Ian Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 Let me introduce you to the handywork of a certain Kyle Mutcher, the owner of `Four Corners Coin and Currency' Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. I know Kyle via our joint participation in the usenet newsgroup `rec.collecting.coins'. Rec.collecting coins is the very first newsgroup to have issued its own token `coinage'. This commenced in 2002 with a crown sized `Ember' token, and was followed by a few more in the same vein. However these `ember' tokens are not the subject of this posting, but rather they are mentioned as a historical backdrop. In 2004, Kyle came up with the idea of producing a hand struck silver token for the newsgroup. First he found old silver, melted it and moulded it into a ball which was then hammered flat into a disk. it was then placed between two hand engraved dies and struck with a twelve pound sledge hammer. Here is an example of the 2004 `Spark' token: Kyle has since produced different designs as `trade tokens' for his customers redeemable at his shop. I have a few of these that are certainly worthy of mention, but I will stick with his rec.collecting.coins tokens for now. In 2006 he produced another silver `Spark token' and a bimetallic (copper outer / brass inner) `Stick' token in response to requests from fellow members of the group. The `Spark' has (obverse) the RCC dragon perched on the earth, with wings outstretched , and (reverse) a small village reverse representing the sense of `community' held by many of the collectors in the group. However, I think Kyle has really excelled himself with his `I Stick' bimetallic. Bear in mind that he (and his father Otto) have done everything from making the blanks, engraving the dies, and striking the `coins'. The `Stick' shows the RCC dragon clutching the Earth with his claws (obverse). Reverse, Moneta (Goddess of Money) is holding a balance in her right hand, a stick in her left, while at her feet is a dead horse. This depicts the balance of reason and persistence of opinion in the newsgroup (typically expressed as `flogging a dead horse'). This token is very three dimensional, and a work of true art (IMVHO). Much kudos to Kyle! My scans of these little gems certainly do not do them adequate justice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottishmoney Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 I wanted to get those, but never heard from Kyle regarding them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 That's very neat. I still have my Embers and use one as a pocket piece ocassionally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted February 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 I wanted to get those, but never heard from Kyle regarding them I truly recommend that you keep trying Dave. I'm rarely enthused about anything as much as I am concerning that bimetallic. Persistence is not futile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottishmoney Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 I tried to email Kyle about these when he came out with the bimetallics back in October, his email went down and I gave up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted February 1, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 I tried to email Kyle about these when he came out with the bimetallics back in October, his email went down and I gave up Check for a PM on this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edix2001 Posted March 15, 2007 Report Share Posted March 15, 2007 Here's some other stuff by Kyle Mutcher: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccg Posted March 15, 2007 Report Share Posted March 15, 2007 Very neat stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlueke Posted May 10, 2019 Report Share Posted May 10, 2019 Does anyone still have these? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted May 21, 2019 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2019 I'm a long time sufferer of `magpie-itis'....so i still have my ones...in hiding..... somewhere. Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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