Well summer is almost upon us, and with the warm weather the coin market often settles into the doldrums. I can't help but wonder what's going to happen this year. Reports on the spring coin shows, both national and local, listed them as being rather slow and sluggish, with the single notable exception being the Eliasberg auction. And about the most upbeat report you can find in the numismatic press lately says the market is stabilizing.

By the time you read this the next Long Beach show will, or soon will be underway. Couple how that show turns out with the ANA show later this summer and you'll probably have the coin market trend for the rest of 2005, and possibly 2006, determined.

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

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

MEMBER'S ARTICLE - Evolution of our Coinages Read it HERE.

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The answer is: ? ? ?
The first zinc cents were struck on Dec. 17th, 1981, but were dated 1982. They were struck at the West Point Bullion Depository.