LOOSE CHANGE: AUGUST 22, 2021

Israeli astronaut Eytan Stibbe will take an ancient coin dating to the Bar Kokhba revolt with him to outer space, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said Thursday.

As part of the Rakia Mission to the International Space Station, Stibbe said, I will be taking with me a bag filled with items that have a special meaning to me. It was clear to me that one of these items will be a symbol of Jewish history.

The Bar Kokhba revolt was an uprising of Jews in Judea against the Roman Empire from 132 to 136 AD, led by Simon Bar Kokhba. Year two of the liberty of Israel is imprinted into the coin, in defiance of Roman sovereignty.

Stibbe said the coin, "minted with the palm tree and vine leaves," represented his connection to the land of Israel, his love of the country and desire of Israelis to gain independence, following a visit at the IAA's Dead Sea scrolls laboratory in Jerusalem.

To read the complete article, see:
Israeli astronaut to take ancient Bar Kokhba-era coin to outer space (https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/society/1629419999-israeli-astronaut-to-take-bar-kochva-era-coin-to-outer-space)

To read the complete articles, see:
Israeli astronaut to take 1,900-year-old Bar Kochba revolt coin to space (https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-astronaut-to-take-1900-year-old-bar-kochba-revolt-coin-to-space/)
From Judean desert to space: Ancient coin to fly with Israeli astronaut (https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/from-judean-desert-to-space-ancient-coin-to-fly-with-israeli-astronaut-677185)

Israel will soon issue a new circulating commemorative 5-new-Israeli-shekel coin to celebrate the sacrifice of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The coin is dedicated in gratitude to the medical personnel in Israel for their contribution and struggle for the lives and health of Israel's citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an announcement from the Bank of Israel.

A design competition among 15 graphic designers in Israel was used to choose the obverse design of the coin. The Public Committee for the Planning of Banknotes, Coins and Commemorative Coins, chaired by retired Supreme Court Justice Jacob Turkel, chose three finalists, and Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron selected the winning design, by artist Eitan Alon.

Similar coins have been issued in various countries, including Italy, France, and Egypt.

To read the complete article, see:
Israel plans a new circulating 5-shekel coin (https://www.coinworld.com/news/precious-metals/israel-plans-a-new-circulating-5-shekel-coin)

Each week for my Coin Update column I view 100+ online auctions on Proxibid, HiBid.com, and other venues, spending less and less time because of spurious auctioneer practices or junk auctions. On some sites, I may spend 10 seconds. Others I simply ignore.

Several sellers see maximum bids or shill bid, lying about lots being won onsite, only to feature them again in the next auction — a dead giveaway of shenanigans. Some set opening bids at retail prices, transforming an auction into an online coin shop. Many auctioneers peddle common coins flooding the market that have little collector or hobbyist values.

We're talking about the latter today.

Here's a list of the top 10 junk lots that you will see in almost every online coin auction.

To read the complete article, see:
Junk coins flood online auctions (http://news.coinupdate.com/junk-coins-flood-online-auctions/)

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