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Newsletter | June 2026
General Information
Ken Young called the May meeting to order and welcomed everyone in attendance. The club had a strong turnout of 20 members and guests, including four first-time visitors. Tim Eck led the Pledge of Allegiance, and the group enjoyed several attractive Mexican money door prizes in honor of Cinco de Mayo.
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Welcome New Members!
Four new members were unanimously approved and welcomed into the club:
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- Bill and Angela King
- Jimmy Cronan
- Mannfried Isbell
All four have already paid their 2026 dues. We’re glad to have you with us!
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Club T-Shirts Still Available
Club T-shirts remain on sale for $10 each (the club covers the balance of the cost). After selling three more since the last meeting, the remaining inventory is:
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A sign-up sheet was circulated and will continue to be passed at future meetings. Once we have enough commitments, the club will place another order to accommodate demand.
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Upcoming Field Trip
Mark your calendars! The club’s field trip to the Atlanta Federal Reserve is scheduled for Monday, July 21, 2026, at 1:00 PM. We need a minimum of 10 participants to confirm the tour. If we fall short, Ken will coordinate with the Rockdale Coin Club to fill the group. Contact Ken if you’re interested in joining.
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Show & Club News
Bruce Breedlove provided an excellent recap of the recent GNA Dalton Show (April 17–19) held at the Dalton Convention Center. A list of upcoming coin shows and area club meetings was included on the back of the agenda handout.
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The minutes from the previous meeting were distributed by Tom and approved with no corrections.
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Featured Presentation
Chris Alvarez delivered a fascinating talk on old COB (“cabo de barra” or “end of the bar”) Mexican and Spanish colonial hammer-struck silver and gold coins from the 16th through 18th centuries. His presentation was both educational and engaging. In appreciation, Ken Young presented Chris with a 1772 Two Reals silver Mexican coin on behalf of the club.
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Thank you, Chris – great job!
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Note for future presenters: To avoid technical issues, please bring your own HDMI-compatible laptop with your presentation already loaded. The club will provide the HDMI cable, projector, and screen. (No internet access is available at the meeting venue.)
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Refreshments & Thanks
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A big thank you to Tom Clark for providing the food and to Aashish Ramasamy and family for supplying the drinks. Everything was delicious!
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Fivaz & Crenshaw Release Fully Revised Second Edition of “Helpful Hints for Enjoying Coin Collecting” – All Profits Benefit Atlanta Coin Club
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The Metropolitan Coin Club of Atlanta (MCCA) announces the release of Helpful Hints for Enjoying Coin Collecting, Second Edition, a fully updated and expanded guide to the joys and practicalities of numismatics in today’s world.
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Authored by renowned numismatist Bill Fivaz, with David Crenshaw as co-author, this 144-page US trade paperback builds on the beloved original—first published in 1999 with a reprint in 2004—that has guided generations of collectors. The second edition brings its timeless advice into 2026, with modern updates on topics such as digital tools, online marketplaces, high-resolution imaging, PVC-free storage, instant submissions, package tracking, and evolving grading standards.
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- Practical chapters on coin cleaning basics (with a strong emphasis on what not to do), safe storage, shopping the bourse at conventions, buying/selling through mail or auctions, mailing tips, and grading hints for popular series, including Indian cents, Lincoln cents, Buffalo nickels, Mercury dimes, Morgan dollars, and more.
- A brand-new chapter, “Understanding AU-58 and the Nuances of Coin Grading,” compiles and updates several influential articles by Fivaz on why top-end About Uncirculated (AU-58) coins often represent exceptional value and eye appeal.
- Expanded sections on the modern US minting process, numismatic terms, recommended reading (categorized by topic and series), specialty clubs (with web and social media contacts), 10 rules of thumb, and a fun 25-question coin quiz.
- A warm, mentor-like tone drawn from decades of club meetings, conversations, and real-world experience—perfect for beginners and veterans alike.
In the spirit of community support, 100% of the net profits from sales are being donated to the Metropolitan Coin Club of Atlanta, helping fund educational programs, young numismatist initiatives, meetings, and club activities.
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To further encourage new collectors, MCCA is providing a complimentary copy of the book to each new member who joins (one per household). MCCA encourages other coin clubs nationwide to adopt similar programs—offering this accessible, updated resource to newcomers as a welcome gift that fosters education, safe practices, and long-term enjoyment of the hobby.
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“Coin collecting remains one of the most welcoming hobbies on earth,” says Fivaz in the book’s introduction. “This updated edition helps new people get started on the right foot, avoid expensive mistakes, and fall in love with the hobby the same way we all did.”
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David Crenshaw added in the preface: “My goal was to keep Bill’s warm, over-the-table-at-the-club-meeting tone while making sure every piece of advice is accurate and useful in 2026 and beyond.”
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Priced at $19.95, the book is available for purchase through the Lulu.com Bookstore (the primary direct source), as well as major retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Resellers can acquire copies via Ingram. The second edition of Helpful Hints for Enjoying Coin Collecting is published by the Metropolitan Coin Club of Atlanta, Inc., with editing and layout design by Peyton Smith and cover design by Lianna Spurrier.
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For more information about the book, membership, or the Metropolitan Coin Club of Atlanta, visit www.mccatl.org. Join the club, grab your copy, and discover (or rediscover) why coin collecting continues to inspire curiosity, learning, and community across generations.
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