Declaration of Independence So-Called Dollars: Abraham Demarest and Charles Cushing Wright - HK-74

Zoins

The Declaration of Independence So-Called Dollars from HK-74 to HK-79 are some of my favorites. The scene is done by Abraham Demarest for the 1876 centennial and I always thought it was an original, however I just learned that these seem to be inspired by Charles Cushing Wright's larger medals from the 1850s.

(Circa 1852-1854) Declaration of Independence Medal. Silver. 91 mm. 295.0 grams - Charles Cushing Wright - Musante GW-183, Baker-53G - PCGS SP63

This 91mm silver medal has a provenance going back to Charles Bushnell in 1882 and later Garrett. T. Harrison Garrett purchased this for $36.00. In 2018, it sold for $40,800 at the ANA show.

Provenance: Ex S.H. and Henry Chapman's sale of the Charles I. Bushnell Collection, June 1882, lot 1274, at $36; our sale of the Garrett Collection, Part IV, March 1981, lot 1910; our sale of the Julian Leidman Collection, April 1986, lot 4126; our sale of the Charles A. Wharton Collection, March 2014, lot 2077 where it realized $41,125.

• https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-BJDNZ/circa-1852-1854-declaration-of-independence-medal-silver-91-mm-2950-grams-by-charles-cushing-wright-musante-gw-183-baker-53g-s
• https://www.pcgs.com/cert/35701797

1876 Declaration of Independence So-Called Dollar - HK-74 - Abraham Demarest

Demarest's So-Called Dollars of 1876 have a very similar scene.

The following specimen has an interesting provenance "From a New England Museum." which seems to indicate a museum was disbursing its collection.

• https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/lots/view/3-2ZIBV/1876-us-centennial-exposition-declaration-of-independence-dollar-white-metal-43-mm-hk-74-baker-390d-rarity-5-ms-66-ngc
• https://so-calleddollars.com/Events/US_Centennial.html

ricko

Nice specimens... I have been to Independence Hall a few times. Always wondered why they did not sell tokens/medals as memorabilia there.... Or if they did, I never saw them. I recall standing in the room pictured and could actually 'feel' the history.... Cheers, RickO

coinsarefun

This 91mm silver medal has a provenance going back to Charles Bushnell in 1882 and later Garrett. T. Harrison Garrett purchased this for $36.00. In 2018, it sold for $40,800 at the ANA show.
.
.now that’s some mighty nice ROI......😜
Fantastic metals, both in the own right. Thanks for posting

Zoins

@coinsarefun said:
This 91mm silver medal has a provenance going back to Charles Bushnell in 1882 and later Garrett. T. Harrison Garrett purchased this for $36.00. In 2018, it sold for $40,800 at the ANA show.
.
.now that’s some mighty nice ROI......😜
Fantastic metals, both in the own right. Thanks for posting

It has gone up quite a bit! While $36 might not sound like a lot now, but back then it was 1.7 ounces of gold!

Just looked him up and his full name is:

Thomas Harrison “Harry” Garrett (1849-1888)

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49677400/thomas-harrison-garrett