Zoins Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 That's a nice looking "Washington Before Boston" Comita Americana medal Bill. I thought about getting an early 1800s restrike a while back but passed at the time. Yours looks like a great piece. Does anyone know where Washington's gold one is today? I've been to Mount Vernon a couple of times but didn't see or hear about it. Link to post Share on other sites
jgrinz Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 Got my Tokens in from Greg - I will picture them tonight - It is true what they say - ICG will Slab anything - See Gregs previous post (perhaps he can find it and bring it to the top as I found it quite informative and amusing ) Thanks again Greg Link to post Share on other sites
Zoins Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 Here's Greg's thread: Fun with ICG - My Long Journey Toward Dementia I'm still unconvinced that wooden nickels are categorically ungradable since the cardboard ration token was graded. Perhaps it was just something with that particular wooden nickel? Perhaps he should try again with a different wooden nickel? Link to post Share on other sites
BillJones Posted May 24, 2007 Share Posted May 24, 2007 That's a nice looking "Washington Before Boston" Comita Americana medal Bill. I thought about getting an early 1800s restrike a while back but passed at the time. Yours looks like a great piece. Does anyone know where Washington's gold one is today? I've been to Mount Vernon a couple of times but didn't see or hear about it. The gold one that Thomas Jefferson awarded to George Washington is supposed to be in the collection of the Boston Public Library. There was also a set of Comitia American medals medals in silver that Jefferson gave to Washington at the same time. Today that set is in the Massachusetts Historical Society collection. Back in the mid 1870s a group of Boston citizens pooled their money and bought the gold medal so that it would be available for the public to see. I read somewhere that the library was supposed to display the piece on Washington's birthday every year. I worked in Boston for a number of the years, but the medal never appeared on the first president's birthday. I asked at the library if it was possible for a citizen to see the medal. I explained that I owned this piece, which was struck from the same set of dies, and offered to show it to them. After a considerable run around the answer was "No." They did sell me a booklet that was written by gentlemen who did not respect the medal, and they tried to sell me a tiny copy of it. One chilling comment that I heard was, "Didn't the director of the library take that home with him?" Given the way Massachusetts politics works, it wouldn't surprise me if the medal is now in the hands of a private collector. Among the New England states, only Vermont is more corrupt. Link to post Share on other sites
Zoins Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 One chilling comment that I heard was, "Didn't the director of the library take that home with him?" Given the way Massachusetts politics works, it wouldn't surprise me if the medal is now in the hands of a private collector. Among the New England states, only Vermont is more corrupt. Wow, that is disappointing to hear. Thanks for the info Link to post Share on other sites
jgrinz Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 The original picture Then the actual returns from Icg - Kinda C00l .. I didnt even care about the grade really just the encapsulation ... Link to post Share on other sites
rbrown4 Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 Bill, Great Medal and great story/history. I am not surprised at the possibility of the director "borrowing" the piece. FYI, my wife was passing by the computer and saw your piece and was astounded. Rey Link to post Share on other sites
ldhair Posted May 25, 2007 Author Share Posted May 25, 2007 I don't know much about this one. Link to post Share on other sites
Zoins Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 Hi Larry. Congress Hall was a hotel in Saratoga Springs, a tourist hot spot (literally as it was an area of hot springs). Construction began in 1811 and was Gideon Putman's second hotel in the area after Union Hall. Here is some general history. I'm not sure how your token was used but it might have something to do with that hotel. Link to post Share on other sites
ldhair Posted May 25, 2007 Author Share Posted May 25, 2007 Hi Larry. Congress Hall was a hotel in Saratoga Springs, a tourist hot spot (literally as it was an area of hot springs). Construction began in 1811 and was Gideon Putman's second hotel in the area after Union Hall. Here is some general history. I'm not sure how your token was used but it might have something to do with that hotel. Great information. Thanks Any thoughts on who William R Brown was? Link to post Share on other sites
rrantique Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 (edited) Here is one bit of nostalgia Edited May 25, 2007 by rrantique Link to post Share on other sites
Zoins Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 Any thoughts on who William R Brown was?Not right now. I had the Congress Hall information handy because I looked it up before. I'll do some digging for WR Brown when I have some time. Link to post Share on other sites
JRocco Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 Pope Julius III 1554 restrike in Bronze Link to post Share on other sites
rrantique Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 (edited) Kinda in keeping with our latest comm. Edited May 25, 2007 by rrantique Link to post Share on other sites
