The Harry W. Bass, Jr. Collection - Part I



Medals & Tokens - Lots 2077-2138

Medals, Tokens, and Numismatica

On the pages to follow are many interesting medals, tokens, and other numismatic and related items, gathered by Harry Bass with the common thread that each is interesting to own. And, the specimens he gathered are, indeed, interesting.

The examination and description of these pieces at once has been a challenge and a pleasure. My gosh, your editor (QDB) became so excited that an early order of business (actually pleasure, as we have always considered our professional work to be in this category) will be to go to Stony Point, on the bank of the Hudson River, to see what it looks like today.

We have always enjoyed numismatic history, and thus it was a special delight to catalogue the many tokens and medals relating to collectors, dealers, and institutions. We have on hand enough information to write

on such luminaries as Elder and Mehl, and we came close to this regarding Elder in the listing of his medals, but we've settled for concise (in most instances) sketches.

Among the listings of certain pieces, the American Numismatic Society comes to the fore. I have enjoyed the Society for a long time (having been a member since 1958 and having devoted a recent book, American Numismatics Before the Civil War, 1760-1860, to the life of its primary founder, Augustus B. Sage). Certain medals pertaining to the Society are offered, including gold strikings that are unique in private hands. The Society has recently purchased a grand old building, with elegant interior appointments, at 140 William Street, New York City, and plans to move there within a year or two. A couple of months ago I was invited to go to the Society this spring and give a "lecture" (as they are called), but the pressure of the current Harry Bass, Jr. Collection catalogue intervened, and I declined, but asked for a rain check, suggesting that, if asked, I would address the Society at the grand opening of their new facility. In the meantime, I've been doing a bit of searching concerning William Street (see notes under Lot 2088).

Sooner or later, the devoted long-term numismatist comes 'round to the field that years ago Russell Rulau nicknamed exonumia, or items existing outside of regular numismatics; that is, collectible tokens, medals, and other things not issued under government authority. In my own experience as a collector of counterstamped copper cents and also of Civil War tokens, I often "retreat" to the tranquillity of these little pieces-items of insignificant (mostly) value-and enjoy not only the tokens themselves, but, even more important, their history. To me, history is not only important, it is everything. Pardon me if I've lingered too long on the descriptions of certain pieces such as the De Fleury and Libertas Americana medals in silver, but, to me, such items are what American numismatics is all about. Read the commentaries and see if you agree.

Credits: The editor (QDB), Frank Van Valen, and John Pack, catalogued many of the pieces, as did Mark Borckardt, Beth Piper, and Ray Merena (the Russian medals). To the editor fell the pleasant task of adding history and numismatic notes for certain pieces, after the work (basic descriptions, weights, measurements, etc.) had been done by others. Photography was by Douglas Plasencia. The entire Bowers and Merena organization helped with research and facilitation.

Early American Medals

Attributed to Betts

The following several medals are all interesting, and the De Fleury silver medal is of simply incredible importance, while the Libertas Americana medal represents one of the finest known impressions in an elusive metal of striking, silver. The "Safety at Sea" medal is likewise fascinating. Attributions are to C. Wyllys Betts, American Colonial History Illustrated by Contemporary Medals, New York, published after Betts' death by Scott Stamp and Coin Co., Ltd., 1894. Edited by William T.R. Marvin and Lyman H. Low.

The field of "Betts medals," as the series is known, is one of the most fascinating in American numismatics. Today, a new generation of enthusiasts is rediscovering the joy that such pieces had for our predecessors in the second half of the nineteenth century, when early medals were showcased front row center in auctions and exhibits, while American federal coins were secondary in emphasis.

Company of the West Indies

Betts-113, Silver

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2077     Company of the West Indies medal, 1723. Betts-113. Silver. 115.5 grains. 30.3 mm. VF, reverse planchet defect. Lustrous gray surfaces with traces of gold and blue toning. Some prooflike quality is noted in the protected areas around the legends and devices. The noted reverse planchet defect is a long vertical lamination which bisects the reverse near the central mast of the ship.

The obverse depicts two male Indians, each in headdress, holding recurved-style bows at either side of a large crowned shield. Within the shield a river god reclines, leaning against a horn of plenty or cornucopia, fleurs de lys above, the latter being the symbol of France. In exergue, COMPAGNIE DES INDES. 1723, in two lines.

The reverse bears a large ship-of-the-line under full sail to left, mounting, perhaps, 18 carronades. The legend around reads SPEM AUGET OPES QUE PARAT (It increases hope and prepares wealth). In Numisma, September 1883, Ed. Frossard made special note of this issue.

The Company of the West Indies: The Compagnie des Indes Occidentales, was chartered or patented by King Louis XIV of France in 1664, granting the entrepreneurs "the right to trade all over the mainland of America, from the Amazon to the Orinoco, in Newfoundland and other northern islands, and in the country that extends from Canada to Virginia and Florida, also along the African coasts," etc. The arrangement lasted until 1719, when its interests were merged with the Compagnie d'Occident, which a year later became the Compagnie Perpétuelle des Indes, directed by one of the most famous figures in French financial history, John Law.

By way of related commentary, in the 17th and 18th centuries in particular, but extending to other eras as well, the monarchs of various countries extended to companies and bands of entrepreneurs certain privileges which allowed them to develop trade and in some instances even possess territories remote from the homeland. Perhaps the best known of these was the Honourable East India Company, patented in England in 1600, followed in 1602 in Holland by the Dutch East India Company. Such trading companies were invested with quasi-regal powers and formulated policies, enforced them, exacted punishments, etc. Charles II of England gave the Honourable East India Company the power to make war with non-Christian nations and to coin money. In 1773, the authority of the Honourable Company was reduced by an act of Parliament which gave that legislative body the power to review the Company's actions and policies. Successive renewals of the Company's charters resulted in further reduced power. By the 1830s the Honourable East India Company was primarily an administrative agency.

From New Netherlands Coin Co.'s sale of April 18-19, 1972, Lot 606, there noted as "only the second we have handled in 20 years."

"Safety at Sea"

"Indian Contemplating the Blessings of Britannia"

Betts-392

Believed ex Parish, cited by Betts

2078     Franco-American jeton, 1755. Betts-392. Silver. 224.5 grains. 35.1 mm. Prooflike Mint State. Toned a deep gray with highlights of gold, russet, and sea green. Reflective prooflike fields. Fewer than a dozen are known.

The obverse with Mercury standing in the foreground with hand to ear. Behind, two frigates on the sea bearing upon their ensigns the harp of Ireland (which had been under the dominion of England for many years) and the lilies of France, respectively. All but the topsails are furled, and each ship is firing broadsides at the other; a scene of war. The legend reads, SALVS IN FLVCTIBUS (translated by Betts as "safety at sea," but this translation belies the image) around, and STATVS RERVM in the exergue. The exergual legend continues on the reverse, SVB EXITVM ANNI MDCCLV, and translates in total, per Betts: "The condition of affairs at the close of the year 1755." The reverse bears a scene of an Indian warrior at the left, holding a bow and arrow in his left and right hands respectively. Near his feet and toward the sea is an alligator or caiman, mouth open, lower jaw foreshortened. A female figure at the right sits on a sea-horse (with equine features, not typical aquatic sea horse characteristics) and holds a miniature representation of a Temple of Fame in her right hand. An overflowing cornucopia is at her feet.

Below the exergual inscription on the obverse are the initials P.P.W., possibly those of Peter Paul Werner, a German medalist working in Nuremberg from 1689 through 1771; thus this medal is likely of German manufacture. Forrer, Vol. VI, pp. 453 ff. notes that "he produced a very large number of medals, and many coin dies for various mints," and lists items from his repertoire.

Discussion of this medal is found in the American Journal of Numismatics, Volume XXIV. No. 1, in an article titled "An Undescribed Franco-American Jeton." The article is essentially a report of this medal having been sold by Ed. Frossard in his December 1888 Sale. The medal was purchased for $30 by Daniel Parish, Jr., then president of the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society of New York. The notes of Harry Bass indicate that the Parish specimen may be the same as the one offered here. Betts, p. 175, cites just one specimen, "Rare; in the collection of D. Parish, Jr., New York."

The allegory: Per AJN, and as quoted by Betts, p. 175, George M. Parsons considered the allegory to represent French interests in America in the personification of the Indian and England in the goddess of the sea, with the thought that there was "safety at sea," as controlled by Britain, but land was hazardous, as typified by the Indian ready to draw his arrow to the bow; thus, the medal could have been "an invocation for peace, in the threatening state of affairs between the two nations."

In the absence of contemporary documentation, often the meaning of a medallic allegory is in the eye and mind of the beholder. History records that in 1755 the French (sometimes with Indian assistance) and English were in conflict with each other on several fronts in America. The naval scene on this medal might be construed as anything but safe or peaceful, and perhaps Mercury, the messenger, is bringing news of the war or at least a reminder of it to the subjects on the reverse. On the reverse, the standing Indian does not bear any French indication (a fleur de lys or whatever), but the saurian reptile suggests that the Native American is from somewhere south of Virginia. The "Temple of Fame" seems to be surmounted by a Christian cross, and, perhaps, is a church-if so, perhaps indicating that Britannia, with her plenty (cornucopia) extends the blessings of religion, peace, and prosperity to the savage Indians, who at the time were caught up in the conflict, siding with the French. Perhaps a title such as "Indian Contemplating the Blessings of Britannia" might be appropriate. Further, could this be an Indian Peace medal?

Or, other allegories could be suggested.

From Paramount's 1972 ANA Sale, August 1972, Lot 936. Believed to be ex Ed. Frossard, Gerald E. Hart Collection Sale, December 1888, Lot 1613a, to Daniel Parish, Jr.

Kittanning Destroyed Medal

Betts-400, Pewter

Earliest American Medal

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2079     Kittanning Destroyed, 1756. Betts-400, early restrike, circa 1790. Pewter. 294.8 grains. 43.2 mm. AU. Even, soft gray toning with some lustre remaining in the fields. Sharply struck with bold details. This is believed to be the first large medal made from American dies and struck in what is now the United States of America.

The obverse displays an ornate coat of arms, believed to be that formerly used by the City of Philadelphia. Elements include (clockwise from upper left): clasped hands; a standing sheaf of wheat; a three-masted merchant ship under full sail, and a pair of balance scales, reflecting the activities of the city, including friendship, agriculture, commerce, and maritime trade. The legend around reads THE GIFT OF THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA.

The reverse with a scene of the log cabin village of Kittanning in flames. The legend reads KITTANNING DESTROYED BY COL. ARMSTRONG. The date in the exergue is September 8, 1756. The village is shown as a cluster of tightly spaced log cabins ablaze; four soldiers, one whose gun is still pointing at his victim prostrate on a corduroy road.

Kittanning was an Indian village on the banks of the Allegheny River, located 45 miles from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which was burned during the French and Indian War. According to Betts, each of the commissioned British officers involved in the affair was awarded one of these medals struck in silver. Edward Duffield, a Philadelphia watchmaker, is credited with having prepared these dies (and B-401, below), which have survived and are housed at the Philadelphia Mint, according to Betts. The present example is an earl restrike from intact dies.

From the New Netherlands Coin Co.'s sale of April 18-19, 1972, Lot 607. Formerly from the Henry Chapman estate, February 1945, where it was purchased for $75.

First American Indian Peace Medal

1757 George II, Betts-401.

Restrike in Pewter

2080     George II American Indian Peace medal, 1757. Betts-401. Early restrike from original dies, unbroken. Pewter. 388.8 grains; 43.3 mm. AU. Lustrous, silver gray surfaces.

The obverse depicts the laureated head of King George II, facing left, in jacket of cloth and armor. Surrounding is the inscription GEORGIVS II DEI GRATIA.

The reverse shows an Indian seated on the ground to the left, and at the right a colonist (in the style of popular depictions of William Penn) seated on a rock, holding a calumet or peace pipe aloft in his right hand. Behind him is a deciduous tree. In the background is a blazing council fire, while a sun with rays illuminates the scene. The inscription, LET US LOOK TO THE HIGH WHO BLESSED OUR FATHERS WITH PEACE. The date 1757, written as J757, is in the exergue.

This was considered by Betts to be the first Indian Peace medal struck in America, and is from dies cut by Edward Duffield, Philadelphia silversmith and jeweler. The medals were made to be presented by the Friendly Association for Regaining and Preserving Peace with the Indians by Pacific Means. Striking was performed by Joseph Richardson of the same city, a member of a famous family of silversmiths. He used a sledgehammer and a guide for the dies to make the impressions. Beginning circa 1800-1810 the dies were used to make restrikes, and after a time they became very badly broken.

Duffield (1730-1805) was hardly a Du Vivier (see following lot), but his work is of decent style, the obverse portrait being better executed that of the small Indian and colonist figures on the reverse (which are naïve).

Notice of this medal appeared in the American Journal of Numismatics, October 1877, quoting a letter written by Joseph Richardson (the younger) on June 12, 1813, which commented, in part: "[The device] represented an Indian and a European seated at a Council fire, the latter pointing with the calumet, a pipe of peace, towards the sun, near the zenith; the whole design being encircled with this beautiful sentiment: LET US LOOK TO THE MOST HIGH, WHO BLESSED OUR FATHERS WITH PEACE. Duffield also cut the dies for the Kittanning medal, such dies later being placed in the Mint." This was undoubtedly in response to or expansion of a comment about this and other Duffield medals printed in Numisma, January 1877, by Ed. Frossard.

From New Netherlands Coin Co.'s Sale of April 18-19, 1972, Lot 609.

Horatio Gates Medal, Betts-557

Pewter, Original

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2081     General Burgoyne's Surrender to Gates at Saratoga, 1777. Betts-557. Pewter. 916.8 grains. 55.6 mm. AU. Mostly soft gray surfaces, slightly darker on the highlights. The fields display remnants of their original prooflike quality. A small protrusion from the top edge, as made, undoubtedly was meant to connect a loop for suspension. The loop does not seem to have been attached. Exceedingly rare in pewter, and, seemingly, not known to Betts in this metal.

The obverse depicts a uniformed bust of General Horatio Gates, left. The legend reads HORATIO GATES DUCI STRENUO (Horatio Gates, the valiant Commander.) In the exergue appears COMITIA AMERICANA. Just above the exergual line at right is N. Gatteaux, the mark of the die cutter. The reverse features the scene of General Gates receiving the sword of General Burgoyne. Soldiers on the battlefield stand in the background. The legend around reads SALUS REGIONUM SEPTENTRIONAL, with HOSTE AD SARATOGAM IN DEDITION • ACCEPTO DIE XVII • OCT • MDCCLXXVII in the exergue (The safety of the Northern regions secured by the surrender of the enemy received at Saratoga, Oct. 17, 1777.) Just below the exergual line at left is GATTEAUX F.

Betts notes that these medals were struck in gold (for presentation to General Gates), silver, and bronze. No mention is made of striking in pewter, as the medal here offered. It is believed that the silver specimens were presented to Washington, passing from his estate to Daniel Webster. The dies were cut in France by Nicolas Marie Gatteaux, an accomplished Parisian medalist who was appointed by Louis XVI as official engraver of medals, and did a number of medals for the American government as well.

Wyatt on Gates: Thomas Wyatt, A.M.-he of later checkered numismatic career-was the author in 1848 of a superb work on medals, Memoirs of the Generals, Commodores, and Other Commanders, Who Distinguished Themselves in the American Army and Navy During the Wars of the Revolution and 1812, and Who Were Presented with Medals by Congress, for Their Valiant Service. For the successful bidder on this medal we will furnish, if requested, a photocopy of the title page of this work and the chapter on Gates, from which this is but a small extract:

"[After a military cat and mouse game] the British general [Burgoyne] found his prospects of assistance as remote as ever, and the consumption of his stores so alarming, that retreat or victory became unavoidable alternatives. On the 8th of October a warm action ensued, in which the British were everywhere repulsed, and a part of their lines occupied by their enemies. Burgoyne's loss was very considerable in killed, wounded, and prisoners, while the favorable situation of Gates' army made its losses in the battle of no moment.

"Burgoyne retired in the night to a stronger camp, but the measures immediately taken by Gates, to cut off his retreat, compelled him without delay to regain his former camp at Saratoga.… His provisions being now reduced to the supply of a few days…the British general resolved upon a rapid retreat, merely with what the soldiers could carry on their backs.

"They soon found they were deprived even of this resource, as the passes through which their route lay were so strongly guarded, that nothing but artillery could clear them. In this desperate situation a parley took place, and on the 16th of October the whole army surrendered to Gates. The prize obtained consisted of more than 5,000 prisoners, some fine artillery, 7,000 muskets, clothing for 7,000 men, with a great quantity of tents and other military stores. All the frontier fortresses were immediately abandoned to the victors. This successful capture filled America with joy.…"

From New Netherlands Coin Co.'s sale of April 18-19, 1972, Lot 612.

Original De Fleury - Stony Point Award Medal

Betts-566, Silver

Awarded by Congress; Dies by Du Vivier

Believed Intended for Presentation to De Fleury

Illustrated and Cited by Lossing

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2082     M. De Fleury medal. Betts-566. Original by Du Vivier. Silver. Plain edge. Nearly Mint, prooflike fields. 726.4 grains. 45.8 mm. One of only three or four known. Attractive silver and light iridescent patination. A superb medal, sharply struck and exquisitely detailed. This identical specimen is mentioned by famous American historian Lossing and famous numismatic researcher Betts, giving it an elegant provenance (both quoted below). This is the only contemporary medal voted by Congress during the Revolution, to be awarded to a French officer in the service of the young United States. As is indicated by the following description, this is one of the most important early American medals to cross the auction block in our generation.

This medal became famous after the publication of Benson J. Lossing's A Pictorial Field Book of the American Revolution, 1852, which gave a fine "spread" and illustrated the piece. As might be expected, the community of American numismatists strongly desired to have examples of this medal for their cabinets. However, the original dies were not to be found to make restrikes. Accordingly, at a later date copy dies were made at the Philadelphia Mint, of modern lettering and with the added inscription REPRODUCTION 1880 (these are described as Julian MI-4 and are not further treated here).

Description of the obverse: At the center is the personification of Lt. Col. François Louis Tessiedre De Fleury as a Roman warrior, with helmet, flowing cape, skirt of mail, and sandals, grasping the pole of the British flag and trampling the cloth with his foot. The backdrop is of the cut-stone walls of a fortress, breached on the right side and with broken stones and rubble at the right foreground. A dislodged stone from the battlement is inscribed DU VIVIER S. Around the top border is the inscription, VIRTUTIS AUDACIÆ MONUM. ET PRÆMIUM [To valor and bravery a monument]. In the exergue is the inscription D. [sic; should be F.] DE FLEURY EQUITI GALLO / PRIMO SUPER MUROS / RESP. AMERIC. D.D. [De Fleury, officer of France, first to mount the walls, Republic of America has presented this gift; D.D. representing dono dedit, or gave this gift].

Description of the reverse: A panoramic bird's-eye or balloonist's eye view is given of the star fort (but of slightly modified shape) on a high rocky escarpment bordered by water and marshy lowland at Stony Point. The scenario depicts the fort in British hands prior to assault by the American troops. In the Hudson River between the fort and the opposite shore are six British sailing ships, the rightmost of which seems to be firing two guns toward the shore (in an action not explained by history; perhaps practice). The fort walls are intact in this view, and the pennant-dramatically oversize for visual effect on the medal-is blowing in the breeze. Cannons are seen in place with supplies of round shot nearby. Two tall stone turrets are on the front rampart of the fort. Around the top border is the inscription, AGGERES PALUDES HOSTES VICTI [Fortifications, marshes, and enemies overcome], while in the exergue is this lettering: STONY-PT. EXPUG. / XV. JUL. MDCCLXXIX [Stony Point vanquished, 15 July 1779].

