JFK / Oswald 900 Gold German Commemorative Coin

An unusual commemorative coin manufactured in West Germany, ca. 1964, depicting the assassination of 35th U.S. President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) on the verso, and the shooting death of suspected presidential assassin Lee Harvey Oswald (1939-1963) on the recto. Provenance: From the collection of Ron Hoskins, assassinologist.

This coin was evaluated by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation prior to purchase in October 2017. The coin is 900 gold content and was produced in West Germany in 1964. Kennedy's assassination scene is inscribed in Latin as "IN - KENNEDYN - ABIECTA - VIS - DALLAS - MCM / LXIII" while Oswald's shooting is inscribed as "INHON - SINGUL - IURE - OSWALD - RUBY - PERIMIT." Not tested, but stamped in miniscule letters verso as "oro…900" along the bottom rim. The coin was circulated, and shows expected minor surface wear. It is currently housed in a circular coin holding display measuring .875" in diameter.

The scenes are depicted in extremely precise bas relief on a miniature scale. All of the details are remarkably clear, down to the gestures of the figures--JFK's upraised elbow verso, and Oswald's contorted face recto--to the physical surroundings--the silhouette of the Texas School Book Repository verso, and the brick wall of the Dallas Police Department Headquarters basement recto. There are four figures depicted on each side, including JFK, Jackie Kennedy, John Connally, and Nellie Connally verso; and Lee Harvey Oswald, Jack Ruby, James R. Leavelle, and L.C. Graves recto.

Previously, West Germany had produced high metal content commemorative coins celebrating President Kennedy's 1961 inauguration and his state visit in June 1963, this last depicting him in profile beside Chancellor Conrad Adenauer.

Provenance:

The original buyer's paperwork from eBay will be offered, showing its purchase price of $1,400 in October 2017. The live price of gold in early December 2020, at the time of cataloging, was $1,836 per ounce. This commemorative coin is worth well more than scrap value because of its unusual subject matter and fine execution.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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