| 2002
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Subjects
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Page
Index
Links
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Link:
Dedicated to the Preservation of the Numismatic Arts
Link:
Far Less Than 300 Complete Sets
Link:
The Jefferson Full Step Nickel Club
Link:
The Johnson County Numismatic Society
Link:
Creating A Fully Functional Mint
Link:
[ The Society Of U.S. Pattern Collectors ]
Link:
THE Colonial Coin Collectors Club
Link:
[ Carter Diamond Tool Corporation ]
Link:
The Answer, Simply, Is Tradition
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Enlargement scans available on WWW and ScrapBook CD-ROM.
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| 11/4
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Dedicated to the Preservation of the Numismatic Arts
The Collections of Russell J. Logan & Gilbert G. Steinberg and Part III of the Jay Roe Collection - Lot #5820 (ca. 1992-95) Gallery Mint Museum Numismatic Arts medal. Silver, 46.5 mm. 11.0 mm thick. Choice Mint State.
#43. Lustrous silver gray with subtle russet tones, prooflike in areas of the obverse. An exceptionally beautiful and incredibly detailed medal engraved by Ron Landis and produced by Ron Landis and Joe Rust of the Gallery Mint Museum of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The obverse depicts a winged nude figure holding a coin while standing knee-deep in a stream, castle in background, legend GALLERY MINT MUSEUM in exergue. The reverse incorporates the words ART HISTORY TECHNOLOGY into an intricate peripheral design with the central inscription "Dedicated to the Preservation of the Numismatic Arts." The most impressive side is undoubtedly the edge: this medal was hot-struck using a segmented four part collar, with the entire minting process from mining to striking displayed on the edge. With all due respect to Simon, Droz, Saint-Gaudens, et al, this is a singularly amazing edge device.
According to Joe Rust, this piece is one of less than 30 pieces struck, though some pieces are numbered higher than 30. Struck in 5 ounces of .999 silver. A high-relief masterpiece by one of America's finest modern medallists.
The Gallery Mint Museum has a unique mission to preserve the history of coining technology from ancient to modern times. Ron Landis and Joe Rust, the former the main artistic talent and the latter a mechanical wizard, are the primary proprietors. They contribute their talents regularly to ANA Summer Seminars and Conventions. Those who desire more information on the Museum and their work can
EMail:GalleryMintMuseum.
Bowers and Merena Galleries...Monday, November 4, 2002
We have visited this superb early Landis medal previously in an August 2000
SBsubject
LinkHigh Relief 5oz Silver Medal. Ron
once told me that he kept losing his "place" in the numbering sequence
when making these 5oz medals so he would jump a few numbers each time
that happened to make sure he didn't create any duplicate serial numbered
medals. He also said that these massive medals took a lot of effort to
produce. Thank you for creating them Ron!
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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| 11/3
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Far Less Than 300 Complete Sets
1776 U.S. coin proof set, Gallery Mint reproductions. This is an extremely rare set of the high quality reproductions that the Gallery Mint is known for. The chief engraver at the Gallery Mint tells us that our set is the first he's seen to come up for sale to the public since the sets were originally offered six years ago. He also tells us that only 300 of the gold proofs were minted and that most of those coins were sold individually, leaving far less than 300 complete sets sold. Consequently, those who ordered the complete sets, have held onto them. You are bidding on the complete set, 14 coins total: 4 gold, 6 silver, and 4 copper coins. Each coin has the same amount of gold, silver or copper as its original counterpart had when minted in 1776. This set also comes with the nice walnut desplay case that is shown with the coins. It was specially crafted by the Gallery Mint to display these coins. springdl5...Sunday, Nov-03-02 11:58:32PST
For those of you who are accessing the ScrapBook from our CD-ROM you can see
closeups here of the
Link:Copper Reverses,
Link:Silver Reverses,
Link:Gold Reverses and
Link:Wooden Case Top.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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| 11/1
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Click for Uncirculated
Obv,
Rev, Proof
Obv or
Rev
enlargement on CD-ROM
Ron Landis' Recreation of Felix
Schlag's 1938 Jefferson Nickel Award Winning Design
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The Jefferson Full Step Nickel Club
The following news release from
LinkThe Jefferson Full Step Nickel
Club pretty much says it all... except for the specifics for
ordering your own examples of this wonderful Ron Landis recreation.
Here is an
LinkOrder Form
that you can print out and send by SnailMail to the folks at the FSNC.
1938 JEFFERSON NICKEL AWARD WINNING
DESIGN
Darrell Crane, President of The Jefferson Full Step Nickel Club, in conjunction with Ron Landis (master die engraver of The Gallery Mint Museum) and S.E.G.S. (Sovereign Entities Grading Service), presents The Jefferson Nickel 1938 Award Winning Design by Felix Schlag.
