Rarer than a Silver Libertas....
cardinal
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My all-time favorite companion for early U.S. Coinage has always been the Libertas Americana medal, unanimously named to the Number 1 spot among the 100 Greatest American Tokens and Medals as compiled by Q. David Bowers. I am very pleased to have acquired examples of both the scarce (R-4) original strikings in Bronze and the rare (R-6) original strkings in Silver, along with some later restrikes.
Along the way, I learned that small tokens were struck with the Libertas Americana design during the post-civil-war and Centennial eras, and while I thought to collect examples of those as well, I had no idea of their availability or scarcity. I was fortunate to have been offered several pieces from the Musante Collection that were struck by J.A. Bolen, and those were added to the growing collection.
Well, as new acquisitions often do, those new Bolen pieces started a research project. I found that there were multiple references that included relevant information, such as those by Miller, Musante, Rulau and Slabaugh, but no single reference truly covered the topic completely. After a good bit of digging to pull out the most relevant excerpts of each reference, what I found was quite surprising. The series of Libertas Americana-themed medals and tokens of the 1860's and 1870's utilized 3 known obverse dies, 16 known reverse dies for medals, 72 known reverse dies for merchant tokens, and a variety of different metallic compositions -- all totaling to create 89 different die varieties and 186 known combinations of die varieties and metallic compositions! (Of course, that is but a miniscule sampling of the many thousands of different varieties included in the pantheon of civil war and merchant tokens!)
As I mentioned in an earlier thread, I submitted a very choice 1876 Libertas Americana Centennial Token that was graded by PCGS as MS65RD. That was not the only piece I submitted; in fact, the submission included a total of 95 Libertas tokens. As you can imagine, that was not the easiest submission for PCGS to handle. Not even a single variety had been graded by PCGS before, so every piece had to be verified for its proper attribution to the appropriate reference. Hat's off to the PCGS grading room on this! I corresponded with the team to get the PCGS library supplemented where needed, and they dug into not only assigning new PCGS coin numbers, but also linking the correct Rulau numbers and label descriptions, and, of course, Phil did his usual awesome job with TrueView'ing everything. The online PCGS Population Report now has a new category at the very bottom of the "Miscellaneous" group for "Rulau Tokens," and as of this date, the entire reported population is comprised of this one submission.
All that beings said...what is rarer than an original Silver Libertas Americana medal? It turns out that some of these (hugely less valuable) tokens are quite a bit rarer. Here are perhaps the most notable FIVE (NOT SO) EASY PIECES:
The 1867 dated JAB-30 Bolen Medal in Copper, featuring Bolen's fine artistry with the first of the Libertas obverse dies:
The Baker-56 Washington Medal in Silver (AKA JAB M-4), also using Libertas obverse 1:
The R-8 Libertas 3-Cent Pattern in Bronzed Lead, also using Libertas obverse 1:
The extremely rare Bronze striking of the Frederick's Pharmacy token, using Libertas obverse 2 (notice the cap points to the "A" and not to the "I":
Finally, the sole known example of the Traphagen Hunter token struck in Brass, using Libertas obverse 3 (rather crude, however):
--Cardinal
Along the way, I learned that small tokens were struck with the Libertas Americana design during the post-civil-war and Centennial eras, and while I thought to collect examples of those as well, I had no idea of their availability or scarcity. I was fortunate to have been offered several pieces from the Musante Collection that were struck by J.A. Bolen, and those were added to the growing collection.
Well, as new acquisitions often do, those new Bolen pieces started a research project. I found that there were multiple references that included relevant information, such as those by Miller, Musante, Rulau and Slabaugh, but no single reference truly covered the topic completely. After a good bit of digging to pull out the most relevant excerpts of each reference, what I found was quite surprising. The series of Libertas Americana-themed medals and tokens of the 1860's and 1870's utilized 3 known obverse dies, 16 known reverse dies for medals, 72 known reverse dies for merchant tokens, and a variety of different metallic compositions -- all totaling to create 89 different die varieties and 186 known combinations of die varieties and metallic compositions! (Of course, that is but a miniscule sampling of the many thousands of different varieties included in the pantheon of civil war and merchant tokens!)
