1861 Confederate Cent, Haseltine Restrike, Proof-65, photo courtesy of Stack’s Auction

I graduated from Gettysburg College with a B.A. degree in history,

so the Civil War period of 1861-1865 and the years following have always been of special interest to me. The “Civil War,” or “War between the States,” or “War of Northern Aggression”, as it is still known in parts of the American South, was a cataclysmic period in American history. It continues to be of great popular study today, with tourists and amateur scholars and battle re-enactors poring over the battle sites all these years later. Some of the popularity is relatively recent, stoked in part by the multipart series on PBS Television from filmmaker extraordinaire Ken Burns (who happens to live in New Hampshire).

Collectors of American numismatic items still find the subject of great interest. Today, many collect all manner of paper and hard currency of Civil War vintage. The coins of the Union are the most popular and affordable (1861-65 Indian Head cents, two cent pieces, three cent pieces, etc). One cent coins of the Confederate States of America are extremely rare and essentially “non-collectible” for all but a few. For example, the pictured 1861 Confederate cent, a Haseltine Restrike in Proof-65, recently sold for $43,700 at a Stack’s rare coin auction on January 26, 2010. Moving beyond the Confederate coins, there are thankfully some Confederate States of America collectibles that fall into the “affordable” category – primarily Confederate bonds, and notes, i.e. paper money.

Recently we purchased a small “hoard” of Confederate currency and bonds that is quite unusual, and which we’ll make available in future catalogs and special offerings. It is one of our largest purchases of such material since we’ve been in this business. Littleton numismatist Ken Westover, is seen reviewing the newly acquired Confederate bonds, which continue to grow in popularity. The stacks of Confederate currency to Ken’s left, contain many notes in exceptional condition.

What I found most interesting was that the bonds in this purchase from the estate of a New England dealer were all different, suggesting a collection rather than a dealer’s inventory. What’s more interesting, was a letter that came with the group of C.S.A. bonds and currency, which carried no special notation in the lot. Ken is holding the letter, dated May 11, 1876 from Albert U. Wyman, acting Secretary of the U.S. Treasury under President Ulysses S. Grant, and addressed to the head of a Boston organization: “In compliance with your request... I transmit herewith a set of the various issues and denominations of Confederate paper money, and bonds, as complete as can be selected from the collection in possession of this department.”

Unfortunately, we don’t know if the bonds we obtained in this purchase are the same ones described in the letter. It remains a possibility, though that information has been lost over the intervening 133 years. The letter adds a bit of mystery and mystique to the group, to say the least, and the entire collection would make an interesting display if loaned to a museum. In any event, the small hoard of Confederate bonds and notes is of very significant numismatic and historical interest, and some of its contents will soon become available to Littleton customers.

LCC Numismatist Ken Westover examines the newly acquired hoard of Confederate Bonds and Currency

Exceptional-quality Confederate Currency from the hoard – stacked by denomination

Seen above is the top of a page from an Ancient Coin Album by Wayte Raymond, coin dealer & auctioneer from 1908-1956. Below is Littleton’s Ancient Roman Coin Album.

I happen to collect old coin albums, and was amazed when a dealer friend showed me the old Roman coin album page seen at top, complete with coins!

Beginning in the 1930s, the owner had carefully built an extensive collection of several hundred coins over more than 40 years. The Roman silver denarii portion was housed in these nice album pages. Despite my having collected old albums for more than 30 years, these pages were something I had not previously seen. They were a product of famed New York dealer and auctioneer Wayte Raymond, active from 1908-1956. Over the years, Raymond worked with many great collectors. He handled many major American and world numismatic items in his day, principally through his own fixed price lists and auctions, as well as in cataloging for other firms. At one time, Wayte Raymond owned all five 1913 v-nickels (major rarities), before selling them all to Colonel E.H.R. Green.

Raymond was also a major innovator and promoter of coin albums – an essential part of the hobby’s rise in popularity beginning in the 1930s. While albums for collecting U.S. coins were beginning to see popularity in the late 1920s and 1930s, pages for Roman coins were something entirely new. Collecting ancient Roman coins in those days was not easy, as the field is so large with so many different issues. What direction should a collector take? Raymond’s Roman album pages provided direction for the new ancient coin collector – who was interested in coins and intrigued by ancient history. The pages were built to conveniently fit his National Coin Album line for U.S. coins, which Raymond had purchased in the 1930s from Martin Luther Beistle. This gave the would-be Roman coin collector an easy route to follow – simply start with Roman silver Denarii and work on that series. The owner of this collection was very advanced, as he was lucky to obtain several popular rarities – the Julius Caesar, Marc Antony and Cleopatra coins being worth several thousand dollars each today.

Littleton Coin Company has produced an Ancient Roman coin album that is growing in popularity across the country. It is more flexible in approach than the Wayte Raymond variety of the 1930s, as it provides pages identified by emperor, with pockets that allow you to collect ancients of almost any size – whether bronze, silver or gold. The pages are inert, providing protection against environmental damage that can occur in some albums. You can order Littleton’s Ancient Roman coin album by calling us toll free 1-800-645-3122, and it comes with our usual 45-Day Money Back Guarantee of Satisfaction.

1777 Terra Cotta Benjamin Franklin Medallion by Jean-Baptiste Nini (4½″ diameter) – photo by David Sundman with permission of Stack’s Rare Coins

Today it is hard for us to imagine the popularity that Ben Franklin enjoyed 233 years ago.

Franklin’s regard in those earlier times, is compared by some to the adulation poured out on the best of today’s rock stars and movie idols. The large 4½″ diameter terra cotta medallion of Franklin shown here is just one of many lifetime images of Benjamin Franklin issued in France, Britain, and the American Colonies. Of the many clay medallions, pictures, busts, and prints, Franklin wrote to his daughter Sally: “Copies upon copies are spread everywhere, and have made your father’s face as well known as that of the moon.”

The image of Ben Franklin with the beaver cap is not as familiar to us today, and symbolizes North American origins of the wearer. This particular ceramic clay medallion in high relief, was created in France at the Chateau Chaumont in the Loire Valley, by Italian artist Jean-Baptiste Nini who spent his career working in France. It became the most popular French image of Benjamin Franklin. This Nini design is a favorite among advanced collectors of American medals – a field that is growing in popularity in the United States. Other ceramic portraits were produced in England by Franklin’s friend, Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795). Nine different varieties were produced, one with Franklin wearing glasses, symbolizing his invention of the first bi-focals.

Franklin often sent prints and medallions to his many friends. I think he would have been pleased with the rather short-lived 90% silver Franklin half dollars of 1948-1963, modeled by U.S. Chief Engraver John R. Sinnock, and based on a 1779 bust by the 18th-century French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon.