Abstract:
A book that is capable of displaying one or more coins related to its theme, including a front cover and a back cover. At least one book cover defines one or more apertures that are capable of receiving coins. The book theme is displayed on at least one of the book covers. The book may optionally include one or more caps that may be inserted into and removed from the coin-receivable apertures. These caps will preferably display images that are related to the theme of the book. The invention provides a coin specific display that stores and displays one or more coins in an appealing manner, and that also conveys or provides additional information about the theme displayed on the coin.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/606,426, filed Jun. 28, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to displays for collecting coins. More specifically, the present invention is directed to books that are capable of displaying coins that are related to their themes. 
   Collecting and displaying coins is a very popular hobby. Government mints all over the world produce coins for circulation in their general populations. These coins often display images that portray political or historic figures or historic or other events that are somehow related to the issuing country. In the United States, for example, penny, nickel, dime, quarter, half-dollar and whole dollar coins that display presidents, political and other historic figures are readily available. 
   Most recently, the United States Mint has begun issuing representative quarters for each of the 50 United States. A state specific design is displayed on one side of each such quarter. For example, the quarter that represents Delaware depicts the historic horseback ride of Caesar Rodney, the Delaware delegate to the Continental Congress who cast the deciding vote in favor of independence from Great Britain. The quarter that represents Pennsylvania depicts the statue “Commonwealth” which sits atop dome of the state building, while the quarter that represents Massachusetts features a Minuteman of the American Revolution. A familiar image of former President George Washington is displayed on the second side of each coin. 
   The U. S. Mint is also producing a new gold color dollar coin that depicts Sacagawea, the Shoshone Indian woman who assisted the Lewis and Clark expedition. The U.S. Mint has issued numerous other similar coins. Examples include a bicentennial quarter, issued just prior to 1976, half-dollar that features John F. Kennedy and a previous dollar coin that featured Susan B. Anthony. 
   The United States is not the only country that issues such coins. For example, the Royal Canadian Mint is currently issuing coins with a new design each month. Themes of coins that have been issued are “The Airplane Opens the North,” “Ingenuity,” “Achievement,” and “Health.” The Royal Canadian Mint also issues coins that represent the various years of the Chinese lunar calendar, and had a program similar to that currently underway in the United States, where it issued representative coins for each of its provinces. Other countries issue coins that display political, historic and other figures and events as well. 
   Coins that are not used as currency are also available and are popular items for collectors. For example, tokens of all types are distributed by numerous sources. Transportation tokens may be used to gain access to public transportation services, or to cross bridges or pass through tunnels. Tokens and medallions are distributed by companies for the purpose of advertising their products. Such tokens and medallions are also available to memorialize or commemorate wars, holidays, political, social, athletic and numerous other events. 
   Collectors take great pride in collecting and displaying coins such as those described above. Available coin holders and displays typically include rigid sheets with coin-sized holes that are arranged in an organized pattern. The holes are sized such that the coin to be displayed can be pressed inside in a tight fit. Some coin holders are configured as folding books, with the coin-sized holes arranged on the inside of one or more of the folding surfaces. Others are simply configured as flat surfaces without covers. Coin holes are often arranged in a row and column or similar format. 
   While such coin holders are perfectly adequate for storing and displaying coins, theme-related displays are more appealing. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,366 to Krull, et al., issued Nov. 23, 1999 discloses a map of the United States with coin-sized holes inside the borders of or next to each state. Collectors enjoy displaying coins that represent states in a map such as this. 
   While a map such as that described above may be useful for displaying coins that represent states or other geographic regions, it will typically not be used to display the coins from a single state or to display coins that do not relate to a geographic theme. Further, and more significantly, such a display generally does not allow for anything more than the display of coins in a manner that corresponds to their geographic location. While a limited amount of information may be provided ancillary to the display, for example, in the borders of the map, there is typically no way to provide a large amount information about the location, event or character that is displayed on the coins. There is also no way for the collector to record his or her own thoughts, observations or other information about the coins displayed. Thus, coin collectors will probably not want to use a map-type display to display coins that portray characters, historic or commemorative events or other non-geographically related themes, or to display coins when they would also like to convey or incorporate information that relates to the theme of the coin. 
