| 2001
| ScrapBook
Subjects
|
Page
Index
Links
|
Link:
Another Natural Mule
Link:
That's A Mule Of A Different Color
Link:
A Circulated Congressional Issue Prototype Dollar
Link:
Celebrating 100 Years In Britt, Iowa
Link:
The Master Himself In His Native Habitat
Link:
GMM ANA Exhibition Medal Set Completed!
Link:
[ Gone Missing! ]
Link:
A Big Nosed Girl
|
|
Enlargement scans available on WWW and ScrapBook CD-ROM.
|
|
| 10/3
|
Click for
Enlargement
1794 Obverse die paired
with a 1796 Reverse die
-
Another Natural Mule
On my last trip to Eureka Springs... before going fishing in Ontario
...I found the guys discussing their latest experience. It seems a
customer had called telling them that he ordered a 1794 dollar but
got a specimen with a 1794 obverse and a 1796 reverse. GMM is ALWAYS
open to correcting customer complaints and told him to return the
piece and they would send the piece he ordered. They heard a gasp on
the other end of the line and the fellow said; "Oh No NO! I just want
to order a correct 1794 piece."
Ron was concerned as to how this had happened. I liked the answer he
got! I don't recall the exact wording at this late juncture but it
was something to the effect; "This is a two man shop so it is hard
to say that I didn't do it without pointing a finger at my co-worker
so I don't know how it happened!"
I asked Ron for a specimen and he didn't think any were still at the
mint... that all had been inadvertantly sent to customers. Timothy
scrounged one up for me and Ron sold it to me at a relatively high
price. In fact, it was the same amount that he had charged me for the
one of only two existant copper strikes of his first set of 1796 dollar
dies. Those dies were never used to strike any silver specimens to
the best of my knowledge.
Right after I got home another of these neat mules showed up on eBay
and I was most fortunate to acquire it also. Both of my specimens have
the COPY stamp slanted up the eagle's wing. A rather unusual placement
and obviously hand applied.
1794 Eagle
1796 Eagle
Above are two examples of dollar reverse dies. There are multiple dies
that are slightly different but the eagles are pretty much as shown here.
Note the regular placement of the COPY stamp in each case. I didn't
straighten up these scans to be perfectly vertical because they get quite
"fuzzy" when I rotate them.
I asked Ron if there was any chance that GMM would strike additional
1794/1796 mules as custom errors. He assured me that they had no interest
in creating copies of their natural errors. So... a lucky few of you GMM
customers certainly have this unusual natural error in your midden heaps.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
|
|
|
| 10/2
|
Click for
Enlargement
Click
for 1993/1994
Obverse Dies Mule or
Reverse Dies Mule enlargement
-
That's A Mule Of A Different Color
Obverse Dies Mule:
This is a Gallery Mint Museum 1993 Annual Medal (or is
it a 1994 Medal?), which is a MULE! This piece was struck from the obverse die
of the 1993 Annual Medal (on the Minting Process), and the reverse
(obverse actually)
die from the 1994 Annual Medal, commemorating the 202nd
Anniversary of the First United States Mint. As with all Gallery Mint Annual
Medals, this was struck on a planchet weighing 1.5 ounces of .999 Pure Silver,
using the same technology as that available to the early U.S. Mint (i.e., on a
Screw Press). I was told that NO MORE THAN TEN of these were produced, and
this is Numbered 000 on the Medal's edge. Choice Prooflike Uncirculated!
Mark Honea...Sep-27-01 14:52:44
Reverse Dies Mule:
This is a Gallery Mint Museum 1994 Annual Medal (or is
it a 1993 Medal?), which is a MULE! This piece was struck from the obverse
(reverse actually)
die of the 1994 Annual Medal commemorating the 202nd
Anniversary of the First United States Mint, and the reverse die for the 1993
Annual Medal (on the Minting Process, with all the Little Cherubs). As with
all Gallery Mint Annual Medals, this was struck on a planchet weighing 1.5
ounces of .999 Pure Silver, using the same technology as that available to
the early U.S. Mint (i.e., on a Screw Press). I was told that NO MORE THAN
TEN of these were produced, and this is Numbered 000 on the Medal's edge.
Choice Prooflike Uncirculated!
Mark Honea...Sep-27-01 14:58:34
These are a most interesting pair of medals. They are a natural error and were
created with Serial Numbers "000" for the Gallery Mint Museum Archives. The error
was not discovered until Ron was presenting a pair to the American Numismatic
Association as I understand it. He thought he was placing a normal pair of 1993
and 1994 GMM Annual Medals in ANA's cabinet. He took them back and did not leave
a pair of mules with ANA for their collection.
The obverses and reverses of the normal issue medals are easily confused but Ron
informs me that the dies with the Roman Numeral date on them were his obverse dies.
