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TheNewsletter ofMedal Collectors ofAmerica Volume14Number1 January2011 BoardMembers JohnSallay,President,[email protected] From the Editor 3 DavidMenchell,[email protected] AnneE.Bentley,Secretary,[email protected] BarryD.Tayman,Treasurer Club Meeting at the New York BenjaminWeiss,Webmaster International 3 JohnW.Adams DavidT.Alexander,[email protected] RobertF.Fritsch,[email protected] Malcolm Storer’s Misattribution MargiHofer,[email protected] Corrected 3 TonyLopez,[email protected] (byAnneBentley) ScottMiller,[email protected] IraRezak,[email protected] Report of a New British Counterfeit DonaldScarinci,[email protected] 4 MichaelTurrini,[email protected] (byScottMiller) Henry Ford Museum 8 JohnW.Adams,Editor (byJohnW.Adams) 99HighStreet,11thfloor Boston,MA02110 Letters to the Editor 8 [email protected] BarryTayman,Treasurer Vernon Section 10 3115NestlingPineCourt EllicottCity,MD21042 [email protected] Surface Technology 11 (byJohnW.Adams) BenjaminWeiss,Webmaster [email protected] EditorofCollectors’Guide,DickJohnson ([email protected]) Dues:$30.00/year;50.00/2years What’sNewonOurWebsite! medalcollectors.org CHECKITOUT 1 2 From the Editor TheA.N.S.Gala,though abit priceyat $500per ticket,was theusual riot ofgood food, gooddrink This is ourfirst issueprintedonthe andgooddancing. The collections oftheSociety Magcloudwebsite. We believethat the areunrivalled,so that supportingthestewardship of colorandprint qualityareacceptable, thesetreasures is givingsupport totheverycoreof especiallygiveneconomics that aremuch ourhobby.Thus, doingwell bythe A.N.S.AND superiortothoseoffered bya commercial havingfunis trulybangforthebuck. print shop. Thechallengeofthis OntheBoursefloor,AlanDavisson,a methodologyfalls onThelma,mylongtime longtimespecialist inEnglish coinage andtokens, assistant,and ye editor. OurcopyinWord has retired from thelists. Apromisingnewcomer, must betranslatedintoa pdffileandthen whois doingauctions as well as bourse coverage, is upliftedtotheMagcloud website. Rules International CoinExchange Ltd.ofDublin, governingthesitelayout procedureresult in Ireland.Members will findsomechoiceitems in illogical pagination. Anychanges to theirFebruarysale. rationalizeMagcloudbut beinitiatedbackin Attendance at ourMCA meetingwas Word,thanput intopdfand,finally,lifted relativelysparse.WewelcomedGerryMuhl,who backtothesite. Hopefullythis becomes droveall thewayfrom Rochester,pickingup a easierwithexperience. friendinSyracuseonthe wayEast.Having WerecentlypurchasedFrench correspondedwithGerryforsome years now,it was Medallics ArtbyNicolas Maier. This nicetomeet this talented numismatist inperson.We splendidbooksurveys thedevelopment of must chalklowattendanceuptotheweather, themedal inFrance from 1870to1940. It is becausetheClub's vital signs areotherwiseupbeat; duringthis epochthat medallicart evolves theSecretary's report gavemembershipat 175and from thestrict classical rules of rising; theTreasurer's report foundus with$7500in L’Academies des Belles Lettres intomore thebank; andtheWebmaster’s report describedan fluidforms andformats. Theworkof73 everburgeoningamount ofmaterial onourwebsite. artists is surveyed,withexcellent Yeeditor gaveapresentationontheAdmiral photographs throughout. Vernonmedals followed bya warm Q&A. Finally, Speakingofbooks, wewouldalso DavidMenchell,whochairedthemeetinginJohn recommendRobert Turfboer’s English Sallay's absence, conductedanauctionofseven translationofvanLoon. This segment ofthe generouslydonateditems.Biddingwas not frantic Dutchmasterpieceincludes acomplete (unfortunatelyfortheClubExchequer),but some discussionoftheclassical rules formedal $700was raised, withAnneBentley's dayat the designas well as thelogicbehindthem. We Massachusetts Historical Societyfetching$200- an guaranteethat fundamental knowledgeof incrediblebargain. themedallicart