Historical background of the medal and its depictions: François Louis Tessiedre De Fleury was born at St. Hippolyte, France on August 28, 1749. As an adult he served in the French army, attaining the rank of aide-major. When the hardships of the colonists in the American Revolution became known in France, many Frenchmen volunteered their services, with Marquis de Lafayette being the best remembered by historians. De Fleury came to the United States and was posted as an engineer at Fort Mifflin on May 22, 1777. He was wounded in the attack upon that fortification. Later, he served with valor at the Battle of Brandywine, and still later was in action at Red Bank, after which he was made lieutenant colonel in the Continental Army. At a later time, Baron von Steuben recommended that he be assigned as an inspector. In the Continental Army's attack to recapture the American fort at Stony Point, New York, De Fleury was in command of the right vanguard of the advancing American troops. A marshy area lay in front of the fort, making the path difficult. He was the first person to cross the breached wall of the fort, and, per Anthony Wayne's later report, destroyed "the enemy's standard with his own hands." This action is depicted on the obverse of the medal. In recognition for his valor at Stony Point, Congress on July 1779 unanimously voted that he be given a silver medal. This present specimen is believed to be that medal. Later, when substantial French forces arrived in America, he resigned from the Continental Army to join his countrymen on American soil under Count Rochambeau. He is believed to have met his death in the dark days of the French Revolution, 1794.

Lossing said this of our medal subject: "De Fleury was descended from Hercule Andre de Fleury, a French nobleman, who was the preceptor of the grandson of Louis XIV, during the latter years of the life of that monarch. He was afterward made cardinal and prime minister. The subject of our sketch came to America soon after the news of the revolt reached France. Washington received him kindly, obtained for him a commission, and he proved to be a brave and worthy soldier. Educated as an engineer, his talents were brought into requisition here. In that capacity he was acting at the time of the engagement at Fort Mifflin, on the Delaware. He was at the battle of Brandywine, and for his gallantry there Congress gave him a horse. He returned to France soon after the capture of Stony Point."

The action at Stony Point: Benson J. Lossing, distinguished 19th-century American historian (his contributions to numismatics are noticed at length in the 1998 book, American Numismatics Before the Civil War, 1760-1860, among other places), devoted several pages to Stony Point in his Pictorial Field Book of the Revolution, 1852, Vol. II, pp. 176 ff., there illustrating the medal in question, presumably from the specimen now offered as part of the Bass Collection.

Lossing's description of the action at Stony Point, beginning with the British capture of the fort: "The small forts at Verplanck's and Stony Points [on the Hudson River] were captured by the enemy commanded by Sir Henry Clinton in person, on the 1st of June 1779. The garrison of Stony Point consisted of only about 40 men, and that at Verplanck's of 70 men, commanded by Captain Armstrong. As these forts secured a free communication between the troops of New England and those of the central and southern portions of the confederacy, Clinton determined to dislodge the Americans therefrom. Accordingly, on the 30th of May, he sailed up the river with a strong force, accompanied by General Vaughan; the flotilla was commanded by Admiral Collier. They landed in two divisions on the morning of the 31st, the one under Vaughan, on the east side, eight miles below Verplanck's, and the other under Clinton, on the west side, a little above Haverstraw. The garrison at Stony Point retired to the Highlands on the approach of the enemy, and the fort changed masters without bloodshed.

"The next morning, the guns of the captured fortress, and the cannons and mortars dragged up during the night, were pointed toward Fort Fayette opposite, and a heavy cannonade was opened upon it. Unable to make a respectable resistance to this assault, and attacked in the rear by Vaughan's division, the little garrison surrendered themselves prisoners of war. The loss of these forts was greatly lamented by Washington, and his first care was to make an effort to recover them for West Point was now in danger. The main body of the American army was moved from Middlebrook toward the Highlands and Washington established his quarters at Smith's Cove, far in the rear of Haverstraw. Sir Henry Clinton gave orders for the immediate strengthening of the forts, and to guard the detachments left for the purpose, he descended the river with his army only as far as Phillipsburgh, now Yonkers.

"On the 23rd of June, Washington established his headquarters at New Windsor.… On the 1st of July, General Wayne was appointed to the command of the light infantry of the line, and was stationed in the vicinity of the Dunderberg, between Fort Montgomery and the main army at the Clove. The British had now greatly enlarged and strengthened the two forts in question, well supplied them with ammunition and stores, and had them strongly garrisoned. The force at Stony Point consisted of the 17th Regiment of foot, the grenadier companies of the 71st, and some artillery; the whole under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Johnson of the 7th. The garrison at Verplanck's was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Webster, and was quite equal in force to that at Stony Point. Several small British vessels of war were anchored in the bay within close cannon shot of the forts. Such was the situation of the two armies, when the attack of the Americans under Wayne and Howe upon Stony Point and Verplanck's Point was planned and executed by order of Washington.

"On the morning of the 15th of July, all the Massachusetts light infantry were marched to the quarters of Wayne at Sandy Beach, 14 miles from Stony Point. At meridian on that exceedingly sultry day, the whole body moved through narrow defiles, over rough crags, and across deep morasses, in single file, and at eight in the evening rendezvoused a mile and a half below Stony Point. There they remained until General Wayne and several officers returned from reconnoitering the works of the enemy, when they were formed into column, and moved silently forward under the guidance of a Negro slave belonging to a Captain Lamb who resided in the neighborhood.

"The position of the fortress was such that it seemed almost impregnable. Situated under a huge rocky bluff, an island at high water, and always inaccessible dry-shod, except across a narrow causeway in the rear, it was strongly defended by outworks and a double row of abatis. Upon three sides of the rock were the waters of the Hudson, and on the fourth was a morass, deep and dangerous. But Wayne was not easily deterred by obstacles; and tradition avers, that while conversing with Washington on the subject of this expedition, he remarked with emphasis, "General, I'll storm hell if you will only plan it." He possessed the true fire of the flint, and was always governed by the maxim, "Where there's a will there's a way." He resolved to storm the fort at all hazards, and only waited for the ebbing of the tide, and the deep first slumber of the garrison, to move toward the fortress.

"It was half past eleven o'clock at night when the Americans commenced their silent march toward the fort. All the dogs in the neighborhood had been killed the day before, that their barking might not give notice of strangers near. The Negro, with two strong men disguised as farmers, advanced alone. The countersign was given to the first sentinel, on the high ground west of the morass, and while he was conversing with Pompeii, the men seized and gagged him. The silence of the sentinel at the causeway was secured in the same manner, and as soon as the tide ebbed sufficiently [this portion of the Hudson being virtually sea level], the whole of Wayne's little army, except a detachment of 300 men under General Muhlenburg, who remained in the rear as a reserve, crossed the morass to the fort on the western declivity of the promontory, unobserved by the enemy. The troops were now divided into two columns, the van of the right, consisting of 150 volunteers, under Lieutenant-Colonel De Fleury, and that of the left, of 100, under Major Stewart, each with unloaded muskets and fixed bayonets. An avant-garde of 20 picked men for each company, under Lieutenants Gibbons and Knox, preceded them, to remove the abatis and other obstructions. These vans composed the forlorn hope on that memorable night.

"At a little past midnight the advanced parties moved silently to the charge, one company on the southern, and the other toward the northern portion of the height. They were followed by the two main divisions; the right, composed of the regiments of Febiger and Meigs, being led by General Wayne in person. The left was composed of Colonel Butler's regiment, and two companies under Major Murfey. The Americans were undiscovered until within pistol shot of the pickets upon the heights, when a skirmish ensued between the sentinels and the advanced guards. The pickets fired several shots, but the Americans, true to orders, relied upon the bayonet, and pressed forward with vigor. The garrison was aroused from their slumbers, and instantly the deep silence of the night was broken by the roll of the drum, the loud cry To arms! To arms! The rattle of musketry from the ramparts and behind the abatis, and the roar of cannon, charged with the deadly grapeshot [sic; round shot is depicted on the medal] from the embrasures. In the face of this terrible storm, the Americans forced their way at the point of the bayonet, through every obstacle, until the van of each column met in the center of the works, where each arrived at the same time.

"At the inner abatis, Wayne was struck upon the head by a musket ball, which brought him upon his knees. His two brave aids, Fishbow and Archer, raised him to his feet, and carried him gallantly through the works. Believing himself mortally wounded, the general exclaimed, as he arose, "March on! Carry me into the fort, for I will die at the head of my column!" But the wound was not very severe, and he was able to join in the loud huzzas that arose when the two columns met as victors within the fort.

"Colonel De Fleury first entered the works, and struck the British standard with his own hands. The garrison surrendered at discretion as prisoners of war, and that brilliant achievement was rendered the more glorious for the clemency, which the victors exercised toward the vanquished. Not a life was taken after the flag was struck and the garrison had pleaded for quarters. Wayne had but 15 killed and 83 wounded; the British had 63 killed; and Johnson, the commander, with 543 officers and men, were made prisoners. The ships of the enemy lying in the river in front of Stony Point slipped their cables and moved down to a place of security. Before daylight, Wayne sent to the commander-in-chief the brief but comprehensive reply, of which a facsimile is here given:

"Stony Point, 16th July 1779, 2 o'clock a.m.

Dear General,

The fort garrison with Col. Johnston and our officers and men behaved like men who are determined to be free.

Yours most sincerely,

I remain [Anthony Wayne]

[addressed to] General Washington

"At dawn the next morning the cannons of the captured fort were turned upon the enemy's works at Verplanck's Point under Colonel Webster, and a desultory bombardment was kept up during the day. Major General Robert Howe had been sent to attack Fort Fayette, but on account of delays, and some misconceptions of Washington's orders, he did not make the attack in time to dislodge the garrison. News of Webster's critical situation and the capture of Stony Point was speedily communicated to Sir Henry Clinton, and he immediately sent relief to the menaced garrison at Verplanck's. Howe withdrew, and the enterprise was abandoned.

"Washington clearly perceiving the danger of attempting to retain the post at Stony Point with so few troops as could be employed in the service, concluded to order an evacuation, and destruction of the works after the ordnance and stores should be removed. This was accordingly done on the night of the 18th. All that was originally intended was accomplished, namely, the destruction of the works and the seizure of the artillery and stores. A large portion of the heavy ordnance was placed on a galley to be conveyed to West Point. As soon as the vessel moved, a cannonade from Verplanck's and the British shipping was commenced upon it. A heavy shot from the Vulture struck it below watermark, and the galley went down at the point just above Caldwell's Landing, where speculation recently made credulity seek for treasures in a sunken vessel alleged to have belonged to the famous Captain Kidd. If, as asserted, a cannon was drawn up from a vessel lying at the bottom of the river there, it was doubtless one of the pieces taken from Stony Point, and the 'ship's timbers' there discovered are the remains of the old galley. The 'treasures,' if secured, would be of little worth in these 'piping times of peace.'

"The British repossessed themselves at Stony Point on the 20th, but they had little of value left them but the eligible site for a fortification.

"The storming and capture of Stony Point, regarded as an exhibition of skill and indomitable courage, was one of the most brilliant events of the war. General Wayne, the leader of the enterprise, was everywhere greeted with rapturous applause. Congress testified their grateful sense of his services by a vote of thanks 'for his brave, prudent, and soldierly conduct.' It was also resolved that a medal of gold, emblematical of this action, should be struck, and presented to General Wayne. Thanks were also presented by Congress to Lieutenant Colonel De Fleury and Major Stewart, and a medal of silver was ordered to be struck and presented to each. The conduct of Lieutenants Gibbons and Knox was warmly applauded, and brevets of captain were given to each, and to Mr. Archer, the volunteer aid of Wayne, who was the bearer of the general's letter to Washington on the occasion. Pursuant to the recommendation of the commander-in-chief, and in fulfillment of promises made by Wayne before the assault, with the concurrence of Washington, Congress resolved, 'That the value of the military stores taken at Stony Point be ascertained and divided among the gallant troops by whom it was reduced, in such manner and proportions as the commander-in-chief shall prescribe.' "

Numismatic note: The preceding indicates that the breach in the fort wall and the stone rubble within may indicate artistic license (unless the rubble was from an earlier confrontation). The cannons were fired with canister or grape shot, not round shot as seems to be depicted on the medal.

The engraver: The dies were cut by famous French artist and engraver Pierre Simon Benjamin Du Vivier (sometimes given as Duvivier), who was born on November 5, 1728, the son of Jean Du Vivier, himself a famous artist and medalist (in numismatics, sometimes referred to as Du Vivier Pere), who maintained an atelier in the Louvre in Paris. In 1764, our Du Vivier was named official medalist to the king. In the Revolutionary War era and immediately following, there was little capability in America for the striking of large-diameter medals, and artists and facilities in Paris were often employed. Du Vivier's works are well known and in the American repertoire are highlighted by the Washington Before Boston medal among other masterpieces. The Paris Mint provided the facility for striking.

Lossing (1852) wrote of this specimen: "This identical [to the illustration in Lossing] silver medal was found by a boy while digging in a garden at Princeton, New Jersey, toward the close of April 1850, and was deposited in the bank at that place for the inspection of the curious. How the medal came there is uncertain. De Fleury returned to France before the medal was struck, and it probably was never in his possession. Congress was afterward in session at Princeton, and the medal may have been lost by the secretary, in whose custody it properly belonged until delivered to the recipient of the honor."

Betts (1894) wrote of this specimen: "There is reason to believe that an impression of this medal found at Princeton, N.J., in April 1850, was the original intended to be presented to De Fleury. Congress was in session there, at one time, and it is thought that this may have been sent there, and lost by the person having it in his care. De Fleury is said to have returned to France before his medal reached America. This is the only one of the three [early medal varieties relating to the action at Stony Point] which spells Stony Point correctly." "The dies are lost. Eds." [the editors were William T.R. Marvin and Lyman Haynes Low; as is seen, this is an adaptation of Lossing, but not credited as such; some of Lossing's details were omitted by Betts and/or his editors.]

From New Netherlands Coin Co.'s sale of April 18-19, 1972, Lot 613. Earlier believed to be THE PRESENTATION SPECIMEN FOR DE FLEURY. Illustrated by Lossing (1852), cited by Betts (1894). Later in the W.W.C. Wilson auction, Lot 805, catalogued by Wayte Raymond under title of "The Important Numismatic Collection Formed by the Late W.W.C. Wilson, Montreal, Canada. United States and Canadian Coins, Early American and Canadian Historical Medals, Medals Presented to North American Indian Chiefs, Foreign Coins and Medals" and sold by Anderson Galleries, New York; later in the Henry Chapman estate, and sold on March 4, 1946.

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2083     General Daniel Morgan. Mint medal, undated, post 1839. Julian MI-7 [adaptation of Betts-593]. Bronze. 1,302.6 grains; 56.4 mm. MS-63. Circa 1860-1870 impression (our estimate); fairly early die state. Deep glossy chocolate brown surfaces.

A well-executed medal, indeed elegant, the original of which, in gold, was presented to Revolutionary War hero General Morgan in 1789 or 1790, this being described as Betts-593. This gold medal original was lost, and Congress passed an act authorizing a restrike for presentation to Morgan Neville, an heir to the general. The dies were never located, and it was necessary to prepare a new set. The first strikings were in 1839, and they were still in use as late as 1885; this is the presently offered Julian MI-7.

The obverse features General Morgan being crowned with a wreath of laurel by an Indian Princess, symbolic of America. The reverse design is a scene from the battle of Cowpens, January 17, 1781. The original dies were by Augustin Dupré, with the copy dies (as here offered) by Barre.

Important 1776 Libertas Americana Medal

Betts-615 in Silver

Among the Finest Known

Conceived by Benjamin Franklin

The Archetype American-Motif Medal

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2084     "1776" Libertas Americana medal. Betts-615, Loubat-4. Silver. Plain edge. 783.4 grains; 47.5 mm. Proof-64. A deeply mirrored near-gem specimen with reflective fields and frosted design motifs. Pale rose, sky blue, gold, and violet iridescent toning graces both sides, adding immeasurably to the overall appeal. The medal is accompanied by a round green leatherette box, somewhat tattered on the outside, with faded red velvet on the inside. The cover closes with two hook and eye snaps. While perhaps not contemporary to the medal enclosed within, the box is almost certainly of 19th-century origin, and perhaps was custom made for an earlier owner of the medal.

The dies were engraved in Paris in 1782 by Augustin Dupré at the behest of Benjamin Franklin. Selected correspondence on the matter, to and from Franklin, is quoted below.

This die combination yields a highly prized rarity when struck in copper, as usually seen. Silver impressions are few and far between, and often a period of years will elapse between appearances on the open market. The Harry Bass Collection specimen is sharply struck with even the smallest detail boldly rendered. Usual small rim cud on obverse at 7:00 attests to the originality of this specimen. Here, indeed, is one of the nicest quality examples among the few pieces offered in our era. As such, this lovely and exceedingly important medal will be a focal point in this section of the sale.

Benjamin Franklin conceived the idea of the Libertas Americana medal and suggested the motifs. Robert R. Livingston suggested the mottoes. A French artist, Esprit-Antoine Gibelin, sketched the design, and the work was executed in die form in 1882 by Augustin Dupré. It seems that at least two gold specimens were struck, these being presented to the king and queen of France, only a few silver coins (including to the French ministers), and a fairly large number of copper impressions, the latter including one for each member of the American Congress.

Obverse: The inscription LIBERTAS AMERICANA is in an arc above, 4 JUIL. 1776 is in the exergue below. At the center is the head of Libertas Americana, a.k.a. Miss Liberty, facing left, with rich tresses of hair flowing behind, set against a liberty cap on pole. The top of the pole is seen below her neck, and the end of the pole with cap behind her hair to the upper right.

Reverse: With inscription NON SINE DIIS ANIMOSUS INFANS (the infant is not bold without divine aid) above, 17 OCT. 1777 and 19 OCT. 1781. The allegorical motif on the reverse is a fine example of the engraver's art. Minerva, clad in breastplate and plumed helmet, holds a shield bearing the fleur de lys of France. The infant Hercules (representing the new American nation) kneels in the protective shadow of Minerva's shield, grasping a strangled serpent in each tiny fist. The reptiles represent the defeats of General "Gentleman Johnny" Burgoyne (17 October, 1777) and General George Cornwallis (19 October, 1781). The British lion stands, forepaws upon Minerva's shield. Its tail is between its rear legs, a heraldic signal of cowardice or defeat, as, indeed, it may also be in nature. In some 19th-century accounts (citations on request to the successful bidder) this particular breed of cat has been called incorrectly a leopard or a panther.

Franklin's involvement: The following letters to and from Benjamin Franklin are from Jared Sparks, Franklin's Works, as quoted by William Sumner Appleton, American Journal of Numismatics, November 1867, pp. 63-64:

From Benjamin Franklin, who was in France at the time, to Robert R. Livingston, March 4, 1782:

"This puts me in mind of a medal I have had a mind to strike, since the late great event you gave me an account of, representing the United States by the figure of an infant Hercules in his cradle, strangling the two serpents; and France by that of Minerva, sitting by as his nurse, with her spear and helmet, and her robe specked with a few fleurs de lis. The extinguishing of two entire armies in one war is what has rarely happened, and it gives a presage of the future force of our growing empire."

Franklin to Sir William Jones, March 17, 1783:

"The engraving of my medal, which you know was projected before the peace, is but just finished. None are yet struck in hard metal, but will be in a few days. In the meantime, having this good opportunity by Mr. Penn, I send you one of the épreuves. You will see that I have profited by some of your ideas, and adopted the mottoes you were so kind as to furnish."

Franklin to the Grand Master of Malta, April 6, 1783 (which, among other things, indicates the prestige of a silver striking and the possibility, which never saw fruition, of adding COMITIA AMERICANA to the die for later strikings):

"My Lord, I have the honor to address to your Eminent Highness the medal, which I have lately had struck. It is a homage of gratitude, my Lord, which is due to the interest you have taken in our cause; and we no less owe it to your virtues, and to your Eminent Highness's wise administration of government."

