Why publish CCW? I enjoy writing. I am a coin and currency collector, and I feel this would be a great opportunity to reach current collectors, and those that may save a few coins, but don’t really call themselves collectors. They may be unaware of the latest news in the hobby. I am far from an expert, but I have been collecting coins for about 18 years now. Specifically, my interests are bank notes from the British Empire 1937-1952 (George VI) and all types of American coins. This is really an exciting time for coin collectors, with a lot of new projects about to happen, along with the new millennium. For example, here are a few examples of what you will see soon:

New $20 Bill – On September 24, 1998, the US will introduce the newly designed $20 federal reserve note, similar to the makeover of the $50 and $100 bill. Most US consumers do not use the higher denomination notes, but the $20 notes here are ATM notes, dispensed by the popular automatic banking machines. Most Americans use $20 notes, so there will be a lot of attention soon on our paper currency.

New circulating 25 cent commemorative program. After years of discussion, a new 25 cent (quarter) circulating coin will appear – Actually, there will be 50 of them, one for each state. Five a year will be issued starting in 1999, and this program will take ten years to complete (more if we get more states in the Union, or coins of territories and Washington DC are issued) – Quarters also are circulated a lot, this will be a program that will generate a brand new generation of collectors

Canadian Circulating 25 cent commemorative program – The Royal Canadian Mint has announced a circulating commemorative program. They successfully did this in 1992, honoring all Canadian Provinces (and it might be argued that it sparked the idea for the US to do the same for its states) – 12 coins will be issued in 1999, to focus on great achievements for Canada, and 12 additional coins will be issued in 2000 to focus on the future of Canada.

No doubt, other world mints will be issuing special commemorative coins in the next couple of years. Unlike many of the other commemorative programs, these programs (including the US and Canada) will be circulating coins. There is a lot of controversy over coins issued never to circulate, and at a high cost. The cost to complete the US series will be $12.50, spent over ten years. If someone collects by mint mark (Philadelphia and Denver) that is only $25.00 then. This is an affordable and interesting program that will attract new collectors.

Until Next Week,

Alan Cohen

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Coins and Currency Weekly© (CCW) is published by Alan Cohen. It is a weekly newsletter devoted to coins and currency - Current news, viewpoints, and other collecting information.

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