Post by evm111 on Oct 8, 2005 19:52:31 GMT -5
I saw this listing while the UWC catalog was in the proofing stages, and began the search. The catalog’s description does not mention the wording or image on the reverse (“Principal Lonnie Hammargren“). So when I found Dr. Hammargren’s Web-site, I really did not think that HIS Principality of Paradise was the same as the COIN’s Principality. Only when I saw the coin on eBay did the connection finally click. Anyhow, at the time I did try to send a couple of e-mails to the e-mail address at that Web-site, but never received a response.
I don’t think that the catalog’s editors have an image of the coin, or else they surely would’ve included it; or at least mentioned Lonnie Hammargren in the listing. I also don’t think that it was a USNS member who provided the editors with the info for their listing. If it were a true USNSer, why wouldn’t that person have alerted the rest of us not only to the coin, its connection to Dr. Hammargren, and possibly to his Web-site (which he/she could’ve easily found, since it is the only search result on Google for “Principality of Paradise”)?
Anyhow, I did recently send a letter to Dr. Hammargren, so I hope to receive a response. I asked a few questions about the coin and also asked if there were still some available for the USNS members. I sure do hope he sends me a response. I know he’s been touring the state with the Memorial Wall, but I can’t see why he wouldn’t respond once he gets a chance. My next step will be to place a phone call to the Castillo del Sol. I’ll keep everyone posted.
I posted an image of the coin’s reverse at our Yahoo Group.
PRINCIPALITY OF PARADISE: This is one of the names for the Las Vegas home of Dr. Lonnie L. Hammargren, a first-class neurosurgeon who moved to Nevada in 1971. “Castillo del Sol, as it is now called, started out as a $45,000 house built in 1969 from a standard plan as a frame stucco, four bedroom house.” Located in an affluent neighborhood, it was once an ordinary domicile which the wealthy but quirky doctor purchased in 1972. Over the years, it has experienced a steady transformation. The property was expanded to include two large neighboring houses, and Dr. Hammargren began the task of physically connecting all 3 dwellings together in order to create the 12,500 square-foot “castle” he shares with his wife Sandy. Its entire façade attempts to duplicate the Palace of Governors found in Mexico's ancient Mayan ruins. A compelling structure sits atop the original house: “This is modeled after the Castillo pyramid in the Yucatan. It gives rise to the name of the house, Castillo Del Sol, the Castle of the Sun.” The large addition was built in 1975 to accommodate an observatory and planetarium. “The entrance hall into Castillo del Sol is a music room featuring Liberace's honky tonk piano which he took to performances all over the country.” Other attractions include a Car Museum, an Egyptian Tomb, and a Toy Room — all filled with thousands of uniquely presented artifacts, eclectic memorabilia, displays, rare objects and reproductions. A replica of Stonehenge can be found on the roof of one of the residences. The entire backyard of his triple abode is a topographical representation of Nevada. It is crammed with what some of the locals refer to as “eyesores” (Dr. Hammargren is known all over Nevada for his “backyard constructions”), including an Apollo space capsule, submarines, replicas of the Lincoln Memorial and Statue of Liberty, giant movie props, and other oversized souvenirs. On February 8th 1993, the Department of Interior honored the eccentric Dr. Hammargren by recognizing his outstanding complex as a branch of the Smithsonian, naming it the “Hammarsonian Museum”. The eye-catching building, a.k.a. the Hammargren Home of Nevada History, is available for tours and fundraising. As evidenced by the above description of his unusual home, the intellectual interests of the doctor “are broad, ranging from biology to medicine to mathematics, anthropology and psychology. His special focus is the history of scientific thought...Lonnie fancies himself as an amateur archaeoastronomer” (a specific discipline that combines archaeology and astronomy). The first trained micro-surgeon in Nevada, he was also a clinical professor of neurosurgery at the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Reno. Over the years, Dr. Hammargren came to be known by the title “Surgeon of the Gladiators”, due to his many operations on boxers, motorcyclists, and Hollywood stunt-people. He served as Nevada's Lieutenant Governor from 1995-98. After his term expired, the astute politician then briefly ran for governor as a Republican candidate during the '98 primary, but dropped from the race due to lack of support. Starting in 2004, he was also featured in many headlines for touring the state with his mobile Mid-East Memorial Wall, which bears the names of military personnel who perished in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Semantically, one would expect a Principality to be ruled by a Prince. But instead, this handsome 1990 1 Dupee depicts its headman as “Principal Lonnie Hammargren”. I happened upon this piece on eBay. The doctor's paradisiacal Web-site, though it does not include any information whatsoever about the token itself, is:
"http://www.principality-of-paradise.com/"
I don’t think that the catalog’s editors have an image of the coin, or else they surely would’ve included it; or at least mentioned Lonnie Hammargren in the listing. I also don’t think that it was a USNS member who provided the editors with the info for their listing. If it were a true USNSer, why wouldn’t that person have alerted the rest of us not only to the coin, its connection to Dr. Hammargren, and possibly to his Web-site (which he/she could’ve easily found, since it is the only search result on Google for “Principality of Paradise”)?
