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1861. "I Am Ready"/ All-Seeing Eye token by John D. Lovett

DCWDCW Posts: 7,610 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum

Here is one I am thankful to once again have back in my collection:
1861. "I Am Ready"/ All-Seeing Eye token in copper, F-147/228a. PCGS MS65RB

Struck at the dawn of the American Civil War by John D. Lovett, this half dollar sized token features a pilgrim clad in patriotic attire, steeling for battle. The words "I AM READY." surround him, reflecting the attitude of many who saw the conflict as inevitable. I cannot think of a more iconic piece from the period.
The reverse is the "All-seeing Eye," a much rarer version than the more commonly seen circle of stars struck in silvered brass.
I bought this from Dave Bowers who had it in his collection for 20 years. Foolishly, I sold it to fund another purchase at last year's ANA, and seller's remorse set in before I even left the bourse. I thank my friend @Boosibri for giving me first shot when it became available.
It is now a part of my permanent collection...again.
Thanks for looking!

Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
"Coin collecting for outcasts..."

Comments

  • WildIdeaWildIdea Posts: 1,877 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Love it! A very attractive piece. What a blessing to have it back, congrats!

  • thisistheshowthisistheshow Posts: 9,386 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Congratulations on having it back! It's stunning. And poignant.

  • CWT1863CWT1863 Posts: 316 ✭✭✭✭

    Outstanding! Such a great piece. I have always liked that design. Congrats on the re-acquisition!

    ANA-LM, CWTS-LM, NBS, TAMS, ANS

  • skier07skier07 Posts: 4,343 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Wow! That’s a cool looking token.

  • Timbuk3Timbuk3 Posts: 11,658 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Very nice, I like it !!! :)

    Timbuk3
  • ECHOESECHOES Posts: 2,974 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Nice :#

    ~HABE FIDUCIAM IN DOMINO III V VI / III XVI~
    POST NUBILA PHOEBUS / AFTER CLOUDS, SUN
    Love for Music / Collector of Dreck
  • MarkMark Posts: 3,573 ✭✭✭✭✭

    That token is really very nice. However, the phrase "back in my permanent collection again" ... well, there seems to be an internal contradiction in it. :) That said, I can definitely see why that token is back in your permanent collection (again!).

    Mark


  • BoosibriBoosibri Posts: 12,395 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Glad it made its way back to you!!

    Latin American Collection

  • HemisphericalHemispherical Posts: 9,370 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Home Sweet Home

  • rickoricko Posts: 98,724 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Really nice token and I can see why you wanted it back. Glad to see you have it again... A big reason why I do not sell coins... I really like the one's I have collected. ;) Cheers, RickO

  • BroadstruckBroadstruck Posts: 30,497 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 9, 2019 7:28AM

    Okay I'll take it as @DCW you've re-owned it long enough time to re-sell it again! ;):D

    To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
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  • BroadstruckBroadstruck Posts: 30,497 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Realone said:

    @Broadstruck said:
    Okay I'll take it as @DCW you've re-owned it long enough time to re-sell it again! ;):D

    You beat me to it, his definition of permanent is ....until he sells it again....lol.

    Reselling it a second time is the only way to determine if the original sellers remorse was legit? :p

    To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
  • topstuftopstuf Posts: 14,803 ✭✭✭✭✭

    I bet those who carried those never anticipated the battle of Antietam and the 23,000 killed in 12 hours! :o

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  • DCWDCW Posts: 7,610 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @Broadstruck said:
    Okay I'll take it as @DCW you've re-owned it long enough time to re-sell it again! ;):D

    Technically, I only rented it.

    Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
    "Coin collecting for outcasts..."

  • BroadstruckBroadstruck Posts: 30,497 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @DCW said:

    @Broadstruck said:
    Okay I'll take it as @DCW you've re-owned it long enough time to re-sell it again! ;):D

    Technically, I only rented it.

    So I'd just like to sublease with option to buy ;)

    To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
  • UnknownUnknown
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  • kazkaz Posts: 9,265 ✭✭✭✭✭

    That's really a spectacular token. Great design on both sides... how unusual is that?

  • DCWDCW Posts: 7,610 ✭✭✭✭✭

    @topstuf said:
    I bet those who carried those never anticipated the battle of Antietam and the 23,000 killed in 12 hours! :o

    Not to split hairs, but I must correct you here. There were about 3600 dead from both sides at Antietam, which is certainly a catastrophic loss of life in a single day. To put that in perspective, this is a only a few hundred less than the entire American servicemen lost in the Iraq War. Your number probably more closely reflects the total number of casualties that day including wounded and MIA.

    The slogan "I Am Ready" was indeed a bit naive. Early on, most expected the Rebellion to be put down in short order. Families would come out to "watch" the battles like sporting events. Parades would see the regiments off to war, showering the soldiers with the accolades of heroism before they even were engaged in battle.

    No soldier I served with was ever truly "ready" when coming under fire for the first time. More like disbelief that someone is actively trying to kill you

    Dead Cat Waltz Exonumia
    "Coin collecting for outcasts..."

  • ZoinsZoins Posts: 34,401 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 28, 2019 10:45PM

    I just ran across a brass version that was sold by Steve Hayden in December 10, 2017.

    It's great that Steve has PDF auction listings for reference.

    https://www.civilwartokens.com/auction45x.pdf

    Private Mint News | 2010 Lincoln Reverse Finalists
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,773 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited April 29, 2019 4:47AM

    Here is my piece with "the wrong reverse."


    The eyeball on the reverse of the OP variety was the symbol for the Wide-Awakes, a Civil War era political group who supported Abraham Lincoln in the 1860 presidential election. They held massive torch light parades in support of Lincoln and the Union cause. One of their trademarks was to march in zig-zag pattern like a Lincoln fence rail. Here is one of their 1860 campaign pieces. It is about the size of a dime.


    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,773 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Not to split hairs, but I must correct you here. There were about 3600 dead from both sides at Antietam, which is certainly a catastrophic loss of life in a single day.

    When I lived in Massachusetts, I used to take a walk in an old cometary that just outside of the town where I lived. One of the stones was for a man named Randal Holbrook who was wounded at Antietam and died the next day. That was all explained on his tombstone.

    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?

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