Exonumia Auction - Maine Antique Digest

U.S. Mint MedalsCOMMEMORATIVE MEDALS324. LOWELL CENTENNIAL, 1876. CM-26; Storer 1195. 24.4mm.Unsigned. Silver. Uncirculated. The obverse depicts a womanspinning wool surrounded by the legend: SHE SEEKETH WOOLAND FLAX AND WORKETH WILLINGLY WITH HERHANDS 1776. The reverse legend: ART IS THE HANDMAIDOF HUMAN GOOD, LOWELL, 1876. surrounds a monogramcomposed of the letters WCA.performing in various theaters through the U.K. His best knownparts were those of Bardwell Slote in “The Mighty Dollar” andCaptain Cuttle in “Dombey and Son”, while Mrs. Florence was afavorite as Mrs. General Gilflory. Robert Eberle was a well-knowntheatrical stage manager.a total of 101 of these medals were struck by the U.S. Mint insilver, 1877-80. This is only the third example we have seen. Fromour 1996 Auction Sixty One, Lot 329. (G)the meaning of the WCA monogram is unknown. “Art is thehandmaid…” is the town motto and appears on the City seal.According to Mint records, 10 gold, 200 silver and 10 bronzemedals were struck. Nothing is noted about strikings of whitemetal and gilt white metal pieces, presumably because they werestruck outside the Mint.. (Holland states that 400 were struck inwhite metal, but does not note any struck in bronze.) (F)Lot 325325. MECKLENBURG CENTENNIAL. CM-28. 30.4mm. Silver.(12.5 grams) William Barber, Sc,. A beautifully rainbow tonedproof-like Uncirculated with light hairlines. These medals werestruck to commemorate the 1775 “Declaration of Independence”that was signed in Charlotte (Mecklenburg County) NorthCarolina. A most interesting historical piece. (I)Lot 326326. NAMED “MIGHTY DOLLAR PRESENTATION MEDAL.CM-32. 42.2mm. Silver. Weight: 45.4 grams. Unsigned. ExtremelyFine with scattered field marks. The obverse bears jugate busts tothe left and the legend: PRESENTED BY MR. AND MRS. WM. J.FLORENCE. The reverse bears the struck inscription SOUVENIR/THE/ MIGHTY DOLLAR with a wreath below. Above THE ishand engraved the name of ROBT. M. EBERLE.William Jermyn Florence was a well-known stage actor. Hegained his early distinction playing various comedic roles. In 1853he married Mrs. Malvina (Pray) Littel;, a danseuse attached toWallack’s Theater in New York City. Almost immediately the twoappeared at the National Theater as the Irish Boy and the YankeeGirl. In 1856, they went to England, and appeared in Drury LaneTheater, London, for 50 nights to crowded houses, afterwardLot 327327. NEW HAVEN BICENTENNIAL MEDAL, 1838. CM-37.55.6mm. Chocolate Bronze. Unsigned. Uncirculated. The obverselegend reads: QUINNIPIAK 1638 THE DESERT SHALLREJOICE around a vignette of John Davenport preaching underan oak tree to a crowd of settlers; a pair of seated Indians observingto the left. The reverse bears the legend: NEW HAVEN 1838 ANDBLOSSOM AS THE ROSE around a water view of the town ofNew Haven. Issued by the Connecticut Academy of Arts andSciences.this is the variety as pictured in Julian. There is another varietyutilizing an entirely different obverse die. This die is signed,C.C.WRIGHT. Its most salient difference is that there are a seriesof rays above the mountain in the left background. The reversesof both medals are the same. The New Haven medal was struckin silver, bronze and white metal. The bronze medal is scarce, butdoes turn up on occasion. The silver and white metal examplesare decidedly rare. As apparently elusive as these pieces are,it is curious that there were two obverse dies, one signed andone unsigned. Perhaps the original obverse die broke and C.C.Wright was unable or unwilling to execute a new die and otherarrangements were made to have it replaced. (F)85H