Alan V. Weinberg Collection (Agricultural and Mechanical Society Medals) // NNP

Description:: Alan V. Weinberg comments: This particular San Francisco Mechanics Institute design appears confined only to 1868 issues - dies used only 1 year. No different dated medal has been observed - of the very few I've seen in silver (3) or gold (1).

Description:: Alan V. Weinberg comments: There is a similar size gold American Institute by Moritz Furst which is earlier and rarer than this Lovett version. I underbid a gold Furst version on eBay approx 2 yrs ago. In original case.

Description:: Alan V. Weinberg comments: There is a similar size gold American Institute by Moritz Furst which is earlier and rarer than this Lovett version. I underbid a gold Furst version on eBay approx 2 yrs ago. In original case.

Description:: Alan V. Weinberg comments: This large size American Institute medal is fairly common in silver and bronze and they regularly appear on eBay. But in gold, it is a different story - they are ext rare & I've seen perhaps 2 or 3 in gold in 50+ yrs whereas I've seen hundreds of the silver and even more of the bronze. This is a Gem Proof in gold and is ex PCAC auction yrs ago. In original case.

Description:: Alan V. Weinberg comments: This large size American Institute medal is fairly common in silver and bronze and they regularly appear on eBay. But in gold, it is a different story - they are ext rare & I've seen perhaps 2 or 3 in gold in 50+ yrs whereas I've seen hundreds of the silver and even more of the bronze. This is a Gem Proof in gold and is ex PCAC auction yrs ago. In original case.

Description:: Alan V. Weinberg comments: This medal was acquired from Tony Terranova who told me at the time that he'd acquired it from Lester Merkin, legendary NYC coin dealer, whose wife was named Selma.

Description:: Alan V. Weinberg comments: This medal was acquired from Tony Terranova who told me at the time that he'd acquired it from Lester Merkin, legendary NYC coin dealer, whose wife was named Selma.

Description:: Alan V. Weinberg comments: Pre-1900 "Deep South" silver Agricultural or Mechanical Society medals are almost always far rarer and more desirable than east coast or northeast society medals. Probably because the South was far less wealthy or sophisticated (after the Civil War), less populated, had far fewer medallic diesinking companies & far fewer Agric / Mech Societies. Even the designs of these "Deep South" pre-1900 medals tend to be a bit cruder and less sophisticated than "Northern" medals. Altho , to my mind, they have a certain charm beyond rarity that make them more appealing than the much more often-seen "Northern" medals.

Description:: Alan V. Weinberg comments: Pre-1900 "Deep South" silver Agricultural or Mechanical Society medals are almost always far rarer and more desirable than east coast or northeast society medals. Probably because the South was far less wealthy or sophisticated (after the Civil War), less populated, had far fewer medallic diesinking companies & far fewer Agric / Mech Societies. Even the designs of these "Deep South" pre-1900 medals tend to be a bit cruder and less sophisticated than "Northern" medals. Altho , to my mind, they have a certain charm beyond rarity that make them more appealing than the much more often-seen "Northern" medals.

Alan V. Weinberg Collection (Agricultural and Mechanical Society Medals)