will enhance your enjoyment of what youcollect Malcolm Storer’s Misattribution Club Meeting at the New York Corrected (byAnneBentley) International Weenjoydisplayingour collections here at Heldfrom January1st throughthe theMassachusetts Historical Society,not least 10th,NYIC featuredthe usual plethoraof because weoftenlearn as muchfrom ourvisitors as auctions. Themost notablefeatureofthese theydofrom us. Acase inpoint comes from our was asurgeintheprices ofclassical recent exhibition,“Precious Metals: From Auto coinage.Choicepieces fetchedmultiples of Zn.” Whenthe first photographs from ourdisplay theauctioneer’s estimates. went online, Iheardfrom AndrewW.Harkness, 3 collectorand author,withTimothyCorlo,of printedinPortlandbyCharles Day&Co.forthe Agricultural andMechanical SocietyAward Associationin1838. Medals of theUnitedStates(available Undertheheading "Carpeting,Cottonand throughwww.lulu.com). Andycontactedme PrintedGoods,"this verymedal is listedonpage tosaythat hethought the medal that 30: Malcolm Storerhadlistedas no.1309under theMassachusetts CharitableMechanic "Specimens of Oil Carpeting,from theNew Association,was morelikelythe1838 EnglandCompany,Roxbury, Mass.These are awardmedal oftheMaineCharitable abeautiful article,bothforrichness and MechanicAssociation. Oncetheshow durability--thebrown andwhiteground opened,Andycamedownspecificallyto particularlyareelegant,anddeserve great checkit out andurgeme toseeif Icould credit--theyaretheonlyspecimens ofthese findanythingtocorroboratehis theory. kindofgoods exhibitedonthis occasion. ASILVER MEDAL." Althoughthe CommitteeonMedals "toprocure adevice forMedals, withinscription--andadesign foradiploma"is listedinfull (it consistedofJ.R. Thompson, chairman,Abner Lowell,andWilliam Capen),theperson responsibleforthemedal is not mentionedanywhereintheeighty-twopage pamphlet. I’ve contactedArthurGaffar ofthe MaineCharitableMechanicAssociationtoseeif he canhelpdeterminethemedal maker,so staytuned. Meanwhile,Art keeps a census ofall knownMaine C.M.A.medals, so if you knowofany, youmight want tocontact him toseeifhehas them listed [[email protected]]. Report of a New British Counterfeit (byScottMiller) It hadtohappen. Iknew it was onlya M.C.M.A.Fair1838. Silverawardmedalto TheNewEnglandPaintedFloor matteroftime,but it hadtohappen. Closeonthe ClothCo. Silver,35x38mm,29.5grams. heels ofreports ofcounterfeit coins comingout of ExWm.S.Appleton,1905. China,thelatest development is counterfeit Royal Mint envelopes forsmallsizecoronationand I’m delightedtosaythat I’vejust jubileemedals, 1897to1937. beenabletodoso. Inour collections we Forthosereaders whomaynot befamiliar haveapamphletthat puts torest any withtheseries ofEnglish coronationmedals that questions about theissuerofthe datebackmorethan400 years, small medals were M.C.M.A.shieldaward medal: titled distributedbythemonarchduringthecoronationas FirstExhibitionand Fairof theMaine princelylargess. Originallygivenintheform of CharitableMechanicAssociation:heldat money,thedistribution was replacedbymedals theCityHall,inthecityof Portland,from beginningwiththecoronationofJames Iin1603. Sept.24toOct.6,1838,thepublicationwas OntheoccasionoftheGoldenJubileeofQueen 4 Victoriain1887,militarymedals were envelopes indicatethese areforcoronationmedals, distributedtothoseinattendanceat the therewas no coronationineither1897or1935. celebration,andalargecommemorative These years actuallyrelatetothediamondjubileeof medal was offeredforsaletothepublic. QueenVictoriaandtheSilverJubileeofKing This format has been followedeversince, George V. Belowarediagnostics oflegitimateand thoughofficial commemorativemedals were counterfeit envelopes. not offered forsalein1953forthe coronationofthe current Queen,Elizabeth II. Between1897and1937 coronation andjubileemedals wereissuedintwosizes. Duringthese years, thelargermedals were soldwithleather,presentationcases, as