1783 MD 1S Chalmers, Short Worm MS(PCGS#596)

The March 2013 Baltimore Auction

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

204

等级

AU50

价格

311,645

详细说明

1783 John Chalmers Shilling. W-1785. Short Worm. AU-50 (PCGS). 55.56 grains.&nbsp;"Perfectly uncirculated, and as fine [a] specimen as can be produced," in the words of cataloger W. Elliot Woodward in the 1867 Joseph J. Mickley sale. The surfaces are a lovely even gray with hints of deep blue, with a liveliness that we can't call luster, but not far removed thereof. The strike is perfect on both sides, with none of the localized weakness from axial misalignment seen so often on this issue. Likewise, the planchet is flawless, with no striations or other issues. The centers are crisp and bold. We can forgive Woodward for calling this Uncirculated considering its detail and eye appeal, but there is a whisper of friction on the high points. The centering is ideal on the reverse, with bold denticles around the full circumference. The obverse is only trivially misaligned, with denticles all the way around and the die edge visible above CHALMERS. An old field scratch is noted below CHA, but no other problems require mention. The visual appeal surpasses nearly every specimen offered in the last decade. <br /> <br /> The provenance is unsurpassable. This piece is accompanied by a note reading "Chalmers shilling, sixpence, and threepence coined by John Chalmers at Annapolis in 1783. This is as fine a set of these rare pieces as there is in existence. I purchased them from the Mickley Collection and paid forty one dollars for them. I have given them to Robert Perkins, Feb. 12. 1881. F.S. Perkins." Consulting the reprint of the priced and named Mickley sale published by Charles Davis in 1996, we find that lot 2531, a set of shilling, sixpence, and threepence all graded Uncirculated, indeed sold for $41 to a bidder using the name McCoy (code names were often used in this era). Further delving finds that F[rederick]. S[tanton]. Perkins of Burlington, Wisconsin subscribed to the <em>American Journal of Numismatics</em> in July 1871 and remained active in numismatics and archaeolog