| Slot: |
|
| Origin/Country: |
Great Britain (Wales) |
| Design Description: |
Anglesey Mines Halfpenny Token |
| Item Description: |
Copper 1/2C 1788 |
| Grade: |
PCGS Genuine |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
Date: 1788
Description: Anglesey Mines Company copper halfpenny token, 1788
A Half Penny token coin from the Angelsey Mines in North Wales, these coins were valid money for trade for Welsh Miners in the late 18th century.
The obverse features a shrouded Druid's head. The monogram "PM Co" (Parys Mines Company) is on the reverse. Rim legend: Payable in Anglesey London or Liverpool.
Diameter: 28mm .
Historical Note:
When we speak of British tokens, we are almost always speaking of copper pieces, with a stated or implied value of a penny or less. That this should be the case is partially explained by the attitude of the British government concerning copper as a coinage metal. Throughout the period under discussion, the official view was that copper was not a proper metal for a regal coinage at all, and, by extension, that copper coinage was not an especially important activity for the Royal Mint to pursue. Of course, such an attitude on the part of officialdom does not neccessarily call forth a copper token coinage. But in the case of Britain, it happened to coincide with a basic historical fact: more and more people where leaving the farm for the workshop and, later, the factory. As Britain moved from a predominantly rural, farming situation to an increasingly urban, industrialized one, the traditional methods of payment for labor and products in kind or in services began to break down. And more and more people entered a wage-earning situation. In the absence of low-denomination coins, how would they be paid? Inevitably, the effort to answer this question would call the token into being.
Private and public tokens alike left circulation once the Crown made a determined effort to provide small change for the people. But an implicit threat remained: if more and more people entered the cash economy, and if the Royal Mint once again refused to provide them with copper coinage, then the copper token would reappear. It did so in the 1780's, and the British Isles entered their second phase of private, unofficial coinage.halt in production happened to coincide with the opening phases of the Industrial Revolution, which was bringing ever-increasing numbers of people together in a wage environment. The situation rapidly worsened, and metal fabricators in and around Birmingham, the center of the new industry, finally decided to take matters into their own hands. As the greatest of them, Matthew Boulton of Soho, remarked in 1787,
... for if our Governmt will not make a new copper coinage we shall force them to it by coining for our Selves such copper penys.
The first pieces to appear were pennies, products of the Parys Mine Company, owner of immensely rich copper workings near the town of Amlwch, on the island of Anglesey. By the later 1780's, the mining operation (an open pit affair, conducted by blasting away the ore-rich face of Parys Mountain with gunpowder) was employing well over a thousand men locally, and many more at its rolling operations at Holywell, Flintshire. Early in 1787, the owners of the concern, headed by Thomas Williams of Llanidan, the legendary "Copper King" of industrial folklore, decided to set up their own mint, striking some of their copper into penny pieces for their employees' use.
What happened next is not entirely clear and probably never will be. But there seem to have been two mints, one at Holywell, the other in Birmingham, on the site of the present Great Charles Street. It is conjectured that the penny issues of 1787 were struck in Holywell, those of 1788 in Birmingham; this guesswork is based upon the few clues remaining in Birmingham. But we do not known the precise time of the transfer of operations from one mint to another, nor do we know the precise reasons for the switch. We do know the artist responsible for the issue: he was John Gregory Hancock, Sr., a talented inventor and die-sinker of the day. Hancock would be responsible for a great many of the tokens of this first phase of the eighteenth-century series.
Halfpennies joined the pennies in 1788; they were struck in quantity that year, and in somewhat smaller numbers in 1789. In the latter year, the company appears to have sold its equipment to another, much better known coiner, Matthew Boulton. Later issues were struck for the company by Boulton and several others, in 1790 and 1791. The series was also extensively counterfeited.
Genuine Parys Mine tokens are immediately distinguishable, however. They are lovely, massive pieces, containing close to their intrinsic value in copper. Hancock's sensitive portrait of a Druid adorned the obverse, set within a wreath of oak leaves. The reverse used a cypher representing the company's name as a central type; pennies included a promise of payment as a reverse legend, while the halfpennies indicated that they were products of the Anglesey mines. A carefully lettered edge gave the names of places where the tokens might be redeemed. Many of the pennies were struck in a restraining collar, after their edges had been marked.
All in all, over three hundred tons of these tokens were issued, making them the single most common type of eighteenth-century token.
|
| Slot: |
|
| Origin/Country: |
France |
| Design Description: |
Birth of Henry V Medal |
| Item Description: |
Bronze Plain Edge |
| Grade: |
PCGS Genuine |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
Birth of the future King, Henry V -
Medal by Raymond Gayrard (1777-1858) Paris Mint.
