Let's see your exonumia!

Yes it is, I believe so.
7600 State Highway 75 S, Huntsville, TX 77340

 

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Yes. For the most part S.H. 75 and I-45 are the same highway. In some locales, S.H. 75 is still the Main Street of town, while I-45 is like a by-pass.
It's been many years since I did any serious traveling.

 

1933 Santa Monica Breakwater
Ocean Park HK-687
So-Called Dollar
Aluminum 38mm





The most common, the aluminum version of this medal was struck for dedication of the Breakwater off Ocean Park, Santa Monica California. The issuer and designer is unknown but it was struck by Los Angeles Rubber Stamp Co. which went out of business in the 1960s. Two dedicatory ceremonies were held, marking both beginning and completion of project, March 25, 1933, and Aug. 5, 1934, respectively.

The breakwater was financed by a $690,000 municipal bond issue. The first crib, sunk March 25, 1933 amid dedication ceremonies and promptly broke in two. City panicked and abandoned plans for a concrete-crib breakwater. Finally a rock-mound type constructed of lightweight Catalina stone was completed July 6, 1934.
Final dedication program included Pacific Coast and Southern California yacht regattas and nine days of boat races.
Some labeled Breakwater a fiasco from start to finish. They said it is completely insufficient and unsightly. It has reshaped the beaches badly by causing uneven deposit of sand. It is now a crumbling wreck.

The breakwater was built just off the Santa Monica Pier in 1933, creating a harbor for boat anchorage. Upon completion it stood 37-feet high and more than 100-feet wide at its base. It had the added effect of redistributing sand along the shore, creating the wide swath of beach north of the pier.
The harbor was home to a collection of yachts, fishing boats and a cruise liner to Catalina.



It was also the home base for a shuttle service to offshore gambling operations run by mobster Tony Cornero who decided to open a shipboard gaming operation off the Southern California coast. By sailing in international waters, Cornero hoped to legally run his gambling dens without interference from U.S. authorities.



Cornero purchased two large ships and converted them into luxury casinos at a cost of $300,000. He named the ships the SS Rex and the SS Tango. Cornero's premier cruise ship was the SS Rex, which could accommodate over 2,000 gamblers. It carried a crew of 350, including waiters and waitresses, gourmet chefs, a full orchestra, and a squad of gunmen. Its first class dining room served French cuisine exclusively.
The two ships were anchored outside the 'three mile limit' off Santa Monica and Long Beach. The wealthy of Los Angeles would take water taxis out to the ships to enjoy the gambling, shows, and restaurants.

In October 1939, the Los Angeles Zoo was facing a financial crisis. Always the good citizen, Cornero offered the zoo a day's proceeds from the SS Rex.
Considering that his ships were earning $300,000 a cruise, this was no idle gesture. Although zoo officials seriously considered the offer, pressure from state politicians forced them to decline it.
Attorney General Earl Warren led a legal crusade to shut them down.
The last to go was Cornero's flagship, the "Rex", which was raided in 1939 during what came to be known as "The Battle of Santa Monica Bay".
After a three day standoff, Cornero surrendered because he "needed a haircut". Government agents boarded the "Rex" and threw all of the gambling machines and tables overboard.

Warren subsequently went on to become governor of California, and ultimately Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

An amazing website about Santa Monica with much info and early images.
https://waterandpower.org/museum/Early_Views_of_Santa_Monica_1_of_6.html

 

1936 Winter Olympics Souvenir picture cards



The 1936 Winter Olympics, officially known as the IV Olympic Winter Games and commonly known as Garmisch-Partenkirchen 1936, were a winter multi-sport event held from 6 to 16 February 1936 in the market town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Bavaria, Germany. Wikipedia

 

Did you ever see the TV show called "Mr. Lucky"?
It's about a gambling ship and the guy (Mr Lucky) who owns it.
It starred John Vivyan as Lucky and Ross Martin (of Wild, Wild West fame) as Andamo.
It was comedy/adventure. I liked it.

 

1933 Wolfville Western Days
Bronze So-Called Dollar HK-689
38mm






From what I gather, there was a celebration in Tucson Arizona commemorating the old Western Days in 1933.
There was a rodeo and a jamboree and apparently some gambling with these so-called dollars.

From a newspaper clipping April 17, 1965
in the Tucson Daily Citizen from Tucson, Arizona



Alfred Henry Lewis (1855-1914) published a trio of books.

Wolfville (1897)
Wolfville Days (1902)
and
Wolfville Nights (1902)

I also found a book titled
Wolfville Folks (1908)



Each is a collection of sketches set in a fictional frontier settlement in the Arizona desert. Ominously called Wolfville, it was no doubt meant to emulate the very real town of Tombstone.

Illustrations by Frederic Remington are found throughout these books. I show one below.
I recognized the reverse of the medal as his style and did the research to discover these books and the Author.



Apparently the design on the reverse is similar to this illustration found in one of these books, only from a different angle with a few differences in pose.
So there is a connection between this medal and the books and Frederic Remington as well.

1933 Wolfville Western Days
Bronze One Bit Token
29mm





A quite scarce encountered token or gambling chip.

This is a "One Bit" from Wolfville Western Days.
Although there is very little to no information available about these "One Bit" tokens, the font and design is remarkably similar to that of the Wolfville Western Days One Dollar.
This may have been a smaller denomination for making change with the larger dollar.
These are said to have been used in gambling and were used as "chips" instead of money to get around the law.

 

No I'll check into it. Doesn't ring a bell for me but thank you kindly for reading my post.

Eric the Red
I like the human Zamboni picture.
My favorite was always the ski jump. Can you imagine flying like that and landing on skis?

 

Big fan of Remington here.......

