Hobby Shop Blog

From the high pitched whine of a nitro engine, to the whirring of an electric motor. All across the land, on any given weekend, you can find them bashing about everywhere from vacant lots, to parking lots. RC car and truck racing has become one of the hottest hobbies in recent memory.

You’ve probably seen them on the shelves of your local discount store, toy store, or electronics store. But, the real excitement this sport has to offer can only be found at a real RC hobby shop.

The RC cars, trucks, and other various RC vehicles found at the discount chains can be a great deal of fun, but if you never venture beyond these toys you might find yourself feeling a bit let down by their quality and excitement level. The difference between the “real” RC vehicles, and the chain store toys can be quite amazing. Obviously, there is a difference in cost, but as the old saying goes, “You get what you pay for.”

You can choose from a wide variety of styles of RC vehicles, from mild to wild, and everything in between. From two wheel drive cars, trucks and buggies, to four wheel drive buggies, stadium trucks and monster trucks.

The electric cars and trucks, which are powered by rechargeable battery packs, are probably the best place to start your new hobby. Some of these can reach speeds in excess of 40 miles per hour! As time goes by you may find yourself craving even more speed and excitement. Look no further than the gas powered beasts that run on a blend of nitromethane and methanol for their fuel. Some of these radical rides can approach an amazing 70 miles per hour!

You can jump right in with a Ready to Run (or RTR as they are known in the sport) car or truck, or take on the challenge of a completely unassembled kit. The latter does require a bit of mechanical ability, as well as a dose of patience, but can be a very rewarding project to undertake with your son or daughter, teaching them valuable skills as well as just having a great time together.

No matter which type of RC vehicle you choose, you are sure to have a wonderful time enjoying a wholesome family activity in the great outdoors.

So stop by your local hobby shop or online retailer and see what the “real” world of RC cars and trucks has to offer. You’ll be glad you did.

For even more information about this exciting sport check out http://www.rc-hq.com

The unfinished wood projects section of your local craft store can offer up some great treasures: wooden boxes. They come in a number of shapes and sizes. Some have pretty, scalloped edges. Others are shaped like hearts or books or stars. Who can resist little wooden boxes? They’re perfect for hiding away those special trinkets.

So go ahead, treat yourself to the wooden box of your choice, and here are a few fun, crafty ideas for making your wooden box look just fabulous.

- Beautiful papers and wooden boxes — a match made in decoupage heaven! Decoupage is an easy technique that works well on wooden boxes. Choose pretty paper to cover your box in. Patterned gift-wrap is a great choice, or find a magazine with beautiful artwork and clip some out. You’ll also need a bottle of Mod Podge, which is available at any craft retailer. This is a multi-purpose item, sealer, glue and finisher all in one. If you can’t find a paper to your liking at home, most craft stores sell packages of assorted papers for papercraft projects.

- Stickers–not just for kids these days. Go ahead and buy a few. There are stickers for all occasions, and many aren’t in the least bit childish. Stickers can be a great way to liven up a plain wooden box, and can be used in conjunction with your decoupage papers. This is also a great option for those crafting with younger children.

- Bows and other assorted baubles. Dig out that trusty hot glue gun. With some pretty baubles and bows, you can get really creative with your wooden box. Think about gluing on a variety of fancy buttons atop your box. Broken pieces of jewelry can be another great source of glue-ons, as are silk flowers and foam cut-outs.

- Paint your box. Wooden boxes are conducive to painting techniques. Pick out bright colors or, for the truly artistic, why not use your wooden box as a canvas and paint a beautiful scene?

The possibilities for decorating a plain wooden box are endless. Go ahead and combine techniques. Why not paint the bottom of the box and decoupage the top? With time and imagination, you can create a beautiful keepsake, perfect for stowing away special trinkets.

How many times have you had your toast or waffle stuck in your electric toaster and you, without thinking, started to use a metal knife to dig the toast out of the toaster? Of course, this could be extremely detrimental to your health!

Toaster tongs are the perfect answer to this problem. This is a really inexpensive craft project that you can sell or have groups of children in craft classes make. You can leave plain or decorate with decals or paint or even Sharpies (which are waterproof).

For one toaster tong, you will need the following:

2-Tong depressors (you can purchase at any drug store)

1- 3/4 inch diameter dowel, cut in one inch long piece

Elmer’s Glue

2- tiny tack nails

1. Sand the dowel piece on each side after cutting to make sure it is smooth.

2. Using the Elmer’s Glue, place a drop of glue on one end of the dowel and apply one

tong depressor to the glued side.

