Pre-Long Beach Auction #84

1792 Silver Half Disme Judd-7 Rarity-4 PCGS Genuine, VF Details, Holed/Plug. Cleaned and starting to retone light bluish steel and silvery gray. There are numerous fine scratches on both sides and the planchet is a bit uneven. In addition there appears to have been a hole in the field before the face and possibly another in the field under the chin, and both were plugged. The plugs are not at all obvious but some of the profile has been altered in very subtle ways. On the good side of the ledger the date is strong and the legends are complete and easily readable although a few letters are weak. Far from perfect but these pieces circulated extensively and low-grade examples are not uncommon. While Judd and some other researchers considered the half dismes to be patterns for our new country's coinage, research has shown that no less than George Washington himself called these circulating coins of the new United States of America. In a letter dated 1792 President Washington referred to these pieces when he stated "There has been a small beginning in the coinage of half dismes, the want of small coins in circulation calling the first attention to them." These were not struck at the US Mint because it was not yet prepared to strike coins. Instead they were struck in a facility close to the mint's location, and about 1500 were struck, all from the same pair of dies. An important piece of history for the United States of America and our coinage. Listed on page 89 in the "Redbook."
Estimated Value $10,000-UP.