1917 were listed two, according to Neil Carmichael's catalogue from 1957, " 1 & 7 wider" and " 1 & 7 closer", accompanied by illustrations reproduced below with permission. However, even though different, measurement shows that the 1-to-7 gap is the same on both. It's unfortunate that not much of the D in CANADA shows above since this is the feature by which the different widths may be judged. But there is a Narrow Date, just like Carmichael said, and that is shown below as a scan. In all, there are at least three die varieties of the 1917 50-Cent, rather than just two.
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Fishskin Depression Scrip
Even in the midst of economic emergency, there are those who show some ingenuity. During the famous "Bank Holiday" of the U.S. Depression when all banks were closed March 6 through 10, 1933, many hundreds of types of "depression scrip notes" appeared by numerous issuers to allow the local economies to carry on. All were to be redeemable for cash at the end of the emergency and most show some definite date after which they will be considered non-redeemable - usually some time in 1934.
One of the more unusual such scrips was issued in March, 1933 by the Hackett-Larson Post of the American Legion in Friday Harbor , Washington , ".. redeemable on demand prior to July 1, 1934 " and backed by "securities deposited with San Juan County Bank". These notes were printed on parchment made from fish skins and, in fact, the text "Not good unless printed on genuine fish skin parchment" was shown to better prevent counterfeiting (as well as being triply-signed by men who would be well known in that small community).
The issue was not large, making it considered scarce today, but neither were most redeemed, either, being largely saved as souvenirs.
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July 2009Some Face Vignettes of Dom. of Canada Notes, 1897-1900 "Some Varieties of Modern British Coins of Elizabeth II" "Variety Hunter: 50-Cents, 1917"
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