   It is therefore desirable to provide a coin display that relates to a non-geographically related theme in an entertaining manner. 
   It is also desirable to provide a coin display that stores and displays a coin in an apparatus that is also capable of providing additional information about the theme displayed on the coin. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a book that is capable of displaying one or more coins related to its theme, which includes a front cover and a back cover, wherein at least one of these book covers defines one or more coin receivable apertures, and wherein the book theme is displayed on at least one of the book covers. 
   In accordance another aspect of the present invention, such book themes may relate to geographic regions, such as cities, counties, states, countries, provinces, continents and other definable geographic regions. Other themes may include fictional and non-fictional characters, as well as commemorative, athletic and historic events. 
   In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, the book may include one or more caps that may be inserted into and removed from the coin receivable apertures. These caps will preferably display images that are related to the theme of the book. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a three-dimensional view of a coin displaying book according to an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a detailed example of a cap placed above an aperture into which it may be inserted according to an aspect of the invention; 
       FIG. 3  includes several examples of caps that may be provided with a coin-displaying book according to an aspect of the invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a three-dimensional view of a book with sheets that may be present in a coin-displaying book to provide additional information according to an aspect of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Turning now to the drawings where examples are provided for the purpose of illustration and not by way of limitation,  FIG. 1  includes a three-dimensional view of one embodiment of a book  10  that is capable of displaying one or more coins related to its theme. As shown, book  10  includes a front cover  12  and a back cover  14 . In the view of  FIG. 1 , front cover  12  includes two coin receivable apertures  18 . These apertures  18  will preferably be sized such that a coin may be pressed inside in a tight fit. Apertures  18  will also preferably have a shield or some other support (either clear or opaque) on one side to prevent coins that are placed inside from falling through and, if opaque, to provide a surface for display of a theme-related image. Front  12  and back  14  covers will preferably, but not necessarily, be made from card stock or some other rigid material. While book  10  is shown here with apertures  18  located in front cover  12 , those skilled in the art will appreciate that they could also be located in rear cover  14  or in both covers. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that while book  10  is illustrated with two apertures  18  in first cover  12 , one aperture or three or more apertures could be provided instead. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that apertures  18  may have different diameters, and that they could therefore be used to hold coins that are different sizes. 
   Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the theme  16  of book  10  is preferably displayed on front cover  12 . Again, theme  16  could be displayed on back cover  14  or on both covers. For that matter, theme  16  does not have to be displayed on either cover if such an identification is not desired. Georgia, one of the fifty United States, is the theme  16  of book  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . However, book  10  could relate to any theme, and the invention is not limited to states or to any particular state. Other embodiments of the invention include themes  16  that relate to other geographical regions such as provinces (e.g. Ontario, Quebec or other Canadian provinces), countries (e.g. the United States and Canada), continents (e.g. Africa or Asia), and other definable geographic regions (e.g. the European Economic Community, the West Indies, West Africa and other groups of countries). When displayed, theme  16  may be in pictorial, textual or any other practical format. 
   Turning now to  FIG. 2 , an image  22  that is related to theme  16  will preferably be displayed in aperture(s)  18 . For example, when theme  16  relates to a state, image  22  may depict a state bird, state flag, state flower, state capitol or some other image that is associated with that state. As is also shown in  FIG. 2 , a cap  20  may optionally be provided with book  10 . Cap  20  will preferably be removable from and insertable into apertures  18 . In fact, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the diameter of cap  20  will have substantially the same size as a coin, which will allow it to form a tight fit inside apertures  18 . When an image  22  is present in aperture  18 , it will preferably be clearly displayed when cap  20  is removed. 
