Feb. 16, 2001, The Benson Collection Part 1, Sale 8
Lot 1
1652 Oak Tree Shilling. 72.1
grains, Noe-1. PCGS graded VF-25. Antique silver in color and
unevenly struck, as usual. The surfaces show a couple of shallow handling
marks, nothing important or noteworthy. There is a planchet defect at 9 o'clock
on the obverse, clear through the planchet to the other side, with a small
missing piece of metal there, as made. An affordable example of this rare coin,
which is seldom found better.
Estimated Value $2,500-3,000.
Lot 2
1652 Pine Tree Shilling,
large planchet. 71.5 grains. Noe-1. PCGS graded AU-50. One of the
nicest of the Pine Tree shillings this cataloger has seen, the planchet is full
and round, with a small edge void near the top of the obverse, perhaps where
some metal was "shaved" or maybe as made. The strike is sharp, with excellent
detail on the tree and peripheral lettering. Lovely steel gray in color with
hints of color dancing in the fields. Minor waviness in the planchet, as
always, and highly popular with collectors.
Estimated Value $6,000-7,000.
Lot 3
1652 Pine Tree Shilling,
small planchet, 67.0 grains. PCGS graded VF-30. This coin appears to
be Noe-29, with the D in ENGLAND first rotated 180°, then corrected. A choice
coin for the grade, the fields are a natural medium gray color, while the
devices are uniformly lighter in color. Well centered and struck, with the M is
obviously double cut on the obverse. Trouble-free wear and surfaces, without
planchet problems. Die steel for coinage was very hard to come by in early
America, hence dies were used and reused and then used some more to strike
desperately needed coinage. When a die cracked or broke, it was repaired by
either lapping down the surfaces or reingraving the devices (sometimes both).
Many coins reflect the worn or broken condition of the dies, and it is evident
that a great struggle was unfolding to keep the first authorized silver coinage
in circulation. About as nice as these are found, PCGS has yet to grade any in
mint state of this size and type.
One of the first colonies set up in
what later became this country, was the Massachusetts Bay Colony. As the
population grew, the need for coinage or some circulating medium grew also. In
the 1630s a loose barter system prevailed, any "hard currency" (copper, silver
or gold) was siphoned off back to Britain through both taxes and by selling the
colonists goods at inflated prices. Purchases were made by trading goods for
goods: furs, fish, grain, musket balls, wampum, shells etc.... The only coins
in circulation in Massachusetts at the time were outdated English farthings and
presumably Spanish silver, which would have been used by passing merchant ships
and buccaneers stopping by Boston as a port of call. King Charles I of England
was executed, and his forces were defeated by 1651, thus the royal regulations
governing the Colony were no longer relevant. The General Court of the
Massachusetts Bay Colony authorized John Hull and Robert Saunderson to strike
much needed silver in the denominations of XII Pence or Shilling, VI Pence and
III Pence in mid 1652. The first coinage was the NE issues, followed a year
later by the Willow Tree issues, later Oak Tree Issues and finally the various
Pine Tree issues. The date 1652 was continuously used for decades, as the
Colony had no technical authority to strike its own coins. Later, when King
Charles II restored order in England, he allowed the coinage to continue, after
paying the King's taxes.
Many of the large size Oak Tree and Pine Tree
pieces were bent as the 1692 Salem witch trials unfolded, as the local citizens
believed that carrying a bent silver coin would offer protection from witches.
For this reason, Hull made the planchets smaller, but thicker, to make the
coins harder to bend, and harder to "clip" silver off of by shaving the edges,
spending the lighter weight coin, and keeping the silver shavings for
recoining.
Massachusetts silver coins are among the most important colonial
issues, as they were the first silver coins struck in the continental United
States, they circulated widely, including Canada and even caused one of the
first American uprisings against Britain, when Hulls coinage came into question
by Royal authorities.
Estimated Value $2,000-2,500.
Purchased from
Ira S. Reed 6/13/44 for $25.00.
Lot 4
St. Patrick Copper
"Farthing". PCGS graded EF-40. With some minor pitting on both
sides, but even chocolate brown in color and with nice surfaces otherwise.
Typical weak strike.
Estimated Value $600-800.
Lot 5
St. Patrick Copper
"Farthing". PCGS graded VF-30. The obverse design of St. Patrick
holding a harp, with crown above, reverse of St. Patrick holding a cross, with
church behind, and administering to various sea creatures. QUIESCAT PLEBS on
reverse refers to "let the commoners be quiet" a reference to authorities
desire to quiet the embarrassing political songs and verses commonly sung by
the populace. Known as "Newby's coppers" after he brought over large numbers
for circulation in the Quaker Colony of New Jersey in America. Choice chocolate
brown in color, with the familiar large brass splasher on the crown (used to
represent the gold in the crown rule), the splasher was put onto the planchet
before striking. Minor surface fissures on the obverse, and this may have been
struck by roller dies. Problem free for the issue, and desirable.
