Washingtoniana
"1783” (circa 1840s?) Washington and Independence. No Button. Musante GW-106 (Dies 13-J), Baker-2, Breen-1191(A). Brass. Plain Edge. AU-58 (PCGS).
27.9 mm. 133.8 grains. Light olive brown with slightly deeper patina in the recesses and a trace of surface debris. Much of the surface is dotted with heavy die spalling or rust, this being a later restrike from the original dies referred to by Walter Breen as a “Soho Restrike.” Either struck on a flan with heavily upset rims or the edge was rolled after striking, with high, rounded upset rims and slight distortion in the outer areas of the fields within the rims. However, the edge is free of any filing marks. This is a very rare variant and just the second we recall having handled, the other being the Norweb specimen that brought more than $4,000 in our November 2006 sale. Walter Breen noted just two examples under his B-1191 entry, one being his plate piece from the 1978 NASCA sale of the T. James Clarke Collection, and the other from the 1986 Ezra Cole sale by Bowers and Merena. He tied these two together under one number apparently based on little more than the unusual brass composition, as they are from two different die pairs. The Ezra Cole specimen does not seem to fit with the others, as the Clarke specimen, Norweb coin and this one are all of identical nature, struck in unusual medal-turn orientation on brass flans by heavily spalled, extremely late-state dies. These are the only three we are aware of. As described in the Norweb sale, “the die state is advanced, with significant rust seen, including a lump between the first EN of INDEPENDENCE and scattered rust elsewhere around the legends. Three parallel lines inside the reverse rim below 3:00 appear to be file marks to remove some rust.” The same is true here. Carl Carlson described the distinctive reverse clash marks as follows in the 1978 sale, “lower face of Washington and back of his toga clearly visible on either side of Liberty." Quite distinctive and very rare. This is the first public offering we are aware of for this particular example.
PCGS# 676.
From the E Pluribus Unum Collection.
Estimate: $1500