2012 Colorado Springs Coin Club Medal: Brass Matte and Antiqued Copper with Selective Gold Plating

The Colorado Springs Coin Club (CSCC) commissioned Daniel Carr of the Moonlight Mint to strike their 1962-2012 50th anniversary medals. Some were given a “post-strike bead-blast matte finish and/or patina”. This article covers two of them: a brass medal with a matte finish, and a copper medal with selective gold plating.

Description of Type

This is the description of the medal from the CSCC:

Issued in gold, silver, copper and brass versions, the obverse of our medal features an image of the Palmer statue located in downtown Colorado Springs which depicts the founder of the city, General William Jackson Palmer, astride his horse. Placed in the background is a panoramic view of Pikes Peak. The reverse features the image of a gold coin based on the 1861 Clark, Gruber and Company “Pikes Peak” Liberty Head design bearing the fantasy date of 1862 which is 100 years prior to the founding of our club. The “Pikes Peak” Liberty Head coin is gold plated on the proof finish silver medals.

Some artistic license was taken to turn the statue to face the other direction. The statue has General Palmer facing Pikes Peak, and there was a desire to see both Palmer’s face and Pikes Peak on the medal. The statue is shown with General Palmer facing Pikes Peak in this 1925 photo posted to Pinterest.

Brass, Matte Finish

Photos courtesy of independencecoinco.

This is a brass specimen that is described as having a satin finish by the seller; however, it also appears to have a matte finish and patina applied. The Moonlight Mint catalog indicates this finish was applied but does not provide a quantity.

Composition: Brass
Finish: bead-blast matte finish & patina
Mintage: 148 satin finish

Sale

This specimen was offered by independencecoinco on eBay for $55 during October 2020 and described as Satin Finish:

2012 Colorado Springs Coin Club 50th Anniversary Medal. Satin Finish.

eBay Item: 174207674712

Antiqued Copper with Selective Gold Plating

This is a copper medal given a “post-strike bead-blast matte finish and/or patina” with selective gold plating.

Composition: Copper
Finish: bead-blast matte finish & patina, selectively gold plated
Mintage: 5 with finish and gold plating

Owner’s Commentary

I purchased this coin from eBay after it was first sold by Daniel Carr and then flipped by another seller. There were two sold as individual items at the time. I wanted it as it was the first time I had seen one of Dan’s pieces with selective gold plating. In hand, it is quite nice and the gold plating has a slightly antiqued patina to it as well.

Reference

Information on these medals is available on the Colorado Springs Coin Club website and the Moonlight Mint Catalog:

Here is the Moonlight Mint Catalog page:

Moonlight Mint Catalog.

First published on the original Private Mint News site in October 2020 as two articles, combined here.