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Pennies from Heaven
2:47 PM PST, 10/19/2007
I just listed a 1995 VDB Lincoln One Cent Penny with Lamination Errors. I've hung on to these coins for years just because I thought they were neat, and that someone might want them one day. It's been fun to watch one of my Wheat pennies to sell for over $10.00. I don't have the little paper cases for them -- don't even know what they are called -- so my coins are just loose. I've made little folders of acid free paper to mail them in, but they've been stored in soft fabric. Here's your chance to rescue a nice coin from my odd ball curio collections. I'm not a coin collector, but just have an eye for things. You will receive the exact coin, or coins, pictured. The rare effect on this coin makes the President seem much happier with a smile and pouty lip! I will include the other non error 1995 penny if you like. Coin, or coins, will be mailed wrapped in acid free paper in a padded mailer for safety. PLEASE do note that my photographs may be a bit blurred and color may be slightly off. This coin has a nice old copper tone color. Last photo is to compare with normal coin and IS blurred a bit; there is no doubling on these coins except that caused by the lamination relay. Close-up of errors were photographed through a 10x loupe to show type of lamination error. * The U.S. Lincoln Memorial Cent has been issued since 1959, when it replaced the Wheat Penny. Any 1982 and earlier copper Lincoln Memorial pennies are worth setting aside, as the value of the copper bullion in the cents is around 3 times face value now. They have already picked up in sales and in price as the country awaits the 200-year anniversary of President Lincoln's birth in 2009. *What is a Lamination Error? A coin with a fragment of metal missing or peeled off the coin's surface is termed as a lamination error. This rare minting effect is caused by dirt or gas trapped in the strip as it is rolled out to the prescribed thickness. Lamination errors may be missing or attached to the coin's surface. In the case of clad coins, the outer layer may be completely or partially missing on one or both sides. -
Cauldron Crazy
1:27 AM PST, 10/4/2007
Wow, it sure is cauldron crazy around here and not just for Halloween! We had, to put it mildly, a horrible spring time, so to raise money to help with veterinary bills I decided to offer my personal cauldron collection for sale. I enjoy collecting items that were, or could be, ritual ceremonial tools for Pagan Wiccan use. In fact, I have a section on my web site, Olde Magick www.mysticgriffin.com/oldemagick.htm , devoted to previously owned items that can be or were used for religious ceremonies. Later, I wrote a little article about cauldrons for my site section I titled, The Cauldron Corner. Most of the action takes place on eBay though. Bidding can get just crazy sometimes. I've also added new, never owned, cauldrons to the list of offerings and hope to soon offer a line of quality cast iron cookware cauldrons for the kitchen witch. My original cauldron and incense censer burners are nearly all gone. I began to search out more three legged spell pot ritual type items because people seemed to want them. I'm personally in the unique position of having the free time to do extensive searches through literally thousands of items both off and online. Because the Gods have placed me in such a situation, I fully feel that I am doing a spiritual duty by doing the work of finding these items for you, the public. I strive to offer such items at a more than fair opening bid because I worked to find a good bargain in the first place; I want to pass that savings on to you. Each item I offer I have personally selected; I have to like it and/or feel moved by it spiritually before I'll offer it to you for sale. I care about each cauldron for witchcraft or other ritual tool for the altar, and strive to find the best vintage and antique curiosities that I'm able. It should be FUN out there in the cyber world and I'm striving to pass my fun onto you! Brightest of blessing to all! -- Tree Pruitt, artist and crazy collector. -
Egyptian hieroglyph Spiritkeepers Painted Rocks
8:29 PM PST, 7/24/2007
