Eclectic exonumia: Nice silver and bronze medals, tokens, a So-Called Dollar, and a slug
jonathanb
Posts: 3,646 ✭✭✭✭✭
Most/all of these items will be heading towards eBay, some as soon as next week. I don't want to list stuff on eBay starting the day of the Superbowl, though, and several of these items are nice enough that I really wouldn't mind missing out on the eBay fees, so I'll toss them up here for a few days. In the worst case, I'll be able to reuse the descriptions later that I'm writing now. 
All prices include shipping within the US.
Famous Engravers six-piece framed set, by Toivo Johnson
Complete set of six medals commemorating famous engravers, produced in the early 1960s by Toivo Johnson. The combined weight of the medals might be 41 ounces, or might be 46 ounces (I've found both numbers online), 75 mm, .999 fine. I can't get an exact weight because this set has been nicely mounted in a pair of frames approximately 13.5 x 6 inches each. The transparent material has a 'tap' that sounds like plastic rather than glass.
Each frame is hand-lettered recognizing TOVIO JOHNSON / DESIGNER and ROBT. S. SCHABEL / ENGRAVER, titled on the reverse as METAL ARTS MEDALS NO. 140. The medals themselves seem to have the 140 number on their edge at 12:00, although it's hard for me to tell on all of them while they are in the frame like this. One frame has medals honoring EUAENETOS, C. GOBRECHT, and SAINT GAUDENS. The other has medals honoring CHAS. E. BARBER, LONGACRE-MORGAN, and VICTOR D. BRENNER. The back of each frame states that these are FROM COLLECTION OF JOHN M. REYNAR.
The medals were originally issued in quantities as follows:
1,000 Euanetos
1,000 Gobrecht
2,000 Saint Gaudens
1,200 Barber
1,000 Longacre / Morgan
2,000 Brenner
A similar set recently sold on eBay by the son (or maybe grandson) of the original designer, for over $2,000.
SOLD
1959 Hawaiian Statehood official medal by Medallic Art Co.
Medcalf-Russell 2MS-2. Sterling Silver, 63 mm, 134 grams. Edgenumbered 2253 (out of 3000).
These were consistently selling on eBay in the $250 range. Now that I have one, I watched one close last week with no bids at $215. Bummer for me.
SOLD
1927 Charles Lindbergh Banquet medal by Julio Kilenyi.
Lindbergh himself received a gold version of this medal. Bronze strikings were presented to guests at a banquet in his honor. By Whitehead-Hoag. Bronze, 83 mm.
OBV: Female figure holding U.S. shield and fleur de lis, striding to left between Statue of Liberty at left and the Eiffel Tower at right, with the Spirit of St. Louis flying overhead. Signed KILENYI at lower right.
REV: Spirit of St. Louis flying above globe depicting Atlantic ocean with dotted flight path. Below globe COMMEMORATING / THE FIRST NEW YORK-PARIS FLIGHT / BY CAPT. CHARLES A. LINDBERGH / "SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS" / NEW YORK MAY 20TH PARIS MAY 21ST 1927
$250
1931 Charles Lindbergh Society of Medalists SOM #4, by Frederick MacMonnies.
Always popular Charles Lindbergh Medal produced by MACO as the fourth issue of the Society of Medalists. 73 mm. Bronze gilt. Edgemark MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y.
I've had several of these medals, and this is the nicest of any that I've had, by far. This is an unscuffed, fully lustrous piece without fingerprints. It comes in its original box from the Society of Medalists, including both original cotton pads and the original paperwork. The box is intact at all four corners. I know there's really not a lot of value in the box itself, but the very nice condition of the box explains the very nice condition of the medal within.
OBV: Lindbergh facing slightly left, wearing aviator's helmet and goggles. Spirit of St. Louis in background. Text around CHARLES A LINDBERGH.
REV: LONE EAGLE, showing eagle battling the personified Storm, Wind, and Fog, and eluding Death
I sold one on eBay last week in much poorer condition for $155.
SOLD
Yacht Racing Association of Long Island Sound, by Tiffany.
Large 77 mm bronze award medal, signed TIFFANY & CO. on the lower right of the reverse. The stanch dory Tautog was owned by George Gardiner Fry, a lawyer living in Westchester, New York, who was also a member of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration Commission.
Stack's sold a similar one three years ago for $166.75. I sold a different yacht racing award medal on eBay last week for $237.
$200 for your pick (specify year 1913 or 1915) or $350 for both
Wells Fargo So-Called Dollar, in original case.
Always-popular So-Called Dollar issued for the 50th anniversary of Wells, Fargo & Company in 1902. 38 mm.