- Birth of the Count de Chambord as heir to the French throne, in Paris, 29th September 1820. After the death of his grandfather (Charles X) in 1836 he became the legitimate pretender to the French throne under the name HENRY V. Louis-Philippe was still king, having succeeded Charles X in 1830. In 1848 rebellion overtook the course of history, and he was never to become king.
Obv: "Dieu Nous I'a Donne" ("God gave him to us")
Exergue: "Nos Coeurs et Nos Bras Sont a Lui". ("Our hearts and arms are for him")
His mother, the Duchess of Berry, sitting on a chaise-long, holding the infant in her outstretched arms; rays extending from above; on the right is a bust of his recently assassinated father, the Duke of Berry.
Rev: Date: "29 Sept. 1820".
The Victorious Archangel Michael carrying a sword and shield, standing triumphantly over a vanquished satan.
|
| Slot: |
|
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
George Washington BiCentennial Token Washington's Birthplace - Wakefield |
| Item Description: |
Brass Token 1932 |
| Grade: |
PCGS Genuine |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
Struck by Whitehead & Hoag Co., Newark, NJ, in bronze and gilt bronze varieties. Reportedly issued as awards in newspaper contests. (Baker 925) 32mm.
|
| Slot: |
|
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
Virginia Dare Medal Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Centennial Medal |
| Item Description: |
Bronze Medal 1970 |
| Grade: |
PCGS Genuine |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
Cape Hatteras Centennial Medal.
A commemorative medal marking the centennial of the completion of the current Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in 1970. The obverse of the piece features the Hatteras lighthouse at the center, with the Wright Brothers Memorial at Kitty Hawk flanking it to the left and an image of one of the sailing ships that brought North Carolina’s first settlers to the right. The reverse of the piece features a standing Ellinor Dare with the infant Virginia Dare in her arms as its central design element. Virginia Dare, of course, is known to history as the first child of English descent born in the New World. The design is very reminiscent of the reverse of the 1937 Roanoke Island commemorative half dollar.
The medal is 1.5-inches in diameter and was produced, at a minimum, in bronze and silver with an antiqued finish; strikes in other metals may have been produced.
Historical Note:
When completed in 1870, the Cape Hatteras lighthouse was located a safe 1,500 feet from the ocean. Even then, however, storm-driven tides completely washed over Hatteras Island, eroding sand from the ocean side of the island and depositing it on the sound side. By 1970, this process, which has caused the gradual westward migration of the Outer Banks for at least the past 10,000 years, left the lighthouse just 120 feet from the ocean’s edge and almost certain destruction.
In 1999, the Cape Hatteras Light Station, which consists of seven historic structures, was successfully relocated 2,900 feet from the spot on which it had stood since 1870. Because of the threat of shoreline erosion, a natural process, the entire light station was safely moved to a new site where the historic buildings and cisterns were placed in spatial and elevational relationship to each other, exactly as they had been at the original site.
|
| Slot: |
|
| Origin/Country: |
Belgium |
| Design Description: |
Belgian Gratitude for American Generosity Medal Belgian Relief Medal |
| Item Description: |
Silverplated Bronze Medal 1914 |
| Grade: |
PCGS Genuine |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
This medal was minted during the period of World War I to promote fund for Belgian food relief. One medal was intended to be sold for the cost to feed a Belgian child for one month. Germany was occupying Belgium at the time, so transportation of the medals from the country was interrupted. The front side is King Albert and Queen Elizabeth of Belgium. The "LL" refers to Lordships and the "MM" refer to their Majesties. Rev: Columbia symbolizes America and is feeding a Belgian family with bread from her apron. The ship in the background is named "RELIEF". The medal is signed on the obv truncation, and on the rev. to the right "1914" in the exergue. The medal designer was Godefroid DeVreese, Brussels, Belgium, 1914. The medal content is Silver plated over a brass base.
There are several sizes of this medal, including 70mm.
|
| Slot: |
|
| Origin/Country: |
Switzerland |
| Design Description: |
General Pau Medal |
| Item Description: |
Bronze Bronze Medal 1914 |
| Grade: |
PCGS Genuine |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
obverse design : General Paul Pau, bust, full face, in uniform and képi. In the background a battery of French 75 mm field guns firing to left.
reverse design: French cavalry officer leading charge in the heat of battle. Signed: Huguenin at bottom.
(Henri Huguenin 1878-1921).
