| 2003
| ScrapBook
Subjects
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Page
Index
Links
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Link:
1793 RL Hallmark Set PLUS
Link:
John Has Good Cents... ;-)
Link:
A Non-GMM New Jersey Cent COPY
Link:
[ Cut By Chisel, Not Shears! ]
Link:
[ Perseverance Pays On Field Trip ]
Link:
John's 1804 Pièces De Caprice
Link:
Are My Old Eyes Deceiving Me?
Link:
WHAM... Well That Finished That!
Link:
Junk Jars And Dresser Drawers
Link:
[ A Face Full Of Life Experiences ]
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Enlargement scans available on WWW and ScrapBook CD-ROM.
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| 4/18
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1793 RL Hallmark Set PLUS
Here we have a set consisting of all four uncirculated 1793 GMM
recreations ...PLUS... a proof 1793 GMM Wreath Cent recreation thrown
in as a bonus. This SBsubject completes my coverage of all the RL
hallmarked specimens in my midden heap.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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| 4/18
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Click for
94Obv,
94Rev,
96Obv or
96Rev
enlargement on CD-ROM
1794
OffCenter Cent with PlanchetClip (left)
1796 Uniface Cent (right)
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John Has Good Cents... ;-)
My corresponding friend John Wright has a strong interest in U.S. Large
Cents so it is understandable that he is also a fan of Ron Landis'
recreations of selected Large Cents. John has many specimens in his
collection that I work hard at not lusting after... not all of them
Large Cents either.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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| 4/17
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A Non-GMM New Jersey Cent COPY
I just got back from bowling and found another EMail from this individual. He got my EMail address through the GSNA.
Here's his first EMail:
I was recently on a trip to visit my sister in New Jersey. As we got
off of a path train and onto the Metro at 34th Street, I was given some
change from the cashier. I later went into my pocket and found this
extremely old coin. Since I found it I've been doing some research
and found that this is a NJ Copper from 1788, there are about 14
varieties, and I'm not sure what kind it is. I do know what kind it's
not by looking at some pictures online. Do you think you can help me
identify this coin?
And here's his second EMail:
I've tried to scan the coin on my computer, but it doesn't come out
well on the side with the horse head. The back side comes out better,
but not good enough. I'll try to get a digital camera from my brother
and send it to you. On the side with the head on it there is a stamp
in the upper left hand side that says COPY.
Well, even if only a copy, I'd still love to find a NJ in circulation!!!
Ray Williams...Monday, 14 April 2003 9:46pm
Great story even though it's a copy. Are there any marked "COPY"
other than Gallery Mint? Dan Freidus...Monday, 14 April 2003
10:27pm
I have never seen this copy before. It is clearly a 77-dd copy. To
me the obverse looks a lot like the 77 obverse. The reverse seems
to be not as close to the dd reverse. I can't really see a running
fox, but it may be there. Has anyone else seen this copy before?
Click for
TypeI,
TypeII or
TypeIII
enlargement on CD-ROM
"Running
Fox" from Maris77dd; TypeI, TypeII and TypeIII.
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I have two NJ's that are marked "COPY" that are not from the Gallery
Mint. One is a 48-g copy that I bought for $1.50 from a gift shop
close to the Independence Hall in Philly. It is pot metal, obviously
cast then plated. I've seen these for sale other places.
The other is a copy of the GMM date under draw bar recreation. This
copy says "COPY" because it is a reproduction of a GMM item that said
"COPY". I've seen a few on ebay. I think I heard they were made near
Salt Lake. They are an obvious cast. Likely zinc, with a copper plate
that has been poorly browned.
I have other copies, but no more that say "COPY". Most of my others are electros. Buell Ish...Wednesday, 16 April 2003 9:35pm
This 77-dd New Jersey cent copy is the first clearly marked non-GMM COPY
that I have seen and I see why a non-Landis student/fan would immediately
think that it was a Gallery Mint recreation. Honestly though it doesn't
even come close to the quality of Ron's New Jersey cent recreations.
I found it most interesting that there are copies of Gallery Mint's
New Jersey Cent recreations in existence.
In a weird sort of way that is a compliment to the quality of Ron's neat
recreations... but one I am quite certain he could live without. Not the
sort of compliment that he would welcome I'm sure.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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Cut By Chisel, Not Shears!
Here we have 1/4 of a 2 Real coin. It probably circulated as sixpence.
It appears to have been cut by a chisel, not shears. I found the cut
piece on the site of a Civil War conflict in Suffolk VA. It's a really
cool story how I came to find it. Ask me sometime at a convention when
I have a few minutes. Below is an awesome 2 Reale that I bought from a
dealer noted for his expertise in counterfeit halfpence.
