| 2001
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Subjects
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Page
Index
Links
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Link:
A Museum Quality Piece Of Olympian Proportions
Link:
Peace Through Coinage
Link:
A Peek Over The MintMaster's TrashCan Rim
Link:
Massachusetts Tree Coinage (1653-1682)
Link:
The End Of A Die's Life
Link:
Two Stars For Auction 2001
Link:
Time For More New Jersey Cents Ron!
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Enlargement scans available on WWW and ScrapBook CD-ROM.
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Obverse or
Reverse enlargement
Olympia/AncientCoiner Medal
HOT Struck On "ONE HUNDRED FOR A
DOLLAR" Edged COPPER Planchet
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A Museum Quality Piece Of Olympian Proportions
Now that I have shown y'all "the one that got away", the
Brasher Doubloon Obverse Die Brass Trial Strike on the thin plain
edged planchet, I am in a rush to show you the one that DIDN'T
get away!
Laying there in the MintMaster's trashcan was a specimen I could hardly
believe. I fully expected Ron to grab it for his AuctionBox or for his
DisplayCase... he has done that before on pieces I scrounged up out of
his accumulation of COOL stuff. I certainly wouldn't have blamed him in
the slightest.
The scan above speaks for itself...a hot struck copper specimen of a
medal only released in hot struck silver! By now you all know my
affliction for off-metal strikes of any of Ron's wonderful creations. (I
used the word affliction advisedly and not predilection which is the
first word that popped into my head because affliction describes my
situation more accurately.)
Even more outstanding is that this is NOT a special order item but one
created during the normal production process...as evidenced by the fact
they thought so little of it that it was in the trashcan. It wasn't the
product they were working to attain.
Ron always focuses on the final end product. It MUST be precisely as he
envisions it. Thus, anything other than that is just junk. All I can say
is to quote the old adage that one man's junk is another man's
treasure. :-)
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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Obverse or
Reverse enlargement
1994 Peace Token With Error Die Alignment
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Peace Through Coinage
Here is what I remember about the Peace Tokens:
As you know they were made to be given out to people to interest them in
the coinage movement. These were not meant to be coin designs, just a
token of peace.
Click for
Enlargement
1994 Peace Token
The first version of the Peace Token was
made by Ron Landis around June 1994 and were struck in brass. They were
made rather quickly and the die work is sort of unfinished. Some were
made round, and others were made with a loop and ring. The majority were
round. Ron sent me 50 of those, and 25 of the ones with a ring. He told
me that he had given out many to his friends. I would guess he must have
sent me about half of what he made.
Click for
Enlargement
1995 Peace Token
The second version of the Peace Token was
made by Ron Landis in 1995. They were made of copper and the dies were
finished better. I think they were the same dies, but changed a bit. I
think only round pieces were made in this style. I can only guess that
about 100 were made. Ken Bressett ...Fri, 12 Jan 2001
16:53:23
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The Peace 2000 elongated coins were rolled
by Raymond Dillard, Box 161, Fenton, MI 48430. He made several hundred
of them for me, and rolled them on all kinds of world coins. Most of
them are on Jefferson nickels or Canadian nickels. Others are on
aluminum coins of Hungary that have a dove of peace on them. I gave
these out all over the world. Ken Bressett ...Fri, 12 Jan 2001
16:29:33 |
Click for
Enlargement
Peace Token Obverse Die Trial Piece
Timothy scrounged up a couple copper trial strikes of the Original Hobo
Nickel Society hobo tokens for me and Ron sold them to me as such. After
I finished this ScrapBook subject I was scratching around looking for
material for my next subject. I turned over a copper hobo token when
what to my wondering eyes should appear but a Peace 2000 obverse die! So
I share it here with you.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
Click for
Enlargement
1994 Peace Token Trial Strike On
Jefferson Nickel
I can't believe my eyes...I keep finding more and MORE cool Peace 2000
pieces as I scratch through my Eureka Springs purchases. If any of you
have additional pieces I would really appreciate hearing from you.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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A Peek Over The MintMaster's TrashCan Rim
Here are four unique and different gold die strike pieces I found in the
MintMaster's trashcan. You wouldn't believe the unabashed begging and
groveling that went on while I tried to convince Ron Landis to let me
purchase them. Well... it didn't work but he did let me scan them
and show them to all y'all. When the guys at GMM say they are going to
cancel something, by golly it not only gets canceled but they don't let
the canceled piece out of the mint!
The Jewel Of The Group
Click for
Obverse or
Reverse enlargement
Brasher Doubloon Obverse Die Brass
Trial Strike
Thin Plain Edged Planchet
Since Ron wouldn't sell me this piece I have requested that he please
place it in his display case at the mint so it is at least
preserved for future generations. This wonderful trial strike was
cancelled by Ron with an eight number punch...presumably the eight of
the 1787 date. Ron said it appeared to be that punch but we did not take
the time to verify that assumption.
A Copper Doubloon Can Be BETTER Than Gold
Click for
Obverse or
Reverse enlargement
Brasher Doubloon Copper Trial
Strike
Heavy "ONE HUNDRED FOR A DOLLAR" Edged Planchet
You would have to hold this piece in your hand to "feel" the weight of
it and understand how wonderful it really is ...was...
:-(
It is not long for this world ...
SOB!!!