General Paul Marie Cesar Gerald Pau (Nov 28, 1848-Jan 2, 1932). Born Montelimar, France. Served as a Junior Officer during the 1870-71 Franco-Prussian War. He was wounded 3 times at the Battle of Woerth, resulting in the loss of his arm & awarded the Medaille Millitaire. In 1914 he was in Command of the French Army of Alsace, taking the brunt of the German onslaught. His early victories in Alsace coupled with his heroism in the earlier war made him on of France's most endearing heros. Later commanded 6th Army & led Military Advisory Mission to Russia 1915-16. The Germans credited Pau's assistance for the Russian army's improvement during that period. Led French Military Mission to Australia in 1918 where he travelled extensively promoting France's War effort. He led postwar missions to the U.S., Canada, New Zealand & Australia to encourage reconstruction & economic recovery and was treated as a major celebrity worldwide during his travels. The remainder of his life was devoted to his efforts as president of the Red Cross of France.
|
| Slot: |
|
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
Indian Peace Medal 1801 Thomas Jefferson |
| Item Description: |
Bronze MEDAL 1801 Julian IP-3 |
| Grade: |
PCGS Genuine |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
1801 Thomas Jefferson - Indian Peace Medal.
This Medal from the U.S. Mint commemorates the issuance of the Indian Peace Medal in 1801 under the Administration of President Thomas Jefferson. The U.S. Mint did not begin striking the 76mm size until 1861. This Large medal, which is a restrike of the original 1801 medal, is struck in Bronze and features Jefferson on the obverse, 3 buttons on his coat. The reverse features Crossed Tomahawk and Peace Pipe With Hands Shaking below. By 1883, the reverse dies had developed a crack and by 1886 they were replaced.
This Medal measures 76 mm in diameter and weighs 8 Ounces.
Chief Engraver: Robert Scot.
Assistant Engraver: John Reich.
|
| Slot: |
|
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
Indian Peace Medal 1817 James Monroe |
| Item Description: |
Bronze MEDAL 1817 Julian IP-8 |
| Grade: |
PCGS Genuine |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
After the delays experienced by the preceding Madison medals, the work for President James Monroe went rather smoothly. As John Reich was not available to do the work because of his poor eyesight, Moritz Furst was hired by John Vaughan, who again superintended the entire project for the Office of Indian Affairs.
Furst, who went to Washington in the latter part of 1818 to model the president, began to cut the dies by the end of that year and finished-the three sizes—obverses only since the old reverses by Reich were still to be used—early in
1819. The artist was paid $1000 for`the dies and his expenses in going to Washington.
After 1860 only the largest of the three Monroe medals was usually sold to collectors although occasionally the other sizes were produced. A medal dating from about 1885 in the West Point collection has a missing left serif of T in FURST and probably marks the original obverse die for the 76 mm size.
Engraver: Moritz Furst (obv) and John Reich (rev).
|
| Slot: |
|
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
Indian Peace Medal 1885 Grover Cleveland - Oval |
| Item Description: |
Bronze MEDAL 1885 Julian IP-46 |
| Grade: |
PCGS Genuine |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
Engraver: Charles Barber (obv) and George Morgan (rev).
In line with mint tradition of preparing the Indian Peace dies before being asked to do so, the Cleveland dies were finished during his first year of office. C.E. Barber wrote Superintendent Daniel Fox on October 22, 1885, that the dies were finished and medals could be struck at any time. The first silver medals for official use were produced in May, 1887. A few, however, were struck as late as 1896 to honor some Indians that provided valuable aid to the Peabody Museum. Barber based his profile study of President Cleveland on photos received at the mint in January, 1885.
|
| Slot: |
|
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
Presidential Medal 1841 William Henry Harrison |
| Item Description: |
Bronze MEDAL 1841 Julian PR-7 |
| Grade: |
PCGS Genuine |
| Research: |
View Coin |
Owner Comments
This is a rare and highly desireable 76mm bronze medal struck by the United States Mint to commemorate the Inauguration of WILLIAM H. HARRISON as President of the United States in 1841 and memorialize his death that same year. The medal appears to have been struck before 1910 based on the dull brown but NOT sandblasted finish and the old style letters on the obverse, which were changed on later medals to plain letters. This medal is first recorded as having been struck by the mint in 1886. On the obverse is a full face bust of President Harrison with his name in the old-style letters around the rim, all within a beaded border.
On the reverse are the words, in 8 lines, "INAUGURATED / PRESIDENT / OF THE/UNITED STATES / MARCH 4 1841 / DIED / APRIL 4 / 1841" surrounded by a wreath, all within a beaded border. The edge is plain.
Struck from dies engraved by George T. Morgan, this medal is in essentially as-issued condition.
| | |