National Coin Week - Celebrating Texas History - Republic of Texas Currency on Display at Sterling Bank

The 84th annual National Coin Week, April 15-21, celebrates the hobby of coin collecting and the debut of the Presidential $1 Coin Program with the theme "The Presidents Are Coming!" With the U.S. Mint honoring our Nation's Presidents by issuing $1 circulating coins featuring the images of the Presidents in the order they served, the Texas Numismatic Association is expanding the emphasis on history by including the Presidents of Texas whose signatures graced the money of the Republic of Texas.

Each year, during the third week of April, the American Numismatic Association (ANA) celebrates National Coin Week with exhibits, presentations and activities to educate the public about the joys of collecting and studying coins and paper money. This year, the ANA event coincides with the San Jacinto Day celebration on April 21, which celebrates the 171st anniversary of Texas Independence. In a joint effort, members of the Texas Numismatic Association and the Bellaire Coin Club collaborated with the Dallas Historical Society, the Friends of the San Jacinto Battleground and Sterling Bank to create a historical artifact and paper money exhibit on the Republic of Texas 1836-1846. In addition to celebrating Texas Independence, the exhibit features Presidents Sam Houston and Mirabeau B. Lamar and Mexican President Santa Anna. The exhibit includes a virtually complete collection of each of the six different series of paper money used during the era of the Texas Republic from 1836-1845.

The exhibit is currently on display in the lobby of Sterling Bank, 840 Gessner at Barryknoll in the Memorial area in Houston, Texas and will be open to the public from 9am to 4pm, Monday through Friday until May 4, 2007. Visitors to the exhibit may also obtain the Presidential Dollar coins at the bank. This is Sterling Bank's 6th annual Republic of Texas exhibit which celebrates Texas history. It includes pristine examples of the paper money signed by Presidents Houston and Lamar, many of which were issued while the City of Houston was the capital of Texas from 1837-1839. The last pieces were withdrawn from circulation in Texas annexation by the United Sates in 1845. This is the largest and most comprehensive exhibit of money of the Republic of Texas assembled in Houston during modern times.

In addition to the paper money, the historical treasures include original manuscript documents from the period of the Texas Revolution and original artifacts taken from Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, the Mexican President who was captured following the Battle of San Jacinto. Other artifacts include the Mexican General's silver spurs, his vest, an original signed Mexican military order and a pennant Swallowtail Flag which was captured after the victory at San Jacinto.

National Coin Week is sponsored by the American Numismatic Association, the largest non-profit educational organization dedicated to educating and encouraging people to study and collect money and related items. The ANA helps all people discover and explore the world of money through its vast array of programs including education, museum, library, publications, conventions and seminars. For more information about the ANA, call 719-632-2646 or visit http://www.money.org/

Article submitted by James P. Bevill - Texas Numismatic Association - 1st Vice President.

Texas Independence Day Celebration & Chili Cook-Off

Come join the San Jacinto Chapter, DRT and CRT as we celebrate Texas Independence Day with the Texian Army. It will be a Living History Festival, along with a Flag Retirement Ceremony. There will be a Texas Flag display courtesy of Tom Green, Larry Hoff, Blacksmith will be on hand and Edwin Erwin will sign Land Grants. The Texian Army along with the Sons of the Republic of Texas will present the reading of Travis' letter.

The Celebration is scheduled for Sunday, February 25, 2007 @ 2:00 p.m at the Log House. Admission is $5.00 for adults and $2.00 per child under 16. This includes chili, dessert and drink. Please free to come in period dress or your favorite Texana.

If you are interested in having a Chili Team please contact Eron Brimberry Tynes @ 713-851-0520. It is time to dig out Uncle Bob's old chili recipe and start chopping those red-hot chili peppers. Prizes will be given for the: Best Authentic Texian Chili, Best Deer Meat Chili, Best Armadillo Style Chili, Best Roadkill Chili, Best Trailriders' Chile, Best Rattlesnake Rattle Chili, Best Red Hot Pepper Chili, Best Possum Chili, Best Squirrel Chili and more. Last year we had to add two new categories - Best Buffalo Meat Chili and Best Chocolate Chili. Come see how many you can win.

