"Philodemic Society"
lordmarcovan
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"Philodemic Society"
Intaglio seal matrix carved on 1838 Coronet large cent
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Larger reverse image
Obverse: original Coronet Liberty Head design, unaltered except for traces of old mounting at center. Reverse: intaglio carving of a Federal eagle carrying olive branch[?], with lyre and rays above, "+ + + + + Philodemica Societas ~ G [?] I [?] + + + + +" in italic script below. Ex-"numismaniacal", eBay, 11/16/2015.
I found this piece fascinating, and liked the eagle on it. It appears to have been a hand-carved intaglio seal matrix, though I'm not sure whether it was intended to make inked impressions or wax seals for documents. I suspect the latter.
The Philodemic Society is a literary society and debating organization which was founded at Georgetown University in 1830 and is still in existence today. The seal for which the coin was carved must have been fairly early, judging from its style and the fact that the current seal of the society now appears to be different, featuring a caduceus crossed with a liberty cap on a pole. I rather prefer the eagle and lyre seen here.
I had to beat out some solid competition for this piece on eBay, but was happily able to win it for around two-thirds of the "nuclear" snipe I had set.
You must admit it's intriguing, and is quite possibly unique.
Engraved/Counterstamped/Oddball Type Set
Intaglio seal matrix carved on 1838 Coronet large cent
Larger obverse image
Larger reverse image
Obverse: original Coronet Liberty Head design, unaltered except for traces of old mounting at center. Reverse: intaglio carving of a Federal eagle carrying olive branch[?], with lyre and rays above, "+ + + + + Philodemica Societas ~ G [?] I [?] + + + + +" in italic script below. Ex-"numismaniacal", eBay, 11/16/2015.
I found this piece fascinating, and liked the eagle on it. It appears to have been a hand-carved intaglio seal matrix, though I'm not sure whether it was intended to make inked impressions or wax seals for documents. I suspect the latter.
The Philodemic Society is a literary society and debating organization which was founded at Georgetown University in 1830 and is still in existence today. The seal for which the coin was carved must have been fairly early, judging from its style and the fact that the current seal of the society now appears to be different, featuring a caduceus crossed with a liberty cap on a pole. I rather prefer the eagle and lyre seen here.
I had to beat out some solid competition for this piece on eBay, but was happily able to win it for around two-thirds of the "nuclear" snipe I had set.
You must admit it's intriguing, and is quite possibly unique.
Engraved/Counterstamped/Oddball Type Set
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Very impressive... You might try shining a black light on it to see if old traces of wax
show up.... Cheers, RickO
That's an interesting idea. I might have to try that. I'm pretty sure this would've been a wax seal rather than something used for ink impressions. You can sort of tell that by looking at some of the details inside the eagle carving.
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Based on the two holes on the obverse wonder if there was a knob attached at some point to more easily push it into the wax
The letters after "Philodemica Societies" appear to be G C for Georgetown College. Contemporary letters usually show Georgetown to be written with two words (George Town). If you can discover when the switch went from two words to one, you may be able to date it. Also, there is a smaller Christian college of the same name in Georgetown, Ky. The dates line up, but it doesn't seem to have a debating society.
Thanks.
Based on the two holes on the obverse wonder if there was a knob attached at some point to more easily push it into the wax
Yes, I think that was almost certainly the case.
I think the obverse pit adds character.
I told him he has first rights of refusal on this piece if and when I do decide to sell or swap it, but it's just a bit of a favorite in this present collection of engraved pieces, is all.
As of this posting, this remains the only coin in my quirky little "Oddball" engraved type set that I paid more than a hundred bucks for (and that only barely.)
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Lord Minivan
Its only the Old School ones who call me that.
K
This, arguably the "cherry" of my humble little Oddball engraved set (if only by virtue of being the sole piece I paid north of $100- for- barely-)... just got cherrypicked.
By none other than the individual who had the effrontery to call me "Lord Minivan". Hmph.
Oh, well. I made him pay. Haha.
In the end, I dunno who squeezed whom harder, or did the best cajoling, but the bottom line looked good to me so I just " flipped" it.
So now I will go shopping for another treasure.
Geez, I've gotta stop letting people cherrypick my collection, even if I do turn a buck or three.
Makes it an uphill struggle.