Rare HB REX 1688 American Plantation Token

1688 American Plantation token. Newman 1-A, Breen-80. Original, HB REX. EF Details "Environmental Damage." (PCGS). A sharp and appealing specimen of an undoubtedly original variety, one that was never restruck after 1688. The surfaces are dark gray with a dusting of earthen encrustation, particularly on the reverse. The surfaces are a bit granular, as is always the case three centuries after a tin coin is struck. Some light chipping is seen at the rims, but they appear stable now (there's no tin dust rattling around in the PCGS holder). A dig is noted at the base of the reverse. The devices and legends are clear, and the HB REX error is clear to the naked eye. Original American Plantation tokens are downright rare, but the availability of the 1828 Matthew Young restricts (most of which look quite similar to this in terms of planchet quality) seems to keep prices moderate. For those who would rather have a 17th century coin that circulated than its early 19th century copy, a piece like this would function quite nicely...Sold

1788 Massachusetts cent. Ryder 12-M. Rarity-4-. Very Fine. Nice light woodgrained brown with good gloss and a halo of pale olive toning around the obverse devices. A nice even example for the grade, showing just some trivial planchet striations at the base of the reverse and light marks commensurate with the grade. A tiny rim nick above the top of the Indian's bow is the only mark worth mentioning. This would be a great type coin at the VF level. From the Ted Craige collection...$525

1788 Connecticut copper. Miller 7-F.2. Rarity-6. Mailed Bust Left. Choice About Uncirculated. Another piece from the famous Ted Craige Collection, where I described it as "An exceptional specimen of this rare variety, with frosty light brown surfaces that retain strong luster. Like most specimens of this variety, this shows significant planchet flaws, the largest of which is at the obverse portrait's forehead, with scattered planchet flecks elsewhere at central obverse. On the reverse, similar planchet flecks are seen at upper right and lower left. The Garrett coin, generally thought to be finest known, was a similarly flawed high grade coin. In its description, the cataloger noted 'Perhaps more than any other coin here, the present piece is difficult to precisely grade. The combinations of actual wear (or lack of it), light striking, and imperfectly prepared planchet make it difficult to know where to attribute a given weakness.' Beyond its planchet flaws, this piece is surprisingly choice and may be technically Mint State. Despite this, it appears Ford traded this piece away in favor of his relatively unflawed VF, which brought $1,725 in the Ford sale. Tanenbaum's was just VG. A rare piece deserving of a home in an advanced cabinet." It's a rare treat to get a Condition Census specimen of a Rarity-6 variety with original frosty lustre for...$1,250

A Very Scarce Connecticut Copper Overdate

1787 Connecticut copper. Miller 9-R. Rarity-4+. Mailed Bust Left. 1787/1788. Very Fine. Another major variety in the Connecticut copper series, a die marriage worthy of singling out for its own listing in the Red Book. I described this piece in the auction catalogue of the Ted Craige Collection as "A high quality example of this major overdate variety, with the 7 over 8 in the date readily seen with the naked eye. Nice glossy medium brown with mostly hard, smooth surfaces. The area in front of the profile is a little soft and retains some planchet texture, and the lap of the seated figure shows some light fissures opposite. The right obverse and reverse periphery are weak in the same area, but the date is bod. A few little hairlines are noted on the cheek under a glass, to no great effect. The Royse example is the most recent to sell, graded VF-35 (PCGS) in our November 2012 sale; it was a little sharper but also a little more granular, netting $3,105. This will make a nice prize for the underbidder, as this variety is tough to find much better." The Royse coin proves the Guide Book pricing is not crazy, indeed, it might be a bit low. This is one of those varieties that never seems to turn up in high grade, and rarely is the overdate as clear as it is here. This piece shows excellent color and is free of major post-striking issues...Sold

1787 New Jersey copper. Maris 54-k. Rarity-3. Serpent Head. Choice Extremely Fine. A prize from the Ted Craige collection of New Jerseys, and one of the prettiest and most well struck Serpent Heads I've seen in recent years. I described this coin for the Craige catalogue as "a beautiful example of this popular major variety in 'far, far above average condition!,' in Mr. Craige's words. Glossy chocolate brown with superb surface quality and eye appeal. The left side of the obverse is a bit soft, as usual, and the lower left obverse shows just a hint of fine granularity, extending to a shallow lamination at O of NOVA. The date is not fully struck up, but the central device is bold and barely worn. The reverse shows some natural planchet texture at upper right, including a low spot at that corner of the shield, but it is otherwise bold and choice. The obverse is aligned to 7 o'clock, with full denticles and die edge visible in northeast quadrant. Reverse is aligned just above 9 o'clock, with good strong denticles and die edge at right. The visual appeal of this specimen is excellent for this unevenly struck variety, and the sharpness places it just out of the range of the Condition Census. This is a very desirable Serpent Head." For a relatively common variety, the Serpent Head sure is tough to find fully struck and in high grade. The Redbook values a EF at $4000, reflective of this rarity. The quality of this piece will satisfy connoisseurs, particularly those building a major variety set of New Jersey coppers. This was the best piece Ted Craige encountered in more than a decade specializing in the series before his passing in 1971...Sold

The Henry C. Miller (1920)-Ted Craige Maris 34-J New Jersey

1787 New Jersey copper. Maris 34-J. Rarity-3. Deer Head. Very Fine. Described by yours truly in the recent sale of the Ted Craige New Jersey coppers as "Another good-looking Deer Head, included in the Craige Collection to represent the 'Late state obv with heavy break thru date,' as noted on Mr. Craige's envelope. Glossy chocolate brown with excellent eye appeal. Some light planchet striations are present in the northeast quadrant of the obverse, planchet crude at base of reverse, some visible undertype at US of PLURIBUS, almost certainly a Connecticut copper. A problem-free piece with outstanding visual appeal. Latest die state with heavy break at date, thin die crack between VA of NOVA, and horizontal crack from rim to singletree. This piece was originally in a two-piece lot (both Maris 34-Js) in the 1920 Miller sale. Presumably, like the other Miller coins that Craige ended up with, this came via Ryder to Boyd to Ford." The Deer Head is one of the fine-style dies in the New Jersey series: well-executed, distinctive, attractively composed. I favor varieties that meet that description as type coins; I also happen to have a soft spot for overstrikes and cool die states. This is the trifecta (no pun intended). With a pedigree to two of the great names in 20th century colonial numismatics, it makes for a rather nice property...$875

"If this doesn't appeal to you ..."

1787 Connecticut copper. Miller 33.28-Z.16. Rarity-5. Snipe Nose. Choice Extremely Fine. I fell in love with this coin when cataloguing it among the Ted Craige collection. The catalogue description I wrote suggests as much. It also suggests I probably shouldn't catalogue so much late at night: "Flawless glossy tan with superlative visual appeal. About as choice as could be imagined; we will mention the world's smallest rim nick under the date just because we get paid by the word. A pretty spectacular piece. If this coin doesn't appeal to you, stop collecting Connecticuts and proceed immediately to your nearest Franklin half dealer." The point remains that this coin is pretty much perfect. The Snipe Nose is named for the impressive horizontal bisecting crack across the obverse, leaving the details of that die on two different planes. Rarely is a Snipe Nose this sharp, and those that are rarely are found with such choice surfaces. While this isn't a "Redbook variety," it sure is a major one, and this could easily find a place in a type collection of significant varieties...$1,475

A Major Redbook Variety, ex New Netherlands' Famed 60th Sale

1787 Connecticut copper. Miller 41-ii. Rarity-4. Draped Bust Left. AUCTOPI / ET IIB. Choice Very Fine. The New Netherlands Coin Company's 60th sale has long worn the laurel hung on its neck by John W. Adams: "a strong candidate for best executed catalogue ever." In order to garner such high praise, the content of the sale had to be at least halfway decent, of course. One of the ways it got the coveted Adams A+ rating was on the back of Dr. Angus Black's fine collection of colonials, including this coin. In NN60, Walter Breen described it as "on the whole nicely struck with everything clear and generally sharp; bottoms of the date are off flan. The beautiful surfaces on this choice piece more than compensate for a hardly visible obv. scratch, rim nick, and a hard-to-find edge nick. Popular double error type." I catalogued it in the recent Ted Craige sale (its first offering since 1968) as "Beautiful glossy light brown with impeccable surface quality and eye appeal ... the thin scratch runs nearly imperceptibly across the obverse portrait, the tiny rim nick is at 6 o'clock on the obverse, and the edge nick is literally invisible from either side but is located above first C of CONNEC. A major variety in the series for its dual misspellings, AUCTOPI and ET IIB, a variety on many want lists but rarely found nice." The Guide Book prices the AUCTOPI at $1500 in EF, the ET IIB at $1300 in EF; this is suggestive of the problems with the Redbook: this variety is both the most easily found AUCTOPI and the most common of the ET IIB reverses, so presumably the price should be the same. In any case, this coin is about as nice as this important major variety comes, and rarely does it come with such a great provenance too...$1,375

The Ted Craige Maris 17-J New Jersey

1786 New Jersey copper. Maris 17-J. Rarity-4. Choice Very Fine. 141.4 grains. From the Ted Craige Collection, a nice New Jersey horsehead that I described in the sales catalogue of that legendary collection as follows: "Deep mahogany and olive surfaces contrast with attractive light brown devices. Overstruck on an unidentified Connecticut copper, like so many of this die marriage, with CONN subtly visible just inside the rim above NOVA. The surfaces show fine raised granularity on both sides, looking like verdigris under a glass rather than eaten-away corrosion, but the in-hand appearance is very pleasing. A few little scratches are seen here and there, one on the snout and a few fine ones at central reverse. The top of the reverse shows slightly greater roughness than elsewhere. The planchet is broad and the centering is ideal. Fairly well struck, though this variety seemingly never shows full details, and perhaps worthy of an EF grade assignment by wear. The central reverse is a bit soft, as always seen, a by-product of reverse failure and the opposite high relief of the horsehead. Very Fine is a better than typical grade for a 17-J. This piece shows equivalent sharpness to the Henry Garrett coin, the highest ranked of the VF coins in the SHI census (#4), though this piece seems to have inferior surfaces to that coin. The Maris-Garrett-O'Donnell coin is ranked 8th; though it is sharper, it has some surface issues. So this piece can be comfortably ranked somewhere in that range, depending upon your tastes. Needless to say, this is a coin that would prove tough to upgrade. The three finest examples are all graded EF." New Jersey coppers and large cents have each been collected for a century and a half. How long has it been since you could acquire a Condition Census-calibre early date large cent with a fine provenance for...$1,475

A Hercules Head Connecticut With a Date!

