A Coin Related Union Photo Case

BillJones

Back 1995 the mint issued some of the Civil War commemorative coin sets in a reproduction of the Union case which was used to house photographs of the period. Quite often soldiers and their families used these cases to preserve photos of loved ones who were off to war. Some of these cases were made of a thermoplastic material that consisted of molded shellac and sawdust. This material could be molded into intricate designs.

The mint issued cases had a reproduction of a New Orleans $10 gold piece in the middle of the design. After receiving one of these cased sets, I checked with dealers to see if they are had ever seen a photo case like this. Only one said that he had, but he had no idea where to obtain one. Here is my example of the modern, mint issued photo case.



I pretty much forgot about obtaining a case until one cropped up in a recent Stacks' auction. I got stretched to the limit with my bid, but was fortunate enough to win it. I am probably nuts financially for buying this, but I still find it neat. Here is an original Union case by Samuel Peck with the $10 gold design. This probably never housed a photo, but it is decent shape with just a couple of chips and dark spots on the coin part of the design.



Here is the inside of the case.



Here is another case I bought in 1995. This one is not as ornate, but it does have the photo (ambrotype, the picture is printed on glass) of a Union officer.

coindudeonebay

Bill you never cease to amaze me with your collecting habits. Never knew these existed.

DaveWcoins

Super cool, Bill!

I was confused by the title to this thread though.

I was thinking: Why is a union suing someone over a coin-related photography matter?

coindeuce

The material used to construct the 19th century cases is actually gutta-percha. Probably the very first use of a "plastic" material in a commercial application. I own several U.S. Mint struck agricultural society award medals encased in such objects. The specialty of making ambrotype, daguerrotype and union cases from gutta-percha was quite lucrative from the 1860's until the 1880's, when the supply of the natural resource component was almost totally destroyed.

OldEastside

Steve

GBurger717

if you go to civil war relic shows you will find them. I see at least 10/15 a year in Gettysburg at relic shops and that's without looking. Check out CW photographs dealers and you can get them. They have all different types to that can be had from 100.00 to 5 figures.

ricko

Thanks Bill.... very interesting...and nice specimens... Cheers, RickO

Lakesammman

Very cool - thanks for sharing!

I knocked a civil war era one off my mantle once - it opened and inside had the name and city of the soldier. Sure would be fun to reunite it with current day relatives.

sparky64

Just to be clear.
The top pic is a modern mint product with a reproduction coin and the very next pic is the real deal, coin too?

They are all very interesting, thanks.

Zoins

These are very cool pieces. Thanks for sharing these photos and this bit of history Bill!

BillJones

<< <i>Just to be clear.
The top pic is a modern mint product with a reproduction coin and the very next pic is the real deal, coin too?

They are all very interesting, thanks. >>



The top piece is a modern holder that coins it. The second photo is of a 19th century photo case with inside below that. The last two photos are of the outside an inside of another case.

MedalCollector

Just a little added info: the replica photo case produced by the mint originally sold for $265.00.

BillJones

<< <i>Just a little added info: the replica photo case produced by the mint originally sold for $265.00. >>



I didn't think the replica cases were that expensive. I know that two piece Civil War sets with the half dollar and dollar were issued in that case. You didn't have to buy the gold coin to get it. I don't think that the mint charged $265 for that two piece set.

MedalCollector

<< <i>I didn't think the replica cases were that expensive. I know that two piece Civil War sets with the half dollar and dollar were issued in that case. You didn't have to buy the gold coin to get it. I don't think that the mint charged $265 for that two piece set. >>



You are correct. It was $265 for the three-coin set, including gold. It was $55.00 for the two-coin set.

kaz

Wow, that was a heck of a deal. Wish I had one!! Very nice, Bill.