A limited production of one thousand nine hundred thirty-eight (1,938) Uncirculated coins and one thousand nine hundred thirty-eight (1,938) Proof coins will be struck. They will be .999 silver, with a diameter of 21.2mm (standard nickel size). Each encapsulated coin, uncirculated and proof quality, will be numbered 1 thru 1938.
This beautiful coin will surely be a collector's item. You may request a specific number or matching numbers for both uncirculated and proof coins. Specific numbers will be reserved on a first come, first served basis only. Pricing is: MATTE UNC. $38.00 and PROOF $42.00. Shipping and handling is included in these prices.
Click for
Obverse or
Reverse
enlargement on CD-ROM
Photos of the original Felix Schlag
plaster molds.
In the 1930's, the Section of Fine Arts in Washington, D.C. sent leaflets to artists announcing competitions and news pertaining to government activities relating to art. In late 1937 or early 1938, this department invited all American sculptors to compete for a new five cent coin, to be known as the Jefferson nickel. It was the first and only competition of this kind ever held in this country.
Prospective competitors were admonished that there were specific legal and other conditions which must be accurately complied with in creating a model. The models, in order to be acceptable, had to be of plaster, not exceeding 8-1/2 inches in diameter, the extreme depth of the relief, 5/32 of an inch.
The best sculptors in the country competed. There were 390 pairs of models submitted. On April 20th 1938, Felix Schlag received a telephone call from the Superintendent of the Section of Painting and Sculpture, advising him that he had won the competition. However, changes were requested.
Nine suggestions were offered and Mr. Schlag was advised to submit a black and white drawing indicating the revisions. On July 21, 1938, Mrs. Nellie Taylor Ross, then Director of The Mint, notified Mr. Felix Schlag that the acting Secretary of the Treasury had approved his revised design.
Production of the Jefferson Nickel started in late 1938.
FSNC P.O.Box 10909 Burbank,
CA 91510-0909
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As one would expect, there are a number of very interesting websites
available on the WorldWideWeb that provide lots of specifics about Felix
Schlag's original Jefferson nickel design. Here are two short clips,
along with links to their sources, for your enjoyment:
For the reverse design, I chose a three-quarter
view of Monticello, Jefferson's private home at Charlottesville, Virginia.
In front of the structure was a small tree. With deft strokes, Monticello
was built again in a design considered by many artists and collectors to
be superior to the design that was finally chosen by the committee. I
heard later that it was President Roosevelt wanted a front view of the
house. from Shiawassee County, Michigan USA History's
Link:Felix
Oscar Schlag.
Felix Schlag's portrait of Jefferson was based
on a marble bust sketched from life by famed French sculptor Jean-Antoine
Houdon. Schlag's dramatic perspective view of Monticello was rejected by
the Federal Commission of Fine Arts, which acted in an advisory capacity
on all matters of public art. In addition to recommending a more
conventional, elevation view of Jefferson's home, the commission suggested
that Schlag's stylized, Art Deco lettering be replaced with a more
traditional Roman script. Schlag complied with its requests, submitting
revised models for review in July of 1938. After a few more changes were
made to the lettering, principally enlargement of the value FIVE CENTS,
the models were approved.
-from Old Coin Shop's
Link:Jefferson
Nickels 1938-.
Mike Wallace just mentioned that he has a couple Felix Schlag autographs
that you might enjoy knowing about.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
Here are two autographs of Felix Schlag, Designer of the Jefferson Nickel Five-Cent
Piece. The one on the right has a photo of his original model of the Jefferson Nickel.
Mr. Schlag had these cards made up in the 1960's. He sold them for $5. If you wanted
his signature on anything else it would have cost you $1.50. He did this after
discovering that his autograph was being sold for as much as $500. He is quoted as
saying after finding this out, "I have the name so I might as well have the game".
Four hundred of these cards were made, but it is believed that not all were sold.
Mike Wallace...November 29, 1998.
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| 10/31
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The Johnson County Numismatic Society
In both 2000 and 2001
LinkThe Johnson County Numismatic
Society
took field trips to Eureka Springs to visit the Gallery Mint. On both
occasions Ron Landis created special tokens to commemorate their visit.
I found a double presentation set of the 2001 JCNS tokens that I am
showing you above. It is fortunate that there were two each because the
copper and brass pieces all have discolorations apparently from foreign
material on the planchets during the striking process. I cheated a bit
here and am showing you the best side of different tokens in each case.
You are not seeing both sides of the same specimen... sorry about that.
