U.S. Pattern Dollar reproductions - circa 2004

ZoidMeister

Greetings Folks,

I'm trying to find more information on who / what organization struck a series of U.S. Pattern Dollars back in 2004. Most that I run across are only attributed as "Private Mint." I find these strikes to be quite fetching and would like to know more about who created them.

I noticed that IGC is now certifying, grading, and encapsulating these of late. I have inquired of both ICG and NNC, neither seems to know who engraved the dies, produced, or sold these. I also inquired about them from the primary seller, but have received no response.

Does anyone have any information on the original source of these?

Somebody with some history in this industry must know something.

Photos of a few of these strikes are below

Z
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CaptHenway

Don’t know them. At least they are marked “COPY”

MrEureka

I remember when they came out. Originally, they were marketed in a nice presentation folder with some historical info. My understanding is that they were produced in England, on behalf of a well known US dealer. It would be interesting to know how many were actually struck.

ZoidMeister

I have photos of one of the folders they came in. The Gobrecht Dollar reproductions were in the following. Absolutely no identifying information.

It makes me curious why these remain so clandestine.

Z
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@MrEureka said:
I remember when they came out. Originally, they were marketed in a nice presentation folder with some historical info. My understanding is that they were produced in England, on behalf of a well known US dealer. It would be interesting to know how many were actually struck.

ZoidMeister

@MrEureka said:
I remember when they came out. Originally, they were marketed in a nice presentation folder with some historical info. My understanding is that they were produced in England, on behalf of a well known US dealer. It would be interesting to know how many were actually struck.

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Mr. Eureka,

You mention remembering them being marketed / sold. Do you remember who was doing the selling? Were these commonly available, or sole sourced?

Z

MrEureka

@ZoidMeister said:

@MrEureka said:
I remember when they came out. Originally, they were marketed in a nice presentation folder with some historical info. My understanding is that they were produced in England, on behalf of a well known US dealer. It would be interesting to know how many were actually struck.

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Mr. Eureka,

You mention remembering them being marketed / sold. Do you remember who was doing the selling? Were these commonly available, or sole sourced?

Z

As far as I know, the coins were simply peddled to other dealers, who then tried to sell them however they could.

I never saw any sort of mass marketing attempt. Of course, that doesn't mean it didn't happen.

ZoidMeister

All I can say is that I think these were very well executed. The engraving and striking are on par with best I've seen.

It sure would be nice to give the creator credit, and to see if there are any designs I might be missing.

Z

ricko

Those are very impressive.... And the 'copy' is artfully concealed so it is not a glaring distraction. Very nice. Cheers, RickO

Metal

Even though these are marked copy, I wonder if doing coins of that caliber might invite some sort of government 'outreach'... If so, then I can understand wanting to remain unattributed.

Funny story. An old high school buddy's Dad was in prison for counterfeiting; once he was paroled (we were maybe 20 by then), they kept tabs on him and his 'new' printing business. Of course, last I heard, he was back in the pen.

ZoidMeister

@ricko said:
Those are very impressive.... And the 'copy' is artfully concealed so it is not a glaring distraction. Very nice. Cheers, RickO

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Agreed!

Good, bad, or indifferent, they are selling quite inexpensively on fleaBay these days. I tried reaching out several times to the seller for more information, but only get . . . . crickets . . . . . .

The other thing I was hoping to get clarified is the following. I picked up the two pieces below about a year ago. I was curious if these were originally created as a part of this series or not, and if there are any I haven't seen yet.

Well, on to acquiring the pieces I know about.

Z
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ricko

@ZoidMeister.... Well, those are two more I have never encountered. They do look like they are of the same origin, also artfully concealed 'copy'. Good luck with your quest. Cheers, RickO

FrankH

You can join Worthpoint and find it.
I don't want to.

Jzyskowski1

Here’s a list a forum member is building. Let’s see #11

CaptHenway

FWIW, the Hobby Protection Act includes specifications for the height, length and DEPTH of the word COPY, but I am happy enough that it is there that I will not complain about it.

ZoidMeister

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I was just edjamacated to the fact that ALL of the Pattern Reproductions above are actually listed in Krause's Catalog of Unusual World Coins - 5th Edition, and thought those who expressed a mild interest would like to know.

@coinsarefun , with her encyclopedic compendium of exonumismatic knowledge (rivaling the Smithsonian Institution) late last night gave me the clue's I needed to put attribution numbers to each of the pieces.

I don't (yet) have a copy of the 6th Edition, but in the 5th Edition these are located on pages 560-561, preceded by a bunch of Daniel Carr's pieces and followed by a couple NorFed strikes.

There is acutally a huge NorFed section pages 550-555.

Yeah, I recently picked up my first NorFed as well. There are just too many of those out there to start going down THAT rabbit hole . . . . . . .

Z

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Krause X# 224
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