Heritage World Coin Auctions
Long Beach Signature US Coin Sale 1252 16-17 Feb 2017
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Colonials
1785 COPPER Inimica Tyrannis Americana, Confederatio, Small Stars, W-5635, Low R.7, XF40 NGC. CAC. Ex: Roper / Donald G. Partrick Collection. 142.7 grains. This splendid copper ranks near the top of the short Condition Census of eight known examples. The discovery specimen, now in the Roger S. Siboni Collection, is the finest known example. The Donald Groves Partrick coin is tied with the Norweb example for the second finest. This piece has exceptional olive and chestnut-brown surfaces with hints of peripheral maroon toning. A single rim bump at the upper obverse is the only imperfection.
A 12-page pamphlet dated May 13, 1785 was published at the same time as the report in the Journal of the Continental Congress. The pamphlet, Propositions Respecting the Coinage of Gold, Silver, and Copper, is attributed to Thomas Jefferson, and also included the work of Hugh Williamson, Robert Morris, and Gouverneur Morris. That report stated the original vision for the Inimica Tyrannis obverse design:
"An Indian, his right foot on a crown, a bow in his left-hand, in his right-hand thirteen arrows, and the inscription MANUS INIMICA TYRANNIS."
The two Confederatio reverse dies are distinguished by the size of stars, and the size of the circle containing those stars, small or large. Those two dies were combined with various obverse dies to create eight varieties, each in copper except as noted. The numbers in parenthesis are the estimated number known for each variety:
1. Inimica Tyrannis America, Large Circle W-5630 (7)
2. Inimica Tyrannis America, Large Circle, silver (1)
3. Inimica Tyrannis Americana, Small Circle W-5635 (9)
4. General Washington, Large Circle W-5645 (6)
5. 1786 Immunis Columbia, Large Circle W-5665 (2)
6. 1786 Heraldic Eagle, Large Circle W-5690 (2)
7. 1787 Heraldic Eagle, Small Circle W-5695 (2)
8. Libertas et Justitia (Nova Constellatio), Large Circle (1)
With nine examples known, the Americana Small Stars (Circle) Confederatio is the most plentiful variety, if indeed any could be called plentiful. This example has similar sharpness to the Eric P. Newman specimen from our November 2014 sale, but with much finer surfaces. A second example in the Donald Groves Partrick Collection is slated to appear in a future Partrick sale. It is graded AU50 NGC, but possesses granulated surfaces.
Ex: George C. Ham Collection; Stack's (6/1973), lot 828; Park Sale (Stack's, 5/1976), lot 126; John L. Roper, 2nd (Stack's, 12/1983), lot 215; Marvin Browder; Ed Milas; Stack's; Jon Hanson (8/8/1998); Donald Groves Partrick; Donald Groves Partrick Collection / FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2015), lot 5640.
1785 COPPER Inimica Tyrannis Americana, Confederatio, Small Stars, W-5635, Low R.7, XF40 NGC. CAC. Ex: Roper / Donald G. Partrick Collection. 142.7 grains. This splendid copper ranks near the top of the short Condition Census of eight known examples. The discovery specimen, now in the Roger S. Siboni Collection, is the finest known example. The Donald Groves Partrick coin is tied with the Norweb example for the second finest. This piece has exceptional olive and chestnut-brown surfaces with hints of peripheral maroon toning. A single rim bump at the upper obverse is the only imperfection.
A 12-page pamphlet dated May 13, 1785 was published at the same time as the report in the Journal of the Continental Congress. The pamphlet, Propositions Respecting the Coinage of Gold, Silver, and Copper, is attributed to Thomas Jefferson, and also included the work of Hugh Williamson, Robert Morris, and Gouverneur Morris. That report stated the original vision for the Inimica Tyrannis obverse design:
"An Indian, his right foot on a crown, a bow in his left-hand, in his right-hand thirteen arrows, and the inscription MANUS INIMICA TYRANNIS."
The two Confederatio reverse dies are distinguished by the size of stars, and the size of the circle containing those stars, small or large. Those two dies were combined with various obverse dies to create eight varieties, each in copper except as noted. The numbers in parenthesis are the estimated number known for each variety:
1. Inimica Tyrannis America, Large Circle W-5630 (7)
2. Inimica Tyrannis America, Large Circle, silver (1)
3. Inimica Tyrannis Americana, Small Circle W-5635 (9)
4. General Washington, Large Circle W-5645 (6)
5. 1786 Immunis Columbia, Large Circle W-5665 (2)
6. 1786 Heraldic Eagle, Large Circle W-5690 (2)
7. 1787 Heraldic Eagle, Small Circle W-5695 (2)
8. Libertas et Justitia (Nova Constellatio), Large Circle (1)
With nine examples known, the Americana Small Stars (Circle) Confederatio is the most plentiful variety, if indeed any could be called plentiful. This example has similar sharpness to the Eric P. Newman specimen from our November 2014 sale, but with much finer surfaces. A second example in the Donald Groves Partrick Collection is slated to appear in a future Partrick sale. It is graded AU50 NGC, but possesses granulated surfaces.
Ex: George C. Ham Collection; Stack's (6/1973), lot 828; Park Sale (Stack's, 5/1976), lot 126; John L. Roper, 2nd (Stack's, 12/1983), lot 215; Marvin Browder; Ed Milas; Stack's; Jon Hanson (8/8/1998); Donald Groves Partrick; Donald Groves Partrick Collection / FUN Signature (Heritage, 1/2015), lot 5640.