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I haven't exactly kept up to date, but I did acquire Michael Mitchiner's Jeton's, Medalets & Tokens, Volume 2 The Low Countries and France. Francis Paul Prucha's Indian Peace Medals in American History but the most interesting came by accident today as I scanned a used bookstore that was new to me. Matthew Boulton by H.W. Dickinson, Cambridge, 1937. It is a science biography, history volume with a chapter on Coinage and the Soho Mint. An appendix includes a Memoir of Boulton by James Watt written in 1809. Some foxing, but it looks like a decent biography.

Colonial Jack and Sailor Jean are one and the same. It is the same trolleyette, a collapsable frame and a bicycle wheel. Sailor Jean's trolleyette carried a barrel with his stuff including tokens and doo dads to sell, clothes, etc. He sometimes slept out, but often stayed in hotels. The "sail" atop the barrel is an army tent. Colonial Jack replaces the Barrel with a pyramid (the sphinx). Same idea. Both became billboards for businesses attaching cards for a fee. His book: The Walk of Colonial Jack by John A. Krohn (1910). To quote Krohn: Why did I push a wheelbarrow around the border of the United States? To make money by selling my story. But "the love of money is root of all evil." Yes; still, most of us need the "root."

Sailor Jean walked his way into fame and fortune . 38mm Aluminum One of a number of people around the world who walked long distances and sold souvenirs to support their quests. I don't know if Sailor Jean ever wrote his book, but he wrote one later as Colonial Jack. I'll post that token later. I've managed to piece together a file on this character and I tracked down a copy of his book. I'm working on an article about his exploits.

Nice piece. Elegant design.

1893 Aluminum Mexican Souvenir Columbian Exposition about 2 inches square, Unc I know nothing about this piece except I have a matching one from the California Midwinter International Exposition, 1894 (here). The obverse features a bust of Columbus at the top, the Aztec calendar in the middle, and navigational instruments at the bottom. To the left is a ship, a steam train to the right. The dates 1492 and 1892. The reverse features an allegorical scene with a male adorned for blacksmith work, a female with grains, and Hermes (or Mercury) the messenger of the gods known for his helpfulness to mankind. Behind them is the American flag and an eagle. The banner above reads, RECUERDO DE LA EXPOSICION DE CHICAGO. 1893 below.

1894 Aluminum Mexican Souvenir California Exposition about 2 inches square, Unc I know nothing about this piece except I have a matching one from the Columbian Exposition, 1893 (here). The obverse features a bust of Columbus at the top, the Aztec calendar in the middle, and navigational instruments at the bottom. To the left is a ship, a steam train to the right. The dates 1492 and 1892. The reverse features an allegorical scene with a male adorned for blacksmith work, a female with grains, and Hermes (or Mercury) the messenger of the gods known for his helpfulness to mankind. Behind them is the American flag and an eagle. The banner above reads, MEXICAN SOUVENIR EXPOSITION CALIFORNIA. 1894 below.

1894 Aluminum State Seal - Administration Building 51 mm, Unc A large souvenir medal from the exposition. At 51 mm, it is too large to count as a so-called dollar. Since there are no catalogs for the Midwinter pieces, this naturally counts as "unlisted" although I've encountered an auction record for one other piece so far. If my collection progresses at the current pace, I write something one of these days.

1894 Brass Official Medal Type I So-Called Dollar Hibler & Kappen 245 34 mm VF 1894 Brass Official Medal Type II So-Called Dollar Hibler & Kappen 245A 34 mm AU Okay, they are not aluminium. I've focused a part of my collection on this exposition and am looking for one rare so-called dollar struck in white medal. Nearly everything else is aluminum (there are sone other non so-called dollar exceptions). The obverse is the California state seal. Type I is a fairly accurate rendering with the exception of fruit and flowers at the feet of Minerva (read the reverse inscription). Type II adds arising sun at the crest of the Sierra Nevadas (again, read the reverse inscription). The maker's mark, MOISE S.F. appears at the base of the image. The reverse of both reads, THE LAND OF SUNSHINE FRUIT AND FLOWERS / SOUVENIR / CALIFORNIA / MIDWINTER / EXPOSITION / SAN FRANCISCO / 1894. The reverses are not identical. The words are the same, but different letter punches were used and the sizes and placements are slightly different. The lettering placement, spacing, etc. feels more "professional" on Type I. I believe these medals were commissioned by the exposition planners and that Type I was ordered and struck by the exposition's publicity office in Chicago. The San Francisco office opened second and I believe they ordered matching medals in San Francisco for use in the west. Moise added the sun on the obverse as well as their hallmark.

