2020-06-15 Mon

Ephraim Brasher was a gold and silversmith in New York who was employed to verify the authenticity of foreign gold coins for customers. He had high regard for his skills. He had a hallmark that was stamped on his manufactured coins and also on the coins which were sent to him for assay proofing. The obverse of the Brasher’s gold doubloon featured the state seal and reverse of the coin depicts the sun rising over a mountain with the sea in the foreground surrounded with the legends: "NOVA EBORACA," "COLUMBIA" and the state motto "EXCELSIOR" (Higher). The theme of this coin was showcased by Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe mystery series and in ‘The High Window’novel which was made into a film, The Brasher Doubloon (1947). It is also mentioned in Lawrence Block's Bernie Rhodenbarr, ‘The Burglar Who Studied Spinoza’ mysterious series and John Bellairs's ‘The Mansion in the Mist’. Image Courtesy: Wikipedia.com