Just curious-- what is so significant about a 1783 Chalmers Shilling, Short Worm variety?

Longacre · October 1, 2008 12:16AM

I am not a collector of colonials, and consider myself someone who simply cannot relate to a Short Worm, so I was wondering what is so special about this variety. I was looking at the CoinRaritiesOnline website, and whenever I feel the need to work myself up into a frenzy, I review their archive listing of coins. I looked at the opening remarks on the home page, and I saw this comment:

"For those who specifically asked about the Chalmers Shilling, you are not alone. Interestingly, that coin has been inquired about, fawned over and requested by more people than any other single item listed. But it is in strong hands and all but guaranteed to stay there. "

Link to Chalmers Shilling, with excessively short worm

Does anyone know what is so special about this shilling? The coin looks really nice, but not knowing much about them, I was curious why this is a coin that the masses fawn over.

RYK · October 1, 2008 12:32AM

Off the cuff, I do not believe the size of the worm is of excessive importance. Chalmer's shillings (either variety) are cool because they were struck in Annaopolis at the same time that our Founding Fathers were in Annapolis, drafting the documents that we hold dear today. IIRC, they may be the only silver coin struck for commerce in the colonies for commerce in the colonies in the 18th century.

JA or JK will likely be here later to give you a more elaborate (and, hopefully more correct) answer to your question.

Disclosure: Long the long worm

MikeInFL · October 1, 2008 12:37AM

Please keep the size of your worm out of this.

ColonialCoinUnion · October 1, 2008 2:10AM

First of all, please note that the Short Worm is the thing the birds are fighting over. Some people think the worm is that thing on the other side of the hedge, but of course that is a serpent.

As for what makes this piece so appealing to people, I can say that it is most assuredly not the length of the worm in question. This is in fact the most common variety of Chalmers Shilling.

Rather it is the color, strike and centering of this piece, all of which are unusually good for one of these.

Coinosaurus · October 1, 2008 2:13AM

This is one of Pistareen's all time faves.....I am sure he will be along shortly to enlighten us.......

RYK · October 1, 2008 2:23AM

Here's my coin (in an Heritage auction), which I purchased from Pistareen:

Mark · October 1, 2008 3:35AM

RYK:

What a truly nice coin!! Talk about holding history in your hands.

Mark

PS: I envy you your long worm.

RYK · October 1, 2008 3:53AM

<< <i>RYK:

What a truly nice coin!! Talk about holding history in your hands.

Mark

PS: I envy you your long worm. >>

My worm is longer than Logacre's.

pennyannie · October 1, 2008 3:58AM

According to this post Longacre don't have no worm.

ColonialCoinUnion · October 1, 2008 3:59AM

I'm not comfortable with this conversation.

Just curious-- what is so significant about a 1783 Chalmers Shilling, Short Worm variety?

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