were small goldissues. Large silverandbronze medals for1902and1911werealso accompaniedbypaperenvelopes; it is possiblethat other years hadlarge envelopes as well,though Ihavenot seenany. As forthesmallermedals, while 1897 someareoccasionallyseeninpresentation Counterfeit: 37x37mmwhitepaper envelopes cases, thesmall silver1897medals markedCORONATION MEDAL/ 1897/ SILVER generallycamein paper envelopes, as did / Royal Mint. Whiletheformat is similartoother thesmall silver1902and1911coronation years, therewas no coronationin1897. Inaddition, medals; thesmall silver1935andsilverand as the1897medal was smallerthanthemedals bronze1937medals wereissuedincard issuedforsubsequent occasions, theenvelopewas boxes. also smaller,measuring 34mm. Recently, Inoticedforsaleonan internet auctionanumberofenvelopes for thesmall medals, dated 1897,1902,1911, 1935and1937. While Ihadseena few offeredpreviouslywith medals, and recognizedthem as counterfeit,their re- appearancehas prompted metomention them. Whileat first glancethe1902and 1911envelopes appeared convincing,their associationwithother,clearlycounterfeit envelopes condemns them as well. The most surprisingthingabout theselatest counterfeits is that theenvelopes addvery littlevaluetothemedals, whichare themselves quitecommonandinexpensive. Eachofthe counterfeit envelopes are whitewithblackprintingandmeasure37x 37mm. Accordingtothe vendorthe envelopes areoriginal witholdpaperand Plate from1897VictoriaDiamondJubilee printing. Thefirst andmost glaringproblem original: small silvermedals areoccasionallyseen withtheseenvelopes is that thebasic inleatherpresentationcases, though generally,as informationontwoarewrong. Althoughthe withmost small coronationandjubileemedals, 5 havelongbeenseparated from theiroriginal packages. Most medals wereissuedinsmall whiteenvelopes measuring34mm.andbear theprintednotationRoyal Mint. (Photo courtesySimmons GalleryLtd, London, England- www.simmonsgallery.co.uk.) 1902EdwardVIICoronationOriginal: I haveseen envelopes for bothlargeandsmall sizemedals; thesmall envelopes measure approximately37mm.andbearthe inscriptionCORONATIONMEDAL/ 1902. / SILVER / Royal Mint.(Photocourtesy Simmons GalleryLtd, London,England) 1911George VCoronationOriginal: Ihaveseen envelopes for bothlarge andsmall sizemedals. For thelargesizeenvelopes from both1902and1911, theindentations generallypresent indicatethe presentationcases with medals insidewereplaced intheenvelopes forshipping. Thesmall envelopes areapproximately37mm andaremarked CORONATIONMEDAL/ 1911./SILVER / Royal Mint.(PhotocourtesySimmons GalleryLtd, London,England) Counterfeit: 37x37mmwhitepaper envelopes markedCORONATIONMEDAL / 1902/ SILVER / Royal Mint.These envelopes areclosetotheoriginals in appearance,andassumingtheywereprinted onaletterpress,couldbe deceiving. Counterfeit: 37x37mmwhitepaper envelopes markedCORONATION MEDAL/ 1911/ SILVER / Royal Mint. Theseenvelopes areclosetothe 6 originals inappearance, andassumingthey wereprintedonaletterpress,couldbe deceiving. 1937George VICoronationOriginal: small silver andbronzemedals wereissuedinredcardboxes. 1935George VSilverJubileeOriginal: small silvermedals were issuedinredcard boxes; 4400small silvermedals witha mattefinish fordistributioninAustralia wereissued withsmall,leatherpresentation cases, similartothosefor thelarge,silver medals; 400small bronzemedals were struckwithamattefinish andplacedin cardboardboxes. Counterfeit: 37x37mm whitepaper envelopes markedCORONATIONMEDAL / 1935/ SILVER / Royal Mint. Whilethe format is similartootheryears, thesemedals werenot issuedinpaper envelopes andthere was nocoronationin1935. Counterfeit: 37x37mmwhitepaperenvelopesmarked CORONATIONMEDAL/1937/SILVER/RoyalMint. Whiletheformatissimilartothe1902and1911envelopes, thesemedalswerenotissuedinpaperenvelopes. 