3. Hold down for a minute and nail the tiny tack nail in while glue is still wet.

4. Repeat with the second dowel on the other side.

5. Let dry about an hour before decorating.

This is a great gift to give to anyone. You can personalize or decorate any way you like with dot flowers or lady bugs or just about any design you can think of. And the recipient of this little gift will thank you for thinking of their safety!

Look for other great craft ideas at http://craftmenagerie.blogspot.com

France is great country to find antiques at bargain prices. Every town there has many places where you can purchase antiques. Driving though the French countryside will give you the opportunity to find many different places where you can examine and buy antiques. In fact, many collectors from other European countries like the UK travel across the channel and across the border to find bargains.

France is renowned for its antiques markets, but you can also find a great variety of shops selling antiques. But you will find the most benefit in visiting the antique fairs, where great bargains can be found. The best time to go is during is during spring, summer and also the autumn. Even in the winter you can find such events and you are probably more likely to find better bargains as during that time there will be less tourists and hence more possibilities to strike a better deal.

When you go over to antique fairs in France it is a good idea to have some working knowledge of the French language. You will find that some dealers have some knowledge of English but French people are very proud of their language and do appreciate you making the effort to speak it. Even if you take a phrase book with you to aid you in finding the right things to say it will come in very handy when haggling for an antique piece that has taken your fancy as well as winning over the vendor who will appreciate your efforts to speak French.

The best way to collect antiques in France if you live in Europe is if you take with you a vehicle large enough to carry the antique you have bought. Obviously this might not be as practical if you live over the Atlantic. In such a case it is best to go for smaller items like jewelery, ceramics and other various ornaments that you can put on the shelf of you home, and that can be packed in a suitcase. Either that or find out in advance what it would cost to have bigger items like antique furniture shipped over.

Finding out venues where antique fairs are held in France is not difficult as France like many southern countries in Europe like Italy has buzzing markets every weekend. Although such markets include other items like food and clothes, you will often find a large number of vendors selling antiques. A lot of these vendors also include who set up stalls to sell items of their home that they want to get rid of. This offers the best opportunities to get the best deal possible. In fact many car boot salesmen and women who do so professionally or semi-professionally in the UK travel a lot to France to get such bargains on antiques to re-sell at their equivalent venues, turning over a tidy profit even after factoring in the cost of travel and shipping the antiques across the Channel.

Buying and selling antiques has become really competitive and limiting yourself to your country could still be a profitable and enjoyable experience. However travelling to places like France has made antique collecting even more enjoyable and profitable. The fact that you can travel around European Union members countries without a passport avoiding the hassle of through customs has indeed made it much easier and more popular and yet still novel enough to provide you with many great antique bargains for years to come.

Wicca witchcraft is said to be the fastest growing religion amongst high school and college students in America. It is also now practiced by people in many different walks of life, including professionals like lawyers and teachers.

Wiccans practice what they call White magic, which they believe is ‘good’ and differs from the ‘bad’ black magic.

The motivation behind getting involved in wicca is not sinister in any way. The people involved are wanting to tap into the good “forces” in nature, and direct them in a positive manner. They are seeking the ‘power’ to be able to perform good magic, and often times to also find a popular group to belong to. The number of witches covens is increasing daily. Wiccans promote good moral values like honesty.

Books like the Harry Potter series, and TV shows life “Buffy”, “Sabrina the teenage Witch”, “Charmed” and other similar shows have skyrocketed the popularity of wicca witchcraft, in a way that is unprecedented.

The term witch, no longer seems to be associated with an ugly old woman wearing black and riding on a broomstick, it has taken on the guise of sexy young females, or young teenage boys.

Wiccans are not evil people seeking to destroy the world, but unfortunately they are oblivious to the true nature of the powers they are tapping into.

Wiccans don’t believe in the devil, or demons and this is the greatest tragedy. They don’t realise that the source of the magic they are delving into is not from “nature” but from the sinister master of the evil invisible world. Deceiving spirits of demons are hard at work, luring the unknowing into a destructive cycle that can devastate their lives. It is not until people are heavily involved in wicca that they find they start to encounter “bad spirits”, “psychic attacks”, “bad energies” and “harmful voices” in their heads among other things. At this stage they need to start practicing what they call “protection magic”.

There really are supernatural forces of good and evil at play behind the scenes in this world and the Bible reveals to us what these forces are. The Bible foretells that in the end times there will be many occult manifestations and that deceiving spirits will be rife and will seek to deceive even the elect.

