Mutt and Jeff have been quite regular visitors to the Swap Shop each Thursday, but the numismatic pickings have been quite poor. In the last three years, Jeff has only found the Russian Rubble 1832 and the Zeppelin 5 Mark, while Mutt lucked out only with the Haney Medal until today. Walking along nearly at the west side of the flea market, there was a dealer with a table of 2x2's all spread out in cases. Mostly common U.S., but there were a few foreign coins in two cases. | |||||||||
Mutt spied a "dime" and asked to see it. Asking the price? The dealer quoted 2 for a dollar. There were two Swiss ½ franc in the other case. Jeff found three coins also, 2-five and 1-two Swiss Francs. Between the two of them the cost was only three dollars. Mutt was very happy with the key date dime size 5 centesimos 1916 with mintage of 100,000. This was a $40 coin for fifty cents. Jeff was happy too. | |||||||||
But the real finds for Mutt were later that evening at their local coin meeting. One of the members was selling odd and ends of so little value he did not even plan to put them in the club auction. Mutt went through a box of medals and picked out a few. The price was right, so he bought them. Next followed days and days of Internet research. The first one is posted below. | |||||||||
President of the Argentine Republic 1862-1868 Obverse: Portrait head facing right of Lieutenant General Bartolome Mitre, Bellagamba Y Rossi under bust. Reverse: EL PUEBLO curved above / DE / SAN PEDRO / (PROVINCA DE BUENOS AIRES) / (divider) / AL ILUSTRE Y BENEMERITO / TENIENTE GERERAL / BARTOLOME MITRE (divider design) / 1821 26 DE JUNIO 1901 / around below. The Town of San Pedro in the Province of Buenos Aires. THE ILLUSTRIOUS BENEMERITO LIEUTENANT GERERAL BARTOLOME MITRE, 1821 26 June 1901 Ag 56MM struck by Buenos Aires firm of Bellagamba & Rossi to commemorate 80th Anniversary of General Bartolome Mitre. |
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Bartolome Mitre, President of Argentina from 1862-68.
He created a national administrative structure in Buenos Aires, set about the construction of railroads, and encouraged immigration. |
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The second medal is posted as follows. | |||||||||
ANDRE CAMPRA 1660 -1744 Obverse: Portrate facing left, inscription around: DES SAINTS ET DES HEROS IL SCAIT CHANTER LA GLOIRE (SAINTS AND HEROS IL SCAIT TO SING GLORY) S.CURE F. Artist name below trunction. Reverse: Angels with horns above musical instruments, inscription around: ANDRE CAMPRA MTRE DE LA MUSIQUE DU ROY (Andre Campra maitre de music of Notre Dame, The Royals protection of the Regent, Philippe d'Orléans) Date in Roman Numerals below: M DCC XXX =1730 FOOTNOTE: André Campra (1660-1744) Born in Aix-en-Provence as son of a surgeon, he joined the church choir aged 14 and went on to ecclesiastical studies four years later. He occupied a leading position in French music of the early 18th century. After an earlier career in Toulon and Toulouse, he moved to Paris, where he became maître de musique at Notre Dame and finally won distinction in the opera-house, composing for the Académie Royale de Musique and employed also by the chapelle royale. Campra's first success in the theatre came in 1697 with L'Europe galante, an opéra-ballet with entrées for France, Spain, Italy and Turkey. He continued to write opéra-ballets and tragédies lyriques, generally to be staged at the Paris Opéra. Between 1700 and 1720, he composed a number of successful operatic works. In 1735, at the age of 75, he began to retire and died in 1744, respectable 84 years old, in relative poverty. |
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