1776 Pewter $1 CURENCY MS61 PCGS....

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Description

Important 1776 Continental CURENCY Dollar
Struck in Pewter, MS61

1776 Pewter $1 CURENCY MS61 PCGS. Crosby Pl. VIII, Newman 1-C, Breen-1089, W-8445, R.3. Today, we consider the obverse of this design to include the date and sundial with the reverse containing the 13 interlinked rings bearing the state names. In 1875, however, Sylvester S. Crosby considered the obverse and reverse to be exactly opposite. The design of these coins was taken from a similar motif appearing on Colonial Currency notes, prompting the "dollar" description for these coins; however, also suggesting that they may have been a fiat coinage that was intended only as a substitute for paper money, and never intended to have any intrinsic value. In the Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins, Q. David Bowers states, "It was likely intended that the pewter Continental dollar coin serve in place of the $1 note during the latter part of 1776." These coins are therefore often collected by those who specialize in silver dollars, and most collectors have waited a long time for just the right example. The Continental Currency coinage is also important from a historical standpoint, bearing the 1776 date of our nation's founding.
This is a remarkable Mint State example of the pewter Continental Currency coinage with the misspelling CURENCY. The surfaces are light gray with considerable prooflike finish. A few minor blemishes are visible on each side; however, the overall aesthetic appeal of this example is quite high. On the obverse, the sun is weakly defined while the opposing portion of the reverse design is similarly weak. Although a few examples are known in brass, copper, and silver, nearly all Continental Currency coins are of pewter composition. Listed on page 81 of the 2009 Guide Book.
Ex: Karl Scheible Collection; Pittsburgh ANA (Heritage, 8/2004), lot 5042.

Coin Index Numbers: (NGC ID# 2AYN, PCGS# 791, GSID# 76)

View Certification Details from PCGS