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Replies: 10 / Views: 240 |
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Valued Member
Canada
262 Posts |
Found this one while I was re-organizing things today. 11 stars if the hole erased one, otherwise 10. Tried google and Numista image searches without success. The closest thing I could find was an 1840 William Henry Harrison campaign medal with a "similar" eagle and banner on the reverse but Harrison on the obverse. 0.59g 13.06mm Appreciate any help giving it an identity. 
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
27466 Posts |
It has the looks of a spiel marke or jeton.
Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Valued Member
 Canada
262 Posts |
The "sick" spread-legged eagle also resembles one seen on the reverse of a Canadian half penny token from the early 1800's (cf. Imitation Seated Britannia / Spread Eagle Token Charlton reference LC-54B3). I thoght I've seen it on CCF somewhere also but can't find it.
The crudeness of the design (e.g. misshapen shield, crude lines) and mushiness of features make me think fake but for what purpose.
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Valued Member
 Canada
262 Posts |
Quote: It has the looks of a spiel marke or jeton Thanks HondoB. Yes the spiel marke I think is the piece I remembered. Thanks! Also noticed that this post https://goccf.com/t/466254 references a spel marke that has a liberty head with 10 stars.
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
27466 Posts |
Here's one that I have that's about 13 mm. The Liberty head and eagle were common motifs on spiel markes. Generally, they are well- marked like this one, however. 
Inordinately fascinated by bits of metal with strange markings and figures
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Moderator
 Australia
16985 Posts |
I would assume it to be a "jewellery imitation". It was quite common back int he day to turn gold and silver coins into items of jewellery - a "flaunt your wealth" kind of thing. And if you weren't actually rich enough to afford a genuine gold coin for your necklace, then you bought an imitation-coin necklace so you could still look the part. If so, this piece is something intended to be turned into a necklace, with a design that looks enough like an actual coin at first glance, but is nowhere near close enough for the manufacturer to be accused of counterfeiting. And if it was intended as a jewellery-piece, then it was probably made with the hole already there.
Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise, you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. - C. S. Lewis
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1271 Posts |
Being a Canadian with little interest or knowledge to offer on item's of this nature, is it not possible that this is associated with the civil war? I ask because it would appear to have originally had eleven stars with the one star holed out. Eleven stars could represent the eleven states that seceded during the civil war and made up the Confederacy. Just a thought.
Cheer's Bill
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Valued Member
 Canada
262 Posts |
Quote: a "jewellery imitation" If this is the case do you think the 10/11 stars are significant in terms of estimating the time period it was made? I also count 9 remaining stars on the reverse but there could have been 1 or 2 more hidden by wear/damage/hole making. Also the dies seem to have been crudely made. Quote: is it not possible that this is associated with the civil war? I think anything is possible and yours is an interesting theory. I don't know a thing about civil war coinage/tokens from the south. I'm somewhat familiar with civil was tokens but the ones I've seen are dated. Excellent input @Sap and @HounddogBill. Looking forward to more thoughts and ideas on how to research this piece.
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Valued Member
 Canada
262 Posts |
In my continuing search I've seen several pieces on ebay idenitified as US Liberty Counter Tokens, some with the spiel marke designation and some not. [The obverses look very similar and there seem to be lots of different reverse designs.] I was wondering if there are any online resources that catalogue these counter US liberty counter tokens that I could search through. As I've mentioned I tried searching Token Catalog but without success. I don't give up easily 
Edited by lahave56 Today 1H 43M ago
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Moderator
 United States
34544 Posts |
I like your can-do attitude @lah! I'm pretty sure that I found a decent match on ebay here: https://www.ebay.com/itm/358809390649They have it listed as a Political Counter Token from the 1860s: Quote: (1860's) Early 11 Stars Liberty & Union Eagle w Banner Counter Token. 1 dollar gold jewelry counter. Typically worn as a charm on a bracelet at early gambling tables. Liberty 741/ Eagle 700b (R-7). Loop(s) missing. Holed as issued. Au Unc. Plain Edge, 13mm, Brass. Oddly enough the token being auctioned isn't holed! Here are some pictures to compare when that auction comes down as there seem to be many variations of both the Liberty and Eagle design elements:   
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push." -----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed." -----King Adz
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Valued Member
 Canada
262 Posts |
Quote: I like your can-do attitude Thanks @Spence that looks like a great match!! I need to improve my search technique Do you have to have an ebay account to see the end time for the auction? I couldn't see it Also if appears there is some sort of catalog for these items from the snippet provided. I'll message the seller to see if they will tell me the source Very much appreciate your help
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Replies: 10 / Views: 240 |
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