Mint state 19th century tokens don't need a green sticker... their eye appeal, and general grade rarity, speaks for itself.
I like the train theme on this one dwhiz. It has a lot of design elements but doesn't look too "busy". Nice! Bruce
Silver medal by J.S.Wyon for the founding of the Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club in 1872. BHM 2949, 41mm. NGC MS62.
Just found the first Token I would love to own: http://www.so-calleddollars.com/Events/US_Battleship_Maine.html These are not mine, but they are now on my Radar!
I checked and there have not been too many sales, hard to know. Someone here may have a better source for me than HA. There is a current auction, but its very low MS. Still look nice. I might try a bid. If anyone has more info on the HK-285 / HK-285a / HK-286, I would love to gain some knowledge. edit: I can see why I dont see much pricing history, VERY FEW have been graded by NGC: Year/MintDenVarietyDesigTotalVGFVF40455053555860616263641898 HK-285SC$1U.S. BATTLESHIP MAINEMSBN3........1....21898 HK-285ASC$1U.S. BATTLESHIP MAINEMS5........1.121.1898 HK-286SC$1U.S. BATTLESHIP MAINEMS61.11...2...1..1898 HK-286ASC$1AVENGERS OF THE MAINEMS1..........1.......15
Most of my counterstamps are older than this one but I'm a sucker for stamps like this, old or new. A company name and location usually make for an easy attribution. This issue isn't listed in any reference that I know of so that makes it even more appealing to me. William L. Bellis was a horse collar manufacturer in Cleveland from 1878 until 1915 when he retired from active business. He was born in New Jersey in 1847, relocated to St. Louis at some point and arrived in Cleveland just prior to opening his business in 1878. During his nearly 40 years in business he would have manufactories at five different addresses. At various times he was at 65, 69, 77, and 79 Michigan St., and in 1906, at 118 Prospect Ave. He was awarded at least one patent (October 30, 1883 / #287497) for a rim plate for a horse collar. He married Emma (Eve) Button on September 16, 1878 but apparently had no children. Bellis passed away on December 3, 1925. Bruce
Thanks Jack! I found out who Bellis was but found very little about the company itself, or him personally. Here's another stamp on an Indian Head Cent I meant to post yesterday with Bellis. Unfortunately, I never found who William Darling was. The stamp is probably a jeweler or watchmaker's stamp because of the style and size but that's as far as I got. I'll let it go for awhile and try again in a couple of years. Bruce
It's not out yet Frank, but I have a rough draft of it that I'm proof reading for him. It's many times better than the 2003 edition...updated and many new additions. Not sure when it will be published but I'll let you guys know when it is. Bruce
A great looking token PennyGuy. I like the pedigree too...Tanenbaum and McFerran. Did you get this from Steve Hayden by any chance? Bruce
Thank you Bruce for the info on William Bellis. Seems he had some good timing too. He would have been too young for the Civil War and too old for the Spanish American War and WWl. Plus he lived through the best years of the Roaring 20's but punched the clock before the Great Depression. Way to do it William Bellis.