1786 Connecticut copper. Miller 5.3-N. Rarity-2. Hercules Head. Very Fine. The Ted Craige example of this distinctive Connecticut type, which I catalogued as "Middle die state, before the reverse badly swells, still showing the date and a good bit of central detail, in addition to full legends. Handsome medium brown with some horizontal striations and laminations across central obverse, notable reverse flaw at chest extends to above E of INDE. A very good looking Hercules Head, boldly detailed and free of post-striking problems. Even with its striations, this is nicer than normal. A very desirable type coin." The Guide Book pricing values a Fine at $600 and a VF at $2400. Without getting into the merits of this information, what is more desirable: a relatively sharp example of a late die state which, by its very nature, shows no date or significant reverse detail, or an earlier die state that still retains these features? Choices such as this are why state coppers will never trade based strictly upon their "grade." As is, the grade of this one is much nicer than normal. It was good enough for Ted Craige, who had very little competition for coins like this through the entire 1960s...$1,275

A Near Gem Specimen of An Underappreciated French Colonial Type

France and colonies. 1712-N six deniers or sol de Dardennes. Montpelier mint. MS-64 BN (NGC). Though struck for just three years (1710-1712) and at only three mints (La Rochelle, Montpelier, and Aix), this type dominated the small change of Nouvelle France more than any other copper coin of its era -- and more than most anyone today realizes. Phil Mossman's article in Colonial Newsletter 124 entitled "Money of the 14th Colony: Nova Scotia (1711- 1783)" noted that more than 40 specimens of this type were found at the excavations of Fortress Louisbourg, a fact first noted in Professor Peter Moogk's article "A Pocketful of Change at Louisbourg," in the Canadian Numismatic Journal in March 1976. These pieces were so prevalent that Moogk said a typical pocket of change at Louisbourg during its heyday would include a couple small French liards, a recoined sol of the 1690s, one of the billon coins of the 1740s (popularly but poorly named sou marques), one of these sols de Dardennes, and a Spanish pistareen. Breen even mentions this type and the frequency it was seen in the pocket change of Nouvelle France on page 45 of his Encyclopedia. Today, Canadian metal detectorists find them often, particularly in the Canadian maritimes. Phil Mossman, the Dalai Lama of colonial numismatists, calls Nova Scotia "the 14th colony" not only because so many Loyalists headed there after the Revolution, but because its economy and settlement patterns so closely paralleled that of New England. As for the French coins that were there before the English conquest, some stayed to circulate among the new emigrants from Massachusetts and elsewhere, and others went with the Acadians when they moved south to French Louisiana to become Cajuns. All of that is a big buildup for a magnificent coin. A serious student of French colonial coinage could look for years and not find a specimen better than Fine. Most in the marketplace show ground patina and serious wear. I've never seen one I'd call EF or AU. This piece is a wonder, with abundant golden lustre and color barely mellowed from the fully brassy tone when this was struck. The planchet shows a few natural splits at the rim, as struck. The legends are complete, and the surfaces are free of any notable marks. I have seen one other example of similar quality, a coin I placed in the finest private collection of French Colonial coinage extant. For those who would rather collect what really, genuinely circulated in early America, not just the coins called "colonials" in standard reference (which may or may not have ever seen American shores), this coin represents a very important opportunity. I didn't think I'd ever see another example this nice...Sold

1762 Morro Castle medal. Betts-443. Bronze, 50 mm. Extremely Fine. Rich glossy chocolate brown with boldly realized designs on both sides. The rims have been roughly handled and show bruises around much of the circumference, and some light marks are present in the fields, including some fine old pinscratches in the left obverse field. A classic among Betts medals of the French and Indian War era. Americans tend not to think of the Caribbean as a front in this conflict. In fact, it became the focus of it after the fall of Canada, with the best military resources North America and England had to offer pouring into Havana after Spain entered the war on the side of France. This medal depicts the loss of the main Spanish fortress in Havana, the Morro Castle. In the scene depicted on the reverse, the powder magazine of the fort explodes, carrying Spanish soldiers high into its mushroom cloud. The nice AU in the Adams Collection brought $3450. This one is a fine value at...Hold

(1882) Lincoln & Garfield memorial medal. Silver, 25.5 mm. Julian PR-40. Choice Mint State. Both obverse and reverse of this anepigraphic medal are graced with delicate pale green, gold, and pastel blue tones on the nicely reflective surfaces. The photographs don't adequately showcase this fine medal's in-hand appeal. Some little hairlines are noted, dig off Lincoln's forehead, a few minor marks present on the truncation of Garfield's bust. This medal is relatively common, but it rarely appears this nice...$325

1907 Lowell, Massachusetts engraved prize medal. German silver (?), 52.5 mm. About Uncirculated. Fully hand engraved "A Sociedade Portugueza de Benefiecincia de Santo Antonio / Em nome da Congregacao / offerece / o PASTOR J.V. ROSA / Junho 1907 / Lowell, Mass." on the obverse, while the reverse shows a charming engraving of the church above "Premio do Trabalho," or Award for Work. The surfaces are lightly toned silver gray with some scattered lines, seemingly silver to the naked eye though the rich, long sonority is not high enough in key to make me believe this is struck in silver; perhaps it is. Father Joaquim V. Rosa was the pastor of St. Anthony's in Lowell until his return to his native Azores in 1911. His parish still survives, even today billed as a "Portuguese-American Roman Catholic Church." The church's website offers a fine history, which has served the Portuguese-speaking community of Lowell since the 1850s. Mass is still said in Portuguese to this day. This large medal is unusual, attractive, and speaks to the history of a little-known American immigrant community...$375

The Week Ulysses Grant and Mark Twain Became Friends, En Medaille

1879 Ulysses S. Grant Chicago Reception medal. White metal, 30 mm. Extremely Fine. Holed, as typical. A charming medal from one of the most memorable events of Ulysses S. Grant's lifetime, his triumphant reception in Chicago in November 1879. He was greeted by thousands of grateful Union veterans during a reunion of the Army of the Tennessee, and lauded at banquets and speeches for a solid week. The most notable of these was by Mark Twain, with whom the General made fast friends, despite the fact that Twain had run from Grant's armies as a Confederate deserter in Missouri. The event was covered by press nationwide and was one of the highlight events of Grant's post-White House years. This piece shows a crude, playful portrait of Grant on the obverse with a legend borrowed from a common toast of the day: "Washington, the Father, Lincoln, the Martyr, and Grant, the Preserver of Our Country." The surfaces are pleasing medium gray, a bit lighter around devices where lustre was last to fade. There are light scattered marks, including a nick at Grant's nose, but the eye appeal remains excellent. This is a rarity among Grant portrait medals...$325

A Revolutionary War Medal Betts Missed

(1781) Admiral George Rodney / Capture of Saint Eustatius medal. Pinchbeck, 33 mm. Milford Haven 386, BHM-233, Betts-unlisted. Extremely Fine. A very pleasant example of a medal that usually comes crummy, particularly because of the crude medal from which it was struck. Somewhat matte dark brown with some encrustation noted around peripheral legends. Two silvery specks on mysteriously present on the reverse. Handsome eye appeal, nicely preserved for the type. Though Betts included a few of the Rodney medals in his work (Betts-579 and Betts-580), he missed a few others. Both of those medals and this one share an obverse type and were struck to mark his taking of Saint Eustatius (often called Statia in contemporary documents) in February 1781. Saint Eustatius, a Dutch island in the West Indies, was the main smuggling transfer point for much of the war materiel bound for the American revolutionaries. Had the island been taken earlier in the war, the effect could have been devastating for the Americans. Rodney knew America well; he was based in New York during the French and Indian War, before taking off to the West Indies in 1759. After Yorktown, he defeated the Comte de Grasse at sea in 1782, before the official end of hostilities. Today, he's most remembered for his name becoming a name: if you know anybody named Rodney, they owe it to this guy: he was the inspiration for it entering the canon of boy's first names. If anyone ever redoes the Betts book, this is an obvious candidate for inclusion...Sold

1901 Boston Philatelic Society medal. Silver, 35 mm. Storer-202. Choice Mint State. Reverse engraved to E.S. Phelps for "U.S. Revenues" in June 1901. Mr. Phelps was member number 78 in the Boston Philatelic Society; number 77 was none other than Hiram Deats, a noted numismatist and perhaps the foremost philatelist of his generation. This piece is lustrous and finely toned in a variety of subtle shades: golds, blues, violets, and red-orange. Some light hairlines are seen, but they are inobtrusive. This piece shows evidence of double striking, which makes me wonder if this was struck on a screw press rather than a typical high-powered press of the era. The city view of Boston at central obverse is charmingly crude. Silver medals were apparently given out at every meeting of the Boston Philatelic Society for many years in this era. Few turn up on the numismatic market, unsurprising since the appearance of a stamp collector at a coin show is enough to incite a brawl á la West Side Story. (Admittedly, U.S. Revenue stamps are about as close as philately gets to numismatics, aside from encased postage, and plenty of coin folk collect revenue stamped paper.) This is a scarce crossover medal that should appeal to Boston specialists in particular...$295

Superb Mint State 1770 George Whitefield Medal Rarity

1770 George Whitefield memorial medal. Bronze, 40 mm. BHM-149var. Choice Mint State. While mentioned in a footnote in Laurence Brown's British Historical Medals, this type was not among the three Whitefield memorial medals listed by Betts (Betts-525 through 527) and this variety was entirely lacking from the thorough John J. Ford Jr. Collection of Betts medals, which included several types of Whitefield portrait pieces. This piece is struck from the same obverse as Ford XIV:496 (note the cud above second G of GEORGE and the signature IWF near 6:00) and the same reverse as Ford XIV:501. The surfaces are superbly lustrous light brown, barely faded from full mint color and still showing abundant mint red at obverse periphery and around most reverse legends. A few little old hairline scratches are seen here and there, single spot on Whitefield's cheek, minor rim bruise below 3:00 on reverse, a few natural pits at central reverse left over from the planchet's original casting. The cartwheel is unbroken on both sides, and the overall quality is better than any of Ford or LaRiviere's specimens of this general type. Brown called this medal RRRR in bronze, but surely this footnote-mentioned variety (with TRUE in the reverse legend instead of GOOD) is rarer still. Whitefield is best compared to Billy Grahm in the colonial era, the biggest celebrity among the preachers of the Great Awakening, a man who could fill stadiums if they existed in his day. He died in Newburyport, Massachusetts in 1770 after spending most of the last three decades in America. Ben Franklin famously deposited "a handful of copper Money, three or four silver Dollars, and five pistoles in Gold" in one of Whitefield's collection baskets. If Franklin collected Betts medals, he'd probably gladly pay just as much for such a choice example of a variety missing from every major Betts collection yet sold...Sold

A Horticultural Medal With a Magnificant Whaling Motif

1920 New Bedford (MA) Horticultural Society medal. Silver, 46 mm. Choice Mint State. With original purple velvet lined black leather box of issue from C.G. Braxmar Co. / Jewelers / 10 & 12 Maiden Lane / New York. An absolutely beautiful medal, and by far the most visually interesting horticultural medal I've ever encountered. The surfaces display a fine matte finish with beautiful original deep gray toning and highlights of rich gold, pale green, and orange-red around devices. The reverse is engraved to H.V. Sowle for a "collection of gladiolus" on Aug. 18 & 19, 1920. Hylon V. Sowle was a florist in New Bedford, a seaport best known as one of the major hubs of the Atlantic whaling trade, which explains the obverse design: put simply, this medal features the coolest whaling motif I've ever seen on any medal. A well-rendered sperm whale looks left with crossed harpoons behind it. This is clearly a rare medal -- a little research makes it look like this was only distributed for a dozen or so years. I've never encountered this medal before, in person or in print. I can't imagine a more visually appealing type in the whole world of horticultural medals...Sold

