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Rare Lincoln Civil War Dog Tag PCGS MS62 SOLD

DCWDCW Posts: 7,422 ✭✭✭✭✭
edited September 21, 2019 6:08PM in Buy, Sell, & Trade - U.S. Coins

For your consideration is a rare identification disc from the American Civil War. Extremely unusual to encounter a specimen that can also place a face to the name:
C.G. Allen, Surgeon 34 Massachusetts Infantry, Barre, MA PCGS MS62, SOLD

PLEASE NOTE: BELOW PICTURES OF IDENTIFIED SOLDIER ARE FOR REFERENCE ONLY AND ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS SALE
Charles G. Allen started a company selling horse drawn farm equipment in 1874, and the company grew to prominence in the field of manufacturing. It exists to this day.

The "dog tag" itself is very nice with an expertly crafted image of Abraham Lincoln by F.B. Smith on the obverse and the officer's info on the reverse.
Dog tags or "identification discs" as they were known as, were first introduced during this conflict as more and more soldiers lay strewn across the battlefields unidentified. They were purchased from the company sutler or directly from a die sinker as advertised in newspapers. The government would not formally issue dog tags until the first World War.
If you ever thought of owning just one example of a Civil War dog tag for your collection, here it is!
PM with any questions and thanks for looking!

Edited to add more info found online:

http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~blenderman/military/Civil_War/53rd_Mass_f/cdvs_new/C-G-Allen_cdv.html


This outstanding Civil War medical view depicts Charles G. Allen as Hospital Steward of the 53rd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Allen stands before the camera lens in full Hospital Steward uniform with nine button enlisted frock with medical steward sleeve device, NCO sword with sling and eagle breast plate and N.C.O. belt over waist sash. Allen holds his forage cap with wreath and U.S. insignia as appropriate for his position.
An unusual history as Chas. G. Allen was a 28 year old Physician when he enlisted and was mustered in on 10/17/1862 as a Private of Co. F, 53rd Mass. Volunteers and it wasn't until the end of December that the young Doctor was promoted to Hospital Steward. He was listed as taken Prisoner Of War at Mt. Jackson Virginia on 5/16/1864. Hospital Steward Allen was subsequently paroled and appointed Asst. Surgeon 34th Mass. Infantry on 8/12/1864. He was mustered out on 6/16/1865.

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

Comments

  • BIGWEBBBIGWEBB Posts: 214 ✭✭✭
    edited September 2, 2019 8:27AM

    That is an awesome piece to own. First of its kind I've ever seen. Very cool. He was probably wearing that same tag under his dress blues in that very pic.

    COOKIES!

  • SmudgeSmudge Posts: 9,567 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Lots of doctors have a collection of stuff like this. This will probably sell pretty quickly. Good luck.

  • DCWDCW Posts: 7,422 ✭✭✭✭✭

    TTT

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

  • FHCFHC Posts: 323 ✭✭✭

    Super cool piece!

  • coinlieutenantcoinlieutenant Posts: 9,315 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Not sure I would have wanted him doing any fine surgery if his punching of letters into the tag is any indication of his dexterity! :) . Either way, cool piece. He was probably skilled with a bone saw. What a horrendous war....

    siliconvalleycoins.com

  • 2ltdjorn2ltdjorn Posts: 2,329 ✭✭✭✭

    beautiful piece...

    haha... would be a surgeon to sponsor such a piece...

    WTB... errors, New Orleans gold, and circulated 20th key date coins!
  • calgolddivercalgolddiver Posts: 1,488 ✭✭✭✭✭

    awesome !
    Dennis has some GREAT items

    Top 25 Type Set 1792 to present

    Top 10 Cal Fractional Type Set

    successful BST with Ankurj, BigAl, Bullsitter, CommemKing, DCW(7), Downtown1974, Elmerfusterpuck, Joelewis, Mach1ne, Minuteman810430, Modcrewman, Nankraut, Nederveit2, Philographer(5), Realgator, Silverpop, SurfinxHI, TomB and Yorkshireman(3)

  • DCWDCW Posts: 7,422 ✭✭✭✭✭

    TTT

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

  • shorecollshorecoll Posts: 5,445 ✭✭✭✭✭

    You should add a zero to the price and call the company. IMHO.

    ANA-LM, NBS, EAC
  • Bob13Bob13 Posts: 1,496 ✭✭✭✭✭

    What a neat item! Agree maybe contact the company. Countway Library at Harvard Medical School (which has Phineas Gage’s skull!) or the Mass General Hospital Museum could also be interested.

    My current "Box of 20"

  • DCWDCW Posts: 7,422 ✭✭✭✭✭

    Thanks for the comments, guys. Love this piece, but it is available!

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

  • DCWDCW Posts: 7,422 ✭✭✭✭✭

    TTT.
    This piece will be available for a short time longer. Feel free to make a reasonable offer if you want to make it yours.
    Thanks for looking!

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

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