Thanks for the great response, everyone. There have been some wonderful coins posted here. The 1823 is a gorgeous bust half, drddm, truly of Monticello quality!
The Bar copper is pretty unlikely -- they showed up in New York in 1785 and disappeared from commerce when low weight pieces were rejected during the Copper Panic of 1789. Jefferson was in France that whole time. The short circulation lifespan of the Bar coppers is one reason that most of them are EF-AU -- go try to find a VG!
So, in the spirit of illustrating TJ's time in France ...
I am reading Jacqueline Kennedy's recently published oral history with Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., Historic Conversations on Life with John F. Kennedy. Contained therein is an interesting vignette of Thomas Jefferson. Jackie relates that "He [JFK] was the only president after Jefferson to care about gardens--(A letter came up at Parke-Bernet in the fall of 1963, which he [JFK] thought was too expensive to buy. I was going to try and give [the Jefferson letter] to him [JFK] for his birthday--Jefferson writes to France--for 4 gardeners--they would also [be required to] play [violin] chamber music at Monticello in the evenings.) Like Jefferson, he [JFK] cared about architecture--or rather the harmony of man in his environment."
PCGS lists the mintage at 1500, and after seeing this on a Heritage auction description, it's a practical certainty Jefferson carried this coin. Am I right?
"The 1792 half dismes were struck very soon afterward, as on July 13, Jefferson recorded in his household account book 'rec'd from the mint 1500 half dimes of the new coinage.'"
<< <i>Here's an interesting Jefferson quotation, which has modern relevance, particularly after the events of the last few years. This philosophy undoubtedly led the framers of the U. S. Constitution to define lawful money as silver and gold.
"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs." >>
Jefferson was a great political writer and theorist, but he didn’t a darn thing about economics. Little wonder that he died broke.
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 ... ?
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 ... ?
While this is not a coin, Jefferson did order this medal to be fabricated for presentation to an Indian chief in 1780. For many years, the few surviving examples of these were thought to be made at a later date than 1780. When Julian Boyd began publishing "The Papers of Thomas Jefferson," an invoice was found from Robert Scot (chief engraver of the US Mint 1793-1823) for a small number of these medals.
Jefferson was Governor of Virginia in 1780, and moved the capitol from Williamsburg to Richmond. Robert Scot had also moved from Fredericksburg VA to Richmond as he was engraving the Virginia currency and other projects for Virginia. Scot moved to Philly after traitor Benedict Arnold and 1500 British soldiers burned and plundered Richmond on January 7, 1781 (along with other reasons). Jefferson ordered more of these medals after Scot had moved to Philly.
Jefferson described Scot's work on the medals as "extraordinarily good" which was an accurate assessment in comparison to other American engravers at the time. The reverse was a copy of an earlier British made Indian peace medal, the obverse from a Robert Scot rendition of the Virginia Seal, Virtus over Tyranny. It shows the broken chain and fallen crown, directly aimed at King George III. Scot had engraved the design on currency since 1776, and the medal version is from a Scot re-design in 1778.
As only a small number were made, it is likely that Jefferson handled this example, recently purchased by Colonial Williamsburg from Stacks at ~ $92,000:
Robert Scot: Engraving Liberty - biography of US Mint's first chief engraver
“A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly."
<< <i>Here's a bump, for Independance Day. I hope everyone has a safe, enjoyable Fourth! >>
Also, this is the anniversary of Jefferson's death (and John Adams too) in 1826 which was our country's 50th birthday.
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
Barndog and few others beat me to it, but I do own this 1792 half disme. Jefferson who as secretary of state was responsible for the mint may have seen and handled this one because these were the first coins produced under the Coinage Act of 1792. Jefferson had to have overseen the operation because the mint officials had not been appointed when this piece was made in John Harper's workshop, months before the first mint opened.
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 ... ?
Jefferson, writing in 1784 in his Notes on Coinage called the half pistareen of Spain "a coin perfectly familiar to us all." Ten were worth a dollar, thus inspiring the dime denomination that he conceived.
As a graduate of the University of Virginia and a former employee of Monticello, this is officially my favorite thread ever. >>
John, what am I missing here? Isn't that Real counterfeit?
Here's an example from Segovia to compare die characteristics (like the lions, for example):
This is one of the coolest threads I've seen so far ... associating the year of mintage with famous personas of the time. Some gorgeous examples, too - much better than I anticipated when first reading the subject line.
Comments
–John Adams, 1826
So, in the spirit of illustrating TJ's time in France ...
Betts medals, colonial coins, US Mint medals, foreign coins found in early America, and other numismatic Americana
<< <i>
<< <i>He could have toted this one around.
Mike >>
Do you own this? My favorite coin I think...dream to own someday!
And he definitely could have had this in his pocket at one point
This one is locked up in my sdb.
Mike
- Jim
Maris 42-c
<< <i>
PCGS lists the mintage at 1500, and after seeing this on a Heritage auction description, it's a practical certainty Jefferson carried this coin. Am I right?
"The 1792 half dismes were struck very soon afterward, as on July 13, Jefferson recorded in his household account book 'rec'd from the mint 1500 half dimes of the new coinage.'"
<< <i>Here's an interesting Jefferson quotation, which has modern relevance, particularly after the events of the last few years. This philosophy undoubtedly led the framers of the U. S. Constitution to define lawful money as silver and gold.
"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around [the banks] will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power should be taken from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs." >>
Jefferson was a great political writer and theorist, but he didn’t a darn thing about economics. Little wonder that he died broke.
Jefferson was Governor of Virginia in 1780, and moved the capitol from Williamsburg to Richmond. Robert Scot had also moved from Fredericksburg VA to Richmond as he was engraving the Virginia currency and other projects for Virginia. Scot moved to Philly after traitor Benedict Arnold and 1500 British soldiers burned and plundered Richmond on January 7, 1781 (along with other reasons). Jefferson ordered more of these medals after Scot had moved to Philly.
Jefferson described Scot's work on the medals as "extraordinarily good" which was an accurate assessment in comparison to other American engravers at the time. The reverse was a copy of an earlier British made Indian peace medal, the obverse from a Robert Scot rendition of the Virginia Seal, Virtus over Tyranny. It shows the broken chain and fallen crown, directly aimed at King George III. Scot had engraved the design on currency since 1776, and the medal version is from a Scot re-design in 1778.
As only a small number were made, it is likely that Jefferson handled this example, recently purchased by Colonial Williamsburg from Stacks at ~ $92,000:
- Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106-43 BC
Happy 4th of July!
<< <i>Here's a bump, for Independance Day. I hope everyone has a safe, enjoyable Fourth! >>
Also, this is the anniversary of Jefferson's death (and John Adams too) in 1826 which was our country's 50th birthday.
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
<< <i>Here's To TJ...
Outstanding!
Liberty: Parent of Science & Industry
"Got a flaming heart, can't get my fill"
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.americanlegacycoins.com
<< <i>
Jefferson, writing in 1784 in his Notes on Coinage called the half pistareen of Spain "a coin perfectly familiar to us all." Ten were worth a dollar, thus inspiring the dime denomination that he conceived.
As a graduate of the University of Virginia and a former employee of Monticello, this is officially my favorite thread ever. >>
John, what am I missing here? Isn't that Real counterfeit?
Here's an example from Segovia to compare die characteristics (like the lions, for example):
8 Reales Madness Collection
Amat Colligendo Focum
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