7 Henry Ford Museum 13)WashingtonC.C.A.U.S.,Baker57,insilver. Therarest ofthefourSamson medals. Wehaveencouraged readers to 14)SouthCarolina’s medal tothePalmetto reportonmuseum holdings. This report is Regiment insilver. basedona1966Exhibitionat theMidwest 15)Season’s medal,pastoral scene,insilver. Antiques forum. UnfortunatelytheHenry 16)James Monroe Indianpeacemedal,medium FordMuseum is effectivelyunapproachable size,insilver. today,suchthat wecould not verifythat the 17)James Fillmore Indianpeacemedal,large collectionstill exists ifithas beenexpanded, size,insilver. orwhat. Toomanyrepositories havebeen Thepresenceofmanylatermedals ondown squeezedbyfinancial issues. It is apitythat toaJohnF.Kennedyinaugural medal (1961) choiceitems suchas we will list below demonstrates that theMuseum remained anactive cannot beviewedadstudied. acquisitoruntil that date. Thebreadthofthe Inthe1966Exhibition,theHenry material listedabovehints that theremaybemany FordMuseum displayed theseitems among morerarities containedinthecollection. It is a others: great pitythat theHenryFordMuseum shouldhave 1) CaptureofTreasureat Matanzas effectivelyremovedthesehistorical treasures from (Betts 24) publicview. Ifstaffingis not available,it wouldbe 2) JohnLawMedals, Betts 126and bettertopass themedal collectionalongtoan 128. institutionthat couldprovidethestewardshipthe 3) Annapolis TuesdayClubmedal, medals deserve. Betts 383,incopper. This item is particularlyimportant,withtheonly otherexampleinthis metal having Letters to the Editor beensoldfrom theJohnJ.Ford collection. Ifthediestateofthe piececouldbedetermined,it might HelloJohnandmanythanks forofferingto showwhetherthepieceis apattern includedetails ofthebook.Herewithare afew facts oranemblem ofmembership,as are andstats: theexamples insilver. At 7.5inches (190mm.) inwidth,by10 4) Anson’s Voyage, Betts 382insilver. inches (250mm.)inlength,thebookfollows the 5) 1757Quaker IndianPeacemedal, sameformat as thefirst edition,as dothelayout of Betts 401.Therareoriginal insilver. thecatalogue entries themselves andtherunning 6) Attackon Louisbourg,Betts 410. headers. Additional standardfeaturesare This is Thomas Pingo’s lovely explanatorynotes andan introduction. commemorationofhe event. Silver. Anewfeatureinthebookis achapter 7) Montreal Token, Betts 429,insilver. dealingwithproductionnumbers, whichlists over 8) CharlestownSocial Club,Betts 508, onehundredmedals. Historical andbiographical inbronze. notes tomanymedals havebeen expandedinthe 9) CaptainCookmedal,Betts 555,in neweditionandtheentries themselves havebeen whitemetal. beefedup withreferences tomanyofthe works 10)HoratioGates medal,Betts 557, publishedintheintervening23 years sincethefir metal unknown. manypublicationsthat. 11)Daniel Morganmedal,Betts 593,in Anothersignificant featureofthenew bronze. Less thanadozenexamples editions aretheillIustrations, whichinthefirst known. editioncomprised625half-toneblack andwhite 12)Libertas Americana, Betts 615,in images arrangedon53plates. Theneweditionhas silver. morethan2000coloured images distributedover 240plates. 8 Ininstances where amedal comes in bothstruckandcast form,efforts havebeen madetoillustratebothtypes sidebyside. Similarly,images areprovidedofmany medals occurringboth as sixteenth- and seventeenth-centuryoriginals and eighteenth-centurycopies. Thebenefits that such comparisons allow areinvaluable. or thought tobeotherwisepresent onother similarit is thought tobetheobviousrisons provideareobvious but rarely,ifat all,can theybeotherwisemadehavetheyotherwise beenprovided Christopher Eimer PlatefromEimer’sbook. Dear Anne: Iam still,fourmonths later,dealingwitha serious caseofmedal envyoverthebreathtaking exhibition youmountedduringthe ANAconvention inBoston. Theonlyconsolation Icanmusteris that theMHS has beencollectingalot longerthan your humblecorrespondent--perhaps when Ihavebeen at thegamefor219 years, I'll haveasplendid collection,too! Iam writingto