Estimated
Value $500-750.
Ex: Ira S. Reed, 7/21/44 at $3.
Lot 6
St. Patrick Halfpenny.
PCGS graded EF-40. Choice chocolate brown in color, with hints of
darker colors adhering to the devices. Typical strike for the issue, with upper
devices poorly defined. One small mark below the R of REX, and a rim bruise
over the X. Over 120 varieties exist of this type coin, confirming that the
original number struck must have been very large.
Curiously, these were
struck in 1641/42 at the Tower Mint in London. After Charles I was executed and
the Puritans suppressed everything Catholic, these coins went into hiding, as
possessing them was a crime. After Charles II came to power in 1662, the St.
Patrick coins returned to circulation in Ireland, where they circulated for a
time, until 1679 when they were declared uncurrent. The farthings and half
pennies still circulated in Ireland.
Mark Newby was a Quaker and had
experienced religious persecution in the Dublin area, Newby decided to join his
fellow Quakers in their American settlement in New Jersey. Thinking that small
change may be in short supply, Newby purchased £30 of these coppers,
approximately 14,400 pieces. Newby arrived in America in late 1681 and was soon
politically well connected, enough so to get his coppers declared legal tender.
Newbie died in 1682, but the coppers he brought over circulated for well over
100 years, in fact Dr. Edward Maris stated that he had received these coppers
from circulation as a boy in the early nineteenth century.
Estimated Value
$1,250-1,750.
Ex: Ira S. Reed, 3/3/46 for $10.
Lot 7
St. Patrick Halfpenny.
PCGS graded Fine-15. Choice light brown in color and well struck and
preserved. There is a minor planchet crack near the R of REX. A scarce coin,
and this one should be worth a premium for its obvious qualities.
Estimated
Value $400-500.
Lot 8
(1688) James II Plantation
Token tin farthing. PCGS graded MS-60. These tokens were the first
coinage authorized for the British Colonies in North America. They are struck
in pure tin, and always have rough surfaces. Boldly impressed by the dies, with
details on the rampant horseman and with flecks of tin showing through the dark
patina on the reverse on the upper devices. Rare in this grade, only 2 have
been so graded with 3 higher by PCGS.
Estimated Value $2,000-2,500.
Lot 9
Rosa Americana Twopence
(undated). PCGS graded AU-58. Struck in 1722, although not dated.
Deep chocolate brown in color with only a few signs of minor spotting. Boldly
struck and well preserved, and perfect for the specialist. The reverse die was
rotated 90° clockwise when this one was struck, and most of the reverse shows
slight doubling from the strike. A trace of raw copper on the upper points at
the center of the rose.
Estimated Value $2,000-2,500.
Lot 10
1723 Rosa Americana Penny.
Sharpness of EF-40 but slightly porous. No stop after small 3. Dark
chocolate brown in color and well struck by the dies. The surfaces are slightly
porous, but not enough to detract. On the upper left obverse rim there is some
flattening, as well as two minor planchet fissures nearby. Still nice in
appearance, even with its problems.
Estimated Value $50-100.
Ex: Ira
S. Reed, 6/44 at $4.
Lot 11
1723 Rosa Americana
Twopence. PCGS graded AU-55. Weight: 214.3 grains. Medium brown in
color, but the surfaces show light porosity on both sides, visible with the aid
of a glass. Sharply struck and with clean surfaces. Struck a hair off-center
towards 10 o'clock on the obverse, same direction on the reverse.
Estimated
Value $1,000-1,500.
Lot 12
1723 Rosa Americana
Twopence. PCGS graded AU-55. Stop after X, not after 3. William Wood
owned tin and copper mines in England. Using his considerable political clout,
Wood obtained a patent authorizing him to coin up to 100 tons of base metal
(from his mines) for use in the American plantations. To keep the coins from
circulating at home in England, the patent authorized them to be lighter in
metal content than the current denominations in England. The coins were struck
from 75% copper, 24.7% zinc and .3% silver, which is a form of brass.
The
surfaces of this piece are quite nice, there is a very minor planchet flaw
below the chin, and a short planchet fissure at 7 o'clock on the obverse that
goes through to the reverse. Brassy brown in color, with excellent striking
definition on King George's hair.
