The E-Sylum:  Volume 9, Number 31, July 30, 2006, Article 19

PROCEEDINGS OF JULY 19TH CONGRESSIONAL COIN AND CURRENCY HEARING

Directly related to both the above legislation and our recent
discussions on the National Numismatic Collection is the following
link (forwarded by Roger Burdette) to a page of testimony on July
19th before the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary
Policy, Trade and Technology.  The hearing was entitled "Coin and
Currency Issues Facing Congress: Can We Still Afford Money?"  The
presenters were:

 Mr. Larry Felix, Director, Bureau of Engraving and Printing,
    U.S. Department of the Treasury
 Ms. Louise Roseman, Director, Division of Reserve Bank
    Operations and Payment Systems, Board of Governors of
    the Federal Reserve System
 Mr. David A. Lebryk, Acting Director, U.S. Mint
 Mr. Scott Johnson, Deputy Special Agent in Charge,
     Criminal Investigative Division, U.S. Secret Service
 Mr. Brent D. Glass, Director, National Museum of American
     History, Smithsonian Institution
 Mr. Q. David Bowers, Numismatic Director, American
     Numismatic Rarities, LLC
 Mr. Christopher Cipoletti, Executive Director,
     American Numismatic Association
 Mr. Fred Weinberg, Vice Chairman, Industry Council
     for Tangible Assets
 Ms. Beth Deisher, Editor, Coin World Magazine

To read the full prepared statements, see: Full Story

Here's one excerpt, from Dave Bowers' testimony:

"Among the focal points the National Coin Collection at the
Smithsonian Institution is a unique treasure, containing specimens
that in many instances are rare and in some instances one of a kind.
The curatorial staff comprises some of the most talented individuals
in numismatics.

The Smithsonian has what it needs—coins, tokens, medals, and paper
money that are incomparable, plus appropriate staff, as noted. What
it does not have is appropriate funding. Because of this the nation
is faced with having these treasures hidden from public appreciation,
which the community of over one hundred million coin collectors
could rightly view as being the numismatic equivalent of not being
allowed to examine the Declaration of Independence or the Star
Spangled Banner.

I suggest that provision be made for part of the profits of the
United States Mint to be given to the National Numismatic Collection
in the Smithsonian, cast not as a charity or a donation, but as an
intelligent business concept reinforcing the programs already in
place at the Mint.

The more people that are aware of the National Numismatic Collection,
the more that enjoy its displays, the more that are subject to
various outreaches given by it, the greater the interest will be in
current Mint products. In view of the relatively small amount of
money involved annually to maintain the National Numismatic Collection
exhibition in a first class manner, this would seem to be one of the
wisest investments that the Treasury Department and the Mint could
possibly make."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

	coinbooks.org Web

The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization 
promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org.

To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor 
at this address: whomren@coinlibrary.com

To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum