A cool So-Called Dollar by Thomas Elder

tmot99

This is listed as HK-436, but it really exists in a variety of medals which encompass HK-435 through HK-441. This is copper. Other metals used were silver, brass, nickel-silver, white metal, aluminum, and lead. The silver version appears to be one of the more common while, surprisingly, the copper and lead appear to be the rarest. This is also listed by our own Tom DeLorey as DeLorey 94.

cladking

It's a very unusual subject which makes it an interesting medal.

I wasn't familiar with it. Thanks for the picture and info.

numisma

I have the "Kaiserists" version in silver. I like this grouping of so-called dollars. Tmot99, how do you tell the difference between aluminum and white metal?

jonathanb

I need to get a white metal and aluminum version of the same medal in hand to confirm, but supposedly an aluminum piece will give a clear "ring" when you tap it, while a white metal version will only "thud".

coindeuce

Elder had an affinity for the design, taken from the vignette of the $40 notes issued by Continental Congress in 1778-1779.
This example of HK-866 struck in bronze, only White Metal listed in HK.

tmot99

<< <i>I have the "Kaiserists" version in silver. I like this grouping of so-called dollars. Tmot99, how do you tell the difference between aluminum and white metal? >>




<< <i>I need to get a white metal and aluminum version of the same medal in hand to confirm, but supposedly an aluminum piece will give a clear "ring" when you tap it, while a white metal version will only "thud". >>



Yeah, what he said. Also weight would probably give an indication as I would expect aluminum to be lighter than white metal. At least in most other series, aluminum it typically lighter. I suppose it would depend on what alloy of metals were used to make the white metal. If all else fails, an X-Ray defraction test can distinguish the difference.

CaptHenway

<< <i>I have the "Kaiserists" version in silver. I like this grouping of so-called dollars. Tmot99, how do you tell the difference between aluminum and white metal? >>



Huge difference in weight. If it is aluminum you can barely feel it on the palm of your hand.
TD

keets

yes, these are certainly interesting pieces, but if you're serious about COOL i think the one pictured here would win every time!!!

tmot99

Well, yeah, that is the coolest. That didn't happen to be available though.

keets

The silver version appears to be one of the more common while, surprisingly, the copper and lead appear to be the rarest.

actually, there aren't many Elder issues which i'd call "common" in any fashion, not even compared to each other in terms of availability. the HK-369/370/374's are probably the ones seen most often, but those tend to come in spurts for some odd reason. the Gold Dollar sized aluminum HK-374 appeared on eBay several years ago and i acquired three over the course of a few months, then they faded from sight and have started to appear again. the same has happened with HK-369/370 Silver and Aluminum issues. my records show about 8-15 being offered since last spring; while that looks like quite a few, it almost certainly represents most of the readily available specimens in Mint Stae or AU grades. i would wager that quite a few of the Silver/Gold SC$'s of any type have been melted, with the bulk of the survivors being of less than AU quality. when they're found it's always a nice surprise.

in a nutshell, mosst of what Thomas Elder issued haven't fared well. the numbers struck of any medal were prohibitively low and the alloys he chose didn't survive well in the intervening years. on the upside, when Mint State items are found they typically have PL surfaces or a soft Matte-like finish.