Cute Penny Exonumia Galore!

ThePennyLady · November 1, 2012 4:32AM

I'm writing an article on "Penny Exonumia" and had Todd photograph several pieces from my collection, so I thought I'd "preview" some of these unique and interesting pieces here. Aren't they CUTE!!

1900 Watch Fob

Working padlock made from 1935 Lincoln cent

WWII V-Day Victory pin made from a Lincoln cent - these types of WWII souvenirs are referred to as "trench art"

Tiny teapots made from Indian cents - these were made by inmates from a Midwest prison in the 1930's-1940's. Notice the different shapes in the teapot as well as the handle (most likely made by different inmates)

Tiny teapots made from Lincoln cents

Teapot made from a Canadian cent (notice there is no "United States..." underneath "One Cent")

Tiny mug made from a Lincoln cent

Teapot (approx. 2" high) made with various British copper coins, including the handle, with removable lid

Tea kettle made from 1943 Australian half penny

Spoon made from 1901 British farthing and penny, including the stem

1901 Indian cent "Frying Pan" Stick Pin encasement (rare!)

1901 Indian cent "Frying Pan" encasement

1908 Indian cent in a Teddy Bear encasement

1902 Indian cent Pocket Mirror

1908 Indian cent in oval Pocket Mirror

1928 Lincoln cent Pocket Mirror

1901 Pan Am Expo with 1909 Elongated Indian cent

1907 Jamestown Expo Elongated Indian cent

1909 Hudson-Fulton Elongated Lincoln cent

1864-L Engrailed edge Indian cent

1869 Reeded edge Indian cent

1852 Large cent "Pie Cutter"

1892 Indian cent "Gear" (no hole)

Any comments and/or additional information on these pieces for my article are certainly welcome!

NumisOxide · November 1, 2012 8:01AM

Charmy,
Very interesting 1c exonumia collection. The mini tea pots are really cool, I wonder how long it took to make those and what was the process in creating them. I like the reeded edged cents as well but everything there has a cool factor.

OldEastside · November 1, 2012 9:01AM

Those are cool, especially the tea pots, makes me want to aquire
one just so I can hang it in Death Valley at Tea Kettle Juncion near
the dry lake bed where the rocks mysteriously move and leave
trails on the dry lakebed.

Steve

djm · November 1, 2012 9:35AM

I think the padlock is really cool. Where do you find something like that?

EagleEye · November 1, 2012 9:39AM

Very interesting - Can't wait to see the article. Great pictures too!

mustanggt · November 1, 2012 9:49AM

Cocoinut · November 1, 2012 9:56AM

Charmy,

You have some very cool pieces of exonumia! I especially like the teapots, the Pan American Expo pieces, the Braxmar good luck token (nice 1902 IHC!), and the 1864-L engrailed edge.

Thanks for posting!

Jim

jonathanb · November 1, 2012 10:00AM

A penny-farthing bicycle made from a penny and a farthing (and a third piece-of-penny as the bicycle seat). Both wheels turn freely, and the handlebars freely pivot the front wheel relative to the back.

morgansforever · November 1, 2012 10:21AM

That was a sensory overload of cool copper items. The trench art is incredible and intriguing.
It's like a whole subsection of cent collecting. Thanks for sharing,
Scott

EDIT: The penny-farthing bicycle is xtra super cool.

BustHalfBrian · November 1, 2012 10:35AM

I just love how ornate those teaports are! Hard to believe they were forged by prisoners, too.

Very cool, Charmy! Thanks for sharing.

fastfreddie · November 1, 2012 12:21PM

Wow what a nice collection. No wonder I can never find a teapot - you have them all!

AUandAG · November 1, 2012 1:18PM

Of course the Lord's Prayer is a must have:
bob

DorkGirl · November 1, 2012 11:55PM

coindeuce · November 2, 2012 1:28AM

The advertising mirror from the Cooperstown 2nd National Bank has my undivided attention. WOW!

guitarwes · November 2, 2012 1:38AM

just think of the tools those inmates needed to make those teapots. Of course back then, guards would have just shot them if something hanky was going on instead of trying to first "disarm" the copper tool wielding inmate.

Cool stuff everbody, especially our girl Charmy.

AuroraBorealis · November 2, 2012 3:10AM

Very cool stuff!

AB

ThePennyLady · November 2, 2012 3:15AM

<< <i>just think of the tools those inmates needed to make those teapots. Of course back then, guards would have just shot them if something hanky was going on instead of trying to first "disarm" the copper tool wielding inmate.

Cool stuff everbody, especially our girl Charmy. >>

According to an article that appeared a few years ago in the Numismatist, "In the mid-1930’s, inmates at Massachusetts’ Bridgewater State Prison spent their free time using spoons to shape copper cents into cups, pans and teapots. . . . These miniatures carry a tale as unusual as the teapots are charming. Guards spirited the creations out of the prison and sold them for 10 to 25 cents each. According to ANA Executive Director Emeritus Ed Rochette, exchanges regularly took place at his uncle’s Bridge Diner on Pope’s Island, Massachusettes."

WhiteTornado · November 2, 2012 3:32AM

Way cool, so much to take in at once! Thanks, Charmy, for sharing such great pics

Rebecca1236 · November 3, 2020 3:11PM

Would anyone happen to know about or known were I could find some information regarding the history of Australian half penny miniature teapots?

LanceNewmanOCC · November 3, 2020 3:27PM

@ThePennyLady said:

VERY old thread notification alert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MsMorrisine · November 3, 2020 3:36PM

the body is a penny. the base is a half penny.

they are collectible. Pennies and cents have been formed into a lot of things. you'll find a few items on this page: https://thepennylady.com/the-penny-lady-story/

RESURRECTED THREAD ALERT

7Jaguars · November 3, 2020 10:21PM

BTW, how is Penny Lady/Charmy? Miss her posts and enthusiasm & hope all is well.

ThePennyLady · November 3, 2020 10:49PM

Hi all, I'm around, mostly staying home, except when I go cruising or attending a car show in my lil ol 1968 California Special mustang (I even won first place in my class at my first judged show on Halloween weekend - hence, the "tattoos"!)

I'm not attending any coin shows so no coin show reports, but my website is doing well. I check in here now and then but I just don't have much new to post these days. I definitely miss going to coin shows and seeing you folks and all my coin buddies!