1899 British Pennie A, Oakley

"A. OAKLEY" is almost certainly a reference to Annie Oakley, a famous American sharpshooter who toured with Buffalo Bill's Wild West show from 1885 to 1901. The show toured extensively throughout Europe and performed for many Heads of State, including Queen Victoria. I assume the hole is for a loop or ribbon and not a bullet hole. She was known tossing coins in the air and shooting them as part of her act but that would certainly leave the coin is a very damaged condition.

Most were done by shooting the coin on the ground! during the show when shooting clay targets, plates, or the glass balls. They used a special shell, which consisted of small pellets in what ever caliber they were shooting. That way even if only one or two pellets hit it they would break. It increased the odds greatly, couldn't leave much to chance during the show of the worlds best shots missing any!

The old wild west showman and women that traveled putting on shootist exhibitions never left anything to chance. From putting the coins on the ground and using low powdered ammo so not to waste any to using what is called rat shoot today .22 caliber filled with very small pellets so if they were close one or more of the pellets would burst the glass balls they shot at and if any struck the audience they wouldn't get hurt.

They person picking up the coin, after the shot in the middle of the arena would palm the one that fell and hold up a pre holed one. If there were a famous personage in attendance they would be given a holed coin.

Also when they did close in and indoor shows they used a hard wax bullet so any strays would create mayhem. Even the ones that were shot on the ground and some by other than the performers, the kids etc with the show would sell them for extra money. The stamped ones then and today would bring a high price.
They are called trick shots for a reason!

Western films,and TV have given us a warped sense of what was done by the gunsligners of the day.

They may be scrap to coin people, but would be eagerly sort by collectors of circus, wild westshows and shootist of the day. Sounds like you have a couple of nice items.

Here is a US Buffalo nickle of a slightly new vintage https://goccf.com/t/160732

hi this is one if the coins hope I have done this correctly thanks

Hi thanks not sure if I should clean it up a bit ?

I wouldn't clean them at all, in answer to your first question!

And second question, they are only worth what somebody that wants them or has to have them is willing to pay. The stuff from Circus etc. outdoor amusement business, even that old some have little value

I have some tickets for Scudders museum same time as Barnum's one that burned. And tickets from Circuses in the same time frame. They don't sell for much even foe new old stock. So it's hard to say. I haven't been collecting actively in a number of years so I am out of the loop!

Wow is that the price it sold for? $1000 thats alot of money so it would be best to leave it uncleaned thanks all great forum you lot have here