As a result of the search for the unique Tassie coin impressions (a combination of the obverse and reverse faces together on one image), quite a few have been found. The intent of this post is to bring the images of all of those impressions (approximately 120) together in one place. Most images can be enlarged by clicking on them.
The original set was obtained from the coin dealer Tim Medhurst. This set and the entire quest to unearth information about the Tassie Coin Impressions is described in two previous posts, “Coin Impressions by Tassie” and “Tassie Coin Impressions – Continued“.
The following are images with brief descriptions of the nine Tassie Coin Impressions in the original set. Hoover on an image and click on the “Detail” button to be taken to the page with background information specific to that impression.
Most of the above set were matched to the original coins in the Hunter collection at the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow. Jesper Ericsson, the Curator of Numismatics at the Hunterian Museum, located the original coins and kindly allowed them to be photographed so they could be matched to the impressions. The following images show composites of each MyI Tassie Coin Impression together with the original coin from which the casting was taken.
During the initial stages of the search the following several images of impressions were found online:
One was found in Volume III of “The Collector” Magazine article, “The Gems & Portrait Medallions of James & William Tassie” by Martin Hardie pp132-135, which included the accompanying image —
Two other images of Greek coins, which appear to be of Tassie coin impressions, although no attributions given, were found on the Worthpoint.com website — Click on image for webpage.
Then as the result of a repost on the weekly online journal ESylum, Derek Kerins of NSI, Dublin furnished the following images of two trays of Tassie coin impressions:
The greatest number of impressions was found during a visit to the Classical Art Research Centre (CARC) Beazley Archives at Oxford University. Two presentation “books” were found together with a set of four trays, and a small box with some loose impressions. These 82 plaster impressions are believed to have been produced by William Tassie.
The presentation “books” shown below are a part of sixteen similar volumes. These are inventory numbers 015 (on left) and 016 (on right).
Presentation “book” inv. no. 016 has the following manuscript listing of the contents.
The four stacking trays shown below are inventory number 999-92.
Tray 1
Tray 2
Tray 3
Tray 4
It is probable that the impressions in the “book” volumes, those in the four stacked trays, and the red sulfur impressions in the MyI collection were all produced by the same maker as shown through a comparison of one of the impressions that is the same in all three groupings. Click on the image to go to the full explanation with detailed images.
Lastly, at the Beazley Archives (of the material I observed – there are other coin impressions or casts noted in the inventory, fun for another day!) there was a small box with a number of coin impressions that included six of the Tassie type.
These are all of the Tassie coin impressions found to date (2026 01 13). As more are discovered they will be added to this listing.
The most promising locations at which to find additional impressions are the Beazley Archives’ gem room at the CARC, Oxford University and the National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh, Scotland. Hope springs eternal.
