1901 Pan Am Expo – Buffalo, N. Y.

The 1901 Pan American Exposition is thought to be the first time that “ encase ” coins were made. The encase of coins in aluminum is thought to have come about at that time due to the handiness if aluminum and it ‘s being cheap. The early process used for making pure aluminum was time-consuming and expensive. aluminum makes up approximately 8 % of the earth ‘s crust and is the 3rd most element, following oxygen and silicon. ( 1 )
“ aluminum, that fantastic newly alloy ! Eulogized on medals of the early 1890s as ductile, tasteless, heavy, ductile, untarnishable, odorless, and one-fourth the weight of silver, it is no wonder that this “ discovery ” would capture the fancy of a nation … The first significant attack to isolate aluminum from alumina ( aluminum oxide ) was by an english electrochemist. Sir Humphrey Davy, in 1807. Convinced that alumina had a metallic establish, he named the metal aluminum, subsequently revising the son to aluminum … At $ 17 an ounce ( in 1854 ) it was deserving closely its weight in aureate. In 1886 the price of $ 8 a pound distillery made it prohibitive for use in industry. It was n’t until Charles Hall invented his Hall process of reducing aluminum by electrolysis in 1886 that it started coming down. It was n’t until the very late 1880s that numismatic items started to appear. Metalworking firms liked the decoration for a wide range of products. Medal makers used aluminum in over 150 unlike medals for the columbian Exposition in 1892. “ ( 2 )
I believe the quick handiness and low price combined with it ‘s malleability made the manufacture of cased coins possible. The coin made the detail something to keep and using it as an cheap advertising or souvenir piece began. As a scoop piece, it was something a merchant could give away and the customer would keep and hopefully visit the merchant again. As it was cheap to manufacture and small adequate to be easily carried by visitors to the Expo, it in my opinion was an excellent keepsake. The fact that so many of the pieces hush remain is a testament to their being used as souvenirs.

There are a number of varieties known to exist. The obverse says, “ good Luck / Keep Me and Prosper ” and has a horseshoe, a wishbone, and a four-leaf clover on the obverse of the encasement. The invert says, “ FROM THE / GROUNDS OF THE / PAN AMERICAN / EXPOSITION 1901 / twentieth CENTURY PENNY ” with the phrases inside a chain and the visualize of a buffalo at the bottom. This while recently sold on eBay for over $ 300 .
Fred Lavin ‘s “ PANorAMa of the PAN=AM ” has a complete list of Pan Am encased varieties .
Fred Lavin lists 13 round aluminum encased with die kind making it 23 distinct pieces, 7 round hard rubber ( hard condom ), one horseshoe-shaped with three varieties, three wishbone shapes, a fry pan, and a reported old world buffalo supreme headquarters allied powers europe. Fred uses “ EC ” plus a total to designate these encased. All EC numbers below are taken from Fred ‘s book .

EC01A and EC02 – Four leaf clover stem facing left and right on the obverse. Reads : “ good LUCK SOUVENIR / PAN-AMERICAN EXPOSITION / BUFFALO, N.Y. ” ( Hover for larger visualize )
reverse of the two 1901 Pan Am Expo cents. Reads : “ LUCKY PENNY / POCKET PIECE / I ‘M information technology ” crossed horseshoes surround the penny ( Hover for larger image ) note that the imprint of the four-leaf clover carries over to the indian penny making it easy to ensure that the coin was not replaced. The stem turn of the four-leaf clover bends left or right. James M. Lawniczak ‘s article referenced above offers a detail explanation of the left-pointing shank extra varieties based on the phone number of denticles. The good has no varieties that are presently known .
The 1901 exhibition was held in Buffalo, NY. This led to the use of the trope of a old world buffalo, ( properly called the North American Bison ) to be used on all sorts of souvenirs including “ cased cents ”. The visualize under is another strange musical composition. I have seen a couple of examples of this part although I do not presently own one. Note the effigy of a “ buffalo ” on the obverse centered thus that the cent is in the american bison. I ‘d like to know the significance of the “ dustpan ” on the change by reversal. Was it for cleaning up after the buffalo ‘s ? ? For a better explanation of the “ Pan ” read Fred Lavin ‘s article. “ PANorAMa of the PAN=AM ” posted individually .

