Half inch 1832 "Lords Prayer" Philadelphia Mint Token

pcunix

This is one of the exonumia pieces that was in the collection I'm trying to replicate. I found it to buy easily and cheaply enough, but I can't seem to find out much about them. Googling turns up things that say it might have been sold at the Columbian Exposition but I haven't found anything authoritative. I found this, http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/1390189 which says that they were made at the mint, but as it also says they are "very scarce" and they definitely are not, I think maybe that made up on the spot..

It's nothing critical, of course. I just like to know "the rest of the story". My grandfather (who apparently collected the coins) would have been 4 or 5 if it came from the Chicago Worlds Fair, which is not impossible as his father seems like the sort of man who would have taken his son to see that (he was a minorly famous artist)

Other evidence in favor of the World's Fair is that there was also a Columbian Half in the collection.. no other commems at all, just that.

coindeuce

Edited to update my incorrect earlier report. This token is very similar to several tokens struck by W.H. Key.

The token is listed in "The Standard Catalog of United States Tokens, 1700-1900" by Russell Rulau. This token is listed by Rulau in the section of Pennsylvania Trade tokens. The token was produced by George B. Soley on the Mint's first steam coinage press, which he had acquired as scrap in 1875. Relatively common, extant pieces are available in high grade. It is listed as: PA-Ph 394. Sold at various late 19th century expositions and at the Philadelphia Mint as souvenirs.

pcunix

<< <i>The token is listed in "The Standard Catalog of United States Tokens, 1700-1900" by Russell Rulau. This token is listed in the section of Pennsylvania tokens. The token was produced by Mint engraver William H.Key as an outside project of his. Relatively common, extant pieces are available in high grade. Struck on Mint press at the Treasury Exhibit of the U.S. Mint. during the W.C.E. Don't have a Rulau catalog in hand, but I believe it is listed as: PA-Ph 186. >>



Thank you! I could hug you!

Broadstruck

Very common as Coindeuce mentioned and usually seen holed for suspension along with a brass ring and a red or blue ribbon.

With a lil patience you can find one that's non holed as they do cross EBay quite frequently.

The examples below are listed for $10, $12.50, and $20 with shipping so you can see the starting price for the auction link is on the high side.

pcunix

<< <i>Very common as Coindeuce mentioned and usually seen holed for suspension along with a brass ring and a red or blue ribbon.

With a lil patience you can find one that's non holed as they do cross EBay quite frequently.

The examples below are listed for $10, $12.50, and $20 with shipping so you can see the starting price for the auction link is on the high side.
>>



I found a holed one sans ribbon for $21.00 shipped. That's exactly what I wanted as the one in my grandfather's coins was that way. My guess is that his father picked up this and a Columbian Half at the World's Fair in 1893 as both of those were in the coins I inherited.

Thanks!

Lakesammman

You sure that's the token you were looking for?? I'd post a picture but Photobucket is now kicked-the-bucket......

pcunix

<< <i>You sure that's the token you were looking for?? I'd post a picture but Photobucket is now kicked-the-bucket...... >>



That's ONE of the tokens I needed, yes.

Lakesammman

This is what I thought you were referring to.

Lakesammman

Thanks for the post - learned something new today - didn't know there was an earlier version!

Broadstruck

<< <i>Thanks for the post - learned something new today - didn't know there was an earlier version! >>



Yours is a lot scarcer then the one mentioned in this thread.

The one the OP questioned is actually smaller about 13mm in diameter.

Also struck in 1876 as the 1832 date on the obverse is for the final completion date of the mints second building although it wasn't operational until 1833.

pcunix

<< <i>

<< <i>Thanks for the post - learned something new today - didn't know there was an earlier version! >>



Yours is a lot scarcer then the one mentioned in this thread.

The one the OP questioned is actually smaller about 13mm in diameter.

Also struck in 1876 as the 1832 date on the obverse is for the final completion date of the mints second building although it wasn't operational until 1833. >>



So it's pretty obvious where that scarce one originated, but where did people acquire the common one? You initially thought at the 1893 World's Fair but then corrected yourself if I'm understanding correctly? Was the common one at the 1876 exhibition?

Zoins

@Lakesammman said:
This is what I thought you were referring to.

Just ran across this thread again as I was looking for these. Since Photobucket has left the building and the forums now support image uploads, here's the one cached by Google. Thanks for posting it @Lakesammman!

KellenCoin

I own the same token with a loop on top, and had no idea what it is. Thank you to the comments for the information.

ricko

I saw one of these in a local antique shop a few months ago.... evidently they are not super rare.... Cheers, RickO

BillJones

I have read that one of the technological goals achieved with this piece was that a tremendous amount of detail, text of the Lord's Prayer, was presented in a very limited space.

It is quite common. I found one among a random hoard of family stuff that was in an old trunk. It would have interesting to known how this piece was first acquired, but alas I have no way of learning that.

RogerB

This letter relates to Soley's tokens mentioned above.

Coinosaurus

The proportion of product to original documents for the Soley tokens is quite high. Thanks for sharing.

RogerB

The "medalettes" were sold by Mint Conductors (the men who led visitors on tours) for 25-cents each. Revenue was split between the conductors, the Mint Cabinet and Soley's business. Superintendents were OK with this because Congress refused to provide more than $300/yr for the Cabinet, and the Conductors were only paid a couple of dollars a day. Also, there was no mint appropriation for making souvenir medals. It was a cheap way of advertising the Mint's collection and satisfying visitors' desire for a cheap souvenir of their trip to Philadelphia. (Philly was a bigger tourist attraction that Washington DC at that time.)

Cameonut

Reminded me of a piece of type my grandfather gave me circa 1960. He was a foreman at a printing company (born in 1896).

This type is about 3/16" square and and inch tall (not sure exactly what the old printers measurements are). The entire Lord's prayer is engraved on that 3/16" square and can be read with a 9x glass. Letters are 0.006" high. Sorry for the quick cell pics. Pretty decent technology for 1925.

Lakesammman

Wow - a blast from the past! Thanks for the memories.