| 2001
| ScrapBook
Subjects
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Page
Index
Links
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Link:
Brockage Strikes: A Common, But COOL, Idea
Link:
King-sized Quadruple Struck Show Token
Link:
I Knew I Liked Hammered Edge Creations
Link:
This One Snuck Up Behind Me!
Link:
George Washington Rides Again
Link:
My Best Christmas EVER!
Link:
[ Only A Select Few Will Walk This Road! ]
Link:
Imitation Is The Highest Form Of Flattery
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Enlargement scans available on WWW and ScrapBook CD-ROM.
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| 12/31
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1998 ANA Portland Show Tokens
Reverse Brockage (planchet fed in under coin stuck to
hammer die.)
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Click for
Obverse,
Reverse
Brockage,
Obverse
Brockage
or
Reverse
enlargement
on
CD-ROM
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Brockage Strikes: A Common, But COOL, Idea
Asking for a brockage strike is something that immediately occurs to any
numismatist when faced with such an opportunity in the form of the GMM
Mini-Mint. Here are two really nice brockage pairs for your enjoyment.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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2000 FUN Show Tokens
Obverse Brockage (planchet fed in on top of coin stuck
to anvil die.)
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Click for
Obverse,
Reverse
Brockage,
Obverse
Brockage
or
Reverse
enlargement
on
CD-ROM
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| 12/30
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1998 ANA Portland Show Dies
Quadruple strike on Half Dollar sized pewter planchet.
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Click for
Obverse
or
Reverse
enlargement
on
CD-ROM
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King-sized Quadruple Struck Show Token
When looking at the scans of the Adam Kelley Show Token lot I noted this
multi-struck specimen. I figured it was one of the relatively common
pieces created by striking a standard 20mm show token pewter planchet
four times. When it arrived I was amazed to find that the pewter planchet
was half dollar sized! This took special effort to create and something I
have never seen before in my many visits to GMM.
I know the above scan doesn't really show how impressive this piece is
because I had to scale it down to keep the size of the graphics file
with-in reason. This is a really massive piece although lighter than a
silver planchet of the same size because it is pewter. All together a
really COOL addition to my midden heap.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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| 12/29
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1998 ANA Portland Show Dies
Struck on hammered edge copper planchet.
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Click for
Edge,
Obverse
or
Reverse
enlargement
on
CD-ROM
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I Knew I Liked Hammered Edge Creations
In the Adam Kelley Show Token lot I found this unusual specimen. I have
no idea why a hammered edge was applied to this after striking. It has
deep chisel cuts scattered randomly around the edge. In fact... I suspect
that the flat "hammered" areas may be the result of the impact of the
anvil when the chisel was struck against the opposite edge of the token.
I've tried numerous times to contact Adam since the mailman dropped these
cool show tokens in my mailbox. He has dropped off the radar... his Excite
mailbox is no longer valid and he is no longer posting new GMM material on
eBay. I have written him a letter by SnailMail but there hasn't been time
for him to respond yet. If he does so and can tell us anything about this
cool copper piece I'll be sure and share it with you.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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| 12/28
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2000 Baltimore Coin And Currency
Convention
Planchet split from force of strike. Medal/Book die
alignment.
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Click for
FIRST
specimen
Obverse
or
Reverse
enlargement
on
CD-ROM
Click for
SECOND
specimen
Obverse
or
Reverse
enlargement
on
CD-ROM
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This One Snuck Up Behind Me!
I was fortunate enough to purchase a single lot of GMM Show Tokens off
eBay from the Adam Kelley collection. I couldn't really see what I was
purchasing from the extremely small scale scan Adam posted on eBay so
I took a chance and just bid anyway. While I likely paid too much for
the lot I did get some really interesting pieces.
Shown here is a show token struck for the Baltimore Coin And Currency
show. I never even knew this piece existed! I make regular visits to
see TheGuys in Eureka Springs and they never told me about this issue.
I have this on my questions list for my next visit so perhaps I can
tell you more about it later on.
These tokens are unusual in that they are struck with medal/book die
alignment. Generally TheGuys strike their pieces with coin die alignment.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
2000 Baltimore Coin And Currency
Convention
Double struck off-center. Coin die alignment.
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Click for
Obverse
or
Reverse
enlargement
on
CD-ROM
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| 12/27
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1997 Cleveland ANA National
Money Show
Counterstamped 1982 Washington 250th Anniversary
Commemorative
Only 50 specimens struck. Commissioned by Ken Lowe of
The Money Tree.
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Click for
Obverse
or
Reverse
enlargement
on
CD-ROM
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George Washington Rides Again
I knew about this creation early in my GMM collecting career and I told
all y'all about it August 30, 2000 in a SBsubject entitled:
Link:The Proof That Didn't Get Away.
