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 Replies: 26 / Views: 4,144 |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
4618 Posts |
I was searching the Newman Numismatic Portal https://nnp.wustl.edu/ when I found this and wanted to share the image. While it hurts to see a coin like this damaged, I do find the engraving beautiful! I'd love to know the value of the coin and the condition of the reverse in the year it was modified! Click on the photo for a larger image ANA ID: 3203813 - CONECA ID: N-5637 Clean a coin that may be worth collecting? Please DON'T! When in doubt, leave it dirty!! 
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
Based on the probable time period it was made, that was a quite a significant creation.
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Valued Member
Canada
242 Posts |
A break action shotgun like that does not date anywhere near the 1700's, so it likely is a much later creation. Wikipedia says the first revolver with that sort of action was made patented in 1858!
LRC
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7615 Posts |
Fascinating piece of artwork.
It would be interesting to know when it was created and what the coin actually looked like BEFORE the alteration.
For all we know the coin could have originally had some crude initials carved on the reverse. Some enterprising individual then bought it, had the reverse planned down, and then had what we see now engraved on it.
As always, it's worth what somebody is willing to pay for it.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5239 Posts |
The heyday of love tokens was about 1870-1910. Dollars are rather uncommon; to see this on a 1795 specimen must surely be very rare if not unique. Engraved common date Morgans sell for $100 or so. The age of the host coin plus the quality of the work would make this quite a bit more.
Edited by oriole
09/22/2020 11:19 am
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
94367 Posts |
Quite remarkable, thanks for sharing.
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Moderator
United States
187914 Posts |
Impressive.  |
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Valued Member
Canada
194 Posts |
this love token is absolutely crazy, look at that quality hand engraving... wow, PLUS, got the obverse of the 1795 dollar, crazy combination!
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
2843 Posts |
Quote:
A break action shotgun like that does not date anywhere near the 1700's, so it likely is a much later creation Very good point. A 1795 dollar in the mid-late 1800's should have been given more respect. It is probable that the reverse was damaged enough to warrant a total restart. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
8516 Posts |
Man that's gorgeous !
Oregon coin geek.....*** GO BEAVS ! ! ! ***
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4233 Posts |
"I'd love to know the value of the coin and the condition of the reverse in the year it was modified!" - I found some sales of 1795 dollars in the 1871 American Journal of Numismatics. $4.50, "fillet head, fine" 17.00, "fine" 19.00, some others in the 2.00-3.75 range. Can't tell what prices were for flowing hair versus draped bust though.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
The "fillet head" was a common name for the draped bust design. The ribbon holding back her hair was called a fillet.
At least it was a common variety, B-5.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3343 Posts |
At current prices I'll guess $3000. But the quality of the engraving might push that higher, as folk art. Probably post Civil War, typical of trophy finish from that period.
No one could guess what the reverse looked like. It wasn't as highly valued 100 years ago, so it could have been normal. The surviving population is pretty high.
"Two minutes ago I would have sold my chances for a tired dime." Fred Astaire
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Great artistic work but now only a damaged coin.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5029 Posts |
Quote:
Great artistic work but now only a damaged coin.  My thoughts as well. First double barrel shotgun was mid-1870's I believe. However, I can not easily tell if that is what the type of shotgun is. It is a nice engraving though. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
3323 Posts |
The weapon on this token appears to be a percussion breech-loading shotgun. Breech-loaders have been around since the early 19th century and percussion weapons came along prior to the Civil War. It is hard to date this item but likely created during the love token heyday of the mid- to late-eighteenth century?
I personally think this is a wonderful example of the artistry that was applied to these items. Someone with initials CK would have a great treasure if they had this token and I prefer it to the native coin that was likely worn when the token was created. As the old saying goes, "To Each Their Own."
"Nummi rari mira sunt, si sumptus ferre potes." - Christophorus filius Scotiae
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Replies: 26 / Views: 4,144 |
Posted 09/22/2020 09:35 am
