| 2003
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Page
Index
Links
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Link:
It Can't Happen Again!
Link:
A Sophisticated And Attractive Specimen
Link:
Struck Over An 1980-D SBA Dollar
Link:
A Pair Of "White" Elephants
Link:
An Error Collector's Dream
Link:
Tim Saved This One's Life
Link:
Felix's Favorite Monticello Design
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Enlargement scans available on WWW and ScrapBook CD-ROM.
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This webpage introduces you to an upcoming
GMM auction... It is
NOT
a posting of the actual auction.
The lot descriptions provided here are
DRAFTS
and subject to changes in the final
auction catalog.
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Gallery Mint Museum Growth Fund
Benefit Auction
...Part I
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I have an enduring love affair with Ron's Con$ept dollars...
and there were so many die trials and related specimens in this auction that
I could have easily filled this webpage and more with them. I held myself in
check... somewhat ...and only listed three of those numerous Con$ept related
lots. Then I picked examples of the other fantastic Landis creations in the
auction to include on this webpage. This means that... even though it pains
me beyond describing ...I left out MUCH MORE than I have shown you in these
few examples. Order your catalog from GMM in Arkansas and they will send you
one when they become available... no auction date has been set at this writing.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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| 11/17
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Click for
Obverse,
Reverse
or
Closeup
enlargement on CD-ROM
2000 13-ray SOL Con$ept Dollar
It Can't Happen Again!
"Concept Fallen Die Error"
This is a well known, unique, genuine (not fantasy) striking error created
while striking the Piedfort Concept medals. Ron has so eloquently described it
in the past that we will again quote him on the cause and effect:
"This is something you won't see
everyday. In fact, we're taking measures to make sure it can't happen again. So
far, this is the only error that has occurred during the run of piedfort
prototype dollars. The basic problem is that the upper die was only held in with
a set screw, which can work loose under the extreme pressure and vibrations of
normal use. As the ram of the press come down to strike the piece, the upper
die fell out of it's adapter, and landed cockeyed on the planchet, creating
this error that we are having a difficult time trying to categorize. For now
we'll call it a 'fallen die' error for lack of a better term. The damage it
caused to the machinery was minimal compared to what could have happened had
the die landed on the collar, for example. The fact that the planchet is double
thick, gave enough cushion that it didn't seriously damage the dies. It only
dented the rim portion of the reverse die slightly. That was able to be
repaired by cutting the rim a bit deeper on the lathe. Being a thick planchet,
it struck much of the design into the planchet at a strange angle, almost
piercing all the way through the planchet. This error caused considerable
damage to the upper die adapter which was able to be machined back to a useable
shape. Of course, we will not re-create this error, but it may be offered at
auction at a future date. Ron Landis... March 1998, 'Gallery Mint Report,'
Volume 5, Issue 1."
Yeehaw! True to his word, this is that auction! Ante up folks!
Mike Ellis... Monday, November 17, 2003 2:30PM
Lot#64: will be placed in the "Real Errors" section.
We have discussed this "one of a kind" specimen in a previous SBsubject
Link:Con$ept
'Fallen Die' Error ...so you may enjoy going back and rereading it.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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| 11/17
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Click for
Obverse,
or
Reverse
enlargement on CD-ROM
1998 Lady Liberty Con$ept Dollar
A Sophisticated And Attractive Specimen
"1998
Concept Dollar Flowing Hair PATTERN" While having been described
numerous times throughout the mainstream numismatic press, this piece is
perhaps best described by GMM Patron and Collector, Mark Honea on July 22,
2001: "One of the Gallery Mint Museum's
patterns for a new small-sized dollar coin. Approximately 130 pieces were
produced with a date of 1998, and they are the same size and thickness as the
Susan B. Anthony dollars that they were intended to replace. The obverse of
this piece has a bust of Liberty with lovely long flowing hair, and a wreath of
leaves and berries to hold it in place, loosely inspired by the flowing hair
coinage of 1794 (with this being a much more sophisticated and attractive
'specimen', in my opinion). The legend "LIBERTY" appears above the
bust, the motto "IN GOD WE TRUST" is below, and the date, 1998,
appears in the field before Liberty's bust. On the reverse, there is an Eagle
with outstretched wings standing on a rocky bluff with the word
"PEACE" inscribed on it, and a rising sun behind the bluff. The
legend "UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" and the motto "E PLURIBUS
UNUM" are above the Eagle, and the denomination "ONE CONCEPT"
(i.e., Ron Landis' "concept" of what a new smaller dollar coin could
look like) is under the Eagle's left wing (viewer's right). Again, these
patterns were struck in a quantity of ONLY 130 PIECES!"
