(1688) 1/24RL American Plantations Sidewise 4 VF20 认证号-1914, PCGS号50

Ron Guth

As with many coins, unusual varieties occur often when dies are created by hand.  In this case, the punch used to impress the 4 of the denomination into the die rotated ninety degrees before it was punched in.  The error remained unnoticed or ignored as numerous coins were struck. Three obverses were combined with the Sidewise 4 reverse to create three different die varieties -- all are considered very rare.

No choice examples of the Sidewise 4 are known.  The best example appears to be the PCGS MS60 that sold for $21,850 in 2008.  However, even that coin had some scattered points of tin-pesting (corrosion), a common problem on the American Plantations tokens.