Classic John Paul Jones Comitia Americana Medal by Dupre

(ca. 1845-1860) John Paul Jones medal. Bronze, 57 mm. Betts-568, Julian NA-1. Choice About Uncirculated. CUIVRE with pointing hand on edge. Paris Mint striking. Golden and pale rose highlights enliven lustrous, reflective fields, toned overall a choice medium chocolate brown. Only the most minor handling is noted, a few little specks including one between PR of PRAEFECTO, very nicely preserved overall. Struck from the original dies by Dupre, some light crumbling apparent on the reverse rim in the northwest quadrant, neatly filed by the artisans at the Paris Mint. These original dies retain their superb detail and crispness, creating a far finer presentation of the Houdon-inspired bust and reverse battle scene than those offered on the Philadelphia Mint strikes from gunmetal dies or the later copy dies made at Paris and Philadelphia. A classic medal, rich with history and visual appeal, and a fine addition to a Comitia Americana medal set. Listed in the 100 Greatest American Medals and Tokens at number 35...$1,850

Rare (1876) US Mint Diplomatic Medal by Charles Barber

1876 U.S. Mint Diplomatic medal. Bronze, 68 mm. Julian CM-15. Choice About Uncirculated. One of just 86 struck from dies prepared by Charles Barber, copying from cliches of the adopted obverse and unadopted reverse made available to him in 1875. Elizabeth Bryant Johnston, writing in A Visit to the Cabinet of the United States Mint at Philadelphia, 1876, noted, "the reproduction by C. Barber is finely executed, and the bronzing exceptionally beautiful." This one shows minimal evidence of handling, just a few widely scattered little marks, one on the obverse (the Great Seal side) rim near 2:00, another on the reverse near 1:30. The bronzing remains glossy and somewhat reflective, with an overall shade of pleasing medium brown. The history of the original 1790 Diplomatic medals would be better known if they were more common; just three in bronze are known, and none of the original gold strikes survive. The Diplomatic medal was famous enough by 1875 for collectors to clamor for an official US Mint striking of the medal that was Jefferson's brainchild and the first medallic representation of the Great Seal. The young Chapman Brothers, who owned an original, condemned these as "counterfeit," alas, they are official Mint products. Today they remain in high demand. The last piece to sell at public auction brought an alarming sum in August 2012. That piece was of superb quality, and it was remarkably well catalogued by a noted enthusiast of the series. It brought $4,312. This one will likely sell quickly. Listed in the 100 Greatest American Medals and Tokens at number 73...Sold

(ca. 1870) New Hampshire Agricultural Society medal. Bronze, 59 mm. Julian AM-56. About Uncirculated. Dies by William Barber. Exemplary rich mahogany bronzing is present on both sides, a bit reflective on the reverse. Some light friction, only minor scattered marks, intact rims. Carlson estimated 11 to 25 known in bronze as of 1985; they are rarely seen on the marketplace today. It looks like 171 of these were struck between 1870 and 1875, while those listed in Mint mintage figures after 1875 appear to have been the smaller size (Julian AM-57), though it is hard to be sure...$325

1801 (i.e. circa 1886) Thomas Jefferson Indian Peace medal. Bronze, 75 mm. Julian IP-3. Mint State. Boldly reflective mahogany bronzed surfaces are aglow with golden toning, turning to rich rose and blue inside the rims. An absolutely gorgeous medal, struck from copy dies by Charles Barber produced circa 1886. A few marks are present, including a little group in the upper left obverse field, a single spot off his shoulder in the lower right obverse field, perfect rims, outstanding eye appeal. Any Thomas Jefferson Peace medal is rare. Silver pieces, of course, are among the greatest rarities in the American medal series. Bronzes from before the mid-20th century introduction of peanut bronze are also very rare, with mintages proximate to other copper Peace medal types, but far less frequency of appearance in the marketplace. Survivorship is lower than other types, also, as fraudsters have been drilling holes into bronzes and tying feathers to them to pass them off as awarded medals for a century or more. Between 1886 and 1904, about 132 Jefferson Indian Peace medals were struck in bronze at the Philadelphia Mint. The total mintage from these dies is probably not much higher. The last bronze Jefferson Indian Peace medal I had was nowhere near this pretty. Listed in the 100 Greatest American Medals and Tokens at number 3...Sold

Rare 1907 Sir Francis Drake ANS Medal

1907 Sir Francis Drake plaquette. Silver, 56 x 65 mm. Choice About Uncirculated. Number 63 from a mintage of just 100 pieces in silver. Deep charcoal gray toning yields to lighter silver on the highest points of Drake's portrait, while the reverse is a rich medium silver gray and darker near the edges. Nicely preserved with no notable marks or flaws. An important medal, with a reverse map copied from the famed "Silver Map" medal. That medal is one of what I like to call the Unownable Seven -- the seven types among the 100 Greatest American Medals and Tokens that a collector will likely not be able to acquire given infinite longevity and infinite resources. (Email me for the complete list, or encourage me to blog about it.) The Silver Map is listed as Betts-9 and was likely created about 1586. The connection of this medal to that was made clear even at the time of its production by the American Numismatic Society. Though this medal is not as rare as the Drake Silver Map (the ANS lists four known, including their specimen, while the 100 Greatest book notes nine, apparently echoing Rulau), it is very elusive. The last silver example to sell publicly was in a 2008 Coin Galleries sale. This attractively toned piece traces its provenance to Charles McSorley and Ted Craige...Sold

1883 Maris Family reunion medal. Bronze, 38 mm. Julian CM-27, HK-unlisted. About Uncirculated. A very scarce US Mint medal that despite being the precise size of a silver dollar is unlisted in the standard text on So-Called Dollars. If there is one medal a collector of New Jersey coppers would want to own, this is is: the medal struck for Dr. Edward Maris' family reunion in 1883, two years after he published his still-standard A Historic Sketch of the Coins of New Jersey. The surfaces are reflective and pleasantly toned in blue and gold shades over the mahogany bronzing. Some light friction is noted, a couple old spots, a bit of handling, nicely preserved despite apparently being distributed to one of Cousin Edward's non-collecting relatives. The rims are perfect and the overall eye appeal is nice. Julian suggests that the bronze specimens of this medal (sold for 75 cents at the time) were struck outside the Mint. While they do not appear on Mint records of the era, the workmanship leads me to the conclusion that they were indeed struck at the Philadelphia Mint but kept off the books, a trick that wasn't possible with precious metal strikings. While a small group was released from family hands within the last few years (fewer than a half dozen pieces), these remain scarce but avidly sought after...$450

1880 Visit of Ulysses S. Grant to the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes at Mexico City medal. Grove P-189a. Silver, 40 mm. Choice Mint State. A too-little known medal struck to mark former President Grant's visit to Mexico City's best known art academy, now known as the Academy of San Carlos. The obverse is brilliant silver white, with deep reflectivity in the circular field around the magnificently detailed image of the Aztec Calendar Stone. The reverse shows a kaleidoscopic blend of gold, blue, and violet, deepest at base but beautifully flecked over the entire side. Some hairlines are visible on the reverse, particularly in the southwest quadrant, but they are clearly old and under the lovely toning. Ulysses S. Grant spent most of 1880 traveling, though he was nominated as a Republican candidate for President, a nod that eventually went to James A. Garfield. Mexico was one of his primary haunts that year, mostly exploring opportunities in the railroad industry. In 1881, Grant became president of the Mexican Southern Railway, backed largely by William H. Vanderbilt. The railway failed, leaving Grant pretty much broke. This medal is one of the few numismatic mementos of Grant from this era, and it makes a nice souvenir of his Mexican sojourn...Sold

1741 Sir Robert Walpole medal. Bronze, 49.5 mm. Medallic Illustrations George II 193. Choice Mint State. A beautiful portrait medal of an ugly man, with deep reflectivity in the chocolate brown surfaces and hints of gold and navy blue around devices. Faded mint color persists in some protected areas, only minor hairlines noted, pits near rim reflect the cast nature of the specially made planchet. The portrait is in high relief and very lifelike. The reverse depicts a statue of Cicero, surrounded by a quote from the Aeneid translating to "He governs minds by eloquence." Sir Robert Walpole was the single most powerful political force in Great Britain for much of the early 18th century. He is best known to American collectors for his overseeing of the War of Jenkin's Ear, including the exploits of Admiral Vernon. He is playfully depicted on two medals avidly collected as part of the Admiral Vernon series. This medal is far rarer than those, not to mention more attractive, and would nicely illustrate Walpole's role in early American history. Medallic Illustrations dryly calls this medal "somewhat rare."...$475

1911 First Church of Quincy relic medal. Bronze, 100 mm. Storer-1854. Mint State. Edge marked GORHAM CO. Beautiful applied apple green patina is distinctive and choice, as issued and well preserved. Very pleasing in appearance with only a few little specks here and there. This large medal by Theo A.R. Kitson is highly collectible as a relic medal, "struck from the old copper of the belfry" as indicated by the obverse legend, but also as one of the few medallic portraits of John Adams and his son, John Quincy Adams, both Quincy natives and members of this church's congregation. Both Adamses, along with their famous wives, are also buried in a vault in the church's basement. Dr. Malcom Storer displayed a specimen of this medal at the March 1920 meeting of the Boston Numismatic Society and he also listed it in his 1923 Numismatics of Massachusetts. An example of this medal without this fine green patina brought $541 in a December 2007 Coin Galleries auction. Theo Kitson's other artworks are mostly non-collectible, though they can be viewed in public parks and battlefields all over the country. Like the Adams family, Mrs. Kitson was a Quincy native...$575

1804 Joseph Priestley memorial medal. White metal, 54 mm. BHM-565. Choice About Uncirculated. Very flashy, with reflective surfaces showing just the most minimal mellowing in the fields. Scattered light marks and lines are seen, typical of medals in this composition, though we only note a horizontal scratch below E of JOSEPHUS as one that catches the naked eye. Die cracked at base of reverse, an injury that perhaps occurred when this die (originally used in 1794 on BHM-381) had Priestley's birth and death dates added in fine print. This is the sort of medal that would have been included in Betts if it was dated 20 years earlier. Its Latin legend at central reverse translates to "Leaving the shores of Britain on April 8, he reached America (COLUMBIAM) on June 4, 1794." Priestley was seen as a heretic for his freethinking views; his friend Ben Franklin famously called him "the honest heretic." He was friends with Franklin, Matthew Boulton, Thomas Jefferson, and others of his era who would be familiar to numismatists. After his house in Birmingham was raided and put to fire by rioters, he relocated to central Pennsylvania, where there was plenty of his most famous discovery: oxygen. After a decade in the Susquehanna Valley, Priestley passed in 1804; memorial medals were prepared by Phipson (this one) and Thomas Halliday. I first encountered a Priestley memorial medal in the collection of Lucian LaRiviere, who included one in his Betts medal cabinet. Lucien's example is one worth following...Sold

Ireland. 1782 circulating counterfeit halfpenny. About Uncirculated. 122.7 grains. Medium golden brown with a good bit of remaining lustre in the fields on both sides. Engraved in fairly convincing style but for the fish-faced rendition of King George. Some light marks, vertical striation in right obverse field manifests as a faint line of toning in hand, patina a bit thin on reverse high points. This would make a great association item in a collection that contains one of the many Vermont coppers struck over 1782 counterfeit Irish halfpence, or just as a high grade example of a type often seen in American pockets...Sold

Spain. 1778 two reales or head pistareen. Seville mint. Extremely Fine. Nice silver gray with light golden toning and a good deal of underlying lustre remaining, particularly on the reverse. Some light hairlines are noted, but no major problems. This type is tougher to find than the cross pistareens that preceded it, but this type also saw common usage in early America. This Revolutionary War date example would more than adequately illustrate this important issue in a collection focusing on the coinage of early America...$375

