| Description: |
A very sharp and highly desirable specimen of this 1776-dated classic. Even brilliant
light pewter gray on the obverse, a bit more toned on the reverse with traces of lustre
and some deeper gray color. Extremely bold, with all states names visible on the reverse
and showing little if any actual wear. The obverse, as so often seen in any coin struck in
this reactive composition, once showed scattered specks of corrosion that have now been
tooled away. These pits vary in size though few effect the design elements. The reverse
has been largely exempted from both the corrosion and the tooling, with just a few specks
and scrapes, including a repair at the rim below 9:00. The obverse shows some hairlines
under a glass, but no details appear to have been strengthened. While this is not a
flawless specimen, it is also not a $50,000 coin like so many examples with similar
sharpness in today's market. No early American collection can be considered complete
without this one dollar coin issued as part of the February 1776 emission of Continental
Currency—the rest of the issue happened to be paper. This example offers a good balance
of sharpness, eye appeal, and affordability. Truly worn specimens rarely come on the
market and, despite the fact that the Guide Book prices this issue down to Good, none were
used long enough in commerce to achieve such extensive wear.
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