For accuracy I note a tear in the cover of the case, as shown. The hinge to the case is weak but intact. There is a slight nick on the rim just before FIDELITY.
I'm pretty sure that the last on on eBay sold for over $1,500, but it was long enough ago that I can't find a link. Stack's has sold 7 over the past two years, at prices ranging from $1,150 (without a case) to $2,185 (with a case).
SOLD
1906 Thompson Restaurants $50 slug replica, possibly the finest known.
Another always-popular piece. This $50 slug replica was produced in 1906 by Tompson Restaurants in honor of their 50th anniversary. This is a VERY nice specimen. The specimen sold in the Bill Weber sale (Holabird-Kagin, 12/2/2008, lot 100092) was described as the finest known and this one sure looks at least as nice as the picture in that catalog. The Weber specimen sold for $862.50.
$500
"1910 Thomas Elder gold token mule".
I've always seen this piece described as produced by Thomas Elder, a mule of the obverse of DeLorey 47 (normally found with a "TO THE EMANCIPATOR AND MARTYR" reverse) and the reverse of DeLorey 48 (normally found with a 1927-dated obverse). I was recently discussing this with a specialist on Elder pieces, who suggested that it might not be an Elder production at all. The bust is subtly but unquestionably different from either the 1910 or 1927 busts. The date is also different, with the first digit in the date here looking more like a capital I than a number 1.
15 mm. 18K gold. Speckles on the picture are dust on the surface of the medal. They'll come off, but I didn't want to risk spitting on it, and I don't have any compressed air in the house.
Whatever the exact origin of this piece, Stack's sold a similar onea few months ago for $460.
OBV: ABRAHAM LINCOLN / 1910 around left-facing bust of Lincoln
REV: A / TOKEN above crossed axes, all in wreath
$400
circa 1858 Constitution and Guerriere medal, in copper, by Robert Lovett, Jr.
Struck in commemoration of the August 19, 1812 battle between the U.S. Frigate Constitution and the HMS Guerriere, the first US Naval victory of the War of 1812. A nice piece with lots of red remaining in the devices, and a small rim clip as produced on the left side of the obverse / right side of the reverse.
This is a virtual twin of the next piece, with the rim clip on the opposite side.
Stack's sold a similar one (also with a rim clip!) a year ago for $253. I think this one is nicer.
OBV: Consitution and Guerriere in battle at sea.
REV: FREE TRADE AND SAILORS RIGHTS / CONSTITUTION / AND / GUERRIERE / 1812 / LOVETT'S SERIES NO. 3. PHILADA.
$150
circa 1858 Constitution and Guerriere medal, in copper, by Robert Lovett, Jr.
Struck in commemoration of the August 19, 1812 battle between the U.S. Frigate Constitution and the HMS Guerriere, the first US Naval victory of the War of 1812. A nice piece with lots of red remaining in the devices, and a small rim clip as produced on the right side of the obverse / left side of the reverse.
This is a virtual twin of the previous piece, with the rim clip on the opposite side. This specimen has a small spot on the top center of the reverse.
Stack's sold a similar one (also with a rim clip!) a year ago for $253. I think this one is nicer.
OBV: Consitution and Guerriere in battle at sea.
REV: FREE TRADE AND SAILORS RIGHTS / CONSTITUTION / AND / GUERRIERE / 1812 / LOVETT'S SERIES NO. 3. PHILADA.
$150
circa 1858 Constitution and Guerriere medal, in copper-nickel (?), by Robert Lovett, Jr.
Struck in commemoration of the August 19, 1812 battle between the U.S. Frigate Constitution and the HMS Guerriere, the first US Naval victory of the War of 1812. A nice piece with lots of red remaining in the devices, and a small rim clip as produced on the right side of the obverse / left side of the reverse.
This is an oddity. It is NOT a twin of the previous two pieces. I bought this as a copper-nickel specimen, and based on the color I think that might be right. (All three sets of pictures were taken at the same time under the same lighting). The problem is that this isn't listed in copper-nickel. There are other Lovett pieces that are listed in copper-nickel, just not this one. Odd.
OBV: Consitution and Guerriere in battle at sea.
REV: FREE TRADE AND SAILORS RIGHTS / CONSTITUTION / AND / GUERRIERE / 1812 / LOVETT'S SERIES NO. 3. PHILADA.
$200
1860 Great Eastern medal, by Robert Lovett, Jr.
White metal, 31 mm.
OBV: The Great Eastern in harbor, with other ships and pier full of people in foreground.
