Confederation.
keets
Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
One of the major themes used by Prof. Montroville Dickeson in the mid-1800's and again by Thomas Elder in the early 1900's on So-Called Dollars involves the use of the "Confederation" design adopted from early Continental Currency. I've always liked the symbolism, the all-seeing eye peering down from the clouds upon a fire-bearing alter, surrounded by 13 stars with the Confederation banner underneath. It's interesting to me that the design was borne out of the strife associated with the struggle for Independence in 1776, surfaced again at the time of the Civil War in the 1860's and a third time as America headed towards WWI.
Over the years I've owned and sold a number of medals bearing the design and over this past weekend agreed to purchase yet another, this time a Brass example, HK-444. Here's a description from the SC$ website:
VETERAN CORPS OF ARTILLERY
--- These medals were by Thomas L. Elder (see Part III for Elder biographical sketch). On. Feb. 1, 1917, Germany began unrestricted submarine warfare; next day United States severed diplomatic relations and on April 6 declared that state of war existed with Germany. Following month, or on May 9, Marshall Joffre of France and Hon. A. J. Balfour of Great Britain, each accompanied by distinguished staff, visited President Wilson to expedite war effort. Their arrival in New York en route to Washington was festive occasion.
Hardly had our entry into war been announced when Elder, intensely loyal to everything American and then age 40 promptly joined Veteran Corps of Artillery of New York, originally organized 1790. Seldom requiring much, if any, inspiration to strike new medals, Elder seized opportunity to produce these particular issues. For obverse of both he used Confederation vignette which appears on $40 bills issued by Continental Congress, 1778-1779. All Elder issues were limited and these medals extremely so; even Aluminum is quite scarce.
HK-442 Silver, thin planchet. 38mm. Only 10 struck. DeLorey 95.
HK-443 Copper, regular planchet. DeLorey 95.
HK-444 Brass. DeLorey 95.
HK-445 Nickel-silver. DeLorey 95.
HK-446 White Metal. DeLorey 95.
HK-447 Aluminum. DeLorey 95.
HK-448 Brownish Red Fiber. DeLorey 95.
HK-448a Oreide. DeLorey 95.
HK-448b Lead. DeLorey 95.
HK-444 struck in Brass is listed as an R-7 with 11-20 known. NGC lists seven in their census, PCGS lists none to my knowledge and I've only been able to find a few sales records. I can say that Brass medals of all types from all eras don't tend to survive well, they will tend to corrode rather than tone and deteriorate quickly. As the image below shows, this example has managed to survive in a high state of preservation. An interesting bit of serendipity, the last three digits in the serial number coincide with the HK number. 
I've also included images of the other "Confederation" Dollars I own and would encourage members to post pictures of theirs. Thanks in advance and enjoy.
Al H.
HK-860
HK-866a
HK-877a
Comments
What a terrific thread and wonderful collection.
Thanks for sharing!
peacockcoins
Thanks for posting about these, that's a great looking set. Is the 877a referring to the Lusitania sinking?
I like it as well
I always assumed so, though the number of Americans killed in the sinking is commonly given as 128. Either Elder was including in the 150 Americans killed in other sinkings, or he just did not care what the accurate number was.
I like how each though similar has its own unique look/color. Interesting pieces of our history thanks for sharing.
Great topic @keets ! I'm a big fan of the Confederation die as it not only looks great, but it reminds me of when the United States was still in its infancy and under the Articles of Confederation with the first US President, Samuel Huntington.
All three of mine from 1917 so that was a busy year for Thomas Elder.
I will say that the two biggest collectors of Confederation pieces I know of are @keets and Tim Gabriele. Of my 3 pieces, I was lucky enough to be able to pick up the 2 So-Called Dollars from @keets while the Numismatic Knights piece is from Tim Gabriele. I had the opportunity to pick up more from the Tim's collection but really wanted the silver Knights piece so I limited my bidding to win that piece.
1917 Visit of Our Allies So-Called Dollar - brass
by Thomas Lindsay Elder muled with Montroville Wilson Dickeson - HK-437
Ex. Alfred & Jacque Ostheimer; @keets New Madison Collection
1917 No Room for Hypens So-Called Dollar - silver
by Thomas Lindsay Elder muled with Montroville Wilson Dickeson - HK-887
Ex. @keets New Madison Collection
1917 Numismatic Knights of the Round Table - silver
by Thomas Lindsay Elder muled with Montroville Wilson Dickeson - DeLorey-93 var.
Ex. Tim Gabriele
This piece isn't listed in DeLorey in silver, but I'm hoping it will be listed in the new reference being worked on by Jeff Shevlin.
Whoa! I just realized all of these coins are struck from the same die? The Confederation die you say? Are they all 1917 or is there a greater time period involved with this die? Thanks
@keets.... Very nice Al... Those are great pieces. Thanks for posting the pictures. Cheers, RickO
Are they all 1917 or is there a greater time period involved with this die?
apparently the die was commissioned and first used by Dickeson sometime around the late 1850's-early 1860's, prior to 1863 when some of the issues appeared in an auction catalogue and the subsequent sale. additional medals may have been struck for sale at the 1876 Centennial of American Independence. I believe Thomas Elder came into possession of the dies in the early years of the 20th Century and used them to issue the above medals.
I would be interested to know where they are now if they still exist. below is a link to an earlier thread.
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/comment/12022599#Comment_12022599
I was lucky enough to be able to pick up the 2 So-Called Dollars from @keets
I regretted selling them at the time and still do, it was a difficult decision but we really needed a new garage!!
one thing to remember: I do have a buy-back program. 
Difficult to find an image from the time period in the mid 1800's while looking for the same die.
Prolly not searching the correct terms...
Of course Al! They are the center of my So-Called Dollar, Elder, and Dickeson collections so they have a lot of company now, but if they ever need a new home I'll know where to go! And if your pieces ever need a new home, more are aways welcome
I really love the esoteric design. Kinda has like a Free Mason vibe to it.
If Indiana Jones collected, this is what he'd have in the collection.
One of my fav So-Called Dollars.