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You've heard of money that wasn't worth the paper it was printed on? This is the original. Actual Confederate States of America paper bills that were literally so worthless that people paid in gold and wrapped their purchases up in this stuff. (If they had gold. If not, the used Yankee greenbacks.) I bought these one at a time, some years ago, when they were still worth les than their face value. Unfortunately, scarcity (and demand) has finally caught up with Confederate money, and it *is* worth more than its face value now.
The bills are printed very crudely, and were actually cut out of the sheet by hand. Each is signed by an underling of the Secretary of the Treasury by hand, with india ink. And there is no printing on the back. Any "replica" bills you see with something on the back have make-believe designs. The real stuff was so crude that counterfeiters were sometimes caught because their fakes were better looking.
The third bill from the left is a state bill -- Georgia. The rest are national issues.
The bills are printed very crudely, and were actually cut out of the sheet by hand. Each is signed by an underling of the Secretary of the Treasury by hand, with india ink. And there is no printing on the back. Any "replica" bills you see with something on the back have make-believe designs. The real stuff was so crude that counterfeiters were sometimes caught because their fakes were better looking.
The third bill from the left is a state bill -- Georgia. The rest are national issues.
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I was never that little.
If they were Yankee greenbacks, I'd say a dollar was about an average working man's wages for a day. But since it's Confederate money, all bets are off. A soldier was paid about $10 a month at the beginning of the war. But 1864, though, a barrel of flour cost a $100, if I'm not mistaken, and all other things accordingly. In other words, nobody could live on their salary in Confederate money, and nobody liked to take it in payment either. So it's rather hard to say what a horse and buggie ride might cost. $10? $20? At least the driver is only spending his time, so it might not be as dear as meat and potatoes, cloth, or hardware.
If they were Yankee greenbacks, I'd say a dollar was about an average working man's wages for a day. But since it's Confederate money, all bets are off. A soldier was paid about $10 a month at the beginning of the war. But 1864, though, a barrel of flour cost a $100, if I'm not mistaken, and all other things accordingly. In other words, nobody could live on their salary in Confederate money, and nobody liked to take it in payment either. So it's rather hard to say what a horse and buggie ride might cost. $10? $20? At least the driver is only spending his time, so it might not be as dear as meat and potatoes, cloth, or hardware.
The real stuff was so crude that counterfeiters were sometimes caught because their fakes were better looking.
Talk about weird coincidences. I'm reading the Terry Pratchet book Making Money, and I'm right at the point where the hero, who revitalized the Post Office and is now tasked with improving the Royal Mint, is recruiting a forger who was goint to be hanged. This forger, whose crime was making his own half-penny stamps, was also making the stamps better and more detailed than the Post Office, although in the book there was more comedic confusion when the Official stamps were assumed to be the forgeries.
Talk about weird coincidences. I'm reading the Terry Pratchet book Making Money, and I'm right at the point where the hero, who revitalized the Post Office and is now tasked with improving the Royal Mint, is recruiting a forger who was goint to be hanged. This forger, whose crime was making his own half-penny stamps, was also making the stamps better and more detailed than the Post Office, although in the book there was more comedic confusion when the Official stamps were assumed to be the forgeries.
I don't know if the state issues are more or less collectable than CSA issues, but in general the higher the denomination the greater the value today.
I once saw something like $1500 in various bills. They were for sale along with a bill of sale for one (1) slave. Talk about your history!
I once saw something like $1500 in various bills. They were for sale along with a bill of sale for one (1) slave. Talk about your history!
I wouldn't know if they would be more collectible either. I was just reminded of those my great granddad had by your post.
I guess I find some value in the Georgia ones due to the fact that I'm from and living there. Also there's the fact that I collect coins and bills so there's a bit of interest there too.
I guess I find some value in the Georgia ones due to the fact that I'm from and living there. Also there's the fact that I collect coins and bills so there's a bit of interest there too.
Not exactly either. The US was strange in that it was really backward when it came to national finances, all the way up the Civil War (1861-1865). Alexander Hamilton had founded a national bank in the 1790's, but when the bill came up for renewal in the 1820's, President Jackson rescinded the charter. His America was one of small farmers trading wheat and corn, and didn't need no high-falutin' finance stuff. And so for the next 40 years the United States did without any instruments to pet the dollar, control the balance of trade, create interest rates, or anything else. So the banks stepped in. The general ineptitude of the banks, and diversity of currencies only seemed to prove the point that paper money was untrustworthy.
Back then, Americans wouldn't take paper money if they could avoid it. Metal coins, whether gold, silver, or copper, had an intrinsic value. But a dollar issued by the Bank of Upper Miscotonic was an unknown quantity. It may be able to back the banknote, or may have already gone bust. Who could know all the hundreds of banks in the country? Ironcially, today's American seems to prefer paper. He doesn't seem to like dollar coins.
In any case, when the American Civil War broke out, the neccesity of a national bank became urgent. How else were the Federals to finance a huge war? So the first "Greenbacks" were created. Before that the only Federal issues were the primative continental dollars of the revolution.
The Confederate notes were the response of the successionist states to the same need to finance a war. They created a treasury department and began printing national currency, possibly even before the Union. In a way, they were even more hard pressed for a national bank and banknotes than the North. The South had few assets, and little gold or silver. Unfortunately for them, the Confederacy vasted inflated the money supply. It was the only way they saw to make the money cover all the government's expenses. So they issued money based on the value of future cotton exports, when they won the war. But the cotton was never to be sold to redeem the notes, because they didn't win their bid for independence. The less the Confederate dollar was worth, the less the government could meet expenses, and the more money they printed! The Union, on the other hand, had assets aplenty, raised money through taxes and bonds, and avoided destroying their own currency by overprinting.
