1999 Martha Washington "Cent" Trial Strike. MS-64 Red and Brown. The numismatic community was recently stunned to hear about the appearance of a Martha Washington Dime, struck in 1965 as an experimental piece. Mint Officials claim that all of the 1965 trial pieces were destroyed or otherwise accounted for, until one turned up this year. Shortly after that appearance, this trial coin turned up in a 1999 Lincoln cent bag and was found by a Brink's employee. Needless to say, finding two Martha Washington pieces in private hands has been exciting news for our hobby.
On this particular coin, it appears to be struck on a normal post 1981 cent planchet, as the composition was changed during 1982 from pure copper to copper plated zinc. According to Paul Gikes, author of an April 10, 2000 article in Coin World (reporting the discovery of the Martha Washington Dime) "The Martha Washington/Mount Vernon dies were most recently used during metallurgical die trial testing for the Sacagawea dollar." This would explain how dies that were used initially in 1965 came to be used on post 1981 cent planchets.
The obverse of this piece was struck approximately 10 percent off-center and the impression is quite weak, showing only the details at the top portion of the die. The reverse is blank. As to its condition, its pretty much as struck, with lovely red and brown color on both sides. We note a small raised line running through VIRGINIA, perhaps this is a die break or some other problem that occurred during striking. Whatever the case, this coin is a delight to behold.
The obverse design features a bust of Martha Washington facing right, in the right field is the inscription MARTHA WASHINGTON. Above the portrait is VIRGINIA and below the date 1759. One this coin, only VIRGINIA and part of Martha's head is visible.
We can only guess as to what happened to create such an error, but it appears to be true that the 1965 Martha Washington dies were dug up out of the die vault, reset in the coining machines, and used for metallurgical die trial testing for the Sacagawea dollar. This coin is clearly a die trial experimental test strike which somehow escaped unnoticed in a regular bag of 1999 or 2000 cents.
Estimated Value $15,000-UP.
