The United States Mint Coins and Medals Program Whether you’re a beginner or experienced numismatist, these tips will help you enjoy the popular hobby of coin collecting for years to come. Collecting Basics Coins and Medals Coins and Medals Home » Collections » Coins and Medals Coins and Medals The collection of coins and medals at the Gallery, at roughly 100,000 pieces, is by far the largest and most diverse held by any American university. It is displayed, in part, in a dedicated exhibition gallery and housed in the Bela Lyon Pratt Study Room for Coins and Medals. View Highlights About Coins and Medals The Gallery’s collection of coins and medals is among the University’s oldest, dating to the early years of the 19th century. By 1863 the holdings numbered some 3,000 items; two decades later the Greek and Roman portions alone totaled over 3,200. Formerly known as the Yale Numismatic Collection, jurisdiction over it passed from the University Library to the Yale University Art Gallery in 2001. The collection now comprises approximately 100,000 pieces and is by far the largest assemblage at any American university.

The collection provides the basis not only for formal instruction in numismatics but also for expanding the horizons of historians, art historians, archaeologists, and the general public. Its great strength remains Greco-Roman, including examples of the earliest coinage of western Asia Minor, the supreme artistic achievements of Syracuse and southern Italy, and masterpieces of Hellenistic and Roman portraiture. Silver coinage from the Roman Republic has been systematically acquired, and the collection of imperial coins is comprehensive; it has been augmented in recent years by the purchase of the collection of Professor Peter R. and Leonore Franke (over 4,100 pieces of Greek cities and the provinces) and the acquisition of roughly the first half of the collection of Ben Lee Damsky (about 900 pieces), which has enhanced the Gallery’s imperial holdings. The strengths of the collection include fine examples from the English and German traditions, a broad selection of Renaissance medals, and the coins from Dura-Europos, which complement the Gallery’s other holdings from this important Yale excavation in the 1930s. For the modern period the most important single bequest was C. W.

Betts’s collection of medals pertaining to the American Revolution, which was the basis of a scholarly study from 1894 that remains in use today. The collection also includes paper money, with many thousands of Confederate notes selected to represent virtually every issue of the Civil War period, as well as a superb run of Connecticut coppers from the 18th century. The permanent-collection galleries include representative examples from many of these traditions. The coin room and gallery were made possible by a gift from a descendant of Bela Lyon Pratt, the Connecticut medalist and sculptor who studied at Yale, and one display case is devoted to his designs. Others treat ancient coinage by theme (nature, portraiture, architecture, women); a final case shows Tudor coinage from 16th- and early 17th-century England. The centerpiece of the installation is the Gallery’s marble portrait of the Roman emperor Caligula, with an example of the coinage that makes possible his identification. Taken together this represents the most extensive installation of coins and medals ever at Yale. The display is on view adjacent to the Bela Lyon Pratt Study Room for Coins and Medals, where visitors may make an appointment to see almost any coin in the collection.

Coins, Currency, and Medals | National Museum of American History Object Groups Coins, Currency, and Medals The Museum possesses one of the largest numismatic collections in the world. The collections include over 1 million objects, comprising coins, medals, decorations, and pieces of paper money. Among the many great rarities here are some of the world’s oldest coins, created 2,700 years ago. But the collection also includes the latest innovations in electronic monetary exchange, as well as beads, wampum, and other commodities once used as money. A special strength lies in artifacts that illustrate the development of money and medals in the United States. The American section includes many rare and significant coins, such as two of three known examples of the world's most valuable coin, the 1933 double eagle $20 gold piece. "Coins, Currency, and Medals - Overview" showing 56674 items. Page 1 of 5668 United States, Two and a Half Dollars, Proof, 1856 Description United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Liberty with feather headdress, facing left. Reverse: Denomination and date within cereal wreath.

Numismatist Walter Breen listed two proofs of this coin for this year. Apparently, he missed this one. Location 4 Dollar Coin Pattern, United States, 1879 Description Apparently Lady Liberty’s name is Stella, and she likes to wear her hair two different ways. At least, that is according to two prominent coin engravers of the U.S. Mint during the late 19th century Philadelphia, Charles E. Barber and George T. Morgan. This four dollar gold coin was minted in 1879 as part of a commission from the U.S. Mint to create a coin with a value comparable to European markets. The coin got its name “Stella,” the Latin word for “Star,” due to the star design on its reverse. Charles E. Barber, chief engraver of the U.S. Mint at the time, designed one version of the Stella coin depicting Lady Liberty with flowing hair on the obverse and a single star on the reverse, which is referred to today as “The Flowing Hair Type.” George T. Morgan, another U.S. Mint employee under Barber designed his own version of Stella, which is the one displayed here.