Franklin to Livingston, April 15, 1783:

"I have caused to be struck here the medal which I formerly mentioned to you, the design of which you seemed to approve. I enclose one of them in silver, for the President of Congress, and one in copper for yourself; the impression in copper is thought to appear best, and you will soon receive a number for the members. I have presented one to the King, and another to the Queen, both in gold, and one in silver to each of the ministers, as a monumental acknowledgment, which may go down to future ages, of the obligations we are under to this nation. It is mighty well received, and gives general pleasure. If the Congress approve it, as I hope they will, I may add something on the die (for those to be struck hereafter) to show that it was done by their order, which I could not venture to do until I had authority for it."

Rohan, Grand Master of Malta, to Franklin, June 21, 1783; it is seen that Rohan, like many Frenchmen of the time, had his own cabinet of medals:

"Sir, I received with the most lively sensibility the medal, which your Excellency sent me, and the value I set upon this acquisition leaves my gratitude unbounded. This monument of American liberty has a distinguished place in my cabinet."

Letter from Franklin to the President of the United States Congress, September 13, 1783:

"I am happy to hear that both the device and workmanship of the medal are approved with you, as they have the good fortune to be by the best judges on this side of the water. It has been esteemed a well-timed, as well as a well-merited, compliment here, and has its good effects. Since the two first which you mention as received, I have sent by different opportunities so many, as that every member of Congress might have one. I hope they are come safe to hand by this time."

The Libertas Americana tradition: This beautiful obverse personification of Liberty was copied, to some extent, by Joseph Wright and other early United States Mint engravers for federal copper coinage of the 1793-1796 era. In later times the motif continued to be admired. Inspired by the design, the combination of the liberty cap and Miss Liberty appeared in other forms as well, including Christian Gobrecht's silver coinage of the 1830s, extending for some denominations to 1891, and on many patterns, medals, and other productions. In the 1870s, J.A. Bolen produced his own version which was employed on certain store cards and Centennial Exhibition related items. In the 1970s Chief Engraver Frank Gasparro produced a version of the Liberty Cap motif which at the time was considered for use on the metallic dollar and was enthusiastically endorsed by the numismatic community (however, the Susan Anthony motif was used); an earlier version of Gasparro's Liberty Cap design had appeared on an ANA medal, in which connection he worked with ANA executive director Ed Rochette.

In numismatic circles, the desirability of the Libertas Americana medal-typically encountered in copper-was recognized at an early date, even before the hobby became organized (more or less) circa 1857-1860. Many examples could be given, but these two will suffice:

In the catalogued sale conducted by Horatio Hill (169 Broadway, New York City), April 22-23, 1848, of books, maps, and medals of the late D.B. Worden, of Paris, which had become the property of the State of New York, numismatic items included an Libertas Americana medal.

The Documentary History of the State of New York, by E.B. O'Callaghan, M.D., published in four volumes in 1850 by Weed, Parsons & Co., Albany, NY, included some information on numismatics. Chapter XXIII, "Medals and Coins," featured three plates of coins engraved and separately printed by J.E. Gavit. Among the items depicted was a Libertas Americana medal.

Although detailed commentary is outside the scope of the present lot description, in passing we mentioned that during the early 19th century there was a great passion for medals among French citizens and numismatists, and the works of Du Vivier, Caqué, Gatteaux, Puymaurin, and others were widely collected. France was viewed as the world's premier source for art medals, and, as with the Comitia Americana medals, certain early United States historical medals were produced there, the most familiar being Dupré's Libertas Americana, which was appreciated by collectors on both sides of the Atlantic. The French were quite interested in other American subjects as well, and we need but mention the Series Numismatica, which included medals of George Washington.

In the American Journal of Numismatics, October 188, p. 31, Hon. George M. Parsons commented concerning the medal:

"The obverse shows a beautiful head of Liberty in bold relief. On the shoulder is a staff which bears at the end the Phrygian cap. During the French Revolution, which followed in 1789, this cap became the emblem of republicanism. The same device was afterwards adopted for some of the early American copper coins; it was never replaced by anything more beautiful.…"

John W. Adams on the series, an appreciation: In 1991, John W. Adams, in "Back To Medal Collecting," a contribution to the American Numismatic Association Centennial Anthology, listed early medals authorized by the American Congress (in Latin, Comitia Americana), here synopsized and adapted:

"The medals, 11 in all, were authorized by Congress to celebrate major victories in the Revolutionary War. Typically, a specimen in gold or silver was awarded to the hero who led the victory. Usually, additional pieces were struck from the same dies in copper and, though generally unknown by present day numismatists, are eminently collectable.

"The series begins in 1776 with Washington's dramatic appearance before Boston (causing the British evacuation thereof), the Washington Before Boston medal. It continues as follows: 1777 Saratoga General Gates. • 1779 Stony Point with three issues: General Wayne, Col. de Fleury, and Major Stewart. • 1779 Paulus Hook, featuring Major Henry Lee. • 1779 Capture of the Serapis by Capt. John Paul Jones. • 1781 The Battle of Cowpens featuring General Morgan, and colonels Howard and William Washington. • 1781 Eutaw Springs, General Greene. • 1781 Yorktown, Libertas Americana. • A careful counter will note that we have cited 12 medals, not 11. The last named, the famous Libertas Americana, was not authorized by Congress but was carried out by Benjamin Franklin, then our Minister to France, acting on his own. Although Congress had voted thanks to Count de Grasse and Count de Rochambeau for the French help at Yorktown, Franklin believed that a more tangible expression of gratitude was in order. Actually, the series shrinks back to 11, because none of the Lee medals has survived. Voting the medals was one thing, procuring them was another. Our infant nation had no facilities to make ordinary coinage, much less memorials worthy of the occasion. A committee of Congress was appointed and this body turned to France for artistic support. The French Academy provided the designs and inscriptions; the best artists in that land were retained to engrave the dies; and the Paris Mint, the best equipped facility in the world at that time, struck the medals. Aesthetically, the work of the committee was a complete success. Indeed, from that standpoint, it has no rival in all of American numismatics. Logistically, the effort was more labored. It took eight years, from 1781 through 1789, to complete the project despite the active participation of such patriots as Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and David Humphrey. In 1789, Jefferson returned from France with two complete sets of medals: his own, in pewter, has since been lost; the set in silver which he delivered personally to General Washington now resides in the Massachusetts Historical Society.…"

About the engraver: Augustin Dupré was born in St. Etienne, province Loire, France, on October 6, 1748. As a young man he was an apprentice in the making of firearms, where, among other skills, he learned engraving. In 1768 he moved to Paris, where he worked under an engraver and die sinker, soon becoming recognized for his own expertise. In addition, he did chasing and engraving work on jewelry, objets d'art, and sculpture, some of this in the employ of Jacques Clamier. His artistry on an elegantly decorated and embellished writing desk for the Empress Maria Louisa attracted wide admiration.

Soon, he focused upon medallic art, and in time he achieved great fame. His work included portraits of Louis XVI, Napoleon, and other famous French personages, as well as work on coinage dies. In 1791 he was named as the engraver general at the Paris Mint, which during that era was known worldwide for the artistry of its products. It was natural that during and after the American Revolution, the Paris Mint would be the source for medals of a high order of artistry, as there was little capability in the United States for engraving and, in particular, for striking large-format pieces.

In 1889 sketches by him were donated by his family to the Boston Public Library and, per an item in the American Journal of Numismatics, included "some of his original drawings, models, dies, and essays, relating to work done on medals for the United States, and more especially in reference to the medals of Franklin."

From New Netherlands Coin Company Inc.'s sale of April 1972, Lot 615.

Medals of Numismatists, Die Sinkers, and Societies

The Background

Tokens and medals relating to professional numismatists have a long and rich tradition in American numismatics. In the period 1859-1860, pioneer New York City dealers John K. Curtis and Augustus B. Sage issued medals relating to their businesses as did Ezra Hill. Within a few years dealers ranging from William Idler and George Cogan in Philadelphia to Alfred S. Robinson in Hartford had issued tokens.

New York diesinker George H. Lovett and his Philadelphia brother, Robert Lovett, Jr., were among the leading producers of medals for their dealer clients as well as to advertise their own businesses. This was a fortunate circumstance, as the Lovetts could and did produce many interesting and artistic designs. In fact, although numismatists for the next 150 years issued tokens and medals, few have reached or exceeded the output of 1859-1862 period, a time which, perhaps, should be called the golden era.

As might be expected, numismatists who enjoyed collecting rare and unusual varieties did their part by creating them within their own series. Thus, for example, William Idler's tokens, from dies by Robert Lovett, Jr., issued in Philadelphia circa 1860, were made in various metals including copper (the general name used in this text for bronze as well), brass, and white metal. Idler reached back into American numismatic history and retrieved some old motifs, and commissioned Lovett to make copy dies depicting the circa 1658 Maryland denarium and the 1792 Washington half dollar by Getz. Robinson, who was based in Connecticut, found the 1737 Higley threepence motif with a standing deer to be an ideal motif, for the original Higley coins had been issued in his own state.

While dealers were the most prolific issuers of tokens-no doubt because they had the mechanism to sell many pieces to their clients and, also, as they were advertisements-many tokens and medals were published by or for numismatists in the private sector. Two of the great numismatic luminaries of the second half of the 19th century-Joseph J. Mickley and Charles Anthon-were each the subject of large medals struck in their honor. J.A. Bolen of Springfield, Massachusetts cut dies for a spectacular series of medals on many diverse subjects, beginning in 1861 and continuing for years thereafter.

In the first decade of the 20th century a new wave of token-issuing interest arose. Several factors contributed including these: The rise of tokens and medals to become the hottest part of the rare coin market certainly helped, and was based upon the publication of listings and references by such scholars as Benjamin Wright and Lyman H. Low, articles in The Numismatist, and the appreciation of the historical aspects of such pieces. J.K. Cranston, of Galt, Ontario, was a manufacturer or sales agent for brass tokens, and he advertised in The Numismatist that these could be ordered for nominal cost. Meanwhile, such tokens issued by collectors were illustrated in the same publication, encouraging others to do likewise. Albert Frey soon began a very fine serial article listing numismatic medals dating back to the days of the 1850s, which engendered even more interest. Then came Tom Elder, whose tokens in themselves were so extensive that even today it is not certain that all varieties have been recognized.

Central to any collection of coin-related medals are the illustrious issues bearing the imprint of the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society, New York City, renamed the American Numismatic Society today. Over the years the Society (abbreviated ANS) has commissioned many different medals, some quite elegant, others quite rare, still others with both characteristics. As will be seen under the Society's Lincoln medal of the 1860s, the program got off to a very rocky start. However, in time many fine medals were created. Certain ANS medals are listed under their subjects, if numismatic personalities. If historical, they are alphabetized under A, for the American Numismatic Society. As your editor is a fellow of the Society and has been a member since 1958, the presentation of these pieces is especially enjoyable.

The Bass Collection

Harry W. Bass, Jr., was attracted to numismatic tokens, perhaps as part of the same feeling for the history of our hobby that prompted him to build a truly great library of historical auction catalogues, price lists, and books. Perhaps it is only natural that someone who collects catalogues published by, for example, Tom Elder, would want tokens and medals issued by Elder.

In addition, as Harry Bass served as president of the American Numismatic Society, it is likewise natural that the Society's medals-old as well as modern-would be appealing and important to him.

Although numismatic tokens and medals are for the most part quite inexpensive, many are very elusive, and others are extremely rare. No doubt if a book were to be written on them some day, values would multiply. For the moment, such pieces are where you find them, including in the following listings. As a window on numismatic history, we have taken the time and space to present certain of these tokens with more text than their value merits, but the people memorialized are the worthy foundations of our hobby. In addition to the numismatists and die sinkers presented in single lots, several large and rather fascinating groups of pieces are given at the end and include dozens of different issuers from the obscure to the famous.

Impressive 1868 (1866) Lincoln Medal

By Sigel

The Society's First Issue

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2085     American Numismatic Society, 1868 (popularly attributed to 1866). King-244, Johnson-1. Emil Sigel's Memorial medal of Abraham Lincoln. Bronze. 6,333.3 grains; 83.6 mm. MS-63. Large format medal struck "IN MEMORY OF THE LIFE ACTS AND DEATH OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. BORN FEBRUARY 12, 1809. DIED APRIL 15, 1865." as appears on the reverse side in eight lines, a wreath of laurel around. The obverse features the bust of Lincoln, right, in very high relief. The legend reads "SALVATOR PATRIAE." Below the portrait a tiny inscription reads EMIL SIGEL FECIT. A very handsome, impressive, and desirable medal. Most probably, the very finest work ever done by Sigel (at least, we have seen no close competition to it).

This is an exceedingly rare medal. The story is a lengthy one, and further details, if desired, can be picked up from that fascinating publication of yore, the American Journal of Numismatics, Andrew Zabriskie's monumental catalogue of Lincoln pieces (the first major work, titled Descriptive Catalogue of the Political and Memorial Medals struck in Honor of Abraham Lincoln, Sixteenth President of the United States, but only 75 copies were printed), and, especially from the regard of easy accessibility today, from "Lincoln in Numismatics," by Robert P. King, The Numismatist, February 1924. This built upon the work of Zabriskie and others and brought to print the current knowledge in the field. Of his predecessor, Zabriskie, much could be written; in his time he was one of the all-time "greats" in American numismatics.

King was another one of the "greats" in American numismatic research, but at a later time than Zabriskie. In the years since 1924 we have all drawn upon his work. King began his collecting interest at the age of two when his father, the senior partner in the firm of King & Baird, gave him a collection of 800 Civil War envelopes printed with various illustrations and sentiments, including many varieties printed by King and Baird. Numismatically, he cut his teeth at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition when he happened upon a 5-centime coin of Napoleon III given to him by a visitor. In King's words, "This was followed by a collection of Civil War tokens, they being the easiest thing to acquire, as prior to about 1880, there were a lot of these little pieces still in circulation, and one could hardly get a 25¢ piece changed without getting from one to three or four of these tokens in the transaction. I know whereof I speak, as I was never sent to the store without stopping in some other store first and getting my money changed to pennies, with a chance of adding to my collection, and was seldom disappointed, forming quite a collection in this way and with the help of some friends and folks." The writer went on to note that his interest in Lincoln medals and tokens dated from a later time, a few years prior to the centennial of Lincoln's birth, which was celebrated in 1909.

Sigel, a well-known issuer of Civil War tokens (most of which would win no design awards; most seemed to have been produced quickly, often naively, and fell short of the contemporary work of, say, William Bridgens), was tapped by the renascent Society in April 1865 to issue a grand medal depicting the martyred Lincoln, this being the foremost news story of the period. Such a medal, if finely done, would enjoy a wide sale not only to numismatists, but to the general public. Apparently, Sigel's reach exceeded his grasp, or he became possessed of the "slows." The project dragged on, and on, and on. Finally, he prepared the dies, but on the 16th impression they broke during the striking process circa late January or early February 1866, nearly a year later than planned. Apparently, most or all of these 16 were in soft "white metal," and two "imperfect copies" had been presented to officials (one being President Johnson) on the Lincoln's birthday celebration on February 12. Sigel agreed to make new dies by August 1. By this time much of the market for these metals was lost. Time dragged on and on. Finally, in early 1868, the Society made an arrangement with Sigel for a new set of dies. The agreement proposed certain cost adjustments and also noted that Sigel was not to make any restrikes or impressions for unauthorized persons. Complicating the situation was the unauthorized making of similar medals from other dies by an English firm.

The present medal from the Bass Collection is a very beautiful striking of one of the largest, most important early medals of Lincoln, and is further important as being the Society's first issue. Today, examples are rare.

2086     American Numismatic and Archaeological Society, 1897, Grant's Tomb. Bronze. 2038.2 grains; 63.5 mm. Mint State. Medal for the dedication of the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial in New York on April 27, 1897. Grant's bust, facing right, on the obverse, signed TIFFANY. The reverse bears the memorial. At the lower rim appears the mark of Tiffany & Co.

There was no medalist named "Tiffany." Instead, from early times (including the illustrious Cyrus Field / Atlantic Cable medals of decades earlier), this highly esteemed jewelry firm farmed out its diecutting, but did not recognize the artisans involved. Regarding Tiffany, for a long time a highly qualified numismatist, George Frederick Kunz, was on staff, he being a later-day counterpart of Lewis Feuchtwanger, renowned in particular for his knowledge of minerals and gems.

Question: Who was buried in Grant's Tomb?

2087     American Numismatic Society, 1908, Grover Cleveland plaquettes, 1908 (2). Weights: 3362.1 grains; 3354.5 grains, sizes: 78.5 mm width, 89.4 mm height; 78.2 mm width, 89.1 mm height. Antiqued bronze. Plain edge. Both Matte Proof-63, basically as struck.

Dies by J.F. Roine. Edges numbered, one as #26, the other as #80. Each is attractive olive-gold with warm highlights in the recessed areas. Obverse with seated portrait of Cleveland to right, name above, birth / death dates, 1837-1908, below in Roman numerals, reverse with high relief depiction of Columbia, seated on throne marked PAX on one armrest, LABOR on the other, holding orb and shield, PVBLIC OFFICE / A PVBLIC TRVST above, dates of presidency, 1885-1893 in Roman numerals below. An attractive pair of plaquettes. (Total: 2 pieces)

2088     American Numismatic Society, 1908. 50th Anniversary pin-back suspension medal worn at the opening ceremony for the new ANS building. Johnson-16. 164.1 grains; 23.8 mm. Sterling silver.

Design by Victor David Brenner, who was a member of the Society. Made by Tiffany & Co. One of just 25 examples struck. Oak leaf with pin back connected by three loops to a medallion, with ANS legends and motto on front, MDCCCLVIII above, MCMVIII below, APRIL VI at center of back. Back of leaf stamped TIFFANY & CO./STERLING, edge stamped TIFFANY & Co. Rare. American Journal of Numismatics, 1907-1908, pp. 150-152, includes an account of the occasion. About as desirable a specimen of ANS-iana as can be imagined!

Numismatic reflections upon William Street: In recent times, the Society announced that it has purchased a beautiful old building at 140 William Street, New York City, in the financial district and just a few steps from Wall Street. This area has a rich numismatic tradition (the Society was founded in the upstairs apartment of Augustus B. Sage at 121 Essex Street, not far away). Focusing only upon William Street, and without even digging into our complete (more or less) microfiche file of early New York City directories, we submit these names as a starter:

Bale, Joseph.: New York City diesinker was in 1829 located at 68 William Street.

Billings. Mr.: This diesinker is but an apparition, a will-o'-the-wisp, and is discussed in the book, American Numismatics Before the Civil War, 1760-1860.

Bode, John.: Naturalist, "birdstuffer," and Civil War token issuer. In 1861 he lived at 16 North William Street.

Bogert, Cornelius N.: This numismatist is somewhat of a mystery to the present editor, although his surname is sufficiently rare that it is likely he was related to Henry Bogert (see Lot 2131 below). In 1841 he was a lawyer at 1 John Street, New York City. At the same time he was a partner in Bogert & Penfold, grocers at 216 Front Street. In 1857-1858 he was a merchant at the presently important address of 49 William Street, and he lived at 35 East 22nd Street. In April 1865, Bangs, Merwin & Co.'s sale of the Dr. James R. Chilton Collection, Lot 2012, included this: "Catalogue in manuscript of the Numismatic Collection of Cornelius R. Bogert, Esq." This manuscript moved around, and it was later auctioned by W.E. Woodward, April 19-22, 1886, Lot 1873. Thus, Cornelius B. might be a good focal point for additional research by a member of the Numismatic Bibliomania Society.