I never realized it until I just looked at the picture on my post, but
my cut 1723 coin was minted in Segovia. So not only was I fortunate
enough to have the date but part of the mint mark too. I could imagine
an immigrant to the New World in the second quarter of the 1700's, had
brought this coin with him on his way to Colonial Virginia. When he got
here he found a severe lack of small change and made his own. The last
person to touch this coin before me was wearing buckles on his shoes
and a three corner hat!!! I love coins! Ray Williams...Thursday,
Feb 27, 2003, 10:15pm
I am always on the lookout for anything related to rolled coins in general
and Segovia rolled coins in particular. When Ray Williams mentioned his
cut 1723 coin I was naturally interested. I knew Spanish coins were cut
for use in Colonial America but they would be so easy to fabricate that
I never attempted to purchase one. What makes this piece great is its
provenance. Check out Ray's story below about his field trip and how he
found this specimen. Thanks Ray for sharing this with us!
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
Perseverance Pays On Field Trip
A friend's neighbor in Virginia Beach had offered to take me metal
detecting for some Civil War artifacts in Suffolk VA. We came upon a
field where a new shopping center was going up and he had permission.
Going directly to the center of the field, I spent hours and found
nothing!!!
A local came up to me and asked how I was doing. I told him that I'd
be happy if I could go home with just one Minnie Ball. He told me that
he was detecting near the road and found some Spanish silver coins, a
large Cent and a number of bullets. I was amazed and asked if I could
see them. He proceeded to tell me that he only collects buttons and
gave them to a friend, who happened to be in a pickup truck leaving.
I thought he was just telling stories... fish stories. He then proceeded
to tell me the troop movements and how the battle proceeded. I wondered
why he'd give me all this information and go and tell fish stories. I
thanked him and we parted.
After another half hour of detecting without success, I moved back
toward the road. Almost immediately I was finding bullets and caps.
Then I couldn't believe it, a 1/4 of a 2 Reale coin. This was my first
cut piece of silver. Better yet... it happened to be the quarter with
the date and there was enough of the top of the mint mark to determine
that it was struck at Segovia, Spain. I hope to get back there someday
and see if there's any more silver. Ray Williams...Wednesday,
April 16, 2003 10:59am
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| 4/16
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John's 1804 Pièces De Caprice
It certainly is helpful when my corresponding friends send me scans of
their Landis/GMM related creations to share with all y'all. That makes
my task of adding new SBsubjects so much easier!
John Wright has a fantastic Landis/GMM collection and he continues to
add to it as evidenced by the three 1804 dollar recreations shown here.
The first is a nice clean/simple offcenter strike from Ron's uncirculated
dies, the second double struck example is also from the same uncirculated
dies and the third wonderfully broad struck piece is from Ron's proof dies.
My first attempt at creating the combined graphics file of the three
specimens as shown above yielded a file that was simply much too large.
So... if you are viewing this from a CD-ROM I saved it here for you;
Link:John's 1804 Dollars. After spending
so much time constructing it I just couldn't throw it away.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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| 4/15
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Click for
Gold Counterstamp
enlargement on CD-ROM
1996 WRNC
central device on Gold, Clad Silver and Bronze
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Are My Old Eyes Deceiving Me?
Ed Kucia and Gene Braig teamed up to send us three scans of specimens
belonging to Terry Stahurski. I thank these fine gentlemen... each and
every one. It turns out I had already shown you the 1971 WRNC and 1996
WRNC twice counterstruck 1968 Kennedy HalfDollar in a previous SBsubject
Link:Isn't That Double Jeopardy? I captured
the new HalfDollar scans on CD-ROM for all y'all here:
Link:1968 Kennedy HalfDollar,
Link:SuperSized Obverse and
Link:SuperSized Reverse.
Shown below are the two beautiful 1996 WRNC counterstruck specimens that
we haven't seen before this; 1996 1/10oz Fine Gold - 5 Dollars
and 1996 bronze Cleveland Bicentennial Medal.
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Unless my eyes are playing tricks on me the 1996 WRNC counterstamp used
on the 1996 1/10oz Fine Gold - 5 Dollars is slightly different from the
counterstamp used on the 1968 Kennedy HalfDollar and on the 1996 Cleveland
Bicentennial Medal. To my eyes the easiest thing to use to differentiate
between the two is that the gold specimen's c/s shows
two vest buttons while the other specimen's c/s
show only one vest button.