REV: PURCHASED ON BOARD THE GREAT EASTERN / 1860 around TONNAGE / 24,000 / HORSE POWER / 2,600 / LENGTH 692 FT. / BREADTH / 83 FT. / DEPTH 60 FT.
$100
All prices include shipping within the US.
Famous Engravers six-piece framed set, by Toivo Johnson
Complete set of six medals commemorating famous engravers, produced in the early 1960s by Toivo Johnson. The combined weight of the medals might be 41 ounces, or might be 46 ounces (I've found both numbers online), 75 mm, .999 fine. I can't get an exact weight because this set has been nicely mounted in a pair of frames approximately 13.5 x 6 inches each. The transparent material has a 'tap' that sounds like plastic rather than glass.
Each frame is hand-lettered recognizing TOVIO JOHNSON / DESIGNER and ROBT. S. SCHABEL / ENGRAVER, titled on the reverse as METAL ARTS MEDALS NO. 140. The medals themselves seem to have the 140 number on their edge at 12:00, although it's hard for me to tell on all of them while they are in the frame like this. One frame has medals honoring EUAENETOS, C. GOBRECHT, and SAINT GAUDENS. The other has medals honoring CHAS. E. BARBER, LONGACRE-MORGAN, and VICTOR D. BRENNER. The back of each frame states that these are FROM COLLECTION OF JOHN M. REYNAR.
The medals were originally issued in quantities as follows:
1,000 Euanetos
1,000 Gobrecht
2,000 Saint Gaudens
1,200 Barber
1,000 Longacre / Morgan
2,000 Brenner
A similar set recently sold on eBay by the son (or maybe grandson) of the original designer, for over $2,000.
SOLD
1959 Hawaiian Statehood official medal by Medallic Art Co.
Medcalf-Russell 2MS-2. Sterling Silver, 63 mm, 134 grams. Edgenumbered 2253 (out of 3000).
These were consistently selling on eBay in the $250 range. Now that I have one, I watched one close last week with no bids at $215. Bummer for me.
SOLD
1927 Charles Lindbergh Banquet medal by Julio Kilenyi.
Lindbergh himself received a gold version of this medal. Bronze strikings were presented to guests at a banquet in his honor. By Whitehead-Hoag. Bronze, 83 mm.
OBV: Female figure holding U.S. shield and fleur de lis, striding to left between Statue of Liberty at left and the Eiffel Tower at right, with the Spirit of St. Louis flying overhead. Signed KILENYI at lower right.
REV: Spirit of St. Louis flying above globe depicting Atlantic ocean with dotted flight path. Below globe COMMEMORATING / THE FIRST NEW YORK-PARIS FLIGHT / BY CAPT. CHARLES A. LINDBERGH / "SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS" / NEW YORK MAY 20TH PARIS MAY 21ST 1927
$250
1931 Charles Lindbergh Society of Medalists SOM #4, by Frederick MacMonnies.
Always popular Charles Lindbergh Medal produced by MACO as the fourth issue of the Society of Medalists. 73 mm. Bronze gilt. Edgemark MEDALLIC ART CO. N.Y.
I've had several of these medals, and this is the nicest of any that I've had, by far. This is an unscuffed, fully lustrous piece without fingerprints. It comes in its original box from the Society of Medalists, including both original cotton pads and the original paperwork. The box is intact at all four corners. I know there's really not a lot of value in the box itself, but the very nice condition of the box explains the very nice condition of the medal within.
OBV: Lindbergh facing slightly left, wearing aviator's helmet and goggles. Spirit of St. Louis in background. Text around CHARLES A LINDBERGH.
REV: LONE EAGLE, showing eagle battling the personified Storm, Wind, and Fog, and eluding Death
I sold one on eBay last week in much poorer condition for $155.
SOLD
Yacht Racing Association of Long Island Sound, by Tiffany.
Large 77 mm bronze award medal, signed TIFFANY & CO. on the lower right of the reverse. The stanch dory Tautog was owned by George Gardiner Fry, a lawyer living in Westchester, New York, who was also a member of the Hudson-Fulton Celebration Commission.
Stack's sold a similar one three years ago for $166.75. I sold a different yacht racing award medal on eBay last week for $237.
$200 for your pick (specify year 1913 or 1915) or $350 for both
Wells Fargo So-Called Dollar, in original case.
Always-popular So-Called Dollar issued for the 50th anniversary of Wells, Fargo & Company in 1902. 38 mm.
For accuracy I note a tear in the cover of the case, as shown. The hinge to the case is weak but intact. There is a slight nick on the rim just before FIDELITY.