Lady Liberty’s hair is worn coiled, a more reserved depiction of the American symbol of Liberty. Morgan’s version is referred to as “The Coiled Hair Type.” However, the idea of an American international currency was never implemented. Congress rejected the concept, and therefore the coins were only minted for two years. The Stella remains the only four dollar U.S. coin ever minted. Newspapers of the era printed rumors that some Congressmen fashioned the Stellas into necklaces to give to their mistresses and Madams. Some surviving coins do show evidence of having been made into jewelry. Regardless of what happened to the Stellas after minting ceased, many numismatists consider the gold Stellas one of the most famous and popular American denominations. They are also quite rare, as there were only roughly 425 Flowing Hair Type Stellas and 20 Coiled Hair Types ever minted. United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Liberty head with coiled hair, facing left; fineness around, date below. Reverse: Large star, denomination below. This pattern rates a Rarity-6 by experts, suggesting that two dozen or so may exist. [reference no.

Judd 1638] date made 5 Dollars, United States, 1797 Description United States Mint, Philadelphia. Obverse: Capped bust of Liberty facing right, ten stars behind her head and six stars before; date below. Reverse: Heraldic eagle, clouds and stars above. Although dated 1797, this coin was probably minted in the following year. Early United States coins do not always bear the year in which they were struck. The annual visit of yellow fever to Philadelphia, and to the U.S. Mint there, imparted a disjointed quality to our early numismatics. What is definitely known is that Robert Scot was responsible for the designs. His new, bellicose eagle is a direct reflection of increased national tensions with the British and French. This particular coin is unique. date made United States, Five Dollars, 1815 Description United States Mint, Philadelphia. vObverse: Capped head of Liberty facing left; thirteen stars around, date below. Reverse: Eagle, motto above, denomination below. For reasons unknown, designer John Reich's earlier bust of Liberty was abandoned in favor of a crude, almost ugly head.

Reich seems to have been responsible for the coins struck with the new design from 1813 to 1815. Then Robert Scot made a trite design worse by coarsening Liberty's hair and retouching her cap. Thus amended, the Reich/Scot half eagles remained in production through 1829. Most were melted, as the gold they contained eventually became worth more than their face value. The 1815 half eagle started out rare (only 635 minted) and became rarer as the coins were melted down. Perhaps a dozen remain including this one. Location What do you call someone who collects coins? | Reference.com What do you call someone who collects coins? A: Quick Answer The technical term for a person that collects and studies coins is numismatist. The word was taken from the French word numismatiste, which means student of coin and coinage. Full Answer Apart from coin collection, numismatics also encompasses the collection of tokens, paper money, medals and other similar items. Numismatic value refers to the collectors price for a particular collectible currency that is above the actual value of the coin or money. Coin collecting has been around since ancient history.

Emperor Caesar Augustus was said to have given various coins as Saturnalia gifts. Petrach, an Italian poet who lived in the 1300s, is credited as being the first Renaissance numismatist. The poet wrote that he was often approached by people to sell him their coins, or to identify the ruler depicted on the coins. Spotlight on So-Called Dollars Spotlight on So-Called Dollars By Charles Morgan and Hubert Walker for CoinWeek .... What is a So-Called Dollar? It is said that New York coin dealer Thomas Elder first coined the term “So-Called Dollar” to describe a medal sold at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition – an event better known as the St. Louis World’s Fair. Coin-like souvenirs such as that medal had been a staple at the many great expositions of the 19th and 20th centuries, not only capturing moments in time, but also telling the story of American industrial, technological, and cultural development. These so-called dollars were diverse in design and theme, and for many Americans they were a physical embodiment of the memories that they would take from these great spectacles.

For those that experienced these expositions, souvenirs like so-called dollars symbolized hope, optimism, and participation in the success and growth of America. As the age of the Great American Expo came to an end, a growing sentiment for these souvenirs began to take shape. And for some, the emphasis was on so-called dollars. Their profile was greatly elevated with the publication in 1963 of So-Called Dollars: An Illustrated Standard Catalog, written by Harold E. Hibler and Charles V. Kappen. The volume, which remains the most comprehensive study of dollar-sized, public and private medals and tokens, carved out a niche for future collectors and created a new market for these collectibles. To be considered a so-called dollar (and therefore warrant inclusion in the book), a medal had to meet certain criteria set by Hibler and Kappen: the pieces had to be struck in, or struck for, the United States; they had to measure between 33- and 45mm; and they had to focus on national and regional celebrations or numismatic themes.

The book, virtually the Rosetta stone for this branch of exonumia, was updated in 2008 by four experts on so-called dollars: Tom Hoffman, Dave Hayes, Jonathan Brecher, and John Dean. Hubert and I wholeheartedly recommend the purchase of this book, which can be found here . Now that we’ve briefly introduced the concept of the so-called dollar and its connection to American history, we’d like to use the next couple of columns to take a fresh look at this niche area of numismatics, approaching the subject from the perspective of the collector of classic commemoratives. For the so-called dollar breathes new life into the classic commemorative series and places it in the proper context, as both competitor for the consumer’s attention and the logical next step in the development of these numismatic souvenirs. Before we begin, we’d like to acknowledge and thank Jeff Shevlin and Tom Hoffman for their scholarship and assistance in this project.

