April 19th -- post your Lexingtons
jonathanb
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A few days ago a board member asked me to post some of the other pieces in my Lexington collection. Considering the timing, that seems altogether proper.
232 years ago, on April 19, 1775, the first battle of the American Revolution was fought in Lexington, Massachusetts. It was also the first battle in the Revolutionary War that the colonists lost. The locals had a little warning, thanks to Paul Revere and friends, but they were seriously outnumbered. Turns out that it's really bad for the outnumbered side in a battle fought with "Medieval-style" military tactics, where both sides line up in rows facing each other across a field and shoot at each other. Oh, well. Nobody knows who fired the first shot (or even which side it was fired by), but it became known as "The Shot Heard 'Round The World" due to the other events that followed from it.
After dispatching the locals, the British continued marching to neighboring Concord, where a much larger group of colonists helped turn the tables, and forced the British to return to Boston without finding most of the ammunition they had set out to destroy.
The British then retreated back through Lexington, where the colonists, being a clever bunch, had considered the events of the morning and concluded that it was much smarter to take potshots at the retreating soldiers while hiding behind trees and rock walls. That day is sometimes considered the start of modern guerilla warfare.
I grew up in Lexington, and it's sort of hard to miss the history when you're surrounded by it for years. This is a selection of the Lexington exonumia in my collection. Because of the history, Lexington has been the subject of many numismatic pieces. Unfortunately, many of the mintages are quite small, especially for the older pieces, and there are a lot of other pieces that I don't have, including a few that I've never seen.
(I would be interested in hearing if anyone turns up Lexington-related items, particularly those earlier than 1970. I collect non-numismatic Lexington items also, although I haven't shown them here.)
The Lexingon So-Called Dollars are among the earliest Lexington-themed numismatic items. This is a holed white metal version, in much better condition than usual. 200 bronze, 100 silver, and 4 gold specimens were struck by the US Mint based on a design by a Lexington native. The white metal versions were struck outside the mint, usually (but not always) found with a hole as shown here. There appear to be some gilt versions also, although not listed in HK or Julian or any other reference I know about; I have a gilt white metal version in lousy condition, and another board member has a really pretty gilt bronze. Some original boxes are known, and the original ribbon is sometimes found with the white metal version.
Two of the four gold specimens are known, and actually both are back in Lexington. One is in a set of three pieces (with silver and bronze) pedigreed to their original Lexington-resident owner, who was also a direct descendent of a Minuteman who fought in the battle. The other is the nicer of the two, and is in a set of five pieces (with silver and bronze, plus holed and unholed white metal versions). The other two are completely unknown, apparently having never appeared in any auction record that anyone has found. They could still be out there somewhere. Or they could have been melted some time in the last 130 years...
1913 had nothing to do with the battle, but was the 200th anniversary of the founding of the town. You can see that the obverse design echoes the obverse of 1875 medal. This is not entirely surprising, since that design serves as the town seal even today. This specimen is silverplate; they are also found in plain bronze. They may be unlooped, looped with a round loop as here, or looped with a square loop for use as a watch fob.
1925 was the 150th anniversary of the battle, and saw several numismatic emissions, including of course the mint-issued Lexington commemorative half dollar that is the subject of another thread already yesterday/today. Of the non-Mint issues, the So-Called Half Dollar is by far the most common, readily available in nice condition for $10 or less like this white metal version here. It can also be found in copper, and with round or fob-style loops, all of which are much, much less common.
This also appears the first appearance of the Lexington Minuteman statue, erected in 1900 and still presiding over the Battle Green in Lexington. You'll notice that the central figure in the older medals is not this statue, but rather a plain farmer. Later versions of the town seal (including the current version) replace the original farmer with an image of the statue.
This 3-inch bronze medal was produced by noted medalist Julio Kilenyi. Like most of these early medals, it was produced by Whitehead and Hoag. These are fairly uncommon, but I've seen several, including two different styles of original boxes.
This isn't a medal, but it's small and round: A pinback issued for the 1925 celebrations.
The national Bicentennial celebration in 1975-1976 saw another slew of medals, some with Lexington themes. This is a town medal, issued in gold-plated silver, silver, and bronze.
This medal is the official Bicentennial medal for Massachusetts. It doesn't have anything to do with Lexington per se, but there's the Minuteman Statue again. This medal was issued in 1.5 and 2.5 inch versions and different combinations of gold, gold-plated silver, silver, and bronze. The large ones are serial numbered, and were issued with a certificate to the original owner. This particular specimen, numbered and even 100, was originally owned by Richard H. O'Connell, General Manager of the Red Sox from 1965-1977.
And finally (for now), a medal issued in 2000 for the 225th anniversary of the battle. Available in silver proof and in bronze.
Enjoy!
232 years ago, on April 19, 1775, the first battle of the American Revolution was fought in Lexington, Massachusetts. It was also the first battle in the Revolutionary War that the colonists lost. The locals had a little warning, thanks to Paul Revere and friends, but they were seriously outnumbered. Turns out that it's really bad for the outnumbered side in a battle fought with "Medieval-style" military tactics, where both sides line up in rows facing each other across a field and shoot at each other. Oh, well. Nobody knows who fired the first shot (or even which side it was fired by), but it became known as "The Shot Heard 'Round The World" due to the other events that followed from it.
