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 Replies: 10 / Views: 1,876 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3499 Posts |
So what do you all make of this? This is an 1890 penny, which someone has obviously turned into a piece of folk art. While the Reverse is unaltered, the obverse has been meticulously engraved with hundred of small knife/tool marks, transforming the bust of the queen into what may be a mustached soldier. The hat may be a military-style hat, with chin strap. She also appears to be wearing a military uniform, including some type of circular emblem with a number 1 within. What do you make of this? Has Victoria been transformed in order to make her look like a specific person in uniform? Or has she just been made into a generic solder? Thanks for any input!  Edited by Archraz
01/07/2019 12:19 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
17953 Posts |
Very interesting: I've seen similar coins before but nothing quite so elaborate. Possibly a Boer War souvenir, carved by a soldier with too much time on his hands? The old UK penny was ideal for this as it had a large surface area but a relatively low face value!
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Bedrock of the Community
 United States
12477 Posts |
The Hobo Penny! That's interesting.
In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5246 Posts |
This is an interesting item. It has value (perhaps not a lot), and I would keep it for sure.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6514 Posts |
Really neat find. Someone really did have some time on their hands.  Check out my counterstamped Lincoln Cent collection: http://goccf.com/t/303507 |
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Pillar of the Community
Australia
1333 Posts |
id keep it, probably pay 1 dollar for it maybe more. I wounder to who had the time to do this, I think more likely some student,or maybe a sailor.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Skillfully done and, on reflection, rather flattering.
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Moderator
 Australia
16837 Posts |
For the question of "who the portrait is supposed to imitate", I would postulate this: there appears to be some kind of prominence on the front of the "hat" - much like the eagle perched on top of the Prussian Cavalry officer's dress helmet, which we see Kaiser Wilhelm posing in on the German East Africa coinage. Given the other similarities with the portrait on those coins (the long moustache, high collar, etc) I would presume the aim was to imitate these GEA portraits of the Kaiser. Perhaps carved by a bored German POW during WWI? 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
United Kingdom
695 Posts |
It's called trench art similar to the US hobo . Done by servicemen in the trenches during wartime. Commands a premium. I love them .
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
709 Posts |
Is it possible to say how long ago the engraving was done compared to the coin?
There are some spots of bright metal in there. Would the deep parts of the engraving tone like the rest of the coin?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12477 Posts |
Quote:
There are some spots of bright metal in there. Would the deep parts of the engraving tone like the rest of the coin? Yes they would in time, considering the composition. I see the lighter areas in the engraving, but that does not seem unusual if this were engraved by a WWI soldier, being a coin minted in 1890. In Memory of Crazyb0 12-26-1951 to 7-27-2020
In Memory of Tootallious 3-31-1964 to 4-15-2020
In Memory of T-BOP 10-12-1949 to 1-19-2024
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Replies: 10 / Views: 1,876 |
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Posted 01/06/2019 11:58 pm