Early American Commemoratives, Part 1: Commemoratives and So-Called Dollars Relating to Expositions In this first part of our three-part feature on so-called dollars, Hubert and I look at the similarities and differences in theme and composition of so-called dollars and their legal tender commemorative coin counterparts that were authorized and produced to commemorate America’s great expositions. Starting with the World’s Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago in 1892-1893, and ending with the United States Sesquicentennial Exposition, held in Philadelphia in 1926, this period saw five significant publicly and privately funded events of national import. To defray the cost of holding these events, Congress issued commemorative coins, while a variety of so-called dollars (some struck on site, some commissioned) were also sold at the events. World’s Columbian Exposition (1892-1893), Chicago, IL The many temporary pavilions at the World’s Columbian Expo represented the height of American design.

World’s Columbian Exposition (1892-1893), Chicago, Illinois Date 1 “Baby” Ruth Cleveland Government issued coins focused on Columbus and Isabella, So-Called Dollars also celebrated architectural achievements, Ms. Potter-Palmer, the newly versatile aluminum alloy, and the child of the President and Mrs. Grover Cleveland. The classic commemorative period began in 1892 with an Act of Congress authorizing the production of specially-designed half dollars made with the likeness of Christopher Columbus, to be sold at $1 apiece, with the proceeds going to help fund the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. Seizing the opportunity for publicity, Wyckoff, Seamans, and Benedict, manufacturers of Remington typewriters, publicly offered $10,000 (just shy of $256,500 in today’s dollars) for the first coin struck. This turned the actual striking of the coins into a media event. In an account of the festivities reprinted by Swiatek and Breen, Chief Engraver Charles Barber, along with other Government and Exposition representatives, was on hand to see Chief Coiner William Steele strike the famous first coin.

Unfortunately, due to a planchet flaw that first coin was rejected. The $10,000 specimen was successfully struck on the second try.[2] The Remington Company reveled in the publicity. Mainstream America saw for the first time the potential for financial gains through coin collecting. The Columbian half dollar sold well, although it did not meet its authorized mintage limit. A second coin struck for the exposition was the Isabella quarter, the only quarter of the classic series, and a coin lobbied for and distributed by Bertha Palmer’s Board of Lady Managers. Coined from reclaimed silver from obsolete coins, the Isabella quarter was considered a worse value as it was also offered at $1 each. A little more than half of the authorized mintage sold, making the Isabella one of the more coveted of the classic commemoratives. Thus begins the story of the classic commemoratives. However, these two legal tender issues cannot possibly capture the spirit of the event like the more than 100 medals and tokens issued by the many different vendors and pavilions. These so-called dollars vary greatly in design and style and come in a variety of compositions, including aluminum, which at the time was a novelty.

Many of the pieces celebrate the architectural beauty of the pavilions, including one designed by Louis Sullivan, a founding member of the Chicago School. Others depict Christopher Columbus. Of great numismatic significance is the so-called dollar pictured below featuring a Beaux-Arts rendition of Columbus newly ashore in the New World. This elegant piece was designed by the great Augustus Saint-Gaudens, with a reverse designed by Mint Chief Engraver Charles Barber. The pair teamed up to create this medal, which was reproduced by Chicago pillow manufacturer C. Emmerich & Company. It was struck at the Philadelphia Mint, and would not be their last collaboration. The use of Roman numerals should catch the attention of collectors familiar with the first year issue of the Saint-Gaudens double eagle. HK:223 Augustus Saint-Gaudens and Charles Barber teamed up to create this fantastic medal commemorating the World’s Columbian Exposition. Fans of the Isabella quarter may also consider adding the Board of Lady Managers so-called dollar to their collections. This 38mm piece was struck on Aluminum and features Mrs. Bertha Honoré Palmer, Chicago socialite and wife of Hotel Magnate Potter Palmer.

Her so-called dollar comes in two configurations, one with scalloped fan ornamentation in the field and one without. One would assume that these medals would have been sold side by side with the legal tender quarter. Fewer than 100 of each variety are known to have survived. HK-243c: Bertha Honoré Palmer, depicted above, served as the President of the Board of Lady Managers, which oversaw the creation of the Woman’s Building as well as the distribution of the 1893 Isabella quarter. There are nearly fifty so-called dollars which celebrate the various buildings constructed for the Fair. Four pieces commemorated what many people considered the Exposition’s signature architectural achievement: the 264 foot tall Ferris wheel. Named after its designer George Washington Gale Ferris, Jr., the Ferris wheel was America’s answer to the Eiffel Tower, which was built just four years prior to serve as the centerpiece of the 1889 Paris Exposition.[4] U.S. Government Building, Louisiana Purchase Exposition, 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition (1904), St.

