Month: November 2014

Added My Research to Wikipedia

/ DrDarryl

If you’ve been keeping up with the US Mint and the 2014  Kennedy issues it’s a hot numismatic topic.

I’ve added information that is backed-up by my background research  on the President John F. Kennedy Appreciation Medal (previously discussed in this blog as an off tangent topic) to the Kennedy half dollar.

Whom ever did the original  research dropped the ball on  Frank Gaspparo’s experience on the Presidential Seal and his FG initials  placement on the Kennedy Appreciation Medal. I’ve also added images of the President John F. Kennedy Appreciation Medal in my collection.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennedy_half_dollar

 

 

Another Wow Purchase!

/ DrDarryl

Purchased  a matching serial number set of Alaska-Hawaii Statehood medals. Medals are NGC graded

2MS-12 (HK-534)

2MS-14 (HK-532)

2MS-15 (HK-533)

2MS-16 (HK-530)

2MS-17 (HK-531)

2Ms-18 (HK-529)

One of the interesting aspects of Hawaiiana numismatics is the cross-listing of Hawaiian items with other areas of numismatics. In this case here the so called dollars (HK identifiers listed) specialty area.

This provides a broader base of buyers when you sell your Hawaiian collection.

http://www.so-calleddollars.com/Events/Alaska_Hawaii_Statehood.html

Images to be provided in a future blog entry.

Saloon Token: James Dodd and Enterprise Brewing Company

/ DrDarryl

1895 Pantheon Saloon Honolulu Token

Medcalf & Russell  2TS-21. I’m still trying to pin point the date of this token I believe I have done so. I place it in use in 1893.

On my previous blogs I identified the start year of the Pantheon Saloon as 1881.

Attached are news clipping from the University of Hawaii at Manoa (nice trip to Hawaii, in thought, not body).

As you can see in the image below July 21, 1893 ad ties in three elements:  James Dodd, Pantheon Saloon, and Enterprise Beer.

beer1

Brewer collectors have assigned the CA 318 identifier to brand name “Enterprise Beer”. The years align with the 1893 date from the news clipping above.

beer2

2TS-21  identifies the token makers as C.A. Klinkner & Co. S.F. Which  stands for Charles Alexander Klinkner of San Francisco. (Still researching this individual along with his company).

Below is an 1895 newspaper clipping  (I see it as funny as martial law declared, but you can still visit the Pantheon).

beer3

Then in 1897, Mr. Dodd still was selling Enterprise Beer. However, if you read further, Scotch whisky became more popular.

beer4

Then in 1898, Bock beer from Enterprise Brewing Co just arrived at the Pantheon.

beer5

“Working Samples” Maui Coin Club & Hawaii Coin Club [sic]

/ DrDarryl

I was reviewing the two letters of provenance that was provided to me by Pressed Metal Products.  I purchased a total of 20 “working sample”  medals from their in-house archive earlier in 2014 (search my blog for the term “Maui Coin Club”).

These medal are not regular issue. They were struck with the original order and kept in the in-house archive of Pressed Metal Products. These are rather unique medals and definitely one of a kind Hawaiiana collectables (even more valuable with the letters of provenance from Pressed Metal Products, the original designer and minter of these medals).

Here are online “working samples” from Pressed Metal Products.

http://www.pressedmetal.ca/numismatists14.html

http://www.pressedmetal.ca/numismatists11.html

http://www.pressedmetal.ca/numismatists15.html

These working samples were also used to allow potential customers to see the previous completed medals that were design and struck by the by the company.

The point of this blog entry is to point out an error in one of the letter of provenance and reveal new information to the public.

  1. The term Hawaii Coin Club is mistakenly used to identify Hawaii State Numismatic Association (HSNA) in the letter of provenance. What this means is that I have in my collection 6 medals that were created and designed for HSNA by Pressed Metal Products. From an investigative  perspective, several of the HSNA medals were produced by  Pressed Metal Products. This fact is not mentioned in the 1991 Medcalf & Russell book.  The minting characteristics between the Maui Coin Club and HSNA medals are similar.
  2. I purchased the medals as excess inventory from the in-house archive of Pressed Metal Products. This was a chance of a lifetime to acquire these medals. No one else can lay claim (and provide written evidence) that they have original working samples of Maui Coin Club and HSNA medals.Maui Coin Club is no longer an active organization to acquire these medals. HSNA was not provided the opportunity to acquire these medals.
  3.  I obtained a working sample 2M-276 from  Pressed Metal Products. This confirms that 2M-276 was a designed and struck by Pressed Metal Products. This fact is not mentioned in the 1991 Medcalf & Russell book.

I prefer not to provide images of the letters of provenance at this time. Also, I have kept all email communications and letters/packages of the transactions. This provides further evidence of the authenticity of these 20 working sample medals.

 

 

NGC Registry: Updated My Hawaii Statehood Medal Design Type Set

/ DrDarryl

I noticed that someone had quoted my NGC Registry custom set with their eBay auction listing for a Hawaii Statehood medal. Since its is being somewhat acknowledged as a numismatic reference (which I gladly appreciate) I decided to review and update my custom set.

Of particular interest for this  custom set update are:

(1) The addition of three references

(2) Update to the Type 2- The Heraldic Art Company Medal Design for:

a. Identification of previously undocumented 2M-5 variety that is  unlisted in Medcalf & Russell. 180 degree rotated die with thick planchet

b. Identification of previously undocumented 2M-4 varieties that are unlisted in Medcalf & Russell. Low and high volcano placement on thin planchet.

c. Identification of previously undocumented 2M-5 variety that is unlisted in Medcalf & Russell.  High volcano placement on thick planchet. (A request has been made to locate a low volcano on thick planchet to prove/disprove my low/high volcano thesis)

d. Identification of previously undocumented 2M-6 (gold) variety that is unlisted in Medcalf & Russell. Gold issue is only available with low volcano variety.

Here is the link for this NGC Registry custom set:

https://coins.www.collectors-society.com/wcm/CoinCustomSetView.aspx?s=9345

All the updates were previously documented in my blog. The image below is the low vs high volcano variety. My thesis is that the Low variety dies were first used, then the High volcano dies were used. Gold issue reflects low volcano (early strike). Thin issue has both the low and high volcano. Thick issue is currently seen with only high volcano.

All information discussed here (with the exception of the 180 degree rotate die)  is the result of my original research findings.

really

The Honolulu Mint – University Issues

/ DrDarryl

I’ve been investigating the products of the Honolulu Mint. The Honolulu Mint was  officially licensed to produce 1 troy ounce  silver commemorative coins for two universities. The medals struck  include:

University of California – Berkeley featuring the Campanile Tower.

University of California – Berkeley featuring the Cal Golden Bear logo.

University of Hawaii Athletics.

 

usc2

 

usc1

 

uh