My fascination with Phrygian caps

Justacommeman

Ok I have always had a thing about Phrygian caps and poles. I love the whole freedom and liberty association with them though out various cultures. I'm a fashion designer by trade and hats/caps have become an integral part of the industry the past decade. So when I got a chance to integrate my work with my play I jumped on these two Condor tokens. I have always enjoyed macabre themed coins and Thomas Paine hanging men tokens in particular. Add in some color and I'm totally sated with these two pieces.

Both tokens illicit an emotional response from me. Maybe, I need to get out more. The first token pictured is quite rare for the the series. I had never seen one prior and the boys at CRO had never handled one before. The obverse is literally a treasure trove of symbolism. It takes me back to those childhood magazines------" How many things can you find on this page" type of thing. The second token is also a piece I have never seen before in that obverse/reverse combination. It is subtle, powerful and beautiful in my opinion. I thank John and Dave for working with me on these two pieces. I smell another sub series in my future. MJ

blu62vette

I think the symbolism is very cool...

comma

Beautiful.
Love the first one and the reverse on the second.
I've been searching for a while for a nice conder like that...

Goldbully

Oh so cool....on so many levels, MJ.
Baltimore was a great show for you......so glad I got to meet the 'Commem'Man....or should I say 'Condor'Man!
I know you had Charmy's complete attention!!!!!

Justacommeman

<< <i>I know you had Charmy's complete attention!!!!! >>



That's because she had been drinking 150 proof egg nog prior to my arrival at her table. MJ

MidLifeCrisis

Those are great!

lkeigwin

<< <i>

<< <i>I know you had Charmy's complete attention!!!!! >>



That's because she had been drinking 150 proof egg nog prior to my arrival at her table. MJ >>

LOL. What...Charmy enjoys spirits? My kind of woman.

Here's a phrygian cap for you, from Rick Snow.
Lance.

(edited, wrong cent)

erickso1

Wow. I know I have some research to do tomorrow. Sweet tokens. Be interested to see what others have to say too.

edited to ask : out of curiosity, how large are these tokens (or small depending on your viewpoint). I've never seen one in person so they all look the same size. (saw a $1 pan pac gold at the coin show last week. Holy moly, tiny little things.)

RYK

I see them all the time.



(They are often seen as a normal variant when evaluating the gallbladder with ultrasound.)

coinsarefun

Beautiful and I know they get pricey it the better graded ones too

Congrat's, the images look great!

Broadstruck

The Cap -


The Phrygian cap is a soft, red, conical cap with the top pulled forward, worn in antiquity by the inhabitants of Phrygia, a region of central Anatolia. Originally a priestly cap, it came to signify freedom and the pursuit of liberty and is sometimes called a liberty cap.

During the 18th century its symbolism was of great interest to the Freemasons, and the conflation of the cap led to the red Phrygian cap evolving into a symbol of 'freedom', held aloft on a Liberty Pole during both the American Revolutionary War and the French Revolution.

The Phrygian cap has been used to symbolize liberty in numerous countries of the Americas. For example, starting in 1793 United States of America coinage frequently showed liberty wearing the cap or, on many 19th Century pieces, holding it on a Liberty Pole. The cap's last appearance on circulating coinage was the Walking Liberty Half Dollar, which was minted through 1947 (and reused on the current bullion American Silver Eagle).


The Pole -

A liberty pole is a tall wooden pole, often used as a type of flagstaff, planted in the ground, which may be surmounted by an ensign or a liberty cap. A liberty pole was often erected in town squares in the years before and during the American Revolution. Some colonists erected liberty poles on their own private land.

An often violent struggle over liberty poles erected by the Sons of Liberty in New York City raged for 10 years. The poles were periodically destroyed by the royal authorities, only to be replaced by the Sons with new ones. The conflict lasted from the repeal of the Stamp Act in 1766 until the revolutionary New York Provincial Congress came to power in 1775. The liberty pole in New York City was crowned with a gilt vane bearing the single word, "Liberty".

When an ensign was raised (usually red) on a liberty pole, it would be a calling for the Sons of Liberty or townspeople to meet and vent or express their views regarding British rule. The pole was known to be a symbol of dissent against Great Britain. The symbol is also apparent in many seals and coats of arms as a sign of liberty, freedom, and independence.

The image of Liberty holding a pole topped by a Phrygian cap appears on many U.S. coins.

Goldbully

Thanks Broadstruck....your history lesson was most helpful and enlightening.
MJ's Condors are even more amazing now!!!!!

Lakesammman

Thanks for buying the first one - you've removed the temptation.

Nice!!!

RYK - Can't believe you posted that...

Justacommeman

<< <i>Thanks for buying the first one - you've removed the temptation.

Nice!!!

RYK - Can't believe you posted that... >>



Yes, John told me some other idiot was inquiring about it as well. I figured it to be you

RYK-----

Michael it was a pleasure to meet you in Baltimore!

Erickso1- they range from the size of a penny to that of a half dollar in most cases. I guess the size of a quarter is the sweet spot.

MJ

coinsarefun

LanceNewmanOCC

<< <i>The Phrygian cap is a soft, red, conical cap with the top pulled forward. >>



this image reminds me of the bust on the obverse of the morgan dollar, yum

and that is why it is gracing the desktop background on my pc

ThePennyLady

Yes, those Conders definitely do attract my attention, I am quite impressed with your beautiful Conders - and the eggnog had nothing to do with it - that's my story, and I'm sticking to it! (Todd can attest to the lack of potency in that very tasty eggnog!)

RebelRon

I always wondered about those caps.Great information! Thank you!

lordmarcovan

Those "gallows" pieces have always been interesting and appealing to me, in a macabre sort of way.

And I know I'm far from the only one who's found them fascinating.

edix2001

lordmarcovan

Hey, I can play, now!

The liberty cap on the pole held by Pallas Athena (or the "Dutch Virgin") has similar symbolism here, on this 1759 Holland 1/4 gulden. She's got her elbow on the bible.

I had my eye on this one for about a month and finally pulled the trigger this morning. Looks like it might be a bit prooflike, eh? AU, I believe.

ambro51

Lovett also enjoyed the design, probably for beauty and symbolism. He used it on the Confederate Cent, his store card, and this token. His trademark was that the last star, closest to the back of the head, was cut in half by the design.