Authenticating George Soley Medals: Expert Guide to Spotting Counterfeits and Rare Varieties

With Counterfeits Proliferating, Mastering George Soley’s Diagnostic Markers Is Essential

As counterfeit Soley medals flood the market, holding a genuine piece requires eagle-eyed expertise. George Bache Soley (1847-1902) – former U.S. Mint employee and collaborator with the legendary Barber engraving dynasty – crafted some of the most historically rich yet treacherously replicated medals of America’s Gilded Age. With no comprehensive catalog of his works and rampant die reuse among later manufacturers, collectors navigate a minefield of restrikes, Scovill Manufacturing reproductions, and sophisticated modern fakes. Let’s uncover the authentication secrets that separate numismatic treasures from clever deceivers.

Why Soley’s Legacy Still Captivates Collectors

Soley’s Philadelphia workshop occupies a hallowed place in exonumia history:

• Pioneered the use of the first steam coining press retired by the U.S. Mint
• Worked shoulder-to-shoulder with Charles Barber on presidential medal reductions
• Produced the infamous 1892-1894 “Lord’s Prayer” medalettes sold at the Philadelphia Mint
• Perfected the art of miniature portraiture on 13mm commemoratives

“Soley built his own portable reducing machine and frequently repurposed older Barber models with fresh elements,” observes forum contributor @RogerB. This inventive spirit creates thrilling collectibility but complicates authentication when distinguishing original strikes from later adaptations.

Definitive Authentication Markers Every Collector Must Know

The Weight Test: Your First Line of Defense

Genuine Soley pieces reveal remarkable consistency across decades:

• 13mm Lord’s Prayer tokens: Seek 0.45-0.55g copper/bronze specimens with sharp luster
• Silver medalettes (holy grails): Only 3 confirmed at 2.2-2.5g – any heavier screams fake
• 1889 Brooklyn Bridge medal: True bronze examples weigh 4.8-5.2g with satiny patina
• HK-71 So Called Dollar: Authentic copper strikes hit 22.5-23.5g – modern copies often feel ‘dead’ weight

Invest in precision scales (0.01g accuracy) – that ±0.3g deviation in fakes becomes glaringly obvious.

Magnetic Mysteries Unraveled

Soley employed distinctive alloys that sing their provenance:

• Period copper/bronze: Shouldn’t budge for neodymium magnets
• Tin composites: 1883 East River Bridge medals show faint magnetic whispers
• Aluminum restrikes: Post-1894 productions exhibit dull magnetic drag unlike modern bright alloys

That satisfying ‘clack’ of steel-based fakes meeting your magnet? Pure heartbreak avoided.

Die Diagnostics: The Naked Truth Under Magnification

Keep your loupe handy for these telltale markers at 10x power:

• Washington portraits: All spring from Houdon’s sculpture – that distinctive brow ridge must mirror Yale Art Gallery references
• 1882 William Penn medal: Authentic pieces show ‘windblown’ hair details and a deliberately weak chin line
• Grant Memorials: Dated 1885 but bear die cracks matching 1879-1880 Barber workshop patterns
• Reverse lettering: True “God and Our Country” pieces boast tapered serifs absent in Scovill copies

Spotting Fakes: A Collector’s Field Guide

Arm yourself against these telltale signs of deception:

• Scovill restrikes (post-1892): Lord’s Prayer reverses swim in thick, clumsy lettering – often in ‘wrong’ aluminum
• Modern electrotypes: Mushy details and weight variances beyond ±15% betray their origins
• “Mule” fakes: Obverse/reverse marriages undocumented in Soley’s meticulous ledgers
• 1889 Brooklyn Bridge medals: Genuine pieces feature matte fields – glossy surfaces scream recast

Forum sage @Coinosaurus cautions: “The December 11, 1894 New York Times exposé confirms Soley produced Mint-sold Lord’s Prayer medals until the Secret Service intervened. Any piece boasting 1895+ dates is counterfeit – full stop.”

Advanced Authentication: Taking Your Sleuthing Further

For the committed collector, these tools reveal truths invisible to the naked eye:

• XRF analysis: Verifies period-appropriate copper/zinc/tin ratios like a metallic fingerprint
• 40x microscopy: Exposes transfer marks and flow lines from recast dies
• Edge examination: Genuine Soley pieces show artisan file marks – modern casts reveal telltale seams
• Patina forensics: UV light unmasks modern chemical baths – authentic toning fluoresces with century-old grace

Rarity Realities: What’s Truly Worth Hunting

Soley’s finest command breathtaking premiums when mint condition meets ironclad provenance:

• Silver Lord’s Prayer medalettes: $2,500-$4,000+ (only 3 confirmed survivors)
• HK-71 So Called Dollar: $1,800-$2,500 in EF with original chocolate patina
• American Railway Supply medalettes: $300-$600 when properly attributed (Rulau-listed sleepers)
• 13mm double-sided tokens: $150-$250 for gems versus $50-$75 for common singles

“The 1892 Scovill correspondence reveals how quickly competitors cloned Soley’s innovations,” emphasizes @Zoins. “This makes authenticated early strikes with provenance exceptionally prized.”

Conclusion: Safeguarding Soley’s Numismatic Legacy

George Soley’s medallic work forms a vital bridge between official U.S. Mint productions and private artistic enterprise. With auction prices for crown jewels like the silver Lord’s Prayer medalette surpassing $4,000, authentication expertise protects both your investment and numismatic history. By marrying weight verification, magnetic response, die forensics, and provenance research, collectors can confidently navigate this thrilling – sometimes treacherous – field. Remember: documented pieces from watershed moments like the 1894 Secret Service seizure (complete with original Mint receipts) will always command premium valuations among discerning collectors. In the end, we’re not just preserving metal – we’re safeguarding a unique chapter of American artistry.

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