As I mentioned in an earlier thread, I submitted a very choice 1876 Libertas Americana Centennial Token that was graded by PCGS as MS65RD. That was not the only piece I submitted; in fact, the submission included a total of 95 Libertas tokens. As you can imagine, that was not the easiest submission for PCGS to handle. Not even a single variety had been graded by PCGS before, so every piece had to be verified for its proper attribution to the appropriate reference. Hat's off to the PCGS grading room on this! I corresponded with the team to get the PCGS library supplemented where needed, and they dug into not only assigning new PCGS coin numbers, but also linking the correct Rulau numbers and label descriptions, and, of course, Phil did his usual awesome job with TrueView'ing everything. The online PCGS Population Report now has a new category at the very bottom of the "Miscellaneous" group for "Rulau Tokens," and as of this date, the entire reported population is comprised of this one submission.
All that beings said...what is rarer than an original Silver Libertas Americana medal? It turns out that some of these (hugely less valuable) tokens are quite a bit rarer. Here are perhaps the most notable FIVE (NOT SO) EASY PIECES:
The 1867 dated JAB-30 Bolen Medal in Copper, featuring Bolen's fine artistry with the first of the Libertas obverse dies:
The Baker-56 Washington Medal in Silver (AKA JAB M-4), also using Libertas obverse 1:
The R-8 Libertas 3-Cent Pattern in Bronzed Lead, also using Libertas obverse 1:
The extremely rare Bronze striking of the Frederick's Pharmacy token, using Libertas obverse 2 (notice the cap points to the "A" and not to the "I":
Finally, the sole known example of the Traphagen Hunter token struck in Brass, using Libertas obverse 3 (rather crude, however):
--Cardinal
3
Comments
Did you find this to be true?
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<< <i>The R-8 Libertas 3-Cent Pattern in Bronzed Lead was reported to be an electrotype.
Did you find this to be true? >>
This particular specimen does not appear to be an electrotype. It displays no signs of a seam where obverse and reverse shells would have come together. It does display signs of being double struck, with smooth lustrous surfaces.
The example in StacksBowers January 2014 sale was identified as an electrotype, but this one is a different specimen. This one traces back to Abner Kriesberg decades ago, and was unknown to Neil Musante when he performed his research.
Are the 1976-dated Paris Mint silver restrikes worth anything?
And I thought I was obsessive compulsive! LOL.
But this is how great collections are born!
Nicely done!
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In this particular medal, Liberty looks like King George III wearing a fright wig:
This is what makes this forum so special...learning from others.
Very impressive and much appreciated!
I have a large Libertas medal restruck in 1983 -- with dates changed on the obverse under Liberty. I have only seen two of these over the past 3 or so years, but they may be quite common. It's large and bulky enough to be used as a weapon, coming in at around 80mm and half a pound.
Size comparison:
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<< <i>
Thanks for posting this!
ANA LM
USAF Retired — 34 years of active military service! 🇺🇸
<< <i>Nice grouping!
Are the 1976-dated Paris Mint silver restrikes worth anything? >>
They are certainly worth at least their weight in silver!
<< <i>Great pieces and wonderful historical information.
I have a large Libertas medal restruck in 1983 -- with dates changed on the obverse under Liberty. I have only seen two of these over the past 3 or so years, but they may be quite common. It's large and bulky enough to be used as a weapon, coming in at around 80mm and half a pound.
The large size bronze restrikes do seem to be less common than the silver ones. I have only seen a few, but I was fortunate to be able to find a nice one to add to the collection. These large size restrikes are basically the same diameter as the 5oz ATB silver quarters, and they fit nicely into the holders that PCGS designed for those:
<< <i>Here's an image of J-319. When you compare the reverse to that of the Libertas thing, it's obvious that the Libertas reverse is a copy of some sort. And the piece does have the look of a sloppy electrotype, even if it was struck from dies. (Note the blurred details, the rounded letters, and the raised lumps that look sort of like die rust, but aren't.)
With the J-319 patterns being produced in 1863, the die would have been aged and worn by the time that Bolen's Libertas Americana die was made in 1867. Perhaps that J-319 die was one of the ones the Mint discarded and sold for scrap, like those that Haseltine used for the restrikes and electrotypes he sold in the 1870's? Also, during that period of time, the Mint was producing a number of bronzed copper medals, where the bronzing was applied after the copper medal had been struck. The post-striking bronzing could certainly have softened the details.
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<< <i>Nice grouping!
Are the 1976-dated Paris Mint silver restrikes worth anything? >>
They are certainly worth at least their weight in silver!
I'll have to dig mine out and weigh it........
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>Nice grouping!
Are the 1976-dated Paris Mint silver restrikes worth anything? >>
They are certainly worth at least their weight in silver!
I'll have to dig mine out and weigh it........ >>
The 1976 silver restrikes were produced at 77mm diameter, with 240 grams of 0.950 pure silver. So, each one contains 7.33 troy ounces of pure silver.
carolinacollectorcoins.com
<< <i>
<< <i>The R-8 Libertas 3-Cent Pattern in Bronzed Lead was reported to be an electrotype.
