Exonumia Auction - Maine Antique Digest

Miscellaneous Tokens and MedalsH108Lot 391 Lot 392– most displayable! The obverse depicts a large globe at center,showing the Atlantic Ocean and the continents of Europe and theAmericas. A small bird flies above with an olive branch in its beak.To either side are two standing figures, one an American seamanand the other, a semi-clad female, representative of Great Britain.The two stretch a piece of cable across the ocean area. At bottomis the seal of the Chamber of Commerce flanked by the Americanand British arms. Reverse: Above is the inscription: FROMTHE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE/ AND CITIZENS OF NEWYORK. At center are two men-of-war, stern to stern, with cablebetween. Two supporting ships are in the distance. In exergue:COMMEMORATIVE OF THE PART TAKEN/ BY HIM/ INLAYING THE/ FIRST/ TELEGRAPHIC CABLE/ BETWEEN/EUROPE AND AMERICA, IN AUGUST, A.D. 1858. The areafor engraving the name of the awardee at top is blank.There are two variations of this award medal. This, the smallerof the two, is known to have been struck in both bronze and puregold. 57 medals in gold weighing about three ounces were givento the crew and staff of the cable ships. An unknown number wasstruck in bronze. An uncirculated example was sold by Stacks intheir January 2011 Americana Sale for $2185.00. This less thanperfect example should bring in $600-800 range.392. JOHN BROWN MEMORIAL MEDAL, 1859. Marqusee 410.56.7mm. Bronze. Jean Wurden, Sc. Extremely Fine with somescattered field and rim marks consistent with the grade. Obversewith a fierce looking bearded bust of Brown and the legend: JOHNBROWN, NE A TORRINGTON LE 9 MAI 1800. The reversecontains an 11 line French language memorial to Brown and hissons and companions who were victims of their devotion to thecause of liberty to the blacks.A gold impression of this medal was presented to Mrs. Brownand was later donated to the Kansas Historical Society. The FordCollection had two silver and 4 bronze specimens – apparentlyMr. Ford thought so much of this medal that he acquired every onethat he saw. He bought both of the silver examples in the GarrettIV Sale and a bronze example from our December 1970 Sale inaddition to private treaty purchases in 1969 and 1976 and fromthe Wayte Raymond Estate. Three of the Ford pieces were niceuncirculated examples and brought from $1035 to $1,437.50. (I)393. AMERICAN INSTITUTE AWARD MEDAL, 1859. Harkness60. R8. 51mm. Silver. (2.o oz.) Robert Lovett, Jr., Sc. XF withfield and rim marks consistent with the grade. Obverse with usualAI symbol depicting the goddess Ceres amidst symbols of liberty,nationalism, agriculture, science, manufactures, commerce andthe arts. Above, AMERICAN INSTITUTE. In exergue: NEWYORK. The obverse die is signed, (R.) LOVETT at the bottom.The reverse bears a closed laurel wreath around AWARDED TO.Engraved at center, J.B. THOMPSON/FOR/ ALBUMEN/ 1865.Although this type was struck for a ten year period (1858-1868)examples in both silver and bronze are most elusive as evidence byHarkness’ rarity ratings of R8 and R9 respectively. (F)394. NY 616A. WILLIAM J. MULLEN, 1862. 36.5mm. Copper.Unsigned, but attributed to Louisa Lander. Uncirculated, with someuneven color and a few scattered spots. At center is a bust to the left