(1982) 1C J-2180 Martha Washington, RD MS(PCGS#509489)

The Regency Auction 43

拍卖行

Legend Rare Coin Auctions

批号

344

等级

MS64RD

价格

28,816

详细说明

A very rare modern Pattern coin that comes with a fantastic story of discovery! Tied for FINEST graded! Brilliant RED luster booms boldly on both sides. A few tiny carbon flecks are noted, attesting to the originality of this piece and will forever identify this near-GEM example. The mint began striking these Martha Washington patterns in 1965 as a way to test new metallic compositions. Dave Bowers wrote in the 10th edition of the Judd reference: "The design was the same for each denomination and the strikes conform in size to the regular coinage...fantasy designs were prepared with no relation to current coinage motifs...to avoid creating 'rarities' by using regular dies." These designs are missing the required mottoes and a denomination. How were these found? Our consignor relayed the following information, summarized for clarity: As a journeyman machinist in the early 1980’s, the consignor was employed by a press rebuilding facility that was assigned the task of overhauling and repairing penny presses likely from the West Point Mint. After several months the machines were in working order and the Mint sent a large bin of blank planchets and press operators for testing. They were on site for a number of days and ran what seemed like thousands of test samples. Even though the blanks were thought to be meticulously inventoried, a few pieces managed to roll away and become trapped in a gap between the floor and the wall. Sometime later, months after the presses had been returned to their home at the Mint, the consignor was repairing a circuit breaker box and noticed the shine of the copper in the gap. He put them in his tool box where they would lie undisturbed for the next 40 years. In preparing to move, the consignor was cleaning out his home and rediscovered his old toolbox containing these uncommon test samples. With some help and guidance from the Message Boards, the consignor was able to have the coins certified and graded solidifying their rarity. Legend Auctions is pleased to offer this sought after Martha pattern. PCGS 5, NGC 0, CAC 2. The only MS64 RD to sell brought $5,906 in an internet only auction in August 2020. The only other J-2180 in the RD category was a 63 that sold in December 2020 for $3,600. Worthy of a fantastic collection of modern Patterns, we suspect this wonderful coin will bring a very strong price. Cert. Number 39398578 PCGS # 509489.00