Like Mark, I was expecting the mules to have swapped reverses as this is the usual
sort of mule one encounters. These two mules... a beautifully matched team I might
add ...were a real surprise since GMM accidentially paired the two obverse dies
with each other and, likewise, the two reverse dies with each other.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
|
|
|
| 10/1
|
Gallery Mint 2000
S.O.L. Concept Dollar, Circ
-
A Circulated Congressional Issue Prototype Dollar
This is a Gallery Mint Museum 2000 Statue of Liberty
Concept Dollar pattern which was carried by Adam Hardcastle (former Head
Coiner at the Gallery Mint) for some time as a pocket piece, to see how the
coins would hold up in circulation. This piece is unusual from those normally
available, in that it was struck on a regular thicknes planchet (the pieces
made for the public were all struck on Piedfort, or double-thick, Brass
planchets)! As with all of the Gallery Mint Concept Dollars, this was struck
using the same technology as that available to the early U.S. Mint (i.e., on
a screw press). This piece is now a nice Extremely Fine in condition.
Mark Honea...Sep-20-01 13:11:22
Asleep at the switch! As I inspected my naval and fibrillated while
trying to decide whether to bid or not, time ran out and Lucky Lindy rode off
into the sunset with this wonderful prize. He who hesitates... or goes fishing
in Ontario ...loses! This unique example of a genuinely rare and popular GMM
creation is permanently impounded in Lindy's time capsule. Color me green but
I am honestly happy that it went to a good home. Lindy appreciates rare GMM
specimens as much as I do.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
|
|
|
| 9/30
|
Click for
Enlargement
Hobo
Day 100th Anniversary Coin/Medallion Made of Antique Nickel Silver
-
Celebrating 100 Years In Britt, Iowa
This was made by the Hobo Foundation for the 100th
Anniversary of Hobo Day in Britt, Iowa in the year 2000. There were only
750 of these coins made. The Hobo Convention is held in August each year.
The original Hobo is on the front and on the back is an old steam engine
train. The front of the coin says Celebrating 100 Years 1900 2000 Britt,
Iowa. The back of the coin says American Steam Locomotive, 440 Type Circa
1860. mdpiering...Sep-19-01 08:51:28
I think I remember seeing these medals being offered at the Britt Hobo Museum
but I was focusing on looking for Ron Landis creations related to the Britt
Hobo Convention in 1995. Right now I'd be happy to pick up one of these medals
but Que Sera Sera.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
|
|
|
| 9/29
|
-
The Master Himself In His Native Habitat
Russell T. Johnson is the creator of a travel scrapbook at
Link:The Arkansas Traveler's
roadside distractions.
These photos of Ron Landis are the property of Mr. Johnson and are used here
with his permission. Be sure to drop him a line to thank him for his efforts.
EMail:Russell T. Johnson
If you have supported our GMM ScrapBook CD-ROM publishing effort by making a donation
to acquire a disk then you can click on either picture of Ron to see him in his workshop.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
|
|
|
| 9/28
|
Click for
Enlargement
-
GMM ANA Exhibition Medal Set Completed!
Another high point in my Gallery Mint Museum/Ron Landis creations collecting career!
I just acquired the final medal, as far as I am aware of, to complete a full set of the
Exhibition Medals that GMM made for ANA from 1996 through 2000. My specimen is serial
numbered as 130 on the edge. I was told that the total issue was 125 medals so this
piece would belie that information.
The specimens in my collection are as follows:
1996 105th Convention Denver
Family Group
- 70mm cast pewter
1997 106th Convention New York
Statue Of Liberty
- 65mm cast pewter
1998 107th Convention Portland
Sacajawea
- 64mm cast pewter
1999 108th Convention Chicago
Helmeted Head of Minerva
- mature bust 38-39mm hot struck silver
Helmeted Head of Minerva
- young bust 39-40mm hot struck silver
2000 109th Convention Philadelphia
Winged Liberty Head
- large date 39-40mm hot struck silver
Winged Liberty Head
- on 27-28mm copper cent plachet
Winged Liberty Head
- small date 39-40mm hot struck silver
Maybe I will stumble across some other related material for this collection but I
suspect that this is as complete as it gets unless GMM becomes involved in future
ANA Exhibition Medals... we can always hope!
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
|
|
Gone Missing!
Zach Carving #59
USPS found it after THREE weeks!
|
|
| 9/27
|
Click for
Enlargement
1796 Draped Bust Liberty
15 Star Proof Half Dollar
-
A Big Nosed Girl
This is a Gallery Mint Museum COPY of a 1796 Draped Bust
15 Star Half Dollar (Reference Overton 101) which is number 368 of 1,000 pieces
produced in Proof. In addition, I was told when I obtained this piece that the
obverse die was only used for 10 or 20 strikes. Apparently, Ron Landis did not
care for the size of the nose on Miss Liberty, and so the die was quickly pulled
from production. As with all Gallery Mint products, this piece is struck to the
original specifications (on a .8924 Pure Silver planchet) and is produced using
the same technology as was available to the early U.S. Mint (i.e., on a Screw
Press). Absolutely Gorgeous Cameo Proof! Mark Honea...Sep-06-01 15:02:36
While I was in Ontario fishing my friend Cliff Bolling captured this most interesting
Gallery Mint Museum creation off eBay. I find it curious that this proof is numbered
368. I wonder why a new die was being created, and discarded, that far into the
production run of 15 star proof halves. I can only guess that the earlier die was
damaged so this must mean there are at least three obverse dies used for these proofs.
Does anyone out there have examples of all three, or more if
applicable, obverse dies?
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
|
|
|
/\
__ __
__ __
__
__ __
__ __
__
__ __
__ __
__
__ __
__ __
__
__ __
__ __
__
__ __
__ __
__
|
