INTERNATIONAL NUMISMATIC

SOCIETY OF SAN DIEGO

JUNE 2011 MEETING

CSNA 1268 - NASC 3026 ANAC 71399

Year XLIX No. 6

Fourth Wednesday, June 22, 2011

North Park Senior Center, 2719 Howard Ave., San Diego

5:45 p.m., Doors Open at About 5:00 p.m.

Topic This Month:

Islamic States, Middle East, Silk Road

Islam is a global religion and the third monotheistic religion, revealed after Judaism and Christianity and accepting them both. Brought by the Prophet Muhammad (570-632) in Arabia, it soon spread all over the southern and eastern Mediterranean, Africa, and south, east, and central Asia. In Arabic, the word Islam literally means, "to surrender, to submit" (to the will of God), which is the essence of the religion. The Middle East is a Geo-Political designation of the area stretching from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the western side of the Indian subcontinent. It consists of countries such as Israel, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The Silk Road, is a network of trade routes across the Asian continent, and connected East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean world, as well as North, East and Northeast Africa and Europe. It began in central China & India and stopped somewhere near the Mediterranean Sea. The main trade routes for India were by sea or through present day Afghanistan. For a considerable portion of history, the Indian markets were as or more important than China.  What items do you have to share from this area of world numismatics?  You’re encouraged to bring any material to show.  Ken Aring will provide a program on Islamic States with an emphasis on the Afghan and Iraq conflicts.  We’ll have a raffle.  Invite a friend.

JUNE QUIZ by Bob Fritsch

Islamic States, Middle East, Silk Road are again revisited. Here are some questions about specific countries in that area.

1.  How many coinage reforms has Israel undergone since its founding in 1948?

2.  The Ottomans issued coins in Turkey and Egypt that are very similar in appearance.  What is the distinguishing characteristic between them?

3.  What are the sheikdoms comprising the United Arab Emirates?

4.  Which of these have issued coins in their own name?

Schedule of Upcoming Numismatic Events

 23-24 July – 54th Annual COINARAMA, Scottish Rite Center, San Diego

Show Schedule Source: Beedon’s California Show List & Coin World

Upcoming Numismatic Topics

July  A Country I Visited or My Ancestors Are From     August  War-time, Emergency Money, Military Issues     September Canada and British, French, Danish and Dutch Areas of America

MAY QUIZ by Bob Fritsch

With Western Europe as the topic and the presentation relating to the aftermath of WWI, here are some questions about money from that era.  My old standby SCWC 34th Edition is the source.

1.  To repay their war debt to the US, Great Britain debased their silver coinage from what fineness to what fineness in 1920?

2.  French coinage was also affected by the war.  How did their silver coins change in 1920-21?

3.  When did Belgium make the transition from silver to base metal coinage?

4.  Germany recovered from its disastrous inflation by issuing the Rentenmark in 1923.  What gave this coinage its value (this is not in the SCWC)?

MAY ANSWERS

1. .925 (sterling) to .500.  2. From .835 fine silver to aluminum-bronze tokens (Chamber of Commerce “Bon Pour”).  3. 1922-23.  4. It was based on mortgaged land and industrial goods [Wikipedia].