~ Copper 4 The Weekend™ ~

Broadstruck · March 25, 2016 2:04AM

1872 Major General John Frederick Hartranft, Republican Candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania, 27mm Diameter, Copper.

Brigadier General Hartranft defeated Robert E. Lee during Lee’s last offensive at Fort Steadman recapturing the fort and earning a brevet major general promotion by Lt. General Ulysses S. Grant and won the Medal of Honor in the Battle of Bull Run. After Abraham Lincoln's assassination president Andrew Johnson appointed Hartranft to command the military prison at the Washington Arsenal where the U.S. government had just incarcerated the seven men and one woman. Hartranft served as Pennsylvania's Auditor General from 1867 to 1873 before he won the Pennsylvania governorship in 1872 for two terms from 1873-1879. In 1876 he ran against Rutherford B. Hayes for the Republican nomination for President. Struck on a thick planchet and as it's not signed I am unsure if this was cut by Lovett, Key, or another die sinker? This is very rare in copper as acquiring this example ended over a 3 year search, as no other has graced the market in 11 years. Also quite scarce in white metal and when encountered examples are seen circulated, abused, and crudely holed for suspension.

Boosibri · March 25, 2016 3:07AM

Came this week from London. The only British date officially authorized by Congress

Broadstruck · March 25, 2016 3:29AM

James V. Dexter proven innocent on 1804 $1 defacement...

As "D" is for William Forrester Dunham!

I've always read that Denver banker James V. Dexter bought his 1804 $1 in 1885 then promptly counter stamped a "D" in the clouds above the eagle's head on the coin's reverse.

Below is a 1837 Low-111 / HT-240 hard times token which just came to market that was formally part of the same June 3rd 1941 Max B. Mehl sale of William Forrester Dunham collection as the famed 1804 Dexter specimen. What appealed to me at first was the mint red as this variety unlike it's sibling the Low-110 Centre Market is never seen with even trace red. I did instantly notice the oil paint cataloging number in the field but even with 20/20 vision the counter stamp just looked like a striking flaw. Upon glancing at it with a 5x loupe the tiny D jumped right out which made me smile. Although I'm not fond of Trade $1's that have been counter stamped by some unknown Chinese merchant with a hammer and punch on a anvil I am of this token based on it's numismatic history. So now that we know that "D" is for William Forrester Dunham, I would wager that if he also counter struck his tokens that other coins in the Mehl sale have a miniscule D that was not mentioned in the descriptions.

Mehl's Description: Lot# 2677 - L. No. 111 Centre Market, N.Y., Uncirculated with nearly full mint red.