The scans shown below are the two standard issue JCNS tokens for 2000
and 2001. Don't waste your time looking for a 2002 JCNS token because
the folks at JCNS say that they are not planning a 2002 field trip and
are hoping to visit Ron and Joe in their new building on their next trip.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
Click for
2000 or
2001
Obverse enlargement on CD-ROM
Click for
2000 or
2001
Reverse enlargement on CD-ROM
Hot Struck Silver 2000 and Pewter 2001 JCNS Tokens
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| 10/30
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Creating A Fully Functional Mint
And so we come to the founding, in 1992, of the Gallery Mint on a twenty-four acre parcel of land near Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The concept of a working museum was formulated by Landis and Rust during their "traveling exhibition" years. Their dream of creating "a fully functional mint that demonstrates early coin-making methods using antique and reproduction machinery" is becoming a reality. Writing in the July 1993 issue of their newsletter, Gallery Mint Museum, Landis commented on the project as follows:
"By making the museum operational, it comes to life. Wooden gears creak, the melting furnace roars as large bellows are pumped by a 12 foot water wheel. Hammers and anvils ring as silver bars are hammered into sheet. The visual impact will be a great delight to all who see it. We believe that this is an interesting way to promote a better understanding and appreciation of the medallic and numismatic arts. By using the actual materials and tools of the period, we hope to gain a better insight into the problems that faced the early coin makers."
Over the years there have been many technological advances in the art of producing coinage. The Gallery Mint Museum's mission is to show this evolution, from the time of the ancient Greeks through the Industrial Revolution. Ultimately, those visiting the museum will see five completely different exhibits and demonstrations of the minting process.
- The Gallery Mint and the Genius of Ron Landis" - by David E. Schenkman - TAMS Journal, Vol.36 No.2, April 1996.
When David published his TAMS article TheGuys had been operating their dream
mint for four years. Now it has been just over ten years and both Ron and
Joe are well on their way to the next level... building a world class
facility that will educate the public while preserving both the equipment
and the knowledge of a working mint from our nation's birth. Not only that
but we get to collect some really cool Ron Landis creations in the process!
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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Click for
Enlargement on CD-ROM
Copper Cent Pattern - J6/P3
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The Society Of U.S. Pattern Collectors
Link:The Society of U.S. Pattern Collectors
is dedicated to the study of many of the rarest coins struck at the U.S.
Mint: patterns, die trials and experimental pieces.
Saul Teichman just sent an EMail message to tell us that he has added
Link:A Pictorial
History of Patterns to the Beginner's Corner section of their
Link:www.USPatterns.com website. This
cool numismatic website has long been one of my favorite places to visit
and spend time pouring over their wonderful research.
The grouping of their information into a yearly pattern pictorial
listing sure makes things easier. I just whiled away another bit
of my lifetime reading and enjoying Saul's hard work. While doing this
I captured two examples for you of the interesting specimens Saul shows
us in his
Link:1792 webpage
... only another 99 individual year webpages to go. What a lot of work!
Way to go Saul!
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
Click for
Enlargement on CD-ROM
Wright Quarter Trial -
J13/P15
Struck in white metal with plain edges and 87 stars
on the reverse.
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If you know of anything of interest that I can use to build additional
SBsubjects please don't hesitate to contact me. I am looking for an
original copy of the May 1995 COINage Magazine because it has
an article on the Gallery Mint Museum in it. If you can help me on this
project I would appreciate your contacting me. Thanks -
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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| 10/29
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Click for
Enlargement on CD-ROM
2002 "New England" Counterstamp
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THE Colonial Coin Collectors Club
This cool 2002 "NE" counterstamp/punch was created by Ron Landis for use at
LinkTHE Colonial Coin Collectors
Club's Annual C4 Convention, November 14-17, 2002.
For more specific details about their convention check out
LinkUpcoming
Meetings and Events.
Ray Williams, C4 President, told me; I plan to
be counterstamping Massachusetts quarters at the C4 Club Table during the
convention.
Clearly Ron's 2002 "NE" counterstamp/punch (on the left) was inspired/influenced
by the 1652 "NE" punch (on the right) used in the 1600's in Massachusetts but
Ron did not attempt a precise reproduction of the any of the original
punches that I have been able to find. Perhaps there are other originals
that are slightly different that the ones I found. I am showing you an
example of Noe II-A here.
As one should expect, there are many webpages posted that tell us about the
1652 "NE" Massachusetts Shillings. As an example I found the following;
In the year 1652, Boston minters John Hull and Robert Saunderson began making
the first silver coins ever struck on American soil. Their first designs were
simple: one side was punched with a small "NE" (for "NEW ENGLAND") and the other
side was punched with the denomination in Roman numerals (in this case, the
Shilling denomination represented by "XII"). The punches were offset so that
they would not crush each other. - CoinFact.com's
Link1652 New England Silver Coins.
I expect that after the C4 convention Ray Williams will tell us the
details about the actual specimens he created with Ron's punch. I'd
bet his table is one of the busiest at the show!
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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Carter Diamond Tool Corp.
