1787 Auctori Plebis

dwood

Does anyone here have info on this token? By chance, I am now the proud owner of a PCGS AU50BN sample of this obscure, but intriguing beauty (My 3 year old daughter put in a bid for me, WITHOUT my knowledge, or her's I assume, in the Heritage FUN on-line auction!) So, rather than get upset, I've decided to learn to love it.....now that I at least know what it is

Thanks in advance for any info anyone can provide (and I do mean ANY!)

Placid

Do you have the lot number?

dwood

Sure thing...

5074

And the picture is pretty dark...I can't see much detail.

And please spare me if I/she paid too much

Placid

1787 TOKEN Auctori Plebis Token AU50 PCGS. A chocolate-brown specimen with a strong reverse but somewhat weak in the center of the obverse, typical for the issue. This intriguing token is seemingly loosely based on the Connecticut Coppers of 1785-1788, but are believed to have been struck in England. Popular, though little is definitively known about their origins. Listed on page 53 of the 2003 Guide Book.

Your coin.

dwood

Sweet Placid! Off to the 2003 Red Book now!

Thanks!

Placid

Heritage lists the pcgs pop's as 50-7 >50-4 no prices listed.
Your Daughter has good taste

dwood

I did notice that (the population was pretty low, and I think the finest known is an AU58), so you're right. It isn't like she bid $1200 for a 92-D Lincoln, MS63BN (Old Cleaning). Actually, I've been laughing about it ever since. I'm lucky and dumb enough to buy something I know nothing about, then have it turn out to be something pretty good

I've lightened up the images enough, and studied the photos in the Red Book enough to know that I really like the coin. And the history of it is pretty intriguing, although spotty at best (no one really seems to know exactly where and why it was minted). I really like the "it was meant to be a US issue, but never quite made it" angle.

It will probably stay here forever, and eventually be inherited by my daughter. I can't wait to tell her "No......THIS, is the first coin you ever bought!!"

Thanks for all the help and info!

MadMarty

At $950 I would learn to love it.

dwood

I'm learning, LOL.....

Maybe I now own the only "Auctori Plebis Bidet" in existence?!?

Nah....I'm not that lucky...

Singapore

<< <i>I did notice that (the population was pretty low, and I think the finest known is an AU58)! >>



dwood -

Several comments:

First, let me say that the coin you've acquired is an excellent example of the type not only for its grade, and its apparently very nice color, but also for the fact that it is, based on the scan posted by Placid, a less common early die state example.

Most examples of this coin display a curved die break (seen as a prominent raised line) running from the face of the seated figure to the top of the globe. This is quite apparent on the redbook plate coin - take a look. Not to mislead you - this does not mean you now own a $5000 coin - but it is desireable.

Finally, to the quote at the top of this post. I actually own the PCGS AU58 coin, which is very nice and in my opinion, conservatively graded by PCGS.

Having said that, it is not accurate to say that the finest known is this AU58. It is accurate to say the the AU58 is currently the finest graded.

Only a small handful of these have been submitted to PCGS of a surviving population in all grades I would estimate to be a few hundred. Diligent review of all past auction records would probably reveal a few mint state coins out there somewhere unkown to PCGS -

dwood

Thanks for your input Singapore, and as you can probably see...I'm already loving this coin, even though I just learned of it. I may have been mistaken in calling the AU58 the finest known, but I could swear that I read a report somewhere stating that there was only 1 AU58 in existence, and none higher (At least through PCGS). That report could be old, or mistaken, so I apologize if I mislead anyone.

I'm looking forward to study more about this token, and learning whatever I can, but as you know, the history seems to be a little "vague" in regards to its purpose, origin, etc... Still, I think that adds to the intrigue, and maybe my daughter KNEW what she was doing?!?

Thanks for your input!

relayer

Cool purchase.

Have you daughter pick out something from my auctions .