GEORGE T.MORGAN'S PROPOSED GOLD UNION

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V23 2020 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 23, Number 28, July 12, 2020, Article 13

GEORGE T.MORGAN'S PROPOSED GOLD UNION

Howard Daniel passed along this gold piece he came across in a July 29, 2020 sale by Noble Auctions in Australia. He had never seen nor heard of it before. -Editor

Morgan proposed gold union fantasy obverse

Morgan proposed gold union fantasy reverse

USA, RESTRIKE OF GEORGE T. MORGAN'S proposed gold union or one hundred dollars, 1876, struck in 2012 in .999 fine gold, one ounce (34mm), mintage limit 999. FDC.

Cased in a slab by NGC as Ultra High Relief ultra cameo-gem proof.

To read the complete lot description, see:
USA, RESTRIKE OF GEORGE T.MORGAN'S proposed gold union (https://www.noble.com.au/auctions/lot?lotno=1567&saleno=124&x=0&y=0)

I had a vague recollection of these being sold to raise funds for the National Numismatic Collection at the Smithsonian, but was quickly frustrated by being unable to find any more information about these anywhere, not even in The E-Sylum archives or the NGC site. I first reached out to NGC Research Director David Lange, who shared my recollection. -Editor

Dave writes:

"I believe they were commissioned by Jeff Garrett to benefit the SI's National Numismatic Collection."

So I next reached out to Jeff Garrett. -Editor

Jeff writes:

"The piece was designed based on a drawing in the George T. Morgan sketch book that resides in the Smithsonian. The drawings are the subject of a great book by Karen Lee who worked at the Smithsonian several years ago. The gold pieces were part of fund raising for the museum thru a licensing contract. These pieces were sold about 10-15 years ago."

George Morgan's 1876 coin design sketches

Jeff kindly provided the above sketches. Did any of our readers purchase one of these? Is there an insert with any more information on them? The lot description states that 999 were struck in 2012 in one ounce of .999 fine gold. But who struck them? Who engraved the dies? I wonder if there are any unsold examples available - or were they melted, thus reducing the remaining supply? If anyone can help, please chime in. The lot description called it a "restrike", but these were never struck originally - this piece would more properly be termed a fantasy issue.

And if you don't already have a copy of The Private Sketchbook of George T. Morgan, America's Silver Dollar Artist, get one! It's a great book. Below are links to earlier articles about it. Thanks, everyone. -Editor

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
NEW BOOK: THE PRIVATE SKETCHBOOK OF GEORGE T. MORGAN (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v15n41a04.html)
BOOK REVIEW: THE PRIVATE SKETCHBOOK OF GEORGE T. MORGAN (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v15n46a09.html)
DICK JOHNSON COMMENTS ON MORGAN'S PRIVATE SKETCHBOOK (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v15n52a11.html)
BOOK REVIEW: THE PRIVATE SKETCHBOOK OF GEORGE T. MORGAN (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n02a08.html)
BOOK REVIEW: PRIVATE SKETCHBOOK OF GEORGE T. MORGAN (https://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v17n25a06.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

The Numismatic Bibliomania Society is a non-profit organization promoting numismatic literature. See our web site at coinbooks.org.

To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com

To subscribe go to: https://my.binhost.com/lists/listinfo/esylum

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