Collecting American Coins Is Fascinating
Pennies
Probably the most collected American coin is the Lincoln head penny. They have been minted since 1909. Some Lincoln head pennies were made out of zinc instead of copper during WWII. A very few were made of copper in 1943, and these are rare and valuable American coins.
Pennies had an Indian head on them before the Lincoln penny was minted. Another rare American coin are the Indian head pennies.
Nickels
Nickels had a picture of the goddess Liberty on them, from 1883 to 1913. An extremely rare American coin, interestingly, is the 1913 liberty nickel. A mint employee made them illegally after hours and only five copies were made.
The buffalo nickel is the most classic American coin. It has a buffalo on one side and an Indian head on the other.
The nickel has had President Jefferson’s portrait on it, since 1938. The mint started a “Westward Journey” series of nickels to commemorate Lewis and Clark’s journey in 2004. So the Westward Journey nickels are destined to be collectible coins as they’ve tweaked Jefferson’s portrait and the coins have different historical themes on the reverse side.
Dimes
Dimes are probably the most boring American coin. The design of dimes hasn’t changed since 1945, the year after President Franklin Delano Roosevelt died. He suffered from polio and supported the March of Dimes. The March of Dimes helps people with birth defects now, but in Roosevelt’s time it also helped children who had polio. Franklin’s portrait has remained on our dimes since his death to memorialize his support of the March of Dimes. Dimes are a boring coin, but that is a great American coin story.
Quarters
Our favorite American coin, the quarter, had the Statue of Liberty on it until 1930. She was replaced by George Washington. Since 1999, the mint has been releasing the very collectible US State quarters, an American coin series that will be completed in 2008.
Half Dollars and Dollars
Half dollars used to be common, and until 1964 they had Ben Franklin on one side and the Liberty Bell on the other. President Kennedy’s portrait went on the half dollar in 1964. Because Kennedy was beloved, and because the 1964 silver dollar was to be the last “real” silver dollar, people hoarded them and they became a treasured American coin. The mint released more of them than any other half dollar, because so many people collected the 1964 Kennedy half-dollars. Congress even froze the date, and 1964 half dollars were minted in 1965, too.
The Susan B. Anthony silver dollar is an interesting American coin as silver dollars are rare now. It is the only American coin with a woman’s portrait on it, minted from 1979-1981.
Collecting American Coins. http://coins.jsgenterprises.com
Creating Beautiful Aromatherapy Candles
Necessary Supplies
Before we begin to make these wonderful candles let us look at what equipment and supplies will be needed.
First you will need essential oils. Essential oils are obtained from plants using a specific method of distillation. Essential oils can be very expensive. The good thing about essential oils is that it only takes a small amount to produce the aroma that you want for your candle. Some people like to mix these essential oils to make a scent of their own. For now we will stick with just one basic essential oil. Bergamot is an essential oil used for tension and stress. It is also an essential oil that is used to help as an antidepressant because it is an uplifting effect.
The type of candle, whether it is a soy or paraffin, will determine the equipment needed. In this article we will show how to make a soy aromatherapy candle using the essential oil for the fragrance. You will need a measuring bowl made of glass to melt your wax, potholders to hold the wax when removing it from the microwave, a spoon, soap, water, a container, essential oil, and dye if desired. You will also need a wick, hot glue gun, and a pencil.
Creating Your Aromatherapy Candle
You are now ready to begin your journey on making your first aromatherapy candle. Let us take a take a look at wicks. The wick that you use for your aromatherapy candle can directly effect how your candle burns. Not all wicks are created equal. Always purchase the size wick that you need according to the diameter of your candle that you will be crafting.
Now, gather all your supplies and equipment. Place the appropriate amount of soy chip wax into the measuring cup. To know the amount of wax that you will need you will need to know the capacity of the container that you are putting your aromatherapy candle in. You can start with a small amount of soy wax chips and add more until you reach the desired amount of melted wax.
While the wax is melting prepare your container by using hot glue to attach the metal portion of the wick to the inside of the container. Use the pencil with a small amount of the wick wrapped around it to hold the wick in the middle. Secure the pencil to prevent movement while pouring the wax. Remove the melted wax carefully from the microwave to prevent burns. Try adding a few drops of essential oil to your melted wax. It is better to have little than to have too much. That way, when your candle burns, the fragrance does not overwhelm the person that it is for. This is the experimental part of aromatherapy and most sources do not agree on the amount to use.
Once the oil is in the melted soy wax, mix well and pour into your container. Be sure the wick is centered after pouring.
For aromatherapy candles using a less decorative glass or tin as the holder will help the person using the candle to concentrate on the aroma and not just on how the container looks. You now have a beautiful candle that is a wonderful gift to share. If your candle aroma is not right the first time you may have to experiment with the use of the essential oils to get it right. Don’t give up; you will create the perfect aromatherapy candle. Remember, mixing the oils is one way to create your own special aroma.