We need to be really careful not to open up the wrong spiritual gateways. We need to seek the truth. Wiccans believe in reincarnation, but the Bible says, Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” Wiccans don’t believe in the devil, and yet the Bible clearly shows that he exists. Probably the most tragic thing though is that wiccans don’t think they need to have a saviour, but the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ gave His life so that all could be forgiven, if they accept Him as Lord of their lives. 1 Timothy 4:10 “For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.”

The devil is alive and well in this world and out to harm as many of God’s blessed creations as he can. If you are involved in wicca, or know someone who is, you would be well advised to have a look at both sides of the equation, and at least consider what the Bible reveals about occult practices and the source of their power.

I currently rent my house and while I’m planning on buying later this year, I can’t refrain from obtaining new and interesting perennial plants right now. After all, it is spring out there and new plants have always been a major part of my spring activities. But, what can you do when you have a rented property and you’re planning on moving.

This afternoon, I decided to do some planting but I ran out of both pots and space to put them. There was a narrow strip along the side of the house that promised both shade and good visibility. The barbeque sat there along with a few other tools but these were all quickly moved into the garage. To make good gardening use of this space, I spread out black plastic bags to stop weeds or grass from growing and then set my new perennial pots out on the plastic. Leaving the plants in the pots, I arranged them as if I were planting them; tall plants to the back against the house siding, gold leaved next to dark green, and short plants to the front etc. Next I filled between all the pots with peat moss. The peat will keep the plant upright and protect the pots from drying out. When viewed from standing up, the pots disappear under the peat and the garden looks like it was planted. All I have to do is keep the peat moss damp and the plants will grow into a perennial garden.

When I leave this fall, I’ll simply pull up the pots, bag up the peat moss into the garbage bags and truck my plants to their new home. But in the meantime, I have what appears to be a garden, my waste space is occupied with plants and my plants will be happy.

For less than ten dollars, you can enhance the appearance of your closet with this simple project. It will add a nice dimensional touch to a boring, blank space in only 20 minutes!

Due to a sale at the local craft store, I was able to purchase materials for 70% off. It is well worth waiting for such a sale in order to keep costs low.

Materials:

• Boring, blank wall space
• Wall buckets
• Artificial flowers
• Tape Measure
• Wall screws

Directions:

1. Find an area of your house that needs a little pick-me-up. You know, that boring blank space “you just don’t know what to do with.” Having 9-foot ceilings, I had a nice canvas waiting above a bedroom closet.
2. Using your tape measure, decide where you want to hang your wall buckets. Secure the wall screws into place and then hang your wall buckets.
3. Arrange your artificial flowers in the wall buckets. You are done! It was that quick and easy.

Keep in mind that this project is very versatile in nature. I used cute metal wall buckets and filled them with artificial flowers. However, you can use any sort of wall decor you like, with or without flowers. Also, if you do use flowers, you might want to change them with the seasons. Or, you might prefer to use fresh flowers instead of artificial ones. Let individual taste and imagination be your guide, and just have fun with this project.

If a list of America’s “forgotten” wars were compiled, the War of 1812 would certainly rank near the top. Thumb too quickly through any United States history book, and you’re likely to skip right past the scant few pages typically devoted to this conflict.

The goal of this article is twofold: (1) Present a basic understanding of the causes, execution, and aftermath of the War of 1812, and (2) Study coinage types issued by the United States during those wartime years, how coinage was affected by the war, and to measure modern day collector interest in coins from that long ago era.

** (1) Causes of the Conflict

** (2) United States Coinage during the War of 1812

** (3) The Americans Fight the British Again

** (4) The United States Emerges a Stronger Nation

** (5) Coins from the War of 1812 and Today’s Collectors

** (1) Causes of the Conflict:

There are a number of factors causing the Americans to take on the British for a second time. They are:

– Impressment of American seamen. The British sometimes raided U.S. ships in search of deserters. Often, seamen were seized, or impressed, and foricibly taken away. The most infamous impressment episode occurred in 1807 when the British warship HMS Leopard opened fire on the frigate USS Chesapeake, killing three and wounding 18 before boarding.

– Desire for New Territories. Pioneers living in the northwestern part of the U.S. were looking for new farmlands, but were not eager to settle the treeless prairies to the west. The timbered regions of southern Canada were more attractive. To the south, denizens of those states eyed Spanish Florida, not only for farming potential, but because the peninsula was a haven for runaway slaves and Indians who regularly attacked frontier outposts. A war with Britain might give the Americans a justification for seizing Florida, since Spain was a close friend of Britain.