1894 Aluminum Sun-Set City - Mechanics Art Building So-Called Dollar Hibler & Kappen 253 38.5 mm EF Obverse: Mechanics Art Building. Outer ring reads, SOUVENIR / OF THE SUN-SET CITY. Reverse: Wreath, ALUMINUM / SOUVENIR / STAMPED / IN / MECHANICS BLD. / SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. This particular medal is interesting since it has been counterstamped JAN 27 1894 in the overly large space between the words STAMPED and IN. The space appears suited to adding a date and Jan 27, 1894 was opening day for the exposition. I guess you could consider this a first day of issue piece. The exposition grounds in Chicago were known as the White City for the fair's classical architecture. In San Francisco, the exposition grounds were located next to a property development known as the Sunset City. The color scheme selected for the exposition architecture, however, led to the local nickname, the Opal City. The Mechanics Art Building and Electric Tower designs from the two "Stamped In" medals pictured here and above were adapted from water color promotional artist's renderings painted by Charles Graham.

Magic, Myth, and Money: The Origin of Money in Religious Ritual. by William Desmonde (Free Press of Glencoe, New York, 1962) An odd little book involving a Jungian analysis of the origion of money in religious symbolism. (Don't ask why, it had to do with my interests in symbolism and Celtic coins.) Coins and Power in Late Iron Age Britain. by John Creighton (Cambridge University Press, 2000) I think he (and others) stretch the evidence with entoptic analysis, but there is plenty else to interest me. Celtic Coinage: New Discoveries, New Discussion. Edited by Philip de Jersey. (BAR International Series 1532, Oxford, 2006) Interesting collection of papers, my main interest is in several studies of Roman influences on Celtic coins.

1894 Aluminum Bird's Eye View - Golden Gate Hibler & Kappen 250 38 mm Unc Obverse: Bird’s eye view, CALIFORNIA MIDWINTER INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION / SAN FRANCISCO 1894. Reverse:View looking west through the Golden Gate, GOLDEN GATE / SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. My favorite piece from the fair. I love the view of the Golden Gate. The building on the left is Fort Point, the point from which the Golden Gate Bridge begins its crossing of the entrance to the bay. I missed several opportunities to acquire one of these only to be rewarded by a near flawless example. Sometimes it pays to wait (and I had to pay for the opportunity!). Note the Ferris Wheel (Firth Wheel at the fair) in the lower right corner of the bird's eye view. The Japanese Tea Garden, still present in Golden Gate Park, are in the lower left of the view.

You have to get in line. I cornered the aluminum market first!

1894 Aluminum State Seal - Five Edifaces Hibler & Kappen 260 34.8 mm Unc Obverse: Modified state seal CALIFORNIA MIDWINTER INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION / 1894. Reverse:Five bilding is rings, Administration Building in center. Clockwise from the top, Palace of Horticulture, Palace of Manufacturers and Liberal Arts, Palace of Fine Arts, and Palace of Mechanics Art. Not much to add except to note again the modified state seal. Instead of the Sierra, the seal looks west towards the setting sun. The fair emphasized the ideal climate in the dead of the eastern winter!