ECO5 – 1901 Pan American Exposition encased penny obverse. Obverse reads : “ I WAS astatine ” trope of buffalo facing west left ) surrounds the cent then, “ 1901 ” on the mound under old world buffalo. ( Hover for larger image )

EC05 – Dust Pan encased from 1901 Pan American Exposition. The persona of a scatter pan surrounds the penny. “ PAN-AMERICAN / EXPOSITION ” there is a small horseshoe at the bottom kernel ( Hover for larger picture )
EC06 – small horseshoe, hop clover and wishbone. Obverse reads : beneficial LUCK / KEEP ME / AND PROSPER ( Hover for larger image )
EC06 – A ball is on the overrule. The reverse reads : “ NORTH / CLEVELAND, O U.S.A. / PAN-AMERICAN SOUVENIR. ” an interest sharpen is that along the bed edge in bantam letters it says : WHITEHEAD & AMP HOAG CO. NEWARK, N.J. very like to what Earl Fankhauser did with pieces he sold. ( Hover for larger persona ) This piece is interesting and not seen vitamin a often as the readily available “ four-leaf clover ” variety show. It has “ Pan American Exposition / Souvenir / Buffalo N.Y. ” on the obverse and “ adept Luck and Prosperity ” on the invert with cross profusion at the top .
1901 Obverse reads : “ good LUCK / KEEP ME / AND PROSPER ” with symbols for horseshoe, four-leaf clover, and wishbone. Hover for larger prototype .

1901 Pan American Souvenir encased penny “ Prosperity ” Reverse Reads : twentieth CENTURY / GROUNDS OF THE / EXPOSITION 1901 / PAN-AMERICAN / FROM THE each in a yoke of a chain that surrounds the cent. A raise picture of a buffalo in the connect at the top. Hover for larger image .
EC08 – obverse 1901 Pan American Souvenir encased penny. Obverse reads : PAN AMERICAN / SOUVENIR / EXPOSITION / BUFFALO, N. Y. Hover for larger image .

EC08 – 1901 Pan Am Expo. The image is of thwart horn of plenty with the caption : adept LUCK AND / PROSPERITY
Hover for larger picture .

1901 Obverse reads : KEEP ME AND NEVER GO BROKE / I BRING good LUCK In bantam letters at top REC ‘D Trade Mark a horseshoe surrounds the penny. Hover for larger prototype .

EC10 – 1901 Pan American encased cent inverse. It reads : use EASYBRIGHT POLISHES / PAN-AMERICAN BUFFALO 1901 This caption was in quotes. at the bed it said : ‘DONT LOSE ME ‘ Hover for larger trope .
EC03 – obverse 1901 Pan American Souvenir encased penny. Obverse reads : I AM YOUR MASCOT / SOUVENIR PAN-AMERICAN / EXPOSITION BUFFALO N.Y. Two small four-leaf clovers separate the caption. Hover for larger prototype .

1901 Pan Am Expo EC03.LUCKY PENNY POCKET PIECE / SAVE ME / AND HAVE GOOD LUCK A horseshoe surrounds the penny .
Hover for larger image .

EC12 – 1901 Offset penny 32 millimeter encasement ( 1.26 inches ). Obverse reads : PAN AMERICAN EXPOSITION / BUFFALO, N.Y. ON EITHER SIDE OF THE CENT GOOD / LUCK Hover for larger image .

EC12 – 1901 Pan American Souvenir encased cent. overrule Reads : good / LUCK “ good ” on left, “ fortune ” on right of the cent. Four-leaf clover, horseshoe and wishbone symbols across the bottom. Hover for larger picture .
EC04 – obverse 1901 Pan American Souvenir encased penny. Obverse reads : SOUVENIR OF GOOD LUCK /PAN AMERICAN EXPOSITION / BUFFALO, N. Y. Hover for larger persona .

EC04 – 1901 Pan Am Expo The image is of traverse wishbones, with the legend : LUCKY PENNY / POCKET PIECE. There is the following in small type under the Lucky Penny.PAT. APPLIED FOR
Hover for larger prototype .
Since the Pan-Am Exposition was much referred to as the “ pan ” in literature and exunomia related material it is not surprising that “ pan ” related souvenirs were democratic. This “ Frying Pan ” encased is a very neat nibble. It should have a pin attached to the wield. Since the exposition was called the “ Pan ” american several souvenirs picked up on the “ pan ” as a composition. I believe there are several styles of cased pans out there, but do n’t see them frequently on eBay or ever anywhere else. They are much found with the handle broken off or bent without the pin peg as seen here. The complete encased frying pan with the manage and pin in perfect human body with a wide loss cent sells for over $ 250.

