UPDATE.......Ron Landis,Gallery Mint Museum and the "One Concept" dollars. Grades & TV

coinsarefun

Just a quick update. I contacted PCGS serve rep with link to hear and all necessary paperwork.
Also, Ron said he would be happy to talk to them!

Daniel Carr also competed but this is about Ron and his accomplishments as an engraver.
I have the utmost respect for Ron and his design are exquisite. I've been talking to him for quite some time now
and was lucky enough to purchase the history of the One Concept Dollars.
Below is a letter from him explaining what is in the image below. I have taken pictures of each one
and posted them below. I especially love the "brick" of alloy used.
You can see the very first and second test strike done on the press.
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I would like to add that since they are older now and aging they are taking on a very pretty golden color.
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Now, I have the pleasure of showing you.......
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I thought to post the coins and the description he wrote on each one.
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keets

these are indeed, I have perhaps 6-7 of the different Types that were issued from 1995-2000, still missing a 1998 and the the 2000 "Mad Liberty" design.

Insider2

There is a dealer from the south (TN? - I can visualize him but his name slips me at the moment) who had these for sale at the FUN Show. I bought two the year before. If I remember, the price was around $30. IMO, that is to cheap. I remember the days when CSA cancelled die cents were less than $5! IMO, these Concepts will eventually cost over $100.

cardinal

In my opinion, Ron Landis did a great jobs with these! Very artistic!

I have a few of these I need to submit, but here are the ones PCGS has already graded for me:

I understand the reason SBA was used instead, but I think the Landis Concepts are much more pleasing!

coinsarefun

@cardnial, I agree with you. I know why the sba too, but this would have been a much better design and probably
collected by many more people, including me.
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I sent a letter off to PCGS asking if they can holder these.....I’m keeping my fingers crossed

Insider2

@coinsarefun said: "I sent a letter off to PCGS asking if they can holder these.....I’m keeping my fingers crossed."

@cardinal said: "...but here are the ones **PCGS has already graded for me..."

Hope this helps.

cardinal

Stefanie,

The 1998 concepts are labeled by PCGS as X-582a Brass Gallery Mint Mus. Concept, PCGS #600248

The 2000 concepts are labeled by PCGS as X-582 Brass Gallery Mint Mus. Concept, PCGS #600247

So far, the 1998 concept pictured above is the ONLY one graded by PCGS so far. The 2000 concept has a PCGS population of 7 at this time (1 in 66, 5 in 68, and 1 in 69).

If you are looking for PCGS to also include additional notations - such as die adjustment strikes, blank planchets, and or specific alloys, I suspect they would add the additional notations as well (but perhaps requiring an additional fee).

coinsarefun

Yes, I wanted the notation on the slabs and that they are from his personal collection.
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Just like the Brasher doubloon he made. For his personal use he stamped it RL on the wing
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keets

JBK

I have one of these sonewhere. Maybe one if the SOL versions.

NumisOxide

Very cool pieces! I have 2 of the 1995 Liberty head concept dollars. One in coin alignment and the other in medal alignment.

Stella

I had never seen these before. Thank you for sharing, Stefanie!

Kudbegud

A great get Stephanie. Real nice concept coins. I like the liberty heads a little better than the Statue Of Liberty but I will be on the look out for these now. Thanks for introducing these to me.

edit to add:
As luck will have it I found one and of course bought it.

jmski52

Great thread. That Brasher piece is a killer! Wish I could find one.

cardinal

@keets said:

@keets that 1995 "In God We Trust" piece is awesome! It really puts my 1995 "Liberty" piece to shame!

messydesk

Uniface die trial of 3/4 facing Libertry in sealing wax on (losing) Missouri lottery scratch-off ticket.

keets

ah yes, the "Mad Liberty" design I am chasing and have never seen offered for sale, sweet!!

MWallace

What a great set Stephanie @coinsarefun . Congratulations on acquiring them. I'm jealous.

I was asked by @keets to post a list of The Gallery Mints "One Concept" Dollars. Below is that list along with mintages in parenthesis and whether they are on "normal" or piedfort (thick) planchets.

Please also note that other pieces were struck in other metals such as copper or silver, as well as overstruck on other pieces such as SBA Dollars or other Gallery Mint pieces. They are not listed in this list and are considered very rare.

A more detailed description of these pieces can be found at smalldollars.com/dollar/page17.html .

1995 "Liberty" on the Obverse. Lettered edge. (1,371) Medal die alignment.
1995 "Liberty" on the Obverse. Lettered edge. (mintage included above) Coin die alignment.
1995 "IN GOD WE TRUST" on the obverse. Starred edge. (< 20)

1998 Lady Liberty on obverse. (110) Normal planchet.
1998 Lady Liberty on obverse. (3) Piedfort planchet.

2000 Statue Of Liberty obverse. "Media" issue. 11 sun rays on obv. (Est. 55-70) Normal planchet.
2000 Statue Of Liberty obverse. "Media" issue. 11 sun rays on obv. (possibly unique) Piedfort planchet.
2000 Statue Of Liberty obverse. "Congressional" issue. 13 sun rays on obv. (100) Normal planchet.