Did you find this to be true? >>
This particular specimen does not appear to be an electrotype. It displays no signs of a seam where obverse and reverse shells would have come together. It does display signs of being double struck, with smooth lustrous surfaces.
The example in StacksBowers January 2014 sale was identified as an electrotype, but this one is a different specimen. This one traces back to Abner Kriesberg decades ago, and was unknown to Neil Musante when he performed his research. >>
Thanks for the info Cardinal.
After comparing yours to the Stacks Auction
I did a side by side comparison in black and white as I see the details better and now wondering if the Stacks one is a struck example like yours vs an electrotype as they stated?
But I am probably wrong but would appreciate your input.
.
CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
.
Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
.
More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>Nice grouping!
Are the 1976-dated Paris Mint silver restrikes worth anything? >>
They are certainly worth at least their weight in silver!
I'll have to dig mine out and weigh it........ >>
The 1976 silver restrikes were produced at 77mm diameter, with 240 grams of 0.950 pure silver. So, each one contains 7.33 troy ounces of pure silver. >>
Thanks!
What an odd fineness, .950!
<< <i>
<< <i>Here's an image of J-319. When you compare the reverse to that of the Libertas thing, it's obvious that the Libertas reverse is a copy of some sort. And the piece does have the look of a sloppy electrotype, even if it was struck from dies. (Note the blurred details, the rounded letters, and the raised lumps that look sort of like die rust, but aren't.)
With the J-319 patterns being produced in 1863, the die would have been aged and worn by the time that Bolen's Libertas Americana die was made in 1867. Perhaps that J-319 die was one of the ones the Mint discarded and sold for scrap, like those that Haseltine used for the restrikes and electrotypes he sold in the 1870's? Also, during that period of time, the Mint was producing a number of bronzed copper medals, where the bronzing was applied after the copper medal had been struck. The post-striking bronzing could certainly have softened the details. >>
I doubt that this reverse die was used enough to become very worn. I suspect that the Libertas pieces with this reverse are indeed electrotypes.
<< <i>
<< <i>
<< <i>Here's an image of J-319. When you compare the reverse to that of the Libertas thing, it's obvious that the Libertas reverse is a copy of some sort. And the piece does have the look of a sloppy electrotype, even if it was struck from dies. (Note the blurred details, the rounded letters, and the raised lumps that look sort of like die rust, but aren't.)
With the J-319 patterns being produced in 1863, the die would have been aged and worn by the time that Bolen's Libertas Americana die was made in 1867. Perhaps that J-319 die was one of the ones the Mint discarded and sold for scrap, like those that Haseltine used for the restrikes and electrotypes he sold in the 1870's? Also, during that period of time, the Mint was producing a number of bronzed copper medals, where the bronzing was applied after the copper medal had been struck. The post-striking bronzing could certainly have softened the details. >>
I doubt that this reverse die was used enough to become very worn. I suspect that the Libertas pieces with this reverse are indeed electrotypes. >>
I agree these look like electrotypes.
<< <i>For EXOJUNKIE --
With the different Libertas tokens added, the Libertas type collection now looks like this:
Gorgeous! Worth a bump back TTT!!!
ANA LM
USAF Retired — 34 years of active military service! 🇺🇸
Compare the rounding of the letters and design and the occasional lump around the devices to one of Cardinal's original pieces. These are characteristics of electrotypes.
<< <i>Here is an electrotype of an original Libertas Americana medal.
Compare the rounding of the letters and design and the occasional lump around the devices to one of Cardinal's original pieces. These are characteristics of electrotypes.
The quality of an electrotype depends upon the skill of the electrotyper. I have seen one of the Mint-made 1804 electrotype dollars, and the workmanship is excellent. I have likewise seen other electrotypes that I could only prove (as opposed to suspect) were electrotypes by their specific gravity.
<< <i>The quality of an electrotype depends upon the skill of the electrotyper. I have seen one of the Mint-made 1804 electrotype dollars, and the workmanship is excellent. I have likewise seen other electrotypes that I could only prove (as opposed to suspect) were electrotypes by their specific gravity. >>
Electrotypes as you have said can be made by a quality maker and be beautiful and accurate.
It will pick up every detail of the original coin
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Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
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Good discussion and example Tom and Stef!
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CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
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Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
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More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC
Great pieces Stef!
Here's a rare die trial I ran across:
Here are the trueviews of the 3C piece mentioned years ago from Cardinal. Purchased a few years ago from Stacks1. *
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