New Continental Dollar research book by Robert L. Rodriguez
dcarr
Posts: 10,301 ✭✭✭✭✭
New Whitman book by Robert L. Rodriguez uses cutting-edge science, experimental minting, and historical detective work to challenge longstanding beliefs about one of America’s most controversial numismatic artifacts.
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X-Rays Reveal a Hidden Spanish Dollar Beneath the 1776 Continental Dollar.
Researchers have uncovered remarkable new physical evidence. Using advanced X-ray technology, scientists identified a 1748 Spanish 8 Reales from the Mexico City Mint beneath the design of a rare silver Continental Dollar.
From the COINWEEK article about the book:
https://coinweek.com/x-rays-reveal-a-hidden-spanish-dollar-beneath-the-1776-continental-dollar/
I conducted extensive "experimental minting" for this research project:
https://moonlightmint.com/blog_51.htm
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Comments
Looked & got this:
I applaud Mr. Rodriguez commitment to, and support for, use of modern technology for investigational numismatic research.
There are many basic questions that could be answered if the business cared as much about factual information as they did about profits. Thus far, the only consistent research funding has been provided by the Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society (EPNNES) via the Newman Numismatic Portal's digitization program and small research grants.
I also got a warning about moonlightmint.com link above when I haven't in the past. It says "Warning: Potential Security Risk Ahead" and among things noted, "SEC_ERROR_EXPIRED_ISSUER_CERTIFICATE".
I can go to the home page with only a notice that it is not https.
"To Be Esteemed Be Useful" - 1792 Birch Cent --- "I personally think we developed language because of our deep need to complain." - Lily Tomlin
If you go to the Coinweek link and look as the paper envelope in the auction listing cited, the weight and specific gravity written on the envelope are quite suspiciously low for a genuine Pillar Dollar that is allegedly the host coin.
What this means I do not know, but it bears looking into. Was the piece in question tested for weight and specific gravity before being entombed in plastic?
Edited to add:
For reference, if I were doing a specific gravity on a Pillar Dollar I would expect a ballpark Specific Gravity of around 10.3, +/- 0.10, and a ballpark weight of about 416 Grains, +/- a few grains. The weight might have been lessened if the host coin were filed down to make it easier to overstrike, but that would not alter the specific gravity of the remaining silver.
The coin in question.
I really love the information added to the old coin envelopes and wish more information could be added to slabs. Pedigree and provenance is good but some additional information like his helps tell the story.
Great info Dan - love the details of these early overstrikes!
I wonder if this discovery supports, does not support, or not provide info on the potential European origins of these.
What exactly is "Cutting Edge Science"??
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety," --- Benjamin Franklin
X-ray microdiffraction
All comments reflect the opinion of the author, even when irrefutably accurate.
Just as an aside, I am reminded of the many late 18th Century- early 19th Century Exonumia issues that were also produced in off-metal strikes for collectors.
Weight and fineness of a Pillar Dollar, from Numista.com
(with the demise of the Krause telephone books, Numista.com can be a useful website. It helped me with an article I have coming up in the December issue of The Numismatist)
The Moonlight Mint link is safe to open.
Amazing @dcarr!
Love the craftsmanship and detail on this research project! Sounds like a lot of fun!