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This one has baffled me for years...

A

Anonymous

Guest
Sorry about the photo, it's the best I can do on this. I think it's made of copper, about the size and thickness of a dime but rectangular with tapered edges. I always thought it was a profile of maybe Pres. Roosevelt on one side and an elephant's backside on the other side (GOP?). I found it about 20 years ago in a field that was used for all types of events over the years. Other than some type of political knick knack, anyone have a clue what this might have once been a part of? TIA.
 
P.T. Barnam and Jumbo. Could be <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":)">
<img src="http://sdjones.net/FolkArt/new03/Barnum-PT.jpg">
<img src="http://sdjones.net/FolkArt/new03/barnum6.jpg">
<img src="http://www.findmall.com/metal/uploads/pic979.jpg">
 
Gary, this would be my best guess. Apparant age/style of your token, matched portrait, elephant... <img src="/metal/html/shrug.gif" border=0 width=37 height=15 alt=":shrug">... I betcha a donut. <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":)">
>>>BARNUM FEATURES JUMBO 1884--
Remember Jumbo, Barnum's great circus elephant, the biggest animal ever tamed? When Barnum saw this great beast in the Royal Zoological Gardens in London, he couldn't rest till he had him in his circus. In 1882, he bought him for $10,000, took him to America and made him famous. Jumbo was killed in Canada in 1885, when he was struck by a locomotive. While such posters were exaggerated in the flamboyant circus style, Jumbo was really the biggest show elephant of them all, standing 11 feet 6 inches in height and weighing 14,000 pounds - far above the average.
 
Take a look at your find and the photograph of PT Barnum below. Notice that it is almost a perfect match of the facial features, even hairlines. If you look at the photo, you can then make out the faint outlines of where the ear is corroded on your whatzit.
In my opinion there is no doubt that this was the actual photo reference used by the artist who produced the whatzit.
What's more... (see next post)
 
What's more...
That original picture is signed by Barnum and dated, 1885. (see pic below) It is also in that year that Jumbo is killed by the locomotive. Hmmmm... Perhaps that why the elephant on the back is walking away into the distance?
I'd say that whatever you have is definitely a PT Barnum item and that it was created after the elephant's death. Hope this is a good start for you.
There is a PT Barnum museum and there must be collectors and experts on subject around that may be able to help you more. Good luck and let us know if you find out more! Thanks for posting that rare and interesting find!
 
Heads I win, tails you lose. <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":)"> Could be from a political rally, like you said or lost by a referee at a game.
Tom
 
I have chased the political angle for 20 years, now I know why I never came up with anything.
This field definitely had the cirus on it many times over the years. I'll bet it was lost at one of those. Great work. I even knew quite a bit about Barnum <EM>and </EM>Jumbo and still never make the connection. Thanks much.
 
Gary, if you want, feel welcome to lift that image I posted of the pic and your whatzit and email it to the Barnum museum. They would be able to tell you for sure or to point you in the direction of an expert who could. I'd sure like to know...
I can't for the life of me figure why they would make a two sided square token with no type... <img src="/metal/html/shrug.gif" border=0 width=37 height=15 alt=":shrug"> I did ead that PT Barnum said of all the disasters and tragedies in his life, none had the effect on him like the death of Jumbo.
Hope this lead is a step in the right direction. HH!
 
BTW, FDR was a democrat??? Seriously, I figured it was issued as a joke or slam or something of that nature, or I had the president identified incorrectly.
 
Odd token for sure, but it is heads and tails and this theory would sure account for how they lost them so easily. It's pretty small, especially for a coin toss token.
 
You were right, Gary! FDR and poking fun at the Republicans. Your token looks to be a cut down version of this...
C4. Political Advertising Good Luck Coin, bronze, 1936, 32 mm.
# Obverse: Two busts, partially superimposed, one looks like FDR
# Legend: 1836 TEXAS CENTENNIAL 1936/LUCKY COIN/HEADS YOU WIN
# Reverse: Backside of an elephant
# Legend: TAILS YOU LOSE/1936 [and, in a small shield, perhaps the designer's initials, "M.P.Z" and "F.J.U." ?]
# Note: The Texas Centennial was a big World's Fair-like exposition held in Dallas in 1936. FDR was President and running for re-election that year. The coin urges the voter to not vote for the Republicans by making a visual pun on the elephant as a good luck symbol. The second bust is probably that of FDR's vice-presidential running-mate.
<img src="http://www.luckymojo.com/fdrcoin1.gif">
 
I'd love to know why someone cut it down. Maybe they wanted a smaller good luck token? In any event, now I'm going to have to start searching for a whole one. <img src="/metal/html/lol.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":lol">
 
..I went out looking for "coin toss tokens" to see if I could find a square one.... wouldn't you know it, up popped your FDR token out of nowhere. Go figure. <img src="/metal/html/shrug.gif" border=0 width=37 height=15 alt=":shrug"> <img src="/metal/html/biggrin.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":D">
I think this puts the whole matter to rest once and for all!
Thanks for posting such an interesting and unusual find, Gary! <img src="/metal/html/smile.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":)">
PS Now whatcha gonna do if the PT Barnum museum gets back to you and offers an obscene amount for your "Barnum/Jumbo" token? <img src="/metal/html/lol.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":lol"> <img src="/metal/html/lol.gif" border=0 width=15 height=15 alt=":lol">
 
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