NUMISMATIC SOUVENIRS OF THE 1906 SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE
The E-Sylum (7/26/2009)
Book Content
Regarding earthquake items, Dave Schenkman writes: I’ve collected “made from” and relic items for years, and in my bank box I located an interesting encased cent from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
Obverse text: SOUVENIR OF THE SAN FRANCISCO / EARTHQUAKE & FIRE / APRIL 19, 1906
Reverse text: LUCKY PENNY / TAKEN FROM RUINS AT / SAN FRANCISCO / BADLY DISFIGURED / BUT STILL IN THE RING
I really like this encased cent. It's a great way to dress up and give new life to a beat-up lowly cent - a harmless and interesting souvenir of a catastrophic historic event. I love the prize fighter allusion: "badly disfigured but still in the ring" and the double meaning of "ring", which could mean a boxing ring or, of course, the aluminum ring that comprises the encasement.
Dave adds:
For whatever it is worth, there are a couple of So-Called Dollars (HK-340-343) relating to the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.
Joe Boling adds:
There are also a raft of medals for the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923.