Martha Washington Pattern Restrikes
Zoins
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Does anyone know about these Martha Washington Pattern restrikes? Who issued them and who minted them?
Looks like someone got the original obverse die and made these with a new reverse die. Looks like they come in gold and silver.
Regarding mintage, the description ends with the text: "Mintages are incredible limited, with no more than 100 sets possible — and even fewer in flawless MS70 condition. Secure this “secret” piece of U.S. Mint history today!" -- does this mean the gold and silver each have a mintage of 100?
https://www.govmint.com/2pc-2019-50-cent-martha-washngtn-1759-ngc-ms70
GovMint.com said:
Do You Know the Secret of the Martha Washington Half Dollar?In 1965, 1982 and 1999, the United States Mint created special Martha Washington dies. Designed by Edward R. Grove, creator of the Kennedy Half Dollar, the dies depict an effigy of the “Mother of our Country,” along with a date of 1759 — the year she married General George Washington. Sounds interesting, right? But despite the beautiful design, historic theme and high potential for collector interest, no pieces were ever struck for circulation.
So, if these dies were created and apparently never used, what were they for? It was a mystery that remained a closely guarded secret for decades until a die was discovered in 1999 and made an appearance on the front page of Coin World, arguably the world’s most popular magazine dedicated to news about coins, paper money, medals and tokens.
Here’s how the story got out: These dies existed solely for striking pattern coins. They did not have a legal-tender denomination and were used only to test metal alloys for future coinage. In 1999, the U.S. Mint contracted with four companies to strike test pattern coins with the alloy later used for the Sacajawea Dollar. The dies were so important to the Mint that they were insured for $250,000 when they were shipped to each contractor company. Normally, dies like these are returned to the Mint and “canceled” or destroyed along with the test patterns, but an uncanceled 1999 die wound up in private ownership. This was when the world first learned of the Martha Patterns.
Now, for the first time ever, an authentic Martha Washington Half Dollar die has been used to create a limited number of pieces available to the public. This release also marks the first time a restrike has been created using an uncanceled U.S. Mint obverse die since 1900!
This two-piece set contains patterns struck in one ounce of highly pure 99.9% gold and 20 grams of 99.9% fine silver. Both pieces have been certified by the Numismatic Guaranty Corporation (NGC) as being in flawless Mint State-70 (MS70) condition, a distinction that means your perfectly-graded pieces will have ZERO imperfections — showing all features and fields exactly as the engraver and mint intended.
Mintages are incredible limited, with no more than 100 sets possible — and even fewer in flawless MS70 condition. Secure this “secret” piece of U.S. Mint history today!
Comments
Fred had a couple of these 1759 dies for sale. As did Byers at last Denver ANA years ago. There's more than one of these dies loose, in the wild.
https://mikebyers.com/martha-washington-obverse-die.html
https://www.coinworld.com/news/us-coins/martha-washington-fascinating-pattern-coin.html
There's alot of firsthand info out there, you know from dealers who've owned them, had them in inventory. I only googled up 2 pages. None are cancelled in person or images what I have seen.
Maybe Carr should get one on loan or purchase so he can do his magic with it/them.
@Zoins... Very interesting... Certainly a unique piece. Any backstory on how the die ended up in private ownership? Cheers, RickO
I've wondered about these as well.
I seem to recall that someone refurbished an old press and found some inside the machinery.
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I like the NGC insert, it put a lot of information on it. Nice coin.
Some of the dies were reportedly sent out to private companies to test striking of new planchet types; presumably, a few of those dies were never returned to the Mint.
Does anyone know when these were available? I'd have been sorely tempted.
I knew it would happen.
NGC and GovMint indicates these were done in 2019. They were available for a few years later. It's nice to know that the market can support 100 of these sets.
The price of the silver and gold NGC MS70 set was $5,000.
I haven't seen any on the secondary market.
At $5,000 the soreness of the temptation has gone away, lol.
I knew it would happen.
Gold traded $1,300 to 1,500 an ounce in 2019 according to Coin inflation site.
So these sold for 3x to almost 4x gold price in 2019.
I would like to know more about the manufacturer of these limited to 100 strike sets.
I like my coin art creations to be produced by Artists that put their name & reputation on their restrikes & fantasy creations.
Looks like an impressive run.
It's a nice commentary on the strength of the market that these sold out.
One reason I posted this thread is to see if any information is available on who struck these. I think it's really interesting that NGC slabbed these.
Some examples of the "real" pattern can be bought for less than that.
It would be interesting to compare since those wouldn’t be gold or likely MS70.
Do you know of any you can post?
Some examples of the "real" pattern can be bought for less than that.
Aren't most, or all of the real patterns struck in various base metals? I was never much for restrikes, but D. Carr cured me of that. Some of the other restrikes in precious metals have impressive track records, even though they were offered at prices that I thought were exorbitant at the time.
One reason I posted this thread is to see if any information is available on who struck these. I think it's really interesting that NGC slabbed these.