– Native American Relations. As frontiersmen advanced westward, indigenous peoples fought back to preserve their ancestral lands. Encouraged by British Canadian agents, a confederation of Indian tribes, led by a Shawnee chief named Tecumseh, began offering organized resistance. Alarmed westerners demanded retaliation to dissolve this alliance.

– National Pride. A rising spirit of pride in the new nation also led to the War of 1812. Americans deeply resented British impressment of U.S. sailors. Moreover, many Americans believed it was the foreordained destiny of the nation to expand across the continent, and were prepared to take up arms to further this cause.

Thus, on June 18, 1812, Congress declared war on Great Britain. Support for the war was far from unanimous, however. Many residents of the New England states, represented by the Federalist Party in Washington, refused to support a war against Great Britain, for fear of harming their lucrative maritime trade. Furthermore, New Englanders worried about their shrinking power in the federal government if new states were added. In many respects, the United States was ill-prepared for war, but the lack of unity was the most visible handicap facing the nation.

** (2) United States Coinage Types during the War of 1812

Coinage was not produced in large quantities by the United States during the War of 1812. Of the ten coin denominations stipulated by the 1792 Mint Act, only three of them were struck with any consistency during the war: cents, half dollars, and half eagles. The other seven denominations were scarcely minted or not at all, because of the existence of foreign coin substitutes, bullion weight peculiarities, or other circumstances related to the war. What follows is a review of U.S. coinage types from 1812-1815, the years the War of 1812 was fought, and how their collectible values have progressed in modern times.

++ Half Cent. None issued. ++

Planchets for coining the half cent came to the U.S. from England, up until 1811, when worsening relations between the two nations halted shipments. No one really missed the half cent, as economists of the time questioned the existence of the lowly denomination, given their manufacturing difficulty and limited value in commercial transactions. The half cent would not be minted again until 1825.

++ Large Cent. Classic Head, 1812-1814. ++

England also provided planchets for the one cent coin, and like the half cent, deliveries ceased prior to and during the War of 1812. Cent production continued, but in smaller quantities. By 1814, the planchet supply was exhausted. In September 1815, about nine months after the close of hostilities, planchet shipments resumed, but this did not allow the Mint enough time to issue cents dated 1815. Thus, 1815 is the only year since the U.S. Mint began regular coinage in 1793 that the one cent denomination was not struck.

There are no exceptional one cent rarities from the War of 1812, so the 1813 was selected to represent the denomination in this analysis.

1813 Classic Head Large Cent

Values in Year

1950…..Good:$4.00….. F:$10.00…..XF:$15.00

1975…..Good:$27.50…..F:$80.00…XF:$300

2000…..Good:$60.00…..F:$250.…..XF:$1350

2003…..Good:$75.00…..F:$300.…..XF:$1500

2006…..Good:$85.00…..F:$300.…..XF:$2500

++ Half Disme. None issued. ++

The production of the half disme (the “dime” spelling did not come into use until 1837) was suspended after 1805. The Mint stopped coining half dismes because of the widespread use of the legal tender Mexican half real (pronounced “ree-all”), worth about six cents face value. Mint officials reasoned that since the public already had an acceptable alternative, further coining of half dismes was not a good use of their limited resources. Half dismes were minted again in 1829.

++ Disme. Capped Bust, 1814 Only. ++

There were no dismes minted after 1811 until the year 1814, when a whopping 421,500 came off the coining presses. The 1814 disme tally nearly exceeded disme production of the previous 18 years combined, since its inception in 1796. No dismes were struck again until 1820. As was the case with half dismes, dismes were not particularly in demand, as their role in commerce was being somewhat filled by Mexican coinage, so why the sudden surge in disme interest? Perhaps someday a researcher will find the answer.

The 1814 was the only disme issued during the War of 1812, but fortunately, many examples have survived. There are three varieties of the 1814 disme, all of which are fairly equal in value. The large date variety is examined here.

1814 Capped Bust Disme Large Date

Values in Year

1950…..Good:$2.00 …..MS60:$17.50…..MS65:$NA

1975…..Good:$27.50…..MS60:$700…..MS65:$NA

2000…..Good:$25.00…..MS60:$1000…..MS65:$10000

2003…..Good:$27.50…..MS60:$1000…..MS65:$10000

2006…..Good:$30.00…..MS60:$1000…..MS65:$12000

++ Quarter. Capped Bust, 1815 Only. ++

No quarters were minted between 1807 and 1818, with the sole exception of the year 1815, when 89,235 were struck. Similar to the other smaller silver coins, the need for the quarter was largely obviated by the circulation of the Mexican double real, worth exactly the same face value (the phrase “two bits”, meaning 25 cents, originated with the usage of the double real). Mint officials had no plans to produce any quarters in the summer of 1814, when a large shipment of Mexican silver dollars arrived from a New Orleans bank, accompanied by a letter requesting the silver be coined into quarter dollars and returned to the bank. After some hesitation, the Mint delivered more than 69,232 quarters in December 1815, followed by another 20,003 a month later. All bore the date of 1815.