Ireland. 1776 circulating counterfeit halfpenny. Choice Very Fine. 119.8 grains. A beautiful example of this distinctive variety, with glossy and problem-free dark chocolate brown surfaces. Bold denticles frame the base of the reverse, somewhat softly struck above IBE of HIBERNIA. I've seen other specimens from this die marriage around, but have never handled one this nice. Counterfeit Irish halfpence saw plentiful circulation in early America, indeed, one need look no further than the undertypes of Vermont coppers (particularly Ryder-18, Ryder-25, and Ryder-28) for proof. This date is, of course, of special interest to American collectors, but it is also the most elusive date among genuine specimens of this design type. This is a particularly pretty example...$525

Netherlands. West Friesland. 1643 Lion half dollar. About Uncirculated. Light golden toning is present on both sides, with flashy lustre seen in the obverse fields and more muted frost on the reverse. A crude production, slightly double struck on a planchet that shows natural flaws above 9:00 on the obverse rim. The legends are complete and the devices are fairly bold. Some hairlines are noted on the obverse. circular dig above O at 6:00 on obverse, some planchet texture apparent in soft spots of obverse. As tough as it is to find a high grade Lion dollar, the Lion half dollar is dozens of times more difficult in high grade. Their strikes and planchets tend to be far cruder than their larger siblings, and most saw significant wear. Not that population reports are the end-all arbiter of rarity, but it is telling that PCGS has never certified a Mint State Lion half dollar. I've owned a Lion half dollar with better surfaces and technical grade than this, but its strike wasn't even close to this nice...$1,250

Netherlands, Gelderland. 1643 Lion dollar. About Uncirculated. Beautiful old toning in concentric circles of pale blue, faded peach, gold, and light olive covers both sides, with abundant remaining lustre in the fields. Soundly struck with full peripheral legends and ideal centering on both sides, with some expected softness on central devices. A really good looking Lion dollar, from the same collection as a few other nicely toned Lion dollars I've offered in inventory recently. Some hairlines are seen under scrutiny, short old scratch under E of MOVETVR, a few other light marks on the obverse. This beautifully illustrates the Lion dollar design type, struck during the heyday of the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam...Hold

Fully Lustrous & Boldly Toned Mint State Lion Dollar

Netherlands, West Friesland. 1670 Lion dollar. MS-61 (PCGS). Bright and frosty lustre perks from both sides, brilliant at centers with lively peripheral tones of gold and bright blue. This piece is not just Mint State, but quite close to as struck, though it displays one of the primary pitfalls of this crudely struck trade coin: an abysmal strike. A good bit of the original planchet texture is seen at the center of both sides, giving the centers a granular appearance, though the peripheral legends and date are complete and bold. Think of a Lion dollar's quality in terms of four characteristics: wear, strike, color, and surface quality. A nice Lion dollar will be better than average in two of these qualities, an exceptional one will get a check mark in three of them. Lion dollars with all four of these aspects are so rare as to essentially not exist, but for some special strikes on heavyweight planchets. This piece gets a gold star for wear, color, and surface quality, with no evidence of the cleaning or corrosion that plagues this type. I've spilled plenty of ink over how important Lion dollars are in the story of early American money -- there are only two other issues (the pistareen and the Spanish milled dollar) that are mentioned by name on early American paper money. Certified Mint State examples are significant rarities, and most are not as eye-appealing as this one. PCGS has certified a sum total of 15 Lion dollars from all Dutch provinces in grades of MS-60 or finer...Hold

Beautifully Preserved 1857 Charleston Slave Hire Badge
An Historic Relic of Urban Slavery

1857 Charleston (South Carolina) slave hire badge. Servant. #2084. Choice Extremely Fine. 51.2 x 49.6 mm. 102.4 grains. An evocative relic of antebellum Charleston in as-found condition, at once tragic and triumphant. The surfaces are deep olive with light earthen highlights in the recessed areas of the design. The punches are bold and fully-impressed, sharper than often seen on tags of this era. The obverse retains good natural gloss despite fine granularity, as free of corrosion as any dug slave badge I've examined. The eye appeal of this specimen is finer than 99% of surviving examples, making this a fine "type" example for the collector who seeks to own but one slave tag. The Servant occupation is the most common of those known, more common than Porter and Mechanic(k), far more common than rarities like Fisher, Huckster, Fruiterer, and House Servant (known from 1800 only). In badge year 1857, 3,680 slave badges were issued, the fewest of the entire decade of the 1850s. Of these, about half were for Servants or domestics. Though numbers of slave tags known has increased in recent years, survivorship is still probably under 1% of those issued. I catalogued my first slave hire badge more than a decade ago and first viewed them, like many in the numismatic world, at the 1993 sale of John Ford's collection of these haunting relics. While most slaves in the antebellum South had little or no freedom of movement, those covered by Charleston's slave hire badge laws were allowed limited freedom to move about the city (so long as they wore their badge). Further, their owners were permitted to hire them out; many owners allowed badged slaves to work on their own behalf on "their time," allowing the enslaved residents of Charleston to draw an income and work towards purchasing their own freedom. While other Southern towns had slave hire badge ordinances, only badges from Charleston and Charleston Neck are known today. Modern fakes comprise an alarming proportion of those in the marketplace; I personally guarantee the authenticity of this piece for as many lifetimes as the purchaser wishes. Slave hire badges ought not be collected because they're charming, or rare, or attractive, but as especially personal reminders of the nature of urban slavery in the American South. It is instructive to ponder that the same man who made this tag also made similar tags for the dogs of Charleston. This badge, issued the year that the Supreme Court decided Dred Scott was not an American citizen, was an emblem of both freedom and bondage to the South Carolinian who wore it...Hold

(1859) William Idler / Getz half dollar obverse storecard. White metal, 34 mm. Baker-544C, Whitman Encyclopedia-15940. Choice About Uncirculated. Flashy and deeply reflective tin-silver surfaces are barely mellowed, nearly as bright as the day Lincoln was elected. Some light marks and hairlines are noted, wire rim a bit flattened atop reverse, tiny bruise on rim at base of reverse. Excellent overall eye appeal; due to the soft nature of the composition, this variety is rarely perfect. Idler was one of the best known Philadelphia coin dealers in the era of the Civil War, serving as a middleman as the US Mint profiteered off restrikes and patterns served up as rarities to unknowing collectors. Robert Lovett, Jr. engraved these dies; within two years of this production, he finished his most famous engraving work, accomplished for the Confederacy. With the original 1792 Getz half dollars standing as great rarities, this historic storecard makes a fine stand-in. Of course, it bears collecting on its own merits as a scarce and interesting token from the earliest days of American coin dealing. This example once resided in the legendary Ted Craige collection...Sold

Roller skate / F.W.N. love token. on 1882 dime. Extremely Fine. Holed. A well-rendered engraving of a single old-fashioned roller skate on the reverse of a deeply toned Seated dime. Roller skating became a Victorian American fad around the 1880s, and this piece was probably given to a particular devotee of the new sport about that time. The depiction of the skate is both accurate and detailed. Needless to say, this is a very unusual subject for a love token!...Sold

Scarce (1834) Low-3 Hard Times Token

(1834) Andrew Jackson Hard Times token. Brass. Low-3, HT-5, Dewitt CE 1834-29. Rarity-3. Extremely Fine. Brassy yellow highlights on devices and legends contrast with dark gray-black fields. The obverse is even and choice in appearance, with only some minor hairlines and some old peripheral buildup noted under a glass. The reverse is naturally mottled in appearance, with a small area of typical softness at OR of GLORIOUS, opposite the highest relief of Jackson's portrait. This piece offers superb originality and finer sharpness than usually seen on this scarce Hard Timer...Sold

1816 Sir Isaac Brock token. Copper, 26.5 mm. Breton-724, Charlton UC-6A2. About Uncirculated. Diagonally reeded edge. While there are a few Canadian pre-Confederation tokens with American relevance, perhaps none bears as direct a reference as the scarce Isaac Brock token, memorializing the British Army officer who took Detroit in 1812 and was killed by American forces at Queenston Heights, Upper Canada (Ontario) on October 13 of that year. This token is notoriously tough to find in top grade, but this example is frosty light brown with some remaining lustre and excellent visual appeal. Only the most minor marks are seen, along with a couple of trivial raised specks in the southwest quadrant of the reverse. Though there is an entire series of American medals marking the War of 1812 (both military and naval), there is relatively little to collect from the opposition. The Brock token deserves to be better known, and more widely collected, among American numismatists...Sold

1813/1818 (i.e. 1840) William Henry Harrison / Battle of the Thames political medalet. German silver, 30.6 mm. Dewitt 1836 WHH-1. Very Fine. Holed, as typical. Attractive light nickel gray with a hint of golden toning. An attractive specimen of this scarce Harrison medalet, avidly collected by War of 1812 enthusiasts as well as political collectors. A little speck is noted at the truncation of Harrison's bust, another at OCT in the reverse exergue, only minor hairlines noted under scrutiny. Some light wear is noted, less than other examples seen. A die crack through G of GEN is seen on some specimens but not all. Copied from Harrison's War of 1812 Congressional medal, this piece is unique among the American political series as a direct copy of a US Mint product. With very few War of 1812 medals in private hands before 1840 -- presumably just those handful struck for officers who served in the campaign or given to the recipient directly by the Congressional awardee -- it stands to reason that whomever had this medalet struck was very close to Harrison. Dewitt dates this to the 1836 election, but the existence of specimens overstruck on later-dated large cents (1837 and 1838) makes this a more likely candidate for the Election of 1840. I've handled one of these in silver, but most are either copper or German silver, as here. They're scarce in any format, and make for nice additions to a collector full of Congressional medals...$425

Rare Civil War-Era Photographer's Counterstamp

HA BALCH / ARTIST / JOLIET, ILL counterstamped on 1853 Arrows and Rays half dollar. Brunk Very Fine. Nice deep antique gray patina contrasts with lighter silver devices. H. A. BALCH / ARTIST is neatly marked in the right obverse field from prepared punches; JOLIET, ILL is in the left on a single line. Some light old scratches are seen in the obverse fields, minor rim bruise at 9:00 on obverse. Very attractive overall. A scarce and historic advertising countermark from a photographer active in the Midwest from the mid-1850s through the late 1870s. Balch did most of his Civil War era work in Memphis, billing himself as H.A. Balch's Star Photograph Gallery or as a partner in Peplow and Balch's Star Gallery. He appears to have been in Joliet earlier, winning a prize for his daguerrotypes from the Illinois State Agricultural Society in 1857, but he also went back later in life, as an 1877 Joliet directory lists "H. Balch" as a "daguerreian" in town. Most of his marks are on coins from the mid 1850s, which makes me think these are from his first hitch in Joliet as a photographer. His Civil War-related CDVs included both the famous (Sherman, Grant) and the rank and file soldiers. One can imagine his work in Joliet is both rarer and more pedestrian. Among photography-related token issues, this one is rightly prized...$575

Great Boston Fire of 1872 countermark on 1865 two cent piece. Very Fine. An unusual historical memento, with GREAT BOSTON FIRE stamped in single letter punches around the reverse periphery of the coin and NOV 9 1872 at center. Despite the fact that this piece was prepared from single letter punches, I have no doubt of the age of the countermarking, as the patina is consistent and light old encrustation persists within the recesses of the stamps. The coin is attractive dark chocolate brown with glossy surfaces and light verdigris on both sides. Could this coin have survived the Great Boston Fire of 1872? Though less well known than its Chicago counterpart a year earlier, the Great Fire seriously altered the landscape of Boston and helped produce the city that persists to this day. This is the first time I've ever seen this event commemorated numismatically...Sold

