What was the purpose of the “Smith Counterfeit/Copies” large cents and were they purposely made poor
Longacre
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I have been reading the Breen Half Cent Encyclopedia and the information in it is incredible (my only issue is that thought in the back of my head that some of the information may be fabricated, as Breen has been known to do). In the section about 1793 half cents, Breen refers to “Smith Counterfeits” (also known as “Smith Copies”). I quote:
“The Smith copies (called Smith Counterfeits in Crosby…) were made by completely retooling genuine cents, and their edge devices indicate that worn out 1793’s or 1794’s typically served as his planchets. They have low relief, atypical facial expressions, dates obviously engraved rather than embossed from a die, crude beaded borders (even on his Chain cents, which the originals never had!), and in general, consciously imitate known varieties, neither wisely nor too well. Their fabricator, known only as “Smith of Anne Street”, did his thing some time before about 1863 … .”
Questions:
(1) Does anyone have any more information about Smith, the person? I assume that more information might have come to light since the Breen book was published.
(2) Were these copies meant to deceive? Does anyone know why the copies were made by retooling, rather than by traditional die casting?
(3) For the untrained person, are the coins done sufficiently so as to pass as originals?
(4) What are the populations of these coins, and are they avidly collected?
“The Smith copies (called Smith Counterfeits in Crosby…) were made by completely retooling genuine cents, and their edge devices indicate that worn out 1793’s or 1794’s typically served as his planchets. They have low relief, atypical facial expressions, dates obviously engraved rather than embossed from a die, crude beaded borders (even on his Chain cents, which the originals never had!), and in general, consciously imitate known varieties, neither wisely nor too well. Their fabricator, known only as “Smith of Anne Street”, did his thing some time before about 1863 … .”
Questions:
(1) Does anyone have any more information about Smith, the person? I assume that more information might have come to light since the Breen book was published.
(2) Were these copies meant to deceive? Does anyone know why the copies were made by retooling, rather than by traditional die casting?
(3) For the untrained person, are the coins done sufficiently so as to pass as originals?
(4) What are the populations of these coins, and are they avidly collected?
Always took candy from strangers
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
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Comments
1793 Smith Counterfeit
Betts medals, colonial coins, US Mint medals, foreign coins found in early America, and other numismatic Americana
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
I've always loved Smith Counterfeits, even though we know little more about Smith than when he was active and that he was "of Ann Street." There are Ann Streets all over the place, though Boston and NYC seem the most likely cities of origin.
Betts medals, colonial coins, US Mint medals, foreign coins found in early America, and other numismatic Americana
Ray
That was a positively fascinating story about the coin. If you don't mind telling a trade secret, where did you learn this information?
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I think that you were a little bit harsh on "Mr. Smith," suggesting that what he did was a "hanging proposition." Bastinado would have been sufficient.
TD