LOT #5483 |
Sold on Apr 24, 2014 for: Sign-in
or Join (free & quick)
(1737) COPPER Higley Copper, Broad Axe -- Damaged -- NGC Details. VF. Friedus 3.2-C, W-8260, Low R.7. ...
Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
Sold on Apr 24, 2014 for:
$25,850.00
Bid Source: Live: Floor bidder
Description
Broad Axe Higley Copper, VF Details
Coveted Early American Type
Friedus 3.2-C
(1737) COPPER Higley Copper, Broad Axe -- Damaged -- NGC
Details. VF. Friedus 3.2-C, W-8260, Low R.7. Although Samuel
Higley was a medical doctor with a degree from Yale University, his
career involved the mining business in a number of capacities,
including notable work with steel. He bought land containing copper
mines in 1728 and began mining the ore, exporting much of it to
England.Higley appears to have been a colorful personality, as legend states he frequented taverns, presenting copper tokens believed to have been produced by him, likely with his own ore, as a means of paying his bar tab. There apparently was controversy with his initial coppers denominated as threepence, since they contained less copper than British pieces bearing the same denomination. As a result, he redesigned the pieces and added the legend, VALUE ME AS YOU PLEASE to the obverse.
He produced two new reverses as well, one stating I AM GOOD COPPER and the other reading J CUT MY WAY THROUGH. Those legends would later appear on pieces from other issuers, including several Civil War tokens. Higley died in 1737 while aboard a ship bearing his copper to England. His brother John produced the examples dated 1739. It is believed many of the Higley coppers were melted for use in gold production, since local goldsmiths were in need of copper as an alloy.
The present deep brown and evenly granular Higley copper piece has surprising detail. Most of the deer and axe are evident, as are most of the peripheral letters, with the exception of PLEASE. The surfaces are slightly wavy and display a number of small to moderate digs on both sides. A Roman column is entered as graffiti, parallel to the axe handle. The condition is typical for the rare Higley series, since such pieces were given no numismatic consideration, even by their makers, prior to the 19th century. Listed on page 49 of the 2014 Guide Book.
From The Old New England Collection.
Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# AUAX, PCGS# 213, Greysheet# 359)
View all of [The Old New England Collection ]
Auction Info
2014 April 23 - 27 CSNS US Coin Signature Auction - Chicago #1204 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
April, 2014
23rd-27th
Wednesday-Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 21
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 1,393
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
17.5% of the successful bid per lot.
Shipping, Taxes, Terms and Bidding
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms | US & World Coin Grading Tutorial
Important information concerning Sales Tax and Resale Certificates. Learn More
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms | US & World Coin Grading Tutorial