LOOSE CHANGE: APRIL 11, 2021

The Ontario Numismatic Association (ONA) will host its first virtual convention on April 9-11, the same dates as the since-cancelled in-person gathering originally slated for Burlington.

The decision to move the three-day convention to a digital format came in mid-January, when ONA officials met to discuss the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has now forced the provincial association to cancel two of its yearly conventions. This April's virtual convention – the first hosted by a major Canadian numismatic organization – will feature most aspects of a typical in-person convention other than the bourse, exhibits and social functions.

To read the complete article, see:
First virtual ONA Convention free, open to everyone (https://canadiancoinnews.com/first-virtual-ona-convention-free-open-to-everyone/)

One of the examples I reviewed in-hand was a counterfeit "Hodder 2-B" elephant token "discovered" by my friend, fellow EAC'er and early copper specialist Kevin Vinton. Kevin told me there were several others like it with many in TPG genuine holders, sold through different auction venues, but he asked that I hold off on any further discussion while he continued his research.

After a couple of months passed I became curious and Kevin and I spoke and decided to post the topic in our counterfeit-focused Facebook group ("Dark Side") and start the discussion. Kevin included images of several like examples and we developed comparison images to genuine ones with the differences or "tells" to aid in the attribution of others "out there"

I posted this example and comparison images as a continuing discussion in my group and another friend stated it reminded him of an article in The Numismatist written by Eric P. Newman back in the 1960s. I immediately went to the website of the portal in his name (Newman Numismatic Portal) and started my search. The results were quick and the article was available there, entitled "AN ELEPHANT TOKEN NEVER FORGETS – FORGERY";

To read the complete article, see:
An Update on the (Counterfeit) Elephant in the Room (https://coinweek.com/recent-articles-video/an-update-on-the-counterfeit-elephant-in-the-room/)

To read the complete article, see:
Tornano al museo archeologico di Sibari 665 monete del V-III secolo a.C. (https://www.agi.it/cultura/news/2021-04-04/archeologia-tornano-sibari-monete-quinto-secolo-avanti-cristo-12036739/)

The ease with which I was able to accomplish a day's business and shopping without any banknotes or jangling change shows how our basic exchange economy is changing. In the last few years, this occurred in China through WeChat and Alipay, but elsewhere the pandemic has dramatically shortened the life of analogue cash by encouraging the use of non-cash payments. Much of Europe and Britain has leapfrogged Hong Kong by removing the need to use cash at all, even in the smallest outlet.

Many of the world's central banks, who authorise the issuance of cash as notes and coins, are actively looking at digitising national currencies, with the People's Bank of China leading the charge. It does not really matter who is first, apart from bragging rights, but it is leading a process whereby banknotes and worn-out pockets will disappear.

Alongside digitising their currency, some central banks are investigating a form of individual bank account provided at birth to handle government transactions, such as pensions and welfare payments throughout an individual's life.

To read the complete article, see:
How China-led digital payment revolution is making bills, coins and some currencies obsolete (https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3128615/how-china-led-digital-payment-revolution-making-bills-coins-and)

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