COINS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA


1132


Pattern Washington Cent, 1792, in copper, unsigned [by J.G. Hancock for O. Westwood], bust left, WASHINGTON PRESIDENT around, date below, rev. large eagle with 13 stars above, edge UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 6h (Baker 21; Breen 1229; J.J. Ford Sales, –; Garrett 1712). Very fine, dark patina, of the highest rarity; believed only some six specimens known with this edge


£50,000-70,000 Slabbed in PCGS holder, graded XF 45.


In the hope of obtaining a contract from the U.S. government to produce copper coins the Birmingham firm of William and Alexander Walker commissioned John Gregory Hancock (c. 1750 -1805) to design a copper cent, with the bust of George Washington on the obverse and an American eagle on the reverse. The coins, dated 1791 and with two basic types of reverse design executed from dies by Hancock’s assistant John Jorden, were struck at the manufactory of John (†March 1792) and Obadiah Westwood in Birmingham, and the Walkers shipped some to their American associate, Thomas Ketland & Son, in Philadelphia, where the coins were to be distributed to senators and people of influence in the hope, it was thought, of securing a federal minting contract (see lots 1127 and 1128 in this auction).


Washington rejected the idea of having his portrait on coins as overly monarchical, but nevertheless the Westwood-struck pieces entered circulation. Influenced by such as Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson, Washington was convinced that a federal mint should be established and coins should bear ‘an impression emblematic of Liberty’, but this news was not received by those in Birmingham who proceeded to issue a tiny number of undenominated large eagle patterns in 1792, where the space on the coin for the denomination was replaced with an arch of 13 stars. Of these, the standard authorities (Bowers, Fuld and Breen) differ marginally in their estimates of known examples, but it can be said with a degree of confidence that only some half-dozen pieces of each edge type (lettered or plain) are known; the cataloguer of the Norweb specimen was of the opinion that there were fewer lettered edge examples extant than those with a plain edge.


The finest example in private hands was that formerly owned by Mrs Norweb, slabbed by PCGS and graded AU 53, auctioned by Stack’s in November 2006 for $253,000 (previously thought to be ex Waldo Newcomer); others offered in auctions in the past decade were at the Heritage Long Beach sale in September 2009 (a damaged specimen, possibly that once in the Robert Coulton Davis sale of 1890, $48,875), and the Benson specimen, with traces of silver plating and graded as EF-40 (Goldberg, Beverly Hills, February 2001, lot 119, $48,300). A copy of the extensive research behind the numbers of known specimens, which accompanied the Norweb piece, is sold with the lot


1134


Washington ‘Liberty and Security’ Halfpenny, 1795, edge BIRMINGHAM REDRUTH & SWANSEA, 7.90g/5h (Baker 31; Durst 339; DH Middlesex 1052). Minor marks, otherwise very fine and patinated


£150-200


Provenance: Paramount Auction (USA), 4-5 November 1977, lot 36; M.Z. Gerson Collection; W.J. Noble Collection, Part I, Noble Numismatics Pty, Auction 58B (Melbourne), 7-8 July 1998, lot 683; R.S. Brown Jr Collection


1135


Washington ‘Liberty and Security’ Halfpenny, 1795, edge PAYABLE AT LONDON LIVERPOOL OR BRISTOL, 9.65g/6h (Baker 31; Durst 339; DH Middlesex 1052a). Good very fine with a hint of original colour


£400-500


Provenance: M. Paul Collection; C-4 Convention Auction (USA), 8 November 1997, lot 509; R.S. Brown Jr Collection.


Sold with PCGS slabbed tag, graded MS63 BN


1136


Washington ‘Liberty and Security’ Halfpenny, 1795, edge AN ASYLUM FOR THE OPPRESS’D OF ALL NATIONS, 8.97g/5h (Baker 31; Durst 339; DH Middlesex 1052b). Abraded surfaces, fine, very rare


£150-200


Provenance: R.S. Brown Jr Collection [from J.A. Bobbe October 2003]


1137 1133


Washington ‘Liberty and Security’ Penny [1795], edge AN ASYLUM FOR THE OPPRESS’D OF ALL NATIONS, 19.83g/6h (Baker 30; Durst 341; DH Middlesex 243). Very fine


£300-350


Provenance: R.S. Brown Jr Collection [from S. Cordova August 1994]


These lots are illustrated on our web site


Washington ‘North Wales’ imitation brass Halfpenny, single star either side of harp, edge plain, 4.97g/6h (Baker 34; Durst 347; Atkins 132; DH Middlesex 1052 bis a). Fair £40-50


Provenance: M.Z. Gerson Collection [from D. Sonderman April 1979]; W.J. Noble Collection, Part I, Noble Numismatics Pty, Auction 58B (Melbourne), 7-8 July 1998, lot 685; R.S. Brown Jr Collection


www.dnw.co.uk G Bullion lots sold under the Gold Investment Scheme


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