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constanius

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  1. Yes it was mine, sold at a 2016 Nov.Torex auction in Toronto, along with my small US and Canadian collection. I purchased it in 2007 from a dealer, Ross D.King, at a coin show in Toronto which was hosting the 2007 Torex auction.

     

    Glad it has found its way to a good home :bthumbsup:

    950208.jpg

     

    I guess you have seen this from p. 563 of the December, 1916

    issue of The Numismatist.

     

    "Mr. A. Reimers exhibited a gold medal (size $20 piece, $28 gold

    value,) with bail, which was struck in San Francisco, November 26th, 1855,
    to commemorate the fall of Sebastopol. This medal was presented to Mrs.
    George Gordon by the joint committee. George Gordon was the promotor
    of South Park. Obverse, British lion, a monk, war material, Russian fiag
    being pulled down from pole; inscription, "Manifestation in Honor of the
    Success of the Allies in the Crimea. S. F., 26 Nov., '55." Reverse, French
    Eagle downing Russian Eagle, above which are the fasces and four fiags.
    Inscription same as obverse, only in French. This medal is thought to be
    unique, and is in excellent state of preservation"
  2. If you right click on the Photobucket image and select open image in new tab you can then download the image. I did that on your image(then resized and compressed it and hosted on this site and is the thumbnail below. Takes time but as you do it it gets quicker. Hope you do not mind me using your image and you have to click on the thumbnail image. I also hosted it on my site, which is the first image below as attached files are always at the end, shame you cannot imbed them in the text.

    Next medal/taler up for auction starting 8pm on Sunday, 1/22/2017 at eBay

     

    Fribourg 1934 Swiss Shooting Thaler/Taler

    5 Fr. Federal Schützenfest
    R411a/M246a
    Metal: Silver
    Size: 31mm
    Weight: 15.07g
    Engraver: Oscar Cattani, Fribourg / Huguenin, Le Locle / Federal Mint, Bern
    Rarity: H
    Mintage: 32,789 pieces

    R431a_zpszjtzkemi.jpg

     

     

     

     

     

    a_zpszjtzkemi.jpg

     

    The compressed image is only 26.9KB but still looks okay on a computer.

    a_zpszjtzkemi.jpg

  3. This is another piece of Bagnall's work signed under the horse's rear legs.

     

    4626-horz.jpg

     

     

    IN BANNISTER RIDE/ING MASTER RETURNS/THANKSTO THE PUB/LIC IN GENERAL.

     

    Bannister's first name was James, the engraver has mistakenly used the abbreviation for John, possibly because there was a famous actor called John Bannister living at the same time.

     

    Though it is not in great condition, it was a must buy as it is most unlikely that I will see another because of its extreme rarity and it has the Bagnall connection and it completes the know Bannister set for my collection.

  4. BHM# 378
    British Museum's Curator's comments Bindman
    According to Bell the dies for this medal were engraved by Thomas and/or Peter Wyon in Birmingham. He adds that it was probably struck by Kempson, a Birmingham token manufacturer.

     

     

     

    http://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=948973&partId=1

     

    :art: You are most welcome Bob, your friend Pat.

  5. The scant descriptions of this medal only mention the scenic elements from his art portrayed on the reverse, which not only miss the possible significance of the Dioscuri(Castor & Pollux), Cassiopeia & the Three Graces but fail to acknowledge them at all. Though one does suggest the 3 heavenly women represent the 3 primary colours.


    cassiopeia.jpg


    The Dioscuri(Greek) can be recognized by the skull-cap they wear, the pilos, which was explained in antiquity as the remnants of the egg. Whether the children are thus mortal or half-immortal is not consistent among accounts, nor is whether the twins hatched together from one egg. In some accounts, only Pollux was fathered by Zeus, while Leda and her husband Tyndareus conceived Castor. This explains why they were granted alternating immortality. One would live among the gods, whilst the other was among the dead and visa versa. They are also known as the Gemini or Castores in Latin. Skilled in taming wild horses and often depicted standing by them holding the reins.


    Cassiopeia is a W shaped constellation it rotates around the celestial pole and is up-side down half the time. The five brightest stars of Cassiopeia - Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Epsilon Cassiopeiae - form the characteristic W-shape all five are prominent naked eye stars. They are oriented as a W when below Polaris during northern spring and summer nights. In northern winter they are above Polaris and the W appears inverted.