1868 General U.S. Grant Election medalet. Bronze, 21 mm. Dewitt USG 1868-37. Choice Mint State. A beautiful gem-like little medalet for Grant's first campaign, struck by Peter Jacobus of Philadelphia and signed "J" under the relief of the bust truncation by him. Some light dusky buildup and a few specks are noted under a glass, but the bronzed mahogany surfaces gleam with their natural reflectivity. A very well-made and charming piece with a detailed portrait of Grant on the obverse and a bold eagle on the reverse. Most political medalets from this election are nowhere near so well done...Sold

"Andrew Johnson / Madison, Wisconsin" engraved on the reverse of an 1858-O Seated half dollar. Engraving Very Fine or so, coin About Good. A fascinating personal love token: does this refer to President Andrew Johnson, who rose to the White House upon the death of Lincoln in April 1865, or another fellow with this presumably common name? The engraving is finely executed, with a heavy circular border around the central reverse device setting the lettering off from the undercoin. There is no evidence that this piece was ever worn or mounted. The eye appeal is very pleasing, particularly so for the worn state of the coin. The tops of the date digits and the full New Orleans mintmark are visible; it is interesting to ponder the trip this piece may have made up the Mississippi. I can't say I've ever encountered any engraved piece referencing Madison, Wisconsin before...Sold

1760 Lima, Peru Carlos III proclamation medal or four reales. Silver, 37 mm. Betts-469. Choice Very Fine. Decorated edge. Holed, as typical. Pleasant and even dusky silver gray with scattered minor marks consistent with the grade. Some light encrustation noted around a few letters of the peripheral legends, no major problems, a lovely example for the grade. This popular proclamation four reales is listed by Betts (like most proclamation medals of Carlos III) and often collected by followers of the Betts series...$395

1896 Bryan dollar. Silver, 52 mm. As HK-785, As Shornstein-18. Extremely Fine. A unique engraved pocket piece from the Election of 1896, apparently carried by a man named Theodore Butz. The reverse has been carefully engraved "ELECTION OF 1896 / Presidential Candidates / 272 - Wm McKINLEY Wm J. BRYAN - 175 / McKINLEY'S PLURALITY 572349 with THEODORE BUTZ at the base of the cartwheel. Light silver gray with many fine marks, small rim nicks, a rim bruise, and other evidence of handling. Theodore Butz is a surprisingly common name, but our guy might be the one who is listed as a Notary Public in Winnetka, IL in 1908 - Winnetka was strong McKinley territory. Shornstein-18 is described as "extremely rare" and is identical but for two little decorations besides the names of the candidates. This would be a nice addition to any collection of Bryan money or political numismatic Americana....$795

1783 (ca. 1860-80) Nova Constellatio pattern mark or 1000 units ELECTROTYPE. Copper over lead, 32.5 mm. As Breen-1099. Plain edge. Choice Extremely Fine. A collectible and aged replica of one of the most important coins in the whole realm of early American numismatics, the largest denomination of Robert Morris' abortive 1783 plan for a national coinage. The surfaces are chocolate brown with some lead showing through on legends, devices, and edge. I've seen a few of these, made of the same fabric; they were likely made either when Sylvester Crosby owned the coin or had access to it in the Parmelee Collection. The original 1783 Nova Constellatio mark is unique -- there is just one example known, and in order to acquire it, the rest of the multi-million dollar 1783 Nova Constellatio pattern set would have to be wrung free too. So an electrotype like this is about the only way to acquire a reasonable likeness of one of the classic American rarities without settling for a picture or some kind of really crummy looking modern fake. I've owned just one other...Sold

1778 Machin's Mills circulating imitation halfpenny. Vlack 12-78B. Rarity-3. About Uncirculated or better. An extremely high grade example of one of Thomas Machin's counterfeit halfpence. Traces of honest-to-goodness mint color surround GEO on the obverse, while the surfaces overall blend light brown with faint gold and rose, a bit uneven, lively and showing some mint frost or bloom, if not lustre. The legends are complete and the devices are crisp, though a scattering of natural planchet defects are present atop the obverse portrait and a few more confined areas of the reverse. Though the planchet is flawed, this is as extremely sharp, essentially unworn, and very attractive example of this famed early American issue. Its quality is reminiscent of pieces associated with the "Stepney Hoard," though I have no specific provenance on this piece. How many Machin's Mills halfpence have you seen with lustre and faded mint color?...$1,450

Probable Condition Census 1788 Miller 16.1-H

1788 Connecticut copper. Miller 16.1-H. Rarity-4. About Uncirculated. 120.9 grains. A superb example of a challenging variety to find in top grade, almost certainly a piece that merits inclusion in the Condition Census. The surfaces are an even and beautiful shade of deep chocolate brown, glossy and frosty, clearly very close to Mint State. The obverse is ideally centered and unflawed, with several die breaks in the left obverse that have produced swelling in that area. Some shallow planchet texture is visible in the right obverse, to no serious effect. The reverse is also frosty and attractive, with some inherent planchet flaws at top, but the legend is complete and most of the date is on the taut planchet. Though not a rare variety, the major collections have included surprisingly low quality examples of this Miller number: Perkins' was called Fine/Very Fine, Ford's (ex Miller) was graded Good Fine, and those present in Norweb, EAC 1975, and Tanenbaum weren't of this quality or close to it. The Craige coin wasn't as nice as this one. The only clearly better one in the collections I'd normally look in is the Oeschner coin, a glorious Mint State piece. Taylor's coin doesn't look as sharp, but it's among the better ones. This coin would clearly upgrade the vast majority of specialized Connecticut collections, and it would be hard to imagine there are five specimens finer than it...$2,250

1784 circulating counterfeit halfpenny. Vlack 14-84A, Breen-974. Fine. 92.4 grains. A pleasing example of this popular and rare American counterfeit halfpenny, one that was considered a great rarity when added to the American circulating counterfeit canon in 1974 but has since become common enough to be collectible, somewhere on the order of Rarity-5 or so. This specimen shows nice medium brown color over mostly smooth surfaces. The central obverse shows some natural planchet texture, as is typical. The upper reverse shows little striking detail and the southeast quadrant of the obverse is also swollen, a byproduct of its advanced die state. Some old scratches are noted at central reverse, a few other little marks here and there. The legends and date are nice and bold. Even superb examples like the Roper coin show significant weaknesses, and few can boast surfaces as nice as this one. Though this piece was clearly not coined at Machin's Mills, it is just as clearly of American relevance, with all or nearly all being found on this continent, not in England. Metal detector finds of this type seem to be centered in the Delaware Valley. The Whitman Colonial Encyclopedia lists this (W-8130) at $1400 in VG and $2500 in Fine...$1,175

1848 Zachary Taylor Presidential medalet. Pewter, 41 mm. Dewitt ZT 1848-4. Choice Extremely Fine or better. Holed as issued. An original 1848 striking, distinctive in surface and strike from the ca. 1860 restrikes as described by Dewitt. One of the most distinctive pieces from this historic election, one whose numismatic mementos are nearly are rare in original form. This one showcases Taylor in a charming portrait to left with the inscription "Major Gen. Z. Taylor Never Surrenders" on the obverse with a pair of quotes from Taylor on the reverse: "A little more grape, Captain Bragg" at center and "I ask no favors & I shrink from no responsibility" around the periphery. The first, a misquote of a line uttered by Taylor at Buena Vista, became the most recognizable motto of his unlikely candidacy. The second line was part of Taylor's acceptance speech at the Whig convention in Philadelphia (at the Philadelphia Museum, best known to numismatists for its 1821-dated token depicting founded Charles Willson Peale). Taylor wasn't much of a politician; before the election that took him to the White House, he had never even bothered to vote. He turned out to not be much of a President either, lasting in office just 16 months and not making many friends along the way. Still, his medallic portraits are avidly sought. This one is missing from most collections, particularly in its 1848 form....$750

(1908) Thomas Elder portrait storecard. Aluminum, 51 mm. Delorey-1. Mint State. A handsome example of this classic early 20th century numismatist's token, with a fine profile portrait of Elder on the obverse and his advertisement on the reverse, listing an address near Madison Square Park that now houses a Subway and a Chinese restaurant. Some light marks and hairlines are present, a few flecks above Elder's head, no severe corrosion or pesting as so often seen on this issue. This piece bears an august provenance via John W. Adams to Leonard V. Holland, the famed large cent collector and longtime friend of Elder. Perhaps the most desirable of the long line of emissions from Elder...$425

USE NELIGAN'S WORM CANDY counterstamp on 1843 large cent. Brunk N-67. Countermark Fine, large cent worse. A rare and interesting merchant mark advertising a rather unlikely sounding vittle: worm candy. The mark is clear and well-outlined at the center of the worn large cent, looking about as sharp as it does on the 1856 dime that serves as the Brunk plate coin. Brunk recorded just one other specimen, struck on a 1772 half real. Though there isn't any information on Neligan or his untasty-sounding candy in Brunk, there is some information to be found online. Apparently, the "worm candy" were lozenges meant as a "remedy for the extermination of worms," i.e Ascaris and other sorts of wormy varmints. Neligan's Worm Candy, also known as Neligan's English Worm Candy or just Neligan's Candy, was distributed from Woodstock in modern-day Ontario by a Scottish doctor named Robert Stark, who advertised this product and others via his "Robert Stark's Canadian Almanac and Receipt Book" in the early 1860s. Neligan's Worm Candy, it appears, can join the small numbers of Canadian counters tampers, notably led by the prolific Devins and Bolton. Patent medicine marks are always popular, and this is a particularly elusive one...$475

1859 John Brown SLAVERY THE SUM OF ALL VILLANIES medalet. Silvered (tinned) white metal, 31 mm. Dewitt SL 1859-1. Extremely Fine. A rare format for this popular medalet, not listed in Dewitt in silvered white metal, though a prooflike finish white metal format is the one most often seen. Lustrous silver gray with light surface marks and hairlines, some light rim nicks, vertical parallel scratches in reverse field apparently part of the silvered (i.e. tinned) finish. The obverse inscription comes from a quote from John Wesley that the slave trade is "the sum of all villanies," giving this medalet an unusual connection to Methodism. A very desirable piece, issued at one of the great crossroads in American history...$575

Engraved Civil War ID Badge / Dogtag on New Orleans Mint half dollar. Very Fine. Obverse planed down and carefully engraved "Wm. Dunn / War of 1861 / 11th Ill. Inf." Reverse shows mounting marks at 12:00 and 6:00 from a pin mount, no longer present. A floral wreath decorates the bottom of the engraved obverse, vertical decoration between "of" and "1861." Light hairlines are seen from old polishing, arc of old toning near base of engraved side, nice eye appeal overall. As evocative a Civil War dogtag as any around, issued to a regiment that saw action at some of the most notable engagements in the Western Theatre of the Civil War: Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, and more. There were two William Dunns in the regiment. One is identified as an 18 year old private, a farmer from Anna, Illinois, not the sort of person you'd expect to have a large silver dogtag (a half dollar was a lot of money to tie up!). The other served as a corporal in Company D, a 26 year old from Rockford in northern Illinois whose occupation was identified as "showman," seemingly a far more likely case for a big, showy, silver ID badge. That William Dunn was killed in action at Fort Donelson on February 16, 1862, one of roughly 60% of the unit to be injured, killed, or missing in action at the battle where U.S. Grant first made a name for himself. It is interesting to ponder the path of this New Orleans Mint half dollar from deep in what would become the Confederacy, up the Mississippi River into Illinois, onto the chest of a showman-soldier who fell on the banks of the Cumberland in Tennessee. A truly unique relic...Hold