For collectors hoping to add a quarter directly connected to the War of 1812 years, the 1815 issue is their only choice.

1815 Capped Bust Quarter

Values in Year

1950…..Good:$2.00 …..MS60:$35.00…..MS65:$NA

1975…..Good:$25.00…..MS60:$2500…..MS65:$NA

2000…..Good:$60.00…..MS60:$2000…..MS65:$3750

2003…..Good:$60.00…..MS60:$2000…..MS65:$3750

2006…..Good:$75.00…..MS60:$2500…..MS65:$5000

++ Half Dollar. Capped Bust, 1812-1815. ++

The half dollar was perhaps the most important coin issued by the Mint the first few decades of the 19th century, not just during the War of 1812. Indeed, it became the “coin of the realm”, and was produced continuously throughout the war, usually numbering more than a million pieces annually. A primary reason why the Mint saw fit to produce so many half dollars is because there were no foreign coin substitutes of equal face value to serve the public. Also, half dollars were instrumental in bank transfers. However, only 47,150 halves were struck in 1815, the lowest mintage of the entire Capped Bust half dollar series. The financial burden of paying off the war debt sent the U.S. economy reeling, greatly reducing the demand for coinage.

War of 1812 half dollars exist along the full range of the rarity spectrum. Included in this analysis is a common date (1814), a semi-key (1814, 4 over 3), and a couple of key dates (1812, 2 over 1 large 8 and 1815, 5 over 2).

1812, 2 over 1 large 8 Capped Bust Half Dollar

Values in Year

1950…..Good:$NA…..XF:$NA…..AU:$NA

1975…..Good:$NA…..XF:$NA…..AU:$NA

2000…..Good:$1600…..XF:$10000…..AU:$NA

2003…..Good:$1600…..XF:$11000…..AU:$17500

2006…..Good:$2000…..XF:$15000…..AU:$25000

1814 Capped Bust Half Dollar

Values in Year

1950…..Good:$0.75…..MS60:$6.50…..MS63:$NA

1975…..Good:$20.00…..MS60:$425…..MS63:$NA

2000…..Good:$35.00…..MS60:$1000…..MS63:$3250

2003…..Good:$45.00…..MS60:$1100…..MS63:$3250

2006…..Good:$65.00…..MS60:$2000…..MS63:$4000

1814, 4 over 3 Capped Bust Half Dollar

Values in Year

1950…..Good:$2.00…..MS60:$15.00…..MS63:$NA

1975…..Good:$22.50…..MS60:$425…..MS63:$NA

2000…..Good:$50.00…..MS60:$2000…..MS63:$5250

2003…..Good:$50.00…..MS60:$2000…..MS63:$5250

2006…..Good:$100…..MS60:$2750…..MS63:$6000

1815, 5 over 2 Capped Bust Half Dollar

Values in Year

1950…..Good:$9.00…..MS60:$65.00…..MS63:NA

1975…..Good:$125…..MS60:$2250…..MS63:NA

2000…..Good:$600…..MS60:$10000…..MS63:$25000

2003…..Good:$750…..MS60:$10000…..MS63:$25000

2006…..Good:$1250…..MS60:$15000…..MS63:$35000

++ Silver Dollar. None issued. ++

Silver dollar coinage was discontinued in 1804, and did not resume until 1836. The silver dollar circulated in the United States alongside the Spanish pillar dollar (also called the Pieces of Eight) for a short while, until it was observed by entrepreneurs that the U.S. dollar could be exchanged at par with the pillar dollar in the West Indies. This was a profitable scenario, for the U.S. dollar weighed less and contained a lower percentage of silver compared to the pillar dollar. Traders deposited their pillar dollars at the Philadelphia Mint, where they were re-coined for them into a larger number of U.S. silver dollars. The new silver dollars were exported overseas, where the cycle repeated itself. Taking note of this abuse, the U.S. suspended the silver dollar in 1804.