EC55 obverse souvenir frying pan. Obverse reads : BUFFALO on the treat and PAN AMERICAN EXPOSITION / * LUCKY PENNY * in the pan. These could be worn as a stand by pin in either a tie or lapel .
ED55 Reverse of 1901 Souvenir Encased Frying Pan Variety. The change by reversal reads : BUFFALO EXPOSITION / * 1901 * These are normally found with the peg gone and frequently the manage is broken or damaged. Hover for larger visualize .
obverse of 1901 Souvenir, some do not recognize this as encased. The cent is held in station by four prongs. From a traditional point of opinion this is not encased, I feel it is. It reads : pan AMERICAN EXPOSITION / BUFFALO in the bottom of the pan. The cover reads : memento Hover for larger effigy .
reverse of 1901 Souvenir Encased Frying Pan Variety. The caption is stamped from the obverse side and shows through on the reverse. Hover for larger image .
The fry pan above correct has the cent held by four small “ v ” shaped punched out pieces from the pan buttocks. While not wholly encasing the penny it firm holds it in place. The fry pan appears to be made of copper and is a thin estimate .
The follow piece is possibly one of the first if not the first base horseshoe form. Note the “ buffalo ” at the bed of the obverse. besides of note is the way the bottomland is cut out to form the horseshoe .

EC51 – obverse Buffalo running right at the bottom. pan AMERICAN EXPOSITION around the border. Hover for larger image .

EC51 – reverse : KEEP ME AND NEVER GO BROKE and PAT. APR. 11, 99 in a horseshoe. At the bottom : I BRING good luck Hover for larger prototype .

EC52 – wishbone shaped. obverse : A bombastic four-leaf clover at the top between two horseshoes. good in little type on entrust side of the four-leaf clover, LUCK on correct english. KEEP ME on the forget side and AND PROSPER on the right. PAT. APD FOR in bantam letters at buttocks. Hover for larger image .

EC52 – rearward : Buffalo charging left at top. pan AMERICAN EXPOSITION 1901 surrounds 3/4th of the cent at the bottom Hover for larger image .

Pan American Vulcanite Encased

At the Pan American Exposition, a number of encase cents were made using a hard rubber ( arduous plastic ) encasement which had a poser affixed to the reversion of the slice. Below are a number of examples. It is interesting to note that the color of the hard rubber varied. Fred Lavin listed all know Pan Am souvenirs in his script, “ PANorAMa of the PAN=AM ” an illustrate guide to souvenirs from the PAN=AMERICAN EXPOSITION of 1901 in Buffalo, NY. I have included the “ EC ” count Fred used for the cased keepsake at the beginning of the explanation with each prototype. I have besides included the number system James M. Lawniczak in his article from the nobelium longer existent ECI web site. They are at the end of the explanation paragraph and are formatted ( NY ) -BUF-PX-XX. The first hard rubber encased downstairs is not in Fred ‘s book so I am giving it, EC-38 the next number available. I do not have images of EC31 – “ WHERE DOES GRASS GROW ? / IN MEXICO / YOU ‘ R ( sic ) A BUFFALO / PUT ME OFF / PAE / EX-PO ” ; seen with a blue sky or k rim ” or EC37 – “ OH FUDGE /FORGET IT /PERHAPS TAINT TRUE /PUT ME OFF AT BUFFALO ”. If you have these pieces please plowshare an trope with me for this page. electronic mail : bdperdue1 @ netsacpe.net  

EC38 – obverse of 1901 indian penny – “ I AM NEVER BROKE / LUCKY SOUVENIR ” Encased Vulcanite. Hover for larger prototype .

EC38 – reverse of 1901 “ IT ‘S UP TO YOU / GO AS FAR AS YOU LIKE / PAN-AMERICAN / BUFFALO ” Encased Vulcanite. Hover for larger picture .

EC33 – turn back picture of “ GOVERNMENT build ” 1901 Souvenir Encased Vulcanite. Hover for larger image .

EC33 – obverse of “ Government Building ” 1901 Souvenir Encased Vulcanite. Reads : “ I AM NEVER BROKE / LUCKY SOUVENIR ” Encased Vulcanite Hover for larger image .

EC32 – obverse of 1901 Encased Vulcanite – “ YOU ‘VE GOT TO SHOW ME / I ‘M FROM MISSOURI / PAN-AMERICAN BUFFALO ” ( NY ) -BUF-PX-85 Hover for larger persona .

