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 Replies: 12 / Views: 1,465 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1299 Posts |
It has been a little slow here, so I thought I would post this coin. I bought it in a PCGS SP-62 holder during the 2013 RCNA convention auction in Winnipeg. It is not the most attractive coin and received very little attention in the auction. In "Past & Nearly Perfect," I put forth the hypothesis that this cent was the inspection copy Wyon received on June 4, 1858 and, therefore, perhaps the first Provincial cent struck in the adopted design. In the book, I gave several circumstantial reasons why I thought this was the case. Unfortunately, sufficient records do not exist to prove my hypothesis conclusively. Based upon the odd color, I also think this coin, although certainly containing a large percentage of copper, probably also contains nickel and should be designated as a PC-7 trial. The significant color variations (from very reddish to totally gray) in the ten, or so, PC-7 examples extant tell me that these early trials were struck in various copper-nickel alloys. I resubmitted the coin to PCGS in an attempt to get them to designate the coin as a PC-7. Alas, they would not. I have no idea if they actually did XRF testing on it, or merely assessed the color. I resubmitted it a second time and PCGS agreed to grade it as a full vine specimen cent. A bit of an ugly duckling, but a terrific coin with a story. 1858 Cent, PCGS SP-62 Brown, Full Vine, and probably unique in this die pairing. Click on the photo to enlarge it. https://www.pcgs.com/valueview/vict...917639&h=pop*** Edited by Staff - Added image here *** Edited by bosox
08/15/2024 4:45 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5460 Posts |
Yes, odd Obv color, but why isn't the Rev the same? Maybe the Obv was toward an unfriendly environment. It's still a great full-vine '58. You never cease to amaze me, Rob. I didn't even need sunglasses on to see this one of yours.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
1299 Posts |
Bill - Both sides have the greenish tint, but it shows more on the obverse. Both sides also have the gray tones usually seen on copper-nickel examples. Obviously, an environmental reaction to how it was stored over the years, but different from any 95/4/1 bronze cent I have seen.
The pictures of this coin in the book show the grays better. The overall effect in hand is a reddish gray with hints of light greens.
http://www.victoriancent.com2011 & 2025 Fred Bowman Award Winner, 2020 J. Douglas Ferguson Award Winner, & 2022 Paul Fiocca Award Winner. Life Member of RCNA.
Edited by bosox
08/15/2024 7:45 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1299 Posts |
BTW, for those of you who follow die pairs, this is OA3/RA3 and the only example, specimen or business strike, currently known from this die pair.
Edited by bosox
08/16/2024 01:35 am
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Moderator
 United States
171047 Posts |
A nice example!  |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1299 Posts |
Here is another coin that I discussed at length in "Past & Nearly Perfect." It is one of only two examples known and the only one in private hands. Do you know what makes it so rare?   *** Edited by Staff - Images uploaded here. *** |
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5460 Posts |
Looks like a specimen and an OBV 1a. It also has full serif N's. That's without looking at your or our books.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1299 Posts |
Correct. The only other known copy is in a museum. For those who want to know when, where, how, and why this coin was made, you can read about it and many other coins in "Past & Nearly Perfect." The book is available on the RCNA website and all proceeds go to them. The author donated the book to the RCNA and receives no compensation. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1299 Posts |
http://www.victoriancent.com2011 & 2025 Fred Bowman Award Winner, 2020 J. Douglas Ferguson Award Winner, & 2022 Paul Fiocca Award Winner. Life Member of RCNA.
Edited by bosox
08/16/2024 7:11 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
5460 Posts |
Not too many takers, Rob. It's a 1a Obv and the N's have all the correct serifs and it's a specimen. I can't guess what makes it special except the above, plus it's probably in your hands which makes it rare.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1299 Posts |
It is an 1881-H trial cent struck by The Royal Mint, not Heaton, circa December 1880. I suspect they struck it to inspect the reverse design, into which they had entered several repairs to the vine and stems, a new date, and a mintmark. It is the only example known. Heaton later struck 1881-H specimen cents using different die pairs. The key evidence is the obverse die they used on this cent. It had previously been employed by The Royal Mint to strike 1876, No H, specimen cents. The Royal Mint later used this same die to strike an 1886 obverse 1A specimen cent and then consumed it striking the circulating 1886 obverse 1A cents. If you are interested in these types of cents, pick up "Past & Nearly Perfect." The book describes in detail these three, and 44 more, different types of specimen cents, many of which were patterns and trials used in the development of the circulating cents many of us collect. Many large cent specimen cents are not what they seem, nor what they historically were thought thought to be. http://www.victoriancent.com2011 & 2025 Fred Bowman Award Winner, 2020 J. Douglas Ferguson Award Winner, & 2022 Paul Fiocca Award Winner. Life Member of RCNA.
Edited by bosox
08/18/2024 5:39 pm
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
1571 Posts |
Very interesting Bosox, thanks for the history lesson!
Those specimen cents are fantastic.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
638 Posts |
Like always bosox, very impressive!!! Thanks for sharing.
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Replies: 12 / Views: 1,465 |
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Posted 08/15/2024 7:41 pm