Flag Retirement Ceremony - Last year a Flag Retirement Ceremony was held and a number of the children present participated. This year we are inviting all children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, etc., to participate in this moving patriotic ceremony. We will hold a rehearsal on February 25 at 1:30 pm. This will allow the children an opportunity to become familiar with the ceremony itself. Last year Marilyn Chapman donated a used Texas Flag. If you have a used Texas Flag that needs to be properly disposed of please let me know.

Last year a number of Chapter members provided desserts, and this year Marilyn Chapman will be the coordinator. If you can bring a dessert, please call Marilyn at 713-522-1876.

Call Eron Brimberry Tynes at 281-820-0676 or Email texan54@houston.rr.com for more information.

Texas' 171st Birthday Celebration

Texas Independence Day will be celebrated across Texas on Friday, March 2, 2007. 171 years ago, delegates from around Texas met in the small frontier town of Washington (later Washington-on-the-Brazos). On March 2, 1836, while Santa Anna and the Mexican army lay siege to the Alamo in San Antonio, the delegates declared Texas an independent country, the Republic of Texas.

Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site will hold the official birthday celebration on the weekend of March 3-4, 2007. There will be much to see and do March 3rd and 4th. Experience life in the Republic Period of Texas 1836-1845 with historical re-enactors, historical exhibits, period craft demonstrations, early Texas encampments and live Texas music.

Visit Independence Hall: Tour the replica building which stands on the original site where the Texas Declaration of Independence was signed and the government of the Republic of Texas was organized in 1836. Visit the Star of the Republic Museum: View a rare copy of the printed broadside of the Texas Declaration of Independence on loan from the Center for American History at the University of Texas in Austin. Visit Barrington Living History Farm: Experience life on a working 1850's cotton farm and the home of the last President of the Republic of Texas, Anson Jones.

Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site is located off Texas Hwy. 105 on F.M. 1155 between Navasota and Brenham approximately 1 hour from Houston, Texas. for more details, call 936-878-2214 or visit http://www.birthplaceoftexas.com/

"Lone Star" Newest SRT Chapter

The newest chapter of the Sons of the Republic of Texas received its charter and installed its first slate of officers on January 13, 2007 in The Woodlands before a very large crowd. The new Lone Star Chapter # 58 of the SRT will encompasse the areas of Montgomery County and Walker County.

Special guest speaker at the installation was Sam Houston IV, great grandson of General Sam Houston. Dick Reese, the President General of The Sons of the Republic of Texas was on hand to install the officers in the new chapter. Initial officers of Lone Star Chapter #58 include: President - John Homman; Vice President - Michael D. Wilson; Treasurer - John Meredith; and Secretary - Brad Sowell.

Chapter 58 was named "Lone Star" in honor of the birthplace of the Texas flag. The Lone Star Chapter will meet regularly on the second Saturday of each month. Currently, the Lone Star Chapter is meeting in the Alamo Room at Alamo Joe's Restaurant in The Woodlands. For more information, click on the URL below or contact the Lone Star Chapter #58 at: 395 Sawdust Rd #2028, The Woodlands, Texas 77380-2299, Phone 281-543-5646.

Photograph courtesy of Robert "Bob" Dawson.

http://www.lonestarsrt.org/

The Money of Texas

Texas currency expert, James P. Bevill, will speak on "The Money of Texas" at the Money Show of the Southwest in Houston, Texas on January 27, 2007. Mr. Bevill's presentation will include many examples of Republic of Texas currency, warrants and notes including some pieces which will soon be on display at the Alamo.

Mr. Bevill's presentation will begin at 12 Noon on Saturday, January 27, 2007 in Meeting Area A of the George R. Brown Convention Center located at 1001 Avenida de la Americas in downtwon Houston. Admission is $2.00. Children under 13 are free. The Money Show of the Southwest will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and ends at 6:00 p.m. The show will run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday.

James P. Bevill, CMF is First Vice President -Investments with Merrill Lynch Private Client Group. Direct (713) 993-1505. Toll Free (800) 274-9442.

http://www.houstoncoinshow.org/Schedule.htm

Photo: Vintage currency "© Photographer: Lori Martin Agency: Dreamstime.com"