1897 Tennessee Centennial Exposition award medal. Silver, 54 mm. By Stief, Nashville. Gem Mint State. Edge marked STERLING with rampant lion, anchor, and Gothic G. With original silk-lined leather box, stamped inside lid in gilt B.H. STIEF / Jewelry Co. / Nashville, Tenn. Beautiful pastel blue swirls over medium silver-gray surfaces, highly lustrous and with a distinctive surface finish. The central reverse shows blushes of gold and violet. The box is somewhat split and damaged on the lid, otherwise intact. Though unengraved, it is likely this piece was awarded, but engraving was left to the recipient to handle themselves; such was de rigeur for many prize medals of this era. Clearly a rare medal, the ANS holdings include only a bronze specimen, despite the fact that they actively sought out medals like this when new. The obverse depicts the Parthenon, which was rebuilt in Nashville (aka "The Athens of the South") for the exposition. The US Mint had a booth set up and produced a popularly collected so-called dollar at the event. This is far rarer, though admittedly less well known...$475

Rare American Society of Mechanical Engineers Medal
Awarded to Aeronautical Pioneer George W. Lewis

1929 (awarded 1944) Spirit of Saint Louis / American Society of Mechanical Engineers medal. Vermeil (14K gold-plated silver), 70 mm. By Victor S. Holm. Choice About Uncirculated. Edge marked MEDALLIC ART CO and 1/10 14K G.F. One of the highest awards in the aeronautics field, awarded to aeronautical pioneer George William Lewis (1882-1948), for whom Lewis Field at NASA's John H. Glenn Research Center is named. A glorious achievement among Beaux Arts medals, depicting Icarus in moving fashion on Victor Holm's obverse. Both sides are rich yellow gold, with silver gray visible only on the edge. The Spirit of Saint Louis Medal, given out biennially from 1929 to 1961 and annually thereafter, is one of the highest prizes an aeronautical engineer can hope for. Past recipients include Jimmy Doolittle, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and other red-letter names. Just 54 medals have been awarded. Lewis was the 6th recipient. Every online biography of Mr. Lewis includes this medal among his highest honors (including Wikipedia, his NASA biography, and his National Academy of Sciences memoir by William F. Durand). When Lewis arrived at Langley Field, it really was just a field. This beautiful rarity among modern medals would be a significant addition to any collection of aeronautical medals...Hold

1909 U.S.S. Nashville / Chicago Numismatic Society plaquette. Bronze, 76 x 38 mm. By J. Henri Ripstra. Mint State. Glossy medium brown with gold and rose highlights. A handsome medallic relic of the appearance of the gunboat U.S.S. Nashville. This one has been carefully engraved on the bottom edge "A.W. 11-28-1974." A nice piece of Chicago numismatic or U.S. naval history...Hold

Superb 1777 Franklin Terracotta Portrait by Nini

1777 B. Franklin Americain medallion by Jean-Baptiste Nini. Terracotta, 113 mm. As Betts-548. Choice Mint State. Original top and back suspension hole intact. A marvelously preserved example of this medallic relic of the American Revolution, one of the most famous of all portraits of Benjamin Franklin. The surfaces are even earthen brown with no cracks, chips, repairs, or flaws. This is about as fine a survivor as a modern collector is apt to encounter in the marketplace. Franklin famously wrote home to his daughter that "Your father's face is now as well known as the man in the moon," and this was one of the most popular images of Dr. Franklin in France in the era. Franklin first references "medallions in terre-cuit" in a letter dated December 11, 1777. Franklin sent the first he acquired home to his daughter, who gave it to his friend Francis Hopkinson. Undoubtedly it was not the only one to make it to American shores. This one is ready to be hung lovingly on a wall and enjoyed. Ranked 29th in the 100 Greatest American Tokens and Medals...$2,750

Choice 1799 Westwood Medal With Box

1799 (i.e. 1800) Westwood Washington Memorial medal. Bronze, 40.6 mm. Baker-81. Second Reverse. Choice About Uncirculated. With velvet lined dark wood box, clearly of similar age to the medal and created to fit a medal its size; found together in a non-numismatic setting with no other medals, we presume this box is indeed original to the medal. Rich glossy chocolate brown with good lustre in the fields. Some hints of old encrustation is present in peripheries, evidence of this medal's long-term benign neglect. Thin horizontal scratch in left obverse field, a few trivial marks, little group of nicks under HE at left central reverse. A beautiful example, finer than any example that has been offered since Ford II (2004), where the rarity of this medal in high grade was little appreciated. This medal must have seen largely non-numismatic distribution, as most are in poor condition today: wear and rim knocks are the rule rather than the exception. An example this nice is a treat to behold. We have never encountered another with the box...Sold

Magnificent 1824 Washington / Lafayette Medalet
Easily The Finest Seen

1824 Washington / Lafayette silver medalet. Silver, 14.5 mm. Baker-198A. AU-50 (NGC). Is it possible that this medal can be very rare, with a total known population that might not surpass 10, yet there are two currently for sale here? It is, and sometimes numismatic rarities cluster in such multiples that may make them appear common though the opposite is the case. Though there is another currently in stock (graded Choice Very Fine, though lacking its loop, and priced at $1,450), this medalet is a stand-out rarity among early Washingtoniana: the superb Boyd-Ford Collection sold in the Ford II sale did not include one. Beyond its outright rarity, this example may indeed be the finest known; it is certainly the finest I've ever seen by a country mile. The surfaces show magnificent blue, gold, and amber toning with abundant peripheral lustre, though the surface quality is difficult to photograph in the NGC encapsulation. The hanger remains (a trait not typically seen on silver specimens) and both Washington's and Lafayette's portrait are supremely sharp. The Lafayette side shows some pre-striking adjustment marks, much like US Mint coins of the era. Aside from trivial hairlines and microscopic evidence of handling, both sides remain technically superb. For an advanced Washingtoniana collector, it is hard to imagine ever having the opportunity to upgrade this piece, judged by either condition or eye appeal. This is a relic of the 1824 visit of Lafayette that should be seen to be appreciated...Sold

Historic 1687 Silver Shoals / Sir William Phips Medal

1687 Silver Shoals / Recovery of Treasure medal. Betts-67. Silver, 55 mm. Choice About Uncirculated. One of the most popular entries in the 17th century Betts series, a medal that ties a story of treasure lost and found on the high seas into the political fabric of witch-hunt era Massachusetts. Highly reflective surfaces are graced with bright blue toning and golden highlights, while the reverse shows some traces of violet. Scattered light marks are seen in the fields, little batch of hairlines in front of Queen Mary's chin, little rim nick above HA of HAMUS on the reverse and a few smaller rim ticks scattered here and there, natural planchet flaws at rim at 6:00 and 1:00 on obverse. A beautiful example, far more original and more attractive than the vast majority of specimens that survive. This medal was produced from silver recovered in 1687 from the site of the 1641 wreck of the Nuestra Señora de la Concepción. The recovery team was led by William Phips, a native of the modern state of Maine. Phips' venture paid off handsomely for he and his backers, as they found literally tons of silver. Phipps was knighted, and he was quickly placed into the political leadership of the Massachusetts Bay colony. He was named governor in 1692 during the notorious witch trials and led the province for a year until his death at the age of 42. This medal is avidly sought by collectors of treasure coins as perhaps the earliest relic medal from a known wreck (not to mention a famous one, after the Concepción was rediscovered and marketed beginning in 1978), and collectors of early Americana recognize the important place this episode holds in the history of New England. While specimens had often crossed the $4000 and $5000 marks in auctions before this year, the recent offering of the John W. Adams Collection showed new records being broken for this Betts number, with the nicest of his three bringing $8,225 and two others bringing $4,400 each. This seems like a prudent purchase at the (now outdated?) price of...Sold

Very Rare 1859 Elisha Kent Kane Polar/Masonic Medal

1859 Elisha Kent Kane Masonic medal. Bronze, 51 mm. By George H. Lovett. Choice Mint State. An important rarity among Lovett medals and Polar numismatica. Rich glossy chocolate brown with fine, deep bronzing and exquisite detail on both sides. The bronzed patina is a bit uneven on the neck of Kane and in a small area left of the star at left central reverse, otherwise this piece is essentially flawless. The obverse depicts Kane, "the Great Arctic Navigator" as noted in the obverse legend, above a panel showing his ship Advance trapped in Arctic ice. The reverse is the same as Baker-290, the Non Nobis Solum Washington Masonic medal. While that Washington Masonic medal is quite rare, this seems even rarer. Dave Bowers wrote extensively about this medal in his American Numismatics Before the Civil War, pp. 158-163, saying "the sales of the medal must have been small, for today such pieces are rarities, as they have been for several generations. Such pieces are conspicuously lacking from catalogues of nearly all great cabinets of American medals formed since 1858, among with can be counted the 1882 presentation of the Bushnell Collection, an offering which contained many other Sage-related pieces." Kane was a rock-star type celebrity after his Arctic explorations, dying at just 36 years old...Hold

Superlative Quality 1790 Manly Medal

(1790) Manly medal. Bronze, 49 mm. Baker-61B. Choice Mint State. A stellar example of a classic American medal, the first medal struck in America depicting Washington and one of just a handful struck during his Presidency. Both sides are smooth and glossy golden brown, with some traces of mint color around devices and within the multi-step rims. The strike is superb, with full detail at the usually-soft central reverse opposite the high profile portrait. The inscription J. MANLY & C 1790 at the base of the reverse is not only present (it was scraped off on many examples, probably those that were retailed by merchants other than Manly) but extremely bold. The high rims are perfect, and only pre-striking planchet marks are present; this piece has been marvelously preserved since its production. Manly medals were distributed from Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Savannah, Georgia, with ads appearing in newspapers up and down the Eastern Seaboard, many of which quoted local political and military celebrities waxing eloquent on what a great likeness of Washington this medal was. Hundreds, maybe thousands, were sold mostly to non-numismatists who did not handle their medals carefully. Typical specimens will show rim abuse, damage, wear, even holes. Even high grade examples are rarely close to this nice. In fact, the only one close to this nice I recall seeing since the fine selection in the 2004 Ford II sale was the one in the ANR Old Colony sale in December 2005, which brought $4370 back then. A handful of other nice ones have sold since, but none remotely as nice as this one. If you just want a typical Manly medal, email me; I see them relatively often. If you want a superb Manly medal, one that would be essentially impossible to improve upon, buy this one. Ranked 17th in the 100 Greatest American Tokens and Medals...Sold

Famous 1756 Kittanning Destroyed Medal, Betts-400

1756 Kittanning Destroyed medal. Bronze, 46 mm. Betts-400, Julian MI-33. Choice About Uncirculated. 2.9 mm thick at rims. Struck from the original dies of 1756, the first medal dies ever executed on American soil. The dies were irreparably damaged by 1874, and plenty of strikes from these dies are known from a far later die state than that displayed here, which likely places the date of this particular striking sometime in the early 1860s when interest in early American medals reached a fevered pitch. The surfaces are pleasing and even mahogany with good gloss and no significant flaws. Some wedge-shaped marks on the edge have been noted on other specimens; they were likely left when coiners attempted to get the medal unstuck from the somewhat concave dies. It's been awhile since I've had a specimen of this classic medal, a true relic of the French and Indian War, and every specimen I've had has found a new home rather swiftly. Ranked 9th in the 100 Greatest American Tokens and Medals...Sold

