October 23th. 1999.
Next club meeting Monday 1st. November 1999.
At Reading Library, King's Road. Entrance off Abbey Square.
Meeting commences at 7.00 pm.
October meeting.
An excellent talk and display from Bryce. "Funny Money" This talk and display were centred on items that have been used as money or as a basis for exchange. When sailors first visited the Nicobar islands they found that the common unit for exchange was the coconut. It was easily obtainable, it was useful and it was acceptable by everyone. On the Solomon Islands, where the coconut was also used, the rate of exchange was 10 coconuts = 1 stick of tobacco, 100 sticks of Tobacco = 1 dogs tooth, 100 dogs teeth = 1 wife. Very little research has been done on primitive money and it was only in the late 1940's that any books appeared on the subject. There is a huge list of objects that have been used as currency; coconuts, rice, tobacco, animals, parts of animals, teeth of dogs and whales, shells, beads, necklaces or bracelets, turquoise, weapons, tools, rings, armbands, ingots, tea, metal ingots with markings which is approaching money as we know it.
In more modern times we have money made from unusual materials when standard money has not been available, Siege pieces, Irish gun money, bell money from the French revolution, German Notgeld made from aluminium, linen, leather paper and porcelain. Postage stamps have also been used even cased in metal to increase their life and in Russia we have cardboard stamps. During the Spanish Civil war cardboard stamps and money were used as were cigarettes.
The last area includes Japanese gaming machine pellets, Temple money from India, Magic money. Chinese funeral money that can be burnt as an offering in the temple, enamelled silver coins, advertising coins, decision making coins. Sequins used in Middle Eastern weddings and finally puzzle coins. There must have been at least 100 of these items on display by Bryce.
A very interesting and informative talk.
There were four dealer tables open.
Twenty members attended.
Meeting Display.
The club is attempting to bring something new to the Meetings and we are asking Club members if they will bring a display to the monthly meeting.
For the October meeting a complete set of Charles 1st half crowns issued by the York mint was on show. This was the Hawkins numbers 1 to 7 plus varieties. A member was also available to discuss the display with anyone who had questions.
The November display will be from a member who has recently started to collect bimetallic coins. He already has a considerable number.
November Meeting.
The November meeting is to be a talk by Peter Preston-Morley on "The East India Company Portcullis Coinage of 1600/1". They get their name from the Westminster Arms of a portcullis on the reverse.
Reading Library.
I have had no reply from any member who would be willing to give talks to other clubs in the Reading area. Please help. This will assist the Club in promoting Numismatics in the area.
The talk you give does not have to be very technical, only interesting and on a numismatic subject.
BANS.
Tuesday 23rd November.
Anniversary meeting and Presidential address.
John will be representing Reading Coin Club at this years BANS meeting on the 6th Nov.
Future Events.
The London Coin Fair. Saturday 6th. November Cumberland Hotel Marble Arch London W1.
Coin Fair. Saturday 27th. November. Commonwealth Institute. Kensington. London W8.
Coin Fair Sunday 14th November. National Motor Cycle Museum Bickenhill Birmingham.
20 Years ago.
This was a talk by George Berry entitled "London Tavern Tokens" Mr. Berry's talk was illustrated by slides of 17th Century tokens, maps and photographs of buildings still in existence.