Anyhow, I did recently send a letter to Dr. Hammargren, so I hope to receive a response. I asked a few questions about the coin and also asked if there were still some available for the USNS members. I sure do hope he sends me a response. I know he’s been touring the state with the Memorial Wall, but I can’t see why he wouldn’t respond once he gets a chance. My next step will be to place a phone call to the Castillo del Sol. I’ll keep everyone posted.
I posted an image of the coin’s reverse at our Yahoo Group.
PRINCIPALITY OF PARADISE: This is one of the names for the Las Vegas home of Dr. Lonnie L. Hammargren, a first-class neurosurgeon who moved to Nevada in 1971. “Castillo del Sol, as it is now called, started out as a $45,000 house built in 1969 from a standard plan as a frame stucco, four bedroom house.” Located in an affluent neighborhood, it was once an ordinary domicile which the wealthy but quirky doctor purchased in 1972. Over the years, it has experienced a steady transformation. The property was expanded to include two large neighboring houses, and Dr. Hammargren began the task of physically connecting all 3 dwellings together in order to create the 12,500 square-foot “castle” he shares with his wife Sandy. Its entire façade attempts to duplicate the Palace of Governors found in Mexico's ancient Mayan ruins. A compelling structure sits atop the original house: “This is modeled after the Castillo pyramid in the Yucatan. It gives rise to the name of the house, Castillo Del Sol, the Castle of the Sun.” The large addition was built in 1975 to accommodate an observatory and planetarium. “The entrance hall into Castillo del Sol is a music room featuring Liberace's honky tonk piano which he took to performances all over the country.” Other attractions include a Car Museum, an Egyptian Tomb, and a Toy Room — all filled with thousands of uniquely presented artifacts, eclectic memorabilia, displays, rare objects and reproductions. A replica of Stonehenge can be found on the roof of one of the residences. The entire backyard of his triple abode is a topographical representation of Nevada. It is crammed with what some of the locals refer to as “eyesores” (Dr. Hammargren is known all over Nevada for his “backyard constructions”), including an Apollo space capsule, submarines, replicas of the Lincoln Memorial and Statue of Liberty, giant movie props, and other oversized souvenirs. On February 8th 1993, the Department of Interior honored the eccentric Dr. Hammargren by recognizing his outstanding complex as a branch of the Smithsonian, naming it the “Hammarsonian Museum”. The eye-catching building, a.k.a. the Hammargren Home of Nevada History, is available for tours and fundraising. As evidenced by the above description of his unusual home, the intellectual interests of the doctor “are broad, ranging from biology to medicine to mathematics, anthropology and psychology. His special focus is the history of scientific thought...Lonnie fancies himself as an amateur archaeoastronomer” (a specific discipline that combines archaeology and astronomy). The first trained micro-surgeon in Nevada, he was also a clinical professor of neurosurgery at the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Reno. Over the years, Dr. Hammargren came to be known by the title “Surgeon of the Gladiators”, due to his many operations on boxers, motorcyclists, and Hollywood stunt-people. He served as Nevada's Lieutenant Governor from 1995-98. After his term expired, the astute politician then briefly ran for governor as a Republican candidate during the '98 primary, but dropped from the race due to lack of support. Starting in 2004, he was also featured in many headlines for touring the state with his mobile Mid-East Memorial Wall, which bears the names of military personnel who perished in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Semantically, one would expect a Principality to be ruled by a Prince. But instead, this handsome 1990 1 Dupee depicts its headman as “Principal Lonnie Hammargren”. I happened upon this piece on eBay. The doctor's paradisiacal Web-site, though it does not include any information whatsoever about the token itself, is:
"http://www.principality-of-paradise.com/"