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1794 FRANKLIN PRESS TOKEN
PCGS
Nos: 630, 631
Mintage: Unknown
Notes:
The 1794 Franklin Press Token belongs to a series of British-made
pieces known as "Conder" Tokens (Halfpenny- and Penny-sized
tokens made for sale to collectors and sometimes used as advertising
tokens by certain merchants). Although the Franklin Press Tokens
probably never circulated in America, collectors have included them as a
U.S. "Colonial" coin because of the reference to the American
patriot and statesman, Benjamin Franklin.
The printing press
illustrated on the front of this token is believed to be the same press
used by Franklin while he worked in London, England as a journeyman
printer for the firm of Mr. Watts of Wild street, Lincoln's
Sun-Fields. The press appears to be a Blaew press (the first
patent press made beginning in 1620). The "Franklin
Press" (as it is now known) is on display as part of a re-created
post office and print shop of the early 19th century in the Printing and
Graphic Arts section of the National Museum of American History at the
Smithsonian Institution. A plaque on the press bears the following
inscription:
"Dr.
Franklin's Remarks relative
to this Press, made when he came to England as agent of the
Massachusetts, in the year 1768. The Doctor at this time visited
the printing office of Mr. Watts, of Wild street, Lincoln's
Sun-Fields, and going up to this particular press (afterwards in
the possession of Messrs. Cox &; Son, of Great Queen street,
of whom it was purchased) thus addressed the men who were
working at it. 'Come my friends, we will drink together. It is
now forty years since I worked like you, at this press, as a
journeyman printer.' The Doctor then sent out for a gallon of
porter, and he drank with them-
"Success
to Printing"
"From the above
it will appear that it is 108 years since Dr. Franklin worked at
this identical press."
JUNE, 1833.
Presented by Messrs.
Harrild & Sons, printers' brokers, London, to John B. Murray,
Esq., New York, November, 1841.
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The front of the coin
displays the Latin legend "SIC ORITUR DOCTRINA SURGETQUE
LIBERTAS" (Thus learning begins and liberty arises).
Die States:
The 1794 Franklin Press Tokens appear to have been struck from
only a single pair of dies.
Early die states
feature near-perfect dies, with just a small defect appearing in the
area of ERT of LIBERTAS.
Intermediate die states
show a fairly large break in the center of the obverse and a squiggly
break coming off of the side of the press beneath the long handle.
Late die states show
another break in the lower left area of the press. The die
defect at ERT becomes prominent.
Condition comments:
Most Franklin Press tokens are found in high grade, indicating that
they were never intended to circulate or that they circulated
little. Many Uncirculated examples are known and
very few examples appear below About Uncirculated.
The finest Brown Uncirculated
1794 Franklin Press Token graded by PCGS is a single MS-65.
The finest Red & Brown Uncirculated 1794 Franklin Press Tokens graded by PCGS
are 3 MS-64's.
No Red Uncirculated
1794 Franklin Press Tokens have been graded by PCGS.
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Image courtesy of Ira
& Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.
Significant examples:
Early Die State:
PCGS MS-65 Brown
(illustrated above). Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles,
Inc.'s "Benson II" Sale, February 18-19, 2002, Lot 17,
illustrated, sold for $8,050.00
Recent appearances:
Early Die State:
Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins
& Collectibles, Inc.'s "The Benson Collection" Sale - Part
1, February 18-20, 2001
PCGS MS-64 Brown. Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins
& Collectibles, Inc.'s "Pre-Long Beach Sale", September 23
& 24, 2002, Lot 84, illustrated.
"VF-25". Ex - Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins
& Collectibles, Inc.'s "Pre-Long Beach Sale", September 23
& 24, 2002, Lot 85, illustrated.
Intermediate Die
State:
PCGS AU-58 (illustrated below). Ex - Early American History Auctions, Inc.'s Mail Bid
Sale, December 9, 2000, Lot 898, where it was described as follows:
"1794 Franklin Press Token, PCGS graded AU-58. Tan brown
in color, with traces of mint red on the obverse and a slightly mottled
appearance on the reverse. Although this is part of the English series
of "Conder" Tokens, its reference to (Benjamin) Franklin has
made it an important part of our own "Colonial" series. This
is a pleasing example that has added value because of the independent,
third-party certification.
Late Die State:
PCGS AU-55 (illustrated below). Ex - Superior Stamp & Coin's
"The ANA 2000 National Money Show Auction", March 2-3, 2000,
Lot 35, plated
Sources and/or
recommended reading:
www.si.edu website
"The PCGS Population Report, January 2002" by
The
Professional Coin Grading Service
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