you as thearbiteron all things that arebothnumismaticandJohnQuincy Adams innature. Irecently,inthecourseof researchonanothertopic,cameacross atraveler's memoirdocumentingthe gift oftwomedals toJQA whilehewas President,and Iam intriguedas to whethersaidmedalsweregiftedtothe MHS,and if so, whethertheyarestill part ofthecollection. His Highness, Bernhard, DukeofSaxe- WeimarEisenach,visitedtheU.S.in1825-1826, andwroteatwo-volume bookabout his travels, entitled,straightforwardlyenough,Travels Through NorthAmerica,DuringtheYears 1825and1826. Involume1,onp.158,hedescribes meeting President Adams inPhiladelphiaonOctober23, 9 1825,whenJQAwas returningfrom avisit ourstuff(theycouldhavebeenseparatedfrom the tohis fatherinMassachusetts. Bernhard Adams collectionanddeaccessionedw/out gavetwomedals tothePresident. His provenance). I'll also checkinwithAdams family descriptionis fairlyterse inthetext,but I members andmybuddies at OldHouse(NPS, havefilledinwithsome research. Thetwo Quincy) toseeiftheyrecognizethese. Do youhave medals werethe gift ofa citizenofGhent, adeadline? We'reinthe process ofmassive Egide-Norbert-Cornelissen(1769-1849), strategicplan reorganizationwhichincludes major andentrustedtoBernhardfordeliveryto jobchangeandofficemoveforme...andsince I'm JQA. Bothmedals were "sunk"as Bernhard one-handed forthenextmonthorso (recent hand puts it,bythemedalistJosephPierre Braemt surgery), everythingis sloooowas molasses at my (1796-1864). Onemedal was silver,and end. commemoratedthe BotanicSocietyof I'm orderingTheSecret Historyandlooking Ghent. Theother was bronze,andstruckin forwardtolearninga great deal from it,once I'm 1823tocelebratethe "jubilee," as Bernhard abletoturnpages again! has it,ofprinting. Season's Greetings to youas well,Joel--and Iassumethat JQAmade all best wishes in2011 Cornelissen's acquaintancewhenhewas one oftheAmericannegotiators inGhent AnneE.Bentley seekingto endtheWarof1812. Ifurther CuratorofArt/actingloans registrar assumethat JQAwouldhaveregardedthis Massachusetts Historical Society gift as personal ratherthandiplomaticin nature,so that themedals wouldgointohis [Good afternoon,Joel- Sounds likeanother personal collectionrather thantothePatent piquantproject.Thanks forcopying me. Office--but this latterassumptionis more I don'talways read TheE-Sylum(and I wouldn't questionablethantheformer. Ihave attempt toretrieveitfromsomedatabase)- checkedthetwoStack's sales ofMHS wheredoes onebuyTheSecretHistory?Also, if Adams collectionmaterials, from Marchand you send meablurb,I will re-weaveitinto a Septemberof1971,and foundnothinglike piecefortheMCA Advisory.—Ed.] eitherofthesemedals describedinthem. Hencemyquestions--werethesetwo ever DearJohn: part oftheMHS collection? Ifso, arethey This will beafunproject,particularlyif still partofthe cabinet? Annecan runoneorboth ofthemedals to ground in Manythanks inadvance, Anne,for theMHS collection. Eveniftheyhavedeparted, anyhelp youareableto provideonthis findingwheretheyhave gone will still addsome question. Andaveryhappyholidayseason fascinationtothestory. to you,as well! TheSecret Historywill emergefrom China at somepoint inmid-January. Ishall send you an Best regards, inscribedcopywhenit does. Youroffertotranslate ablurbintoanoticefortheMCAAdvisory is JoelOrosz gratefullyaccepted--blurbattached. Iwas unawareofDan's ailment. Is it an innerearproblem? Yourproposedremedystrikes Thanks forthekindwords, Joel--wereally meas at least as efficacious, andadarnedsight arefortunatethat so muchnumismatic cheaper,thananyprescriptionthat couldbe material stayedinthecollection. garneredfrom thepharmacopoeia! I'll dropDan a What afunJQApuzzle...neither note--inEnglish--toseeifthereis anythingIcando medal sounds familiar,but I'll checktheold tobehelpful. Perhaps Icouldofferto easehis mind cards andothersales catalogs that include bysafeguardinghis Woodwards andChapmans.... 10