1776 Pine Tree Copper - A question on replicas...
pheh
Posts: 1,588 ✭
This is stupid, I know, but for some reason I've gotten an itch on tracking the origin of this replica down.
The problem:
The letters on my replica bear almost no resemblance to the original - unfortunately they also bear no resemblance to any replicas I've been able to find.
Here is my replica:
Note the distinct lack of serifs on any of the letters. At this point I've only been able to use the Internet in my research. I know have been more than one group of replica's made. I've seen mention of 1876 replica's being made - but no one has any pictures, or any real information on them for that matter. And all of the modern replicas I've seen have serifs.
So I turn to the collective knowledge here in search of any information. I'm more than willing to hear this is too stupid to waste time on too - if I agree with your reason that will probably scratch the itch too.
The problem:
The letters on my replica bear almost no resemblance to the original - unfortunately they also bear no resemblance to any replicas I've been able to find.
Here is my replica:
Note the distinct lack of serifs on any of the letters. At this point I've only been able to use the Internet in my research. I know have been more than one group of replica's made. I've seen mention of 1876 replica's being made - but no one has any pictures, or any real information on them for that matter. And all of the modern replicas I've seen have serifs.
So I turn to the collective knowledge here in search of any information. I'm more than willing to hear this is too stupid to waste time on too - if I agree with your reason that will probably scratch the itch too.
0
Comments
I suspect that the maker simply took a copy of the Redbook and hand-cut molds based upon the pictures therein. They copied colonial era pieces and territorial gold pieces, but never the legal tender pieces (unlike other replica manufacturers). Occasionaly they misread an inscription. The "original" of this says "1d LM" under the tree, presumed to mean "one penny (denarius) lawful money." Instead, he copied it as "1cLM." Perhaps he thought it was supposed to be a cent rather than a penny. In the territorials, he did the "CINCINNATI MINING AND TRADING COMPANY" as the "CINCINNATI MINING AND TRACING COMPANY."
TD
Just to add with some of what I've been able to find (should have in the first place)...
1) Here is a large image of the original (and only) piece.
2) Here are some semi-decent images I've been able to find of known replicas:
(note the serifs)
(again note the serifs)
I had found one other one but it seems lost to me now...
Nobody ever said that replicas had to be either stylistic or consistent. The OP showed a very common replica. The serifs on it are irrelevant.
TD
<< <i>What original? Are you referring to the piece with the word "COPY" above the 76 in the date?
Nobody ever said that replicas had to be either stylistic or consistent. The OP showed a very common replica. The serifs on it are irrelevant.
TD >>
Err... huh? I haven't seen (or shown) a piece that has the word COPY above the 76 in the date.
The "original" in linked in "1)" is a link to a large image of the originally found piece - it had serifs. Every replica I can find also has serifs. I myself am not saying replica's have to be either stylistic or consistent. I am saying I can't find one that matches my piece, ever piece I can find has serifs - so yes, it seemed a reasonably relative point.
You say the originally posted picture (my replica piece) is a common replica - but I can't find it anywhere.
What is amusing (and sometimes annoying) to me is the folks who have a replica of this one or the harp-reverse one, look at the Redbook, and assume they're rich. It's kind of like buying a copy of the Mona Lisa at a garage sale and assuming you've hit the jackpot. Duh? What part of unique do these people not understand? I wish I had videotaped the time or two I have been offered these replicas. (Like, duh, do I look like I could afford something like that if it WAS real? Geez.)
Same thing with fake 1804 dollars and 1913 Liberty nickels, and stories about how so-and-so's uncle got a 1913 Liberty nickel in change at the gas station back in the 1970s. Yeaaah. Suuure he did. Wish I had a regular nickel for every time I'd heard those tales.
Don't even get me started on the '43 copper cents. Oh, good grief. I remember Paul Harvey did a piece on the radio about those once, and I happened to be working in a coinshop at the time. I thought the owner was gonna pull the 'phone out of the wall and throw it in the dumpster. You should have seen the bags of rusty steel cents that came in.
It's an extremely common copy.
Here's one that I own. The design execution is better than most, although this example has a few blatant errors. I am guessing that it was made overseas, perhaps China, since the "artist" spelled LIBERTY with a D instead of a B. Also the engraver's name was either Copley or they misspelled COPY to the right of the date. I believe the latter is true. Quite comical.
I see that thread was already linked by CCU.
<< <i>Here's one that I own. The design execution is better than most, although this example has a few blatant errors. I am guessing that it was made overseas, perhaps China, since the "artist" spelled LIBERTY with a D instead of a B. Also the engraver's name was either Copley or they misspelled COPY to the right of the date. I believe the latter is true. Quite comical.
That was the Copley Coin Company of the Boston area. They had these struck.
<< <i>
<< <i>What original? Are you referring to the piece with the word "COPY" above the 76 in the date?
Nobody ever said that replicas had to be either stylistic or consistent. The OP showed a very common replica. The serifs on it are irrelevant.
TD >>
Err... huh? I haven't seen (or shown) a piece that has the word COPY above the 76 in the date.
The "original" in linked in "1)" is a link to a large image of the originally found piece - it had serifs. Every replica I can find also has serifs. I myself am not saying replica's have to be either stylistic or consistent. I am saying I can't find one that matches my piece, ever piece I can find has serifs - so yes, it seemed a reasonably relative point.
You say the originally posted picture (my replica piece) is a common replica - but I can't find it anywhere. >>
Look at the third posting in this thread. Look at the first picture in the posting. Go upwards from the 76 in the date to the base of the globe. You will see the word "COPY"