Louis, Missouri Date Chicago World’s Fair Columbian half dollar (1892-1893) Jefferson and McKinley get the nod for the government issued coins. So-Called dollars focus on architecture, French rulers, and even recall the preceding Chicago fair. Eleven years after the successful World’s Columbian Exposition, the great city of St. Louis celebrated the centennial of Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery Expedition by hosting the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, also known as the St. Louis World’s Fair. The Expo opened on April 30 and ran through December 1, 1904, drawing nearly 20 million visitors, a slight decline from the paid attendance of the World’s Columbian Exposition. There is a great deal of folklore surrounding the Louisiana Purchase Exposition; some say the waffle ice cream cone was invented for the fair, while others claim the event saw the birth of the hot dog and hamburger. These claims are likely dubious, but we do know that the popular soft drink Dr. Pepper made its mass market debut here along with puffed wheat breakfast cereal. Also, the common health maxim, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” was first uttered by fruit researcher, Dr. J.

T. Stinson, in a speech given in front of fair goers.[8] It is also notable that the Exposition hosted the 1904 Olympic Games as well, the third Olympics of the modern era. In a contemporary context it’s hard to imagine an Exposition dwarfing an international event such as the Olympics, but these were different times and the Olympic movement was still in its infancy. In order to fund the fair, the state of Missouri guaranteed $1,000,000, while Congress authorized an additional $5,000,000. Congress again turned to the idea of producing commemorative coins as a way to offset the cost. This time, Congress decided on the creation of two dime-sized commemorative gold dollars. One bore the likeness of Thomas Jefferson and the other featured the recently assassinated President William McKinley (who, coincidentally, was shot by anarchist Leon Czolgosz at the Pan-American Exposition, which took place in Buffalo from May to November of 1901). The choice to honor McKinley with a gold dollar was likely due to the fact that McKinley had signed legislation authorizing the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.

(It’s also somewhat fitting that McKinley would be honored with a gold dollar as he pushed for and signed the Gold Standard Act of 1900, which put an end to American bimetallism.) Unfortunately for event organizers and the government, the gold coin commemorative program was a total failure. 125,000 of each coin were authorized but only 17,500 of each were sold, bringing in just over $100,000 before expenses were taken out. A number of tie-ins were tried to move the coins, including a stamp and a “gold souvenir” token set offered by noted numismatist Farran Zerbe.[9] Many of the coins were sold only because they were infused into a number of non-numismatic products, such as jewelry and stickpins – which ruined a many of the coins accounted for in the final distribution totals. The event also saw a decline in the number of so-called dollars offered. Nearly all of these were available to fair-goers at a fraction of the cost of the two gold dollars.

Perhaps this accounts for the surprising lack of interest in the gold coins, or maybe there were more interesting tchotchkes available at the fair’s many shops (such as the dog figurine pictured above). For those interested in purchasing medals, there was an Official Souvenir Medal featuring the busts of Jefferson and Napoleon, left-facing and in jugate, along with the inscription LOUISINA PURCAHSE EXPOSITION – OFFICIAL SOUVENIR. The medal’s reverse depicts a map of the present day United States with the land apportioned in the purchase in raised relief along with the inscription LOUISIANA TERRITORY 1803, 1,000,000 SQUARE MILES - $15,000,000, ST LOUIS 1904. This medal was struck on the grounds at the Mint Exhibit, using machinery that was to be shipped to the newly established Denver Mint at the conclusion of the fair.

The Jefferson/Napoleon medal was sold in a number of metal configurations, the rarest being a single medal struck in gold; others were struck in gilt (which was offered at a price of 25 cents), a quickly tarnishing yellow-bronze, and a .600 fine silver alloy (which was offered for $1.00-$1.25)[10]. The official souvenir medal (HK-299-304). Confusion reigned when limited edition medals struck by a fly-by-night firm calling itself the Louisiana Purchase Souvenir Coin Co. began selling round and octagonal medals featuring the crowned head of French monarch Saint Louis done in the style of the Isabella quarter. Despite the prominence of the official medal, many souvenir-seekers wound up with a handsome but unofficial piece featuring the likeness of Saint Louis IX (1214-1270), the French monarch after whom the city was named. These serial-numbered medals may have looked official – after all, there was that serial number, and the obverse said SOUVENIR COIN OF ADMISSION – but the “coins” were the product of a shadowy group calling themselves the Louisiana Purchase Souvenir Coin Company.

Buyers of Hibler and Kappen’s book will be treated to an amusing anecdote about the marketing strategy this group employed to sell the coin as well as the “official” reaction to their scheme. Controversy aside, the largest portion of so-called dollars from St. Louis focused on the many fantastically designed temporary structures that made up the fairgrounds. Most of these medals were struck in aluminum and feature perspectives of the different buildings with identifying inscriptions written in the exergue. The U.S. government building (shown in the black and white photograph above) is featured on so-called dollar HK-322e. The Louisiana Purchase Exposition would prove to be the final fair where so-called dollars would focus so heavily on architecture. This could have something to do with the period. The 1890s to early 1900s was a critical time in American architecture, seeing not only the advent of the skyscraper, the prominence of the Chicago School, and the ascension of Frank Lloyd Wright, but it also marked the beginning of a new era in urban design that would make the bombastically ornamental palaces of the early fairs seem outmoded and unworthy of special commemoration.

