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So-Called Dollar Jackpot! LOTS of photos.
cmerlo1
Posts: 8,084 ✭✭✭✭✭
I was at a show yesterday and came across a table with a bunch of medals laid out loose on the table, about 30 of them. Most were modern (Jimmy Carter, space shuttle, 1962 World's Fair etc.) but I also noticed a bunch that were a LOT older. I picked out 10 of them and asked how much, and the dealer said $3.00 apiece! Highlights are posted below. It looks like they're all common, but the condition is great.
I finally got to use my So-Called Dollars exposition book by Jeff Shevlin to attribute (hopefully I got them right!).
One question for the SCD folks- how bad does the loop on the HK-401 hurt the value?
HK-401:
HK-289:
HK-294:
HK-326:
HK-428:
HK-15a:
HK-155:
You Suck! Awarded 6/2008- 1901-O Micro O Morgan, 8/2008- 1878 VAM-123 Morgan, 9/2022 1888-O VAM-1B3 H8 Morgan | Senior Regional Representative- ANACS Coin Grading. Posted opinions on coins are my own, and are not an official ANACS opinion.
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Amazing! At $3 a piece for those, you hit the jackpot! Worthy of a you suck if the grade BU+! Those look to be in great condition!
As for the loop, that's a nice, artistic loop. I'm not sure about value, but @SoCalledGuy doesn't differentiate in his cataloging, though I have suggested the idea of having different catalog numbers for looped and unlooped so they could be tracked in various pop reports.
If ever there was one deserving of the "YOU SUCK" award, it's you...YOU SUCK!
USAF (Ret) Founding member of the "YOU SUCK CLUB." Remembering RickO, a brother in arms.
Holy Mackerel! At your cost of acquisition you pretty much stole those! Nice pick up.
In honor of the memory of Cpl. Michael E. Thompson
That loop was placed by the US Mint. It does NOT hurt the value... in fact, it's worth more in my opinion. I have a slabbed HK-401 without the loop AND one raw looped. If you can find HK-399, HK-400, and HK-401 with that loop style, they are ALL original from the US Mint.
Congratulations ! I really like the 1901-02 South Carolina piece ... which is also a US Mint piece (by George Morgan I believe) !
A So-Called Dollar and Slug Collector... Previously "Pioneer" on this site...
Definitely a YOU SUCK triple crown!
IIRC the looped ones had a specific source. Possibly ANA convention badges?
I'm pretty sure only the gilt ones were looped like this.
HK-294 is not common by any stretch. That's easily a $400 piece. The HK-15 is common-ish by type but not in that condition!
What others?
Judging only by the photos provided I think the Pilgrim will end up being the big winner in the group. The South Carolina is one of my favorite obverse designs but yours seems to exhibit a very weak strike or wear.
Overall this is a great group for what is an unbelievable price. It is reminiscent of my “So-Called Dollar Mini-Hoard” from about 20 years ago. It renews my faith in the Hobby and that education and persistence are worthwhile.
Congratulations and hats off to @cmerlo1.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
What artistry on those pieces. Works of art indeed.
The top 3 are among my favorite SCD designs with Pan-American being a long time fav. Still trying to find a silver one up to my standards. So jealous!
Thanks everyone for all the comments, and for the coveted 'YOU SUCK' award. As you can see from my sigline it's been a while since I last got one of those.
@jonathanb The other 3 pieces were duplicates and while in good shape were not as nice as these. There are 2 more HK-155's (small letters) and another HK-326 which has some wear and is the worst of the lot.
I highly doubt that the U.S. Mint was responsible for the loops on the gilt bronze official medals. It is much more likely that Farran Zerbe added the loops as he had the concession for selling the official medals made by the Mint at the expo. His history from the Louisiana Purchase Expo in St. Louis and the Lewis & Clark Expo in Portland of using the coins and medals from the Mint Exhibit in jewelry, spoons, badges, etc. would add credence to this thought.
As Jonathan suggests, some of the looped medals were used for the 1915 ANA Convention badges which is understandable due to Past President Zerbe's (complicated) relationship with the ANA.
Your “You Suck” awards suck.
That's good information. I had been told by Jeff Shevlin years ago that the mint was responsible, but your explanation has obvious merit. TY !
A So-Called Dollar and Slug Collector... Previously "Pioneer" on this site...
Great pickin' and doggone great photos.
Congratulations on your SCD's. At those prices it was a gift.
"Responsible" is a wiggly word. The dies were prepared by the Mint, and the medals were struck within the US Mint exhibit at the expo. Most of the medals never came near the Mint itself (although there are some hints that maybe a few were indeed struck there). Does that count as responsible?
The hanger was affixed after strike. I don't know added the hangar. I also assume it was added by Zerbe or someone else unrelated to the Mint, but I have no firm info on that. I'm not aware of any confirmed US Mint pieces (SCDs or otherwise) with a loop like that.
Yes, that badge is what I had in mind. As far as I understand, all of the looped pieces like this one came from those badges.