| 2000
| ScrapBook
Subjects
|
Page
Index
Links
|
Link:
Wonderful Pre-GMM Landis Specimens
Link:
Concept Dollars Proving To Be Popular On eBay
Link:
Don't Worry...The Janitor Will Get it
Link:
1787 New Jersey Maris62.5 Copper Found In Circulation!
Link:
Pewter Enough To Go Around
Link:
US Coins NOT Safe Near Mobile Mini-Mint!
Link:
1998 ANA Convention's Pewter Medalet Daze
|
|
Enlargement scans available on WWW and ScrapBook CD-ROM.
|
|
| 8/7
|
|
-
Wonderful Pre-GMM Landis Specimens
I was told that these pieces were created by Ron Landis during his
"RenFest" days. When Ron returns from the ANA Convention at Philadelphia
perhaps he will give us some fabulous history on these pieces.
Has anyone else seen these before or perhaps similar specimens?
By the way, the two copper pieces are struck on very thin planchets.
Even more interesting is that they were struck together with the same
strike...the marks on the blank sides fit precisely "into" each other.
Here is a quote about Ron's "RenFest" days, directly from GMM's website
referenced in the header information above:
"...after more than a decade of demonstrating early coin making
techniques at art shows and renaissance festivals..."
He certainly had enough time to create a plethora of wonderful pieces
during that period. So, there ought to be lots more different
collectible pieces just waiting for us out there.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
|
|
|
| 8/6
|
-
Concept Dollars Proving To Be Popular On eBay
Today a set of one 1995 Concept Dollar Piedfort and both 2000 Concept
Dollar Piedforts sold on eBay for a tidy $550 postpaid. Examples of all
three of these coins are illustrated in previous ScrapBook Subjects on
this website.
If the Seller and/or the Buyer wants to be identified in connection with
these three fine pieces please contact me and I'll comply...otherwise they
will remain anonymous in respect for their privacy.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
|
|
|
| 8/6
|
|
-
Don't Worry...The Janitor Will Get it
This 31mm diameter, 3mm thick, heavy brass planchet has an intricate
engrailed edge. It exhibits the signs of relatively heavy use as if it
has been knocking around someplace for a long time. I was told it was
found on the Gallery Mint Museum floor during an intensive clean-up
effort by the staff.
Can someone tell us for what purpose this planchet was created?
I reckon we can't call it a GMM creation but it is GMM related and
interesting to me personally.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
|
|
|
| 8/6
|
| |
Click on image for enlargement |
|
-
1787 New Jersey Maris62.5 Copper Found In Circulation!
All right, all right! So I'm stretching it a bit. Bet you won't find
many GMM strikes of any kind in genuine circulated condition though and
the COPY stamp is awfully light. This piece was a pocket piece for a
former employee at the Gallery Mint and was not artificially circulated.
My scanner doesn't show the nice red luster in areas of the field that
you all know a really super Extremely Fine copper piece can exhibit if
you are extremely fortunate.
One fine fellow, who clearly didn't care about the super provenance of
this specimen, wanted to pay me a minimal figure for it due to, as he
said; "...its less than perfect condition." Perfection, like beauty, is
in the eye of the beholder I reckon.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
|
|
|
| 8/6
|
-
Pewter Enough To Go Around
Pewter was one of my favorite materials to work with when I took a
beginning metals/jewelry class at Kansas State University more years ago
than I care to admit. It is malleable, soft for all you normal folks,
and best of all CHEAP! This was of primary importance when I was a
student. So... not surprisingly it is a SUPER material for Convention
Medals and other things such as trial strikes of new dies. The folks at
GMM set up their mobile mini-mint regularly at numismatic conventions
and mint up a storm.
Here is a brief description of their 1996 ANA Summer Conference
experience:
We brought the mobile mini-mint with us so engravers could strike small
"medalets" from the dies they engraved. Everyone had fun, and no
fingers were smashed. We went on for several hours making pewter tokens
on the mini-mint. After all the planchets were struck, they had Joe
striking bottle caps, scrap pewter webbing, and anything else he could
cram between two dies.
Here is a brief description of their 1996 ANA Convention experience:
We brought along the mobile mini-mint and demonstrated coining by
producing a struck pewter medalet available only at the convention.
Total mintage of these is estimated to be around 1,200, with almost half
of these being errors that were created on request.
This refers to the first A.N.A. piece shown below. Each medalet shown is
roughly 20mm in diameter. The first A.N.A. piece was struck in Denver
August 14-17, 1996. The F.U.N. piece was struck in Orlando January 9-12,
1997. The G.H.C.C. piece was struck in Houston February 14-16, 1997. The
Money Tree A.N.A. piece was struck in Cleveland March 20-22, 1997. The
double struck piece shown at right was struck at the Arkansas Numismatic
Society's 51st Annual Coin Show (1999 I assume since the 52nd is
scheduled for the Fall of 2000.)
I know of a Recollecting The Fifties pewter medalet
featuring a juke box on the obverse and struck April 26-28, 1996 at the
3rd annual Collectors' Jubilee at Expo Square - Tulsa State Fairgounds.
I also know of a A.N.A. Summer Seminar pewter medalet
similar to the first A.N.A. piece shown below, except it has Colo. Spgs.
in place of Denver below the mountain, and struck July 13-19, 1996 at
the summer seminar.
Does anyone know how I might expand on my GMM Pewter Medalet collection?
I would prefer "error" specimens but would consider regular dull old
normal strikes! ;-)
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
|
|
|
|
| 8/6
|
-
US Coins NOT Safe Near Mobile Mini-Mint!
As already mentioned in the ScrapBook Subject following this (this
newest entry on top entry system can be a bit confusing at times), my
corresponding friend
EMail:Cliff Bolling
sent me graphics files for eight different medalet strikes. The
remaining four are as follows;
5)
On 1998 Silver Proof US Dime (shown below),
6)
On 1998 Silver Proof US Quarter (shown below),
7)
On 1998 Silver Proof US Half (shown below) and
8)
On 1793 Liberty Cap Cent GMM Strike (shown below).
Obviously one must learn to keep their hands in their pockets when near
the GMM table at a coin convention or that prized proof specimen that
you have been chasing for years will suddenly get sucked under the GMM
dies by the vacuum created by the flow of pieces through that small
orifice. Even worse...not even their own beautiful creations are safe
from this hazard. Wonder if being stamped by the GMM dies would cancel
my VISA card?
I didn't attempt to keep the medalet impression the same size here as
the coin got larger and larger. Hope this works for all y'all.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
|
|
|
|
| 8/6
|
|
-
1998 ANA Convention's Pewter Medalet Daze
My corresponding friend
EMail:Cliff Bolling
sent me graphics files for eight different medalet strikes. Four of them
are as follows;
1)
Mated Pair (shown above),
2)
Normal Token (shown at top right),
3)
Double Struck (shown at bottom right) and
4)
On Pewter Scrap (shown below).
I have spent about three hours now pounding on the graphics files and
hope you find the four specimens I am showing here of some interest.
This certainly gives you a glimpse into the "feeding frenzy" that
obviously occurs around the GMM table at these conventions. Thanks for
sharing with us Cliff.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
|
|
|
|
/\
__ __
__ __
__
__ __
__ __
__
__ __
__ __
__
__ __
__ __
__
__ __
__ __
__
__ __
__ __
__
|