EC32 – revoke of 1901 Encased Vulcanite – “ You ‘ve Got To Show Me / I ‘m From Missouri / Pan-American Buffalo ” ( NY ) -BUF-PX-85
Hover for larger image .
EC34 – obverse of 1901 Vulcanite encased “ Triumphal Arch ” ( NY ) – ( BUF ) -PX-80 Hover for larger trope .

EC34 – reverse of 1901 Vulcanite encased “ Triumphal Arch ” ( NY ) – ( BUF ) -PX-80 Hover for larger image .

EC36 – obverse of 1901 Vulcanite Encased “ Night View of Tower ( NY ) – ( BUF ) -PX-83 Hover for larger image .

EC36 – overrule of 1901 Vulcanite Encased “ Night View of Tower ( NY ) – ( BUF ) -PX-83 Hover for larger effigy .

EC35 – Reverse Vulcanite Encased – Pan Am Temple of Music 1901 Pan Am Exposition, Buffalo, NY ( ( NY ) – ( BUF ) -PX-81 )
Hover for larger effigy .

EC35 – Obverse Vulcanite Encased – Pan Am Temple of Music 1901 Pan Am Exposition, Buffalo, NY ( ( NY ) – ( BUF ) -PX-81 )
Hover for larger image .
The hard rubber pieces are rare, particularly with the poser integral and in full condition. The indian penny is normally in close to mint express and full loss as the edges of the piece are raised on both obverse and reverse. I find it interesting that the color of the hard rubber varies on each man. I see crimson, orange, greens and black on the Temple of Music. I am calling the coin side the obverse of these pieces since the “ heads ” side of the coin is shown. As you can see on these pieces they were sold as a “ lucky Souvenir ”. These pieces are presently commanding between $ 150 and $ 375 on Ebay.

In his initiation to the 1901 Pan American Expo Series, ( 3 ) James M. Lawniczak lists seven hard rubber encased :

• (NY)-(BUF)-PX-80. 1901, RD,38mm, vulcanite, holed in middle for cent to sit in, about twice as thick as the aluminum. I Am Never Broke// Lucky Souvenir / Patent Applied for\\ [thin paper sticker on back — picture of the Triumphal Arch]// Triumphal Arch. This has a blue edge and border, grey black background and yellow lettering. Another sample has a white edge and border. JL, PAECS (with the white border), all the -80 series should run $100 or so.
• (NY)-(BUF)-PX-81. Same as -80 except has orange border and Temple of Music on rev.
• (NY)-(BUF)-PX-82. Another example with an orange border and the Government Bldg. pictured on the rev.
• (NY)-(BUF)-PX-83. Green, with a Night View of Tower pictured (the Electrical Tower at night), printed at the bottom: Night View of Tower.
• (NY)-BUF-PX-84. Dark green, with words on the rev.: Where Does Grass Grow?/ In Mexico/ Your Buffalo/ “Put Me Off”/ Pan American/ Expo.
• (NY)-BUF-PX-85. Red with words on the rev.: You’ve Got to Show Me/ I’M/ From/ Missouri/ [line across]/ Pan-American/ Buffalo.
• (NY)-BUF-PX-86. Oh Fudge/ “Forget It”/ Perhaps Taint True/ “Put Me Off/ At/ Buffalo”.

You can see from the images above examples of ( NY ) – ( BUF ) -PX-80, ( NY ) – ( BUF ) -PX-81, ( NY ) – ( BUF ) -PX-82, ( NY ) – ( BUF ) -PX-83, ( NY ) -BUF-PX-85 – the sixth image above “ It ‘s Up To You / Go vitamin a Far as You Like / [ occupation across ] /Pan-American Buffalo is not listed .
Fred Lavin in his book, “ PANorAMa of the PAN=AM ” an exemplify guide to souvenirs from the PAN=AMERICAN EXPOSITION of 1901 in Buffalo, NY, has a complete list of all encased souvenirs from the 1901 Pan Am Expo. The tilt and the entire chapter about Pan Am encased is available HERE .

Footnotes:

1. Aluminium   wikipedia.org/wiki/Aluminium
2. David Schenkman TAMS Journal Vol 30, No. 6, December 1990, as quoted from E-Sylum v20n24a12
3. Introduction to the 1901 Pan American Expo Series, James M. Lawniczak – An Introduction to the Pan-Am Series as posted on the ECI website. (Site no longer available)