Hand painted stones depicting a lion head and the Egyptian God of the dead Anubis, (see Egyptian Book of the Dead), as a wire wrapped pendants. Wire is silver plated copper, and is strung on an adjustable black satin cord, (one size fits most). Perfect addition to a Spiritkeepers collection, personal ritual occult jewelry, or could even be used as ornaments for a small Wiccan Yule tree! I hand crafted them during a Full Moon, and usded authentic, hand drawn hieroglyph designs. The rock itself is a sandstone variety from the Southern Ohio Valley, (Great Serpent Mound area). This piece is unsigned but coated with a heavy duty non-irritating varnish. Spiritkeepers hand painted stones and shells have sold for much higher prices than reflected by opening bid amounts here; there is NO RESERVE! We're packing up for a future move so it's your chance to get a deal! Keep your eyes open for more Spiritkeepers handpainted stones and shells from artist Tree Pruitt. Visit the home for them home at http://www.mysticgriffin.com/spiritkeepers.htm -
Antique Exonumia Bar Token Coins
1:31 AM PST, 7/23/2007
Hello all! Many of my auction offerings are hand crafted by myself. In addition to being a multi-media artist addicted to creating, I have the habit of finding antiques, books, collectables, and interesting finds -- or they find me. Every now and then I must make room in my home for new treasures for my hoard. Sometimes I may feel that I am unable to properly care for an item that has come to me, so it must find a new & hopefully better home than I can give. Perhaps I discovered a great bargain on items and want to pass it on -- I try to have fun with the whole thing! I'm always on the look for nifty finds to share & quality Native American style, Wiccan, and New-age arts to create. I do my best to research pre-owned items I offer & price fairly. Sometimes full research may not be practical due to time so you just may get a REAL treasure for a great deal! My items are always changing, so be sure to stop by often. Never know what you might find!
Right now I have up for auction three (3) antique brass Exonumia bar token coins from Cincinnati, Ohio. Dated between the early 1800's to 1900's. Randomly chosen, the three will be in various condition due to garage storage for about 100 years plus. Font text on one side is well worn on some, but known to read as, "Jas. Murdock 165 Race St. Cinti.". Text on other side is clear and reads as, " 5 (cent sign) at Bar, F.Tuke". Wonderful addition to any coin, Exonumia, bar, or Cincinnati history collection! Can be mounted, matted and framed for display in your own Cincy bar.
* LEARN ABOUT Pub tokens:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pub_tokenPub tokens (as they are known in the United Kingdom) or bar tokens or chits (United States usage) are a form of exonumia used in drinking establishments.
In both the UK and the US, during the 18th to 20th centuries, public houses sometimes issued tokens which could be used in payment for future drinks. These tokens were sometimes used in small, family bars where patrons knew each other. They were also used in saloons and hotel bars. When buying a round of drinks for friends, the bartender would give a token to those patrons already having a drink, and collect the full sum from the round-buyer. The owner would collect immediately, and the drinkers would have a token for later use. As the token cost less to produce than the value of the drink, there was a significant profit to the bar owner. Sometimes, drinkers would take the token home, and forget to bring them back. No wonder bar owners loved tokens, and they were found in virtually every drinking establishment.
Tokens were also used as change, where the price of the drink was odd. For example, in America for many years, drinks were two for 25 cents, or one bit (12.5 cents) each. Thus tokens exist with one-bit denominations.
The early tokens were usually made of brass or aluminum and would have the name or initials of the pub on them, so that they could not be used anywhere else. Often, they had the landlord's name on them as well. This ensured that, when the pub changed hands, the new landlord would not have to honor old tokens. Many small, family bars still use tokens today, but modern tokens are generally made of plastic (brass and aluminum tokens are still made, but as they are more expensive, are less used). Many tokens only had names or initials, and are known as mavericks, as their location is often unknown. Token researchers spend many hours attempting to identify maverick tokens to a specific location, as attributed tokens are therefore desired by collectors of that town. Unidentified maverick tokens are worth minimal sums, where some identified tokens can be worth up to hundreds of dollars.
Books on pub or bar tokens are generally by country or state. Not all states have been researched, and some state catalogs are out of print.