2017-10-16 Mon

Several U.S. and world tokens and medals that once belonged to famous businessman and hobbyist Virgil M. Brand were offered by Heritage Auctions on 25th September in Dallas. Highlights of the sale included a memorial medal featuring attorney and Civil War officer Albert Pike; an 1876 political token depicting Samuel J. Tilden; a U.S. Mint medal celebrating the 100th anniversary of the US; an early 19th century merchant’s token from A.W. Hardie in New York; and a Hard Times token issued by Smith & Brothers in Philadelphia.

The obverse of the Uncirculated 45-millimeter white metal Albert Pike medal features a portrait of Pike. He was a Boston attorney and 33rd degree Mason and the general for the Confederacy during the American Civil War. The reverse depicted abbreviations of Pike’s legal, military and Masonic acheivements, with Masonic heraldry. The medal was sold for $168 with 20-percent buyer’s premium.