These pieces are in extremely high demand and we are
fortunate to make available one of those 130 pieces.
Mike Ellis... Monday, November 17, 2003 2:30PM
Lot#28: will be placed in the "GMM Originals" section.
We have discussed Ron's 1998 Con$epts in numerous previous SBsubjects:
1) Link:Rings From Resizing Planchets,
2) Link:Modern Small Dollar Patterns,
3) Link:Still Counting... Con$ept Dollars That Is... :-),
4) Link:CoinFlip Inserts: After The Fact Confusion,
5) Link:Wax Con$ept Hub And Die Impressions,
6) Link:The "One Concept" Dollar "PEACE" Reverses,
7) Link:1998 GMM Concept Dollar (Not Piedfort),
8) Link:Dragon Blood In Con$ept Family Tree and
9) Link:World Peace Coin Program
...so you may enjoy going back and rereading some of them.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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| 11/17
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Click for
Obverse,
or
Reverse
enlargement on CD-ROM
1998 Lady Liberty Con$ept Dollar
Struck Over An 1980-D SBA Dollar
"1998 Concept Dollar
Flowing Hair PATTERN Struck Over a Genuine 1980-D Susan B. Anthony Dollar!"
See lot
number 28 for the die description. Now here's the spin: this coin, though
struck with original design dies, was struck on an already struck 1980-D SBA
Dollar. Only two such creations were struck, this one, in my opinion, being the
nicer of the two. This coin has two eagle heads on the reverse! See the chest
of Ron's eagle for the head of the SBA design eagle! The date and mintmark are
clear as well! This will likely be one of the higher selling items in this
auction even if it is a "hybrid" original/fantasy piece!
Mike Ellis... Monday, November 17, 2003 2:30PM
Lot#50: will be placed in the "GMM Originals" section.
This specimen is the second, "two of two", 1998 Con$ept struck over a
1980-D SBA. We discussed the first, "one of two", specimen in a previous
SBsubject
Link:This
Time It Was My Turn! ...so you may enjoy going back and rereading it.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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| 11/17
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Click for
Copper
Obverse/Reverse,
or
Brass
Obverse/Reverse
enlargement on CD-ROM
2003 GMM Hobo Token Mules Struck In Copper And Brass
A Pair Of "White" Elephants
"2003
Off Metal (Copper) and Mule Hobo Token!" Why Ron and the GMM made
this mule I do not know. What I do know is that the dies are of
original design with the obverse being a self portrait of Ron Landis himself,
created by an overwhelming number of requests for such a design by Hobo nickel
and GMM collectors alike. Still readily available in silver with the
"Hiking Hobo" reverse design as well as the "Indian Obverse
paired with the Elephant" designs, this is a one of five struck.
This one combines the "Self Portrait" obverse with the
wrong or "Elephant" design reverse making it a mule that would fetch
a handsome price in its own right. HOWEVER, this one is struck in copper, which
was not supposed to be, and is an absolute gem in terms of eye appeal! I find
it interesting that unique mules are often referred to as "White Elephants!"
Though not white here, it is an elephant and I find that ironic. Expect above
normal interest in this piece!
Mike Ellis... Monday, November 17, 2003 2:30PM
Lot#90: will be placed in the "GMM Originals" section.
"2003
Off Metal (Brass) and Mule Hobo Token!" Here's a second
opportunity for this mule pairing but unique in its own right as it is brass
instead of the former struck in copper. Why Ron and the GMM made this mule
I do not know. What I do know is that the dies are of original design
with the obverse being a self portrait of Ron Landis himself, created by an
overwhelming number of requests for such a design by Hobo nickel and GMM
collectors alike. Still readily available in silver with the "Hiking
Hobo" reverse design as well as the "Indian Obverse paired with the
Elephant" designs, this is a one of five struck. This
one combines the "Self Portrait" obverse with the wrong or
"Elephant" design reverse making it a mule that would fetch a
handsome price in its own right. HOWEVER, this one is struck in brass, which
was not supposed to be, and is an absolute gem in terms of eye appeal! I find
it interesting that unique mules are often referred to as "White
Elephants!" Though not white here, it is an elephant and I find that
ironic. Expect above normal interest in this piece!