I'm pretty sure that the last on on eBay sold for over $1,500, but it was long enough ago that I can't find a link. Stack's has sold 7 over the past two years, at prices ranging from $1,150 (without a case) to $2,185 (with a case).
SOLD
1906 Thompson Restaurants $50 slug replica, possibly the finest known.
Another always-popular piece. This $50 slug replica was produced in 1906 by Tompson Restaurants in honor of their 50th anniversary. This is a VERY nice specimen. The specimen sold in the Bill Weber sale (Holabird-Kagin, 12/2/2008, lot 100092) was described as the finest known and this one sure looks at least as nice as the picture in that catalog. The Weber specimen sold for $862.50.
$500
"1910 Thomas Elder gold token mule".
I've always seen this piece described as produced by Thomas Elder, a mule of the obverse of DeLorey 47 (normally found with a "TO THE EMANCIPATOR AND MARTYR" reverse) and the reverse of DeLorey 48 (normally found with a 1927-dated obverse). I was recently discussing this with a specialist on Elder pieces, who suggested that it might not be an Elder production at all. The bust is subtly but unquestionably different from either the 1910 or 1927 busts. The date is also different, with the first digit in the date here looking more like a capital I than a number 1.
15 mm. 18K gold. Speckles on the picture are dust on the surface of the medal. They'll come off, but I didn't want to risk spitting on it, and I don't have any compressed air in the house.
Whatever the exact origin of this piece, Stack's sold a similar onea few months ago for $460.
OBV: ABRAHAM LINCOLN / 1910 around left-facing bust of Lincoln
REV: A / TOKEN above crossed axes, all in wreath
$400
circa 1858 Constitution and Guerriere medal, in copper, by Robert Lovett, Jr.
Struck in commemoration of the August 19, 1812 battle between the U.S. Frigate Constitution and the HMS Guerriere, the first US Naval victory of the War of 1812. A nice piece with lots of red remaining in the devices, and a small rim clip as produced on the left side of the obverse / right side of the reverse.
This is a virtual twin of the next piece, with the rim clip on the opposite side.
Stack's sold a similar one (also with a rim clip!) a year ago for $253. I think this one is nicer.
OBV: Consitution and Guerriere in battle at sea.
REV: FREE TRADE AND SAILORS RIGHTS / CONSTITUTION / AND / GUERRIERE / 1812 / LOVETT'S SERIES NO. 3. PHILADA.
$150
circa 1858 Constitution and Guerriere medal, in copper, by Robert Lovett, Jr.
Struck in commemoration of the August 19, 1812 battle between the U.S. Frigate Constitution and the HMS Guerriere, the first US Naval victory of the War of 1812. A nice piece with lots of red remaining in the devices, and a small rim clip as produced on the right side of the obverse / left side of the reverse.
This is a virtual twin of the previous piece, with the rim clip on the opposite side. This specimen has a small spot on the top center of the reverse.
Stack's sold a similar one (also with a rim clip!) a year ago for $253. I think this one is nicer.
OBV: Consitution and Guerriere in battle at sea.
REV: FREE TRADE AND SAILORS RIGHTS / CONSTITUTION / AND / GUERRIERE / 1812 / LOVETT'S SERIES NO. 3. PHILADA.
$150
circa 1858 Constitution and Guerriere medal, in copper-nickel (?), by Robert Lovett, Jr.
Struck in commemoration of the August 19, 1812 battle between the U.S. Frigate Constitution and the HMS Guerriere, the first US Naval victory of the War of 1812. A nice piece with lots of red remaining in the devices, and a small rim clip as produced on the right side of the obverse / left side of the reverse.
This is an oddity. It is NOT a twin of the previous two pieces. I bought this as a copper-nickel specimen, and based on the color I think that might be right. (All three sets of pictures were taken at the same time under the same lighting). The problem is that this isn't listed in copper-nickel. There are other Lovett pieces that are listed in copper-nickel, just not this one. Odd.
OBV: Consitution and Guerriere in battle at sea.
REV: FREE TRADE AND SAILORS RIGHTS / CONSTITUTION / AND / GUERRIERE / 1812 / LOVETT'S SERIES NO. 3. PHILADA.
$200
1860 Great Eastern medal, by Robert Lovett, Jr.
White metal, 31 mm.
OBV: The Great Eastern in harbor, with other ships and pier full of people in foreground.
REV: PURCHASED ON BOARD THE GREAT EASTERN / 1860 around TONNAGE / 24,000 / HORSE POWER / 2,600 / LENGTH 692 FT. / BREADTH / 83 FT. / DEPTH 60 FT.
$100
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Comments
RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'
CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
Great medals and great to deal with!
Larry
Dabigkahuna