Little did I know how RARE this little
sucker really was. Numismatic News documented this wonderful creation
in their April 15, 1997 issue. There they told us that this very
limited-edition had only 50 pieces struck. Cliff Bolling and
I just got the opportunity to split a pair of pieces previously owned
by a private collector. I simply LOVE the golden patina inside the
counterstamp itself!
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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| 12/25
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2001 GMM Hobo Token Mule Struck
In 22K Gold.
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Click for
Obverse
or
Reverse
enlargement
on
CD-ROM
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My Best Christmas EVER!
I thought it was unusual when my middle daughter brought me a can of
Mountain Dew while the gift exchange was going on Christmas Day but,
being focused on the family receiving their gifts, I ignored the oddity.
Anyway... I was drinking white grape juice at the time and didn't need
a second drink.
During a lull in the gift activity I decided to return the Mountain Dew
to the refrigerator so it would stay cool. At that point my daughter
hollared out to the kitchen and asked me if I really wanted to put the
can back in the frig. THEN I knew something was up!
Taped to the bottom of the can was the GOLDEN MULE shown above.
This is the first time in thirty years that I got a surprise Christmas
present that was something I would have bought myself!
Not only that... but as you can see below ...it finishes up my set of
2001 GMM Hobo Token mules! Even if you don't collect these pieces I
think you can appreciate what a beautiful set this is. THANKS GIRLS!
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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Click for
Sketch,
Left,
Center,
Right or
SuperSize carving enlargement on
CD-ROM
Robert E. Lee carving by
Master Engraver Steven Adams
Only A Select Few Will Walk This Road!
This is a custom carved nickel done for Arthur Hutchison by
Steven Adams. Provided here for your edification are some
comments by Arthur followed by a few comments by Steven.
Steve has taken carving up a notch with
his portrait, design and sculpture of famous people to a point
where few if any will follow with a similar high grade of work.
When I saw Steve's "Mark Twain" and his "George W. Bush" I knew
I had to have one. I think of myself as a advanced Hobo Carver
but by no means as a Master Carver as only a couple folks fit
that description. I know the work, talent and time involved to
turn an Indian Head into a nice high grade Hobo.
Look at the Robert E. Lee, George W. Bush and Mark Twain carvings
and you will know that only a select few will walk this road.
When I have a down and out day carving myself I can look at this
carving and know what is possible to do when carving a Hobo Nickel,
if the Good Lord see's fit for me to live that long.
Arthur Hutchison...December 2001.
Arthur must have shown you Lee. Well, the
cat is out of the bag. You can see the direction I'm going. More
portraits. I call these carvings a token of my existence. They'll
be around long after I'm gone, to be shared by different owners as
they pass from one generation to the next. Kind of an interesting
thought that is both pleasant and amusing. Steven Adams...Sun,
16 Dec 2001 11:23:22
I captured the scans to create the above progression scan from Arthur's
webpage
Link:Robert
E. Lee and I think they originated with Steve. You can see
Steve's Bush and Twain carvings on Arthur's webpage
Link:Carver Steven
Adams. I believe the Lord has blessed us when he gives us
folks with special talents. Steven and Arthur are two such
individuals. Thanks Guys!
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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| 12/16
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Royal Oak Mint 1793 Chain Cent
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Click for
Obverse
or
Reverse
enlargement
on
CD-ROM
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Imitation Is The Highest Form Of Flattery
I first saw one of these specimens being offered on eBay on December
9th with a starting bid of $65. As I write this SBsubject the current
bid is $100. It is a purposefully toned specimen and not an uncirculated
specimen as shown above. Ken Potter is selling these pieces at $25 plus
postage. (Final bid on the toned specimen was $103.50 at 11:09:40am PST.)
These chain cent recreations are being produced by Royal Oak Mint and I
have not handled one yet. I understand that they have plain edges and
not the wonderful vine and bars edges that Ron Landis put on his chain
cents. I am a BIG FAN of GMM's chain cents but they generally easily
top $100 when offered for sale. So these lower priced alternatives
certainly should have broad collector appeal. However, I don't expect
the market for Ron's superlative creations to evaporate as a result.
I heard the concern expressed that Royal Oak Mint might be infringing
on Gallery Mint's "turf" by issuing these chain cents. My response is
that we have a "Free Enterprise System" here in America and if there
is a demand for additional non-GMM chain cent reproductions then their
creation will be a financial success. If there isn't then Royal Oak
Mint will have a lot of extra scrap copper on their hands. I am betting
on the former rather than the latter myself. I will ALWAYS be a
GMM fan but there is room for additional quality numismatic recreations
in my opinion.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
1793 Chain Cent S.2 PCGS
AU55 $67,500
There are three S.2s in AU55 and one in MS60 with none
higher.
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Click for
Obverse
or
Reverse
enlargement
on
CD-ROM
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