WoodenJefferson Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 New Jersey Bus Token Year, unknown, 5/8" diameter, brass alloy Obv inscription GOOD FOR ONE FARE Rev inscription COAST CITIES COACHES Inc. (-script) Denis J. Gallagher The cardboard quarter size flip is ancient, marked $2.00 then .15 ending up with .25 my only question, why so small? Link to post Share on other sites
Zoins Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 A little while ago I picked this up in a token grab bag on the bay. I don't collect these but thought it was neat because it had a golfer on it. I was surprised to find it listed on a few websites with a couple of different varieties, no RWM, RWM on one side and RWM on both sides. There's also what seems to be a later Indiana version in someone's Flickr token collection album. The Roger Williams Mint has been acquired by Tokens Direct so I'm guessing there won't be any more tokens with the RWM initials. Apparently Ball-O-Matic is also now based in Madison Heights, MI instead of Niles. Link to post Share on other sites
Coll3ctor Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 (edited) 1863 Christoph Karl - Will be up for bid soon Photo's by member LeeG Edited May 25, 2007 by Coll3ctor Link to post Share on other sites
BillJones Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 Here is one bit of nostalgia I love that car medal. The interesting thing about the Hudson automobiles of the early to 1950s was that they were about the fastest thing on the road with a really powerful V-8 engine. The car actually sold quite well at that time. But then the company was absorbed by Nash - American Motors and the brand disappeared. During the last year of the Hudson, which was 1957, the car bore a strong resemblance to the parent company’s flagship, the Nash Ambassador. Contemporary people and modern car collectors contemptibly call that model the “Hash.” The car was still fast, however. My father, who was an American motors booster, owned one of the last Nash Ambassadors, a 1957 Ambassador Super. Unknown to my father one of the guys who worked for him used to test it out when he was driving the car for my father on errands. One day I heard this employee comment to friend that the car could “fill the speedometer” i.e. make to 120. Link to post Share on other sites
bsshog40 Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 A lot of very cool medals since I've looked. Great ones all!!! Link to post Share on other sites
jtryka Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 A little while ago I picked this up in a token grab bag on the bay. I don't collect these but thought it was neat because it had a golfer on it. I was surprised to find it listed on a few websites with a couple of different varieties, no RWM, RWM on one side and RWM on both sides. There's also what seems to be a later Indiana version in someone's Flickr token collection album. The Roger Williams Mint has been acquired by Tokens Direct so I'm guessing there won't be any more tokens with the RWM initials. Apparently Ball-O-Matic is also now based in Madison Heights, MI instead of Niles. That's a cool one, especially since I live just a short drive from Niles! Link to post Share on other sites
rrantique Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 Thanks for post Bill, looks like it may still have some of the original Grease. Link to post Share on other sites
rrantique Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 (edited) Edited May 25, 2007 by rrantique Link to post Share on other sites
cpm9ball Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 (edited) This is a very small portion of my medal collection, and I'd be hard pressed to choose a favorite. Chris Edited May 25, 2007 by cpm9ball Link to post Share on other sites
Zoins Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 Chris, those are some beautiful EAMs (European Artist Medals). I think the quality and variety of artistry in EAMs makes them a very attractive alternative to coins. Great looking collection Link to post Share on other sites
DC Dawg Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 In the day before EZ-Pass, we used to buy tokens at the bridges in New York to make commuting easier. The Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA), which ran the bridges and tunnels connecting New York's interboro passage ways under the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), would sell individual tokens or rolls of 20 for two weeks of commuting so that users could drop them into the exact toll bins. The TBTA operates seven bridges and two tunnels. At the time I bought this token, the toll was $2.50. Now the toll is $4.50. Toll for the Verrazano-Narrows bridge paid when going into Staten Island but not when crossing into Brooklyn. The tokens are no longer used with the introduction of the EZ-Pass electronic toll system. Here is a token from that era: Sometimes, it is just fun having something from your past. It's just cool!! Scott Link to post Share on other sites
rrantique Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 (edited) Wow Chris, like all of those. Nice momento Scott Edited May 25, 2007 by rrantique Link to post Share on other sites
dooly Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 (edited) Lets go a little bit earilyer with this 1837 large cent .. I have been unable to trace this one and its a shame it wont grade any information grately recived Edited May 25, 2007 by dooly Link to post Share on other sites
DC Dawg Posted May 25, 2007 Share Posted May 25, 2007 In keeping with transportation memories of my days in New York and Long Island, how about the bronze medal commemorating the sesquicentennial of the Long Island Rail Road: Scott Link to post Share on other sites