   Still referring to  FIG. 2 , cap  20  may also display an image  24  that is related to theme  16 . Image  24  may be the same as or different from image  22  in a corresponding aperture  18 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , when theme  16  relates to a state, image  24  may depict a state bird  20 A, flag  20 B, capitol  20 D, flower  20 E or some other state related item. In one embodiment of the invention, cap  20  displays a replica  20 C of a government-minted coin, such as those described earlier, that is associated with the state described in book  10 . In another embodiment of the invention, cap  20  displays a replica of a government-minted coin associated with a Canadian province described in book  10 . As indicated earlier, replicas of coins (regardless of whether they are minted by a government entity) that are associated with continents, countries, counties, cities, regions of countries (i.e. the Midwest, the East Coast) and other definable geographic regions can also be included. 
   As indicated earlier, themes  16  are not limited to geographic locations. In one embodiment of the invention, theme  16  of book  10  relates to a fictional or non-fictional character. Thus, book  10  may include information about a political or historic figure, a popular movie star, an athlete or some other celebrity. Book  10  may also include a story or other information about a fictional character. Other examples of themes  16  include commemorative and historic events. Each of these embodiments may include caps  20  with images  24  that are associated with the relevant theme  16 , as well as images  22  in apertures  18  that are associated with theme  16 . 
   Themes that relate to non-fictional characters may include persons that are portrayed on government-minted coins. For example, a book  10  about United States presidents may include aperture(s)  18  sized to hold a John F. Kennedy half-dollar, a George Washington quarter, a Franklin Roosevelt dime, a Thomas Jefferson nickel and/or an Abraham Lincoln penny. In this embodiment of the invention, aperture(s)  18  would obviously have different sizes. If aperture(s) for all five coins are provided, five caps  20  would preferably also be included, with each cap displaying an image  24  that shows a replica of one of the above mentioned coins or another image  24  related to the respective President. Images  22  that show replicas of one or more of the above mentioned coins or something else related to the respective President would also preferably be displayed in aperture(s)  18 . 
   Still another way to practice the invention is with a book  10  with a generalized theme such as, e.g. “The Olympics.” In this embodiment, coins that commemorate any or all of the various Olympiads can be stored and displayed in aperture(s)  18 . Images  22  or caps  20  that include replicas of these coins, or other images  24  that relate to the relevant Olympiads, may also be provided. Similarly, books  10  with generalized themes that relate, e.g. to “The World Series” or to any of the numerous other professional, college or other amateur sports championships or other events may be used to display caps  20  or coins that relate to those themes. Books  10  about animals, cars, monuments, movies, Broadway shows or other plays and various other events could also be provided to display collected related coins or to display caps  20  that relate to those themes  16 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , aperture(s)  18  may be provided on the exterior of book  10  (as illustrated in  FIG. 1 ) or on the interior cover  32  of either front cover  12  or back cover  14 . Information other than that which identifies the theme may also be provided on these covers. Thus, a paragraph that contains information about the theme or a picture related to the theme may be provided on either side of either cover. 
   In the preferred embodiment of the invention, book  10  will include one or more sheets  36  of paper. One or more of sheets  36  may be blank, or all sheets  36  may contain text and/or pictures that describe or otherwise relate to theme  16 . The coin collector may, for example, use blank sheets  36  to provide information about his or her personal experiences with the item or person related to theme  16 . Thus, blank sheets  36  in a book  10  with a geographically related theme may be used to record information about one&#39;s own observations, thoughts or experiences while visiting or studying the location. Another example of a use of the invention is to use blank sheets  36  in a book  10  that relates to living persons to obtain autographs or to record information or notes about the person, while sheets in a book that relates to an historic figure may be used to write a report about that figure. Sheets  36  may also include preprinted information that relates to theme  16 . In either case, one or more pages may also include aperture(s)  38  that are aligned with aperture(s)  18  in cover  12  and/or cover  14  to allow for continuous viewing of the coin(s) or cap(s) while the book is being read. 
   While the preferred embodiment of the invention includes the collection, storage and display of coins, those skilled in the art will recognize that it can be used to collect, store and display caps  20 , as well as medallions, medals or any other objects that may be collected, stored and displayed in the manner described. 
   It is, therefore, apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the present invention, a book that is capable of displaying coins that are related to its theme that fully satisfies the aims and advantages hereinbefore set forth. While this invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.