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 Replies: 20 / Views: 3,076 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
844 Posts |
Hi all!  I have a collection of just about everything. I have contributed to "Richards token database" with the obvious tokens, but what about "medals" Where do they fit in? I have some really neat ones i.e. Coca-Cola, President J.F.K., Automobile, etc. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
12437 Posts |
Yes, medals are definitely a part of numismatics and they are generally classified as exonumia. Not all medals are created equally so some types tend to be worth more than others- Mint medals and So-Called Dollars are two examples. |
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Humans have that problem of being sort of pack rats. Almost all try to collect something or lots of stuff. It is supposed to be related to when they were babies and they just had to have a security blanket. Then parents continued to inspire this phobia by always using the same cloths, bed, hanging toys and even nipples on bottles.
Slowly as humans grow, they just have to continue this habit of collecting STUFF for mostly security purposes. Ever notice how many little kids say MINE, MINE, MINE?
Proof of this is when you hear so many people worry about what will happen to all their worldly possesions after they are gone. They really shouldn't care since there is nothing they can do about it then. But just have to worry about their STUFF.
Today there are forums for just about everything. People collect metals, cars, animals, flowers, butterflys, flashlights, shoes and on and on and on.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2605 Posts |
Yes, medals are part of numismatics. Many medals are designed and struck at the mints that issue circulating coinage. And just like coin designs vary from very bland to exquisite, the medals could be anything from "blah" to very artistic.
Just as with coins some collectors may choose a specific country or a certain theme to concentrate upon.
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Moderator
 Australia
16808 Posts |
The working definition of "Numismatics" which my coin club came up with when the question arose was the following: Quote:
Numismatics: the collection and study of coins and of objects related to coins either by physical resemblance, method of manufacture or usage as money. Medals would be included as "numismatic" under both "physical resemblance" and "method of manufacture". 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 States
844 Posts |
It's interesting for sure. Not sure what kind of value they would have. Some I would think would be worth at least a little something just by going off the themes. Anyone have a suggested source to check up on them?
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
Quote:
It's interesting for sure. Not sure what kind of value they would have. Some I would think would be worth at least a little something just by going off the themes. Anyone have a suggested source to check up on them?
medalcollector.org Or it's metal collectors of America Not sure but a really big web site about medals. Edited by just carl
01/24/2011 12:37 am
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2605 Posts |
There are catalogs for medals as well. And their values, just like of coins, depend on different factors such as composition, mintage figures, and, as always, market demand.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
844 Posts |
I'll check on that. Thanks!
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
17884 Posts |
They are traditionally considered to be part of numismatics but with just a couple of exceptions that were used as money I do not consider them numismatic items. Quote:Quote:
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Numismatics: the collection and study of coins and of objects related to coins either by physical resemblance, method of manufacture or usage as money. Medals would be included as "numismatic" under both "physical resemblance" and "method of manufacture". So would manhole covers and metal buttons. And many other round metal items. I only consider an item to be numismatic if it was used as money or as a substitute for money. The problem with that definition is that it would also include stamps. But I consider stamps to be more of a numismatic item than medals. |
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Moderator
Australia
16808 Posts |
Quote:
So would manhole covers and metal buttons. And many other round metal items. And there are people in my coin club who collect those.  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
Thailand
1509 Posts |
"manhole covers"?
" And there are people in my coin club who collect those."
The albums for those must be something else!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
2605 Posts |
I suspect Sap mostly referred to " ... metal buttons. And many other round metal items."
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Pillar of the Community
Thailand
1509 Posts |
svslav Couldn't find a smiley with tongue in cheek so this will have to do.  |
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Moderator
Australia
16808 Posts |
No, I'm pretty sure some of the guys in the coin club have manhole covers, as well as buttons.  I know for certain that several of them have Furphy water cart tank ends in their collections, which are just as large as manhole covers. They're very popular pieces of "exonumia" down here, typically selling for over $500 each like this one on eBay. For storage, they just keep 'em on the floor. What thief is going to try to make off with one?  Speaking for myself, I'm more a coin purist, though I do have a few hundred medals and tokens. My collection mantra is, "if it doesn't fit in a 2x2, I don't really want it". Furphies are definitely out for me. 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 States
2605 Posts |
OK, fine! You win!  Some people are attracted to big, and sometimes round, things. My parents are from a part of the world where huge battles of WW2 have happened. When I was growing up (into the late 1970's) and we visited relatives there I liked to hike in the fields, and often I'd come back with a big hunk of metal that was left from an exploded bomb, or a mine, or an artillery round. Sometimes a rusty piece of a hand-grenade. There was nothing numismatic about my collection, but it was interesting for me. I have no recollection of what happened to it, probably my dad secretly took it to a scrap-yard. |
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Replies: 20 / Views: 3,076 |
Posted 01/23/2011 8:56 pm