The modern dollar bill is a direct descendant of the 1860's greenback.
But the Confederate banknote is extinct.
Back then, Americans wouldn't take paper money if they could avoid it. Metal coins, whether gold, silver, or copper, had an intrinsic value. But a dollar issued by the Bank of Upper Miscotonic was an unknown quantity. It may be able to back the banknote, or may have already gone bust. Who could know all the hundreds of banks in the country? Ironcially, today's American seems to prefer paper. He doesn't seem to like dollar coins.
In any case, when the American Civil War broke out, the neccesity of a national bank became urgent. How else were the Federals to finance a huge war? So the first "Greenbacks" were created. Before that the only Federal issues were the primative continental dollars of the revolution.
The Confederate notes were the response of the successionist states to the same need to finance a war. They created a treasury department and began printing national currency, possibly even before the Union. In a way, they were even more hard pressed for a national bank and banknotes than the North. The South had few assets, and little gold or silver. Unfortunately for them, the Confederacy vasted inflated the money supply. It was the only way they saw to make the money cover all the government's expenses. So they issued money based on the value of future cotton exports, when they won the war. But the cotton was never to be sold to redeem the notes, because they didn't win their bid for independence. The less the Confederate dollar was worth, the less the government could meet expenses, and the more money they printed! The Union, on the other hand, had assets aplenty, raised money through taxes and bonds, and avoided destroying their own currency by overprinting.
The modern dollar bill is a direct descendant of the 1860's greenback.
But the Confederate banknote is extinct.
Oh, one more detail. The Confederacy never minted coins. There was a "pattern" for a one cent copper, about he size of a modern penny. A small number were struck as a test, and are extremely rare. The dies eventually fell into private hands, and post-war Conderate pennies were also struck, some overstruck on legal Federal cents. These too are rare, and the exact numbers a matter of some dispute.
Most Confederates much preferred Yankee greenbacks or Yankee coin to their own worthless toilet paper.
Most Confederates much preferred Yankee greenbacks or Yankee coin to their own worthless toilet paper.
The mindset then was the same as post WW2-Germany; "If the problem is lack of currency why don't we just print more?"
I think President Jackson feared the creation of a Privately Owned federal bank that would technically own the people who held their money...
I preferred the old dollar that could be redeemed at any time at any American bank for its factual value in pure gold removing all doubt as to the value of the bills...
I think President Jackson feared the creation of a Privately Owned federal bank that would technically own the people who held their money...
I preferred the old dollar that could be redeemed at any time at any American bank for its factual value in pure gold removing all doubt as to the value of the bills...
There isn't a currency in the world, as far as I know, that remains on the gold standard. When I was a kid you could technically redeem paper money for gold, but in practise it was very difficult. And there were laws on how much gold a private citizen could actually own, forcing them to hold paper money. Why? Well, when people expect a certain amount of gold for paper of a certain denomination, it can lead to all sorts of problems -- such as gold flowing out of the country to places where its more highly valued. Other problems include hoarding, and devaluation of the paper. Most governments also like to hold the means to manipulate their money supply, which can't be done with gold -- there's so much of it, no more, no less. Of course, a lot of people don't like their governments to have power over the money supply, but I think this is short sighted.
The biggest reason to the laws and the removal off the gold-standard is that they more money than the banks actually held gold as redeemer for the bills in circulation.
I'm not sure of the actual ratio but I think there was bills for at least 20 times the actual amount of gold held by all the gold-reserves in the whole world...
I'm not sure of the actual ratio but I think there was bills for at least 20 times the actual amount of gold held by all the gold-reserves in the whole world...
Banks are allowed to lend more money than they have assets to cover -- its a fundamental rule of banking. As long as the leverage isn't too great, and there's something like Federal deposit insurance, it's a useful tool. But when the rules get too lax you get the 2008 meltdown of the global economy. Financiers are, unfortunately, fundamentally gamblers, and if you let them bet their shirt, they will, sooner or later. And lose big time. The problem with that is, it's our shirt too.
Odds are agin' it. Unless the example is in proof condition (untouched by human hands in other words) most coins from WWII are relatively without collector's value.
If I had the country of origin, the denomination, and the date, I could look almost anything up. I have a huge reference work in two volumes that illustrates pretty much everything from 1800.
If I had the country of origin, the denomination, and the date, I could look almost anything up. I have a huge reference work in two volumes that illustrates pretty much everything from 1800.
You mean German reich marks of 1922/1923? Easy-peasy! I've got lots of it. There has to be 30 or 50 different bills, too, ranging from almost sensible denominations like 1,000,000 Marks to absurd ones like 100,000,000,000. You can usually bu them for fifty cents each at any good coin store or coin show. They may be creased and folded, though. Maybe even tattered and torn. Bills in good condition are always expensive, no matter what they are.
What *is* a "tiny hillbilly/reserve town"? You mean a small town inhabited mainly canola and soy farmers, and the agents that sell them seed? What's the "reserve" part? Do non-Indians live on reserves in Saskatchewan? (As well as Indians, I mean.)
I drove through Saskatchewan once. It's goddamn flat. The first day on the prairie was different and interesting. The second day began to wear at my patience. The third day I just wondered when the damn Rockies would start to rise above the horizon, putting an end to all this boring flatness.
You can shop for coins on-line, but unless you want mint-quality bills at high prices, you won't find the kind of worn paper money I described. Nobody would bother to scan and add to a catalog an item only worth a half buck. So if you ever visit a large city, even if its only Desmoines or Regina, use a telphone book to find a coin shop.
