The E-Sylum:  Volume 9, Number 31, July 30, 2006, Article 22

KENNETH DOUGLAS: DIE ENGRAVER

Ken Douglas writes: "If you will permit a comment from a new
subscriber, I was the engraver for those token dies for booksellers
mentioned in last week's E-Sylum.  I have been cutting dies for a
arge number of private mints over the last 32 years. I cut those dies
for Henry Morris to use for various booksellers.  I don't remember
the exact price I charged for those dies, but it was probably $200
each. It is interesting to learn that they are now offered for $9,800.
I have always considered my dies the real works of art since I model
the designs by hand, and if it is necessary to recut one of them,
cannot be perfectly duplicated.

For booklovers, Henry Morris of Bird and Bull Press published a
book "Republic of San Sheriffe -- 100 Coronas."  In it he mentioned
my name and named me the Chief Engraver for the fictional country.
The bookseller tokens were also mentioned in an article in The
Numismatist (vol 101, no 3). It tells why and how these tokens
were issued.

Also Mashiko of Medialia at the Rack and Hamper Gallery, 335 West
38th Street, New York, N.Y. 10018 asked me for a simple method that
she could teach her students to cut dies for their medallions. It
is not complete but I am enclosing what I have already written in
the hope that it will help Dick Hanscom and others."

[Subscribers new and old are always welcome to chime in on our
discussions.  It continues to amaze me what a simple E-Sylum item
can lead to, in this case a note directly from the artist who made
the dies we discussed.  I've forwarded his full drafts to Dick Hansom
and (with Kenneth's permission) to our resident minting technology
expert Dick Johnson.  "The Hand-Made Struck Medal" is illustrated with
some photos of the artist at work on a die in progress.  See the next
item for a couple excerpts. -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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