Expert: Jim Lawniczak - 6/2/2009

Question
I have a Pan American Expo encased 1901 Indian Head Cent.It measures approx 38mm and is encased in yellow celluloid. On the front side is I AM NEVER BROKE LUCKY SOUVENIR  PATENT APPLIED FOR.  Rear side WHERE DOES GRASS GROW? IN MEXICO YOUR A BUFFALO "PUT ME OFF" PAN AMERICAN EX-PO.I would greatly appreciate any information you can provide and value of this item.Thank you very much.

Answer
Hello, Dominick, I have put together a catalog of the encased coins of the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo in 1901 and published it in the TAMS (Token and Medal Society) journal.  This piece is one of a series of similar pieces and is very popular. I know about this variety because of information I received about 10 years ago from the Pan-American Expo Collectors Society in Buffalo. There are now 8 known varieties of this celluloid piece and I suspect there are more.  Value depends somewhat on condition, but so long as it is in decent shape, I would expect it to sell for $60 to $100 or so, perhaps even more.  Encased coins are fairly thinly traded and the price depends on just who happens to really want one of these (etc).  The colors on the pieces vary -- the only known color on this piece I had heard of before was dark green, now I have your yellow.  One common place to see these for sale is on www.ebay.com -- but if you go there it is very unlikely that one like yours will be for sale, as it is a fairly uncommon piece.  If you do list it on ebay, please let me know, I'd like to participate in the auction, Jim Lawniczak