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Newsletter | December 2025
General Information
Happy Thanksgiving, Classic City Coin Club Members!
As we gather with family and friends to give thanks this holiday season, the Classic City Coin Club (CCCC) wishes every one of you a very Happy Thanksgiving filled with good food, great company, and perhaps a few treasured coins to admire!
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A Big Success at Our New Home
Our November meeting marked an exciting milestone – our first gathering at our brand-new permanent location, Bogart United Methodist Church (BUMC)! With 19 members and two first-time visitors in attendance, the spacious room proved perfect for our growing club. A huge thank-you to Ken Young and the Board for negotiating a $50-per-month arrangement that secures the space for the next 12 months (and hopefully many more to come). The club has already paid the $600 upfront commitment, ensuring we have a comfortable home for years ahead.
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Mark Your Calendars!
Our next meeting is Monday, December 2 at Bogart United Methodist Church.
Join us for holiday treats and a fun numismatic trivia game!
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Ken will have the “Coin Club” sign posted to guide everyone to the right room – we look forward to celebrating the season together.
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Upcoming Adventures
- Atlanta Federal Reserve tour: Monday, July 21, 2026, at 1:00 PM. We need at least 10 participants – let Ken know soon if you’re in!
- Dahlonega Gold Museum trip: Spring 2026 (details to follow).
Member Health Updates
We’re thrilled that Hobo is back with us after a successful surgery! Please continue to keep Hulon Knight (recently diagnosed with leukemia), Joe Meyer’s wife (who has completed treatment for stage IV cancer), and Ricky Dunn’s wife Carol (recovering from kidney stone surgery) in your thoughts and prayers.
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Looking Ahead to 2026
The Board is already planning an exciting year:
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- May meeting: Chris Alvarez on Mexican coinage (Cinco de Mayo theme)
- June meeting: Seeking a presenter on Roman or Italian coinage (Italy’s Independence Day theme) – ideas welcome!
- Starting January 2026: Annual dues $15 (individual) and optional $25 vendor table rental.
- Historian needed – please see Ken or Lou if you’d like to document our club’s activities.
Club Swag & Opportunities
T-shirts are still available for only $10 (club subsidizes the rest). Sorry, no more XL, but S, M, L, and 2XL remain.
Interested in joining the ANA? Richard Jozefiak can help you save $10 on a new membership.
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Educational Highlight
Bruce Breedlove treated us to an outstanding demonstration of the Sigma Precious Metal Verifier (PMV) – a fantastic tool for detecting counterfeit coins by analyzing metal composition. Thank you, Bruce, for sharing your expertise!
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Save the Date
National Money Show – Savannah, GA, February 26-28, 2026. Start making plans now!
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Thank You!
A special thanks to Phil Kincaid (food), Ricky Dunn (drinks), and Dennis White (cookies) for keeping us well-fed, and to everyone who donated door prizes and participated in the auction and 50/50 raffle.
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Treasurer’s Snapshot
October income: $33 (50/50 + auction fees)
After the $600 BUMC commitment, club treasury stands at $1,590.
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Wishing you all a joyful holiday season – see you December 2 for treats, trivia, and terrific numismatic fellowship!
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Paul Hollis, Lifelong Numismatist, Testifies at Senate Confirmation Hearing for U.S. Mint Director
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Paul Hollis, President Trump’s nominee to be the 41st Director of the United States Mint, testifies before the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee on October 30, 2025, sharing his lifelong passion for numismatics and vision for the Mint’s role in America’s 250th anniversary celebrations. (Official U.S. Senate photo)
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On October 30, 2025, Paul Hollis — a passionate coin collector, respected dealer, acclaimed author, and former Louisiana state legislator — appeared before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs as President Trump’s nominee to become the 41st Director of the United States Mint.
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If confirmed by the full Senate, the 53-year-old Hollis would be the first longtime professional numismatist to lead the Mint in its 233-year history. Nominated on July 16, 2025, Hollis would serve a five-year term, succeeding Acting Director Kristie McNally, who has guided the bureau since Ventris Gibson stepped down in March 2025 at President Trump’s request.
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Hollis brings an extraordinary blend of hobby expertise and public-service experience. A collector since age seven, he shared a moving personal story during the hearing: his grandmother gave him a coin she had safeguarded through the Great Depression. “That small gesture left a lasting impression that quietly steered the course of my life,” Hollis testified. “Today, I keep the coin that she gave me nearly a half-century ago as a tribute to her.” He still carries that same coin in his pocket during life’s major moments.
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Professionally, Hollis has more than 30 years of experience as a numismatist and authored the award-winning 2011 book *American Numismatist* for the American Numismatic Association, tracing the rich parallels between U.S. history and its coinage. From 2012 to 2024 he served in the Louisiana House of Representatives, and at the time of his nomination he was a member of the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
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The hearing touched on several issues of keen interest to collectors:
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- 2026 Semiquincentennial Coin Program – Hollis will oversee the major circulating-coin redesign celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, along with the “Best of the Mint” archival re-issues.
