Is there a Market for Die Trials of Silver Bars? Got a really neat one

Smittys

Here's the silver bar on eBay or at least a pic.

oih82w8

There is usually a market for just about anything...given the right time and audience.

gonzer

Neat item but it looks more like a tribute to Burl Ives.

CaptHenway

What is the engraving on the back of the piece?

Zoins

@CaptHenway said:
What is the engraving on the back of the piece?

Pretty standard / non-descript. It would have been great to have a list of accomplishments and contributions to the hobby on the reverse. It would be neat to have this for others recognized by the ANA, like a Numismatist of the Year as well.

MICHAELDIXON

Great item! I bought Confederate bills from "Colonel" Criswell many, many years ago. As for a market, I have no idea.

ricko

I think CaptHenway meant the scratches on the reverse of the trial piece.....Cheers, RickO

Smittys

@CaptHenway said:
What is the engraving on the back of the piece?

Looks like Ken Smith
7-18-1977

Shamika

@Smittys said:

@CaptHenway said:
What is the engraving on the back of the piece?

Looks like Ken Smith
7-18-1977

I was thinking Ron Smith, 7-18-1977

Zoins

The signature on the back is for Ken W. Smith, an American silver art intaglio die cutter who hand cut his dies. His initials, KWS, are on the obverse. His pieces are collectible so this is a great find. Check out this piece with a mintage of 5 with a similar signature and date on the reverse. There seems to be a following for both him and his mentor, Henry Alvin Sharpe.

He was an apprentice of Henry Alvin Sharpe (1909-1982), a fellow intaglio die cutter best known for creating the Mardi Gras doubloon. He's often referred to as H. Alvin Sharpe or via his initials, HAS. Just do a search for "HAS doubloon" on the bay. Here's a biography for Henry Alvin Sharpe from Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. It would be great to have more info on Ken W Smith as well.

New Orleans artist Henry Alvin Sharpe was born in Corbin, KY in 1909. Although his formal education ended in the 7th grade, natural curiosity spurred Sharpe to educate himself to the basic college level. After studying art briefly in Paris, and being twice rejected by the Navy, Sharpe settled in New Orleans in 1931, where he worked on the docks and as a ship-hand. A few years later Sharpe had a serendipitous encounter with Louisiana Governor Huey P. Long at the bar of the Roosevelt Hotel. The two men spent the evening recounting stories over drinks and the governor asked Sharpe to paint murals on the ceiling of the Cotton Exchange (now the Board of Trade Building) at Magazine and Camp Streets. Additionally over 2,300 of Sharpe's drawing hung in the capitol for many years. At the outbreak of WWII Sharpe enlisted in the Merchant Marines, where he was made a first mate and eventually rose to Captain. Sharpe travelled extensively after the war but eventually made his way back to New Orleans, where he began cutting dies and making medals. He is most well-known for creating and producing the "doubloons" used during Mardi Gras. Sharpe invented a light-weight aluminum doubloon that would be dangerous when thrown into the air; an estimated 2.75 million aluminum doubloons were produce between 1960-70. Sharpe continued to make various doubloons for the remainder of his career and even created the 1967 Mississippi Sesquicentennial medal. He died unexpectedly in 1982.