OOOps!! I think we have another mis-attributed HK-854.
keets
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There is currently an eBay listing for a So-Called Dollar which is encapsulated by PCGS as HK-854, an 1876 issue from Prof. Montroville Dickeson. It seems to me that it is actually an HK-854a Bowers Restrike from around 1960. The diagnostics are listed in "So-Called Dollars" by Hibler-Kappen as highlighted below:
NOTE: In 1962, 7,200 White Metal restrikes were issued by the current owners of the dies, Empire Coin Company, owned by Q. David Bowers. The medals were minted by John Pinches & Sons, Ltd., of England. Empire Coin die varieties can be attributed by a small die gouge above the O of Continental in the denticles and a diagonal scratch below the C in Continental. Empire Coin Company then sold the dies to Robert Bashlow, who produced 2,000 Silver, 3,000 Goldine and 5,000 Bronze restrikes, together with "a few trial pieces in various metals." He later announced that "dies have already been donated to the Smithsonian Institution..." Thickness of these White Metal restrikes is approximately 2 1/2 mm. as compared with 3 mm. thickness of Dickeson piece, No. 854. Silver restrikes by Bashlow have small S on reverse and are approximately 2 3/4 mm. in thickness (no S on No. 852); Goldine and Bronze restrikes are approximately 2 1/2 mm. thick.
Looking at the TrueView images the scratch and die gouge can be plainly seen, so the TPG's need to start paying attention and also measuring the thickness of these medals and, hopefully, adding that to an already cluttered insert. That would clarify things. So check the description, the worded diagnostics and the images and tell me what you think because I could be wrong.
Al H.
you should be able to click on the image for a larger view or visit the cert look-up page.
Comments
Yikes! No comment.
Good catch, Al!
Given the large number of restrikes I am surprised they don't appear more often. Is it possible that many went unsold and still exist today in a hoard?
we have a few somewhere in the store and that's probably the case around the country. they show up routinely on eBay so I doubt there's a hoard.