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Another neat--albeit little--So-Called Dollar!!!

keetskeets Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
It celebrates the landing of Henry(Hendrick) Hudson on Manhattan Island and his discovery of the river which bears his name. This particular medal is struck in aluminum and pre-dates the Half-Dollar Commemorative issue for the City of Hudson, New York by some 26 years, having been struck in 1909 to coincide with Hudson's landing in 1609.

The medals were all issued by Thomas Elder and struck by the Medallic Art Company.

Al H.image

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Comments

  • Cool. How 'little' is it ?
  • krankykranky Posts: 8,709 ✭✭✭
    That's a cool piece. Thomas Elder was born in the same tiny hamlet (Dayton, PA - pop. 2,264) where my father-in-law grew up.

    New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.

  • keetskeets Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
    hey Doug

    this particular example is the same diameter as a gold dollar, though it may be a bit thicker. i'm awaiting word from a dealer who has gold and aluminum pieces that are slightly larger than this one, but smaller than a nickel in diameter.

    the gold medals are rare by issue and were probably all saved due to the composition unless they got melted during the gold-mania in 1980. the aluminums, by contrast, are a bit more abundant----still no more than 200 struck----and probably had a harder time surviving through the years. this particular one will probably grade at MS65 at NGC.

    al h.image
  • krankykranky Posts: 8,709 ✭✭✭
    Size of a gold $1? Didn't think it was that small! And I wouldn't think there could be very many medals produced in aluminum back in the early 1900's. Does that make it rare in and of itself?

    New collectors, please educate yourself before spending money on coins; there are people who believe that using numismatic knowledge to rip the naïve is what this hobby is all about.

  • keetskeets Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
    hey Jim

    Hibler/Kappen list it as very scarce, 251-500 known. there are other medals struck in aluminum earlier than this one when that metal was more valuable than silver. it's unusual to find them, so i suspect they didn't age well. you've probably seen corrosion on aluminum, it appears as a white/light gray powdery substance. add to that the softness of the metal and survivors most likely don't abound in gem state. i was fortunate to snag this and find the other hopefulls in Cleveland.

    al h.image
  • braddickbraddick Posts: 23,970 ✭✭✭✭✭
    High rating on the Cool scale! That's the first I've heard of that is so small. Neat item!

    peacockcoins

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