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Battle of Groton Heights So-Called Dollars - HK-125, HK-125B, HK-125C
Zoins
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Just ran across this HK-126B modern restrike. The restrikes do not appear in HK.
Anyone know about this restrike? How modern is it? When was it made and who made it? Is this done with the original dies? This says Whithead & Hoag on it.
Post your Groton Heights So-Called Dollars here!
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I have not seen this one , however I do like the original but don’t have one yet.
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CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
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Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
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More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC
No, those are not original dies. It’s not a true Restrike in that sense and is not actually a true HK-125b. The reverse die is dated 1931, and based on its appearance and having been struck by Whitehead & Hoag, I would say the 1931 date is accurate.
I have seen a few of these, they were struck for the 150th anniversary(Sesquicentennial), making it 1931. they were struck from clearly different dies as shown most clearly by the reverse. however, the obverse is also different. calling this medal an HK-125b/Modern Restrike is just a little disingenuous because it isn't an HK-125b. if it needs to be in the "new listings" to satisfy collectors it should be somewhere else in the catalogue and probably not grouped with the 1881 medals.
for instance, if it were given the designation of HK-125d, following the White Metal/Bronze/Silver listings, what would you call a true new discovery that is in an alloy such as Brass, HK-125e?? that wouldn't make sense to me.
here's a true HK-125b for comparison.
Nice. I didn't notice the new text on the reverse and it's strange that NGC would call this Undated.
Yale has a 1931 piece with the original ribbon in their collection. What do you do with these? Pin to to your jacket? I wonder how many of these are holed.
https://artgallery.yale.edu/collections/objects/152534
Beautiful original specimen Al!
I love how the inside of the fort says "MASSACRE" to make the event more visceral which the new one doesn't.
This 1981 bicentennial issue was done by the Groton Heights Bicentennial Committee in bronze and pewter. It's cataloged by Bob Heath as CT059-3b. NGC slabbed this as So-Called Dollar but without a HK number.
One interesting historical note of this battle is that the massacre was conducted by forces under the command of British Brigadier General Benedict Arnold.
The Smithsonian has a good article on what caused the American's change of heart:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/benedict-arnold-turned-traitor-american-revolution-180958786/