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(1616) 6PENCE Sommer Islands Sixpence, Large Portholes AU50 NGC. Breen-3, W-11445, R.6....
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Sold on May 5, 2022 for:
$120,000.00
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Description
(1616) Sommer Islands Sixpence, AU50
Large Portholes Variety, W-11445
Among the Finest at NGC
(1616) 6PENCE Sommer Islands Sixpence, Large Portholes AU50 NGC.
Breen-3, W-11445, R.6. Ex: Long Island Collection. The Sommer
Islands (Bermuda) coinage -- twopence, threepence, sixpence, and
shilling -- was introduced under the governorship of Daniel Tuckar
(or Tucker) of the Virginia Plantation, who "arrived in the middle
of May 1616," according to Whitman's Colonial Encyclopedia.
Although long believed to have been struck in brass, they were
actually made of nearly pure copper. Some were plated with tin to
impart a sense of the coins having intrinsic value.Max Spiegel published a lengthy article regarding the origins and production of the so-called hogge money in the August 2009 issue of The Colonial Newsletter entitled, "The Somers Isles Hogge Money: A Theory About Their Mysterious Origin." He ascribes their design and die production to the Charles Anthony, who was connected to both the Royal Mint in the Sommer Islands Company, and possibly his son Thomas, noting that the "first emission of hogge money (assuming there was more than one striking) would have been produced [privately by hammer strike] sometime before the end of 1616." According to Spiegel:
"The hogge money tokens most likely arrived sometime between May and December of 1616, and had fallen out of use within only a year and a half. [Mark] Sportack wrote that the coins were kept in circulation only by the colonists' fear of Governor Tucker's regime, but [Louis] Jordan provides evidence that the hogge money had lost its usefulness while Tucker was still in power. Although Tucker was certainly not liked by the colonists, the end of his rule was not the reason that hogge money stopped being used. Rather, it was the changing economy of the Somers Isles that brought about the early demise of the hogge money."
This Sommer Islands sixpence features Large Portholes on the reverse ship, as opposed to the scarcer Small Portholes variety. It is believed that 20 to 30 examples of the Large Portholes sixpence exist. Several of them were found as part of the Castle Island Hoard in Bermuda and show signs of oxidation. This is a strongly detailed and minimally worn, if typically rough example. The hog, denomination, and ship remain clear, while the obverse legend is slightly difficult to read. Still, condition and quality are far finer than what is usually encountered. Listed on page 31 of the 2022 Guide Book. Census: 3 in 50, 0 finer (3/22).
From The Long Island Collection, Part III.
Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# AUBF, PCGS# 5, Greysheet# 405)
View all of [The Long Island Collection, Part III ]
Auction Info
2022 May 4 - 8 Central States US Coins Signature® Auction #1344 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
May, 2022
4th-8th
Wednesday-Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 20
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 4,733
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
20% of the successful bid per lot.
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