I drove through Saskatchewan once. It's goddamn flat. The first day on the prairie was different and interesting. The second day began to wear at my patience. The third day I just wondered when the damn Rockies would start to rise above the horizon, putting an end to all this boring flatness.
You can shop for coins on-line, but unless you want mint-quality bills at high prices, you won't find the kind of worn paper money I described. Nobody would bother to scan and add to a catalog an item only worth a half buck. So if you ever visit a large city, even if its only Desmoines or Regina, use a telphone book to find a coin shop.
North Battleford. Full of trailer trash, hillbilly farmers. The reserve part is well. There are 5 reservations right around the town so we have massive native population, ((per capita anyway)) lots of them leave the reserve to try and make in town, start several families and move back to the reserve when your money runs out, rinse and repeat. Also be aware Im not exaggerating. A friend of mine was dating this girl but one day he kinda vanished. Turns out that girl was his half sister. I can only imagine what that felt like. Its sad to say but this town holds people down or back. But there are plenty of good native folk, let it be said. I work with quite a few of them. But there are ten not so productive people in town here to take there place, white, native or otherwise. So Im going to leave it all behind and work for bioware. My experience is that overall, humanity is rather disgusting and looking for good ones is like diamond mining with a toothpick, internet helps though.
Now back to the topic of coins!
I do collect but most of mine are from north america or asia. I actualy have one coin that may have been late chinese empire. Cant read a damn thing on it though.
Now back to the topic of coins!
I do collect but most of mine are from north america or asia. I actualy have one coin that may have been late chinese empire. Cant read a damn thing on it though.
Chinese coins are the devil to identify! If it's 17th. century or later, I *may* be able to help. I bought a set of replica Chinese cash, years ago, in part because each one was identified -- emperor and years he reigned. All I have to do to ID a real coin, then, is compare it to the ones in my set. Otherwise, you have to be able to read Chinese. Between roughly 200 AD and 1880 there is no difference to speak of between any Chinese coin.
I can tell you right away that the coin with the junk and cameo are 20th. century. No Chinese coin until modern times has ever had a portrait of the emperor or a picture of any kind.
According to my world catalog (two immense volumes)the coin with the junk is from the Republic of China. There are three principle issues -- 1929, 1932, and 1936, either a half dollar or dollar. If it's a dollar it should be gthe size of a poker chip. The half dollar is the size of a modern quarter. Likey, the gent on the one side is Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, the father of the Republic. The exact coin is hard to ID without seeing it. The 1929 issue shows the junk sailing to the left, and the later isues it sails to the right.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Yat-Sen
According to my world catalog (two immense volumes)the coin with the junk is from the Republic of China. There are three principle issues -- 1929, 1932, and 1936, either a half dollar or dollar. If it's a dollar it should be gthe size of a poker chip. The half dollar is the size of a modern quarter. Likey, the gent on the one side is Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, the father of the Republic. The exact coin is hard to ID without seeing it. The 1929 issue shows the junk sailing to the left, and the later isues it sails to the right.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Yat-Sen
I figured as much you have only just confirmed what I had already guessed. mine is like this:
http://coincollecting.a-z-series.co.....irculated..jpg
However it lacks the sun and birds atop it.
The other. on the one side has a coiled dragon with a sort of laurel around it, each half of said laurel is a different plant, at the top is a sun, simmaler to that of the Republic. The other side has lots of traditional Chinese on it, and what appears to be Arabic.
http://coincollecting.a-z-series.co.....irculated..jpg
However it lacks the sun and birds atop it.
The other. on the one side has a coiled dragon with a sort of laurel around it, each half of said laurel is a different plant, at the top is a sun, simmaler to that of the Republic. The other side has lots of traditional Chinese on it, and what appears to be Arabic.
The one with the junk on it is one dollar/one yuan, 1932 (or Year 21 of the Republic), weighs 26.7 gbrams and is 88% silver. It's actually a somewhat valuable type. The more common types lack the birds and sunrise. I'm not an expert in judging the condition of these kind of coins, but I'd say (from your photo) that it was at least Fine and maybe Very Fine. As such, it's worth at least $40 and maybe as much as $75. At least according to my reference books, which are a few years old.
Oh wait... the photo isn't of your coin. Yours lacks the birds and sun... That makes it worth more like ten dollars, sorry... I can't pin-point the exact year, though, without being able to see the inscription. It contains Chinese characters for the year. I also need to know if the junk-side of the coin has only two characters (one on each side of the ship), or six characters in a semi-circle above the ship. Such coins with two characters, struck in 1933, are fairly common and worth about ten bucks.
There's also very similar type with a different junk than the one in the photo. They tend to be rare and expensive.
Then ther's an issue like the photo , only two characters on the junk-side, but without birds or sun that wsa struck in 1935 or 1936.
As you can see, knowing approximately what the coin looks like only leads to a number of possibilities. To identify a coin exactly, I have to know exactly what it's like. While I've got it fairly well pin-pointed,there's still the uncertainty of of whether its a two character or six character junk-side.
There's also very similar type with a different junk than the one in the photo. They tend to be rare and expensive.
Then ther's an issue like the photo , only two characters on the junk-side, but without birds or sun that wsa struck in 1935 or 1936.
As you can see, knowing approximately what the coin looks like only leads to a number of possibilities. To identify a coin exactly, I have to know exactly what it's like. While I've got it fairly well pin-pointed,there's still the uncertainty of of whether its a two character or six character junk-side.
I wasn't able to find a match for the other coin, with the coiled dragon. There are lots of coiled dragon designs, but none that had what I would call a wreath around them. It may be that its something else, and I just have to see it to make sense of what it is. In any case, some western provincial issues have Arabic on the reverse so that the locals can read it.
