More On The Restrike 1804 Dollars
Rittenhouse
Posts: 603 ✭✭✭✭
John Dannreuther and I recently completed a study of the Class II and III Restrike 1804 dollars. Briefly, characteristics common to all of the restrikes show that they were all struck at the same time and historical documents support the striking as being sometime between late 1859 and early summer of 1860.
The characteristics allowed us to create the first emission sequence for Restrike 1804 dollars and that sequence shows that not only was the James A. Stack, Sr. Class III piece he first struck, but also that most of the Class III pieces were struck PRIOR to the lone surviving Class II coin. In fact, only the Linderman Class III piece is in a later die state than the lone Class II. This is, of course, completely the opposite of what many have previously proposed.
For those interested in our findings, Stacks Bowers will be printing our monograph in the auction catalog. For those who do not get a copy of the catalog, we will be re-publishing the article later next year in the numismatic press.
[edited for typo, thanks Mark)
Comments
Interesting.
Tom, You'll like the article. It debunks a lot of ancient myth - like the Class IIIs not appearing until the 1870s. Historical docs show they first appeared in late1863 or very early 1864.
Are you completely discounting the possibility that they first appeared in the back rooms of Philadelphia coin shops in late 1859 or early 1860 before being clawed back? I like to think that it could have happened. As Captain Renault said to Richard Blaine in “Casablanca,” “It’s the Romantic in me!”
Second time you stated a dispositive opinion without providing any facts. If you are going to go with "sometime" 1859-60 as first and only re re striking, then what I intend to publish in a few months may call that conclusion into serious question. Mention as a courtesy only.
Perhaps there are facts regarding that particular detail included in the article. Regardless, it sounds like you might have come to a different conclusion about the timing of the re-striking, but you haven’t yet presented any facts, either. In each case, I can appreciate that each of you would want to save such information until your articles are made available to the public.
Mark Feld* of Heritage Auctions*Unless otherwise noted, my posts here represent my personal opinions.
All for sharing, and did try, but was dismissed by OP (" Keep digging and you'll eventually come up with the real stories. Shouldn't be hard, I and others have published the docs for the last 30 years"). So that was that ... Will wait for the twice teased reveal. Think my willingness to share is evident in the other extended thread. That was enjoyable, but I am aware I tested the Board's patience, so stopped.
Did mention some facts already in the very extended thread, just one most basic one being the Mint Cabinet inventories--which antedated "summer 1859-60." But you are correct, that one fact alone is not enough for any conclusion.
Is news though this work is a piece which will be used in the sale of what will now apparently be claimed to be a "first strike" of a single batch of re-re strikes (was it commissioned/ paid for by Stacks?).
I am specifically holding off so as to not affect the sale (also, and candidly-- other projects are also in need of completion). Buyer at that level should be sophisticated enough to perform his/her own due diligence, and scrutinize any claims in an auction listing. My write up will not be compensated, likely just posted here, and no credit will be sought.
Do hope this auction write up includes Secret Service Records, citations to 19th and 20th century litigation filings, and diaries and papers both domestic and foreign. Perhaps it might mention Stack's time as a Bankruptcy Trustee, and his connections, or not. Much, much more, to the story than die states of such a small sample size, and records contained only in NARA Record Group 104.
Bingo! Why would I "claim jump" our own article? If you want to see the evidence get a copy of the catalog or wait until we publish in another venue later next year.
What do Secret Service records, etc. have to do with die states, emission sequences, when these pieces were struck, who struck them, and when they first appeared ?
Oh yes, to answer JCH22's question as to whether the article was commissioned or paid for by StacksBowers, no it was not. We sent the article to them gratis because we thought it would be nice to have it in the catalog. Sometimes it ain't all about the Benjamins.
By asking that question, it is apparent your research was limited.
@Rittenhouse said:
Then I can see no reason why you are unable/unwilling to post it here.