First, let me say thank you to everyone that participated. We started off with nearly 60 entries and chopped them down to 15 people, 7 of which ended up responding to the questions. Each question was worth 1 total point or a fraction thereof. Many of the questions were super easy. Questions that required a date or one word answer were graded either +1 or -1. Then there were a few questions that required some detailed info or multiple answers. Those answers I graded in thirds. So for instance, if your answer had three parts and you got 2 parts correct, then I gave you a +.66 and -.33 for that answer. There were a few questions which ultimately came down to my subjective grading and I had to determine whether or not your answer was closest to mine. So if you attempted to answer the question and it was completely wrong you got -1, if you got some of it right you got +.33 and so on up to +1. Although the answers to these questions came from multiple sources, I chose my questions from our new ANA president's book, "Coins: Questions and Answers" by Clifford Mishler. There is some neat stuff in there and I highly recommend it as toilet reading material. Out of the 15 questions, I threw out 1 because everyone got it wrong. Even I couldn't find any additional information on it other than what was in the book, so I eliminated the question. Also, many of the answers could be found in the Red Book. In the end, there a total of 14 questions. Soooooo enough talking and lets see who the winners were. Because there were no first place ties, all other entries that had the same grades were ranked based on the time stamp from when you submitted your answers. 1st Place - Treasure Hunt - 13.66/14 2nd Place - The Noost - 12.66/14 (2:30am) 3rd Place - Sweet Wheatz - 12.66/14 (10:11pm) 4th Place - OxJaw - 11.33/14 (3:30am) 5th Place - Harryj - 11.33/14 (4:42pm) 6th Place - Krispy - 10/14 7th Place - Wiggam07 - 9.66/14 The good news is that I have prizes for all 7 of you. What I will do is contact each one of you with your choices of prizes. Treasure Hunt will pick first, then I will work my way down the list with the remaining prizes until none are left. Here are the prizes! 1. A painted 2000 ASE that has been soaked in Acetone. 1oz silver 2. 1909S Philippine/US Peso 0.5144 silver 3. 1918S Philippine/US 10 centavos 0.0779 silver 4. 1959 Proof dime - 0.07234 silver 5. 1967-1982 South African Silver token 6. 1936 UNC Lincoln Cent 7. Plastic bag with Aruban coins - 4 Florins, 2 50cent pieces and 1 5cent piece 8. Circulated $1* Note - Lower serial number TreasureHunt (Frank), lets get this started and please PM me with your choice. :hail: Answers are below. 1. Please give the exact date as to when the US government made it legal for you to buy, sell and hold all US and foreign gold coins. The limitation on gold ownership in the US was repealed after President Gerald Ford signed a bill legalizing private ownership of gold coins, bars and certificates by an act of Congress codified in Pub L 93-373 which went into effect on December 31, 1974. Most gold coins and bullion were illegal to own from 1934 to 1974 due to government regulations intended to prevent the demand and price of gold from going too high. I was looking for the exact date 2. What denomination is an eagle? $10 Everybody got right 3. Please explain how the term "bourse" relates to numismatics. The bourse is that area of a show or convention facility set aside for the purpose of dealers in numismatic items and supplies offering their wares to attendees. Everybody got right 4. What year was it made mandatory to include the motto "In God We Trust" on US coinage? July 11, 1955 when it was decreed by a resolution of the 84th Congress and was approved by President Eisenhower. I was looking for the exact date 5. When someone refers to the "device" of a coin, what are they referring to? The principle element, such as a portrait, shield, or heraldic emblem, of the design on the obverse or reverse of a coin, token and medal. Everybody got right 6. What was the exact date that Congress enacted a law that said that changes to US coinage cannot be made more frequently than once every 25 years? A law enacted by Congress on September 26, 1890, specified that changes in the design of regular issue US coins cannot be made more frequently than once every 25 years, unless Congress enacts legislation mandating a specific change. Everybody got right 7. What is the difference between a proof set and a mint set? And explain what the term "Mint sealed Proof sets" mean. Proof refers to the method of manufacturing. Ideally, the proof coin is minted with a maximum of preparation and care, using highly polished dies and planchets free of imperfections. Each proof coin is multiple struck at slow speed with extra pressure to bring up sharp, high relief designs. Proofs are distinguished by their brilliant mirror finish, sometimes with frosted highlights and high relief rims. A Mint set consists of UNC coins issued annually by the US Mint, assembled from select early strikes. Presently, these sets consist of one coin from each denomination struck for circulation