    Cassiopeia-vert.jpg


    The Three Graces in Greek mythology, are referred to as the Charites, they were a trio of minor goddesses named Aglaea, Thalia and Euphrosyne. These three sisters were the daughters of Zeus and the Oceanid Eurynome. The role of the Graces in Greek mythology was to spread goodwill, pleasure and mirth, and were therefore welcome guests at festivities, especially at the banquets of the gods.


    Bearing in mind that this is a memorial medal issued after death it appears to me that the Dioscuri's inclusion is meant to represent the circle of life, days, seasons, years & death, the sun still rises, cassiopeia still rotates in the heavens and life on Earth goes on and though Turner the man is dead, his art has placed Turner among the immortals and the 3 Graces await to welcome him to the banquet of the Gods.

  6. Never realy paid too much attention to the subject of Labyrinths but I just learnt the difference between them and Mazes.

     

    A labyrinth has but one entrance and its path leads one invariably to the center, whereas a maze can have more than one entrance and is a puzzle which has to be solved to reach the center and then sets the problem of extricating oneself.

     

    So it is a maze depicted on the jeton and in the illustration.

     

    Theseus would have had no need for thread to exit a Labyrinth, so was the Minotaur's lair in fact a maze? It would seem so!

     

    Amazing :swoon:

     

    Unless(all my own work)

    Labyrinth%20and%20Maze.jpg

  7. Thanks for the most interesting post Frank, here is a cached version of the missing article.

     

    In a previous edition of Caerdroia (“The Labyrinth on Coins & Tokens” Caerdroia 36, pp.4-9) I described several coins and tokens decorated with labyrinths contained within the Labyrinthos Archive, including a jeton (a ‘coin’ created for political or promotional purposes) with a depiction of Theseus and the Labyrinth on its reverse, issued in Burgundy, France, in 1678. Recently added to the Labyrinthos collection is another similar jeton, minted in the Spanish Netherlands in the late 16th century.

    29 mm in diameter, the jeton was minted on a thin, soft copper flan, and as a consequence has some damage and wear on the high points of the designs on either side. This is a common feature of jetons of this type, but the designs and inscriptions can be clearly determined. The obverse depicts the head of King Philip II of Spain, accompanied by the inscription DOMINUS.MIHI.ADIVTOR - The Lord is my helper - his personal motto.
    The reverse bears the inscription FATA.VIAM.INVENIENT - fate will find a way - with the date 1591 and a small device in the shape of a hand, the mint mark of Antwerp. This surrounds a labyrinth of distinctive design, with a depiction of a small tree at its centre.
    This jeton, issued in 1591, was surely an item of political propaganda, a symbol of support for Philip II’s campaign to retain ownership of the Spanish Netherlands, modern-day Belgium and the southern half of the Netherlands itself. Antwerp, now the capital of the Belgian province of Flanders, was at the time on the northern frontier of the Spanish Netherlands and an important port and centre of Spanish trade in spices, textiles and other commodities from the Far East and the Americas.
    In 1579 the Union of Utrecht declared the provinces in the north of the Netherlands an independent Protestant state, free from the control of Philip’s Catholic regime. Antwerp, almost destroyed by the Spanish in 1576 in earlier hostilities, was on the front line, becoming the capital of the so-called Dutch Revolt. It fell into Philip’s hands again in 1585 following a long siege and over half of its population, the Protestants, fled to the north. It was not until 1609 that a truce was finally brokered between the Spanish and the United Provinces of the Netherlands, and hostilities did not cease entirely in the region until 1648.
    As with the labyrinth-inscribed jeton issued in Burgundy nearly a century later, these items were also popular in the Netherlands in the late 16th and early 17th centuries and issued by supporters on both sides of the conflict. Their subjects ranged from patriotic depictions of their leaders and celebration of military victories to political commentary and satire. With the complex political circumstances in Antwerp at the time, it is surely no wonder that the labyrinth was employed as a statement upon the situation.
    But the labyrinth on the reverse of this jeton is rather unusual. Although slightly worn, it is not difficult to determine the full design (depicted opposite). Superficially similar to a medieval design, albeit with only nine walls, eight circuits, it turns out to be a simple maze, of sorts, with several breaks in the walls and the outermost circuit in particular.
    This design was clearly copied directly from Claude Paradin’s Devises Héroïques, a book of personal symbols, technically known as impresas (see Kern, 2000, pp.199-205 for full details), first published in Lyon, France, in 1551, subsequently expanded in 1557 and reprinted many times, including Paris in 1571 and London in 1591. Likewise accompanied by the inscription Fata viam inuenient (a quote from Virgil’s Aeneid), the impresa is presented as the emblem of Boisdauphin de Laval, who became the Archbishop of Embrun, France, in 1553 until his death the following year. The accompanying text alongside the device in the book explains that the labyrinth should be viewed as symbolic of finding the true path through worldly life, by the grace of God and through adherence to the Ten Commandments.
    The only addition to the basic design in the book, seen on the jeton, is the inclusion of a small tree at the centre. Similar trees appear in the centre of labyrinths in other books of impresas from this time, but whether this addition has further symbolic meaning in this specific example, or is merely decorative embellishment is debatable. The tree, a symbol of eternal life or paradise, combined with the motto and the inherent symbolism of the labyrinth, could be seen as indicating that there is a way to be found, either to heaven or to hell, but God alone will help find the right path.
    The use of the fata viam invenient motto in connection with a labyrinth can be found in several other instances from this same time period: as a relief moulding on the ceiling of the palace at Dampierre-sur-Boutonne in France (from c.1550) and beneath the small inset depiction of a man standing at the centre of a small turf labyrinth on the English painting of Lord Russell from 1573. It was also subsequently used on a series of labyrinth decorated medals, issued by Queen Kristina of Sweden, c.1650 (see Caerdroia 36, p.4).
    Another connection, and possible source of inspiration for the use of the labyrinth on the 1591 jeton, can be found in another impresa, this time in Girolamo Ruscelli’s Le imprese illustri, published in Venice in 1566 and again in 1584. This depicts a simple labyrinth with the Minotaur (actually a Centaur) at the centre and is captioned In Silentio et Spe (in quietness and confidence) and was the emblem of Gonzalo Pérez, secretary and advisor to Philip II. Clearly these impresas featuring labyrinths and the connection between the symbol and the motto, were popular and well-known within the circles surrounding the Royal court of Spain (and elsewhere) during this period, so it should come as no surprise to find one appearing on a patriotic jeton issued by Philip’s supporters at this turbulent time, in a city at the epicentre of the conflict.
    Jeff Saward; Thundersley, England, December 2009
  8. Been in Chicago for a few days, just arrived back, so a bit late replying. Thanks for resurrecting the topic as I should have added these before now.