Mike Ellis... Monday, November 17, 2003 2:30PM
Lot#91: will be placed in the "GMM Originals" section.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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| 11/17
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Click for
Obverse,
or
Reverse
enlargement on CD-ROM
1796 Capped Bust Quarter Eagle
An Error Collector's Dream
"Proof
1796 Quarter Eagle Double Struck in Collar" This very rare and
genuine striking error is an error collector's dream! While in Eureka Springs,
AR scanning and photographing the auction lots for this sale, unheralded yet
supreme Chief Coiner, Tim Grat, while striking a run of the Proof 1796 Gold
Quarter Eagles, created one of the very few genuine errors ever created at the
GMM. (A good portion of the true errors are in this sale!) Of course, this one
happened to be on gold and also happened to be one of the favorite error types
of all error collectors - A TRUE DOUBLE STRIKE! Upon being struck, instead of
ejecting the coin rotated but remained in place receiving a second strike. The
pictures you see may not be very clear but I guarantee you, this is a knockout,
true error that has had me salivating since the moment I saw it! Naturally I
snagged it from Tim and would not let him melt it down! Again, this is likely
to remain a unique piece from the Gallery Mint. IF you ever see another, it
will likely be a fantasy error and that is not likely on gold.
Mike Ellis... Monday, November 17, 2003 2:30PM
Lot#3: will be placed in the "Real Errors" section.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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Click for
Obverse,
or
Reverse
enlargement on CD-ROM
1804 Draped Bust Liberty Dollar
Tim Saved This One's Life
"Uncirculated
Double Struck 1804 Dollar!" This is not the only double struck
$1804 Dollar reproduction from the GMM but, to the best of our knowledge, it is
the only GENUINE double strike! Yes, it is a unique, true error that should
fetch a hefty sum. Normally such an error might be melted for more blanks but
this one was spared and now you can benefit from the benevolence of the coiner,
Tim Grat, who saved this one's life!
Mike Ellis... Monday, November 17, 2003 2:30PM
Lot#8: will be placed in the "Real Errors" section.
Actually there is one other "Real Errors" double struck 1804
dollar discussed in a previous SBsubject:
Link:If Strips Of Chicken Are Called "Chicken Fingers"...
but it is a die trial on a silver strip and not an actual coin like this lot.
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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| 11/17
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Click for
Obverse,
or
Reverse
enlargement on CD-ROM
1938 Schlag Pattern Jefferson Nickel
Felix's Favorite Monticello Design
"Jefferson
Full Step Nickel Club Commissioned 'Felix Schlag's Favorite Reverse Design' Die
Trial Struck on Large Cent Reproduction Planchet!" Here is a very
rare opportunity to own one of the GMM's most exciting die trial strikes.
Recently, the Full Step Nickel Collectors' club commissioned Ron and the GMM to
create dies and strike in silver the Jefferson Nickel designer's (and
collectors, too) favorite reverse design of Monticello. Upon completion of the
dies, a test strike was made on a reproduction large cent planchet. Items like
this are the "metal" that make collecting GMM "off the
wall" items so fun and exciting. Though there are light fingerprints
primarily on the obverse, this is a one of a kind from the GMM and just the
aspect of it becoming available has GMM and Jefferson nickel collectors abuzz!
Mike Ellis... Monday, November 17, 2003 2:30PM
Lot#77: will be placed in the "GMM Originals" section.
We have discussed Ron's 'Schlag Pattern' creations in two previous SBsubjects:
1) Link:The Jefferson Full Step Nickel Club and
2) Link:My FIRST Slabbed GMM Creations!
EMail:Verne R. Walrafen
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As a special bonus to all who purchase ScrapBook CD-ROMs...
... here's a complete set of scans for Auction1 lots:
Link:329 Auction Lot Photos.
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