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Research help requested - from 1890 Robert Coulton Davis sale + a couple Woodwards...

I'll be most appreciative of some research help...

I have reason to believe that these three sales contained appearances of "Gobrecht's Archimedes medal" (Julian AM-55, or the "New England Society for Promotion of Manufactures and Mechanic Arts" medal):

Woodward #21, Mar 31-02 1879: lot #648 (William H. Bowdoin)
Woodward #108, Apr 16-18 1890: lot #256b (A. Forbes, John H. Day)
NY Coin & Stamp, Jan 20 1890: lot #1884 (Robert Coulton Davis)

Can someone with any of these sales confirm the above lot numbers? Silver or other metal? A mention of it or them being awarded?

Thank you so much! I will be glad to reciprocate if you need some information from my library...

Comments

  • CoinosaurusCoinosaurus Posts: 9,614 ✭✭✭✭✭
    There are two in Woodward Holland 1878:

    1751 - silver, awarded to Francis Peabody
    1752 - bronze, unawarded

    I'll be at the ANS next week and will check on these others you mention. Plates, if we get lucky.
  • coindeucecoindeuce Posts: 13,471 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I hope you snagged the eBay lot that we discussed. I'm amazed at what that medal realized, and I've paid very strong money for some Mint made Ag. Society medals. The AM-55 appears to be a diamond in the rough, but it does show that the interest in Gobrecht engraved exonumia is getting stronger every day. Gobrecht signed medals are among my most prized pieces, as the possibility of owning a Gobrecht Silver dollar is remote for me.

    "Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
    http://www.americanlegacycoins.com

  • From Woodward 21:
    Lot 648. Head of Archimedes facing right, 1826. Rev. "Genius, Intelligence, Industry, and Friendship." Fine proof of an extremely rare medal, 40.

    And you sold me the catalogue. image


  • jonathanbjonathanb Posts: 3,411 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>I'm amazed at what that medal realized >>

    . Actually, it was likely a very good deal. Historical prices for this piece have been quite a bit higher.

    (If I'm not mistaken, the underbidder was a board member also...)
  • coindeucecoindeuce Posts: 13,471 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>I'm amazed at what that medal realized >>

    . Actually, it was likely a very good deal. Historical prices for this piece have been quite a bit higher.

    (If I'm not mistaken, the underbidder was a board member also...) >>



    Historically higher prices for this exact piece, or other examples of higher quality ?

    "Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
    http://www.americanlegacycoins.com

  • PreTurbPreTurb Posts: 1,182 ✭✭✭
    Thanks everyone, for your comments and help so far! Big thanks to DeliaBug for the lookup (sounds like a bronze version then, in Woodward #21?)

    The eBay medal is probably one of the lower-quality examples. The Ford medals, for instance, are much more attractive and well preserved, it appears.

    Another puzzler: An AM-55 appeared in Spink America sales of June and December 1997, but was not illustrated... Did any of you view that piece and recall anything about it? Links are:

    http://www.christies.com/lotFinder/lot_details.aspx?intObjectID=227189

    http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/LotDetailsPrintable.aspx?intObjectID=317834

    The June 1997 buyer must have doubted it was silver, then returned it. It showed up in December 1997 with a different description (and sold for a lot less).

    Anyone remember the circumstances???

  • Just re-checked and the Woodward 21:648 piece is in the Bronze Medals section, so you are correct.

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