- Proposed Trump $1 Coin – Senators Christopher Van Hollen (D-MD) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) raised concerns about reports of a possible circulating dollar bearing President Trump’s likeness, noting existing law prohibits living persons on U.S. coinage to avoid any monarchical appearance. Hollis assured the committee he would strictly follow the law and consult appropriate legal authorities.
- Harriet Tubman $20 Note – When asked, Hollis correctly deferred the matter to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which handles paper currency.
Throughout the questioning, Hollis emphasized that “our nation’s coinage is far more than just metal — our coins encapsulate America’s history” and expressed confidence in leading the Mint “through this exciting and vital time in our nation’s history.”
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Collectors across the country are watching the confirmation process with great interest. A Senate vote has not yet been scheduled, but many in the hobby are hopeful that a fellow numismatist deeply committed to both history and the law will soon take the helm at the United States Mint.
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Sources:
Paul Gilkes, “Mint Director nominee Hollis appears at hearing,” Coin World, November 19, 2025
Olivia McCommons, “Hollis’s Hearing,” The Reading Room, November 11, 2025
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Omega Penny Finale: Stack’s Bowers Auctions Last Ones-Including U.S. Mint’s 24-K Gold Gem
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(Left) The obverse and reverse of the 24 karat gold Omega privy mark penny. (Right) The obverse and reverse of the Denver Mint Omega privy mark penny.
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Rendering courtesy of the United States Mint.
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The very last circulating pennies, or “cents,” will be auctioned in a special sale this December by Stack’s Bowers Galleries, the firm selected by the United States Mint for this historic offering. Each of these coins exhibits a small “Ω” privy mark of the final Greek letter Omega, indicating their role as the capstone to a two-centuries long legacy that first began in 1793. These Omega privy mark Lincoln pennies will be offered in three-coin sets featuring one each of the 2025 penny (struck at the Philadelphia Mint), the 2025-D penny (struck at the Denver Mint), and a historic 2025 penny struck in 24 karat gold (produced at the Philadelphia Mint). The 24 karat gold penny is a true modern rarity, representing the first cent officially struck in gold and one of the rarest non-Proof gold coins to ever emerge from the United States Mint.
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Only 232 three-coin sets are available for collectors—celebrating the number of years pennies were produced beginning in 1793—and they will be offered exclusively in the Stack’s Bowers Galleries sale on Thursday, December 11, 2025. Each set will be accompanied by a serialized Certificate of Authenticity and set #232 will also include the three sets of canceled original dies used to strike these coins. United States Treasurer Brandon Beach and United States Mint Acting Director Kristie McNally also personally operated the presses to strike the final few Omega coins, in recognition of their historic significance.
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Unlock a World of Numismatic Benefits with a $15 ANA Membership Discount
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Coin collectors, seize the opportunity to elevate your numismatic experience with a special offer from the American Numismatic Association (ANA). By joining or renewing your membership through our club’s ANA District Representative, Richard Jozefiak (analmrj@gmail.com), you can save $15 on your first year of membership. This promotion, open to both new and renewing members, is available using code DR8 and expires on December 31, 2026.
How to Claim the Discount
To enjoy this exclusive $15 savings, contact Richard Jozefiak at analmrj@gmail.com or download the membership form here.
Why Join the ANA?
Starting at just $20 a year, an ANA Gold membership unlocks a treasure trove of resources tailored for collectors of all levels, from beginners to advanced numismatists. Here’s what you’ll gain:
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- Premier Publications: Immerse yourself in The Numismatist, the ANA’s monthly journal, filled with engaging stories about the history and allure of coin collecting. Additionally, The Reading Room online magazine delivers weekly news, op-eds, exclusive columns, and audio articles to keep you connected to the hobby.
- eLearning Academy: Explore the ANA’s comprehensive online educational portal, featuring the Aristotle’s Vault video series, NumismaTalks webinars, the Numismatic Diploma Program, youth activities, and interactive resources crafted by industry experts.
- Extensive Resources: Access the Dwight N. Manley Numismatic Library, videos, blogs, podcasts, virtual Money Museum exhibits, auctions, and directories for dealers and clubs, all available at money.org.
- World-Class Events: Enjoy free admission to the National Money Show in the spring and the World’s Fair of Money in the summer. The ANA’s two-week Summer Seminar courses also provide tailored educational experiences for every collector.
- Exclusive Discounts: Save on collection insurance through Risk Strategies, receive $15 off your first year with NGC, CGC, or PMG, and enjoy 20% off monthly Money Museum online auctions.
Join the Numismatic Community Today
Whether you’re new to coin collecting or a seasoned enthusiast, the ANA offers a wealth of knowledge and opportunities to fuel your passion. Don’t miss this chance to join or renew your membership at a discounted rate. Reach out to Richard Jozefiak at analmrj@gmail.com or download the form here and start enjoying the benefits of ANA membership today!
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