1694 New England Elephant Token - Coin Community Forum

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Author	Replies: 7 / Views: 4,061
sjh241 Valued Member United States 386 Posts	Posted 03/21/2013 4:59 pm Authentic? I'm thinking Bolen re-strike? I don't know much about Colonials, but the 9 looks incorrect as does the R. This token walked into a friends shop today. It is in terrible shape; environmental damage (typical) and then lacquered. I only had my phone with me so here are some pics (the darker image is close to the color of the token, while the other two show better detail but the angle and light make the token look silver which it is not- it's the light bouncing off the lacquer): Report this Post to the Staff

amida17 Pillar of the Community United States 4897 Posts	Posted 03/21/2013 7:08 pm Not sure if Bolen did a "New England " elephant token? Alfred Robinson copied it but this does not match his. Look at the E in New see how it is slightly right of the L in England? That is characteristic of the originals. I am certainly not saying it is authentic but it is not a Robinson copy. More modern than it appears perhaps? This looks a lot like it... http://www.coinreplicas.com/god-pre...token-1694-8 Edited by amida17 03/21/2013 7:19 pm Report this Post to the Staff
philadelphian Pillar of the Community United States 3253 Posts	Posted 03/21/2013 7:21 pm The fields and lettering have more of the look of a more modern cast copy. Still trying to locate an image of a Bolen NewEngland elephant (plenty of Bolen Carolina elephants), but the look of the pachyderm is not that of Robinson's, who was also minting copies in the 1860's. Report this Post to the Staff
philadelphian Pillar of the Community United States 3253 Posts	Posted 03/21/2013 7:26 pm Thanks for that pic with the identical lettering, amida! I had seen it pop up on at least one thread on another forum from a couple years ago; someone there claimed to suspect it was Bolen, but I had the same difficulty demonstrating Bolen had made any New Englands. Can't link to that forum. Edited by philadelphian 03/21/2013 7:27 pm Report this Post to the Staff
sjh241 Valued Member United States 386 Posts	Posted 03/21/2013 7:56 pm The image from amida has what appears to be a counter-stamp below the elephant. The token I saw today was well worn on the obverse, with the reverse in better shape. I will look tomorrow to see if I can see any hints of a counter-stamp. I would say amidas image matches up quite well. If it is a copy, next step would be to see if it's an old or modern one. This token really looks like it sat in the ground for a long time, at least to my eyes. I will say however that when I inspected it, the edge was strange. It was mostly smooth with hints of reeding here and there. Report this Post to the Staff
philadelphian Pillar of the Community United States 3253 Posts	Posted 03/21/2013 10:48 pm Check that edge. A seam may indicate an electrotype. The pic on the other forum I mentioned was an exact copy as well. Report this Post to the Staff
vermontensium Moderator United States 16679 Posts	Posted 03/21/2013 11:23 pm Definitely a cast copy, "aged" to fool someone. As philadelphian pointed out, the lettering is a dead giveaway. swcoin.ecrater.com Report this Post to the Staff
sjh241 Valued Member United States 386 Posts	Posted 03/22/2013 7:59 pm Thanks Vertomntensium, philadephian and amida. I'm in the leaning process for Colonials. I'll take a look tomorrow at the seam. I'll probably buy this "token" for a few bucks once I present the findings and take it off the market. In my research, I may have found it being hinted as an old copy. I say this as the old comment and pic for the token shows some pitting markers that match up with this one. Report this Post to the Staff
	Replies: 7 / Views: 4,061

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