IMMUNIS COLUMBIA COPPER COINS
(1786-1787)
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Images courtesy of Superior
Stamp & Coin
Varieties:
1786 Immunis Columbia
1785
Confederatio reverse
Shield reverse
Eagle reverse
1787 Immunis Columbia (illustrated above)
Recent appearances:
PCGS AU-55. Ex - Ira
& Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Inc.'s "Benson
II", February 18-19, 2002, Lot 9, illustrated, where it was described
as follows: "1787 Immunis Columbia Copper Pattern. Eagle reverse.
PCGS graded AU-55. One of the finest graded of this rare pattern
issue, PCGS notes that this coin is alone as the sole AU-55 graded, with 4
coins graded higher by that service. Designed and coined by James F. Atlee
prior to his joining the Mint at Machin's Mills, these were patterns for
contract coinage for the Confederation, either with the Rahway Mills Mint
or on his own. The proposal was made by Gen. Ogden, the bondholder
for the Rahway Mills Mint, who had copper mines and the ability to meet
the coinage demands of the new Confederation of States. Ogden's proposal
no doubt included several examples of this 1787 Immunis Columbia pattern,
and these were turned over to the Confederation Board of Treasury's
nefarious chief, Col. William Duer. Unbeknownst to Ogden, the contract had
already been awarded to James Jarvis, in consideration of a $10,000 bribe
to Duer (Breen's Encyclopedia). In short order, Jarvis had to flee the
country as he could not meet the demands of the contract, as he had no
source for the copper, and Jarvis stayed in Europe to avoid the $10,842
judgment against him. Before Ogden received the bad news of the contract
award to his competitor (the bribing Jarvis), Ogden had Atlee strike a
large number of the 1787 Immunis Columbia coppers. These coins circulated
at 14 to the shilling, when they were accepted, and many circulated for
many years..."
PCGS EF-45. Ex
– American Numismatic Rarities, LLC’s “The Classics Sale,”
July 25, 2003
, Lot
73, "Breen-1137", illustrated, unsold From Bowers and
Merena's November 1999 sale, Lot 26
PCGS XF-40. Ex - Stack's 65th Anniversary Sale, October
17-19, 2000, Lot 11, "CE C.334...Early die state shows a crack
from right wing to "U", only a trace of the crack under the
beak", unsold
"Very Fine-30" (illustrated above). Ex - Superior Stamp & Coin's
"The ANA 2000 National Money Show Auction", March 2-3, 2000,
Lot 14, plated, "Breen-1137...130.8 grains."
Sources and/or
recommended reading:
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