I thought I would add a bit on the phrase "No God But Allah" on coins. The reason the gold coin that you mentioned was so important is that this is the Kalima (or sometimes the first of the 6 Kalimas), used first on Umaiyid coins and continuing for centuries. The Kalima reads La ilah illa Allah wahdahu la sherik lahu, or There is No God Except Allah, He Is Alone, There Is No Partner To Him. It is in the center of one side of typical Umaiyid coins.

These standard sayings on Arabic coins are covered nicely in Richard Plant's "Arabic Coins and How To Read Them". Others with more knowledge than I have may have better information, but it seems that this expression is of widespread importance on many Arabic coins for centuries, comparable to the In God We Trust on US coins.

Hundreds of thousands of 1974 aluminum pennies were made and handed out to U.S. dignitaries

For want of a comma, the meaning was lost.

Thank you for the update on the 1974-D aluminum cent, though I am amazed to learn from the article quoted that hundreds of thousands of them were both made AND handed out to U.S. dignitaries. Here I had thought that only a few dozen of them were handed out in the Hauls (sic) of Congress.

Hmmm--I didn't realized calendars had changed THAT much!

Last night my incredible wife surprised me by inviting essentially all of my closest friends and family to a surprise birthday party for me here on the Jersey shore. People flew out from all over to be here and I was utterly shocked. Apparently, the theme was my love for colonial coins. Check out the unbelievable cake she got me... She told me it is supposed to be a "simian arm"!

I thought readers might enjoy this photo of my guard cat. His name is Paris and he watches over the current auction lots.

Attached please find a picture taken at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in California the Tuesday following the Labor day weekend. Could this be a new mint process in finalizing a coin Pattern? Or maybe the return of the spider-hair Washington quarter? Maybe a comment on the eroding value of our pocket change? Just like our pocket change, here today, gone tomorrow. At least our books have a more lasting value.

There is a sand sculptor who does a new sand sculpture once or twice a week on the beach. His artwork varies from fanciful mermaids, whales and even worker cherubs with coins. Here’s hope that everyone had a relaxing holiday!