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V20 2017 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 20, Number 16, April 16, 2017, Article 32

Here are some pieces that caught my eye in the April 2017 Exonumia catalog from Kolbe & Fanning. -Editor

Idler, William. STORE CARD IN SILVER WITH BUST OF WASHINGTON (c. 1860). GW 266 (very scarce). Rulau Pa-229A. Baker 545. Silver. Plain edge. 20.5 mm diameter. 5.62 g. Obverse: naked bust of Washington, right, GEORGE to left, WASHINGTON to right. Reverse: text W. IDLER / DEALER IN / COINS, / MINERALS, / SHELLS, / ANTIQUES &C. / 111 N. 9T.H. ST. PHILADA:. Obverse die signed LOVETT in small letters under bust. Very light rubbing to highest points; some edge roughness that may be as struck. An attractive, about uncirculated piece with old cabinet toning. $250

Idler issued several different store cards in a variety of different metals. These dies were used to produce tokens in brass, silver, white metal, copper and nickel. Our attribution of this as silver is based party on its weight (it can’t be white metal) and partly on the toning of the piece, which is precisely what we would expect on a silver token that had not been cleaned. The LOVETT signature is faint, as struck.

A great token, of interest to collectors of coins, tokens, Washintoniana and Lovett items. -Editor

Dunham, William F. ONE MILL STORE CARD ISSUED BY WILLIAM F. DUNHAM. TC-69247. TAMS 843. Aluminum. Plain edge. 26.4 mm. 1.82 g. Obverse text within beaded margin: (curved) WILLIAM F. DUNHAM / –•– / ONE / MILL / –•– / (curved) 1919. Reverse text within beaded margin: (curved) GEORGE WASHINGTON / –•– / ONE / DISME / –•– / (curved) 1792. Dies unsigned. Some minor marks. About uncirculated. $50

A scarce store card of William Forrester Dunham, whose landmark collection was sold by B. Max Mehl in 1941. Dunham apparently issued a similar card in 1933.

A rare piece that illustrates the issuers interest in early U.S. numismatics via the denominations chosen. -Editor

Elder, Thomas L. STORE CARD DATED 1902 ADVERTISING ELDER’S FIRST BUSINESS IN PITTSBURGH. DeLorey 3. Aluminum. Plain edge. 30.7 mm. 2.52 g. Obverse text: THOMAS L. ELDER / –★– / 238 / SHERIDAN AVENUE / PITTSBURGH, PA. U.S.A. / Moveo et Proficio / AUG. 4, 1902. / AETAS 28. Reverse text: IMPORTER AND DEALER IN / ANCIENT / AND / MODERN COINS, / PAPER MONEY, / CURIOS, / CUT GEM STONES, ETC. / FREE PRICE LISTS. / GOODS SENT FOR / EXAMINATION. Dies unsigned. Some light scratches. Prooflike about uncirculated. $150

Thomas K. DeLorey, Thomas L. Elder: A Catalogue of His Tokens and Medals: “The first store card acknowledged by Elder, it was illustrated in the November 1902 issue of The Numismatist.” The August 4 date may be the date on which Elder established his business (it was not his birthday, which could be suggested by the following line). An earlier version of this token had been produced, but Elder suppressed it upon discovering that roficio was spelled Profico on it.

As a Pittsburgh native, I've always been interested in Tom Elder, who later moved his business to New York. My cousins lived on Sheridan Avenue, a residential area. Growing up I may have walked right past the house without realizing its connection to numismatics. -Editor

MEDAL STRUCK IN HONOR OF NUMISMATIST KAZIMIERZ STRONCZYŃSKI. Yellow bronze with darker patina. 59.5 mm. Obverse with bust of Stronczyński, left, legend KAZIMIERZ STRONCZYŃSKI / 1809–96. Reverse with plaque reading TWORCA SYSTEMATYKI MONET PIASTOWSKICH. A few minor marks at cheeks; light rub at highest obverse point and a bit on the reverse lettering. Extremely fine. $75

Stronczyński (1809–96) is best remembered today for his classic Dawne monety Polskie, dynastyi piastów i jagiellonow, one of the finest works on Polish coinage ever written.

The catalog includes numismatics-related medals from Poland, Italy and China. -Editor