++ Quarter Eagle. None Issued. ++

The 1792 Mint Act set the silver/gold ratio in the United States at 15:1, much in line with the European markets. In 1803, France adjusted the silver-to-gold ratio to 15.5:1, making it profitable to export American gold coins to France for melting. Because so many gold coins left the country as soon as they exited the Mint, U.S. gold coinage was greatly curtailed throughout the earliest decades of the 19th century. Quarter eagle production ceased after the one year issuance of the Capped Draped Bust type in 1808. U.S. gold coin exportation intensified during the War of 1812, when the silver/gold ratio in Europe was elevated to more than 16:1. Quarter eagle production resumed on a small scale in 1821, by which time the uncertainty of war and economic turmoil had subsided.

++ Half Eagle. Draped Bust, 1812. Capped Head, 1813-1815. ++

The half eagle was the only U.S. gold coin struck during the War of 1812. Some demand existed from banks seeking half eagles to hold in reserve and to make international payments. About 170,000 “fives” were coined during those years, a considerable sum indeed by comparison to its contemporary coinage. Of that total, only a tiny fraction, perhaps 1% or so, survives to this day because of heavy melting losses influenced by the same European bi-metallic ratios that spelled doom for so many U.S. gold coins.

Representing the half eagles in our War of 1812 coinage study are a relatively common date, the 1812 Draped Bust, and an exceedingly rare specimen, the 1815 Capped Head.

1812 Draped Bust Half Eagle

Values in Year

1950…..Fine:$27.50…..MS60:$50.00…..MS63:$NA

1975…..Fine:$625…..MS60:$2250…..MS63:$NA

2000…..Fine:$1300…..MS60:$5250…..MS63:$12500

2003…..Fine:$2000…..MS60:$7500…..MS63:$17500

2006…..Fine:$3000…..MS60:$15000…..MS63:$25000

1815 Capped Head Half Eagle

Values in Year

1950…..Fine:$NA…..XF:$NA…..MS60:$NA

1975…..Fine:$NA…..XF:$NA…..MS60:$NA

2000…..Fine:$NA…..XF:$45000…..MS60:$160000

2003…..Fine:$NA…..XF:$75000…..MS60:$160000

2006…..Fine:$50000…..XF:$100000…..MS60:$160000

++ Eagle. None Issued. ++

The ten dollar gold eagle was the largest United States coin denomination mandated by the 1792 Mint Act. More than 130,000 eagles were struck from 1795 to 1804, but most of them eventually perished in the melting pot. None were produced again until 1838. It is a safe assumption that even had gold eagles existed in abundant quantities, few combatants in the War of 1812 would have carried any of the coins, for ten dollars represented a princely sum in early 19th century America and was not typical pocket change for a battlefield soldier or midshipman. When gold eagle production restarted in 1838, it was characterized by a lighter coin of less gold purity, a move designed to frustrate bullion profiteers.

As wartime costs mounted, much of what little coinage there was nearly disappeared from view as specie (i.e. silver and gold coins) became tightly held. Banks suspended specie payments in 1814, because the supply of bank notes being issued to finance the war increased faster than the volume of specie reserves. Confidence in banks and the economy were shaken badly, but the situation improved when Congress chartered the Second Bank of the United States in 1816. The Second Bank helped stabilize the nation’s financial system, and by early 1817, banks resumed specie redemption of their paper notes.

** (3) The Americans Fight the British Again

The United States was not ready to take on the British Empire in 1812. As mentioned already, the country was badly divided. What’s worse, army and state militias numbered only about 7000 men at the outset of the war, most of them poorly equipped and trained. The navy’s dozen ships seemed no match to the 800 warships of the British Royal Navy. In retrospect, the U.S. faced dim prospects of fighting a successful war.

– The Canadian Front: The first major fighting of the War of 1812 was the American attempt to invade British Canada in the summer of 1812. The incursion was not only repelled, but the U.S. actually ceded ground, loosing Detroit to a combined force of Redcoats and Native American warriors. The following year, the Americans reclaimed the lost territory when Captain Oliver H. Perry surprised the British on Lake Erie. “We have met the enemy and they are ours”, wrote Perry, remembered to this very day as one of the proudest moments in all of U.S. naval tradition. The loss forced the British to abandon Detroit, and the Americans pursued them into Canada. At the Thames River, the U.S. defeated the British and their Indian allies. In the battle, Tecumseh was killed, and with his death, his confederation of Native American tribes disintegrated. Throughout the remainder of the war, the Canadian front was fought to a stalemate.

