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A few pictures of Washingtonia/So-Called Dollars from the MSNS Show last month.

keetskeets Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
There were a few nice items in the auction at the Michigan State Numismatic Society's fall show this past Thanksgiving Day weekend, and I was fortunate enough to be able to win a few items. I snapped a couple pictures and thought I'd post them with a brief description. Hopefully, everyone can appreciate a nice medallic tribute to George Washington, the first two being from the 1876 Centennial of American Independence and the last from 1878.

Al H.

More thanks for that Airplanenut hosting my pictures!!


This first is catalogued as HK-43 by Hibler/Kappen but was missed Rulau/Fuld, being a muling of a Baker 394 Obverse and 397 Reverse. The Liberty Bell relief is stunning and actually rises above the rims. It's so high that it steals some metal from the reverse(the Bell side is the Obverse on the HK issue, Reverse on Baker) and shows some unstruck planchet flaws on Washington's neck. The overall surface quality is clean with mirrored fields and that chocalate brown color that looks so good. I consider myself fortunate to have not only found a rare issue but also a Liberty Bell medal that hasn't been holed for suspension, the only detraction being the remnant of an old fingerprint. Am I the only one who stands awed by this type of preservation with a 125 year old medal??!!??
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This next item is listed as HK-55 and B-405C and, sadly, hasn't fared as well as it's predecessor. I'll send this through NCS with the hopes that they can minimize some of the "tin-pest" carbon spotting. Overall, the surfaces are clean and somewhat PL with a wonderful strike and great design elements, closely mimicking the Trade Dollar and Liberty Seated designs in current use. Rulau/Fuld give some neat information about Silver and Copper Proofs, tracing the provenance back to sales in 1882 and 1883 all the way to the Garret sale in 1981.
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This last is HK-137 and B-449A struck in red bronze. This nice medal was designed by Charles Barber and struck at the Philadelphia Mint, continuing today most likely in the yellow bronze as part of the Mint's medal series. I'm quite certain this is a contemporary of the first two, mainly judging from the color. This one's another gem with the only flaws being some slight reverse strike weakness at those neat interior denticles and a stain at the end of the word Continental.
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Comments

  • saintgurusaintguru Posts: 7,727 ✭✭✭
    Never saw that stuff before but they are COOL!

    I really like the third on...great color/strike! image
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  • saintgurusaintguru Posts: 7,727 ✭✭✭
    Interestng sig-line too.image















    image
    image
  • CaptainRonCaptainRon Posts: 1,189 ✭✭
    All three are very nice, I honestly know close to nothing regarding medals/so called dollars.. What's the diffearnce?, Were so called dollars actually worth a dollar? If not how do/did they get that moniker?

    Will you please post picture of post NCS conservation, and what type of metal is that second coin made of?

    Many thanks.
    Ron
    image
  • keetskeets Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
    i think Washington has one of the most recognizable faces in American history and the portraiture used here is perhaps the most widely shown, based on a painting by Du Vivier which i think was first used on the Washington Before Boston medals. there are other depictions which seem more lifelike to me, it's a shame we never get to see him full face.
  • keetskeets Posts: 25,351 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Ron, the second one is struck in White Metal which generally refers to tin or pewter, easily determined by the weight. this one is tin.
  • jonathanbjonathanb Posts: 3,728 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Drool!
  • MadMartyMadMarty Posts: 16,697 ✭✭✭
    Very nice Al!!!

    So while we were drinking you were at the auctions, no wonder why you kept us down there!!!
    It is not exactly cheating, I prefer to consider it creative problem solving!!!

  • NumisOxideNumisOxide Posts: 10,997 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Nice stuff!
  • PhillyJoePhillyJoe Posts: 2,705 ✭✭✭✭
    If you have an interest in Washington medals it could make for a great collection. These examples are really nice. I passed on an ebay listing for a book on Washington medals a few months ago - and still regret it. A lot of neat memorabilia came out of the Centennial that was held in Philadelphia - must have kept the Mint pretty busy that year.

    Joe
    The Philadelphia Mint: making coins since 1792. We make money by making money. Now in our 225th year thanks to no competition. image
  • 291fifth291fifth Posts: 24,599 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Great medals! I really like the crisp lettering and "red bronze" patination that was seen during that period.
    All glory is fleeting.

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