After dispatching the locals, the British continued marching to neighboring Concord, where a much larger group of colonists helped turn the tables, and forced the British to return to Boston without finding most of the ammunition they had set out to destroy.
The British then retreated back through Lexington, where the colonists, being a clever bunch, had considered the events of the morning and concluded that it was much smarter to take potshots at the retreating soldiers while hiding behind trees and rock walls. That day is sometimes considered the start of modern guerilla warfare.
I grew up in Lexington, and it's sort of hard to miss the history when you're surrounded by it for years. This is a selection of the Lexington exonumia in my collection. Because of the history, Lexington has been the subject of many numismatic pieces. Unfortunately, many of the mintages are quite small, especially for the older pieces, and there are a lot of other pieces that I don't have, including a few that I've never seen.
(I would be interested in hearing if anyone turns up Lexington-related items, particularly those earlier than 1970. I collect non-numismatic Lexington items also, although I haven't shown them here.)
The Lexingon So-Called Dollars are among the earliest Lexington-themed numismatic items. This is a holed white metal version, in much better condition than usual. 200 bronze, 100 silver, and 4 gold specimens were struck by the US Mint based on a design by a Lexington native. The white metal versions were struck outside the mint, usually (but not always) found with a hole as shown here. There appear to be some gilt versions also, although not listed in HK or Julian or any other reference I know about; I have a gilt white metal version in lousy condition, and another board member has a really pretty gilt bronze. Some original boxes are known, and the original ribbon is sometimes found with the white metal version.
Two of the four gold specimens are known, and actually both are back in Lexington. One is in a set of three pieces (with silver and bronze) pedigreed to their original Lexington-resident owner, who was also a direct descendent of a Minuteman who fought in the battle. The other is the nicer of the two, and is in a set of five pieces (with silver and bronze, plus holed and unholed white metal versions). The other two are completely unknown, apparently having never appeared in any auction record that anyone has found. They could still be out there somewhere. Or they could have been melted some time in the last 130 years...
1913 had nothing to do with the battle, but was the 200th anniversary of the founding of the town. You can see that the obverse design echoes the obverse of 1875 medal. This is not entirely surprising, since that design serves as the town seal even today. This specimen is silverplate; they are also found in plain bronze. They may be unlooped, looped with a round loop as here, or looped with a square loop for use as a watch fob.
1925 was the 150th anniversary of the battle, and saw several numismatic emissions, including of course the mint-issued Lexington commemorative half dollar that is the subject of another thread already yesterday/today. Of the non-Mint issues, the So-Called Half Dollar is by far the most common, readily available in nice condition for $10 or less like this white metal version here. It can also be found in copper, and with round or fob-style loops, all of which are much, much less common.
This also appears the first appearance of the Lexington Minuteman statue, erected in 1900 and still presiding over the Battle Green in Lexington. You'll notice that the central figure in the older medals is not this statue, but rather a plain farmer. Later versions of the town seal (including the current version) replace the original farmer with an image of the statue.
This 3-inch bronze medal was produced by noted medalist Julio Kilenyi. Like most of these early medals, it was produced by Whitehead and Hoag. These are fairly uncommon, but I've seen several, including two different styles of original boxes.
This isn't a medal, but it's small and round: A pinback issued for the 1925 celebrations.
The national Bicentennial celebration in 1975-1976 saw another slew of medals, some with Lexington themes. This is a town medal, issued in gold-plated silver, silver, and bronze.
This medal is the official Bicentennial medal for Massachusetts. It doesn't have anything to do with Lexington per se, but there's the Minuteman Statue again. This medal was issued in 1.5 and 2.5 inch versions and different combinations of gold, gold-plated silver, silver, and bronze. The large ones are serial numbered, and were issued with a certificate to the original owner. This particular specimen, numbered and even 100, was originally owned by Richard H. O'Connell, General Manager of the Red Sox from 1965-1977.
And finally (for now), a medal issued in 2000 for the 225th anniversary of the battle. Available in silver proof and in bronze.
Enjoy!
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Happy Patriots Day. I don't have a Lexington to post, but I took this picture at the town green a couple summers ago.
Keeper of the VAM Catalog • Professional Coin Imaging • Prime Number Set • World Coins in Early America • British Trade Dollars • Variety Attribution
By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April's breeze unfurled;
Here once the embattled farmers stood;
And fired the shot heard round the world.
The foe long since in silence slept;
Alike the conqueror silent sleeps,
And Time the ruined bridge has swept
Down the dark stream that seaward creeps.
On this green bank, by this soft stream,
We place with joy a votive stone,
That memory may their deeds redeem,
When, like our sires, our sons are gone.
O Thou who made those heroes dare
To die, and leave their children free, --
Bid Time and Nature gently spare
The shaft we raised to them and Thee.
One of my favorite crusty commems. The colors are much nicer than the image shows.
Sean Reynolds
"Keep in mind that most of what passes as numismatic information is no more than tested opinion at best, and marketing blather at worst. However, I try to choose my words carefully, since I know that you guys are always watching." - Joe O'Connor
I keep looking, tho!
jonathan