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Maybe the 1996 WRNC obverse die broke and had to be replaced before Ron
was able to complete counterstriking the 366 host coins. I know that
this sort of thing has happened at GMM in the past. Counterstriking any
previously struck coins is often very hard on dies.
You may recall that we have visited the subject of WRNC counterstamps
previously in
Link:Western Reserve Numismatic Club Counterstamps,
Link:WRNC 1996 Counterstamps Inventory,
Link:Isn't That Double Jeopardy? and
Link:The Case Of The Traveling Die
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
Click for
Obverse or
Reverse enlargement on CD-ROM
1996 WRNC
counterstamp on 1996 1/10oz Fine Gold - 5 Dollars
16.5mm bullion coin
(shown double the scale of the bronze medal below.)
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Click for
Obverse or
Reverse enlargement on CD-ROM
1996 WRNC
counterstamp on 1996 bronze Cleveland Bicentennial Medal
39mm medal
(estimate scaled from scans.)
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| 4/14
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Click for
Obverse or
Reverse enlargement on CD-ROM
SILVER
1796 $10 Eagle Gold Die Setup Piece
36.8-40.9mm - 1.4mm thick - HalfDollar edge
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WHAM... Well That Finished That!
Ron Landis told me that his coiner was setting up his dies to strike
1796 gold Eagles when the press slipped. A silver fifty cent planchet
had been placed over the anvil/reverse die to protect it should the
dies bump together during setup. Normally it would have done its job
but it simply wasn't up to the task when the press came crashing down
from the top of its setting. The crash... not clash this time ...impacted
this silver planchet with such force that you can see how badly it was
deformed. The dies were damaged beyond any hope of recovery by this
accident. Ron is considering placing this "SILVER Eagle", along with the
pair of damaged dies, up for auction at some point as a set. If he carries
through on this thought it will be a rare opportunity since TheGuys are
adamant about not allowing their coin dies out of the mint. I'm looking
forward to this sale if and when it happens!
When I checked my spelling of adamant I noted the dictionary
definition and was struck by how perfectly it described how TheGuys
react to some of my more "reasonable" ideas and projects.
ad·a·mant 1. Impervious to pleas, appeals, or reason; stubbornly
unyielding. I couldn't help but chuckle. ;-)
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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| 4/13
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Click for
Obverse or
Reverse enlargement on CD-ROM
COPPER
1993 Gallery Mint Museum Annual Medal
38.5mm - 4.6mm thick - Lettered edge
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Junk Jars And Dresser Drawers
We did make quite a few more in copper than in silver, and offered them
for $10 each. Most of the coppers were sold to non-numismatists as a
souvenir item which most likely ended up in someone's junk jar or dresser
drawer. The more serious collectors were buying the silvers, which could
be the reason why you see more silver pieces in "circulation".
Ron Landis...Saturday, April 05, 2003 12:27PM
Having a predilection for "off-metal" strikes and having seen mostly
silver GMM Annual Medals (1993-5)... I like these copper strikes!
Since I've seen so few of them, they feel like "off-metal" strikes to me,
even if they are less expensive medals,
Ozawkie - 1 May 2003:
Ron tells me he was thinking of the copper medals struck on the King's
Coin Hammer in Texas when he wrote the April 5th EMail message above.
He went on to tell me that... even though they wanted to continue that
tradition of striking both silver and copper 1.5oz medals ...once they
left Texas they didn't have a press that was big enough to do the job.
They struck a very few GMM annual medals in copper... perhaps only from
the 1993 dies ...and decided they simply weren't up to the task.
That makes these copper medals particularly scarce and desirable.
I didn't think to ask him what was different between striking the 1.5oz
silver medals and copper versions from the same dies. They got 500 each
of the silver pieces struck each year somehow. Something else to keep my
GMM research project interesting I reckon!
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
All this looks good to me. You're right on the money. PURE silver is
much easier to strike than the copper alloy planchets.
Ron Landis...Tuesday, May 06, 2003 10:57AM
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A Face Full Of Life Experiences
Lee created his original artwork based on the photograph shown here
and he tells me that he has used this person's face on steel... a
Sharps buffalo rifle, ivory and now on a buffalo nickel. This fellow
has a wonderful face for the purpose and he was originally captured
on film on the streets of Pittsburg in 1979. Lee didn't get the full
photograph but apparently this person was handing a violin to a child
when the photographer captured the moment for posterity. Lee thinks
the fellow was a street person... or whatever the politically correct
phrase is now-a-days ...but has no specific information. I wanted to
capture the other uses that Lee put this wonderfully expressive face
to and share them with you here.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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