Bridgens, Charles.: A diecutter of whom relatively little has been written, but presumably the author of various unsigned tokens and medals of the 1830s and 1840s. In 1833 he was an engraver, letter cutter, and die sinker at Franklin Hall, 17 Ann Street. In 1834 we find him as a partner with Thomas Yates in the die-sinking and engraving firm of Yates and Bridgens; 108 Reade Street. At the time Bridgens lived at 177 William Street (the same address where Yates lived).

Bridgens, William H.: Any listing of William Street denizens must include Bridgens at or near the top of the ranking with regard to numismatic importance. He was one of the most accomplished die cutters and Civil War token issuers, and today his products are widely admired and collected. Even Emanuel J. Attinelli, a chronicler of books (not tokens and medals), called his output "numerous and fine." One of his tokens of the 1863 period bears the inscription: BRIDGENS / METAL TOKENS / & / STORE CARDS / 189 / WILLIAM ST. N.Y. Of course, much more could be written about him.

Chinery, J.: In 1830, he was a letter and tool cutter at 90 William Street, New York City, by 1834 removing to 108 Nassau Street. And, that is about all we know of him.

Cogan, Edward D.: Dealer who had moved lock, stock, barrel, and family from Philadelphia and who was by 1866 set up at 101 William Street. Later addresses included 68, 95, and 100 William Street. He must have liked the place (but, we haven't checked the possibility that the city rearranged building addresses, as was done in Philadelphia circa 1858).

Everdell, William: In 1841 he was a seal engraver. 135 William Street, New York City. Also, around this time someone stamped EVERDELL on a bunch of large copper cents.

Gerhard, Frederich: From about 1856 to about 1859 Gerhard published the German Bank Note Reporter, New York City. During this period Gerhard was located, successively, at 113, 58, and 81 Nassau Street, 197 William Street, and 15 Dey Street.

Henning, Albert: Die sinker, issuer of Civil War tokens. In 1861 his shop was at 29 North William Street, while he resided not far away at 238 Delancey Street.

Relatively little has been learned about Henning. The Fuld reference does not list him as a maker of patriotic dies.

Hussey's Special Message Post: Located at 50 William Street, during the war, this outfit issued items of interest to philatelists, so much so that J.W. Scott made forgeries of them. However, numismatists are attracted to the Civil War tokens of the firm, which are memorable in design.

Jaudon, Frank: This numismatist is featured on a token offered as Lot 2132 in the present sale. In 1857-8 he is listed as a broker at 54 Wall Street with a residence at Hellgate (later the district was called Hell's Gate). On January 20, 1859, he joined the American Numismatic Society. In 1859 his directory listing is as a broker at 17 William Street; residence at 65 East 30th Street.

Levick, Joseph N.T.: Preeminent in the field of tokens, J.N.T. Levick assembled a marvelous collection of these pieces during the late 19th century, while at the same time compiling definitive lists of Hard Times tokens and other issues. Among the other fields studied was1793 large cents. He contributed the photographic plate to Sylvester S. Crosby's American Journal of Numismatics article which appeared in April 1869. Collections and groups of coins bearing his name were sold by various dealers from 1859 to 1908, with a sale held by Bangs, Merwin & Company in 1865 being particularly memorable as was a later offering featuring his token collection. The Levick pedigree on a large cent is at once distinguished and elusive. (The preceding is what we and J.W.A. had to say about Levick in our catalogue of the John W. Adams 1794 Cents, 1982.)

Magnus, Charles: Large-scale printer and lithographer, who in his salad days, circa 1852-4, was at 22 William Street. During the Civil War he published and widely advertised many views and scenes and, important to the present listing, issued tokens.

Morrison, E.: We could say more, but we'll skimp: In 1849 he was located at 47 Wall Street, from which address he published Sylvester's Reporter, Counterfeit Detector and New York Price Current which had been founded in 1830 by Sylvester J. Sylvester. In 1851, Morrison conducted an exchange, banking, and collection agency office at 51 William Street, where, no doubt, he took in his share of Liberty Seated silver coins during the price run-up which began in 1850.

Parsons, George. In 1859, Boyd's Pictorial Directory of Broadway included a half-page advertisement illustrated with an engraving of an eagle and stars in fireworks, with the caption above: "Specimen of J.W. Hadfield's First Premium Fireworks." Below, the text of the notice relates: "GEORGE PARSONS (successor to Oscar Jolley & Co., and Jolley & Tiers), importer of TOYS AND FANCY GOODS. The entire stock will be thrown upon for RETAIL DURING THE HOLIDAYS. 180 William St., cor. of Spruce, N.Y. Agent for J.W. Hadfield's First Premium Fireworks. A liberal commission will be allowed to merchants and all others for all orders for fireworks they may receive and forward [to] us." Parsons had his acquaintance Emil Sigel, also on William Street, make some Civil War tokens circa 1863 and, later from the dies, a bunch of numismatic delicacies for collectors.

Schulze, Edward: Civil War restaurateur and token issuer at 24 William Street.

Sigel, Emil: During the Civil War this diesinker and token-issuer did business at 177 William Street, an address that he lettered on certain of his tokens. By May 1866, he had moved, and advertised: "Engraving and chasing, in all its branches. Dies for medals, jewelry, silverware, & c. Seals, seal presses, stamps, letters. Designs and models for castings. Portraits, figures, ornaments. Emil Sigel, designer and modeller, 195 Broadway, corner Dey Street, New York." During this time he was involved in the star-crossed production of the ANS Lincoln medal (see Lot 2085 in this sale).

Strasburger & Nuhn: This token issuer in 1860 was located at 65 Maiden Lane, corner of William Street. "Importer of fancy goods and toys, French, China, and glass beads."

Strobridge, William Harvey: One of the better informed professional numismatist of the mid-19th century, this Vermont native moved in 1853 to New York City, there serving as one of many agents for the popular Fairbanks Scales (made in Vermont). In 1860 he relocated to Baltimore to do the same thing, but by circa 1861 he was back in New York City and had hung out his shingle as a rare coin dealer, cataloguing sales for Bangs, Merwin & Co., which lacked in-house talent. Meanwhile in 1864 his address was 93 William Street, changed (or moved to) 101 William Street by 1865.

Trested, Richard: Trested, who came to American from England, was a prominent die sinker in the 1820s, but only a few of his products (the Castle Garden token and his own advertising tokens; a nice article about this token is in our backlog for a future Rare Coin Review) are specifically signed. Russell Rulau believed he may have cut some dies for the Scovill Co. in Waterbury, CT, and may have done dies for early tokens of Doremus, Suydam & Nixon. In any event, by 1821 he was set up in business as a die sinker at 70 William St., an address soon changed to 68 William Street, which endured until his death (on January 13, 1829, from an infection arising from an amputated finger).

Wright & Bale: Partnership of C.C. Wright and James Bale, succeeding to certain interests of Richard Trested (see preceding). 68 William Street. Two books could be written about Charles Cushing Wright, whose engraving accomplishments were beyond compare. His first collectible output seems to have been the 1824 Washington / Lafayette medalet and counterstamp dies, followed soon by the elegant Erie Canal medal (1826), etc.

Wright, Charles Cushing: See above.

Yates, Thomas: An engraver of whom we know little. In 1834 he was the partner of Charles Bridgens in the die-sinking and engraving firm of Yates and Bridgens; 108 Reade Street. Yates lived at 177 William Street (the same address where Bridgens lived).

P.S.: The above is a partial list.

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2089     American Numismatic Society, 1909. Hudson-Fulton Celebration Exceptional large-format medal by Emil Fuchs. Struck in sterling silver, as marked on edge. 5,040.3 grains; 101.5 mm. Matte Proof as issued. With Whitehead-Hoag on edge, this firm being the manufacturer of choice for many numismatic medals of the era (including most of Elder's productions). A beautiful medal issued by the American Numismatic Society honoring Henry Hudson for his discovery of the Hudson river on the obverse, and Robert Fulton on the reverse. By any reckoning, this is one of the finest numismatic medals of the early 20th century. The original hinged, wooden case of issue is included.

The Hudson-Fulton Celebration spirit was absorbed by numismatists, especially by Thomas L. Elder and others in New York City, and much attention was paid to it. Apart from medals, various entities produced many ribbons, souvenirs, and other items, including a book with panoramic non-stop views of the Hudson River shore from Manhattan northward. This observance coincided with the golden era of postcard issuance in America, and anyone seeking to mount a numismatic exhibit surrounded by interesting pictorial material has but to go to a postcard dealer to find many items.

Fuchs's star was on the ascendancy, and in the era he achieved much recognition, including at the Exhibition of American Sculpture, New York, 1923.

2090     American Numismatic Society, 1909. Hudson-Fulton Celebration: Trio of interesting specimens: I Regular format medal issued by the American Numismatic Society for the celebration. Identical in design to the large-format medal offered in the previous lot, but smaller. Struck in sterling silver, with some dark toning streaks. 50.7 mm; 1,034 grains. Matte Proof. Whitehead & Hoag I Large-format medal. Brass. 63.5 mm. Matte Proof. Whitehead & Hoag I Original guest badge from the celebration. Struck in silver and suspended by the original ribbon from a pin labeled GUEST. AU. (Total: 3 pieces)

2091     American Numismatic Society, 1919. Peace of Versailles medal by Chester A. Beach. Johnson-33. Essentially as struck. Bronze. Round. Bas-relief style. 1,279.5 grains; 63.4 mm. Olive-gold matte-like surfaces.

Obverse with attractive representations of Mars to the left, Peace to the right, and Justice (on horseback) at the center, reverse with an ornate scene of Versailles, where the peace treaty that ended the "War To End All Wars" was signed, PEACE OF VERSAILLES at top, 1919 on a ribbon at the bottom, AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY in tiny letters also on the ribbon. Attractive.

Chester A. Beach was responsible for many of our commemorative half dollar designs, including the models for the 1928 Hawaiian Sesquicentennial issue, designed by Juliette May Fraser. He also designed the 1935 Hudson Sesquicentennial, the 1925 Lexington-Concord, and the 1923-S Monroe Doctrine issues. Despite this string of accomplishments, Beach is little known to numismatists today.

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2092     American Numismatic Society, 1926. Manhattan Tercentenary medal by Hermon A. MacNeil. Johnson-42. As struck. Bronze. Round. Bas relief. 1,233.2 grains; 63.5 mm. Deep chocolate brown matte surfaces as issued.

Obverse with striding male and female figures to right, winged, NEW YORK CITY 1926 above, city scene in the background, reverse with Peter Stuyvesant being greeted by Native Americans, 1626 above, MANHATTAN below. One of just 100 pieces struck, and a rarity as such.

MacNeil is best known to numismatists as the designer of the 1916 Standing Liberty quarter dollar. However, this is but a footnote in his overall repertoire which includes medals, statuary, and many other items, nearly all beautifully done.

Landmark 1983 ANS Medal in Gold

Dedicated to Numismatics

One of Two Struck

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2093     American Numismatic Society, 1983. 18 karat gold. Dies by Marcel Jovine. 91.5 x 109.9 mm; 27.71 troy ounces. (Note: 18 karat gold is 18/24ths gold, or 75% gold and 25% alloy.) Condition as issued, bright gold with matte-like surfaces. Obverse features a relief of St. Eligius (a.k.a. "St. Elsewhere" in Hollywood today), patron saint of numismatics, against a background of 26 different coins of the world. The reverse is divided into three sections. The upper third with an old screw type hand-operated coining press, the lower third with a reduction lathe showing large and small size versions of Victor D. Brenner's 1909 Lincoln cent obverse (the "reduction" is curious, as in the process the position of the date has moved significantly; artistic license, we presume). The center with the dates 1858 (the founding date of the ANS, in the home of Augustus B. Sage), and 1983.

There were but two struck in gold of this beautiful and impressive medal. Both were purchased by Harry Bass. One was donated by him to the American Numismatic Society, and the other is offered here-representing a unique opportunity to acquire one in the private sector. The present specimen was received by Harry Bass from the Society on June 16, 1992.

(Appreciation is expressed to John Kleeberg, curator at the American Numismatic Society, for certain information in connection with the three gold medals offered here.)

Marcel Jovine: The artist has many accomplishments. He designed the 1987-W Constitution Bicentennial $5, 1988-W Olympic $5 (reverse), 1990 Eisenhower Centennial dollar (reverse; model done by Chester Y. Martin from Jovine's design), 1991 Mount Rushmore 50¢ (obverse), 1990 Eisenhower Centennial commemorative dollar (reverse), 1992 Olympic commemorative dollar (reverse).

Jovine, of Closter, New Jersey, was born in Naples, Italy on July 26, 1921, the son of Andrea and Nila Jovine. He attended the University of Naples and the Royal Academy of Turin. During World War II Jovine was a lieutenant in the Italian Army and had his introduction to Americans when he was captured by the British and turned over to Allied forces. After the Italian forces surrendered, Jovine worked in Pennsylvania in an ordnance depot. He then went back to Italy for repatriation. He returned to the United States in 1946 and became a United States citizen in 1951. In September 1946 he married Angela D'Oro, an American of Italian heritage who had worked for the USO during the war. The union produced two children, Marcia and Andrea.

The sculptor advised the present author as follows: "I have had no formal art instruction. I had a natural talent and developed my own style." Since the 1950s Marcel Jovine has achieved international stature as a creator of medals noted for detail and historical authenticity, producing more than 100 medal designs from 1975 to 1990. Many of these have become collectors' items including a series of calendar medals for the Medallic Art Company and medals for the 1980 Winter Olympics held at Lake Placid, NY, the Freedom Train Commission (1976), and the Thoroughbred Racing Association (1982). Jovine was selected by the American Numismatic Society in 1985 as the recipient of the J. Stanford Saltus Award presented for life achievement in medallic art. From January 1988 until January 1991 he served as president of the National Sculpture Society. Marcel Jovine is also a painter and musician.

Landmark 1986 ANS Medal in Gold

Statue of Liberty

One of Two Struck

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2094     American Numismatic Society, 1986. Gold medal. Statue of Liberty. Dies by E. Daub. Number 2. 21.05 troy ounces, 18 karat gold. Elliptical shape measuring 102.2 mm. wide and 79.1 mm. high Condition as issued, bright yellow gold with matte finish. Struck by the Medallic Art Co. The obverse depicts a close-in view of the face and spiked coronet of the Statue of Liberty, face forward toward the viewer. The dates 1886-1986 are at the lower right; the first representing the year of dedication of Bartholdi's famous statue, at first called Liberty Enlightening the World; parts of the statue, unfinished, had been displayed at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. The reverse shows the artist's own representation of flames coming from the top of Miss Liberty's torch (quite unlike that actually on the statue). The representation is in high relief.

There were but two struck in gold of this beautiful and impressive medal. Both were purchased by Harry Bass. One was donated by him to the American Numismatic Society as part of a special ceremony, and the other is offered here-representing a unique opportunity to acquire one in the private sector.

Most readers of the present catalogue will remember well the 1986 festivities surrounding the centennial of the statue's dedication, the justifiable glorification of the fund-raising accomplishments of Lee Iacocca, the tall ships in New York City harbor, and more. We still have nice memories of a fine dinner hosted by the American Numismatic Society in a private facility high atop the World Trade Center in connection with the event.

Landmark 1992 ANS Medal in Gold

Voyage of Columbus

One of Two Struck

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2095     American Numismatic Society medal, 1992. 18 karat gold. Condition as issued; bright gold relief areas, matte fields. Plain edge. Number 2 on edge. 67.6 x 67.4 mm. 17.29 troy ounces. A medal of somewhat abstract design, signed N.D., commemorating the quincentenary of Columbus' "discovery" of America.

There were but two struck in gold of this beautiful and impressive medal. Both were purchased by Harry Bass. One was donated by him to the American Numismatic Society, and the other is offered here-representing a unique opportunity to acquire one in the private sector.

The medal is nearly square in shape, and has a sculpted or curved shape (the fields are not flat). The obverse has at the upper left the incuse date 1492, at the right the billowed sails of a ship, and below, in raised script, Voyage of Columbus. The reverse depicts the head of an unidentified bird, such as a gull or albatross, the date 1992 incuse, and at the bottom in raised handwriting-like script, The American Numismatic / Society. The medal is one of the "new school" style of medals in which just about anything goes; quite different from the round or plaque-shaped medals of yesteryear, but yielding some very interesting and artistic results, as anyone who has skimmed through a F.I.D.E.M. catalogue can verify. Such medals are a blending of medallic and sculptural art.

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2096     Charles Edward Anthon, LL.D. Large 67.9 mm diameter, 1,874.2 grains, bronze medal by Swedish engraver Lea Ahlborn, issued by the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society, 1884, observing his life and his presidency of the Society (1869-1883). Lovely bronze Proof. Only 66 specimens were struck.

In the East in the 1870s and 1880s, Anthon was as well known in numismatics as George Washington was in American politics. He was the eminence, the scholar, the authority, not especially on United States coins, but for the much wider range of world coinage and ancient issues. Similar to J.J. Mickley, Anthon was multi-lingual, and it is easy to envision him lapsing into Latin or French to emphasize a point.

Born on December 6, 1822, in New York City, he was the son of prominent New York attorney John Anthon and the nephew of famous classical scholar Charles Anthon (with whom he is sometimes confused; his uncle was a professor at Columbia University, the same place where our Charles graduated at the age of 16; Uncle Charles wrote reference books on the Greek language that are still useful today). After graduating from college, Charles E. Anthon spent several years in Europe, where he frequented libraries, museums, and educational institutions, along with enough sightseeing to permit him to write a book, A Pilgrimage to Treves, through the Valley of the Meuse and the Forest of Ardennes in the Year 1844. Returning to the United States, he held a chair of history at St. John's College, Annapolis.

In 1865 he became a coin collector, and, no doubt, already knew how to pronounce numismatist, for by that time he was a learned man and, in fact, by that time he had been a professor of history and belles-lettres at the New York Free Academy (later became the College in 1866 then University of the City of New York) since about 1852. In 1866, he was awarded a Doctorate of Laws degree by the University of the City of New York, thus accounting for the "LL.D." on his medal.

Regarding his numismatic accomplishments, we will skip over them lightly here, but will state that they were immense, and anyone seeking more information has but to dig into some old copies of the American Journal of Numismatics, which in the 19th century was not only a "learned journal," but also a publication with delightful and interesting content, often opinionated (reflecting the diversity of its contributors), but always worthwhile. As an aside, it is our hope that the proprietors of the revivified American Journal of Numismatics, which is at last reappearing with multiple articles in several disciplines, will revisit the old issues and endeavor to rekindle the spirit that was once within its pages. American Journal of Numismatics was at one time a truly wonderful journal (your editor treasures his full set from the first year of issue, 1866, onward), and as the Society at present has a wonderful and talented staff, it is our modest hope that the "glories of yesteryear" can be brought back to life.

Refocusing upon Anthon, he died in Bremen, Germany, in June 7, 1883. His obituary-a fine source of further information-was printed in American Journal of Numismatics, July 1883, pp. 22-23.

2097     Charles Edward Anthon, LL.D. Duplicate of preceding, 1884, bronze Proof. Diameter: 67.7 mm, weight 1880.5 grains.

2098     Arnold Numismatic Co. Group of tokens from this early 20th century Providence, Rhode Island, dealer. Silver, copper (2), brass, aluminum (4), and one fiber. Prooflike Mint State, some with attractive toning. (Total: 9 pieces)

The obverse of these medals is from the same die, with Arnold's crest, a statement that the firm dates from 1879, etc. Two reverses were used, one advertising a catalogue for 10 cents and the other with the price raised to 15 cents.

In the annals of our hobby, very little has been written about this firm, although in its time it was quite important. The progenitor was George Carpenter Arnold, who began in the rare coin business in 1879, by the 1880s trading under his own name at 165 Broadway, Providence.