at the Philly and Denver mints. Little or no special care is given to the preparation or striking of the coin. Mint sealed proof sets had the coins sealed within the polyethylene-coated cellophane package and enclosed in the envelope, as employed in 1955 and continuing through 1964. Everybody got the first two parts correct, but a few missed the third part 8. Did you know that three out of the first 4 "real" people to appear on US coins were foreigners? Name these three people and the year and coins they were on. Christopher Columbus – 1892, 1893 Columbian commemorative half Queen Isabella of Spain – 1893 Columbian commemorative quarter dollar Lafayette – 1900 commemorative silver dollar, along with Washington Some people missed this 9. Both matte proofs and sandblast proofs (also know as "satin" proofs) use a process of blasting the surface of the coin with fine sand particles to create their look, but one occurs before the coin is struck and the other occurs after. Which are they? Matte proofs use the process before the coin is struck and sandblast proof occurs after. Some people missed this 10. Was the US the first country to offer clad coinage of the "sandwhich" variety? And if not, what country was it? Silver was successfully fused to copper sheets and employed for “Sandwich” coinage purposes as early as the eighth century by the Greeks. Question was thrown out 11. Why was a clad composition, instead of pure nickel, chosen for the new, silver-less coinage? The clad coinage was engineered to exactly duplicate the electrical properties of the silver coins that had been minted to the same standard since the mid to late 1830’s. This was to ensure that they would function in all existing coin operated vending machines, including the more sophisticated ones that accepted only those coins having the electrical properties of .900 fine silver. Converting all of the nation’s vending machines to accept a pure nickel coinage would have been a lengthy and very expensive undertaking. This was the most widely answered question. Only one person got the entire question correct. I gave varying credit to everyone, because all your answers were partly correct, but the complete correct answer is above and only one person got this right. 12. What year did the mintmark first appear on US coinage and from what mint were they issued? 1838 – New Orleans, Dahlonega, and Charlotte Surprisingly, some missed at least one of these mints 13. What do the 1905-S Coronet quarter eagle and the 1915-O Barber half dollar have in common? Both are counterfeit Everyone was correct 14. What was the first coin to be issued by authority of the United States and when was it issued? April 21, 1787 – The “Fugio” cent. As the United States did not have a mint in 1787, a contract for the striking was awarded to James Jarvis. Some people missed 15. What was the first silver dollar size coin ever proposed for the United States? 1776 dated Continental Currency dollars struck in silver, pewter and brass. Some people missed Thanks again.
Congrats Treasure Hunt, Sweet Wheatz ,OxJaw,Harryj , Krispy and Wiggam07! Learned something new with the nickel composition information. Thanks for the contest and Happy Anniversary!
Thanks Joe. This contest was great fun and lets all not forget about your 2nd Anniversary as well! Curious what 6th place choice will be... ^_^
Thanks for the contest man, starting to wish I hadn't answered those at 3am so that I might have completely read the question:headbang: Just leave me something good for 7th Krispy
i am sure u aint gonna forget to share the prize with all your friends who offered u protection against lord spxxck' anger and more importantly i hope u made the right selection for the prize.. u know where to send the parcels now dont u
Oh, sure, I have your address right here......... somewhere...... oh, I can just send it c/o the asylum?
Hooray! Prize received today! Many thanks! I'm glad to see that some folks know how to use the mail! Again, congrats to all, and especially jaceravone for a great contest! Tough contest, but fair! PS: Love that silver!
Joe, I just collected my mail and found your letter with my contest prizes today also. Very nicely done and such a fun contest designed to test and teach. The prizes themselves were to a degree something I needed to read up on. Thanks so much.
Thats my address too Frank. Could you come over and untie this tight fitting white jacket they make me wear? LOL.
Thanks guys. I hope you all enjoy the prizes. I just love sharing the gift of friendship with all of you. Hopefully there will a new contest right around the corner so keep on the look out. Thanks again. Joe
Mine came today as well. I wasn't expecting to see two coins in the envelope. From what I've gathered on google the second one is a 5 drachma greek coin? I don't have my scanned hooked up for pictures though. Thanks again for the contest Joe it was fun.
Just got my prize. I was a little curious to see what I had ended up with since I didn't get to choose. It was the South Africa token, a very cool little piece I think. Thanks for the contest and the prize Jaceravone!:high5:
