I'm not sure this is the place for this but perhaps some of you will appreciate my attempt at constructing a Christmas Present for a 'polymath' professor friend of mine who teaches at Rice university. It did not turn out as well as I wanted but think he'll appreciate at least the amount of thought I put into this project. The frame is .950 silver over mahogany (Circa 1940's) The Stamps surrounding the nazi Polish Copernicus Overprint Souvenir sheet are U.S. commemorative 8¢ & the German Copernicus 500th ann. of his birth Commemorative 5 Mark (.650 Silver) is from 1973. All opinions welcome as I, for one, opted for QUANTITY over QUALITY...& maybe I put too much info into this frame. Que` sera`, J.T.
This post actually inspired me to buy the German 5 Mark coin and a plate block of the 1973 U.S. stamp. They are both in the mail on their way to me. It's hard to top Copernicus (I had just finished reading a small book on him also, so the timing lines up perfectly). One note on the value of stamps these days - the plate block only cost me $1.00. A single dollar. For an unused, mint condition, with gum still on the back, 45 year old plate block. Wow. The same seller had a similarly conditioned plate block of the 1962 "Project Mercury" stamp for 50 CENTS!!!! Again, wow.
Hello Ed, Thank you for the compliment as moving you to get both the Coin & Stamps really 'warms the olde cockles of me heart'. FYI, I paid $4.95 for my sheet of the U.S. 8¢ commemoratives, and still need to go back into the design to 'back' the coin w/ a small piece of black matte-board, just big enough to cover the 3 U.s. Stamps. Regards, J.T.
Nicely done indeed. Had you not finished this yet, I would have suggested adding a Copernicus coin from Poland. This one was issued as a circulating commem, and is not expensive. Two years ago Poland issued a Copernicus collector coin; would probably cost too much for such a purpose anyway, but I liked the idea that they focused on the economist this time. One of his works was Monetae cudendae ratio, his treatise on money. This is the obverse of the piece, here is the reverse. There is also an info sheet (PDF, English) about the coin. Links only, as these files are only vaguely related to the topic. And your set is good the way you did it; guess your friend will like that. Christian
Thank You Chris, I'm not planning on giving this framed present until December ,so I think I'll look into your suggestion (As you can hardly construct a 'Copernicus' homage without including a coin from his native Poland) Even though when he was born he was moreover in a Bavarian/Poland, if my facts are correct. Will begin looking for 'This One' right now. Regards, J.T. Addendum: Chris, I opted for both of these coins instead but not sure exactly how it will work into my design concept. Hope you approve, as it was only $42 U.S. for both. https://www.ebay.com/itm/202659535574 https://www.ebay.com/itm/273806638567
To prove my fidelity to this thread, I here display my $1.00 Copernicus plate block that arrived today. The coin is coming, appropriately, from the Continent, so it will take a bit longer.
Great! And I hope you can "build them in". As for whether Copernicus was German or Polish, well, in my opinion it is always difficult to use today's "tags" when it comes to people who lived more than 500 years ago in political structures that were quite different from today's. So it makes sense to do what you did - use coins and stamps from the US, Poland and Germany. Christian
Hi Christian, I was just going by what I read in Wikipedia. (DOAH!) RE: Copernicus birthplace. I have not received the other Polish coins, but did get the small circular black neoprene surround for the coin now mounted in the frame. The sound went out in my bedroom Plasma TV, so I've been piddling with trying to fix it. Although 15+ years old the HDMI picture is still crystal clear w/ super colors. Think I sussed it out now and bypassed the TV sound board using an external amp & better speakers. Now back to working on the Copernicus project! By the way, I have an extra German/Polish Occupation sheet you may have if you want, Gratis. Let me know if you can use it, J.T.
The Copernicus coin arrived! I really like the reverse design, thanks for posting it! I also like how the edge reads: "In Medio Omnium Residet Sol" Now the coin shall meet the plate block.
Nice example, Ed. I recommend you hang the finished product, if framed, over the toilet. That way you will see it as often as necessary. My dad was an avid metal detectorist and once dug up a heavy sterling key chain fastened to a bezel surrounding a 1993 one ounce pure Silver Mexican Libertad bullion coin. I cleaned it up and mounted it in a small oak frame. Hanging it just above the toilet. He really loved it. (His having to go so often due to water pills he was taking at the time.) J.T.
Yeah, the high denomination coins (initially 2 DM and above, now €2 and above) from the Federal Republic of Germany have always had edge inscriptions. By default it's Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit, the first words of our national anthem - but with commems and collector coins you usually have a motto that matches the theme. Christian