Yes... I Did Ask For A Half Doubloon
Click for
Obverse or
Reverse enlargement
Brasher Doubloon Copper Trial
Strike
Heavy "OR A DOLLAR" Edged Planchet
I like to pick on Timothy... I suggested that he was asked for a Half
Doubloon trial strike and this is what he came up with. He seems to take
my ribbing with good humor. After the brass trial strike this is my
favorite piece...not sure exactly why but it is definitely COOL!
Still A Beautiful Piece Even With The Cuts
Click for
Obverse or
Reverse enlargement
1796 $10 Eagle Copper Trial
Strike
Plain Edged Planchet
And finally... you would think that the three heavy cuts should make
this piece into just another chunk of scrap metal. Somehow that just
doesn't happen. Well, enough crying and sobbing...all of these pieces
were headed for the melting pot the last time I saw them.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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Enlargement
1652 GMM Pine Tree
Threepence |
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Massachusetts Tree Coinage (1653-1682)
An extract from my copy of "A Guide Book Of United States Coins",
p.17 51st Edition 1998 by R.S.Yeoman would be most useful here.
The Willow Tree coins were struck from 1653 to 1660, the Oak Trees 1660
to 1667, and the Pine Trees 1667 to 1682. All of them (with the
exception of the Oak Tree twopence) bore the date 1652...
Next I provide you with the following correspondence from Ken Bressett
who owns the two GMM specimens shown above and who so kindly provided
their scans for your enjoyment and education.
I do know something about the Massachusetts silver "tree" pieces you
mentioned. Ron gave me two of them for comments. He was striking them
rather than rolling them, and decided to abandon the project. Also, they
were just too good!! I was afraid of them fooling someone even with the
COPY marking.
I think he only made these or perhaps a couple of more and that was all.
One of the pieces he gave me has a bright finish. The other is darkened
(by him) I think the metal was different too. Much finer silver on the
bright one. Ken Bressett ...Fri, 12 Jan 2001 17:07:43
Click for
Both Sides,
Obverse or
Reverse enlargement
1652 GMM Pine Tree Threepence
Die Trial On
26.5mm Silver Planchet
Shown here is the only other known strike from Ron's Pine Tree
threepence dies. It is an unusual and fortunate circumstance to be able
to document every known strike from these dies in one ScrapBook subject.
Thanks Ken!
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
Click for
Both Sides enlargement
1652 GMM Pine Tree Threepence
Just The Central 16mm Portion Of
The
Die Trial On 26.5mm Silver Planchet
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1796 Massive
Obverse CUD Draped Bust Dollar
With Double Clash
Dies |
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The End Of A Die's Life
This third stage dollar has virtually everything.
Massive obverse die cud, multiple die breaks, and strong clash dies.
This massive cud takes up forty-five percent of the obverse periphery.
The cud and several additional die breaks were caused when the obverse
and reverse dies were clashed. The reverse die also suffered greatly by
gaining additional die breaks. A total of eight (8) clash die cud
dollars were produced including three double struck errors on October 1,
1997. On October 4, 1997, the dies were clashed again.
Five (5) double clashed cud dollars as shown here were struck. Both dies
were discarded October 23, 1997. Michael L. Czapla, III ...circa
1997.
If y'all will look closely with-in the clash star from the field of the
reverse die (on the obverse die it is the first star, at about 7:00
o'clock, by the hair curl to the left of the date) you can see the second
clashed star impression. The photograph shows a depressed star image
with-in another depressed star image...it can look like a raised area if
your eyes betray you like mine often do.
The chance to own one of only five such specimens in existence is a
definite high point in my collecting life. Thank you Vince for passing
this lovely dollar on for me to safeguard for the next collector. These
wonderful pieces are just on loan to those of us lucky enough to hold
them for a short time.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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Obverse or
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1796 14
Star Draped Bust Dollar |
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Two Stars For Auction 2001
Ron tells me that they will have an auction in year 2001 if Mike Ellis
can get it worked up for them. Since they haven't given it a flashy name
yet I am just going to call it "Auction 2001" and hope it comes off in
the next twelve months.
The 14 Star Dollar shown above is Proof #500 and has the regular
lettered edge; "One Dollar Or One Hundred Cents." I would love to
purchase this auction lot but not nearly as much as the dollar piece I
am showing you below.
The Copper strike of the First Trial Dollar below is Uncirculated, has a
plain edge and is 4mm thick. A beautiful HEAVY piece which I will be
standing in line for. Since I don't have the money to buy everything I
see I plan on saving my pennies and investing them in this wonderful
specimen. I have a great weakness for off-metal strikes... particularly
copper strikes of silver coins.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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Click for
Obverse or
Reverse enlargement
1796 Copper
Trial Strike Draped Bust Dollar
First Trial Die With
Large Stars |
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1788 Maris51g On 1921 Morgan
Dollar |
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Time For More New Jersey Cents Ron!
My favorite Landis pieces are his large hot struck medals. After that I
love his New Jersey Cent reproductions. There are two special New Jersey
medals created for clubs and three regular New Jersey Cent creations
that were offered to GMM customers.
I have collected both club medals, silver strikes of all three regular
issues, several custom made errors created for other customers, and a
few wonderful overstrikes on United States host coins. I think I have
run out of anything GMM New Jersey Cent related to add to my collection.
Come on Ron... make us several new Maris varieties ...PLEASE!
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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Click for
Obverse or
Reverse enlargement
1788 Maris51g On 1959-D Franklin Half
Dollar
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