1894 Aluminum Bird's Eye View - Facts about San Francisco So-Called Dollar Hibler & Kappen 255 43.7 mm Unc Obverse: Bird’s eye view, MIDWINTER EXPOSITION / 1894 / SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. Signed SCHWAAB S.&S. CO. MILWAUKEE. Reverse: SOUVENIR OF SAN FRANCISCO / METROPOLIS OF THE WESTERN COAST. Inside, the inscription: THE PRINCIPAL / SEAPORT OF THE WESTERN / COAST OF AMERICA, / AND THE CHIEF CITY OF CALIFORNIA. / ESTABLISHED IN 1776 AS MISSION DELORES. / WAS TAKEN BY THE U.S. IN 1847. / POPULATION THEN 450, POPULATION NOW IS 350,000. / HAS ONE OF THE BEST HARBORS IN THE WORLD. / MILES OF FINE STREETS, FINE PUBLIC BUILDINGS, U.S. MINT. / 37 BANKS, FINEST CABLE CAR SYSTEM IN THE COUNTRY. / IMPROVED ELECTRIC LIGHT PLANTS, GAS AND WATER WORKS. / THE LARGE OFFICE AND BUSINESS BUILDINGS, / HOTELS AND CHURCHES ARE NUMEROUS AND MAGNIFICENT. / HAS FOURTEEN DAILY NEWSPAPERS / AND OVER / FIFTY OTHER WEEKLY AND MONTHLY PUBLICATIONS. / HAS LARGE MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS. / POPULATION IS THOROUGHLY COSMOPOLITAN. / GOLDEN GATE PARK, / COVERING 1,050 ACRES, IS ONE OF / THE GREATEST IN / THE WORLD. That certainly fills up the medal, but the point of the fair was to promote San Francisco as an economic center. Fairs had brought business to many cities, but none had been west of Chicago before 1894.

A neat coin nevertheless. I like the simplicity of the design.

Thanks. Useful help with the translation. I knew it was close, but also had my doubts about how close.

While not technically an election token, the porcelain medal pictured here was the first official medallic portrait of Hitler. He approved the design in 1924 while serving time in Landsberg prison for leading the failed Munich putsch (see the Goetz satirical medal posted by Goetzdude). The medals were sold to raise funds for those fallen in Munich. Three versions were available, all white for 2 marks, painted as pictured here for 3 marks, or all white in a silver mount for 3 marks. The next official images of Hitler appeared on election tokens beginning in 1928.

I've been exploring two themes recently: First the early days of collecting and the role of coins in illustrating history. Two books to explore the topic "hands on." Series Augustorum, Augustorum, Caesarum, Et Tyrannorum Omnium, Tam in Oriente, Quam in Occidente, A C.J. Caesare by Laurentius Patarol, published in 1722 in Venice. Roman coin obverses are used to illustrate the emporers. La Science des Medailles, Nouvelle Edition, Avec Des Remarques Historiques & Critiques, Tome Premier by Louis Jobert, published in 1739 in Paris (Fourth edition). The opening illustration of two collectors before their coin cabinet: Second are early American medals (US and Canada): American colonial history illustrated by contemporary medals by C. Wyllys Betts, published by Scott Stamp and Coin Company, New York, 1894. Illustrated History of the Coins and Tokens of Canada by P.N. Breton, printed by the British North American Banknote Company (1894) The Medallic Work of John Adams Bolen by Neil E. Musante, Springfield, Mass (2002)

Raoul Denier King of France 923-936 Gratia Dei Rex Type Denier Depreyot 308B Odo’s brother Robert led the opposition to Charles the Simple and was elected king after Charles fled to Lotharingia. Robert died in battle at Soissons on June 15, 923. His son, later to be known as Hugh the Great, refused the crown, so the rebels turned to Robert’s son-in-law, Raoul or Ralph of Burgundy. Raoul’s position was secured when Herbert II of Vermandois seized and imprisoned Charles. As nephew of Boso of Provence, Raoul was connected to the Carolingian dynasty. His reign was marked by numerous battles against those seeking to gain advantage from the imprisonment of Charles. The coin pictured here is most likely an immobilized (and clipped) example of a Gratia Dei Rex denier from Château Landon (Castis Landni). The central device on the obverse is a degenerated version of a Raoul monogram in the Carolingian style. Examples of Raoul’s coins are rare.

Charles the Simple Denier King of France 897-922 Gratia Dei Rex Type Denier MEC 998, Depreyot 812 Immobilized denier of Quentovic. Charles the Simple, son of Charles the Bald, inherited the crown on the death of Odo. He was well educated, pious, and he sought to re-establish the Carolingian tradition. He died in 929, prisoner of his cousin Herbert II. The coin pictured here may be from the Fecamp hoard and was likely struck late 800a, early 900s. Immobilized coinage indicates the continued use of a recognized, legitimate design long after the death of the individual in whose name the coin was struck. Note the degeneration in the quality and fabric of the coins as the political situation is degenerating.

