NUMISMATIC NUGGETS: NOVEMBER 28, 2021

France, Metz, Thierry V Bayer de Boppart (1365-84), silver Gros, Thierry standing facing, raising his right hand in benediction and holding croizer in his left. Rev. Cross pattée, 3.25g (Bodeau 1641).

To read the complete lot description, see:
GAR MEDAL WITHOUT RIBBON (https://live.thomastonauction.com/lots/view/1-58TGF5/gar-medal-without-ribbon)

1907 Brenner Lincoln Plaque
LINCOLN PORTRAIT RELIEF BY THE DESIGNER OF THE PENNY.
BRENNER, VICTOR DAVID, sculptor. 1871-1924. Abraham Lincoln 1809-1865.
Patinated bronze bas-relief, 1907. Signed V.D. BRENNER and with device at lower right, 180 x 240 mm.

Victor David Brenner was one of the premier American medalists of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is most famous for his enduring design of the Lincoln penny. In fact, it was the design of this 1907 relief which brought Brenner to the attention of Theodore Roosevelt, who insisted that Brenner design the one-cent coin that was to be issued beginning in 1909 to celebrate the Lincoln Centenary.

Aaron White, eccentric Connecticut lawyer, believed that the financial strain of the War of the Rebellion would bankrupt the United States and that as a result, all paper money, "green-backs" in particular, would become worthless. White struck his satirical pieces to show contempt for green-backs, printed to finance the war.

Obv.. Sow, hanging from hook; to l., Sus; to r., Pendens; above, 1837; below, 1857; legend to l., near edge, Never Keep; to r., A Paper Dollar. Line below 1837 and above 1857.

Rev. Sow, to r., rooting in jar marked $10; above, Sus (sow); below, Toll Ens (rooting); to r., Deux Sous (two sous); to l., Di Oboli (two oboli--small Greek copper coins); legend, near edge, above, in Your Pocket; near lower edge, Till Tomorrow. (Complete motto, from both sides, Never Keep a Paper Dollar in Your Pocket Till Tomorrow.) Copper. 35mm, AU-BU condition.

Lot of two orange tickets. 1) Bread, Pies, Cakes and Crackers / One Loaf / at / Lockey's / North Main Street, Helena, M. T. 2) Good For / 12 1/2 c at Grand Central Bar / Helena, Montana, / Thos. Mayne.

Signed by Kennedy, Harding, Wilson,Hoover,Eisenhower Franklin Roosevelt and Coolidge.

You see a lot of crazy things when looking for numismatic items online - like this nasty-looking ten dollar bill with the signatures of seven U.S. Presidents. Kennedy was born in 1917 and Harding and Wilson died in the 1920s. It doesn't make sense unless someone gathered signatures over many years. The item's already been sold, but earlier this week I'd reached out to my friend Joe Esposito, an historian and Kennedy expert. Thanks! -Editor

"Obviously, this is an intriguing note. But I'm curious why the owner didn't take better care of it, knowing that he had presidential signatures which obviously were important to him. Also, since Woodrow Wilson would have been the first signature, why did he write OVER Jackson's portrait since he would have had the whole surface to himself?

"Further, the secretary of the treasury here was David Houston, who served from 1920 to 1921. Wilson was debilitated with a stroke in September 1919 and it is surprising that he would have signed the bill with such apparent clarity. Also, would he have been out autographing bills? His wife essentially ran the government during his illness, which lasted beyond the end of his term in 1921.

"I cannot see the full FDR signature but it appears that the "D" in his name is different from what I've seen on documents. In general, the Kennedy signature has been studied extensively by experts. His handwriting was generally indecipherable. Most of his signatures which surface are autopenned or secretarial.

"I've never come across a multi-presidential signed bill before. Although badly worn, there cannot be many, if any, examples of all these men signing one document. Surprisingly, it sold for a mere $300; Kennedy signatures alone sell for four times that figure. I'm curious how a presidential archivist at, say, the National Archives or the Library of Congress would assess these signatures."

To read the complete lot description, see:
US PRESIDENTS Autographed $10 Bill (https://www.liveauctioneers.com/en-gb/item/117521020_us-presidents-autographed-10-bill)