2000 Lady Liberty on obverse. (2,500) Piedfort planchet.
2000 Statue of Liberty obverse. (2,500) Piedfort planchet.

2000 Statue of Liberty Modern Portrait, aka "Mad Liberty". (47) Normal planchet.
2000 Statue of Liberty Modern Portrait, aka "Mad Liberty". (Mintage unknown, but very few - rare) Piedfort planchet.

keets

about 15 years ago I stumbled onto a sale listing for Gallery Mint "One Concept" Dollars, I think the seller was a Dr. Lee. I saved the link but never inquired. fast forward a few years ago and when I contacted him nothing remained. I believe he was an acquaintance of Joe Rust?? or Ron Landis and he had what was left when the Mint closed.

Gluggo

Since your on this topic of Ron Landis and the Gallery Mint here is another link to some past discussions here.

https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1010614/gallery-mint-museum-by-ron-landis-and-joe-rust

Zoins

@Gluggo said:
Since your on this topic of Ron Landis and the Gallery Mint here is another link to some past discussions here.

https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1010614/gallery-mint-museum-by-ron-landis-and-joe-rust

Some great pieces on that link. Ron and Joe put out some great works of art.

I'm a huge fan of these concept dollars and have a number of my collection as well. Need to get the photo set up running.

ricko

@coinsarefun... Thanks for the great post Stef and the letter/pictures... very informative... Cheers, RickO

JBK

@keets said:
about 15 years ago I stumbled onto a sale listing for Gallery Mint "One Concept" Dollars, I think the seller was a Dr. Lee. I saved the link but never inquired. fast forward a few years ago and when I contacted him nothing remained. I believe he was an acquaintance of Joe Rust?? or Ron Landis and he had what was left when the Mint closed.

I got my only concept dollar from Mr. Lee. As I recall, he had the rights to produce certain Gallery Mint products and had some old GM inventory that he liquidated with what was left of his production once the agreement expired.

CaptainBlunt

Keets JBK
I don’t have any of these pieces but
I do remember Dr. Lee telling me
about the Gallery Mint. He was a nice gentleman and we exchanged
a large number of e mails over the
years. I considered him to be an expert on CT coinage, Clark Gruber
& Co. etc. His full name was Dr. Larry Lee. I think he lived in Lincoln Nebraska at the time. He designed the original Ship of Gold
Display for the traveling exhibit
of the SSCA’s treasure

Gluggo

I guess I am a fan now! Picked these up after this post was created. Thank you for posting. These are suppose to be Ron Landis creations.

Paradisefound

A wonderful article Steph ..... thank you for sharing. Those are very One of A kind

coinsarefun

All have been graded and true viewed.Pics look awesome. However I am disappointed that they did not note any certain designations explaining these were the first ones struck by Ron. Even before the public one. They are basically die trials.
Anyways, if someone can give me a few pointers on how and what to ask, would be great. I also left a message for one of the token guys at PCGS, so maybe he can do something for me.
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coinsarefun

I was able to pick up several others from Joe Rust’s daughter that sold some years back.
I have the certificates showing ownership.
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I was lucky to get one in the blue presentation box and some 11 rays, along with Piedfort’s
This will fit in nicely with the die trial strikes above.
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MWallace

Great bit of small dollar history.

keets

perhaps you should have contacted PCGS ahead of time and asked some questions. also, any documentation sent along would have helped including certified/notarized letters, which could have been discussed with PCGS.

CaptHenway

I only have the one "Congress" piece given to me by Ken Bressett. I have no documentation. Will PCGS put "Cpngress" on the label?

coinsarefun

@keets said:
perhaps you should have contacted PCGS ahead of time and asked some questions. also, any documentation sent along would have helped including certified/notarized letters, which could have been discussed with PCGS.

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I gave them all the paperwork that I posted here along with a link.
It might have gotten lost when they first opened the packaging.
But I am talking to someone there the last several days along with some tokens I need
pedigreed to Benjamin Fauver.
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I’m very hopeful pcgs can get it all straightened out and whatever extra fees that
follow I will gladly pay.

messydesk

Thanks for posting these again. Ron is an incredibly talented engraver. I hope PCGS straightens out the descriptions of these.

coinsarefun

I found a 1995 One Concept to add to my collection. A question for @MWallace . Are all of these
thick planchet.
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MWallace

@coinsarefun said:
I found a 1995 One Concept to add to my collection. A question for @MWallace . Are all of these
thick planchet.
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I only have knowledge of one size planchet being used for the 1995 Con$ept. However they do come in Coin Die Alignment and Medal Die Alignment.

coinsarefun

@MWallace said:

@coinsarefun said:
I found a 1995 One Concept to add to my collection. A question for @MWallace . Are all of these
thick planchet.
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I only have knowledge of one size planchet being used for the 1995 Con$ept. However they do come in Coin Die Alignment and Medal Die Alignment.