Odo (Eudes) Denier King of France 888-887 Misercordia Dei Type MEC 982, Depreyot 1043 Denier of Tours. As noted in the previous post, the power vacuum created by Charles the Fat led to inter-regional warfare as local leaders competed for power. Count Odo, defender of Paris, was elected King of France despite challenges from the Carolingians. Odo, son of Robert the Strong, count and lay-abbot married the daughter of Hugh of Tours. Odo's election foreshadowed the rise of the Robertians. Odo became the Neustrian marquis, count of Anjou and Blois, abbot St. Martin of Tours and Marmoutier, and count of Paris. The Robertians extended their influence in the region through Theobald the Elder in Blois and Viscount Burchard I, father of Buchard the Venerable in Vendôme. (See my posts on the Tete Chinonaise of Blois in this section.) Odo arranged for the election of the yound Carolingian, Charles the Simple, on Odo's death. Denier of Blois MEC 980, Depreyot 163

That ends the string of deniers of Charles the Bald. His death left the empire unsettled and beginning to disintegrate. Charles III, also known as Charles the Fat, was the third son of Louis the German and grandson of Louis the Pious. He entered the political fray created by the royal coronation of Boso of Provence. Boso claimed imperial heritage through his sister’s marriage to Charles the Bald. The direct Carolingian descendants closed ranks in opposition to Boso’s challenge to their heritage. Charles led an allied army against Norse invaders in mid-882. Rather than fight, he negotiated a treaty allowing them to settle in Frisia. Nevertheless, the nobles of west Francia invited him to rule France following the death of Carloman. A month later, Danish chief Sigifrid began moving up the Seine and laid siege to Paris in November 885. Despite the vigorous defense of the city led by Odo and his brother Robert, Charles the Fat ransomed the city and allowed the Danes to move into Burgundy. Crippled by the loss of public confidence and debilitating headaches, Charles agreed to abdicate his throne in November 887. He died January 13, 888 at Niedingen on the Danube.

Charles the Bald Denier King of France 840-875 Emperor 875-877 Imperial Type Denier, 875-877 MEC 915, Depreyot 198 Denier of Bourges. Charles was crowned emperor in Rome on December 25, 875. A revolt in France forced his return in the summer of 877. He died in route at the foot of Mont Cenis pass on October 6, 877. Only thirteen mints struck imperial coins which likely means no instructions were issued to change the national coinage. The brief period between the coronation and his death leads some scholars to attribute the abundant imperial coinage to Charles the Fat. Grierson assigns the Bourges coins (as shown here) to Charles the Bald while Belaubre attributes them to Charles the Fat.

Charles the Bald Denier King of France 840-875 Emperor 875-877 Gratia Dei Rex Type Denier, 864-875 MEC 897, Depreyot 896 The other 110 mints striking Gratia Dei Rex deniers were likely producing coins to payoff the Viking raiders, although many had a long tradition as established mints. The denier of St. Denis above is well made and certainly appears to be professionally produced. The next denier from Courcessin [Courgeon (Orne)] is relatively common for coins of the period. Denier of Courcessin MEC 860, Depreyot 375 Finally, another common piece, not as well produced. Denier of Le Mans MEC 872, Depreyot 559

Charles the Bald Obol King of France 840-875 Emperor 875-877 Gratia Dei Rex Type Obol, 864-875 MEC 895, Depreyot 880 Charles sought to bring his coinage under control, eliminate counterfeits, and stabilize the monetary system. His June 25, 864 Edict of Pitres designated nine official mints in addition to the Palace mint. The obol shown above was struck in Rouen, one of the nine official mints. Eventually, some 110 mints struck the Gratia Dei Rex (King by the Grace of God type), but the obol shown here is an early example of the official issue. All obols are rare in relation to deniers. Denier of the Palace Mint MEC 884, Depreyot 750 Denier of Orleans MEC 880, Depreyot 727 The large cud on the reverse detracts from the coin in my opinion even though it might be an interesting error on a modern coin.