Knowledge Empowers the Collector -- Part 1 posted by DrDarryl

[CSJournals-migration]

An unexpected find...

 

I review auction listings periodically and scan for items of interest to add to my collection. About a week ago, I found a very interesting medal listing. The seller did not know exactly what he was selling (as he stated in the listing) and was not able to located any information about his item.

 

My curiosity had peaked. I reviewed the auction listing and its pictures in detail. The information in the listing was sparse and the quality of the pictures was low. I checked my trusty collector catalog. There was a single sentence that subtly mentioned this mystery auction item. There were no pictures in this catalog, just a single sentence. I re-reviewed the auction listing pictures and noticed the miniscule details. What I saw in the low resolution pictures was visual proof in identifying this mysterious auction item.

 

I began to search the internet with a partial set of usable information. I found two additional references about this item. I located a previous realized price (with a helpful description) from a major auctioneer and a blog entry by a medal specialist describing the item. With this newly found information in hand, I placed a conservative bid for the item at the auction.

 

Last night I watched the ending of the auction to monitor and increase my bid (if warranted). The bidding war I was expecting never materialized. I was ecstatic that I won the auction.

 

This is what the mysterious auction item was ...

 

It was a "progression set" that consists of five stages in producing the Official Hawaii Statehood medal. From blank planchet, first strike, second strike, third strike and final medal (obverse and reverse). My trusty collector catalog (Hawaiian Money Standard Catalog, 2nd Edition, by Medcalf & Russell, page 100) states that only 30 such sets were produced for display and this set showed the 5 stages in the production life of producing the Official Hawaii Statehood medal.

 

I believe the blank planchet is the prize within the set. On the first strike, design details are present but rough (lei details are simply not there). On each proceeding strike, two things are noticeable. Medal details become clearer and the circumference of the extra medal beyond the rim expands outward. These are visual evidence of progressive strikings in forming a high relief medal. The excess metal beyond the rim is later trimmed to provide a smooth rim.

 

From the blank planchet through each strike, the luster of the medal is brilliant and does not show signs of patination as in the completed medal. During the patination process, the medal is colored to bring out design details via visual contrasting.

 

This "progression set" is an extremely nice addition to my collection. I will be contacting NGC to verify if it's feasible to encapsulate and grade each medal from my latest acquisition.

 

No pictures of the "progression set" at this time. Story to be continued with Part 2 (after set is received, studied and documented).

 

Images of the Official Hawaii Statehood Medal can be seen at my custom set...

 

http://coins.www.collectors-society.com/wcm/CoinCustomSetGallery.aspx?s=8012

 

See more journals by DrDarryl

[RWB]

"Progress sets" make really interesting show and club displays. Don’t forget to mention that the strikes are made without a collar and that excess metal has to be turned off between each blow.