Is there any place you can look to get prices on medals, or is it strictly guess work?
Longacre
Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭
Just for kicks, I took a look at Ebay in the medals section. I was not looking for anything in particular, just something that caught my eye. As I was scanning the listings, I noticed the medal pictured below.
Admittedly, I have no clue what it is, I do not speak French, but I know enough that it is a library scene. I also see that there are guys and a girl on the front. For some reason, the medal reminded me of the time that Mrs. L and I spent in law school, and the hours upon hours spent in the library. Mrs. Longacre was not the studying type, but your very own Longacre used to get re-energized by spending hours within the solitude of the law stacks.
The medal sold for more than I bid, but not a lot of money. The issue is that I had no idea whether this was a $20 medal, or a $2,000 medal. Does anyone know how to guage the prices of these things, or is it simply guess work or involve tracking similar medals?
Admittedly, I have no clue what it is, I do not speak French, but I know enough that it is a library scene. I also see that there are guys and a girl on the front. For some reason, the medal reminded me of the time that Mrs. L and I spent in law school, and the hours upon hours spent in the library. Mrs. Longacre was not the studying type, but your very own Longacre used to get re-energized by spending hours within the solitude of the law stacks.
The medal sold for more than I bid, but not a lot of money. The issue is that I had no idea whether this was a $20 medal, or a $2,000 medal. Does anyone know how to guage the prices of these things, or is it simply guess work or involve tracking similar medals?
Always took candy from strangers
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
0
Comments
"Everything is on its way to somewhere. Everything." - George Malley, Phenomenon
http://www.american-legacy-coins.com
A medal is worth what you are willing to pay for it. Most creative medals are much rarer than coins, but there are fewer collectors.
The Maine Antique Digest
Check out its "Medals Collector" page
<< <i>More of a source for information than for pricing:
The Maine Antique Digest
Check out its "Medals Collector" page >>
Hey, neat link. Thanks!
Check out the Southern Gold Society
<< <i>Just for kicks, I took a look at Ebay in the medals section. I was not looking for anything in particular, just something that caught my eye. As I was scanning the listings, I noticed the medal pictured below.
Admittedly, I have no clue what it is, I do not speak French, but I know enough that it is a library scene. I also see that there are guys and a girl on the front. For some reason, the medal reminded me of the time that Mrs. L and I spent in law school, and the hours upon hours spent in the library. Mrs. Longacre was not the studying type, but your very own Longacre used to get re-energized by spending hours within the solitude of the law stacks.
The medal sold for more than I bid, but not a lot of money. The issue is that I had no idea whether this was a $20 medal, or a $2,000 medal. Does anyone know how to guage the prices of these things, or is it simply guess work or involve tracking similar medals?
There are no comprehensive price guides for European medals. About the only way you can get a feel for values is to follow or participate in the auctions on eBay. There are guides that are limited in scope to a specific period (usually one year) for a country, artist or theme, but if you wanted to put together a comprehensive list for just the 18th and 19th centuries, it would cost you $2,000+. I have been collecting French, Belgian and European medals for more than 4 years. I have accumulated more than 300 and this is how I learned what is and isn't a reasonable market price.
As an example, there is a 1935 medal for the French liner, Normandie, that routinely sells for $500-$750. Granted, there is a not-so-wow depiction of the liner on one side, but the other side has a really cool depiction of an allegorical mermaid riding atop a whale. I have placed bids for one of these medals in four different auctions and I have been outbid every time despite increasing my bid on each one. Sorry, I refuse to go any higher. Another example is a 1900 plaquette for the International Exposition in Paris. This Expo was held in conjunction with the Olympics in Paris. It was designed by one of France's most renowned and prolific medallists, Oscar Roty. I was fortunate to win two of these and three other medals that Roty designed for the Expo when prices were very low. Now, you'd be lucky to get any of them for less than $350 in good condition, and if you should happen to come across a 1900 Participant's plaquette for the Olympics (also designed by Roty), be prepared to pay $500+ for one in good condition. I used to be able to guage my bid based on the competition. I learned to recognize the lowballers and the serious bidders, but now that the names are hidden, it's just a crapshoot unless you can afford to go moon money to insure a win.
The Belgian medal that you posted was most likely struck at the Monnaie de Paris. Prior to WWII, some of the smaller countries found that it was more cost-effective to have the Paris Mint produce their medals rather than build a facility for themself. If you look on the edge of some European medals, you are likely to see a cornucopia, beehive, pointing finger, genie's lamp or the prow of a ship. These hallmarks are called the "Different", and each new Director (Mintmaster) of the Paris Mint selected a design of his preference. In 1880, the cornucopia was made the permanent Different spanning all Directorships. If you should see a small square or triangle on the edge, then the medal was produced by a private mint. Sometimes, there is no mark at all. Additionally, the edge of medals produced at the Paris Mint are most often stamped with ARGENT, ARGENT1 & ARGENT2 for silver, CUIVRE for copper or BRONZE. Don't ask me what the difference is between the three grades of silver. I can only assume that it has to do with the purity. Medals were also silvered and gilded, but they are still identified by the core metal.
Sometimes sellers list medals as "uniface". One side is blank usually with just the inclusion of a raised number. Just like some of our trade tokens of the 19th century, the Paris Mint used some standard designs for several different medals. For example, "Marianne", the symbol of France has been depicted differently (artistic license) by many medallists, and some of the same depictions can be seen on medals for agriculture, shooting competitions, beaux arts, etc. in different years. It is not unusual to have a different designer's name for each side of a medal. Quite often, you will see, say, "f. Bovy". The "f." is the abbreviation for the Latin word "fecit" which, roughly translated, means "Bovy made it".