Half of China isn't actually inhabited by Chinese... something they don't usually like us to think about, preferring Westerners to think they're all contented, identical, Han Chinese. It's about like an alternate world European empire claiming it was all German or French.
Anyway, with a photo of the coin I have a better chance of IDing it. At the moment I can only say it's probably a western provincial issue from the 30s.
Half of China isn't actually inhabited by Chinese... something they don't usually like us to think about, preferring Westerners to think they're all contented, identical, Han Chinese. It's about like an alternate world European empire claiming it was all German or French.
Anyway, with a photo of the coin I have a better chance of IDing it. At the moment I can only say it's probably a western provincial issue from the 30s.
The coin is rather worn. The Junk side has only 2 characters. At first I thought the Cameo may have been of Chan-ki-Chek But then I noticed his silly mustache was wrong xP
As for the dragon coin it seems to be of a poorer quality miteing job. Maybe i got a counterfeit? XD
But the oldest coin I know of in my possession is a 1899 Canadian penny, bout the size of a quarter. I also have an American Indian head penny from 1900. Several buffalo head nickles. Steel US pennies from 43. 6 different Canadian silver dollars. 3 American silver dollars. and 4 silver half dollars. Oh also a six pence from 26, with good ol gorgie the 5th.
Ill try and scan the coins in question though. However my scanner as useful as a sailor on a mountain top.
As for the dragon coin it seems to be of a poorer quality miteing job. Maybe i got a counterfeit? XD
But the oldest coin I know of in my possession is a 1899 Canadian penny, bout the size of a quarter. I also have an American Indian head penny from 1900. Several buffalo head nickles. Steel US pennies from 43. 6 different Canadian silver dollars. 3 American silver dollars. and 4 silver half dollars. Oh also a six pence from 26, with good ol gorgie the 5th.
Ill try and scan the coins in question though. However my scanner as useful as a sailor on a mountain top.
Two characters? Then its the common 1929 type, worth about ten bucks. As I said earlier, that's Sun Yat-Sen, the founder of the Chinese Republic and inspiration of their 1911 revolution. (Unfortunately, he died and the revolution was corrupted by greedy warlords, of which Chung Kai Chek was one.)
Not only might your dragon coin be a possible counterfeit, it might be a modern replica, made to sell to tourists in Chinatowns all over the world. Usually, they're easy to spot. Oversize, worn-looking but not actually worn, or maybe sharp looking. They often have reeding around the edges when the real coin doesn't. Or a seam, from casting. In any case, the fifty cent or dollar price tag should be a clue. Until I see an image, there's nothing more I can say.
It sounds like you have a nice spread of coins, US and Canadian. What US silver dollars are they? The Morgan type, up to 1904 or something like that? Or the Peace dolar, from the 20s and 30s? After 1936 the US mint didn't strike silver dollars. It took until, um, 1973 or '76 I think, before they minted the Eisenhower dollar -- and it wasn't silver. (There were *some* silver strikes, but not for circulation.)
Not only might your dragon coin be a possible counterfeit, it might be a modern replica, made to sell to tourists in Chinatowns all over the world. Usually, they're easy to spot. Oversize, worn-looking but not actually worn, or maybe sharp looking. They often have reeding around the edges when the real coin doesn't. Or a seam, from casting. In any case, the fifty cent or dollar price tag should be a clue. Until I see an image, there's nothing more I can say.
It sounds like you have a nice spread of coins, US and Canadian. What US silver dollars are they? The Morgan type, up to 1904 or something like that? Or the Peace dolar, from the 20s and 30s? After 1936 the US mint didn't strike silver dollars. It took until, um, 1973 or '76 I think, before they minted the Eisenhower dollar -- and it wasn't silver. (There were *some* silver strikes, but not for circulation.)
Well the coin is the exact same size as the Sun-Yat-Sen coin. It does not look as worn, there is no seam but it has the rimming like on one of our quarters, dont know what you would call it.
But it its counterfeit I dont really care, it is however from china proper, my uncle did alot of work for habitat for humanity, ((or huts for the hutless as the family called it)) In the State of Mongolia so going to china was no big deal.
As for the silver dollars one is dated 21 the other two are 22.
But it its counterfeit I dont really care, it is however from china proper, my uncle did alot of work for habitat for humanity, ((or huts for the hutless as the family called it)) In the State of Mongolia so going to china was no big deal.
As for the silver dollars one is dated 21 the other two are 22.
1920 and 22 would make them Peace dollars. Very handsome designs. It's actually amazing that the US only minted the two types of actual silver dollar in the last 150 years, and only for limited periods of time. You see them used in old movies all the time, but they would hve to be even older coins.
Odds are your "dragon" coin is real -- I was just speculating. Bronze or copper, I'm assuming... I don't think you actually said, but bronze coins of that size with dragons are just about the most common types from the Republic of China.
Other common designs include crossed flags, and a sun (or rosette). There are hundreds of individual designs, but those are the most common, along with busts of Dr. Sun or some other politician. You also sometimes see a picture of a piece of ancient Chinese "spade" money.
The catalog of world coins I have devotes 135 pages to China alone! Canada has about 20.
Odds are your "dragon" coin is real -- I was just speculating. Bronze or copper, I'm assuming... I don't think you actually said, but bronze coins of that size with dragons are just about the most common types from the Republic of China.
Other common designs include crossed flags, and a sun (or rosette). There are hundreds of individual designs, but those are the most common, along with busts of Dr. Sun or some other politician. You also sometimes see a picture of a piece of ancient Chinese "spade" money.
The catalog of world coins I have devotes 135 pages to China alone! Canada has about 20.
