Happy New Year !! Here we are starting off another new year and I haven't yet figured out where the last one went. Oh well - as long as I can keep track of my coins - I guess time can take of itself ;-}

2005 is going to be full of changes, that much is certain. WINS is undergoing some changes as well, as I'm sure most of you know. We have recently moved to a new host for our web site and the mail lists. And we have a multitude of new members that have joined in the past year - a hearty Welcome to all of you and to the new members who will join in the year to come !

And WINS isn't the only thing changing in the numismatic world. A newly designed Buffalo nickel will soon be found in circulation around the nation. That alone is bound to stir some interest in our hobby. Couple that with another new nickel design to be released later in the year, the new SQ issues and continuing talk of more new coin designs yet to come - and we may see even larger numbers of new collectors or those returning to the hobby after an absence. And of course the coin market in general is changing as well. There are those who feel that all this change will be the catalyst needed to allow the upsurge in coin prices to continue. And likewise there are those who feel the market is due for a correction, some say minor, some say major correction. What the outcome will be - none can say with certainty. But you can count on it being interesting no matter what happens.

One of the things I find most interesting about the changes we have already been seeing is the increase of interest in world coinage. Everywhere you look, collectors who have for years collected only US coinage, are switching to world coinage. Some are doing so because they have become bored with the designs of US coinage or because they simply find world coinage more appealing. While others have become frustrated with the recent and often huge increases in prices for US coinage - more bang for the buck if you will. Of course this is something world coinage collectors have been preaching for years. But until recently, they were ignored.

Today however, that is no longer the case. As a result of the increased interest in world coinage, there has been an increase in prices as well. Coins that I used to be able to purchase for $150 - $200 as little as a year ago are now selling for $300 and up. And some issues are becoming increasingly difficult to locate at all. Of course there are still many relative bargains to be found, for not all areas of world coinage have seen as much interest as others. But the interest is spreading as more and more collectors join in the quest. I for one welcome these changes.

That's about it for now - I hope you enjoy this as well as future issues of - The Tarnished Truth.

THE PRESIDENT'S CORNER - Words of inspiration from the WINS President. Read it HERE.

FROM BEHIND THE GREEN CURTAIN - IT tidbits, auction summaries and more. Read it HERE.

MEMBER'S BIO - Walt Southward, WINS#360 Read it HERE.

TREASURER'S REPORT - The WINS PayPal account is - winstreasury@bellsouth.net

With regard to donations, all donors will be named in future Treasurer's Reports unless you ask for anonymity.