I have photos of a lot of my medals, but I am having trouble posting any kind of photo, here. Yes, I know I will have to resize all of them to meet the 50kb max, but I can't get the photos to post. I don't use a hosting service, and I refuse to when it is unnecessary. I am able to post photos directly from my computer on many other websites, but I don't know what I am doing wrong, here. If anyone can offer any suggestions, I would appreciate it.
In the meantime, if any of you would like to view a wonderful display of Art Deco and Art Nouveau medals (not for sale), try this......................
www.finemedals.com
Chris
Sugar magnolia blossoms blooming, heads all empty and I don't care ...
Chris
<< <i>Just STOP, medals are bad, they will corrupt your coins!!!! >>
That's what I said!! Half Dimes are much nicer!!!
<< <i>I just go to the secret client access area of JK's website. There's a ton of free and useful medal information there.
His medals and tokens Kraljepop Report section is also a well kept secret.
<< <i>
<< <i>Just for kicks, I took a look at Ebay in the medals section. I was not looking for anything in particular, just something that caught my eye. As I was scanning the listings, I noticed the medal pictured below.
Admittedly, I have no clue what it is, I do not speak French, but I know enough that it is a library scene. I also see that there are guys and a girl on the front. For some reason, the medal reminded me of the time that Mrs. L and I spent in law school, and the hours upon hours spent in the library. Mrs. Longacre was not the studying type, but your very own Longacre used to get re-energized by spending hours within the solitude of the law stacks.
The medal sold for more than I bid, but not a lot of money. The issue is that I had no idea whether this was a $20 medal, or a $2,000 medal. Does anyone know how to guage the prices of these things, or is it simply guess work or involve tracking similar medals?
There are no comprehensive price guides for European medals. About the only way you can get a feel for values is to follow or participate in the auctions on eBay. There are guides that are limited in scope to a specific period (usually one year) for a country, artist or theme, but if you wanted to put together a comprehensive list for just the 18th and 19th centuries, it would cost you $2,000+. I have been collecting French, Belgian and European medals for more than 4 years. I have accumulated more than 300 and this is how I learned what is and isn't a reasonable market price.
As an example, there is a 1935 medal for the French liner, Normandie, that routinely sells for $500-$750. Granted, there is a not-so-wow depiction of the liner on one side, but the other side has a really cool depiction of an allegorical mermaid riding atop a whale. I have placed bids for one of these medals in four different auctions and I have been outbid every time despite increasing my bid on each one. Sorry, I refuse to go any higher. Another example is a 1900 plaquette for the International Exposition in Paris. This Expo was held in conjunction with the Olympics in Paris. It was designed by one of France's most renowned and prolific medallists, Oscar Roty. I was fortunate to win two of these and three other medals that Roty designed for the Expo when prices were very low. Now, you'd be lucky to get any of them for less than $350 in good condition, and if you should happen to come across a 1900 Participant's plaquette for the Olympics (also designed by Roty), be prepared to pay $500+ for one in good condition. I used to be able to guage my bid based on the competition. I learned to recognize the lowballers and the serious bidders, but now that the names are hidden, it's just a crapshoot unless you can afford to go moon money to insure a win.
The Belgian medal that you posted was most likely struck at the Monnaie de Paris. Prior to WWII, some of the smaller countries found that it was more cost-effective to have the Paris Mint produce their medals rather than build a facility for themself. If you look on the edge of some European medals, you are likely to see a cornucopia, beehive, pointing finger, genie's lamp or the prow of a ship. These hallmarks are called the "Different", and each new Director (Mintmaster) of the Paris Mint selected a design of his preference. In 1880, the cornucopia was made the permanent Different spanning all Directorships. If you should see a small square or triangle on the edge, then the medal was produced by a private mint. Sometimes, there is no mark at all. Additionally, the edge of medals produced at the Paris Mint are most often stamped with ARGENT, ARGENT1 & ARGENT2 for silver, CUIVRE for copper or BRONZE. Don't ask me what the difference is between the three grades of silver. I can only assume that it has to do with the purity. Medals were also silvered and gilded, but they are still identified by the core metal.
Sometimes sellers list medals as "uniface". One side is blank usually with just the inclusion of a raised number. Just like some of our trade tokens of the 19th century, the Paris Mint used some standard designs for several different medals. For example, "Marianne", the symbol of France has been depicted differently (artistic license) by many medallists, and some of the same depictions can be seen on medals for agriculture, shooting competitions, beaux arts, etc. in different years. It is not unusual to have a different designer's name for each side of a medal. Quite often, you will see, say, "f. Bovy". The "f." is the abbreviation for the Latin word "fecit" which, roughly translated, means "Bovy made it".
I have photos of a lot of my medals, but I am having trouble posting any kind of photo, here. Yes, I know I will have to resize all of them to meet the 50kb max, but I can't get the photos to post. I don't use a hosting service, and I refuse to when it is unnecessary. I am able to post photos directly from my computer on many other websites, but I don't know what I am doing wrong, here. If anyone can offer any suggestions, I would appreciate it.
In the meantime, if any of you would like to view a wonderful display of Art Deco and Art Nouveau medals (not for sale), try this......................
www.finemedals.com
Chris >>
Sorry, I neglected to mention that the website I listed is not mine. I wish it were!
- Marcus Tullius Cicero, 106-43 BC