(Roman?) coins in shadow box...

Purchased in the early 60's from Marshall Fields, original Fields price tag still on the back, $31.

These were at my parent's house, we're going through some items and I would not have given them a 2nd look, but got a tiny bit curious why they would have been $31 in the early 60's, a bit more expensive that I would have thought. So took a look at the coins, which I assume are copies of Roman coins. The only thing odd is that each coin has a wooden border, and on the base of the wooden border, only visible if you turn the small shadow box on its side, are some numbers written, not consecutive. Would these have been taken from some kind of game or set for presentation? Thanks for taking a look.

 

They used to sell sets of these as tourist souveniers during the Grand Tour,I want to say " intaglios" ?

 

Oh go ahead.......

 

I think intaglio is carved into the surface, cameo is raised above the surface

 

Yes vs relief.

 

The one I can see clearly is not a coin. They do have an element of the grand tour souvenir about them, possibly recast for the shop that made up the sets as I doubt they would make only a few of these sets.

 

nice wall hanger.....though...

 

Thanks all. This will probably sell at the estate sale for $20 or less, no huge value beyond decorative, right?

 

or so it would seem.....

 

They may be plaster or wax impressions from engraved gems. Such things were, and are, collected. Have you image searched them?

 

Hi Lucille.b,
Before you just let them go for very little, I would check them out at a meaningful gallery.....a LOT can change for prices in 55 years!!!! I was poking around on the internet and this link looked like it might provide you with some info. They may not be worth more, but from my own experience, it's definitely worth checking them out!!!! Second link is their email. GOOD LUCK!!! Let us know if you can, huh???? Sue
http://www.sadighgallery.com/
info@sadighgallery.com

 

Thanks, I'll take a look at the site. Also I've never used the image searcher, might look into that, thanks.

The only thing that got me interested in these were the following points.

1)Were they something special since priced at $31 in 1963? (Google inflation calculator puts that at a retail price of $240 in today's dollars)

2) The numbers written on the base of the tiny stretched wooden or paper composite border have an older feel to my eye. The numbers themselves, -the way they are written, slightly slanted like from a fountain pen or something. The numbers, if I had to guess, remind me of penmanship from 100 years ago or so. It's nothing Marshall Fields would have added. You can't even see these numbers easily from the display box, so it the numbers aren't for display purposes.

Perhaps some Grand Tour souvenirs as was suggested.

Might do some further research. Thanks for taking a look!

 

Some people amassed very large collections of similar way back, like 18th/19th C. It's possible that yours came from such a collection and the numbers relate to a catalog no longer extant. Doesn't necessarily mean they're worth much, just worth looking into.

 

Thanks, Moreother. That's a good point and suggestion.

 

It looks a little bit like leather wrapped around the edges of those disks ... not that it would necessarily help to ID them ... just an observation (which could be wrong)

 

I've known for years that the "Sadigh Gallery" is a scam operation and that they sell fake objects. I've mentioned this several times on this and several other forums. They've been selling fakes for 30 years. I've no idea how they are still aloud to scam people.

 

Hi Hamptonauction,
You're advice is well taken. I bought an "antique" from them 20+ years ago. I was soooooo excited. I wanted to sue them or shut them down back then. Nothing happened. I finally gave my piece away to a friend. I told her it was fake but her daughter insisted it was real. When her Mother passed she tried to sell it and was very bitter when she found out it was fake.
greg

 

The first time checking in on this thread. I love these -- I used to collect cameo jewelry and I'm always fascinated by things that look like cameos.

 

I've seen these before; they sold sets of them in the 18th and 19th century as Grand Tour souvenirs. The numbers may be from the factory, and I'm thinking copies of old Roman lava cameos. Don't ask me what they're worth, but they're not junk.