Oh, but technically its called "milling." But I see "reeding" used by competant authorities, so how "wrong" can it be? It prevents people from "clipping" small amounts of gold or silver from the edge, and collecting it. Do that often enough and you have enough metal for a whole new coin! At the mint's expense.
Reeding is continued mainly out of tradition. A dime is milled and so is a quarter... so must it always be. It turns out to be useful for the blind, but I can't imagine that was the orginal reason. Back in the 19th. century, even in the early 20th. century, being blind was *your* bad luck, and nobody did anything to make life easier for you. Around the 1920s, maybe, they let you carry a white cane so people could step around you. That was about it.
North Battleford, SK? Well, any out of the way place is bound to have strict limitations, and that's pretty far out of the way. What is it, two hours drive from Saskatoon, or a little more?
At least you don't live in Flin Flon.
Its my thinking that the reason a lot of native bands are such a mess is because they live on reserves. They don't really make a living by hunting and trapping anymore, though they can hunt and trap if they like. But it's really the government stipend that supports the community in most cases. There's nothing else to do. The purists make a lot of noise about maintaining traditional ways, and I suppose that plays a part in keeping body & soul together. But how many dances or sweat lodge ceremonies can you have? What do you do the rest of the time? Play poker. Have children. Drink. Meanwhile, you know perfectly well that people in Winnipeg are playing tennis, practicing indoor rock-climbing, going to a play, eating at a Tandoori restaurant, watching a skateboard competition, working on their gold swing, shopping at Wal-Mart or HMV, watching a Bare Naked Ladies concert, attending a meeting of the local business association, listening to beat poetry, jogging with your huskeys, going to the car show, enjoying a good massage, spending an afternoon at the locomotive museum... etc. etc. etc. You compare it to your own brand of entertainment -- putting on some raven feathers and hopping around a drum -- and realize what a stupid, pointless lifestyle you have.
There are usually no jobs, either. Whatever education you get is liable to be substandard, because there's no way to provide better for every tiny village of 100 people. It may not even be possible to get anywhere else, in extreme cases, except by bush plane.
My feeling is that natives in such isolated places would be better off trading their reserve for, say, an apartment block in Edmonton or Toronto. They could live there off welfare as easily as in the north woods. The difference is that they can also walk off "the reserve" in two minutes, find a job, find something to do, put some meaning int their lives.
But, they probably won't do it. It would spell the end of their precious "traditional" lifestyles.
It's as though the rest of us didn't have ancestors who lived in mud huts with their goats, and live on subsistence farming, or by hunting. But we outgrew all that. On special days we put on the kilt or lederhosen and dance to accordian music... then we go home and put our jeans and t-shirt back on, and listen to Celest Dione. Why should Indians be different?
This is not to say that some bands actually haven't been adapating superbly. I notice that those that do best, are generally the least isolated, and most able to integrate into Canada's economy.
At least you don't live in Flin Flon.
Its my thinking that the reason a lot of native bands are such a mess is because they live on reserves. They don't really make a living by hunting and trapping anymore, though they can hunt and trap if they like. But it's really the government stipend that supports the community in most cases. There's nothing else to do. The purists make a lot of noise about maintaining traditional ways, and I suppose that plays a part in keeping body & soul together. But how many dances or sweat lodge ceremonies can you have? What do you do the rest of the time? Play poker. Have children. Drink. Meanwhile, you know perfectly well that people in Winnipeg are playing tennis, practicing indoor rock-climbing, going to a play, eating at a Tandoori restaurant, watching a skateboard competition, working on their gold swing, shopping at Wal-Mart or HMV, watching a Bare Naked Ladies concert, attending a meeting of the local business association, listening to beat poetry, jogging with your huskeys, going to the car show, enjoying a good massage, spending an afternoon at the locomotive museum... etc. etc. etc. You compare it to your own brand of entertainment -- putting on some raven feathers and hopping around a drum -- and realize what a stupid, pointless lifestyle you have.
There are usually no jobs, either. Whatever education you get is liable to be substandard, because there's no way to provide better for every tiny village of 100 people. It may not even be possible to get anywhere else, in extreme cases, except by bush plane.
My feeling is that natives in such isolated places would be better off trading their reserve for, say, an apartment block in Edmonton or Toronto. They could live there off welfare as easily as in the north woods. The difference is that they can also walk off "the reserve" in two minutes, find a job, find something to do, put some meaning int their lives.
But, they probably won't do it. It would spell the end of their precious "traditional" lifestyles.
It's as though the rest of us didn't have ancestors who lived in mud huts with their goats, and live on subsistence farming, or by hunting. But we outgrew all that. On special days we put on the kilt or lederhosen and dance to accordian music... then we go home and put our jeans and t-shirt back on, and listen to Celest Dione. Why should Indians be different?
This is not to say that some bands actually haven't been adapating superbly. I notice that those that do best, are generally the least isolated, and most able to integrate into Canada's economy.
Yah, Around here its mostly crop land so the res works like this. You get large yards and houses that people work into the ground. ((Like seriously, some of them dont even bother to pick up there clothes)) its then demoed and replaced while they have the government cover the cost of construction. Now most of the land is used for farming. 4-5 men generally run it, seeding, spraying, combining but its more or less pissing in the wind. Large tracts of land are unused. But one thing ill give them is they burn the land periodically. It may sound nuts to city folk but its actually good for the land. Cleans it all out so new life can take root, because here in the prairies its not uncommon for an unwanted plant to take root and over run the area. ((Like that canola that wont die from being sprayed, it takes root and ruins crops.))