Or perhaps the pieces weren’t all that profitable for fair organizers. It’s hard to know for sure. For commemorative collectors, the Louisiana Purchase Exposition offers the challenge of trying to put together a complete set of fair-related so-called dollars. Several issues, including one featuring Theodore Roosevelt, are quite rare. The official medal makes a great accompaniment to the Jefferson gold dollar, and the Pax so-called dollar (HK-314), which references the World’s Columbian Exposition on the reverse, features a ship motif which bears a striking resemblance to the reverse of the Columbian half dollars of 1892-1893. Lewis & Clark Centennial Exposition (1905), Portland, Oregon Exposition buildings surrounding Guild’s Lake Lewis & Clark Centennial Exposition (1905), Portland, Oregon Date Columbia An aligning of coin and medal themes mark this regional celebration. Continuing with the Louisiana Purchase theme was a fair held in Oregon in 1905, the site of the completion of the Corps of Discovery journey across the Louisiana and Oregon territories. The Lewis & Clark Centennial Exposition was held in Portland, Oregon and was decidedly low key when compared to the St.

Louis fair held the year before. This was intentional. Congress authorized the Exposition and the minting of 250,000 gold dollars honoring Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to pay for the event in an Act of Congress passed April 13, 1904[12]. Charles Barber designed the coins, which have the distinction of being the only coins minted by the United States to feature a head on both sides. Don Taxay believed that Barber modeled the two explorers’ likenesses from a painting by Charles Wilson Peale.[13] Issued in 1904 and 1905, the coins were initially offered for sale at $3.00 each, but well-connected dealers were able to offer the coins through The Numismatist and direct mail catalogs for less. Ultimately, despite efforts to promote the coins, the public was unmoved and only a hair over 10,000 dollars from each date sold, which was a little more than 8% of the authorized mintage.

Because of this, the Lewis and Clark Exposition dollars are highly prized, with gem quality examples selling for upwards of $8,000-$10,000 when certified MS-65 or MS-66.[14] As far as so-called dollar output is concerned, the fair produced only a handful. The one pictured below features Columbia, arms spread out and walking in-between figures representing Lewis and Clark, and is perhaps the most striking. The inscription on the reverse (WESTWARD THE COURSE OF EMPIRE TAKES ITS WAY) is most telling of the national sentiment concerning Manifest Destiny and America’s philosophical slide into Imperialism (which the authors of this piece regard as a rejection of America’s founding principles). Flag-draped Columbia accompanies Lewis and Clark to the shores of the Pacific Ocean in HK-327, one of three metal varieties of this striking so-called dollar. The remaining medals from this event riff on the same design, one which features jugate portraiture of Lewis and Clark on the obverse with the inscription LEWIS AND CLARK CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION (some have the date 1905, others do not), and a reverse that highlights the U.S.

Government building constructed for the fair. One variation features the Washington state building. It is estimated that between 1.6 and 2.5 million visitors attended the fair. Despite being dwarfed by other fairs of the period and failing to sell through its authorized allotment of gold coins, the Lewis & Clark Centennial Exposition did turn a profit. For collectors of the Lewis and Clark commemorative gold coins, the exposition offers a manageable array of accessible so-called dollars to round out their collections. Panama-Pacific Exposition (1915), San Francisco, California The grounds at the Panama-Pacific Exposition illuminated at night. Panama-Pacific Exposition (1915), San Francisco, California Date Caduceus Panama-Pacific Quarter Eagle California went big for this celebration, the number of So-Called dollars declines from its late 19th century heights. The mythological and beautiful make Pan-Pac So-Called Dollars the most dramatic and interesting.

Not even ten years after a major earthquake devastated the city, killing upwards of 3,000 people and forcing the largely undamaged San Francisco Mint to become an emergency shelter, local residents and the state of California used the completion of the Panama Canal and the 400th Anniversary of the “discovery” of the Pacific Ocean by Vasco Nunez de Balboa (even though the logical date would have been 1913) to host the Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915. For numismatists, the Panama-Pacific Exposition five coin commemorative set ranks as one of the most visually arresting and desirable U.S. special issue coins in history. Blending classical motifs with a naturalist eroticism that was one hallmark of the Art Nouveau period, the Pan-Pac half dollar, quarter eagle, and fifty dollar slugs are among the most beautiful commemorative coins in U.S. history, and for contemporary collectors, among the most desirable. Perhaps feeding off of the artistic zeitgeist, the event’s many privately and publicly issued medals rival the commemorative coins in terms of design.