Estimated Value $1,000-1,500.
Lot 13
1722 Hibernia Halfpenny,
harp at left. PCGS graded MS-63 Brown. Weight 100.2 grains. A scarce
and popular Guide Book type coin. Struck from lightly rusted dies on the
obverse, and with some red areas on the reverse. Sharp and one of only 2 graded
as such by PCGS, with 2 graded higher.
Estimated Value $1,200-1,400.
Lot 14
1722 Hibernia Halfpenny,
harp at left. VF-20. Eleven harp strings. With a tiny planchet
defect on the obverse edge at K12½. A few small nicks on the lower
obverse. Medium dark steel brown. An appealing colonial that is well preserved
and free of any sort of problem.
Estimated Value $200-300.
Lot 15
1723 Hibernia Farthing,
inscribed "D:G: REX", 59.8 grains. PCGS graded MS-64 Brown. When
available, the weights are included from our consigner, of course, once in a
PCGS or other grading service holder, the weights are subject to guesswork
only, unless removed from the holders. This one has superb surfaces for the
grade, We note a couple of minor ticks on Georgius chin, blended well with the
color, and a tiny mark on the reverse at Liberty's belly button. Glossy brown
in color, with a few very small specks on the reverse. One of just two coins
graded this high, and seldom offered in grades even approaching this. Sharply
struck and a premium coin in every way.
William Wood had won his way into a
Royal Patent to produce coins using copper from his mines in England. However,
King George I's mistress absconded with Wood's Royal Patent and she demanded a
ransom for its release. Paying the ransom greatly increased Wood's costs, and
in order to recover some of the ransom money, he struck coins of light weight,
thereby increasing his profit, but cheating both the Irish and American
Colonies of fair value, and breaking his duty under the patent. The Irish
rejected the coins, and they were eventually foisted on the American Colonies,
where they circulated widely. The trials of the early coiners make for most
interesting study.
Estimated Value $1,200-1,400.
Lot 16
1723 Hibernia Farthing,
inscribed "DEI GRATIA REX". PCGS graded MS-64 Brown. Sharply
impressed by the dies and wonderfully preserved. Hints of mint red in some of
the letters, but generally an even brown color, with no problem spots or
detractions. Struck on a clean planchet and certainly one of the best to
survive of this important colonial issue.
Estimated Value $800-1,000.
Lot 17
1723 Hibernia Farthing,
inscribed "DEI GRATIA REX". PCGS graded AU-58. Chocolate brown in
color and with delightful surfaces. A few minor planchet imperfections at the
top of the reverse with dark color noted on some minor flecks in that area.
Brown luster in the fields, and well struck.
Estimated Value $350-500.
Lot 18
1723 Hibernia Halfpenny. 23
over 22. PCGS graded AU-53. Period before HIBERNIA. Small 3. With
blunt striking in the central areas on both sides and a small planchet defect
on the obverse edge at K11½. Pleasing medium dark chocolate brown
surfaces.
There is a die crack up through the top leaf out the rim on the
obverse, and one on the reverse through the tops of IBE. A highly appealing
coin.
Estimated Value $500-650.
Lot 19
1723 Hibernia Halfpenny.
PCGS graded MS-63 Brown. No period before HIBERNIA. Quite well
struck with full beading on both sides. Flawless medium dark chocolate brown
with traces of faded mint red throughout the obverse. There is a short die line
into the field below the R of REX, and the X is recut.
Estimated Value
$500-650.
Lot 20
1723 Hibernia Halfpenny.
PCGS graded AU-55. These were originally struck by William Wood who
obtained an authorizing Royal Patent to strike these for Ireland. However, they
were unpopular as the patent allowed them to be well underweight when compared
with then current coinage in England (60 halfpence to the pound in Ireland as
compared to 46 halfpence to the pound then current in England). The Irish
people were outraged and refused the coins. Speculators purchased them at
bullion value and shipped them off to America, where they circulated for a
century or more.
Chocolate brown in color with some areas of reddish color,
and with some minor verdigris tucked in with the devices. Sharply impressed by
the dies, and a perfect example to represent this important colonial issue.
Estimated Value $350-450.
Ex: Ira S. Reed, 7/44 as "V. Fine" for
$3.50.
Lot 21
1724 Hibernia Halfpenny.
PCGS graded AU-50. Stop after date. Struck from worn dies, the
obverse with a light crack through GEORGIU, and a rim crack to the bust point.
The reverse die appears to have been lapped, as the central definition is
indistinct, and some of the harp strings are played out. Examination makes us
uncertain that the color is original, as it remains slightly uneven with hints
of mottling. Free of circulation problems or other detractions.
