August 2024 Global Showcase Auction – 12 - 23 August 2024
Ancient and World Coins and Currency
Part B: Mo, 12.08.2024, from 6:00 PM CEST
Part C: Mo, 12.08.2024, from 10:00 PM CEST
Part 1: Tu, 13.08.2024, from 1:00 AM CEST
Part 2: Tu, 13.08.2024, from 6:00 PM CEST
Part 3: Tu, 13.08.2024, from 10:00 PM CEST
Part D: We, 14.08.2024, from 6:00 PM CEST
Part 4: We, 14.08.2024, from 9:00 PM CEST
Part 5: Th, 15.08.2024, from 5:00 PM CEST
Part E: Fr, 16.08.2024, from 5:00 PM CEST
Part 6: Fr, 16.08.2024, from 9:00 PM CEST
Part 7: Sa, 17.08.2024, from 5:00 PM CEST
Part F: Sa, 17.08.2024, from 6:00 PM CEST
Part 8: Mo, 19.08.2024, from 7:00 PM CEST
Part G: Tu, 20.08.2024, from 6:00 PM CEST
Part 9: Tu, 20.08.2024, from 7:00 PM CEST
Part H: Tu, 20.08.2024, from 8:00 PM CEST
Part 10: We, 21.08.2024, from 6:00 PM CEST
Part I: We, 21.08.2024, from 6:00 PM CEST
Part 11: Th, 22.08.2024, from 6:00 PM CEST
Part J: Th, 22.08.2024, from 6:00 PM CEST
Part K: Fr, 23.08.2024, from 6:00 PM CEST
Part 12: Fr, 23.08.2024, from 6:00 PM CEST
Description
Original Steel Obverse die for the 1876 California Medal. Type of Musante GW-879 and 879A, Baker-410. Extremely Fine.
Approximately 103 mm (widest outer diameter); 40.3 mm (die face); 55.7 mm (height). The original obverse die for the California medal by German diesinker Albert Kuner, who is famously credited with several dies for private and territorial gold issuers. Though the September 1880 Jenks sale by W. Elliot Woodward (at lot 256) stated that "only about 25" of these medals were struck in silver before the "dies [were] destroyed," it is clearly the case if either die was, in fact, destroyed, it was the reverse. There is evidence that this is true, as there are uniface impressions from this die but no corresponding uniface reverse impressions. The die face is fairly clean and bright, with only trivial oxidation pits. However, there are several radial cracks in the steel, some of which are easily found expressed in the struck medals. A very substantial piece of steel, much larger and heavier than usually seen for a die of this size. It seems to have been made from multiple parts, with a more typical die at the center, and two thick steel frames around it with an octagonal shape.
From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Anthony Terranova.
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Bidding
| Price realized | 2'500 USD |
| Starting price | 1 USD |
| Estimate | 3'000 USD |