(ca. 1862) Washington Birth/Death medalet. Baker-155, Julian PR-26. Silver, 19 mm. Choice Mint State. Deeply reflective surfaces show a wealth of beautiful toning, chiefly bright blue but enlivened with rose, gold, violet, and sea green. A gorgeous little medalet with nice technical quality too. It would be tough to imagine a prettier example...Sold

1776 Lord Bathurst medal. Bronze, 37 mm. BHM-203. Choice About Uncirculated. An absolutely beautiful medal, with just the faintest cabinet friction present on the high relief portrait of Henry Bathurst by John Kirk. The highly reflective fields are golden-toned light brown, while green and blue toning frames the devices on both sides. The portrait of Bathurst was originally modeled by Isaac Gosset (likely in wax); Gosset also did the 1775 Lord North medal (Betts-551), the 1762 Benjamin Franklin medal (Betts-545), and the important 1759 General Wolfe medal (Betts-422, which was likewise engraved by Kirk). This piece was accomplished in 1776 when Bathurst was serving as Lord Chancellor in the ministry of Lord North; Lord Chancellor was the highest official in the British judiciary and the speaker of the House of Lords. Bathurst later served as Lord President of Council (1779-82). While this medal bears no direct relationship to America, it does depict a member of the Lord North's ministry (i.e. his cabinet) during the American Revolution. While Americans learn a lot about the movers and shakers in the Continental Congress during the Revolution, rarely do we learn about (or see) their political equals in London...Sold

1844 Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association medal. Silver, 38 mm. Julian LM-33. Dies by Christian Gobrecht. About Uncirculated. Awarded to Mrs. Coindreau "for a specimen of Embroidery" at the Exhibition of 1844. While I had a gold specimen of this medal in stock a year or two ago, it's been awhile since a silver one has come across my desk. Nicely reflective fields remain, lightly polished to brilliant silver, while the rims have gathered deep and attractive toning over the years. A few marks are seen atop the seated figure's head on the reverse, the usual hairlines are present (as essentially always seen on this non-numismatically distributed prize medals), a few shallow reverse scrapes, good sound rims. Unfortunately, the official tally of awards distributed at this Fourth Exhibition doesn't give us much more information about Mrs. Coindreau and her embroidery than the medal does, though a bit more poking around reveals that Mrs. Coindreau also won a medal in 1839 for her embroidery work. A bit more research revealed that Mrs. Coindreau was actually Ann Elizabeth (Brown) Coindreau, wife of Alphonse Coindreau, a merchant with a store on India Wharf in Boston. He may be the same Alphonse Coindreau who turns up in Stockton, CA in 1850; one wonders if his talented wife went to the gold fields with him. An Alfonso Coindreau ended up in Tucson, AZ in 1871 as a stagecoach operator, quite possibly the same guy. Surely this family has a story. Who said prize medals for embroidery were boring? Ranked 171st in the 100 Greatest American Tokens and Medals...Sold

Very Rare 1826 Semi-Centennial Medal

1826 National Jubilee / Declaration of Independence Semi-Centennial medal. Tin, 39 mm. HK-4. Very Good. Holed for suspension. One of the first entries in the popularly collected So-Called Dollar series, an important historical issue from the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. Deep glossy pewter gray with some light surface granularity but no raised corrosion or tinpest. Nice old patina is intact but for a small scrape near 3:00 on the reverse rim that exposes some bright metal. Well worn at central obverse, undoubtedly worn during the Semi-centennial celebration and perhaps long-after, like most of this issue, which almost almost always comes holed. The obverse design is well-defined, the peripheral reverse legend is intact, and pieces of the quote from the Declaration of Independence at central reverse remain. A rim bruise is present right of 6:00 on the obverse, some smaller ones, very few injuries for a soft-metal medal in this state of preservation. The day marked by this medal, the 50th anniversary of American Independence, is best known in the modern American consciousness as the last day on earth of two of the titans of the Revolutionary generation. Thomas Jefferson was in and out of consciousness the first days of July 1826, repeatedly asking "Is it the Fourth yet?," before succumbing that day. John Adams died just hours after Jefferson, breathing his last that afternoon and uttering his last words that day: "Thomas Jefferson survives." This is not the first medal to mark an anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence -- that laurel goes to Jefferson's inaugural medal, which also marked the 25th anniversary of the document that came to define Jefferson's life. This rare piece may not be the finest of the known population of perhaps 10-15 (or fewer?) surviving examples, but holding it summons all the history of that important day...$595

1925 American Jersey Cattle Club medal. 14K gold, 34.6 mm. By Karl Gruppe. Choice About Uncirculated. 420.1 grains (27.23 grams). Edge marked 14 K Medallic Art Co, N.Y. Reverse engraved "VOLUNTEER'S VIDA / R OF M 1925." A handsome and elusive gold medal by noted sculptor and medalist Karl Gruppe. Gruppe's KG monogram is seen under the obverse portrait. Rich yellow gold with only a whisper of rub and no marks or serious evidence of handling on attractive matte-finish surfaces. This medal was awarded by the American Jersey Cattle Club to cows who passed certain production marks, thus placing them on the "Register of Merit," thus the "R of M" on the reverse inscription. Another version of this medal was produced, with an integral loop, featuring the same obverse portrait but lacking the charming reverse scene, with was replaced with a text-only reverse die. Undoubtedly very rare; the first I've encountered in-hand or in the marketplace. A nice addition to any American gold medal collection...Sold

1892 Buffalo Bill's Wild West Co. "Merit" medal. Bronze, 38 mm. Choice About Uncirculated. Nice glossy mahogany brown with lacquered surfaces, likely lacquered at the time of issue. Sharp and attractive with no notable surface issues. A handsome portrait medal of Buffalo Bill Cody, struck for distribution as prizes during the six-month 1892 London showing of "Buffalo Bill's Wild West," the most famous of the late 19th century traveling Western shows. Annie Oakley was a cast member at this time, along with dozens of Native Americans, cowboys, sharpshooters, and others. While Buffalo Bill remains one of the most famous characters from the Old West, numismatic mementoes of him (and this era in general) are few and far between. This little-known medal is quite scarce; if it was more common, it would likely be in higher demand...$650

Choice 1758/1759 Betts-419 Medal

1759 Victories medal, Victories of 1758 and 1759. Bronze, 43 mm. Betts-419. Choice About Uncirculated. A superb example of this important French and Indian War-era Betts medal, muling the reverse of the 1758 Victories medal and the reverse of the 1759 Victories medal into a single production that showcases the most important British victories of the Seven Years War. Among those mentioned that took place in the American theatre are: Louisbourg, Fort Frontenac, Fort Duqesne (Pittsburgh), Quebec, Niagara, Crown Point, and Guadeloupe. The surfaces show an appealing mingling of original golden brassy color at the peripheries with mellowed medium brown, highly lustrous and free of issues. This is perhaps the finest example of this medal I've owned, with better surfaces than the Adams example at $805; this sort of quality would be called Choice Mint State by the vast majority of those who examined it. This muling is scarcer than either of the issues that precede it (Betts-416 and Betts-418). A stellar example for a connoisseur quality Betts medal cabinet...$875

1758 Victories medal. Bronze, 43 mm. Betts-416. About Uncirculated. A handsome example of this popular Betts medal, one that recalls the red-letter victories at Louisbourg, Fort Frontenac on Lake Ontario, Fort Duquesne (also known as Pittsburgh), and others during the campaign of 1758. Rich original golden color frames both sides, toned down to pleasing brown in the fields. Very little wear is seen, some light hairlines in the fields, some trivial pinscratches noted under magnified scrutiny in the left obverse and left reverse fields. A very pleasing medal, not far removed from the look of the Adams specimen that realized $1150...$675

1785 Vermont copper. Ryder-2. Rarity-4-. Landscape, VERMONTS. Very Fine. Choice dark chocolate brown with hard, glossy surfaces. Even though 95% of the planchet is of top quality, this being a 1785 Vermont Landscape, there had to be a catch, and there is: the ragged clip left of the date, the result of this planchet being created from the edge of a rolled strip. A little fine granularity surrounds the clip on the obverse, though the reverse is smooth right up to the edge. The first date digit is affected, as is VERM. DECIMA hangs onto the edge, barely, on the reverse. The rest of the coin is extremely bold and very attractive on the whole. Only a few minor little marks are seen, like the fine abrasion under S of RES. Ryder-2s are not easy to find nice. This piece, charming in its crudity like so many Vermont Landscapes, presents very nicely in hand...Sold

1760 Voce Populi halfpenny. Nelson-4. Zelinka 2-A. Rarity-3. About Uncirculated. Another beautiful early copper from the legendary Ted Craige collection, the sole piece I bought from his cabinet of Voce Populi halfpence, which is the finest ever sold at auction in my estimation, finer than Ford's, Zelinka's, McGrath's, Bibbins, and just about everyone else's. The Nelson coins are now off the market at Colonial Williamsburg. In the recent StacksBowers sale of the Craige Collection, I described this coin as "Another superb Nelson-4, with good remaining luster on the light brown obverse and deeper mahogany brown reverse. Ideally centered on both sides, well struck on a thick planchet. A single short hairline is noted on the cheek, a tiny rim nick over P in POPULI and a few smaller ones around the reverse, a couple natural planchet chips near ribbon bows on obverse. This Craige duplicate is actually finer than the Zelinka and McGrath specimens, among many others in well-formed collections. Craige called it 'XF/AU, NICE.'" I never knew Ted Craige, but I have a lot of respect for a guy who can call a coin "XF-AU, NICE" and leave it at that. Nice is exactly what this Voce is...$1,350

(ca. 1674?) Saint Patrick "farthing." Breen-208. Nothing below king. Choice Fine. Another selection from the Craige collection, a well-balanced and nicely detailed piece with the sort of smooth surfaces that are almost never encountered on a Saint Patrick farthing. I described this piece as "Attractive light brown with deep olive toning around devices and legends. Nicely centered on a broad planchet, though S of PLEBS is worn into the rim. About a half dozen minuscule pinpoint natural pits are present on the reverse, even less substantial ones here and there on the obverse, but this piece is choice and smooth otherwise, with no post-striking flaws to note. The splash is deep gold and oval, covering the crown and extending upwards to the rim. A lovely example with unusual surface quality." As a type coin, this displays the designs and legends completely without dealing with the usual wretched surfaces...$3,125

(ca. 1674?) Saint Patrick "farthing." Breen-208. Nothing below king. Choice Very Good. Most Saint Patrick farthings, regardless of grade, make an emery board seem smooth. Thus, when picking coins out to add to inventory from the Ted Craige Collection, I focused intensely on the ones with nice, smooth surfaces. Though worn, this is such a coin. I described it as "Glossy and attractive medium brown, with a deep mustard splash that fills the crown and contrasts nicely. The surfaces are hard and smooth, free of any trace of roughness or granularity. Tiny dark spots are noted on the king's crown, the right foot of R of REX, and A of FLOREAT. Die failure at northwest obverse wipes out the legend in that area, central reverse lacks much detail but the peripheries are complete and well-detailed. Light rim scuff noted at 5 o'clock on obverse, tinier nick left of it. From the same dies as Griffee:92, his G1-4/0j." If you're fussy about color and surface but enjoy collecting circulated coins, this might be ideal...$1,325

