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Dallas Signature US Coin Sale 1261 2-3 Nov 2017
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Colonials
1785 Immune Columbia, Nova Constellatio, Silver, Vertically Reeded Edge, 13 Stars, W-1985, R.7, AU58 PCGS. The silver Immune Columbia patterns rank among the most interesting post-Colonial, pre-federal issues. Not only are they rare, but they played an important role in a high-stakes attempt to gain a coinage contract from the Continental Congress prior to the establishment of a federal Mint and coinage system.
The Immune Columbia pieces owe their existence to the combined efforts of Gouverneur Morris, Robert Morris (no relation), and Benjamin Dudley, who wanted to establish a mint in Philadelphia and implement a decimal coinage system based on the dollar and the cent. The trio believed they had an inside track to gain the potentially lucrative contract, since the decimal system was favored by Thomas Jefferson, and Gouverneur Morris was a strong advocate and supporter of George Washington.
Other powerful forces were at work, and ultimately the Morris-Dudley proposal was not accepted by Congress. Gouverneur Morris (still in partnership with Robert Morris) then took one of their early copper patterns to Wyons' mint in England, and contracted for the design and mintage of Nova Constellatio coppers. It is likely that the silver Immune Columbia patterns were struck in 1785 as well, since the obverse die is common to the 1785 Nova Constellatio copper Crosby 3-B, in an earlier die state. Whether the silver patterns were actually struck in England or in the United States is open for debate.
Three edge varieties are known for the silver pieces. Both diagonal and vertical reeded edges exist, and at least one Plain Edge silver pattern is known as well. The present piece is a Vertical Reeded Edge example, although it historically has been classified as a Plain Edge coin. Walter Breen's Encyclopedia may be in part responsible for the misunderstanding, where he describes the Lauder specimen as having a plain edge, "plugged, withdrawn." He is incorrect on two counts -- the edges show lightly impressed vertical reeds (it is not a Plain Edge pattern), and most importantly, there is no evidence of a plugged hole anywhere on the coin. Perhaps the edge reeding prompted its withdrawal from the Loye L. Lauder Collection (William Doyle Galleries, 12/1983) as lot 191, or, it may have been a question of the coin's authenticity. Both of those factors are put to rest with the present coin's PCGS encapsulation.
The surfaces of this exceptional near-Mint example are glossy and lightly iridescent. Attractive gunmetal-gray and blue shades prevail over the sharply defined surfaces. All of the Immune Columbia silver patterns are slightly incomplete in strike on the highest points of the obverse -- knee, arm, and hand -- yet this piece is sharper than (for example) the AU55 NGC Garrett/Ford/Partrick coin and other well-known pieces.
We believe between 13 and 15 silver patterns exist (all edge varieties combined). They have been eagerly collected from the hobby's early days by Colonial specialists and advanced collectors including Virgil Brand, Garrett, Roper, Picker, Robison, Oechsner, Norweb, and Lauder. Most specimens lay claim to lengthy and distinguished pedigrees. The silver Immune Columbia pieces are listed on page 57 of the 2018 Guide Book. This is the finest-certified example at either service (9/17).
Our thanks to Scott Rubin, for his help in confirming that the present coin is indeed the Lauder specimen, and to Scott Schechter at NGC for his valuable assistance clarifying the Census data for high-grade silver Immune Columbia pieces.
From The Liberty Collection, Part IV.
HID02901242017
1785 Immune Columbia, Nova Constellatio, Silver, Vertically Reeded Edge, 13 Stars, W-1985, R.7, AU58 PCGS. The silver Immune Columbia patterns rank among the most interesting post-Colonial, pre-federal issues. Not only are they rare, but they played an important role in a high-stakes attempt to gain a coinage contract from the Continental Congress prior to the establishment of a federal Mint and coinage system.
The Immune Columbia pieces owe their existence to the combined efforts of Gouverneur Morris, Robert Morris (no relation), and Benjamin Dudley, who wanted to establish a mint in Philadelphia and implement a decimal coinage system based on the dollar and the cent. The trio believed they had an inside track to gain the potentially lucrative contract, since the decimal system was favored by Thomas Jefferson, and Gouverneur Morris was a strong advocate and supporter of George Washington.
Other powerful forces were at work, and ultimately the Morris-Dudley proposal was not accepted by Congress. Gouverneur Morris (still in partnership with Robert Morris) then took one of their early copper patterns to Wyons' mint in England, and contracted for the design and mintage of Nova Constellatio coppers. It is likely that the silver Immune Columbia patterns were struck in 1785 as well, since the obverse die is common to the 1785 Nova Constellatio copper Crosby 3-B, in an earlier die state. Whether the silver patterns were actually struck in England or in the United States is open for debate.
Three edge varieties are known for the silver pieces. Both diagonal and vertical reeded edges exist, and at least one Plain Edge silver pattern is known as well. The present piece is a Vertical Reeded Edge example, although it historically has been classified as a Plain Edge coin. Walter Breen's Encyclopedia may be in part responsible for the misunderstanding, where he describes the Lauder specimen as having a plain edge, "plugged, withdrawn." He is incorrect on two counts -- the edges show lightly impressed vertical reeds (it is not a Plain Edge pattern), and most importantly, there is no evidence of a plugged hole anywhere on the coin. Perhaps the edge reeding prompted its withdrawal from the Loye L. Lauder Collection (William Doyle Galleries, 12/1983) as lot 191, or, it may have been a question of the coin's authenticity. Both of those factors are put to rest with the present coin's PCGS encapsulation.
The surfaces of this exceptional near-Mint example are glossy and lightly iridescent. Attractive gunmetal-gray and blue shades prevail over the sharply defined surfaces. All of the Immune Columbia silver patterns are slightly incomplete in strike on the highest points of the obverse -- knee, arm, and hand -- yet this piece is sharper than (for example) the AU55 NGC Garrett/Ford/Partrick coin and other well-known pieces.
We believe between 13 and 15 silver patterns exist (all edge varieties combined). They have been eagerly collected from the hobby's early days by Colonial specialists and advanced collectors including Virgil Brand, Garrett, Roper, Picker, Robison, Oechsner, Norweb, and Lauder. Most specimens lay claim to lengthy and distinguished pedigrees. The silver Immune Columbia pieces are listed on page 57 of the 2018 Guide Book. This is the finest-certified example at either service (9/17).
Our thanks to Scott Rubin, for his help in confirming that the present coin is indeed the Lauder specimen, and to Scott Schechter at NGC for his valuable assistance clarifying the Census data for high-grade silver Immune Columbia pieces.
From The Liberty Collection, Part IV.
HID02901242017