– The British Burn Washington: By the summer of 1814, British landing parties were ravaging towns along the Atlantic coastline. In August, 4000 Redcoats marched on Washington D.C., setting fire to the U.S. Capitol building, the White House, and other government facilities. In a serious blow to national pride, President Madison was compelled to flee the city. With little time to evacuate, the President’s wife, Dolley, secured the Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington, lest it fall into enemy hands. As the flames intensified, a rainstorm struck the city and dowsed the inferno, preserving most of the buildings from total ruin.

– The Defense of Baltimore and the Star Spangled Banner: After sacking Washington, the British next targeted Baltimore. No conquest of the city was possible without first vanquishing Fort McHenry, which guarded the entrance to Baltimore’s harbor. The troops manning the fortress unfurled a giant 30’ x 42’ American flag, visible for miles. On the morning of September 13, 1814, British warships unleashed a ferocious bombardment of Fort McHenry. The shelling continued all day and into night. It so happened that an American lawyer named Francis Scott Key observed the battle from afar. As the evening wore on, the red glare of rockets lit the darkness, proving the U.S. flag was still flying. A few hours after midnight, the bombing stopped, followed by silence. At the first glimmer of dawn’s early light, Key was thrilled to see the great star spangled banner blowing in the breeze… the British had given up and were heading back to sea. Inspired by this dramatic outcome, Key scribbled some poetry on the back of an envelope, words that would someday become the U.S. national anthem.

– The Battle of New Orleans: The British high command decided the capture of New Orleans would help tilt the outcome of the war in its favor. With this in mind, a force of 10,000 troops was dispatched from Jamaica. American general Andrew Jackson hastily assembled an odd assortment of 5400 men, composed of woodsmen, pirates, sailors, “free men of color”, and a few regulars. Jackson set up a defensive position outside New Orleans, shielding his army behind a water trench and stacked cotton bales. On January 8, 1815, General Edward Pakenham led the British charge against the American stronghold. Waiting patiently, Jackson’s men held their fire until the last possible second, mowing down the first line of Redcoats. Wave after wave met the same bloody fate. By the time the British retreated, Pakenham was dead, and about 2000 of his men were killed or wounded. American casualties were minimal. The Battle of New Orleans was the largest engagement of the War of 1812, and was won decisively by the United States.

Peace talks between the warring nations began in August 1814 at Ghent in Belgium. Negotiations were fought to a draw, somewhat mimicking combat results. Language in the treaty primarily called for a cease of hostilities. The Treaty of Ghent was signed on December 24, 1814, but did not reach the United States in time to prevent the Battle of New Orleans.

** (4) The United States Emerges a Stronger Nation

According to the US Department of Veteran Affairs, a total 286,730 Americans served in the War of 1812, of which 2260 were killed in action, and 4505 wounded. Despite the losses, the U.S. emerged from the War of 1812 a stronger nation, in a number of ways:

– Stimulated Growth of U.S. Domestic Industry: The pre-war embargoes and British naval blockades forced American manufacturers to begin making goods of the type formally imported from Europe. Factories thrived, and interstate commerce became a large business.

– Disputes Settled Peaceably: The Treaty of Ghent did not directly resolve any disputes between the United States and Britain, but did provide the framework for negotiated settlements later. Within a few short years, important agreements were reached on maritime rights, international trade, and Canadian border policies.

– Unified the Country: Banding together to hold off a major world military power, the American people emerged from the War of 1812 with a much stronger sense of unity. The war’s outcome also sealed the doom of the anti-war Federalist Party, leaving the Democratic-Republicans (the forerunner of today’s Democrats) as the only influential political party in America. So unified was the country, the period 1817-1825 came to be called the “Era of Good Feelings”.

The time following the War of 1812 was like no other in the history of the United States. Finally done with European entanglements, Americans vigorously accepted the challenges of opening new frontiers to the west. Patriotism abounded, leaving political strife mostly behind. Technological innovations and factories brought jobs to many in the northeast, and cotton gave rise to southern prosperity. For a short while, the American people were unified in a sense of national purpose, but as different sections of the country took on competing social visions, the bonds holding the country together weakened with the passage of time. Disagreements led to rancorous debate, which tragically, spawned a civil war of devastating proportions in the 1860’s.