An early-day equivalent of today's Littleton Coin Co., the Arnold Numismatic Co. (as it came to be known) was a large supplier of interesting and rare coins to the general public in addition to the numismatic community. To be sure, rarities were sometimes on hand-we might mention an impressive 1855 Kellogg & Co. $50 in stock in 1905-but the firm's forte was purchasing quantity items (such as unsold remainders of 1893 Isabella quarter dollars), and marketing them through price lists and catalogues outside of the numismatic fraternity. Thus, on January 6, 1902, we see Arnold himself calling upon the Philadelphia Mint to purchase quantities of the brand-new coinage for the year, a supply of cents, nickels, and quarters. Perhaps, similar to David U. Proskey, he bought unsold Proof coins from the year before; it was the Mint's practice to move these out to dealers, rather than "spend" them in circulation.

On September 7, 1904, his collection-or, perhaps a collection he had bought and consigned-was auctioned by Lyman H. Low. Arnold seems to have liked colonial coins, and in 1923 he prepared a paper on them for presentation at the ANA Convention in Montreal, and in 1927 his article, "Connecticut Colonial Coins," was published in The Numismatist.

2099     Boston Numismatic Society medals. A threesome from Isaac F. Wood's memorial series. One example each in silver, copper, and brass. Average grade MS-63 PL. The design commemorates the Boston Numismatic Society, instituted in 1860 and incorporated in 1870, and on the other side, the establishment of the New England Historic Genealogical Society in 1845. As is noted below, both societies had a close association. (Total: 3 pieces)

The Boston Numismatic Society was founded on March 3, 1860. Among those present at the creation were Winslow Lewis, Joseph M. Finotti, John Kimball Wiggin, Jeremiah Colburn, Henry Davenport, William Eliot Lamb, Augustine Shurtleff, Henry Dearborn Fowle, George Williams Pratt, and William Sumner Appleton.

The Bankers' Magazine, June 1860, p. 968, reported this: "Several gentlemen interested in the science of numismatics assembled in Boston, on Saturday, March 3, at the rooms of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, organized themselves into a society to be called the Boston Numismatic Society.… The meetings of the society will be held at Number 13 Bromfield Street on the first Saturday of each month."

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2100     F.C.C. Boyd. New York Numismatic Club bronze medal commemorating the establishment of the club in 1908. 466.6 grains; 38.1 mm. AU. The obverse features a relief bust of Boyd, a famous numismatist who served as the president of the club (1916-1917). As Boyd's image does not appear in print often, we illustrate this rather inexpensive medal herewith. The reverse shows two hands, one with a reading glass and the other with a large medal.

The New York Numismatic Club has been a fine gathering spot for collectors for a long time, meeting for a long time in the place where it was organized on December 11, 1908: Keen's Old English Chop House. This restaurant was a popular numismatic gathering spot for years thereafter. Displayed and mounted on the ceiling were hundreds if not thousands of churchwarden pipes belonging to different patrons. The second meeting of the club-usually considered to be the date of founding-in January 1909, saw such numismatists as Joseph Mitchelson, Elliot Smith, Albert R. Frey, Frank Higgins, Edgar H. Adams, D. Macon Webster, Thomas L. Elder, William H. Woodin, George H. Blake, Wayte Raymond, Victor D. Brenner, and Bauman L. Belden in attendance. Later, the club met in other venues.

The present editor (QDB) recalls being a guest at a couple of meetings (in the Princeton Club?) in the company of Ambassador and Mrs. R. Henry Norweb, who lived in Cleveland, but who maintained a home away from home in the River House on New York's Upper East Side.

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2101     Victor David Brenner. 1903 Amerigo Vespucci. Rectangular medal by Brenner. Johnson-12. Bronze. 1,471.6 grains; 76 mm width, 58 mm height. Mint or nearly so. Edge numbered 26 (reversed). A rarity, one of just 59 examples produced, and important as such to collectors of medallic issues, as well as students of Brenner's Lincoln cent series.

Obverse with half bust of Vespucci facing right, holding maps and scroll, facing an archipelago marked AMERICA in tiny letters, AMERIGO VESPVCCI and the date at lower right, reverse with nautical scene, early maps and globe, ribbon with AMERICI VESPVCCI AQVILO.

Brenner, a fine sculptor was also very interested in numismatics and on November 19, 1894, signed on as a member of the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society.

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2102     Victor David Brenner. 1907 Lincoln plaque by Brenner. Choice AU or so overall. Mounted on a piece of green marble, which is cracked in several places and held together bymounting screws. Easel back stand for desk support still intact. The plaque itself is deep olive-tan to brown with a hint of patina, in excellent shape overall.

Bust of Lincoln to right, ABRAHAM LINCOLN / 1809-1865 below, COPYRIGHT 1907 BY V.D. BRENNER and the artist's monogram appear in smaller letters along the right edge. A popular item, and certainly scarce relative to the market for them (really, every specialist in Lincoln cents should have one!). We have had, perhaps, 10 to 20 such plaques since the 1950s.

Plaque size: 9-3/8" height by 7-1/8" width; marble size: 10-3/4" height by 8-1/2" width.

In 1908, Brenner proposed to President Theodore Roosevelt that his Lincoln portrait be used on a coin. Although Washington and Lincoln had appeared on pattern issues of the 1860s, as of 1908 no American president had ever appeared on a coin made for regular circulation. Roosevelt was intrigued with the idea and suggested that Brenner prepare designs. By early 1909 models had been submitted, and the Mint was busy at work on a new cent. The rest is history.

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2103     J.M. Clapp comes to mind. Hand-engraved "love token" depicting an oil well on the obverse of a Liberty Seated quarter dollar. A pin was once connected to the reverse, but is now long lost. Shown is the wooden oil derrick, the delivery pipe, and the large wooden receiving vat.

Harry Bass no doubt picked this up in connection with his own oil business. However, this piece was made long before the days of Spindletop in Texas, and is reminiscent of the oil fields of Venango County, Pennsylvania, where famous numismatist John M. Clapp's oil company was active for a long time, beginning in the early 1860s. Of course, it is highly unlikely this particular token has any connection with Clapp.

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2104     Edward Cogan. Bronzed white metal medal commemorating the life of Edward Cogan (1803-1884), well-known Philadelphia rare coin dealer who later moved to Brooklyn. 440.7 grains; 44.8 mm. AU. Issued by the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society, in which he held an honorary membership, a fine reflection of the esteem in which he was held.

Although Cogan was an accomplished fellow and had started his business in the late 1850s, he was not quite the "father of the rare coin trade," as he later stated, nor, as he later stated, did he deal in coins exclusively in the 1850s. However, puffery aside, he was a pivotal, dynamic personality in numismatics from 1858 until his last notable public appearance, as a guest auctioneer and friend at the Chapman brothers' sale of the Bushnell Collection in 1882.

His son George attempted to carry on the business, but, apparently, the acorn had fallen too far from the tree, and his efforts were not attended with success (although in 1883 he did handle some truly fine 1877 pattern half dollars, some of which are offered in the second section of the present catalogue).

2105     Edward Cogan. Undated store card. 48 North 10th Street, Philadelphia. Rulau PA-101. MS-63 BN. Somewhat scarce. Tan with traces of frosty red.

Obverse with EDWARD COGAN/COIN/DEALER/48/N. TENTH ST./PHILADELPHIA. Reverse with THE HIGHEST PREMIUM/GIVEN/FOR RARE/AMERICAN/COPPER &/SILVER COINS. 57.5 grains; 20.4 mm.

Purchased from Goliad Corporation (Mike Brownlee), August 8, 1972.

2106     Robert Downing. Quartette of Civil War tokens issued in Cincinnati by Downing, who advertised as a publisher of sheet songs and dealer of coins: I Fuld-OH-165-AK-02a (copper, RE) I F-OH-165-AK-04b (brass, PE) I F-OH-175-AK-07a (copper, RE) I F-OH-175-AK-07b (brass, RE). (Total: 4 pieces)

Dr. George F. Fuld, upon hearing that Harry Bass was interested in collecting tokens pertaining to numismatists, sent him these four pieces in a single shipment. Much could be written about Downing, and, perhaps, that is a possibility for a future Rare Coin Review.

2107     William F. Dunham: Quartette of William F. Dunham medals, 1919 and 1933, Mint State, two in brass, two in aluminum, variously denominated as ONE MILL (2 pieces), ONE DISME, and 1/10 CENT, in die combinations. (Total: 4 pieces).

Of all old-time numismatists, the name of Dunham is one of the more familiar to modern collectors, due in no small part to the fact that the showcasing of his collection in 1941 by B. Max Mehl resulted in the most acclaimed publication ever issued under the imprint of that well-known Fort Worth dealer.

Dunham, a druggist in Chicago, enjoyed United States coins and endeavored to acquire as many dates and mintmarks as possible. At the same time, he explored the byways of numismatics, including Hard Times tokens and encased postage stamps.

On October 11, 1904, Dunham was in New York City, where at Lyman H. Low's auction of the Brown Collection, he persisted in keeping his hand in the air until the star of the sale-the precious 1804 silver dollar-was bought. This, he said, "completed his collection."

The 1804 silver dollar recently purchased by Dunham of Chicago, "will remain forever" in that city, according to a four- page article in The Numismatist, February 1905, which designated the piece as the "King of Rarities." The article further noted: "For a century it has remained wrapped in silk and tissue paper, waiting all the time, says the present owner, to come into the possession of someone who never would part with it again. In a way the action of the present owner in buying the coin was a patriotic deed. He bought it for the city and says it shall never leave here. When the Field Columbian Museum is housed downtown he will give his collection to that institution. It will never again be for sale."

Dunham's avowed intentions never came to pass, and in the late 1930s he sold his cabinet to B. Max Mehl, who parceled out some of the pieces privately, then put the remainder, comprising the bulk of the collection, including the 1804 dollar, into a large mail bid sale in 1941, as noted above.

The fact that Mehl sold privately certain Dunham coins was not generally known (if, indeed it was known at all), until we spent some time in 1979 researching the book, The History of United States Coinage as Illustrated by the Garrett Collection. In the process, with the aid of David and Susan Tripp, we combed through thousands of papers of the Garrett family, making copies of over 4,000 of them. Along the way, some correspondence with Mehl was found, which indicated such private sale offers. We later learned that certain coins in the Dunham sale were sold to Amon G. Carter, Sr., before the sale, but no mention was made of this, and bidders never knew. Much more could be related (including about the Hard Times tokens in the sale).

Tokens and Medals of Thomas L. Elder

2108     Group of tokens and medals by Thomas L. Elder, many pieces that have been hidden away for years. The group seems to have come from John J. Ford, Jr., and/or New Netherlands Coin Co., and, before that, from F.C.C. Boyd. The pieces, including duplicates, are offered as a single lot.

In The Numismatist in June and July 1980, Thomas K. DeLorey's article, Thomas L. Elder: A Catalogue of His Tokens and Medals, described the pieces known to him, gave a history of each, and listed them by numbers (DeLorey numbers as used in the present offering). A reading of this superb piece of numismatic research brings forth the wish that DeLorey would stop all other activities and do nothing else but delve into obscure nooks and crannies of our hobby. It is very well done.

First, some biographical notes. Then, the medals.

Thomas Lindsay Elder

No biography of Elder-not even a short one-would be complete without mentioning his relationship with Farran Zerbe. At one time they were friends. Later, they became bitter enemies. All was well in August 1906, when in The Numismatist this comment by Farran Zerbe was published, as part of a description of the coin trade in New York City. Zerbe had been zipping here and there around the country for about five years, including setting up a concession at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair (the Lewis and Clark Exposition), and every time he paused for breath, he sent a letter to Dr. George Heath, editor and publisher of The Numismatist, to give his views. Of Elder he wrote in 1906:

"The large artistically arranged and modern equipment of the suite of rooms which Thomas L. Elder devotes to his coin trade are a delight for anyone to visit. Mr. Elder reports good business, in fact too good to give his publication The Elder Monthly the attention it should have. This paper is not as old as its name implies. Like a bunch more of us, Tom says he is sometimes misunderstood. To know him is to appreciate him for his personal qualities, and to quote him: 'My bite is not near as severe as my bark.'"

In time, Zerbe would be bitten.

Thomas L. Elder was born in Dayton, Pennsylvania, on November 22, 1874. At the age of 13 Elder then living in the "small railroad town" of New Bethlehem in the same state, collected Indian arrowheads, tobacco tags, and other curiosities. His father presented him with a small coin collection, which Tom found to be fascinating. The year was 1887. These were times of intense collecting interest in America, and over a dozen periodicals, most of which would prove to be short-lived, sprang up to cater to the needs of those pursuing coins, stamps, relics, birds' eggs, fossils, and other items worthy of study and acquisition.

His dad, who frequently traveled to New York City, would stop at the store of J.W. Scott and buy coins and arrowheads. Meanwhile, teenager Tom looked forward to reading a little periodical [a copy of which your editor has never seen] titled Golden Days. Published or edited by James Elverson, it included an "exchange column" featuring advertisements. Elder placed his own notice, and soon thereafter was corresponding and swapping with the likes of Robert P. King (who was later to become prominent in the study of numismatic items relating to Abraham Lincoln; as an ancillary interest, King also formed a large cabinet of Washington tokens and medals, which we bought in private treaty in the 1950s), R.L. Read (of Attleboro, Massachusetts), and others, including Messrs. W.A. Bodendoerfer, and A.W. Reeves. In 1896, Elder started in a small way to buy and sell coins, realizing that this was a good way to add to his ever-growing cabinet while, hopefully, turning a profit at the same time. In 1897 we find him as vice president of the American Society of Curio Collectors, of which little is remembered today.

In September 1899, now located at 343 Princeton Place, East Pittsburgh, Elder advertised in The Numismatist that he would trade medals and foreign coins for a good camera, this being in the decade that saw the rise of popular photography, pushed along by George Eastman (Kodak) and the long-time Anthony (Ansco) interests. Obviously, Tom Elder was tuned into the events of his day and rode with them. Educated at Park Institute and also at Beaver College, both near Pittsburgh, he sampled the intellectual joys of music, art, and reading.

In 1900 he did it: He became a full-time coin dealer. Well, almost. He still had a "day job" to help pay expenses. And, he was known in other circles as an expert telegrapher; he could "hear" the words as they were clicked in dots and dashes. Meanwhile, whenever opportunities presented themselves, he sought the company of fellow collectors and came to know the various dealers. Later, he was to write:

"I spent the entire summer of 1901 in Buffalo [where the ANA convention was held] and collected coins there also. I remember securing at Lyman H. Low's sale that year a lot of '350 poor or holed coins,' and found several blanks, washers and rivets in the collection.… That was the convention where J.A. Black, of Bay City, Mich., was relieved of a slug and other valuable coins at a boarding house he stopped at. He had talked too loudly of his treasures at the dining table.… In 1901, I visited W.J. Jerrems [prominent Chicago collector, and a founder of the ANA] and ordered a custom 'Prince Albert' suit from him." At the Pan-American Exposition held in Buffalo that summer, President William McKinley was shot by an assassin. Elder was tapped to be the official telegrapher for the government and relayed the news to the world.

In the summer of 1902, Elder was employed by the Pittsburgh Provision & Packing Company. He was offered the position of private secretary to the Hon. Alfred S. Moore, of Beaver, Pennsylvania. The post paid $2,500, but necessitated moving to Nome, Alaska, to which location Moore had been named by President Theodore Roosevelt as a district court judge.

Around this time he really did become a full-time coin dealer. In April 1903 The Numismatist took note of this: "At present his whole time is given to his coin business which in a few years has developed to a considerable proportion. This is mainly due to persistent and judicious advertising, honorable dealings with his patrons, and promptness, three elements so necessary to success in any business."

Among Elder's early customers was John A. Beck, a Pittsburgh businessman and collector of many things (coins, pipes, relics), who stopped by at his one-room office at 238 Sheridan Avenue, Pittsburgh, and regaled the dealer by showing him a handful of 1856 Flying Eagle cents, which Beck loved (he eventually accumulated a hoard of over 700!). Beck told Elder that he had recently done some business by mail with an up-and-coming Texan, B. Max Mehl of Fort Worth.

By 1902, Elder made his first foray into token issuing by producing an issue advertising his business and, for good measure, including the Latin motto MOVEO ET PROFICO ("I move and I am proficient"), but was embarrassed as the last word should have been spelled as PROFICIO. He later stated that 1,000 were made in aluminum and 100 in copper. Later, a new die with corrected spelling, and with much other information, was produced.

In May 1904, he moved to New York City, where he remained for most of his business career, which continued into the 1940s. Along the way he wrote 294 auction catalogues, claiming at one time that he could describe 1,000 lots in a single day. Although this seems amazing at first blush, a reading of the terse descriptions in certain of his catalogues suggests that he was speaking the truth. Notwithstanding the conducting of many auctions simply intended to move merchandise out the door, his repertoire also included the presentation of many fine cabinets described with detailed information that is still of great interest and utility to scholars today.

It seems from the inscriptions on certain of his medals that Elder became a curmudgeon soon after moving to the Big City. One of his early targets was Farran Zerbe, who in a coup purchased The Numismatist from the widow of its founder, Dr. George Heath. Most everyone thought that he was doing this on behalf of the American Numismatic Association, which had used the publication as its official outlet for news and information. But, such observers were wrong. Zerbe wanted it for himself, envisioning a nice profit to be made. Zerbe soon found that turning out the magazine involved a lot of old-fashioned hard work, and he was very grateful a couple years later when an "angel" in the form of W.W.C. Wilson, of Canada, bought it from him and presented it as a gift to the ANA. Zerbe was also involved in what seems to have been improper conduct, if not downright fraud, in the conduct of certain ANA administration and election affairs circa 1909-1910, which angered many people (Chicago collector Virgil M. Brand included, who resigned). For reasons that have eluded numismatic historians, decades later the Board of Governors of the American Numismatic Association decided to create the "Farran Zerbe Award" as the Association's highest honor (your editor, a recipient of same in 1991, is grateful for the honor, but thinks it would be more properly called the George F. Heath Award or the W.W.C. Wilson Award).

Elder took dead aim at Zerbe and the organization, calling the latter the A.N.ASSo., and personifying it on a medal as a jackass. Additional venom was later directed at "pacifists" Henry Ford and William Jennings Bryan, who resisted America's entry into the first World War. And, woe to any Elder customer who showed up at one of his auction sales, but who had not paid an earlier bill. From the podium, Elder was apt to say something like, "Here comes a deadbeat," as the victim entered the room, and all heads turned.

Elder was also active in the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society, based in New York City, and was a founder of the New York Numismatic Club. For the Society in 1906 he served on a committee seeking to improve art in coinage, and met with President Theodore Roosevelt on the matter. Later, he wrote about art on coins for his new Elder Monthly (inaugurated in March 1906), and even sent the president a copy, but its receipt was not acknowledged. The Elder Monthly was later changed to The Numismatic Philistine, whose name in turn was retitled to The Elder Magazine.

Elder could be very generous, and in October 5, 1908, at the Café Martin, New York City, he hosted a banquet to whomever wanted to attend from the ANA convention held in Philadelphia the preceding week. "In addition to ANA members, many collectors who had come to view and participate in [Elder's sale of] the Wilson Collection were on hand, resulting in what was many times referred to as 'the largest and most notable numismatic gathering ever held,' " The Numismatist later reported. Even super-collector Virgil M. Brand was on hand, and Brand rarely traveled.

A few years later in the pages of The Numismatist, editor Edgar H. Adams' message was inspired by an action taken at the New York Numismatic Club on the evening of December 11, 1914.

