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You have heard of wooden nickels. How about a pair of wooden medals?

BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,239 ✭✭✭✭✭
in U.S. Coin Forum
These two political pieces are unusual in that they are made of pressed wood. These pieces were made for the 1884 presidential election which paired Grover Cleveland against James G. Blain. They could be called "wooden medals." BTW Cleveland won the election. He was the first Demorcat to win the presidency in 28 years.

Grover Cleveland - Thomas Hendricks

image

James G. Blain - John "Black Eagle" Logan

image
Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?

Comments

  • PerryHallPerryHall Posts: 46,356 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Bill-Are these struck from a piece of wood or did they use a wood pulp? If they used a solid piece of wood, did they prepare the wood planchet in some manner such as soaking then in some chemical or hot water to soften the wood? Neat medals. At least you don't have to worry about them rusting but you do have to watch out for termites. image

    Worry is the interest you pay on a debt you may not owe.
    "Paper money eventually returns to its intrinsic value---zero."----Voltaire
    "Everything you say should be true, but not everything true should be said."----Voltaire

  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,239 ✭✭✭✭✭
    No, they are wood. You can still see the wood grain in the them.

    There is also a 1876 Philadelphia centennial set in wood. My grandmother had set with original boxes. Sadly I didn't get a chance to acquire it.

    And yea, termites are a concern. image
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • mdwoodsmdwoods Posts: 5,548 ✭✭✭
    Those are really cool and the detail is amazing. Very good likeness of Cleveland I think.
    National Register Of Big Trees

    We'll use our hands and hearts and if we must we'll use our heads.
  • SCDHunterSCDHunter Posts: 686 ✭✭✭
    Here is one of the Centennial sets, enjoy!image
    image
    image
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,239 ✭✭✭✭✭
    To give it some perspective, both pieces are three inches in diameter.
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • DorkGirlDorkGirl Posts: 9,994 ✭✭✭
    image
    Becky
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,239 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Congratulations SCDHunter!

    I could have bought one of these sets without the box last spring, but it didn't "grab me."
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • NumisOxideNumisOxide Posts: 10,997 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Are wood medals struck on the same equipment as metal planchets?

    Cool pieces!
  • BillJonesBillJones Posts: 34,239 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Are wood medals struck on the same equipment as metal planchets?

    Cool pieces! >>



    I don't know. According to Sullivan the Blaine - Logan piece is known to have been struck as a brass pattern.
    Retired dealer and avid collector of U.S. type coins, 19th century presidential campaign medalets and selected medals. In recent years I have been working on a set of British coins - at least one coin from each king or queen who issued pieces that are collectible. I am also collecting at least one coin for each Roman emperor from Julius Caesar to ... ?
  • intenceintence Posts: 1,255 ✭
    attention to detail is amazing
    image
  • SCDHunterSCDHunter Posts: 686 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Congratulations SCDHunter!

    I could have bought one of these sets without the box last spring, but it didn't "grab me." >>



    Thanks! The relief of this set is awesome. I really need to take some better photos of the individual medals.

    For the record, I have not had any problems with termites.image

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