1902 3-D morgan silver dollar broach (weird)

[jcm]

Found this today,never seen one before now,it has a date on the back of nov,22 and initials but maybe someone has seen these before or maybe I am in the wrong forum as well.The stutue of liberty plunges out of the coin face almost 1 inch or so. Anyone seen them before,what are they or who made these unique pieces?
thanks
this morgan was turned into what appears to be a broach



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[kerangoumar]

well, I wouldn't want to meet that brooch in a dark alley! Your brooch is quite the stunner. I have seen the odd coin that was turned into jewelry but never in such a dramatic fashion. usually more like this George III crown brooch:



or they're turned into watch fobs
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[jcm]

well that is a very nice coin you have too.I am not sure that mine is a morgan dollar or a liberty dollar.
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[kerangoumar]

do you know whether there were or are any laws forbidding the defacing of coins? after all, they are legal tender and governments get quite proprietary about them. on the other hand, they were forever being melted down . . .
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[jcm]

I know that now it is illegal to deface the US currency (guess like they say it is property of the U.S. govt they just let you use it) but not sure about back then.
Could be wrong though
any help from elseware
thanks
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[stumpy7]

This is the patent mark of George Keppler who has a patent for a die and the process of making these type of coins. You can find more info about him at http://www.popoutcoin.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also it is legal to deface US coin as long as it has not been done to deceive such as shaving silver from the edges or trying to increase value by spurious means.