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Cent: CM.3148-2003

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An image of Cent
Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

State: United States of America
Issuer: Pan American Exposition (Countermarked by)
Place of use: Los Angeles

Entities

Categories

Description

Until the practice was officially discouraged in 1970 a common way of producing souvenirs was to flatten low-value coins (here an 1891 cent) between rollers, giving an oval flan that could then be struck with a new design. Here the blank was used to advertise the Pan-American Exposition of 1901, held in Los Angeles.

Notes

History note: From the estate of Dr David J. de Sola Rogers (1946-99).

Measurements and weight

Image(height): 19.2 mm
Image(width): 33.6 mm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (2003-11-25) by Withers, Paul

Dating

1891 - 1901

Note

Original cent coin pressed between rollers to elongate and flatten and then stamped with advertising design

Components of the work

Object composed of bronze

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: United States Government Building frontage with legend above

  • Text: MFG & LIBERAL ARTS / PAN·AM *1901*
  • Location: Obverse
  • Type: Design

Inscription present: Head of Liberty left with legend around

  • Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / 1891
  • Location: Reverse
  • Type: Design

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: CM.3148-2003
Primary reference Number: 159175
Rogers: 2500

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 26 March 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Coins and Medals

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Cent" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/159175 Accessed: 2025-12-05 12:51:36

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/159175 |title=Cent |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 12:51:36|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-159175

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