"An important movement for a better silver coinage for the United States will be started.… Thomas L. Elder, a member of its executive committee, has written to the club, severely criticizing the present coinage, and asking that a special committee be appointed to urge the government to adopt better and more artistic designs. It is probable that William H. Woodin of the American Car and Foundry Company, an authority on United States pattern coins, will be the chairman of this committee."

In December 1916 the same journal included an article by Thomas L. Elder, titled "Collecting-With Special References to Coins, Medals and Paper Money." Elder noted, in part:

"Collectors as a class are, I believe, somewhat misunderstood, and occasionally maligned. The best type of collector is a most valuable member of society. By the best collector I mean one whose pursuit, study and research in connection with his hobby have magnified his imaginative, aesthetic, romantic and intellectual qualities. His wide and varied experiences with various odd and interesting objects, and his painstaking care of them, have given him a remarkable fund of out-of-the-way information, as well as patience, a sense of order and practicality. Contrary to current opinion, the best collector is far from eccentric. He is the finest sort of an example of the cultured and refined man. Collecting keeps people busy at odd moments, and hence keeps them out of mischief. It emphasizes in no uncertain way that keeping young is largely the result of the mental attitude, for collecting, above all other panaceas, meatless diets, and physical exercise even, keeps people young.

"I have for a correspondent a man who is 94 years of age. At last report he was still riding a bicycle. At this time I am busy compiling, in conjunction with a young man of over 82 years, a book on the United States half cents. Chauncey M. Depew at 83 has recently said: 'Have some special interest apart from your business.' Collecting is the interest. Sir Martin Conway says: 'The passion for collecting must correspond with some deep-rooted instinct in man. Children of tender age often fall under its sway, and it is the last passion that still masters the very old.'…

"The instinct to collect is not only in many cases deep-rooted, but I venture the assertion that it is universal. It is expressed in some form by every child or adult. Even the poor, misguided miser, who enjoys the sight of his glistening gold falling through his fingers, has a few collecting instincts, such as Russell Sage and Hetty Green have expressed it after a fashion. In most people it lies dormant in the sense that we collectors know it. Does not every child have at some time an attack of the 'postage stamp fever,' which, like the measles, is often soon over and forgotten? How to develop this collecting instinct, which is universal, is a matter of prime importance. It is a matter for we collectors to ponder over and put into practical working form. In collecting small metal objects like coins or medals we have an immense advantage over the collectors of china, furniture and other cumbersome or fragile material. Our coins are indestructible, and they may be neatly laid down in small spaces in our compact cabinets. Other objects, like weapons and manuscripts, will rust or discolor unless the greatest care is used. Owning a collection which is one's own is far better than seeing another in a museum. A good picture in our own home is of more value than a public gallery full which we may only look at. In coins remarkable finds have been made by individual collectors and are still being made.

"A gentleman whom I know came unexpectedly across a very rare American private gold $5 coin in a little shop in Venice. It was bought for $5-face value-and brought to America and afterwards sold for $2,750. The rare $3 gold piece dated 1870, of the San Francisco Mint, was worn for years as a watch charm. Later I sold it for $1,470 [to William H. Woodin]. I understand the dealer who bought it got $2,000 for it afterwards. Some years ago a New Jersey collector took a rare early American half eagle to a gentleman in Philadelphia and sold it to him for $90. A few years later it was sold at auction for $3,000. Coins and medals are always worthy of collectors' attention, and, contrary to the crude ideas of the public, our science is in no way an inconsequential study-and it has attracted many of the world's best scholars and thinkers. Its close relation, since the beginning of the seventh century BC, with the best in art and sculpture, and its intimate relation to history, give it first rank among the collecting hobbies. Most Americans do not begin to realize that coin collecting is the hobby of aristocratic Europe. Kings, princes, princesses, dukes, and earls belong to the numismatic societies. And we know that the royalty have always associated with the most brilliant men and women of their time. Besides these, generals, scientists, educators, lawyers and artists of highest standing are members."

Elder continued with comments concerning various coins, medals, paper money issues, and other collecting aspects.

From time to time Elder hosted other banquets for numismatic notables, clients, and visitors, including one on Washington's birthday, February 22, 1922, at Engel's Chop House, West 35th Street, New York City. Speakers included T.L. Comparette, Carl Wurtzbach, Russell Drowne, Albert R. Frey, and Frank C. Higgins.

In the 1920s, Elder was America's foremost exponent for the collecting of tokens and medals and the interrelationship of history and numismatics. He could have used much of his knowledge to great advantage in his auction catalogues, but elected not to practice in print what he preached, although there were exceptions. He was probably the dealer with the largest reference library who used it the least when preparing his catalogues.

In February 1929, The Numismatist had on its inside front cover lyrics to the swan song of S. Hudson Chapman: "I announce that I will retire from business on February 1st, after having been engaged in it for nearly 52 years. I shall always retain an interest in the Science of Numismatics, as I believe it of great value in the study of history by supplying original monuments of every period since 700 BC. I intend to enjoy again a tour over Greek and Roman sites around the Mediterranean and will sail for Egypt on February 7th. I have placed my stock in the hands of the Elder Coin & Curio Corporation of New York City for sale by auction without reserve."

Around the same time, Col. E.H.R. Green, who was spending scads of money with B. Max Mehl and most other dealers, sent $5 to Elder for a subscription to his catalogues, but a spark was not ignited, and Green went to his grave a few years later without becoming an Elder customer. Too bad for both men. In his best business year, 1929, Elder grossed $125,000.

Later, he moved to Pleasantville, New York (best known as the home of Readers Digest) and often wintered in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Elder spent quite a bit of time checking on the history of the Charlotte and Dahlonega mints while on various trips to the South in the 1920s and 1930s, and published a fine article on the latter mint, based upon a visit to Dahlonega in March 1930.

The July 1948 issue of The Numismatist included information that Elder had passed away at the age of 71 on May 11th. The account related: "For over half a century he had been one of the country's leading coin dealers and his death, while not entirely unexpected, comes as a great shock to all who knew him. A native of Pennsylvania, he established himself as a full time dealer in New York City about the turn of the century. His love for coins, his keen mind, and his dynamic personality soon won for him a coveted place in the coin dealing profession. He never relinquished it. He was a prolific writer and many of his articles will be found in past volumes of The Numismatist. He could, and often did, prepare a thousand-lot catalogue in 24 hours. His memory was so good, even to dates, that it was rarely necessary for him to consult a reference book."

Later, certain of his business interests were transferred to his son-in-law, Paul S. Seitz, who became well known for his "Seitz holders" made of plastic and held together with metal screws. Much more could be written about Elder, but the preceding will at least serve as an introduction to this remarkable dealer and medal issuer, who by any account was one of the "greats" in numismatics.

The conditions of the following range from EF to Proof, but average Mint State, mostly attractive, some with toning. Some copper pieces are lacquered. The present lot includes the following Elder medals (attributed to DeLorey numbers). Included are many rarities and several highly interesting overstrikes:

DeLorey-1. Aluminum. Large-size portrait medal (illustrated above, and also the cover item for the DeLorey article; listed first by DeLorey for its portrait, but not the first issued). EF to AU.

D-2. Copper, 100 struck. EF, holed for suspension. Elder's first medal.

D-2. Aluminum.

D-4. Silver. 6 struck. Rotated die alignment. Mottled Proof. Rare and eminently desirable. • Elder, gives his address as 32 East 23rd Street, advertises the Elder Monthly, and helpfully adds the inscription: "CARD No. 3 - OCT. 1. 1906."

D-4. Copper. 100 struck. • Tom DeLorey notes, "The ANA Museum has 57 copper strikings formerly in the [F.C.C.] Boyd estate," reflecting Boyd's acquisition of left-over Elder medals.

D-4. Copper. Struck over an 1870 Straits Settlements copper 5¢. A spectacular overstrike, with enough of the original coin design remaining at the borders to satisfy any numismatist; an overstrike of the first order of importance in the Elder repertoire. • Apparently 13 unusual overstrikes were made of D-4 (cf. DeLorey, citing Elliott Smith), of which this and the following lot are two.

D-4. Copper. Struck over a 1797 British "cartwheel" penny (made by the Soho Mint). This particular specimen is said to have been owned at one time by movie star Adolphe Menjou (whose name appeared on the cover of a Numismatic Gallery auction catalogue, June 1950, actually containing mostly the Charles Williams Collection, but Williams wanted anonymity).

D-4. Brass. 100 struck. Rotated die alignment. (3 pieces).

D-4. White metal. 5 struck. Rotated die alignment.

D-4. Aluminum. 500 struck. Rotated die alignment.

D-4. Lead. 7 struck. Slightly rotated die alignment.

D-4. Fiber composition. 5 struck.

D-5. Silver. 6 struck. • The obverse is from an 1889 Washington inaugural centennial die featuring a bust, unsigned, associated with Robert L. Lovett, Jr. (but possibly made by Lovett, Sr.; used by his son). Apparently, the Elder pieces were issued in December 1906.

D-5. German silver, 11 struck.

D-5. Copper. 50 struck. (3 pieces).

D-5. Brass. 50 struck. (2 pieces).

D-5. Brass. 50 struck.

D-5. White metal. 50 struck (of which 37 were donated to the ANA Museum in later years; if you need one, see the curator for a trade?).

D-5. Aluminum. 261 struck. (2 pieces).

D-5. Lead. 7 struck. (2 pieces; an opportunity to corner the market, almost).

D-5. Fiber composition. 7 struck. (2 pieces, ditto comment).

D-6. White metal. 5 struck. • A few were struck in other metals as well. This issue was very limited, and today this is a rarity.

D-8. Copper. 10 struck. • Issued in September 1907. The inscription refers to the Jamestown Tercentennial Exposition (at which event his later enemy Farran Zerbe set up a concession; for a time it was hoped that commemorative coins would be authorized, but none were).

D-8. Brass. 10 struck.

D-8. White metal. 10 struck.

D-8. Aluminum. 10 struck.

D-8. Lead. 10 struck.

D-8. Fiber composition. 10 struck.

D-10. Copper. 10 struck. • The obverse is from the 1889 Washington die by Lovett, while the reverse relates to the 1907 ANA Convention held in Columbus, Ohio. This was a nice ANA token (in contrast with certain later issues).

D-10. Brass. 10 struck.

D-10. White metal. 10 struck.

D-10. Aluminum. 10 struck.

D-10. Lead. 10 struck.

D-10. Fiber composition. 10 struck.

D-11. Copper. 25 struck. • Obverse with portrait of John Ericcson, reverse with Elder advertisement and mention of Robert Fulton, both men being prominent in the annals of steam navigation.

D-11. Brass. 26 struck.

D-11. White metal. 3 struck.

D-11. Lead. 3 struck.

D-11. Fiber composition. 4 struck.

D-12. Copper. 10 struck. • Washington 1889 die / Fulton inscription die. An out-and-out nonsensical muling, as are many of Elder's pieces.

D-12. Brass. 10 struck.

D-12. White metal. 10 struck.

D-12. Aluminum. 10 struck.

D-12. Lead. 10 struck.

D-12. Fiber composition (red). 9 struck.

D-13. German silver, 4 struck. • This combination of the workhorse 1889 Washington die with a new die describing the Mougey Collection sale, September 1-3, 1910, reflects a fine auction presentation that, obviously, was not catalogued at the rate of 1,000 lots per day. Today, this is one of Elder's best remembered presentations.

D-13. Copper. 4 struck.

D-13. Brass. 4 struck.

D-13. Aluminum. Number struck not known.

D-14. Copper. 5 struck. • This medal, observing 1909 as a "C" year, is a bit out in left field, inscription wise, and is the brainchild of Frank C. Higgins, numismatist prominent in New York City circles. Upon inspection, you can "C" that the obverse die is somewhat ineptly punched, and, moreover, it is not certain if the FLAG FLINGS FREE (as stated) or whether FLIES would have been better.

D-14. Brass. 5 to 10 struck.

D-14. Aluminum. 100 struck.

D-70. Aluminum. 200 struck. • This is not a nice ANA token; such terms as "CON NOT COIN," "PUNK," and "STUNG" are used. Farran Zerbe is personified as a braying jackass.

D-71. Aluminum. 200 struck. • Nor did this token become a Zerbe favorite. It parodies the souvenir and (otherwise denominationless) "coins" promoted by Zerbe at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition, with an inscription drawing the ANA in as well: LOUISI•A•N•A PIKER'S EXPOSITION. The phrase, "MONEY TALKS" was added, probably a reference to Zerbe buying his way through various activities, even, it was said, to the extent of paying some non-collectors to sign up as ANA members so their election votes could be used to his advantage.

D-72. Silver. Number struck not known. • Here we have Elder's expansion of the old "Rum - Romanism - Rebellion" slogan, a medal dedicated "to the citizens of the rum soaked City of New York," who experience the effects of REVELRY, ROWDYISM, RIBALDRY, RIOT, ROGUERY, REMORSE, and, finally, RUIN.

D-72. Aluminum. Number struck not known.

D-73. Copper. Number struck not known. • The die is a variation on the rum-soaked city theme.

D-73. Silver. 3 or 4 struck.

D-81. Copper. Boldly overstruck on a Matron Head federal copper cent of the 1830s; very rare at the very least. First seen by the cataloguer. • These are very mysterious tokens, as Tom DeLorey pointed out, and little is known about them. Per popular tradition the motifs may have been suitable for dispersal as souvenirs as the 1909 ANA convention held that year in Montreal (a more controversial ANA Convention was never staged, before or after), although Tom DeLorey points out that no mention of them was made in print prior to 1914, and the later context (see D-87) also suggests 1914. • The obverse is a copy of one of the bouquet-sou style dies (as made in Belleville, NJ, circa the 1830s), but of modern execution lacking the somewhat naïve style of the originals; the reverse includes a plow at the center and a modern spelling of an old phrase, here given as SPEED THE PLOW. • The phrase, SPEED THE PLOUGH / IT FEEDS ALL, with "PLOUGH" spelling, is familiar on the Hard Times token issued by Walsh's General Store in Lansingburgh, New York. In 1798 a popular play was Speed the Plough, by English playwright Thomas Morton; the chief character was Mrs. Grundy (who later entered the American idiom along with Brother Jonathan, Uncle Sam, et al.). • This pair of dies survived until later years and in the 1960s was employed by Aug. C. Frank to make some "fancy pieces" for Robert Bashlow, these being of different appearance and format and not confused with any of Elder's products.

D-81. Copper. Boldly overstruck on an early Belleville bouquet sou. Likewise rare and very interesting.

D-81. Copper. Boldly overstruck on a Crossman merchant's token, umbrella in full view, from the 1837 era. Even curioser.

D-81. Aluminum. Number struck not known.

D-82. Brass. Number struck not known. • Obverse with bouquet sou motif; reverse blank. First mentioned in printed in 1917.

D-82. Aluminum. Number struck not known

D-82a. Copper. Boldly overstruck on an early Belleville bouquet sou. • Dies as preceding. DeLorey: "2 or 3 struck."

D-83. German silver. Number struck not known. • Obverse with plow and inscription; reverse blank.

D-83. Copper. Number struck not known.

D-83. Brass. Number struck not known.

D-83. White metal. Number struck not known.

D-83. Aluminum. Number struck not known.

D-84. Brass. Number struck not known. • Obverse with bouquet sou motif; reverse with inscription: DEDICATED / TO / COIN / COLLECTORS / OF / CANADA. Seemingly struck circa 1914.

D-84. Aluminum. Number struck not known.

D-87. Brass. Number struck not known. • Obverse with bouquet sou motif; reverse with inscription: DEDICATED / TO / W.W.C. WILSON ESQ. / MONTREAL / CANADA / 1914. Wilson, a generous man and the owner of a very impressive collection, did what Zerbe did not; he gifted The Numismatist to the ANA.

D-99 Silver. Number struck not known, but no doubt rare, as Tom DeLorey called its existence probable, seemingly never having seen or reliably heard of one. • The obverse die is signed twice: LOVETT incuse on the truncation and R.L. below the bust, indicating Robert Lovett, Jr. This die was used years earlier for store cards of Montroville W. Dickeson and seems to have been a willing partner for various later mulings. The reverse of D-99 has this lettering: THIS MEDAL WAS STRUCK / BY / THOMAS L. ELDER / IN THE / INTEREST OF A MORE / ARTISTIC SILVER COINAGE / FOR THE / UNITED STATES / 1916. This was issued in spring 1916 and was a herald of the revised federal designs that would be made later in the year (Mercury dime, Standing Liberty quarter, Walking Liberty half dollar). However, Elder's medal itself would win no award for its artistry.

D-99 German silver, Number struck not known.

D-99. Brass. Number struck not known. (2 pieces).

D-99. Aluminum. Number struck not known.

D-100. Silver. 5 or 6 struck. Proof. • Obverse with the aforementioned 19th-century double-signed Washington portrait by Lovett, used at that earlier time for Dickeson's tokens. Reverse with inscription relating to Washington, but throwing in "PREPAREDNESS," a rallying cry during the World War.

D-100. German silver. Proof. Number struck not known.

D-100. Aluminum. Proof. Number struck not known.

D-101. Silver. 5 or 6 struck. Proof. • Obverse as foregoing. Reverse: WANTED: / A BIGGER / ARMY & NAVY / NOT WANTED / PACIFISTS / FORDS - BRYANS.

D-101. Copper. Proof. Number struck not known.

D-101. Aluminum. Proof. Number struck not known.

M.W. Dickeson #1 obverse muled with D-92 reverse. Brass. • The reverse die lists "Numismatic Knights of the Round Table," these being, in the order given: F.C.C. Boyd, D.W. Valentine, Elliott Smith, Thomas L. Elder, Albert R. Frey, and J.M. Swanson. • Boyd is too well known to need further mention here; Valentine was a specialist in coins and currency and later published on half dimes and Fractional Currency; Smith, who lived 45 minutes from Broadway, was a "money man," owned a complete run of The Numismatist from 1888 onward, and in 1936 financed Stack's distribution of the Arkansas Robinson commemorative halves; Frey was an author of note; and J.M. Swanson, least known in the line-up, was born in Chicago of Swedish parents (and probably knew the Seeburg family there), was with Whitehead & Hoag, Newark medal and badge makers, designed various medals, and was accomplished in sketching, painting, and sculpture.

M.W. Dickeson #1 obverse muled with D-92 reverse. Aluminum. • The obverse die is a copy of the 1776 Continental dollar and is believed to have been made in Philadelphia in the 1870s for Dr. Montroville W. Dickeson; the die (and its Dickeson, not Elder, reverse) later passed to John J. Ford, Jr., to Empire Coin Co., to Robert Bashlow, to heaven knows where.

(Total: 94 pieces)

2109     M.W. Emrick and William Poillon. 1910-dated pair of American Numismatic Society membership medals. Dies by Gutzon Borglum for Tiffany & Co. of New York. Johnson-22. Essentially as struck. Silver and bronze, one of each. Round. The silver medal is matte-like with rich silver and gray toning on both sides, while the bronze piece is of the same finish, but with lovely golden olive highlights. (Total: 2 pieces)

Common obverse with a nude young boy, rear-view, holding and gazing at a portrait of an elderly man, FOUNDED / IN / NEW YORK / MDCCCLVIII, common reverse with oak branches above, olive branches beneath, THE / AMERICAN / NUMISMATIC SOCIETY / PARVA-NE-PEREANT / MEMBER'S MEDAL / 1910 at the center. The reverse of the silver piece is inscribed WILLIAM POILLON 1869, while the reverse of the bronze piece is inscribed M.W. EMRICK M.D. 1921. The edge of the silver is marked TIFFANY STERLING, while the edge of the bronze is marked TIFFANY & CO. MAKERS BRONZE. A great pair for collectors of ANS memorabilia.

Silver. 2,417.0 grains; 77.0 mm.

Bronze. 2,663.8 grains; 77.0 mm.