Wouldn't NGC or GovMint have the back story on the dies? Or Fred Weinberg?
I knew it would happen.
There was a long thread here a couple years ago, started by someone who used to work somewhere that did tests on machinery for the mint, and he had found several of them (cents) after the mint had packed up and left the facility.
I remember. That was an amazing story with some great patterns!
@jmski52
True that the "real" patterns aren't gold, but FOR ME, I'd rather have the real thing.
To see several, search martha washington pattern on eBay.
The great thing about collecting is that people can collect different ways.
True that the "real" patterns aren't gold, but FOR ME, I'd rather have the real thing.
To see several, search martha washington pattern on eBay.
Once was a time (1965) that I thought that one of the original Marthas would be cool to own, but they were beyond my budget at that time. Looking at the ebay prices for the 1999 version, I still think that one of them would be cool to own, but in my mind I have other collecting priorities for the money. Some of D.Carr's creations satisfy part of those urges.
I knew it would happen.
Awesome thread I overlooked...
Now we know these are Daniel Carr fantasies
Happy Saturday bumpity bump
Lindy- your comment requires further explanation:
The obverse die is a genuine uncancelled U.S. Mint die used to strike the ‘Martha Washington’ test pieces.
The reverse die is a Dan Carr die.
Moonlight Mint struck these.
This is the first time that Dan Carr has struck with a genuine uncancelled U.S. Mint die.
And this is the first time that NGC has designated a modern restrike, struck privately, using a genuine U.S. Mint uncancelled die.
So much rubbish....
Welcome back to the PCGS forum after being banned for a number of years.
Your research and positive articles are appreciated.
We already know from your posts on the NGC forum that you aren’t a fan of these.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, obviously.
Having said that…
This was the first time that NGC has designated a modern restrike, struck privately, using a genuine U.S. Mint uncancelled die.
The gold mintage of 100 which was marketed by a coin firm, at three times melt, sold out.
So obviously there is a collector demand.
Which parts?
It seems amazing to have this US Mint design struck in gold and silver, and at a perfect MS70 grade.
More exciting that that two forum members were involved in making this come true, so thanks to @Byers and @dcarr !
Thanks John!
Actually, there were others involved too.
Andy Lustig, Dave Camire, Marc Crane, Dan Carr and myself ( the obverse die is mine) were all involved.
This was the first time that NGC has designated a modern restrike, struck privately, using a genuine U.S. Mint uncancelled die. The insert designates that the restrikes are from an original U.S. Mint uncancelled obverse die.
Wow! That's an amazing set of numismatists for this, including our own Andy @MrEureka !
John Wang was also involved in a Consultant role due to his experience and knowledge with restrikes.
Here is my die that was used, and more info in the special edition of Mint Error News.
https://minterrornews.com/issue2026special.pdf
Correct @Byers , these are not fantasy but instead vintage die restrikes.
Just went to Carr Stats & shot a couple images:
From a purist’s perspective, I sort of agree. But they’re represented honestly, and I love the way the gold ones look and feel in hand.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
“But they’re represented honestly, and I love the way the gold ones look and feel in hand.”
The coin company that sold the gold ones, with a small mintage of 100, at 3x the price of gold, sold out.
Not surprising. We’re not all purists. And even the purists won’t all agree on what’s worth collecting and what is “rubbish”. Some people think that 1913 Liberty Nickels are rubbish. Some people think that a gem proof $20 Lib in aluminum is rubbish. Some people think that a clump of 15 bonded proof Ike dollars is rubbish. And they’re all sort of right, in a way. Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t want to own them all.
Doggedly collecting coins of the Central American Republic.
Visit the Society of US Pattern Collectors at USPatterns.com.
Andy- you weren’t suppose to mention the 15 bonded proof Ike Dollar😉
Andy you are correct. Collecting tastes vary from collector to collector and there are some rubbish coin series that I love and others that I can’t stand, but I never knock the ones that I don’t like!
Very true Andy and Mike. This reminds me of the phrase one person's rubbish is another person's gold, except in this case it is literally everyone's gold.
In addition to 1913 Liberty Nickels, there are collectors that look down on chopmarked silver dollars as damaged and toners as tarnished. It really is a fascinating hobby!
Well said, John! Everyone’s taste is different!
I learned long ago NUMISMATICS is truely a hobby that exists inside an enormous Big Tent.
Coins & Exonumia & History & ...
Happy Hunting !
Here is a screen capture of the entire section on my web page (right-click on it to "Open Image in New Tab", if necessary):
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You sold a cent prototype made of glass for what, $70,000. ?
And it wasn't even made inside the US Mint.
Just sayin' .
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Good memory Dan. It was $70,500 on Heritage here:
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Thanks for looking that up.
I amended my original post.
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Please don't be a wanker. There are plenty who find these interesting.
Many collectors find these restrikes very interesting. The entire Martha Washington project starting in 1965, and still continuing today is fascinating.
stop
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Stop what ?
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the back and forth gotchas that used to pollute ATS