While I was on vacation the Woodson got an email from a woman who has something odd. It’s collectible coin of some sort, with lots of complicated images on one side. These aren’t the sharpest photographs but you can make out the heads of three presidents, the statue of liberty, two eagles, a couple Native Americans, an airplane, a submarine, a light bulb, and two astronauts (among some other small things):
That’s weird, but not really something I have any expertise on. However, if you turn it over you will find what is unmistakably the academic seal of the Rice Institute
Here’s another image for scale:
I’m guessing this is something like this spoon but would appreciate any thoughts. It’s just such a peculiar combination (but then so was the spoon, I guess.)
Bonus: One of the interesting things about the way Italian cypresses die is that sometimes after they turn brown they’ll turn orange. You can see it starting here right at the very top. Once in a while a whole tree will turn orange, sticking out of the ground like a tongue of fire. It’s quite striking.
Extra Bonus: The lawn, though, is really thriving, looking lush after a wet summer.
What is the text at the top of the front of the coin? I can see what looks like a 198 but can’t read the rest.
It says “FOR LIBERTY AND DEMOCRACY”
On the back, under the seal, it says something or other “Penny.” Perhaps “Liberty Penny.” I can’t really make out the first word.
Yes, it’s Liberty Penny.
Here’s a link to a similar “Liberty Penny” that has a “Chicago Cotton Goods” mark on the other side.
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/121440-large-advertising-tokenliberty-penny
The poster said his grandfather owned that company in the 1930s.
Looking at the above posters’ “cleaned up” photo of the presidents’ side of this coin (https://d3h6k4kfl8m9p0.cloudfront.net/stories/wQDGjCVrEwU0qtd7pgumAw.jpg), it looks to me like the middle president id Woodrow Wilson, who was president from 1913-1921. I’d think that the coin was made sometime during those years.
Among the boxed items/icons along the bottom-half perimeter, I see a paddle steamer boat (second from the left) and two “candlestick” telephones (just below the light bulb).
This is very helpful. Thanks a million!