Poillon was well known in his time, and we have much biographical information concerning him (available gratis on request to the successful bidder). Of Emrick we know relatively little, but Frank Katen may be a source, for he auctioned his collection in 1978.

Gutzon Borglum (in full John Gutzon de la Mothe Borglum, 1867-1941) was born at Bear Lake, Idaho, and is best known for his work on the face of Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills of South Dakota, where his massive carved monument to presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt was begun in 1927 and finished in 1939. He also designed the 1925 Stone Mountain commemorative half dollar. He began the actual work on the carving of the face of Stone Mountain, but later quit; the project was worked on by many others after Borglum's defection from the project.

2110     Albert A. Grinnell. Group of tokens, essentially Mint State: I Souvenir token with Lincoln bust right with ALBERT A. GRINNELL / NUMISMATIST/ 1515 WOODWARD / AVENUE with LIFE MEMBER #20 A.N.A. DETROIT, MICHIGAN around, 28.5 mm. Aluminum (3) I HONOR THE LIVING art medal with his portrait, 38 mm., issued by the Detroit Coin Club, 1941 (3). Two antiqued silver, one antiqued brass. (Total: 6 pieces)

The aluminum pieces were distributed in August 1940 during the American Numismatic Association Convention held that year in Detroit. This account was later published (The Numismatist, October 1940):

"When the members arose Sunday morning it was raining, but some of the Detroiters said it would clear by noon. At 3:30 it was still raining, and at that hour the party boarded buses and private cars for the Detroit Golf Club, where we were the guests at a complimentary dinner given by A.A. Grinnell, a member of the Detroit Coin Club and one of our best-known collectors. At each place had been placed an aluminum token struck for Mr. Grinnell for the occasion. The obverse bore the bust of Lincoln. The reverse read: 'Life Member No. 20, ANA Albert A. Grinnell, Numismatist, 1515 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan.' The dinner was one of the most enjoyable features of the entire convention, and Mr. Grinnell was congratulated on all sides for being an ideal host."

Further information concerning Grinnell is given in the introduction to the paper money section of the present catalogue.

2111     E. Hill. Trio of 1860-dated tokens advertising his coin dealership: I 1732 Washington, PATRIÆ PATER. White metal. Plain edge I DANIEL WEBSTER. White metal. Plain edge I Togate bust of Edwin Forrest (not identified; presumably, everybody at the time knew who he was) within open wreath. White metal. Plain edge. Dies by Key, of Philadelphia. (Total: 3 pieces)

Ezra Hill was an active dealer in New York City in the late 1850s and 1860 and was well known to his contemporaries, including Augustus B. Sage, at whose 121 Essex Street home he was present when the American Numismatic Society had its formative meeting on March 15, 1858. In 1867, Sage remembered his old friend:

"Poor Ezra Hill, long since dead and buried, a victim of consumption, commenced collecting in 1858; he never was fortunate enough to obtain any very rare pieces, but was enthusiastic and by his earnest nature and pleasant ways assisted materially in the good work of creating a taste for the science. Many and many a night have I examined with him our collections, comparing the acquisitions of the day and speculating as to how soon our collections would rival Mickley's. A short time prior to his death he obtained a small place in Bleecker Street, No. 6, and did for a while quite a thriving business in buying and selling articles in the line of coins, autographs, etc."

2112     Archer M. Huntington: 1908 American Numismatic Society. Medal by Emil Fuchs. Johnson-12. Bas relief. Bronze. Round. 1,715.7, 66.5 mm. Condition as struck. Rich olive-brown. 50th anniversary of the ANS medal, with Columbia holding a scroll attesting to the event, encircled by wreaths and cornucopias on the obverse, reverse with three coiners and a press at the center, award titulature above. Struck by Whitehead and Hoag to the order of just 25 pieces; their monogram appears on the edge.

Archer, the son of Arabella Duval (Yarrington) Worsham, of Alabama, took the surname Huntington when his mother married Southern Pacific Railroad magnate Collis P. Huntington. Archer began collecting coins at the age of nine. In 1899, then 28 years old and living in Baychester, New York, he was named to membership in the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society. Archer displayed initiative and brilliance on his own-not always easy for someone living with the trappings of non-earned wealth-and became an authority on the history of Spain. His Notebook in Northern Spain had been widely admired, and perhaps it was natural that he was a founder and president of the Hispanic Society of America. In 1906, he was named as a member of the Building Committee of the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society; supervised the construction of the new building in New York City at Audubon Terrace, in the very fashionable Morningside Heights, the new building being adjacent to the home of the Hispanic Society of America. Soon thereafter, the Archaeological was dropped from the title. His monetary donations, including a $25,000 loan changed in 1908 to a gift, helped the building project.

In 1908 the Society's new and beautiful facility opened. By that time the American might as well have been dropped from the title as well, as emphasis had shifted to world and ancient coins-fine disciplines then and now, but this was to have been the American Numismatic Society. Poignantly, all along the architrave or frieze of the Society's new building the names of prominent numismatists were lettered. Much searching was needed to find the name of an American numismatist-but persistence would pay off, and, sure enough, CROSBY was there. However, other American numismatists such as (to give a very short list) the very founders of the Society (Messrs. Sage, Groh, et al.) were conspicuous by their absence, and no mention was to be found of such luminaries as Dickeson, Zabriskie, Marvin, Chapman, Low, Adams, Hickox, Betts, Slafter, Anthon, Parish, Woodward, Cogan, Frossard-gee whiz, there were enough names of candidates to letter around two buildings!

Archer was a fine fellow from all we have heard, and the ANS remains grateful for his many substantial gifts.

2113     William Idler. Pair of tokens: I White metal advertising token, inscription on obverse. Plain edge. AU. The obverse advertises Idler's calling, while the reverse is a copy of the 1792 Getz Washington half dollar. 177.4 grains; 33.9 mm. dies by Robert Lovett, Jr. I Silver advertising token, Washington obverse, Rulau's PA-229A. AU. (Total: 2 pieces)

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2114     F.C. Key & Son, et al. Two tokens by Key. Both are EF to AU: I One (illustrated above) is dated 1870. Brass. Features Washington on the obverse (from a die popularly attributed to someone named Burr), and advertises the business of Mason & Co., coin and stamp dealers I The other is in white metal bears the portrait of famous thespian Edwin Forrest and on the reverse advertises Key's business as "Ornamental Medal and Seal Die Sinkers. 329 Arch St." (Total: 2 pieces)

The Mason token is a microcosm of what numismatic research is all about, and is indicative that while some series (copper cents 1793-1814 come to mind) have been researched and published to a fare-the-well, there are other series which have attracted many brilliant minds, but for which more research is indicated. The following is excerpted from our own notes on Civil War tokens:

The die itself is known under two Fuld numbers, patriotic die 116 and store card die 1134. The die features the portrait of Washington facing forward and slightly to left, head and shoulders, in uniform. BORN FEB. 22 1732. above. DIED DEC. 14 1799. below. Dentils at border.

For starters, the current book by George J. Fuld, Patriotic Civil War Tokens, states that this die is the work of Montgomery Burr. This same person, a Philadelphia craftsman, is given as the author of some other dies as well.

The book by Russell Rulau and George Fuld, Medallic Portraits of Washington, states this: "Struck about 1870.… Charles Cushing Wright cut the obverse die, which was muled by Key with his own reverse die [a reference to the Lincoln die] to create a Civil War token."

Perhaps the truth is found in the June 1870 issue of Mason's Stamp and Coin Collector's Magazine, Ebenezer Locke Mason, Jr., who should have known, said this:

"We have just issued a store card…This card is from dies made by Charles K. Warner, Medalist, No. 1021 Chestnut St., in this city, and for beauty and perfectness of design as well as sharpness and uniformity of impression is not excelled by any card in America."

In July, Mason added this comment: "The dies were broken and we succeeded in striking 100 copper, 100 brass, 100 white metal, 20 nickel, and 12 silver pieces. The specimens were very fine, but the dies failed from the start and when striking the nickel pieces, were completely ruined."

For the possible interest of token specialists, here is a listing of Philadelphia engravers and diecutters from Boyd's Directory, 1860-1, some of which are known to have been associated with tokens and medals, and others who might have been. Those with an asterisk (*) are known to have issued Civil War tokens:

Chormann, Ernest G. 41 North 6th Street.

Haynes, Thomas. 411 Chestnut Street.

*Jacobus, Peter, II. 40 South 3rd Street.

*Key, F.C., & Sons, rear of 319 Arch Street.* (One son, William, worked at the Mint from time to time.)

*Lovett, Robert, Jr., 200 South 5th Street.

Lowe, Samuel W., 130 North 4th Street.

McPherson, John. 302 Walnut Street;

Morin, Alexander C. 402 Walnut Street.

Quint, S.P. 322 Chestnut Street.

Seile, S.B. Rear of 225 North 4th Street.

Stiles & Robison, 1 South 6th Street.

Todd, William. 801 Market Street.

Volder, William. 126 South 2nd Street.

Walker, J., & Son. 30 South 3rd Street.

2115     J.N.T. Levick. Token advertising his firm, Woodgate & Co. Importers of Brandies, Wines, & Gins. 1860. Brass. MS-63, prooflike.

Levick was the pre-eminent collector of tokens and store cards in the 1860s and 1870s. Much about him is found in numismatic literature, including the 1998 book, American Numismatics Before the Civil War, 1760-1860.

2116     George Lovett. Selection of medals: I Four have the DEDICATED / TO / COIN / AND / MEDAL / COLLECTORS / 1860 die muled with Mother Shipton riding a broom "WE ALL HAVE OUR HOBBIES." One each in German silver, brass, copper, and aluminum. AU to Mint State I DEDICATED, etc. die / Edwin Forrest (muling with a Key obverse die). White metal. EF I "Purchased aboard the Great Eastern" and other inscriptions including a notable misspelling; this token relates to one of the most publicized vessels of the time, a.k.a. The Great Iron Ship. White metal. AU. (Total: 6 pieces)

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2117     Robert Lovett, Jr. Group of five medalets: Three 30.6 mm. medals issued circa 1859-1861. EF to Mint State: I Penn's Treaty 1682. Brass I Free Trade and Sailor's rights 1812 (2). White metal, brass. EF to Mint State. • One 24.7 mm white metal. Especially rare, at least to our perception. The condition is EF, but some misguided anti-numismatist has peppered it with pinpricks. That said, the rarity may overwhelm this consideration, making it a worthwhile acquisition. The obverse depicts an Indian in headdress astride an eagle, and carrying a flag. To acquaint everyone but the lot viewers and purchaser with this unusual piece, it is illustrated above I One 14.7 mm medalet. German silver. Rulau's PA-350-A. Depicts on one side St. George and the dragon, the other the head of Wm. Penn (?) and an advertisement for Lovett. Mint State. (Total: 5 pieces)

Robert Lovett, Jr., was a prominent die cutter for many years in Philadelphia, and in this era made dies and struck tokens for several numismatists, including Edward Cogan and William Idler. Sometimes dies were interchanged with his brother, George H. Lovett, a diesinker who held forth in New York City, and some interesting and illogical mulings were the result. Some of his dies are also known muled with those made by F.C. Key & Son.

2118     Robert Lovett, Jr. Selection of advertising tokens, 1860, with "Liberty Head" goddess portrait as later used on the 1861 Confederate cent, the motif being copied by Lovett from French coinage of the 1790s, thus, perhaps properly the "French Liberty Head." AU to Mint State. Metallic Business Cards. 200 South Fifth Street. Includes brass (2), copper (2), copper-nickel (1), and silver (1). (Total: 6 pieces)

2119     B. Max Mehl. Threesome of copper good luck tokens in the "buckaroo" style, Texas personified in the form of a standing steer twirling a lariat. Copper, early 20th century. (Total: 3 pieces)

Although Mehl issued a zillion copies of the Star Rare Coin Encyclopedia and enough different catalogues and direct mail pieces to fill a large-size bin, he was not known as a token issuer, and thus this variety is quite rare (the present offering notwithstanding!).

2120     Joseph H. Merriam. Pair of tokens: I 1859 Depiction of the Great Eastern on obverse with details of the ship on the reverse, along with the designer and builder. White metal. Plain edge. 31.0 mm I 1863 Civil War store card, Fuld MA-115-E-02b. Brass. Plain edge. 19.1 mm. (Total: 2 pieces)

The works of George H. Merriam, (one of the most skilled diecutters whose work ever appeared on a Civil War and other tokens, and whose bold, deeply impressed letter style is reminiscent of his friend and fellow Massachusetts resident J.A. Bolen), have been well described in The Numismatist, April 1980, in "Joseph H. Merriam, Die Sinker," by David E. Schenkman, to which refer.

2121     Joseph J. Mickley. 1867 medal with bust (upper torso and head) left. Bronze. Plain edge. Reverse; PRESIDENT / OF / THE / NUMISMATIC / AND / ANTIQUARIAN/ SOCIETY / OF / PHILADELPHIA. Diameter: 50.2 mm. Die by his friend and sometime Mint employee, local engraver William Key.

Mickley has long been a central figure in American numismatic history, and no account of 19th century events would be complete without prominent mention of his activities. His interest in coins is said to have begun in 1816 when, seeking a copper cent of the year of his nativity, 1799, he found it quite peculiar that an example could not be located.

 
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2122     Joseph J. Mickley. Birth and death memorial medal by Lea Ahlborn, 1879. Bronze. 936.4 grains; 50.8 mm. Lovely Proof. A handsome medal depicting Mickley's head, right, with surrounding inscription in Latin. Reverse with inscription within wreath.

These medals were produced under the supervision of Henry J. Mickley and sold through dealer S.K. Harzfeld. It was expected that just about every numismatist would desire an example (see below), but sales proved slow, and today the medals are elusive.

Joseph J. Mickley's dairy written in 1870, during a trip to Sweden, included this for Tuesday, July 26:

"Visited the Mint. It was not in operation; the mintmaster Ackermann, who was very friendly, went through the establishment with me, to show me all the different parts. I saw nothing different from anything I had seen in the machinery of other mints I visited, except a machine for planing the planchets, to give them the proper weight. But the most remarkable about it is that the person engraving the dies is a lady, Mrs. Lea Ahlborn, 44 years of age. She is the daughter of the late Mr. P. Lundgren, who was the engraver before her. He taught her modeling and engraving, when he found she had a talent for it. She presented me with two medals, one for the Mint Cabinet, and the other for myself. She is a very pleasant and amiable lady; speaks German fluently. She has a sister who is a very good wood engraver."

Upon reading the preceding. William E. Dubois, Mint employee and apologist (a very fine numismatic fellow except that he told lies now and then, thereby casting doubt on anything he said) later commented in the American Journal of Numismatics:

"To this should be added, her education as a die engraver was completed at Paris. Some time after Mr. Mickley's return home, he was surprised and perplexed by a letter from Madame Ahlborn, urgently desiring to engrave a medal of himself, and asking for a profile photograph, and some directions as to the reverse and inscriptions. He brought this letter to me, and asked what he should do about it. I was of course an advocate for the undertaking. We deliberated on a legend, and finally agreed to represent him as an "American Antiquary." He had, while in Sweden, gone to much pains and expense in hunting up obscure or unedited records of the Swedish colonies in this country, and with remarkable success. It was therefore eminently proper, that a medal of him, struck in Sweden, should refer to his antiquarian tastes and researches. It appeared to the writer also, that the compliment would be heightened by putting the legend in the Swedish language.

"The reply to this latter suggestion was positively to the contrary. 'Outside of Sweden,' Madame A. said, 'the Swedish is a dead language;' and therefore it must be put in Latin, which if dead in one sense, is forever alive in another. The very strong expression, therefore, as it comes to us in that language, is solely from herself and her friends. The obverse legend sets him forth as a numismatist; and he was eminent in that line as well as in the other. In a secondary sense, it compliments the Philadelphia Association of Numismatists and Antiquarians, by making its presidency so honorable. The medal is already placed in public cabinets, at Stockholm, Upsala, Gothenburg, and St. Petersburg; and the same action will shortly be taken in this country. In the large list of Mr. Mickley's friends, there will be some, without doubt, who will avail themselves of an opportunity to possess this memento. Along with the dies, and an explanatory letter, Madame Ahlborn has had the kindness to send me her own photograph, of very agreeable appearance; also her engraved card, stating her position as coin and medal engraver in the Royal Mint at Stockholm; and her membership in the Imperial Art Academy of St. Petersburg. The Swedes were the first to colonize and civilize the shores of our Delaware Bay and River; and the writer is sitting in what was once called New Sweden. They are again coming among us, making good and industrious citizens. Philadelphia, March 4, 1879. W.E. DU BOIS."

2123     John Pierpont Morgan. 1913 American Numismatic Society. Morgan medal by Emil Fuchs. Bas relief as struck. Bronze. Rectangular. 3,218.0 grains; 89.8 mm length, 73.5 mm height. Olive-gold matte-like surfaces.

Obverse with artisans in temple setting, reverse with male and female figure, one on each side of cartouche, JOHN / PIERPONT / MORGAN at center of cartouche.

It is not widely known that Morgan (yes, this is the J.P. Morgan) was a numismatist, but he was. It would be interesting to see if such is mentioned in any of his biographies. In the 19th century, Morgan became fascinated with gold coins, and he acquired a magnificent array of U.S. gold Proof sets-in the style of Mendes I. Cohen or Col. Cummings. He bought much of the collection of R.C.H. Brock, of Philadelphia, with other Brock coins going to the University of Pennsylvania, some of which were later dispersed through Philadelphia stamp dealer Philip H. Ward (who must have taken lessons from Horace Brand on how to do business) and through B. Max Mehl. In 1908, the DeWitt S. Smith Collection came on the market, and two titans vied for it. Virgil M. Brand won, and Morgan, ever the gentleman, sent Brand a congratulatory note.

Morgan gifted many coins to the American Numismatic Society, while many others were sold to or through Wayte Raymond and Hans M.F. Schulman, among others.

Purchased from George Fuld, January 10, 1972.

2124     John E. Morse. Coin dealer advertising on Civil War scrip. An intriguing quartette of Civil War era scrip, average EF for overall quality, made all the more interesting by the fact that the normally blank backs of the notes are printed with ad copy for John E. Morse, a coin dealer from Hadley, Massachusetts. The notes include:

I Harris & Chapman. Five cents. White paper, black imprint. December 1, 1862. Serial Number: 541, in red ink. Vignette of young woman I Harris & Chapman. 25¢. Same date, paper, and imprint as previous. Serial Number: 519, in red ink. Dog vignette. These two notes share the following common reverse: a portrait of Lincoln in a frame to the left side of the note, JOHN E. MORSE / DEALER IN / U.S. COINS AND MEDALS / PAPER MONEY / OF ALL VARIETIES AND ISSUES / CIVIL WAR ENVELOPES / RARE OLD PRINTS / LINCOLNIANA / 12 MIDDLE ST. / HADLEY, MASSACHUSETTS to the right side I Summit County Bank, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. 1862. 10¢. White paper, green imprint. No serial number. Train vignette I Summit County Bank. 1862. 25¢. White paper, violet imprint. No serial number. Stag vignette. These two notes share a slightly different back than the first two in the lot: Lincoln's portrait is the same, ad reads JOHN E. MORSE / ANTIQUARIAN / 12 MIDDLE ST., HADLEY, MASS. / PAPER MONEY / OF ALL VARIETIES, EXCEPT FOREIGN / LINCOLNIANA / MIXED LOTS OF U.S. COINS, CIVIL WAR AND / POLITICAL ENVELOPES. A fine group. (Total: 4 pieces)

In August 1924, Morse, who was unable to be present at the ANA Convention in Cleveland, sent a quantity of Civil War scrip issued by Harmon & Root, Aurora, Ohio, to be distributed among the attendees with his compliments. Each had Morse's advertisement printed on the back. It appears from this, and from the different notes offered above, that Morse created his own repertoire of collectible notes.