Estimated
Value $600-800.
Lot 22
1773 Virginia Halfpenny,
period after "GEORGIVS". PCGS graded MS-64 Red and Brown. This
specimen boasts nearly full red color on both sides, it is well struck and
centered, and shows very few signs of handling. Free of the usually seen spots,
and an exceptional example of this important colonial issue.
Virginia,
unique among the original thirteen colonies, received royal authorization to
coin its own money (1609). No one bothered though, and tobacco remained the
standard medium of exchange for the first 150 years. Accordingly, the Virginia
Assembly (1773) passed an act authorizing coinage pursuant to the Royal
Charter, and the royal authorities approved. The Tower Mint in London shipped
over 5 tons of halfpence in 1773. The timid Virginia Treasurer demanded a Royal
Proclamation before he would release the coins into circulation, fearing his
actions could be construed as treasonous without such authorization. Nearly a
year later, the Royal Proclamation arrived, meanwhile the Revolution was on the
verge of erupting. All coins were hoarded at the time, as people prepared for
war.
Even with their English ties, these coins did circulate, and have been
recovered at American historical sites. Most of the Uncirculated examples were
found in a keg which was found in Richmond just prior to the Civil War.
Estimated Value $500-800.
Lot 23
1773 Virginia Halfpenny,
period after "GEORGIVS". Fine-12. One minor rim mark at 7 o'clock on
the obverse, medium dark brown in color.
Estimated Value $50-75.
Ex:
Ira S. Reed 6/44 for 50¢.
Lot 24
1773 Virginia Halfpenny, no
period after "GEORGIVS". PCGS graded MS-65 Brown. One of the finest
graded of this issue, only 5 have been graded this high in Brown, with a single
coin graded Red Brown by PCGS as gem, there are none graded higher. Superb
surfaces, well centered and struck. One small red spot below the lion in the
upper left of the shield. Medium brown in color and an outstanding coin for the
grade.
Estimated Value $700-900.
Lot 25
(1680) London Elephant Token
Halfpenny. Thick planchet. PCGS graded EF-40. Although the actual
year struck is not known, it is believed they were coined in the period 1666 to
1690, with the dates 1672 and 1680 most commonly quoted. The reason behind the
production of this piece is unknown, but the reverse provides a clue in GOD
PRESERVE LONDON that they were made after the devastating London fire of 1666
and the plague of the same year. We do know that some of these apparently came
over with Mark Newby's "St. Patrick" coppers, as elephant tokens have been
found in non-collector accumulations in New York and New Jersey of the period
(Breen).
Clean surfaces for the grade, the coin is evenly toned a dark
chocolate brown throughout. Struck from worn dies, with some of the reverse
letters drawn to the rim.
Estimated Value $800-1,200.
Ex: Ira S.
Reed, 7/21/44 for $3.50.
Lot 26
(1680) London Elephant Token
Halfpenny. "LON DON". PCGS graded VF-20. Called "very rare" by
Breen, this one is nice for the grade, with dark brown toning and decent
surfaces. A couple of minor pits can be seen on the obverse, along with some
trivial rim ticks. This variety is the famous "Godless" halfpenny, as the usual
motto GOD PRESERVE LONDON has been shortened to simply LON DON. The central
reverse has traces of undertype, as often seen, from the host coin used to
strike these.
Estimated Value $1,500-2,000.
Lot 27
(1680) London Elephant Token
Halfpenny. "LON DON" and the regular issue Elephant Token. The first coin
in this set is the extremely rare "LON DON" issue, of which according to our
consignor there are about 15 to 20 known. This coin grades Very Good-8
and has very pleasing surfaces. Toned a light to medium brown, with some darker
shades adhering near the devices. Almost always found in lower grades, this
defect free example should generate high bids from colonial
specialists.
Second in this set is the regular issue (Breen-166) struck on a
thick planchet. This one grades Extremely Fine 40 and was cleaned and
retoned some time ago. Now a medium brown with some very minor surface ticks
and handling marks.
The last coin in the set has diagonals at the center
shield, but the piece representing this is a cast copy.
This is a
fascinating set of these, the important coin is the "LON DON" reverse, or
"Godless halfpenny" which is a high rarity-6 variety. So named because the
motto "GOD PRESERVE LONDON" has been reduced to only LON DON, spaced on either
side of the shield. The longer motto on the coin refers to the great plague and
fire that decimated London in 1665-66.
An impressive group that is mounted
in a custom Capital Plastics holder. Lot of 3 coins.
Estimated Value
$1,000-UP.