     

    This is a brass version,

    2439.jpg

     

    This is AE with a different reverse inscription,

     

    dscf3269-horz.jpg

     

    This is the same reverse as above, but the obverse, unsigned by Kettle, inscription reaches to the exergue and is extremely rare, plus silvered is not listed, possibly unique.

     

    3268-horz.jpg

  9. There is one in silver, Duchess of Cumberland, here: http://www.worldofcoins.eu/forum/index.php?topic=5643.30

    Guess you have seen it since you have posted in the same thread.

    Yes, as you guessed, I had seen it but thanks anyway, always nice to see a post from you.

     

    Malcolm's silver Duchess of Cumberland(unengraved so not a prize medal) is the only other solid silver example of a Sentimental that I have seen pictures of, or know of, all the others have been silver-plated. As Malcolm posted, a TCA(Token Corresponding Society) member doing a study of the Sentimentals said it was the only solid silver one he was aware of(2011) and as far as Malcolm and I know that is still true, except of course for this prize medal.

     

    I just need to find the card mentioned in the Gentleman's Magazine Vol. 67, 1797 about the Sentimental Tokens.

     

    "The head of Cromwell is the best. How many more were issued in copper I cannot tell; but the copper ones seem to have been dropped and an embossed card substituted; but how long this or the Magazine continued I do not know. The only card I have seen, and which is in possession of the person who gave me this information, was an impression of William, Duke of Cumberland, executed by Milton" the writer goes on too add that possibly one was struck for Cumberland but that he had never seen it.

     

     

  10. I assume anyone that checks ebay for tokens will have come across these tokens offered for sale in groups at a low cost recently.

     

