Heavy medals
shirohniichan
Posts: 4,992 ✭✭✭
I used to be interested in US Mint medals, but I was told I'd never make any money on them so I stopped collecting them about 25 years ago. I recently bought one from BillJones, and I recently got the two shown here from a local shop.
I've long liked the Battle of Cowpens and Battle of Stony Point medals, so for $3 each I couldn't pass these up.
Does anyone else collect medals?
I've long liked the Battle of Cowpens and Battle of Stony Point medals, so for $3 each I couldn't pass these up.
Does anyone else collect medals?
Obscurum per obscurius
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Comments
peacockcoins
<< <i>I'm guessing the Indian is telling the newly landed white guy, "Welcome to America- now get the "F" out". >>
Thanks.
I thought it was something to do with hats
I don't want to meddle, but if you have the mettle to tell me, what kind of metal is in that medal?
Stop collecting medals for $3, you'll never make any money on them!!
I've come to accept this fact. At least I can't lose very much.
Obscurum per obscurius
While it contains line drawings and not photos there is much history included and the medals themselves are very interesting.
Although I think this book is out of print copies can still be found at rare book auction houses such as George Frederick Kolbe.
If you have any interest in these pieces at all this book is a must.
I also have wondered if anyone has successfully put a complete collection of these together as that would be really awesome sight...
I remember visiting the Treasury Department back in 1981 or so and seeing they struck their souvenir medals on pewter planchets. The medals I got at Denver, San Francisco, and Philadelphia were all bronze. The press wasn't working that day, so no one could strike medals for themselves as was customary. I was tempted to ask if I could just buy a pewter planchet and see if I could convince someone at the Old San Francisco Mint to strike my souvenir medal using it. I decided it probably wouldn't work, so I didn't ask. It would have been interesting to have an off-metal medal that interested probably no one other than myself.
Obscurum per obscurius
#593 1781. Obv. Danieli Morgan Duci Exercitus and in exergue, comitia americana (The American Congress to Daniel Morgan, General of the Army) Near the edge,dupre f. At the left America, as an Indian queen, slightly draped, advancing: she wears a cornonet of feathers, and a quiver on her back, and places a wreath on the head of Gen. Morgan, who stands at the right, and bends to receive it; his right hand rests upon his sword; before him on the ground an American sheild is leaning against a cannon with an olive branch, flags, a drum, trumpet, etc., in the background; at the right an open landscape.
Rev. victoria libertatus vindex (Victory the vindictor of liberty.) In exergue, fvgatis captis avt caesis ad cowpens hostibvs xvii jan.mdcclxxxi, (The enemy put to flight, captured, or slain at Cowpens, Jan 17, 1781)
Gen. Morgan mounted, leads a body of troops bearing the American flag, from the right in the background the enemy is seen flying, and a combat between a foot soldier and a dismounted officer in the foreground at the left.
Daniel Morgan was born in New Jersey, in 1736; he served in Braddock's Expedition, and when the Revolution began, was early in the field. He was captain of one of the first two companies of "expert riflemen," raised in Virginia in June, in 1775, and marched his command fom frederick County, in that state to Boston, a distance of nearly six hundred miles, in three weeks, to aid in the seige of that place. In October he was detached with his company to join Benedict Arnold, in the Expedition against Quebec where his bravery was highly commended and was promoted to Colonel then Brigadier General. To him was chiefly due the victory at Saratoga. At Cowpens he was in command of the forces which won a brilliant victory over Tarelton, and on March 9,1781, Congress voted that a gold medal should be presented to him, and silver medals to his associates, Lt. Cols.Wm. Washington and Howard. He served as a member of Congress 1795-9 and died July 6, 1802
Gold, silver (in the Webster collection) and bronze. Size 36.A.J.N.,IX,28 Loubat Wyatt.
For example I purchased a choice (AU) ORIGINAL (pre 1800) Washington Before Boston medal several years ago for about $1,600. Now pieces like it have been selling at auction for as much as $3,600. So your money may not be as GONE as you might think. The trouble is that have been 7 or eight versions of that medal, and the later have values that range from few hundred dollars to about $10.
The pewter medals you pictured were issued during the bicentennial. They were issued over time, and the mint supplied a blue holder for them. IMO the best thing about the whole package was a guide book by Stephenille (sp). (Sorry, I'm with the in-laws in Florida and everything is off the top of my head.)
Sometime in the new year I'll get out my set of these medals and discuss them if there is interest. The reserch goes on forever, but it's quite interesting at least to me. I put together a display of my Commitia Americana medals some years ago at the Bay State coin show.