As the last big Exposition of the so-called dollar era, the Panama-Pacific International Exposition marks the end of the souvenir medal bonanza that started in Chicago. The Expo saw the release of 27 so-called dollar designs in various configurations, many of them approaching the pinnacle of American medallic design. The Panama-Pacific International Exposition’s official medal (pictured below), was authorized by Congress and struck using Mint equipment onsite. The piece was designed by Robert Aitken, the designer of the Pan-Pac $50 coins. It features a semi-nude winged Mercury (coincidentally released a year before the Winged Liberty dime), caduceus in hand, opening the Panama Canal’s locks. To his side, the ship Argo passes through. In the exergue, the inscription reads: ON! SAIL ON! Cornucopias and semi-nude figures: American medallic sculpture and coin design from this period was infused with now-unthinkable eroticism. The medal’s reverse features two female figures intertwined, representing Earth’s two hemispheres, cornucopias in hand. This same “land of plenty” motif was carried forth in the commemorative half dollar design.

Aitken, who also designed the two $50 slugs, sticks with the classical mythological theme. The caduceus appears on the commemorative quarter eagle, designed by Barber and Morgan. Columbia is holding it while astride the back of a hippocampus. We can’t look at the reverse of this medal without thinking of Werner Herzog’s Fitzcarraldo (1982). Also of note is HK-404, featuring the headless Winged Victory of Samothrace standing atop a ship, passing through the Canal. On the reverse is an indigenous Panamanian watching a ship steaming along the waterway, a mountainous scene in the distance. Of minor note, the motto IN GOD WE TRUST appears at the bottom of the Florida Exposition medal, the first such instance where the motto appears on a so-called dollar. HK-405: A medal commissioned by the State of Georgia valorizes California’s bountiful crops. HK-405, another beautiful piece, features a female figure inspired by Oscar Roty’s The Sower, carrying a cornucopia as she walks toward the sunrise. This so-called dollar was commissioned by the State of Georgia.

This piece, along with Aitken’s official medal, are logical compliments to the Pan-Pac half dollar. And speaking of sensual, HK-417-418a: ¡ Aye Carumba! The striking Exposition City Dollar, perhaps the most erotic of the so-called dollars, is also a likely compliment to the Pan-Pac half dollar. Depicted on the obverse are the many structures built for the fair. The reverse features two nude females laying a wreath across the Panama Canal. The 1923 Monroe Doctrine Centennial half dollar revisits this theme, but instead uses female figures to form the shapes of the two American continents. Souvenir medal made to look like California gold. There were also three octagonal releases, made to resemble California territorial gold pieces of 1852. Several faux-gold pieces were struck in the form of California gold. A few variations on the octagonal piece pictured above contain the motto IN GOD WE TRUST. The above piece has the curious inscription OOO THOU in its place. Hibler and Kappen note that these pieces were struck by a company called Irvine & Jachens of nearby Daly City, California[22].

Of all of the major Expos, the Panama-Pacific International Exposition boasts the finest commemorative coins and the most beautiful and diverse assortment of so-called dollars. While the extremely low mintage $50 gold pieces are likely out of reach for most collectors, many of this event’s so-called dollars are approachable. Putting together a complete set, however, will pose quite a challenge. U.S. Sesquicentennial Exposition (1926), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania A giant Liberty bell, seen beneath scaffolds, was imbued with electric lights. U.S. Sesquicentennial Exposition (1926), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Date 1 Swastika, Lucky Token Marking an end to a period of coins struck for great national expositions, this Pennsylvania affair disappointed at the box office and in the selection of medals. The U.S. Sesquicentennial Exposition of 1926 was a disaster on many levels. Held as a celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the fair was met with immediate controversy over budget cuts and the sudden retirement and unexpected deaths of senior officials.

The event failed to draw sufficient crowds to cover costs and ultimately, the Exposition and its organizing company went bankrupt. Despite the tumultuous start of the fair and its sad ending, the fair did feature a brilliant display of electric lights, and a title bout between Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey. Tunney outlasted Dempsey for ten rain-soaked rounds and won the World Heavyweight Title. Dempsey, one of the greatest fighters of the twentieth century, would never reclaim his belt. In order to defray the costs of the fair, Congress authorized the production of a commemorative half dollar and quarter eagle. The authorizing legislation dated March 3, 1925 legislated the striking of no more than one million half dollars and no more than 200,000 gold quarter eagles. Sales of the coins proved to be just as disappointing as ticket sales for the exposition, with 85% of the struck half dollars and 77% of the quarter eagles returned to the mint for melting (as the fair was held in Philadelphia, it was a short return trip).

Commemorative collectors probably already know this, but the relief on the half dollar and quarter eagle is so low that finding gem quality examples has proven to be very tough. The half dollar in MS-65 is one of the priciest half dollars in the classic commemorative series. Attractive examples sell for $4,000 or more. In addition to the coins, four so-called dollar designs were manufactured and sold at the Exposition. An official medal (pictured below) was struck on the grounds on Mint equipment at a Mint exhibit. The official medal, in copper, bronze, brass, and nickel, features Washington on the obverse and Columbia riding Pegasus above the clouds. The official medal was designed by Albin Polasek, a noted Czech-American sculptor whose work married the Beaux-Arts style with an erotic, askew naturalism. The Pegasus on the reverse of the medal is a tame motif, more representative of his style than the staid, inscription-heavy obverse. The State of Connecticut issued a medal in silver, bronze, and gold.