** (5) Coins from the War of 1812 and Today’s Collectors

The coins included in the value trend analysis presented in Section 3 are a good representation of coinage produced during the War of 1812 era. All of them have advanced some in recent years, a few spectacularly so, as the coin market in general has been hot. Over the long haul, no one should expect to see this torrid pace continue. When long range performance is combined with what has happened in the last few years, we get a better understanding of true esteem held by today’s collectors for these coins. Here is how we rank the coins in our War of 1812 survey, with the coins most likely to enjoy future appreciation listed at top: 1812 half eagle

1814 half dollar

1815 half dollar

1814 half dollar 4 over 3

1813 cent

1812 half dollar 2 over 1

1815 quarter

1815 half eagle

1814 disme

Coin collectors hoping to obtain artifacts from the War of 1812 that also have some upside potential are advised to concentrate their purchases to the coins at the top of the list. As always, a good rule of thumb is to obtain the best properly graded condition affordable.

Whether your desire is to hold your War of 1812 coins as if they were commodities and hold until profit objectives are met, or if you intend to pass the coins on to your heirs, always remember the connection your coins have to a unique time in American history. The War of 1812 was a very perilous event for the United States; had it not been for a propitious rainstorm hitting Washington DC on August 24, 1814, or for a handful of stubborn patriots defending Fort McHenry a few days later, who knows, America may well have been reclaimed as a British colony. Had history taken another path, one just as easily traveled, the War of 1812 coins might have been the final coins ever minted by a short-lived, long ago forgotten nation called the United States of America.

If you’re looking for simple face painting designs, you’re not alone. Trying to find simple face painting designs is a problem every face painters face whether you’re just beginning or a seasoned pro.

All you want are great designs that are quick and simple to paint right? As a face painter myself I’m constantly looking for new designs and ideas. And I like to see what other face painters are doing to gather inspiration. But I must say that there are heaps of places to find great face painting designs and you don’t have to go far to find them no matter where you are in the world! If you have young children have a look at their coloring-in books, picture books and comic books. They’re full of simple face painting designs and there’s a pretty good chance that your children will like them if they come from their favorite book!

If you don’t have your own coloring-in and picture books then check out your local library, they’re sure to have plenty of children’s picture books. If you have children or nieces and nephews and they’re into drawing and coloring in, you might like to take something that they’ve drawn and paint that on their faces! Your kids will love the fact that you liked their pictures so much you wanted to try it for yourself and they’ll feel much more involved in your hobby. But if you want an even easier way to find simple face painting designs, (pretty popular ones at that!) There is a way! And if you want someone to do all the hard work for you and show you step-by-step photos on how to face paint each layer then the best thing to do is to learn from a professional face painter, if you can’t find somebody close to you, you’re bound to find somebody (like me) online, there is great face painting help on the net if you’re looking for simple face painting designs.

There are several forms of body art. Body art can be temporary, for example, body painting, or permanent, such as shaping, dyeing, and scarification, tattooing, and piercing. This article will provide some insight into body art.

Body art painting and shaping

Body painting transforms a person into a spirit or work of art; this can include another gender or a sacred place. Emphasizing on the visual appeal of the subject, the protective body paint is what gives it the appeal.

Body shaping is a technique in which to sculpt the body. Culturally defined ideals of beauty have caused people to bind the soft bones of children’s skulls and feet, stretched necks with rings, and removed ribs to make their waist smaller. The most common method today of body sculpting is plastic surgery. Plastic surgery can sculpt and define almost any part of the body.

Skin Dyeing

Henna, is used as a temporary skin dye, in which different patterns and designs are applied to the body. The crushed leaves of the henna plant, when mixed with other natural ingredients, provides a thick, aromatic paste used for painting hands and feet. The olive green, dried out henna powder, mixed with such ingredients as black tea and coffee turns dark. When applied to the skin and left on overnight, it will harden and when pealed leaves a red tone to the skin.

Body art piercing, tattooing, and scarification

Piercing is ornamental as it allows the body to hold certain kinds of ornaments, which are inserted through the skin. The most common parts of the body that are pierced is the face although you will often find ear, nose and lip ornaments. Piercing is often part of a ceremony marking the coming of age. Ornaments might be limited to certain people or worn only on certain occasions

Tattoos are intended to be permanent and the patterns and techniques have varied over the years. The effects of tattooing depend on the country you live in. As an example, in the United States, tattooing is typically looked upon as being rebellious. Tattooing, in the last decade, has become a very popular form of body art throughout the world.

Scarification is much like tattooing, instead of placing a color into the skin with a tattoo needle, the color, or substance is placed into the wound or cut. Once the wound has healed, a permanent mark will remain on the skin

All of the forms of body art listed above can have adverse effects on individuals. There are health concerns with types of body art. If you are contemplating any of the above procedures, be sure to consider all the risks and facts before making any commitments.