2017-06-09 Fri

The first US coins were struck at Philadelphia Mint in 1793, but before that, a lot of foreign coins and Colonial and Confederation issues were used. “Colonial issues” are not very good-looking, but they have a good market value. Three such colonial coins were offered by Stack’s Bowers Galleries at the Whitman Baltimore Expo.

An Undated (1737) Higley copper, graded Fine Details, Plugged was sold for $21,150. Copper owned by Dr. Samuel Higley’s mine in Connecticut was used to strike Higley coppers separately. Most of these tokens made of pure copper pure copper feature a lot of wear. The original value of these tokens was threepence. They were devalued in certain areas and the obverse legend was changed to VALUE ME AS YOU PLEASE.

These coins are generally dated 1737. But Dr. Higley died in May 1737 and there are speculations that the tokens might have been produced by his son. The offered coin has great details and is graded Fine Details, Plugged with a light tan plug.