Mint Engraver Adam Pietz designed a so-called dollar that features a beautiful female head on the obverse as well as an eagle with a swastika covering its breast on the reverse (more on this in Part Three). Pietz would see only one of his coin designs utilized twenty years later in the form of the Iowa Centennial half dollar. Wrapping up the Expo’s so-called dollars is a piece commemorating the Medal of Honor. The obverse features a wreath; the reverse shows an eagle overlooking Independence Hall. Examples of all of the coins and medals struck for the U.S. Sesquicentennial Exposition can be found without too much trouble. Silver and Gold versions of the Connecticut so-called dollar are particularly rare. The Pietz piece is interesting on a number of levels, especially for those who wish to add a companion piece to their Iowa half dollars. **** That wraps up Part 1 of our Spotlight on So-Called Dollars. In Part 2, Hubert and I will talk about other interesting so-called dollars, focusing on unusual themes, symbols, events and people, and further discuss the place of so-called dollars in American numismatics.

But before we go, we’d like to point out one very fascinating fact. All of the Expos we talked about in this article took place after the invention of the cinema. As a consequence, there is footage available to us today. Especially noteworthy is film from the Panama-Pacific Expo, which you can watch here . Special Thanks: Hubert and I would like to thank Tom Hoffman, who, on behalf of his team, provided us with a copy of the 2nd Edition of Hibler & Kappen’s So-Called Dollars: An Illustrated Standard Catalog, which we recommend without reservation. We’d also like to thank American Numismatic Association Executive Director Jeff Shevlin for lending his expertise as we were writing this piece. His book on Charbneau is available here . Flip of a Coin: Ever wonder why the term pennyweight is associated with the purity of precious metals? During the reign of King Offa in Dark Ages England, the Mercians began to mint a coin that contained 24 grains of silver. This coin was the very first penny. While the days of making pennies out of silver are long gone, jewelers and assayers still use the term.

A pennyweight is the equivalent of 1/20th troy ounce. Aren't most mint marks RPMS? Well, not anymore, since mint marks are now part of the digital die. But in the period when mint marks were hand punched, there were lots of opportunities for things to go awry. Some engravers liked to punch and repunch mint marks a number of times to make sure they struck up. Multiply this exercise by hundreds of dies a day and the possibilities for a slightly off-kilter mint mark are staggering. We still like RPMs that make you think Oh my God, how did this get through quality control?... but your run-of-the-mill, microscopically-doubled mint mark - which is only visible in very early die states - isn't all that special or rare. Did clad proof planchets intended for 1971 Eisenhower dollars end up at Denver? The Ike Group thinks so. After scores of brilliant 1971-D Eisenhower dollars have shown up over the years, the Ike Group speculates that these burnished planchets were probably earmarked for proof coinage. The Mint did not release its first clad Eisenhower dollar proof until 1973.

One has to wonder: Why the delay? And why did so many prooflike planchets enter into circulation in the first year of the coin's production? Updated and Re-posted from the original August 2013 article World Coin Collecting: Coin Collecting Terminology The fun of collecting world coins, from Portland Coins . Saturday, February 12, 2011 Coin Collecting Terminology Coin collecting has its own lexicon that you'll find it helpful to become familiar with. These words help collectors accurately discuss coins. If you spend much time around other collectors, looking at coins, reading about coins, or even shopping for coins, you've probably run into a few of these. If you haven't, then learning about them ahead of time will prepare you for when they do come up. This is just a starting list; in future posts, I'll explain more coin vocabulary. The collecting or study of money is called numismatics (pronounced "noo-miz-ma-ticks"). Coin collecting does not have its own word, so numismatics can mean someone who studies money, someone who collects currency (paper money), someone who collects tokens, someone who collects coins, etc.

The most common meaning, however, is the collecting of money or money-like items (tokens, medals). In a library catalog, searching for "numismatics" is going to take you directly to money and coin related items. It's good to be familiar with this term so that if you see things like the "American Numismatic Association" or a magazine called "Numismatic News", you'll have a better idea what they are. Someone who collects or studies money is called a numismatist (pronounced "noo-miz-ma-tist"). If you've started your own world collection, you are now a numismatist. That sure sounds fancier than calling yourself a "coin collector". The parts of a coin are important to know for both describing coins and understanding what other people are saying about them. A coin has 2 sides, or faces. Most people just call these "front" and "back", or "heads" and "tails", but the correct terms are obverse (front/heads) and reverse (back/tails).

