Convention Will Show the Mettle of Medals
People collect everything imaginable--from string to matchbook covers. In numismatics, the range wanders from coins to bills to tokens to medals. There’s also a broad spectrum in between, and specialists abound on myriad areas, sub-areas and sub-sub-areas. When properly approached, all these areas can be interesting, educational and potentially profitable.
The 35th-anniversary convention this weekend of the Orders and Medals Society of America in the Hyatt Hotel at Los Angeles Airport, 6225 W.Century Blvd., accentuates the almost-unlimited possibilities available to collectors.
L. Richard Smith of the society enlightened me about the similarity between collecting coins and collecting medals for valor, service or merit.
The value of medals, Smith said, depends upon either their rarity or popularity with collectors. The price of the U. S. Medal of Honor, he said, is currently about $1,000, although certain recent awards may be more valuable than those issued during the Civil War.
Orders, on the other hand, signify membership in an organization, Smith said, and the history and insignia of orders “affords a study of religion, diplomacy, politics and war, as well as an appreciation of the medalist’s and jeweler’s art.”
The value of insignias varies due to rarity, popularity, age, workmanship, condition and identification with historical figures. Some pieces sell for less than $50, while jeweled items can be quite expensive.
Smith supplied an auction list from the group’s 1966 convention and says prices have increased eight to 10 times since then. If you wish to pursue medals and orders as a hobby, Smith recommends two books by Alec A. Purves: “Orders and Decorations” and “Coins and Medals,” both published by Hamlyn.
But rather than just reading about orders and medals, why not attend the convention at the Airport Hyatt, which will include sales to the public? It is open to the public Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Admission is $3.50.
Sessions for members only get under way Friday at 8:30 a.m. and run to 6 p.m., with a U.S. medal seminar at 7:30 p.m. At a Saturday banquet for members, John Tamplin will speak on “The Orders and Medals Research Society of Great Britain.”
There are 1,600 members of the Orders and Medals Society of America. Dues are $15 annually. To join, write to John E. Lelle, secretary, 209 W. Pittsburg Ave., Wildwood Crest, N.J. 08260.
Q: I am no coin collector, but while having our backyard plowed, a 1923 10,000-mark coin in excellent condition was found. I cannot give you identifying lettering except something about 1757-1831. Is there any value to this coin?--E.F.W.
A: Your coin seems to be German inflationary money and some sort of commemorative. I have been unable to pinpoint it. Take it to a dealer for identification.
Q: I have a most unusual coin from the Haitian Republic dated 1887. When I was a child, I dug it up in a garden in Silver Springs, Md. The coin is fat, looking almost as if it is sandwiched together. The words Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite are written over palm trees and cannons on one side. On the other side is a peasant’s head and the name La Forestrie. After many years of searching for an answer regarding the value of the coin, I still have no answer. Perhaps you can help.--J.L.G.
A: Your coin is silver and worth about $4 or $5 unless it’s a proof piece (specially struck, quite brilliant), in which case it would be worth about $50 to $75 if uncirculated.
Q: I follow your column regularly and have yet to catch any information on Indian rupees. I’ve inherited a bracelet made of circa-1944 quarter, half and 1 rupees. To lengthen the bracelet, two Australian 3-pence coins, circa 1940 and 1942, were added. I realize that making these coins into a bracelet has devalued them greatly. Can you estimate their value? Also, if I find that the coin value is very small, how do I go about converting this to bullion value? And do silver dealers trade coin silver for minted silver (including bars and bullion certificates)?--L.R.
A: Your bracelet is, indeed, worth silver value only. Because the bracelet probably contains more silver than just the coins, there’s no way of estimating its value without a direct inspection. Some dealers might make a trade of some sort with you. You’d have to decide whether you’d be better off doing that or just taking cash.
Q: The other day I ran across a $1 bill. On it, next to the serial number, is a small star. Can you please tell me what this star stands for?--F.W.
A: The star on a bill indicates that it is a replacement note for a damaged bill. It has no special collector value.
Q: I have the following: an 1857 penny; a quarter without a date; 1953 1 shilling Regina Elizabeth; 1894, 1916 and 1961 Canadian cents; five Buffalo nickels; 1903 Indian head penny; U.S. pennies dated 1911, 1919, 1920, 1923, 1929, 1939, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1957 and 1958, and various English coins.--H.F.B.
A: The 1857 cent is worth $10 and up; the quarter, if silver, is $1; the Buffalo nickels are 10 cents each and up if the dates are readable; the 1903 cent is worth 35 cents and up; the wheat-back cents are 2 cents each and up; the other coins have little or no collector value.
Coin News
Themes for the 10 Olympic silver coins designed to commemorate the 1988 Olympic Winter Games have been unveiled by the Royal Canadian Mint. Downhill skiing, speed skating, hockey, biathlon, cross-country skiing, free-style skiing, figure skating, curling, ski-jumping and bobsledding will be portrayed. The series will be launched in mid-September. Coins will be issued in pairs at about six-month intervals with the combined mintage for all 10 sterling-silver coins with a face value of $20 limited to 5 million.
Series 1981A and 1985 uncut currency sheets are being made available by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Sheets will be offered in 4-, 16- and 32-subject sizes. By mail, four-subject sheets are $9.50; 16-subject sheets are $28, and 32-subject sheets are $47. Money orders, cashier’s checks and certified checks are required. Order from Bureau of Engraving and Printing, Uncut Currency/Sales Program, 14th and C streets, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20228.
Don Alpert cannot answer mail personally but will respond to numismatic questions of general interest in this column. Do not telephone. Write to Your Coins, You section, The Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053.