Copper Eye Candy
USA - Collectors medalet

Owner Comments:

Purchased from John Kraljevich on 1/8/2015 at the Winter FUN Show (Orlando, FL).

Previously sold for $780 in the Steve Hayden auction in June 2, 2013 raw with the description:

Lot 761 - MILLER NY 491C MS63 10% Red mainly on the reverse, nearly Proof Like with attractive toning. George H. Lovett muling of We All Have Our Hobbies reverse featuring a witch on broom stick and Dedicated To Coin And Medal Collectors 1860 struck in Copper with Plain edge. A similar example brought $875 in our December 2012 auction. From the Richard Crosby collection earlier from Ray Byrne in 1983. (Estimate 750-1000)

The medalet/token was also struck in white metal (491A) and brass (491B). It is quite popular among collectors, demanding strong prices when the come available. Surviving examples are low in all metal types, with Bowers and Jaeger estimating only 125 to 250 examples in copper extant (a rarity of roughly R-5 on the Fuld scale). The design came in at #47 on the list of the "100 Greatest American Tokens and Medals" by Bowers and Jaeger.