Another problem plaguing the reservations is poor and i mean like bottom of the god damn barrel poor. 5-6 years ago a chief was elected and vanished with over 4.5 million dollars. When he did turn up he had none of it left he blamed his grade 3 education, and for his grade 3 education he blamed the white man right out. ((Didnt even pretty up his argument)) But here any one on the reservations with half a brain dosent bother. Iv had elders tell me that all it is is a glorified drinking contest. And you can always tell when there has been an "election" because you see a lot of bran new trucks and cars around town.
And some of reserves are actually really bad in other ways. For instance Red Pheasant supplies a good chunk of northern Saskatchewan's hard drugs. And you will think twice about going there even if you are native, let alone a Euro mutt like me.
Now in town is a bit different, rather then bands its gang violence and Cree,metes,Blackfoot on each other crime. But Iv been jumped twice, once for money ((hehe I dont carry cash to begin with)) and the other time because I was white, and alone.
But what I think is the worst part even if your an upstanding half way decent person. You just cant feel clean here. I live out on a farm outside of town so I get a bit of a grip on reality. But you cant even go down to the Liquor Board store without felling like a rubby. ((Definition of rubby: http://www.urbandictionary.com/defi.....php?term=rubby )) To boot, the Art gallery, the court house, the Liquor store, three of the 4 banks, the police station, movie theater, all 5 pawn shops are all within a 3 min walk.
But im sure this is a phenomenon that only tends to take root in SK AB and parts of MB. Or atleast I hope thats the case. Another thing I extremely dislike is because we have the largest mental institution in western Canada. ((oddly it houses a full 18 hole golf course and, only in Saskatchewan, a curling rink.)) Now why we need a nut house that big to me means A) we were in a good spot, or B) we have more nuts per capita then anywhere in Sask. But they also ether leave the doors open 24/7 or release them and find out there still crazy and take them back, costing resources. Or watching some native couple having a fight in the street.
To me my hometown is beyond saving, all it means to me is I need to do better and hold myself to a higher standard.
But the things that make me want to push myself further is my heritage and ancestry. For one the Germans, who have been important contributors to western civilization for a Long Long time. With things like, modern warfare, Protestantism ((part of it)), the car, various disciplines and philosophies and so on.
Now the other may have less in the line of cultural achievements but we have a rich history. It may also have to do with the fact I descend from this guy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_the_Bruce
Another problem plaguing the reservations is poor and i mean like bottom of the god damn barrel poor. 5-6 years ago a chief was elected and vanished with over 4.5 million dollars. When he did turn up he had none of it left he blamed his grade 3 education, and for his grade 3 education he blamed the white man right out. ((Didnt even pretty up his argument)) But here any one on the reservations with half a brain dosent bother. Iv had elders tell me that all it is is a glorified drinking contest. And you can always tell when there has been an "election" because you see a lot of bran new trucks and cars around town.
And some of reserves are actually really bad in other ways. For instance Red Pheasant supplies a good chunk of northern Saskatchewan's hard drugs. And you will think twice about going there even if you are native, let alone a Euro mutt like me.
Now in town is a bit different, rather then bands its gang violence and Cree,metes,Blackfoot on each other crime. But Iv been jumped twice, once for money ((hehe I dont carry cash to begin with)) and the other time because I was white, and alone.
But what I think is the worst part even if your an upstanding half way decent person. You just cant feel clean here. I live out on a farm outside of town so I get a bit of a grip on reality. But you cant even go down to the Liquor Board store without felling like a rubby. ((Definition of rubby: http://www.urbandictionary.com/defi.....php?term=rubby )) To boot, the Art gallery, the court house, the Liquor store, three of the 4 banks, the police station, movie theater, all 5 pawn shops are all within a 3 min walk.
But im sure this is a phenomenon that only tends to take root in SK AB and parts of MB. Or atleast I hope thats the case. Another thing I extremely dislike is because we have the largest mental institution in western Canada. ((oddly it houses a full 18 hole golf course and, only in Saskatchewan, a curling rink.)) Now why we need a nut house that big to me means A) we were in a good spot, or B) we have more nuts per capita then anywhere in Sask. But they also ether leave the doors open 24/7 or release them and find out there still crazy and take them back, costing resources. Or watching some native couple having a fight in the street.
To me my hometown is beyond saving, all it means to me is I need to do better and hold myself to a higher standard.
But the things that make me want to push myself further is my heritage and ancestry. For one the Germans, who have been important contributors to western civilization for a Long Long time. With things like, modern warfare, Protestantism ((part of it)), the car, various disciplines and philosophies and so on.
Now the other may have less in the line of cultural achievements but we have a rich history. It may also have to do with the fact I descend from this guy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_the_Bruce
Well, that sounds pretty bad alright. I was aware that a lot of "chiefs" and tribal councils abuse the money given them for the community. One explanation I've been given for this is that the local authorities are picked by Ottawa, rather than by traditional means or by a local democratic process. Maybe. I sure as hell don't know... But if authority isn't a result of having the respect of the local community -- as a real chief should -- then I can see it resulting in abuse of this sort.
I'm of the opinion that far too many native Canadians blame their childhood, history or the white man for their problems. I'll grant that they don't get an entirely even break -- prejudice makes it hard to get ahead or improve youself, even when prejudice happens to be partly right. But many native Canadians *do* get ahead, and so do many bands. I recall one spokesman for more enterprising bands got himself into trouble with the the national organization by saying that Indians needed to stop bitching and learn how to work.
I'm of the opinion that far too many native Canadians blame their childhood, history or the white man for their problems. I'll grant that they don't get an entirely even break -- prejudice makes it hard to get ahead or improve youself, even when prejudice happens to be partly right. But many native Canadians *do* get ahead, and so do many bands. I recall one spokesman for more enterprising bands got himself into trouble with the the national organization by saying that Indians needed to stop bitching and learn how to work.