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Thanks, so that would be the thick planchet then or piedfort, right?

MWallace

Going by memory, thicker than the regular planchets but I'm not sure if they're as thick as the piedforts. I can check mine in the next couple of days if you'd like.
@coinsarefun

coinsarefun

@MWallace said:
Going by memory, thicker than the regular planchets but I'm not sure if they're as thick as the piedforts. I can check mine in the next couple of days if you'd like.
@coinsarefun
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Yes, please, thanks so much

MWallace

@coinsarefun said:

@MWallace said:
Going by memory, thicker than the regular planchets but I'm not sure if they're as thick as the piedforts. I can check mine in the next couple of days if you'd like.
@coinsarefun
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Yes, please, thanks so much

Will do.

MWallace

@coinsarefun said:
I found a 1995 One Concept to add to my collection. A question for @MWallace . Are all of these
thick planchet.
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I apologize taking so long to get back to you. I compared the pieces I have. The piedfort is ever so slightly thicker than the 1995 pieces. The 1995 pieces have a larger diameter than the piedforts.

I hadn't looked at my Con$ept collection in quite a while. I found things I didn't remember I had. For example, I have a 1995 Con$ept blank planchet w/ plain edge, as well as a 1995 Con$ept blank planchet with a lettered edge. There's some other cool stuff too.

coinsarefun

NOTE
Old thread bump.
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I haven't had any luck finding someone to contact and get these labeled correctly. ..........to properly label as #1 test strike
and so on...............If anyone has some information or who to talk to please pm.

MWallace

@coinsarefun said:
NOTE
Old thread bump.
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I haven't had any luck finding someone to contact and get these labeled correctly. ..........to properly label as #1 test strike
and so on...............If anyone has some information or who to talk to please pm.

Maybe it would help if you could get Ron to agree to talk to someone for you.

coinsarefun

@MWallace said:

@coinsarefun said:
NOTE
Old thread bump.
.
I haven't had any luck finding someone to contact and get these labeled correctly. ..........to properly label as #1 test strike
and so on...............If anyone has some information or who to talk to please pm.

Maybe it would help if you could get Ron to agree to talk to someone for you.

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Yes, I did speak with him and he said he would speak to them.
I also have PCGS rep a link and hopefully they will read this and reach out to Ron for questions.

ECHOES

Beautiful, Thanks for Sharing...

messydesk

@coinsarefun said:

@MWallace said:

@coinsarefun said:
NOTE
Old thread bump.
.
I haven't had any luck finding someone to contact and get these labeled correctly. ..........to properly label as #1 test strike
and so on...............If anyone has some information or who to talk to please pm.

Maybe it would help if you could get Ron to agree to talk to someone for you.

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Yes, I did speak with him and he said he would speak to them.
I also have PCGS rep a link and hopefully they will read this and reach out to Ron for questions.

The best way to do this would be to corner a PCGS person at a show and get Ron on the phone, then offer to have PCGS exhibit your set.

MWallace

@coinsarefun said:

@MWallace said:

@coinsarefun said:
NOTE
Old thread bump.
.
I haven't had any luck finding someone to contact and get these labeled correctly. ..........to properly label as #1 test strike
and so on...............If anyone has some information or who to talk to please pm.

Maybe it would help if you could get Ron to agree to talk to someone for you.

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Yes, I did speak with him and he said he would speak to them.
I also have PCGS rep a link and hopefully they will read this and reach out to Ron for questions.

That would be great. They need to be documented for what they are.

Zoins

These are really neat and challenging to collect. They are a fascinating part of our coinage history.

It would be write a PDF booklet on these and then refer to it for PCGS. I've been wanting to do one for all the designs running up to to the final Sacagawea selection, including designs by Ron and Joe, Dan Carr, Glenna Goodacre and others.

I picked up 2 more pieces for my small dollar prototype collection this year, a second GMM 11-rays media issue engraved by Ron Landis and designed by James Ferrell, and a peace dollar concept by Kenneth Bresset.

A fascinating piece of history here is that Bresset was showcasing small dollars earlier and seems to have influenced Ron and Joe to create their Concept Dollars, so:

Before the Gallery Mint Concept Dollars, there was Kenneth E. Bressett and the Peace concept dollars.

coinsarefun

Update in original post. So happy we might have these designated correctly and I love @messydesk
idea to have PCGS have it on exhibit.
Thanks for everyone’s help.....fingers crossed

MWallace

@coinsarefun

LukeMarshall

@coinsarefun
Did you ever get PCGS to designate the labels with provenance ?

coinsarefun

@LukeMarshall said:
@coinsarefun
Did you ever get PCGS to designate the labels with provenance ?

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No luck yet. But, someone that’s “in the know” said get as many as you can graded and trueviewed and
once slabbed then discuss it with them. I’m going to be sending in several more and many other tokens
and medals soon so maybe in a few months we will learn something.