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2125     New Haven Numismatic Society. 1862-dated medal. Circle of eight obverses of different colonial coins with a 1791 Washington President in center. White metal. Plain edge. 583.8 grains; 43.9 mm. AU. Dies by the famous C. Wyllys Betts, and especially desirable as such.

The New Haven Numismatic Society was founded on November 25, 1862. The above medal was from dies cut later by C.W. Betts. A specimen of its medal was presented to the New York Numismatic Society May 26, 1864, this group filling the slack while the American Numismatic Society was comatose.

In this decade Betts (born on August 13, 1845), who moved to New Haven with his family in 1855, was very active in numismatics. He also had a sense of whimsy, and created from his own dies some fantasy pieces of "colonial coins" that had no counterpart in originality. Perhaps he was a protégé of W. Elliot Woodward, who in May 1864 issued an addenda to the McCoy sale, four pages, 45 lots. Catalogue of a Few Pieces from the Collection of C. Wyllys Betts of New Haven. At the time Betts was a second-year student at Yale. Unfortunately, very unfortunately, Ed. Frossard, well-known New York dealer never bought a copy, or if he did, he was too busy to read it.

An example of Betts' NOVUM BELGIUM token was subsequently offered by Woodward, without expanded comment, in his March 20-25, 1865 auction of the Bache, Bertsch, Lightbody, Lilliendahl, Vinton, and Watson Collections at the sale rooms of J.E. Cooley, New York City. Lot 3185, which realized 20¢ to Sampson, was described: "Shield with beaver, 'Novum Belgium, 1623;' rev. a crown, 'Perter Momvit;' [sic] fine and extremely rare." Peter Minuit, the early New York settler, was intended.

Later: Ed. Frossard made the "discovery" of a lifetime, and announced to the numismatic world via his magazine, Numisma, that the hitherto unknown and unquestionably authentic 1623 Novum Belgium colonial copper had come to light, and what an exciting event this was! His competitors, including Woodward, howled with delight, as for a long time Frossard had enjoyed complaining about deficiencies he had perceived in their catalogues.

Betts died on April 27, 1887. However, in a larger sense than his whimsical numismatic fantasies, Betts' reputation is of a high order and lives on through his master work, American Colonial History Illustrated by Contemporary Medals, published posthumously in 1894 and which today remains the standard reference on the subject. Today in 1999, we still use the Betts designations, which have never been improved upon or supplanted. Years later in 1950, an extensive collection of dies and fantasies by Betts was donated by F.C.C. Boyd to the American Numismatic Society, where today they are curated by John Kleeberg.

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2126     Edward T. Newell: Portrait with bust left, high relief. Antique brass. Plain edge with 1934 - 5 - 6 and 14 stamped into the edge. NEW YORK NUMISMATIC CLUB ORGANIZED 1908 with Greek temple, Egyptian pyramid, and other classical elements in the background. 424.0 grains; 37.7 mm. Matte Proof-64.

Edward T. Newell, born in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in 1886, studied at Yale University and received his A.B. degree in 1907, his A.M. degree in 1909. Although we may never know for certain, it seems likely that Newell became interested in numismatics through his relative, Walter H. Childs, who had been active in the hobby since 1870. The remarkable cabinet of Walter Childs and of his family will be auctioned by us in August of this year and includes the finest known 1804 Class I silver dollar.

Newell's interest in coins was sufficiently advanced that on January 16, 1905, he was named as a member of the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society. He lived in New York City at the time, and after 1908, when the Society threw open the doors to its magnificent new building at 155th Street and Broadway, he often walked through its portals.

In 1912 he became an associate editor (Edgar H. Adams was editor) of The Numismatist. In 1969 he was among the honorees to be enshrined in the opening year of the ANA Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs. However, as much as he may mean to the American Numismatic Association, he means even more to the American Numismatic Society. He was elected president of the ANS on January 28, 1916, and held the office, with excellence and accomplishment, until the day of his death, February 18, 1941. No other person before or since can match this tenure.

2127     Daniel Parish, Jr. Medal with bust left, 1890. Bronze Proof. Plain edge. Commemorating his presidency of the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society. Medal by Lea Ahlborn. 571.4 grains; 45.9 mm.

Much could be written about Parish, who joined the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society in 1865, when the organization woke up from its sleep. He was active for years thereafter. His accomplishments were many and include preparing an article on Washington Seasons medals (1895) and in 1908 donating 3,541 coins and medals of Europe to the American Numismatic Society, a munificent gift valued at $50,000 and worth untold millions today.

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2128     1851 Robert M. Patterson. Mint medal by C.C. Wright. Julian MT-2. Copper. Plain edge. 2175.8 grains; 65.1 mm. Bronzed Proof.

The obverse features the portrait of Patterson, facing left, with inscription surrounding. The reverse is inspired from a die by Moritz Furst done earlier for the Winfield Scott medal (Julian MI-20). R.W. Julian suggests that this medal may have been struck at the behest of Chief Coiner Franklin Peale (who partook too freely of the Mint's equipment and personnel to enhance his personal worth and to conduct his private business, and who was thrown out of the Mint in 1854).

Robert Maskell Patterson took office in July 1835, succeeding his brother-in-law Samuel Moore, and served until July 1851, when he was replaced by George N. Eckert, who served until April 1853. In the best nepotistic Mint tradition, he was also the son of Robert Patterson, Mint director 1805-1824. It might be mentioned that Mint apologist W.E. Dubois was a grandson of Robert Patterson.

2129     Alfred S. Robinson. Pair of brass advertising tokens, the obverse featuring an imitation of the Higley threepence with standing deer (taken from the 1737 Higley coppers), with the reverse of Alfred S. Robinson, banker, numismatist, and dealer in many items, Hartford Connecticut, 1861. Mint State and EF. (Total: 2 pieces)

Alfred S. Robinson, a Hartford, Connecticut, banker, exchange dealer, and self-proclaimed "great numismatist" (The cover of his auction catalogue of April 16, 1861, noted that it offered pieces "from the cabinet of Alfred S. Robinson, the great numismatist") did business from an office in the Marble Block in Hartford. He may or may not have been associated with the NON DEPENDENS STATUS fantasy token, an early notice of which appeared in Norton's Literary Letter No. 2, in 1858; this may have been based upon an authentic 1778 work by Paul Revere, shown to us by a numismatic friend of long acquaintance and now under study; more at a later time.

In recent times, an effort has been made to include various medalets of this era under the heading of Civil War tokens, thus increasing their potential market.

On December 21, 1871, dealer E.L. Mason, Jr. visited Robinson in his Hartford home and later wrote:

"Was generously received and entertained by Alfred S. Robinson, Esq., the distinguished gold broker and coin dealer, at whose residence we passed the night, the coldest one we remember, the thermometer being seven degrees below zero. Neither Mr. Robinson nor the writer will soon forget that bitter cold midnight we walked from his office to his residence against a head wind, loaded down with a pellisier, crammed with coins, and part of the time walking backwards to keep the eyelids, nose and ears from freezing. Carriages could not be had; cars did not run; the frozen ground creaked under our cold hoofs like a new, heavily-laden country sled. December 22, we parted with Mr. Robinson reluctantly. A more whole-souled gentleman we seldom meet with, and Mr. Robinson parted with his cash to the amount of $180, receiving, in the gladness of his heart, some beautiful and rare coins as a quid pro quo."

2130     Augustus B. Sage's Numismatic Gallery No. 1. Charles L. Bushnell. Bronze. 182.6 grains; 30.7 mm. EF. Bust of Charles Bushnell facing left on the obverse. The reverse features Sage's logo with an olive wreath around.

In the 1850s and early 1860s, Bushnell, a New York City lawyer, was by all accounts the most prolific researcher in such fields as colonial coins and tokens. In 1857 he engaged in a memorable exchange of views with Sage in the pages of a local newspaper. The biography of Bushnell is filled with fascinating incidents, as is the story of the posthumous dispersal of his remarkable collection.

2131     Augustus B. Sage's Numismatic Gallery No. 2. Henry Bogert. Bronze. 178.8 grains; 30.8 mm. AU. Bust of Henry Bogert facing right on the obverse. The reverse features Sage's logo with borders of stars at top and bottom.

The story of all of these Sage tokens is related in some detail in the 1998 book, American Numismatics Before the Civil War, 1760-1860. Bogert was a New York City numismatist in the 1850s, although virtually nothing about his numismatic activities has been located in print. His collection was catalogued by Augustus B. Sage and auctioned by Bangs, Merwin & Co., February 28 through March 5, 1859. Bogert, a printer by trade, was Sage's business associate at 24 Division Street in 1859. His depiction on the presently offered Sage's Numismatic Gallery No. 2 token was probably due more to his business connection with Sage than to any prominence he may have had as a numismatist.

2132     Augustus B. Sage's Numismatic Gallery No. 5. Frank Jaudon. Bronze. AU. Plain edge. Bust of Frank Jaudon facing left on the obverse. The reverse features Sage's logo with borders of stars at top and bottom.

Jaudon, a wealthy broker with an office on William Street, New York City, memorialized on this token by Sage, is otherwise mostly forgotten. Even today, it is not clear why Jaudon was so honored, as he was not well known in the hobby at the time.

2133     Elliott Smith. Group of tokens dated 1916. Copper, brass, gilt, aluminum, and fiber impressions. EF to Mint State. Bust of Grant left (from a circa 1868 puncheon by Key). PRESIDENT U.S. GRANT around with four stars below bust. Reverse TOKEN / OF/ ELLIOTT SMITH / 1916. (Total: 5 pieces)

Smith, of Whitehead & Hoag, Newark token makers, is noticed earlier under Thomas L. Elder. Smith was a "knight of the numismatic round table." Perhaps by 1916 Whitehead & Hoag was the successor in certain interests of F.C. Key & Sons.

2134     Joseph E. Waitt. A pair of bronze medals:

I ANS membership medal of 1905 452.6 grains; 42.0 mm. Plain edge. Proof-60. Medium brown. Perhaps lightly cleaned long ago, now retoned. Obverse with ANS devices and dates, reverse with JOSEPH E. WAITT / ELECTED ACTIVE MEMBER / 1905 engraved at center of wreath I Medal dated 1911. 487.1 grains; 38.3 mm. Obverse with two Native Americans, one accepting an eight-reales piece from a conquistador, THE FIRST AMERICAN COIN COLLECTOR arcs above, SEVENTEENTH CENTURY curves below, reverse with YET STILL THERE IS A KEEN PURSUIT / OF HIGHER THOUGHT AND RICHER FRUIT / THE STORY OF THE COINS THAT SHOW / HOW NATIONS MULTIPLY AND GROW / A.G. HEATON, a snippet of a rhyme by numismatic poet laureate Heaton. An eagle perches on the left corner of a cartouche with THE PRIVATE TOKEN OF at the top, and with JOSEPH E. WAITT engraved below, 1911 below the cartouche. (Total: 2 pieces)

2135     Farran Zerbe. Trio of tokens. AU:

I Large-diameter token with minute lettering describing various rare coins (for certain trade dollars he would pay 50¢, for the 1804 $1 the price of $1,500 was offered, etc.) and their values, arranged in a wheel format. Copyright 1904. Aluminum. Plain edge. 50.2 mm. An entire article could be written about this token I 1930 "Token of Esteem" tokens honoring Zerbe (2). Copper, plain edge, 30.5 mm; aluminum, 30.5 mm. (Total: 3 pieces)

Zerbe is noticed earlier under the listing for his nemesis, Thomas L. Elder.

2136     An intriguing lot of tokens, chiefly issued by coin dealers and medalists, mainly 19th-century and early 20th centuries. All are attractive Proof or Mint State, and all are with plain edge unless noted:

I Henry Cook, 74 Friend Street, Boston. Copper. MASS-28. 41.9 mm. NO SURRENDER OF THE FORT SUMTER OF THE NORTH obverse, reverse with HENRY COOK / MONEY BROKER / AND / DEALER IN / RARE AND ANTIQUE / COINS, MEDALS / AUTOGRAPHS / CURIOSITIES, RELICS / &c. &c. / NO. 74 FRIEND ST. / BOSTON within laurel wreath I Henry Cook, same as previous but white metal. MASS-29. 41.9 mm I Empire Coin Company, Inc. Bronze tokens (2) by Alphonse Kolb, Rochester, NY. 28.8 mm I Evans & Watson, 304 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Copper. PA-151. 31.8 mm. Obverse with SOMMER ISLAND and a beaded circle around a "hogge" with XII above, modeled after the Hogge money of Bermuda, circa 1616, reverse with DICKESON'S COIN & MEDAL SAFE arcing above, MAKERS / 304 CHESTNUT ST. PHILADELPHIA curving below a safe I John W. Kline, 212 South 8th Street, Philadelphia. Copper. PA-287. 25.3 mm. Bust of William Penn on obverse, reverse with name and address around, MANUFACTURERS OF / MEDALS / TOKENS, CARDS &c / IMPORTERS & DEALERS IN / COINS / MEDALS / SHELLS, MINERALS / ENGRAVINGS / AND / CURIOSITIES at the center I John W. Kline, same as previous but aluminum. PA-288 I Thomas Ollive Mabbott, 1232 Madison Avenue, New York City. 1930. Brass. 24.6 mm. Name, address, and date on obverse, FELLOW AMERICAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY around A.N.A. / NO. 3160 at center I Waldo C. Moore, Lewisburg, Ohio. 1908. Copper. 30.6 mm. Obverse with AMERICAN BUFFALO above, date below, a beautiful rendition of a charging bison, reverse with name and address around, A.N.A. NO. 637 / COLLECTOR / RARE COINS / CURIOS at center I Waldo C. Moore. 1911. Copper. 30.6 mm. A rebus appears on the obverse, reverse shows name and address, plus BANKER / NUMISMATIST / PHILATELIST / FOWL FANCIER. Waldo C. Moore was a past president of the ANA and active in numismatics in the first half of the current century. He called his town of Lewisburg, "The Biggest Little City in Ohio," and was active in civic affairs there. Annually for many years in the 1920s and 1930s, Moore had special currency printed for the annual Halloween Roundup celebration. The rebus on the token reads as follows (STOP HERE if you want to figure it out yourself!): on the first line is an awl, a woman seated at a table drinking tea, and a top hat (awl + T + hat = all that); the second line features a G-clef scale, a sow with piglets, and a female dog with pups (G + litters = glitters); the third line shows a Roman numeral II, a log with a knot hole, and a coin ( two Is [II] + not + gold = is not gold). Waldo Moore's sage advice turns out to be All that glitters is not gold I Strasburger & Nuhn Importers, New York. Composition spiele-marke (translation: play money). Brass. NY-847. 33.7 mm. Reeded edge. Double eagle style I Charles K. Warner, 326 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. Brass. PA-569. 24.5 mm. LONG MAY IT WAVE around an American flag on the obverse, reverse with name and address around, DEALER IN / AMERICAN & / FOREIGN / COINS / & MEDALS at the center I Unidentified (perhaps Centennial Advertising Co. of Philadelphia). Brass. 19.1 mm. Independence Hall on obverse, 1776 below, reverse with WE MAKE / THIS STYLE OF CARD / FOR / $9 PR 1000 / AT / 1029 CHESTNUT ST. / PHILADA. An interesting group. (Total: 13 pieces)

2137     Treasure trove of miscellaneous tokens and medals from various numismatic associations, clubs, and other organizations:

Most commemorate regular meetings or conventions of the 20th century. Most are American, but a few are from around the world. A small sampling reveals a New Zealand Centennial medal in silver by the N.Z. Numismatic Society, anniversary medals of the numismatic societies of Oregon, Milwaukee, Canada, Boston, Chicago, and the Pacific Coast, (where Farran Zerbe was a founding member). Various metals are represented including brass, silver, copper, and even a few nonmetallic planchets are noted such as hard rubber, leather, and wood. An opportunity for the enthusiast of numismatic history to spend hours tracking down stories about their issuers. (Total: 62 pieces)

2138     Token and medal smorgasbord, a fascinating and diverse group of mostly numismatic content (cards of dealers, clubs, collectors) including some limited duplication, U.S. (vast majority) and a few foreign (Canadian plus two British and one Mexican), plus a few modern encased postage stamps, exposition items, etc. Mostly copper alloy and aluminum. A partial listing follows:

I 1834 London coin dealer token, VF; address, etc., given, but no name of issuer(!), a muling I 1849 (dated) CALIFORNIA Liberty Head $5 motif game counter, placer miner on reverse, brass, VF I Group of five brass spielmarken, each with portrait of Washington; average VF I Spielmarke, circa 1850s, with $20 portrait, brass, VF I Another $20 style, smaller, CITY HALL reverse. VF I Another with $20 design, but still smaller, brass, EF I 1862 Taylor store card, B-577, Fine I 1866 (dated) Dickeson College bronze Proof medal ("Feed My Lambs," etc.) I 1870s, circa: Large Jefferson / Monticello aluminum medal by well-known G.H.L. (brother of R.L., Jr.), AU; and a similar size medal relating to John Adams, also AU I 1877, circa; Lord's Prayer mini-token, holed as issued, probably struck by erstwhile Mint employee Soley using old Mint press; brass, Mint (of little value, but interesting) I 1891 Patent Centennial Celebration. Large aluminum medal, EF, holed I 1892 Hidalgo Silver Co., Mexico, medal struck from first bar of silver refined; EF I War of 1898. "Let us Have Peace," etc., pair of bronze Proofs, each from a different obverse die I Circa 1900s, advertising card of J.K. Cranston, reverse with advertisement for The Numismatist, German silver, Mint I 1904: Geo. Burfeind tokens, brass and aluminum, with reverse inspired by early U.S. $2.50. In March of that year, The Numismatist noted that Burfeind, of 1003 G Street N.W., Washington, D.C. sent the editor two of his tokens in brass and copper. "The workmanship on them is very fine, and Mr. Burfeind would be glad to hear from any others who are contemplating the issues of cards and thinks he can give them some pointers." I 1908, circa. ANA brass medal, tribute to Heath, portrait on obverse. Mint I 1900s, circa. W.F. Dunham (numismatist, in this case, professional druggist) aluminum token with Chicago address. Mint I Large and very impressive "1915 Panama-Pacific" Coca-Cola Bottling Co. convention, fantasy medal (to pander to the Coca-Cola collectibles market circa 1950s) in goldine, in imitation of the round $50 gold coin, in embossed leatherette case. Mint I Washington medal in silver, B-3000, 1939. Matte Proof I 1920s, circa: W.C. Moore rebus token (details described in earlier lot), copper. Mint I 1932. Robert Hepworth Lloyd numismatic card, brass. Mint; Lloyd, of North Tonawanda, NY, was a student of paper money (did he know S. Brown or F. Wurlitzer?) I 1930s, circa: Several Nelson T. Thorson (collector, dealer, ANA president) cards, brass. Mint I 1930s, circa: Several Luther Whitt (numismatist, Lincolniana specialist) tokens including one in silver ("100 struck"). Mint I 1950s, circa: Brass medal, antiqued finish, depicting Salmon P. Chase, sold as a souvenir to those visiting the Chase National Bank Collection of Moneys of the World (the Zerbe collection, transplanted since 1929). AU I 1959 Federal Coin Exchange copper token, Type 2, with stars, 380 issued, depicting founder Michael Kolman, Jr. Mint I 1960s, circa: Ken Hallenbeck, counterstamped aluminum discs, 2 pieces, Fort Wayne (IN) address, before he and his family said, "Pikes Peak or Bust" (the rest is history: ANA president, Cripple Creek presence; C.S. coin store; son Tom on ANA Board, etc.) I 1970s, circa: Virginia Culver wooden nickel (the only wooden item in the lot), a reminder of a grand lady who even today is still mourned and missed. (Total: 95 pieces)