1792 10C J-10, BN SP62BN 认证号26557173, PCGS号11026

With the R-6 copper pattern Disme of 1792, we see the direct influence of the famed Libertas Americana medal on the genesis of coinage designs for the new United States Mint. As the Senate and House of Representatives debated back and forth as to coinage designs to be mandated within the "Mint Act," or, more accurately, "An Act Establishing a Mint, and Regulating the Coins of the United States," the Senate was in favor of using the President's portait for circulating coinage. The House of Representatives, though, was steadfast in its resolve that coinage should bear an "image emblematic of Liberty." Ultimately, the Senate accepted the Representatives' resolution, and the Mint Act was signed into law on April 2, 1792. The copper Disme patterns were among the earliest patterns produced for the new coinage of the United States, and from there, the beautiful flowing hair design of the Libertas Americana Medal spread throughout the copper coinage of 1793 through 1797, and the silver coinage of 1794 and 1795.

P. Scott Rubin

The 1792 Copper Disme with Reeded Edge, Judd-10 is a Rarity 6 coin (13-30 known), making this issue the second most common of the rare 1792 coinage varieties. The much more common 1792 Silver Half Disme, a coin with over two hundred specimens known was struck in the metal of a circulation strike and many believe it was issued for circulation. However, the 1792 Disme does not appear to have ever been issued for circulation and was a pattern-only issue. It is somewhat surprising then that so many of the Copper Dismes were struck. It is also surprising that approximately two-thirds of the surviving 1792 Copper Dismes with Reeded Edge are known in Very Fine condition or better. Three of the survivors are graded either Proof or Specimen Issues.

It seems probable that 1792 Copper Dismes with Reeded Edge were given to a number of people to display as an example of the proposed coinage of the U.S. That would explain the Specimen specimens and helps explain why so many survive in nice condition. While it is not definitely known who engraved these coins, it appears that they were not engraved by Birch (who did the 1792 Birch Cents) and they were not engraved by Joseph Wright (who engraved the 1792 Pattern Quarter).

Besides the two identified as Specimen issues, which are graded SP65 Brown and SP55 by PCGS, and one Proof graded PR62BN by NGC, there are two 1792 Copper Dismes with Reeded Edge with claims to Uncirculated condition. Since Proof coinage was not officially started at the U.S. Mint until about 1817, it is probably more accurate to call any coin that appears to be a proof struck before that date a Specimen.