Exactly. But at the moment I think the government needs to try and make more jobs. Public works and the like.
Also a native friend of mine from BC grew up on a small but nice reservation. Mind you it was more or less on a mountain face but not full of crime or anything. Also over there most of them have job around in the population centers like Camloops. But a dam is being built on the reservation land and in exchange for building permission they wanted them to train people from the reserve to work there, a fair trade in my mind.
The treaties in themselves are perfectly fine. Only problem I have is:
There old, need to be updated.
There are so many of them, one all inclusive treaty would be best.
There made with the British monarchy. Im not a fan of the monarchy. in truth it makes us different from the US but its just a symbol of oppression and money we spend. it also makes the french angry.
Also a native friend of mine from BC grew up on a small but nice reservation. Mind you it was more or less on a mountain face but not full of crime or anything. Also over there most of them have job around in the population centers like Camloops. But a dam is being built on the reservation land and in exchange for building permission they wanted them to train people from the reserve to work there, a fair trade in my mind.
The treaties in themselves are perfectly fine. Only problem I have is:
There old, need to be updated.
There are so many of them, one all inclusive treaty would be best.
There made with the British monarchy. Im not a fan of the monarchy. in truth it makes us different from the US but its just a symbol of oppression and money we spend. it also makes the french angry.
I've held many opinions about the monarchy. When I was a kid -- in the '50s and '60s -- it was just there. I didn't think about it, though I didn't like having to sing "God Save the Friggin' Queen" every morning in school. In fact, I disliked it so much I wouldn't do it. They could make me stand up but not sing.
As I went through my teens I began to feel that we should be rid of the Queen and maybe even join with the US. At that age I didn't see the differences -- I didn't really understand how the Americans worked or know much about their history. Then in my 20s I began to learn all that, and moved radically away from pro-Americanism. I still didn't think much about the monarchy though.
Through the 70s, the issue receded into the background. School kids stopped singing in the morning, and theaters no longer played the British national anthem before a movie. (They still play "O, Canada" at hockey games for some weird reason, but movie theaters went right from "GStQ" to nothing.)
The money still had the Queen on it, though. When I was older still, I grew irritated that we waste so much space on our coins to show the haggard face of some old lady, who was ruler over a foreign nation. Why not put Pierre Berton or Wayne Gretsky on the dime instead? But a friend of mine, who was extremely opinionated, insisted that having a monarch was a symbol of shame, like admitting you still wore a slave bracelet. That tended to keep my feelings from drifting any ruther toward Republicanism.
At this point, I harbor no deep feelings about the British monarchy. But note that I call it "British." I just don't feel it has any relevance to what Canada is any more. Half of us were born in Jamaica, Somalia, Pakistan, Lebanon, Portugual, Korea, the Philippines, China, the US, India, Russia, Tibet or some other country. What can the Queen possibly mean to them? Or to us, in our current reality?
As I went through my teens I began to feel that we should be rid of the Queen and maybe even join with the US. At that age I didn't see the differences -- I didn't really understand how the Americans worked or know much about their history. Then in my 20s I began to learn all that, and moved radically away from pro-Americanism. I still didn't think much about the monarchy though.
Through the 70s, the issue receded into the background. School kids stopped singing in the morning, and theaters no longer played the British national anthem before a movie. (They still play "O, Canada" at hockey games for some weird reason, but movie theaters went right from "GStQ" to nothing.)
The money still had the Queen on it, though. When I was older still, I grew irritated that we waste so much space on our coins to show the haggard face of some old lady, who was ruler over a foreign nation. Why not put Pierre Berton or Wayne Gretsky on the dime instead? But a friend of mine, who was extremely opinionated, insisted that having a monarch was a symbol of shame, like admitting you still wore a slave bracelet. That tended to keep my feelings from drifting any ruther toward Republicanism.
At this point, I harbor no deep feelings about the British monarchy. But note that I call it "British." I just don't feel it has any relevance to what Canada is any more. Half of us were born in Jamaica, Somalia, Pakistan, Lebanon, Portugual, Korea, the Philippines, China, the US, India, Russia, Tibet or some other country. What can the Queen possibly mean to them? Or to us, in our current reality?
Yes I agree, my grand parents told me about school in there day but sometimes they had to sing Bertania rules the waves too, but mind you that was war time. And they called Churchill "Old Ironsides."
Now a Monarch would be good for Canada. But one born here. It makes us different from the states and with that in mind we need all the help we can get.
Now a Monarch would be good for Canada. But one born here. It makes us different from the states and with that in mind we need all the help we can get.
Hmmm... I dunno. Having a monarch by default I can live with. Choosing one would be so hard, and almost certain to be divisive. Should the royal family be French Canadian or English? Either one would anger everyone in Alberta, who would probably prefer an American royal family -- maybe the Bushes? Or maybe we could pick from one of our minorities -- a Sikh perhaps?
As well, a British style monarchy would create a problem for the separation of church and state in Canada. Remember, the British monarch is also head of the English Anglican Church, which is the Established Church of England. We have no established church... we'd have to pick one before a monarch could be head of it, and that would mean the state favouring Protestantism or Catholocism, or maybe even Judaism. But it would piss everyone else off, including us atheists. I suppose, though, the king or queen *needen't* be Defender of the Faith. But all monarchs have rested their authority on God, even if they hae no role to play with ordained faith. The are king by Grace of God, etc. But we cannot endorese a particular view of God, Goddess or Gods, or even whether there is a God, Goddess or Gods. That would be unfair to all the other Gods and Goddesses. Not to mention unfair to the God who atheists say doesn't exist.