1920-2000 Willoughby, Ohio
1920 Buffalo Nickel
2000-P Sacagawea Dollar
1 of 34 Buffalos ...and... 1 of 53 Sacagaweas ...not
GMM creations.
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Click for
Nickel
or
Dollar
enlargement
on
CD-ROM
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Carter Diamond Tool Corporation
My corresponding friend Ed Kucia sent me these two neat counterstamped
coins for my midden heap. He knows I like specimens that are limited
editions and he even provided the documentation below that details
specifically what coins were counterstamped. I understand that Ed
works for Carter Diamond... thus his opportunity to create and
document this counterstamp issue.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
| CARTER DIAMOND TOOL CORP., WILLOUGHBY, OH |
| 1920-2000 COUNTERSTAMPED COINS |
| Date | Host Coin | Number | Additional Markings |
1920 P
1975 P
2000 D
2000 P |
1¢ Lincoln |
2
1
7
62 |
MRC
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| 1920 P |
5¢ Buffalo |
4
34 |
T1,T2,T3,T4
|
1999 D
2000 P |
5¢ Jefferson |
2
3 |
|
1944 P
1952 D
1956 P
1966 P
1968 P
1971 P
1972 D
1973 D
1974 D
1974 P |
25¢ Washington |
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1 |
JNC
BRC
WRB
GGF
EAK
JNC
DF,DRT
JRC
SLH
PGN |
1976 P
1976 D |
25¢ Bicentennial |
2
3 |
MRC |
1980 D
1983 P
1984 P
1986 D
1988 D
1989 D
1989 P
1993 D
1994 D
1995 P
1996 P
1998 D |
25¢ Washington |
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1 |
TGN
CARTER
RJK,JJO
CARTER
MAS
BLW
GRF
TAT
HLY
MJC
RKG,MPS
BTP |
| 1999 D |
25¢ NJ
25¢ PA
25¢ GA
25¢ CT |
5
1
3
4 |
| 1999 P |
25¢ NJ
25¢ DE
25¢ PA
25¢ PA
25¢ GA
25¢ CT
25¢ CT |
20
8
2
10
11
1
30 |
CARTER
CARTER
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| 2000 D |
25¢ MD |
2 |
|
| 2000 P |
25¢ MA
25¢ MD
25¢ SC
25¢ NH
25¢ VA |
23
23
23
10
9 |
1920 S
1920 P
1920 D |
50¢ Walking Liberty |
6
32 |
| 2000 P |
$1 Sacagawea |
53 |
| 2000 P |
$10 1/4Oz Gold |
2 |
|
Token Cleveland |
3 |
|
Token IKO |
1 |
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400 |
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| 10/28
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The Answer, Simply, Is Tradition
It was a hitchhiker who first brought Ron Landis to my attention. Actually
it wasn't the hitchhiker that caught my eye at all, but the banjo case he
was sitting on as he awaited a ride at the side of a lonely highway. A
banjo case, as those of us with an interest in such things will be quick
to point out, has a shape all its own; it is readily distinguishable from
any other musical instrument case.
Nothing piques my curiosity faster than banjos, or anything associated
with them. And a banjo case nvites the obvious question; what kind of
banjo is inside? Of course the answer to that question will never be
known. The hitchhiker and his banjo case are halted in time, masterfully
carved by Ron Landis on one sice of a Buffalo nickel.
I had heard of Ron Landis through occasional articles in Coin World
and other numismatic publications. However, I never had occasion to become
familiar with his work until last July
(1995), when I taught the U.S. Tokens course at
the American Numismatic Association's Summer Seminar. Even then, had it
not been for the hitchhiker I might never have taken time to closely
examine these miniature works of art. And works of art they are! Each
piece is a one-of-a-kind sculpture, painstakingly carved on a Buffalo
nickel or some other United States coin.
Why, you might wonder, with all the types of coins which are readily
available, would anyone use the lowly Buffalo nickel as a planchet. The
answer, simply, is tradition. Remember, this was the host coin of choice
for the hobo; using hand tools he would rework the Indian head, or
occasionally the other side of the coin, into a completely different
likeness. He then presented his creation to a friend, or to some kind
soul who had provided him with a ride, a meal, or perhaps a place to
sleep. Today these folk art carvings, collectively referred to as "hobo
nickels," are eagerly saught by a large and very dedicated group of
enthusiasts. - The Gallery Mint and the Genius of Ron Landis" -
by David E. Schenkman - TAMS Journal, Vol.36 No.2, April 1996.
Dave dug out his Landis nickel carvings and sent the above scan to replace
the poor one I captured from the printed article. The lighting makes the
legend Ron engraved a bit difficult to read but trust me, it says; "THE
HIGH LONESOME ROAD." Our Banjo Player is sitting on his banjo case and
not on a fence as I first thought. It sure is GREAT to have a nice clear
picture of this nickel carving masterpiece. This is another of David's
personal treasures.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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