For most coins the obverse is the "heads" side - the side with a picture of a person, or animal, or coat-of-arms - and the reverse is the "tails" side. For coins that don't have an obvious obverse or reverse, I'm unsure how you pick which is the "front" and which is the "back". A coin also has an edge, which is the (usually) flat part that runs around the circumference of the coin. Sometimes the edge of a coin can be as distinctive as its obverse or reverse - keep an eye out for coins that have words, symbols, or a design on their edge (like the United States' Presidential $1 coins). A coin's alignment means how the obverse and reverse are lined up with each other. Each side of a coin has its own "up" direction, where the picture or writing is right-side up. Sometimes this "up" direction is the same on both sides, and sometimes it is opposite. Hold a coin so that one side is right-side up and flip it left-to-right (horizontally) to view the back. If the back is still right-side up, then the coin has medal alignment.

If the back is now upside-down, then the coin has coin alignment (if you flip the coin top-to-bottom, or vertically, then the back appears right-side-up). On modern coins, any alignment besides these 2 is usually an error. If you have trouble remembering the difference between coin and medal alignment, think about a large medal hanging from a ribbon around someone's neck. To view the back, you would turn it side-to-side - and the back would still be still right-side up so you could read it. That's medal alignment. High-grade (left) vs low-grade (right) A coin's condition or grade is an indication of how good (or bad) it is. A coin with a high grade would be clean and shiny, with few scratches and very little wearing. A coin with a low grade might be dirty or stained, have a lot of scratches or nicks/cuts, and/or be worn down (so that the original intricate details of the coin are gone). In the United States, we usually use a grading scale that goes from Poor (P) to Brilliant Uncirculated (BU): Poor (P) Extra Fine (EF or XF) Almost Uncirculated (AU) Charles Riley Coins And Medals London .

I also travel the country widely. Valuation for Probate: This can be arranged for a fee dependent on the amount of work involved. Auction cataloguing: As an auction cataloguer and auctioneer between 1990-2005, I am well placed to catalogue numismatic collections for auction, and can offer advice on all matters relating to the auction process. News Please note my new email address is charlesrileycoins@gmail.com If you can, please help with this important fundraiser: THE LENBOROUGH HOARD In December 2014 a massive hoard of pennies from the reigns of Anglo-Saxon king Aethelred II (978-1016) and Danish king Cnut (1016-1035) was discovered in my local area of Buckinghamshire. My local county museum is raising funds to buy the entire hoard and keep it here as one entity in the county museum in Aylesbury. They’ve managed to raise £1.3 million pounds of the £1.5m needed – so it just requires one final push! Can you help? All donations gratefully received!

Further details through clicking on the image below, or emailing bthorn@buckscountymuseum.org .There is further information about donating here Website stock listings: All website stock listings will be updated over the coming months. 2015 - career anniversaries: 2015 marked a couple of milestones in my numismatic journey for which I issued this commemorative medal. It is available for purchase at just £5 plus registered postage, or will be free with any item ordered from this website. For further details click on the medal image or this link here . There is a small selection of numismatic books for sale. These are offered on the References page, after the numismatic bibliography: do have a look - although small in number, it is quite an interesting selection - and excellent value! Facebook: There is now a Facebook page called...”Charles Riley Coins & Medals”. It has some photos not on this website and may have alerts as to website listings or events in my numismatic life. You can access it here . "eBay": Whilst I have reservations about this online auction site, I still use it as a seller from time to time under the nom de guerre "Rodgarden”.

My photograph: Apparently some people like to know what the person they are dealing with actually looks like, so now you can find out by scrolling down to the bottom of the References page, below the "Books for Sale" section, or simply clicking here . Additionally, recently I unearthed the photograph here of my early days in the coin auction business at Glendining and Company in central London which I’m putting on this website for a bit of fun. Anything else?: An online valuation company I work for has published a profile of me which gives the interested reader more background detail than is available on my own website. See here .

Coin Fairs 2017 – dates for the diary 4 February London Coin Fair Holiday Inn, Coram Street, London WC1N 1HT 17 & 18 March Harrogate Coin Fair The Old Swan Hotel, Swan Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG1 2SR 3 June London Coin Fair Holiday Inn, Coram Street, London WC1N 1HT 22 & 23 September Coinex The Millennium Hotel, Grosvenor Square, London W1K 2HP 4 November London Coin Fair Holiday Inn, Coram Street, London WC1N 1HT Oxford Numismatic Society The Society meets about 8 times a year usually very informally over lunch at The King's Arms, The Moors, Kidlington OX5 2AJ (north of Oxford) at 12pm. The next meeting is on 10th December. Additional information is available here . New members are welcome - please contact me for further details. A photograph of a typical meeting is available here . Numismatically departed: brief farewells to selected numismatists can be found here . PLEASE TAKE NOTE!

The full notice advising of my thoughts on general requests for information, or ‘discounted’ prices has been moved to the foot of the Orders & Enquiries page, but briefly: Please DON’T ask for general information, and certainly please DON’T ask for reduced prices. Thank you. On parle du français ich spreche ein bisschen Deutsch Copyright 2005-2016: all rights reserved

Question: What is a collector of coins and medals called?
Answer: Numismatist