How about an emperor? No... I suppose that creates many of the same problems. Emperor Harper, emperor Trudeau, Emperor Bush or Emperor Hop Sing? It's too knotty a question.
My feeling is that we should strip more powers from the Prime Minister. Let's whittle him down to what a PM was in the 50s, before they got the idea that they were like the White House President, and started issuing orders to Parliament. If we did that, we could be different from the US in having neither a Monarch nor a President. We would be ruled by Parliament instead.
As well, a British style monarchy would create a problem for the separation of church and state in Canada. Remember, the British monarch is also head of the English Anglican Church, which is the Established Church of England. We have no established church... we'd have to pick one before a monarch could be head of it, and that would mean the state favouring Protestantism or Catholocism, or maybe even Judaism. But it would piss everyone else off, including us atheists. I suppose, though, the king or queen *needen't* be Defender of the Faith. But all monarchs have rested their authority on God, even if they hae no role to play with ordained faith. The are king by Grace of God, etc. But we cannot endorese a particular view of God, Goddess or Gods, or even whether there is a God, Goddess or Gods. That would be unfair to all the other Gods and Goddesses. Not to mention unfair to the God who atheists say doesn't exist.
How about an emperor? No... I suppose that creates many of the same problems. Emperor Harper, emperor Trudeau, Emperor Bush or Emperor Hop Sing? It's too knotty a question.
My feeling is that we should strip more powers from the Prime Minister. Let's whittle him down to what a PM was in the 50s, before they got the idea that they were like the White House President, and started issuing orders to Parliament. If we did that, we could be different from the US in having neither a Monarch nor a President. We would be ruled by Parliament instead.
Well, if we were to have such a change there would need to be a revolution. So the monarch would then Indeed be one of the leaders of the revolutionary party. I also agree with separation of church and state. So it would be like in the old days, the king was the person who stood up and took it. But with limited constitutional powers. Also I would think that Canada, in its own right and proper definition is an Empire. We are made up of various states, The first nations the english, the french and so on.
Canada is a sort of empire, though it was won with relatively little bloodshed. We were far more likely to just move in, make some deals with the Indians, and rather more likely to live up to them than the Americans. There were only a couple of Indian uprisings, and neither involved many people. I think Pound Maker's insurrection consisted of about 25 young men with a rifle each. The Metis wars were altogether more serious, but even then the first was settled by negotiation, and in the end only Louis Reale was hanged for the second.
To this day, some Indian bands insist they are sovereign nations.
I consider this a lot of face saving BS -- if they are sovereign nations, lets put up a border, with customs and guards, and see how much tax free booze and cigarettes they sell after that. Also, cut off the government stipend if they really want to be nations.
To this day, some Indian bands insist they are sovereign nations.
I consider this a lot of face saving BS -- if they are sovereign nations, lets put up a border, with customs and guards, and see how much tax free booze and cigarettes they sell after that. Also, cut off the government stipend if they really want to be nations.
I suppose many people do descend from Robert the Bruce. Many probably don't know it.
It's reasonably likely that this fellow --
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Benbow
-- is on my family tree. The name Benbow is found on the family tree, in the 19th. century. There's no record going further back, but the name is unusual and the family apparently has connections with the north of England, where the Admiral was born.
It's reasonably likely that this fellow --
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Benbow
-- is on my family tree. The name Benbow is found on the family tree, in the 19th. century. There's no record going further back, but the name is unusual and the family apparently has connections with the north of England, where the Admiral was born.
But that usually depends on whose account of the war you're reading. It's always the other guy's fault. If Hitler had won WWII, the history books would have shown that Poland invaded Germany. (I'm not making that up, by the way. Hitler faked attacks on the German border, using prisoners in Polish army uniformsm, then used those as a pretext for his own invasion.)
So far as I know, both the English and the Scots were brutes and committed every brand of war atrocity except outright genocide. Who didn't, in those days?
So far as I know, both the English and the Scots were brutes and committed every brand of war atrocity except outright genocide. Who didn't, in those days?
That's what they had Rabbis and Preists for. Of course, you could never be sure if they weren't just making it up as they went along, or lieing. Not until the Protestant Reformation, anyway, when people decided they had better learn to read and see for themselves what was in the bible.
I highly recommend yo check out this website. You can find "affordable" ancient or medieval coins for under $50 on occasion, though you'll have better luck if your budget is as high as $75. But even if $50 is too rich for your blood, you should find the site interesting.
http://www.vcoins.com/ancient/calga.....namicIndex.asp
http://www.vcoins.com/ancient/calga.....namicIndex.asp
PS -- the URL is for Calgary Coin. I buy my mail from them all the time... well, when I can afford it, anyway. The guy running the shop is Robert Kokotailo -- fascinating person if you like coin lore. He visits Toronto for the coin show three times a year, so I've actually met him, not just done business.
German coins are easy to come by, and when you get into the early 19th. century you have all those separate German states that all hadd their own coinage. I think the earliest I have from that period is something like 1830. You can buy stuff like that for under twenty dollars. Europe minted billions of coins over the last three centuries, and a lot of them are still around. Before the advent of mechanized equipment, though, the number of coins stuck is drastically smaller, and survivals scarcer.
The only thing I've seen like what you describe is a coin operated device that I've seen in interstate restaurant/gas stops. You drop a quarter and a penny in. The quarter is profit. Then you crank a gear and the penny is forced through two curved dies, to stamp an image on it. Typically something like The CN Tower or the USMC elblem or maybe a pteradactyl... The penny is thinned and stretched lengthwise, but flat. I guess there could be something like that you could have and operate at home, but what would you use for dies?
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