    DSCF4565-horz.jpg

    Brass 31mm

    The seller has provided no background information about the tokens, after doing some research I decided to share the info and I purchased some for myself.
    The British Museum has one donated in 1895, the date is significant in that the previous year the Fellowships were dissolved.
    1895 Middlesex & Hertfordshire Notes and Queries: Volumes 1-2 extract,
    City of London "Fellowship Porters." Being servants of the Corporation, they were regulated by orders made from time to time by the Court of Common Council. There is little doubt that the Fellowship is ancient. It is said to have existed from the reign of Edward I , but the ordinances which were in force for the governance of the Fellowship are contained in an act of the Court of Common Council of 5th October, 1620. Previous to this date the body was governed by the Court of Mayor and Aldermen. From the Act of 1620 it appears that certain unauthorised foreign, i.e., outside, porters had intruded themselves in the work to the injury of the members of the Fellowship. Their number, which had formerly been 120, was to be fixed at 400, and every man was obliged to be a freeman of the City. The charge for carrying a load of corn or grain from a vessel at the waterside to a granary, or from one small vessel to another, was 2d. ; for the porterage to any house at a greater distance from the quays than the Cross in Cheapside, the payment was to be fixed, in case of dispute, by the Alderman of Billingsgate Ward. For every light burden, called a " catching burden," carried " as far as is distant from Billingsgate to Leadenhall, 2d"
    ("The power of the official city portering organisations had been evaporating since the very beginning of the 19th century. As the big dockyards began opening to the east of the City from 1802 onwards, the companies that built and operated them barred the ticket porters and fellowship porters from exercising any right to work in their dockyards.
    Fewer than a hundred men earned their living as a Fellowship Porter in the 1860s, though when a meeting was held to talk about dissolving the fellowship in 1892, more than 160 members turned up. An Act of Parliament finally dissolved the fellowship in 1894", extract from "The forgotten story of London’s Porters" by Martyn Cornell, an online post, re the beer called Porter)
    "The illustrations over-leaf represent the metal tokens, one of which was given to the porter by a lad for every load of corn or fruit which he carried. The smaller token represented twopence, and for every six of these which the porter delivered to the shifter at the close of his day's work he was paid lld., Id. being deducted for the "shift." The larger oval token represented the value of threepence." (Id = I old penny, IId = II pence)
    Fellowship20Fruit20Token.jpg
  11. This is a repeat of my last post in the Sentimental Tokens which, because of its uniqueness, deserves its own separate topic.

     

    geosilver.jpg

     

    Solid silver sentimental token, which in itself is extremely rare, this token though possesses another level of rarity entirely!

     
    Sentimental Magazine advertising excerpt,
    "A Sentimental Fable in French, in every Number(of the Sentimental Magazine), to be translated in the succeeding Number, the best Translator of which will be entitled to a Silver Medal, with his Name engraved thereon; and those Correspondents who furnish us with the best Poems, or the best Articles in Prose, in the Course of every Month, shall likewise be entitled to a Silver Prize Medal, with their Names, or Signatures, engraved thereon"

     

     
    edge.jpg

     

    So only 2 engraved silver medals were presented each month but for how many issues is unknown(as far as I can ascertain). The AE medals were only issued for 13 months from April Ist 1773 - April 1774. I have never seen another of the awarded silver medals and was fortunate to have acquired this example. It is possible that all the award medals were of George the III, if not it would suggest that this was one of the first two won. The inscription around the edge reads "THE REWARD OF MERIT I . DENIS PHILOM . SOC ." (Philomath Society) so it either was for the best English translation of a French fable, or for the best poem or article in prose.

  12. geosilver.jpg

    Solid silver sentimental token, which in itself is extremely rare, this token though possesses another level of rarity entirely!

     
    Sentimental Magazine advertising excerpt,
    "A Sentimental Fable in French, in every Number(of the Sentimental Magazine), to be translated in the succeeding Number, the best Translator of which will be entitled to a Silver Medal, with his Name engraved thereon; and those Correspondents who furnish us with the best Poems, or the best Articles in Prose, in the Course of every Month, shall likewise be entitled to a Silver Prize Medal, with their Names, or Signatures, engraved thereon"
    edge.jpg
     
     
    So only 2 engraved silver medals were presented each month but for how many issues is unknown(as far as I can ascertain). The AE medals were only issued for 13 months from April Ist 1773 - April 1774. I have never seen another of the awarded silver medals and was fortunate to have acquired this example. It is possible that all the award medals were of George the III, if not it would suggest that this was one of the first two won. The inscription around the edge reads "THE REWARD OF MERIT I . DENIS PHILOM . SOC ." (Philomath Society) so it either was for the best English translation of a French fable, or for the best poem or article in prose.

     

     

  13. This postcard(1905) shows the arms of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, followed by the devices used by Manitoba (which differs from the granted arms by the bison running instead of standing), British Columbia (a non-armorial design; the postcard is out-of-date in that BC stopped using this device in 1896), and Prince Edward Island (which differs from the granted arms by the lack of the chief).

     

     

    postcard_canada1904.jpg330px-Royalcrest_lrg.jpg32028745423_98bc56ba02_z.jpg

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