bobh Posted November 7, 2010 Report Share Posted November 7, 2010 I picked this up last week or so from an eBay seller located in Germany: The hammer price was only slightly more than $10. But I have seen these going for between $20 and $50 on eBay. Some other varieties are apparently scarce and seem to command prices of a few hundred dollars! Given that there is a rim ding or two, and the discoloration of the outer encasing (is it made of aluminum, white metal, or what?), do you think I got a good deal on this one? I am very happy with it, especially because the Indian cent is in such good shape. But I have no idea what it might go for if it were auctioned on U.S. eBay where more people might have seen it (and bid on it). Thanks for looking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted November 7, 2010 Report Share Posted November 7, 2010 Good deal. Mine (different variety) was $22. Some of the Buy It Now prices on Ebay are too high. Very rare pieces do go for good sums. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Posted November 7, 2010 Report Share Posted November 7, 2010 Very nice piece. I've looked at them a few times but haven't felt the urge to bid. Someday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccg Posted November 8, 2010 Report Share Posted November 8, 2010 Nice coin and casing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobh Posted November 8, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2010 Nice coin and casing! Thanks, ccg! Actually, the casing seems to have been cleaned (???) because it is so discolored. But the coin itself is OK -- don't know how someone could clean a casing and manage not to clean the coin in the process. Maybe it is just some special kind of corrosion? But it looks a bit scrubbed to me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
constanius Posted November 8, 2010 Report Share Posted November 8, 2010 I hope the "good luck" rubs off on you, a very nice souvenir of the Buffalo Expo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedeadpoint Posted November 8, 2010 Report Share Posted November 8, 2010 Looks like Al to me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YeOldeCollector Posted November 9, 2010 Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 Looks like Al to me! I agree. What is the weight of it? This might be able to shed some light on it if you minus the average weight of an IHC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobh Posted November 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2010 What is the weight of it? This might be able to shed some light on it if you minus the average weight of an IHC. OK -- total weight is 6.79 grams, diameter about 38.5 mm. The catalog weight of an Indian cent (bronze, 1864 and later) is 3.11 grams, diameter 19 mm. Composition of the coin is 0.950 copper and 0.050 tin and zinc. Thickness of the token is about 1.8 mm -- don't know about the cent, but it looks a bit thinner (probably doesn't matter, though, since we know the size of the hole in the casing and the overall weights). I'll let you (or someone else) do the maths, if you like ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedeadpoint Posted November 10, 2010 Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 42 Kidding. if someone else hasnt whipped out their TI-89 by later, I'll answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted November 10, 2010 Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 The encasement is aluminum. Here's mine: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobh Posted November 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 The encasement is aluminum. Here's mine: Nice! Interesting that there must have been a variety of encasement designs to choose from -- I wonder if they were made in advance, or on demand at the Expo (as with elongated coins)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted November 10, 2010 Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 I think they were made in advance as souvenirs. There were multiple vendors (different types and designs of encasements) and multiple die varieties for some encasements. Some are rare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobh Posted November 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 I think they were made in advance as souvenirs. There were multiple vendors (different types and designs of encasements) and multiple die varieties for some encasements. Some are rare. This is beginning to get very interesting ... are these documented in any token reference works? The Rulau book stops at around the turn of the century (Gay Nineties), but I didn't see any encased coins in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saor Alba Posted November 10, 2010 Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 A neat souvenir that reminds me of what was really significant - the place where President McKinley was shot - and we think we live in violent times now. A couple of months before he was shot, he travelled to California and my great great grandmother took a photograph of him in San Francisco when he was giving a speech there - I have the photograph still. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobh Posted November 10, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2010 A neat souvenir that reminds me of what was really significant - the place where President McKinley was shot - and we think we live in violent times now. A couple of months before he was shot, he travelled to California and my great great grandmother took a photograph of him in San Francisco when he was giving a speech there - I have the photograph still. Yes - interestingly enough, also in 1901, on Sept. 6, and at the Pan-American Exposition (I wonder if he was carrying one of these in his pocket?!?!) I had no idea ... I must admit that I looked this up on the internet just now. Thanks for bringing it up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted November 11, 2010 Report Share Posted November 11, 2010 This is beginning to get very interesting ... are these documented in any token reference works? The Rulau book stops at around the turn of the century (Gay Nineties), but I didn't see any encased coins in it. TAMS Journal 1999, 39(2): • Encased Cents of the 1901 Pan American Exposition, by James M. Lawniczak, pp. 32-37, 52 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobh Posted November 11, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2010 Here is a different variety of 1901 -- seller is asking $400 for it: http://cgi.ebay.ch/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380253636331&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_1338wt_1141 Is it rare, or is the BIN price tag merely off the wall? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Art Posted November 11, 2010 Report Share Posted November 11, 2010 It's pretty but worth at best 30-40 bucks to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted November 11, 2010 Report Share Posted November 11, 2010 Way over priced in my opinion. I like the particular design with the buffalo, but not $400. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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