1688 American Plantation token. Newman 4-E. Original. Very Fine. Beaded edge. A good looking original American Plantation token. Recently uncovered in England by a metal detectorist, this piece has all the hallmarks of an original striking: somewhat uneven placement of the beading by the edge dies, tin surfaces, dark patina with no trace of lustre. The Whitman Colonial book asserts "most if not all examples in the marketplace are restrikes. Although originals are believed to have been made, Roger S. Siboni has not been able to determine any variety other than restrikes." I disagree with my friend Roger on this, as I know of this piece and another holed, worn Newman 4-E that were both found in the English soil, which is a weird resting place for a numismatic restrike that a collector bought at a premium price in 1828. This example has nice deep gray color and better than typical surfaces, with just a little loss from tin pest in the legend at JACOB and on the rear end of the horse. Only the most trivial edge chips are seen. American Plantation tokens have come into their own of late, finally appreciated by variety collectors and type enthusiasts. Restrikes have never interested me much, but originals like this are historic and genuinely rare...$1,485

1787 Connecticut copper. Miller 37.5-E. Rarity-5. Draped Bust Left. VF-35 (PCGS). Beautiful glossy chocolate brown with golden undertones and frosty lustre remaining around devices. Technically Extremely Fine, which is a grade I'd have no hesitation in assessing this piece in the raw. Only minor little planchet flecks, the most notable being the one on the neck of the obverse portrait and at the ankle of the seated fiigure, no bad marks other than a little rim nick beneath the shield base. Perfectly centered with complete legends and date, good detail on both sides. A handsome and hefty Connecticut, weighing 167.6 grains, the same weight as a post-1795 large cent. Ex. Steve Tanenbaum Collection, Mike Ringo in August 1990...Sold

Superb Saint Patrick Farthing, ex Craige

(ca. 1674?) Saint Patrick "farthing." Breen-208. Nothing below king. EF-45 (PCGS). A magnificent Saint Patrick farthing from the Craige Collection, coin for coin the finest collection of Saint Patrick coppers ever sold at auction. While Griffee had more, the Craige coins were of a uniform nice quality. Among those 70-odd farthings, a few stood out, and this was prominent among them. Only a handful of the Craige St. Patrick pieces were graded by PCGS -- before the sale, in my role as StacksBowers colonial consultant and cataloguer, I hand selected the nicest half dozen to go in for grading, while the rest sold raw. The highest graded one of these came back in an AU-53 holder, but that one showed significant weakness atop both sides, rendering the design incomplete. The next highest graded, a well balanced and fully struck piece, was graded AU-50. That coin realized $14,950. This one was the next highest graded piece, coming in at EF-45. From there, it was a big drop-off down to the next highest PCGS graded piece in the sale, the VF-30 from the Royse Collection, which sold for $4,600. I described this coin in the catalogue as "Glossy medium brown, essentially smooth, with a splash of olive below the crown on the obverse. A very sharp and attractive specimen, retaining some facial detail on Saint Patrick's visage. A natural clip is present at 7 o'clock relative to the obverse, obverse aligned to 9 o'clock, reverse to 3 o'clock, full denticles and die edge opposite both. FLOREAT and PLEBS are both a trifle soft at the rim. A choice, problem-free example in unusually nice grade. Offered as the only Saint Patrick farthing in any major auction, this coin would see the laser-eyed attention of specialists; it should not be paid any less in this context." With the dust settled, and the vast majority of the coins going to collectors in the audience rather than into dealer inventories, we can more soberly assess this opportunity: coins like this just do not come up that often. Craige pursued the series with an intense vigor and no serious competition, and this was arguably the second best piece he got. Its surfaces and sharpness are better than the various EF Saint Patrick farthings in the Heritage archive, like an NGC 45 sold in 2011 for $8,050 and the far more worn PCGS 40 sold in 2009 for $6,900. As far back as 2006, a PCGS 40 brought $9,775. The pieces graded AU haven't been any nicer, like this poorly struck 50 at $8,050 a year ago or this NGC 50 with less choice surfaces at $10,350. Go survey the other EFs and AUs (either service!) offered at auction in the last five years, and few indeed match this one for both detail and surface quality. Compared to all these recent sales, this coin seems very fairly priced at...$10,500

1787 Fugio copper. Newman 18-U. Rarity-4. EF-45 (PCGS). Another Condition Census calibre example from the Retz collection, which I described for the Retz sale catalogue as "Beautiful light brown with smooth, glossy surfaces. A problem free coin, with just some minor marks remaining in the softly struck area on the reverse rim between 6 o'clock and 9 o'clock; the same area on the obverse, above the sunface, is also a bit soft. A single nick under the stop after FUGIO serves as an identifier. Struck slightly off-center to 6 o'clock, the bottom half of BUSINESS not present. The reverse shows significant clashing, but the obverse shows none, a 'very early die state' according to Rob's manuscript. While this variety is only scarce, not rare (though Rob called it an R-5-), there are few finer examples. Rob knew of one Mint State piece (in a New York City collection) and four he graded AU, led by the two very pretty Boyd-Ford coins. Rob ranked this piece as sixth best, grading it the same EF-45 grade as PCGS and your cataloger. In the EF range, it would be tough to top this coin's outstanding visual appeal." For Fugio variety specialists, this coin would prove exceptionally difficult to upgrade...$2,975

Impressively Choice 1785 Miller 3.4-F.2 Connecticut Copper

1785 Connecticut copper. Miller 3.4-F.2. Rarity-2. Mailed Bust Right. Choice Extremely Fine. Choice glossy light brown with ideal smooth surfaces. The obverse is hard, smooth, and unflawed, nicely-centered and well-struck, just picture perfect for a 1785 Connecticut. The reverse is centered a bit towards 2:00, but the date and legends are full. The detail is crisp, and honest-to-goodness lustre remains in the protected area above INDE. We note only minuscule flaws above D of INDE and atop the shield, both as struck. The Oeschner coin seems to be the class of this variety. Even though Ford's was the Miller coin, I prefer this one for surface and color, and it is an apparent tie for sharpness. A glorious Connecticut type coin that would right at home in any advanced collection, and a variety representative of such high quality that it would have upgraded nearly every classic cabinet of the past...$1,825

1787 Fugio copper. Newman 15-H. Rarity-4. EF-40 (PCGS). Quite close to Condition Census quality for this fairly scarce die variety, not significantly removed from the quality of the EF-45 (PCGS) Rob Retz coin which just sold for $3,220. That coin was ranked as tied for fifth finest known by Rob, who never had the chance to see this new discovery piece. Its surfaces are very attractive light brown, mostly smooth and glossy but for some scattered light flecky planchet flaws. The most significant flaw, left of the sunface, is the only one plain to the naked eye. Aside from a minuscule rim tick at 3:00 on the reverse, the surfaces are free of major contact points. This is an eyeball variety for Fugio specialists, with the long die crack from the right base of the sundial to the exergual line denoting obverse 15, here married to its only UNITED STATES reverse, reverse H. This is a very scarce, high grade example of a distinctive variety for not much more than common variety money...$1,975

1787 Fugio copper. Newman 16-H. Rarity-5. VF-30 (PCGS). An unusually attractive example of this very scarce variety, one that can be found in low grades with some looking but is extremely rare better than VF and rarely found choice in any grade. From the Rob Retz collection, where I described it as "171.7 grains. A chubby puppy among Fugios, weighing more than a post-1795 large cent. Rich dark chocolate brown with smooth, attractive surfaces of enviable hardness. A really beautiful Fugio, particularly for this variety. Rob graded this coin VF-35 choice and your cataloger blindly also graded it VF-35 before submission to PCGS. A minuscule rim tick above the first 7 of the date serves as an identifier; magnification-assisted nitpickers may also note a single hairline from the third cinquefoil to the sundial and the slightest hint of verdigris within a few rings. The die state is the typical one, with a heavy break at 6 o'clock on the reverse, equivalent to Newman (2008) reverse state D. Rob ranked his coin as ninth finest, behind a Mint State piece in the New York City collection, the Kessler-Spangenberger coin called EF-40, the similarly graded Boyd-Ford coin, and others in the EF-40 to AU-50 range. The primary Ford coin showed some dark specks, but still realized $3,737.50 in 2003. This piece boasts strong eye appeal and far finer than normal sharpness, with the added interest of being the second heaviest Fugio in the Retz collection." The superb color and surfaces, bold contrast between the dark chocolate fields and tan devices, and overall rarity make this a highly desirable Fugio...$2,475

1787 Fugio copper. Newman 17-S. Rarity-3. (probably more like Rarity-4). EF-45 (PCGS). One of my favorite pieces from the Retz Collection, for its superb strike, great color, and bold contrast. I catalogued this piece in the Retz Collection sale as follows: "This variety was called Rarity-5 in the Ford sale and Rarity-5 in Rob's manuscript; we would be more comfortable with a Rarity-4 assignment than the Rarity-3 this was accorded in the 2008 Newman text. Very attractive dark chocolate brown with light brown devices. Abundant detail is present on both sides, seemingly better than the grade assigned. The sundial is particularly bold, the legends are complete, and the glossy reverse is quite close to Mint State. Some very shallow obverse accretion or verdigris is present, to no significant distraction. Aside from a tiny nick on the obverse rim right of the sunface, we note no marks of consequence. This high quality piece is not listed in Rob's census, suggesting he acquired it quite late. He noted two Mint State pieces, along with five AUs. The Newman (2008) plate piece was listed as fifth finest. The Boyd-Ford coins were accorded tenth and eleventh position; we like this one significantly better than the second Boyd-Ford coin and prefer it to the first Boyd-Ford coin, given the raised corrosion present on the reverse of that piece. The Newman (2008) plate piece shows significant striations, as does one of the Unc specimens. So where would we rank this? Somewhere among the top half dozen or so, surely within the top 10. Though fairly available in grades like Fine or Very Fine, this variety is truly tough in EF or above." When I graded this coin raw, before the Retz coins went off to PCGS, I graded it AU-50. It's unusual to find this kind of eye appeal and quality in a Fugio, even (or especially) among the hoard varieties. As a non-hoard variety, coins of this grade are merely accidental survivors...$3,250

Superb 1787 Machin's Halfpenny, ex Craige and Royse

1787 Machin's Mills halfpenny. Vlack 17-87B. Rarity-2. VF-35 (PCGS). An absolutely stellar example of this variety, with a provenance back to the legendary Ted Craige collection, dispersed by Metropolitan Rare Coin Galleries of New York. It is a bit ironic that a substantial portion of Craige's Machin's Mills pieces would hit the market in the exact sale where Craige's long-hidden collection would first be offered, but as part of a different consignment. Jack Royse bought several pieces from the Craige collection, all of which retained the light blue-green paper envelopes they were offered in by MRCG four decades ago. This comes from the recent Stack's / C4 sale of the Royse collection, where I described it as "Rich even dark chocolate brown with no notable problems. Not quite smooth, but not granular either, just somewhat matte in appearance. While this is one of the easier Machin's Mills halfpennies to find in nice grade, they are rarely this choice and even. This piece shows a better central strike than even the gorgeous Unc Ringo coin, fully detailed at the usually soft centers, and thus even more desirable." For strike, color, sharpness, and even eye appeal, this coin is just about unbeatable, as a variety or as a type...$1,650

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