 

A couple of years ago I posted a merchant token by J.A. (James Amascus) Coleman Jr. from Hardeeville S.C. James operated a Naval Stores business which included a General Store. Naval Stores were products made from pine trees that were used to maintain wooden ships ie tar, pitch, rosen, turpentine. Recently I came across another J.A. Coleman token. This one was from Swainsboro Georgia, his birth place. In Swainsboro he also operated a General Store as well as a butcher shop.

 

In honor of the posts above.

Z

​

 

There was a whole string of gambling ships which stretched from Long Beach to the south, one of which was the "Monte Carlo" which sank on New Years Day in 1937 and washed up and was burried in the sand in front of the Hotel Del Coronado. Occasionally the ship re-appears when stormy seas expose it and silver dollars are found in and around the ship which had thousands of silver dollars on board.

 

1981 Ronald Reagan
3 inch bronze medals



The Mint reissued medals commemorating Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan once again in November 2015.

This one was probably an original from the first strikes in 1981.

1981 Ronald Reagan
Yosemite National Park
3 inch bronze medal



The obverse feature a portrait of the president with inscriptions
‘RONALD REAGAN’ and ‘PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES’.

The reverse feature the Half Dome in Yosemite National Park with inscriptions
‘LET US RENEW OUR FAITH AND OUR HOPE’
and
‘WE HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO DREAM HEROIC DREAMS’
from the Reagan’s Inaugural Address.
also ‘INAUGURATED JANUARY 20, 1981’ and ‘YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK’.
Struck at Philadelphia Mint, the medals are produced in two sizes using blanks made of 90% copper and 10% zinc. The larger 3-inch medals have much higher reliefs and are struck multiple times on hydraulic presses and hand finished. They are six times costlier than the smaller coins.

A scroll saw artist did this framed portrait for me, apparently from this photo.
It hangs in my man cave with other treasures on the wall. I guess it's 10x14 and the wood is 1/4 inch thick that he cut out the design.



1981 Ronald Reagan
Medallic Art Co
Presidential Bronze Medal



I count he was an actor in about 69 films and appeared on many television shows. One of his most famous movie roles was in 1940, he played the role of George "The Gipper" Gipp in the film Knute Rockne, All American.
I like the roles he played in Western films and TV shows.

Governor of California 1967–1975

Two term conservative Republican as President of the US.
When Reagan left office in 1989, he held an approval rating of sixty-eight percent, one of the highest ratings for departing presidents in the modern era.



March 30, 1981 Reagan, his press secretary James Brady, Washington police officer Thomas Delahanty, and Secret Service agent Tim McCarthy were struck by gunfire from would-be assassin John Hinckley Jr.
Although "close to death" upon arrival at George Washington University Hospital, Reagan was stabilized in the emergency room, then underwent emergency exploratory surgery.
He recovered and was released from the hospital on April 11, becoming the first serving U.S. president to survive being shot in an assassination attempt.

August 1984, Reagan made the following joke:

Quote:
"My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes."


Reagan was a fan of Jelly Beans.

Although he had planned an active post-presidency, Reagan disclosed in November 1994 that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease earlier that year. Afterward, his informal public appearances became more infrequent as the disease progressed, finally dying of pneumonia due to the Alzheimer's.

 

1973 National Wildlife Federation
What a bunch of tree huggers we were Edit: Can’t seem to find any references to this online.

 

1960's Ulysses S. Grant
Presidential US Mint medal



A reissue of the original Inaugural Medal
Ulysses S. Grant presidential medal by William and Charles Barber.
Issued by the US mint. Plain smooth edge, about 77 mm. 210.5 gm, Circa later 1960's uncirculated in original mint box.

 

Finally Got One!

Quite dark and a bit gloomy in appearance, but no real sign of wear that I can see. Kind of fitting for the theme.

No doubt, it is original anyway. Looks at least high AU to me.
Not a lot of information is available about this TYPE 1
Who had it minted or how many were made I don't know.

1906 TYPE 1 SAN FRANCISCO
EARTHQUAKE AND FIRE
So-called Dollar.
HK-341 Brass 36mm





TYPE 2 and TYPE 3 are completely different designs.

There were 5 different TYPE 1 varieties struck.

HK-340 Silver, reeded edge. 36mm.
HK-340a Silver-plated.
HK-341 Brass.
HK-342 Aluminum.
HK-342a Bronze.

Comparing this so-called dollar population to others it is not common at all, a bit on the scarce side and seems to be always in demand.

I see only 9 total of all TYPE 1 varieties above are graded by PCGS, 3 are HK-341 and only 2 of those are MS.

On NGC I can only find MS graded totals of 33 of this variety, HK-341, 13 are in MS.

On the Obverse is a view of California Street



On the Reverse is The Ruins of City Hall



At 5:12 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 1906, the coast of Northern California was struck by a major earthquake.

The 1906 earthquake preceded the development of the Richter magnitude scale by three decades. The most widely accepted estimate for the magnitude of the quake is 7.9

Devastating fires soon broke out in the city and lasted for several days.
Within three days, over 30 fires, caused by ruptured gas mains, destroyed approximately 25,000 buildings on 490 city blocks.
More than 3,000 people probably died, including ignored fatalities in Chinatown and surrounding areas of the city.

Over 80% of the city of San Francisco was destroyed.
Between 227,000 and 300,000 people were left homeless out of a population of about 410,000.
Property losses from the disaster have been estimated to be more than $400 Million in 1906 dollars.
That would be about 5 and 1/4 Billion today.

 

Here are two medals that follow the same theme. You were right to tie them to the ANA. I wish I knew more about them.


The bronze is blank on the back.

 

@TheNickelGuy you need one of these to go with your Reagan write up.