Buy Gold Coin Online

  • Subscribe to our RSS feed.
  • Twitter
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Facebook
  • Digg

Wednesday, 12 August 2009

Brasher Doubloon-first gold coin made in the United States

Posted on 15:20 by Unknown
On the recent World's Fair of Money in Los Angeles, The famous Brasher Doubloon, the first gold coin made in the United States that was hand-struck in 1787 by George Washington's New York City neighbor, has been a featured exhibit in that fair. The unique coin is insured for $7 million for the five-day public display by co-owners, Steven L. Contursi of Laguna Beach, California, President of Rare Coin Wholesalers of Dana Point, California, and Donald H. Kagin, Ph. D., President of Kagin's in Tiburon, California. Since acquiring it in January 2005, Contursi has exhibited the famous coin with educational displays in Atlanta, Kansas City, Las Vegas, New York and San Francisco.

picture by: emediawire.com

In 1787, a prominent New York City silversmith and goldsmith, Ephraim Brasher (pronounced Bray-zher), produced a small number of gold coins. His exact reason for delving into the production of coinage is not entirely certain, but recent historians now believe that Brasher produced his coins for circulation, not as patterns, as was originally thought. In fact, all but one of the coins attributed to Brasher exhibit some amount of wear, indicating that the pieces spent time in the channels of commerce.


Steve Contursi owner of Brasher Doubloon

Many of the erroneous impressions about why Brasher made his gold coins may lie in his connection to George Washington. There is clear record that Washington was a customer - and possibly a friend - of Brasher. Washington was also Brasher’s neighbor in the well-to-do Cherry Hill district of New York. Because it was known at the time that George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and other founding fathers reviewed pattern coinage for possible inclusion in the monetary system of the United States, there is conjecture that Brasher produced the coins as patterns to show his friend. If his designs impressed Washington enough, it might ensure Brasher the right to design the official gold coins for the new Republic. However, Washington did not live next door to Brasher until 1789, two years after Brasher produced his gold Doubloons.

The 1787 Brasher Doubloon is an impressive example of early American design. The debate continues as to which side of the coin is the obverse, but most numismatists now agree that the landscape side of the coin is the obverse. The coin features the radiant sun just behind the peak of a mountain with the sea in front. Brasher’s name is boldly engraved below the sea. The landscape is framed by a circle of beads. Along the periphery of the coin, separated by rosettes, are the legends “NOVA EBORAC,” which is the Latin name for New York, “COLUMBIA” and the state motto “EXCELSIOR.” Translated literally, the legend means New York, America, Ever Upward. “Excelsior” remains the New York State motto to this day.

picture by: emediawire.com

The reverse depicts a proud, heraldic eagle with its wings displayed. The eagle is facing right and its head is surrounded by thirteen five-pointed stars, symbolizing the thirteen original states. Across the eagle’s breast is a shield. In the right talon, representing peace, are olive branches, and in the left talon are the arrows of war. The entire eagle is encircled by a wreath. At the bottom edge of the coin is the date with rosettes placed on either side. At the top edge is the inscription “UNUM E PLURIBUS” (One From Many) which is separated by two six-pointed stars.

The coin is called a Doubloon because it is approximately equal in weight to the Spanish Doubloon which circulated actively in colonial America. A value of $16 was initially attributed to the coin, but later research shows that this value was erroneously placed and the “Doubloon” was actually worth $15 at the time of issue. This value was first suggested in a comprehensive article about Brasher Doubloons written by numismatist William Swoger and published in the June 1, 1992 issue of Coin World magazine. Additional information about weights and measures of the era was published in the 1993 book, "Money of the American Colonies and Confederation," by Phil Mossman.

source: news-antique.com, rare coin wholesalers
Email ThisBlogThis!Share to XShare to Facebook
Posted in America, Gold, History, World Record | No comments
Newer Post Older Post Home

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Popular Posts

  • Melaka Coinage-Animal Tin Money.
    I found many information about Malacca Portuguse tin coinage story. I will share most of them in here today with everyone. If any of the inf...
  • 1983 new pence, two pence that worth £500
    Yesterday, I read a news about a Weston couple hoping to make thousands from two pence. Brian and Penny Drury, of Palmer Street, stumbled ac...
  • Melaka Coinage-Dutch East Indies
    At the start of the 16th century a new European nation went adventuring on the high seas. The Dutch, who had fought a very long war for inde...
  • Melaka Coinage-Portuguese Tin Coins
    I am looking for some information about Melaka Portuguese coinage for this past few days. I bought an old Malacca Portuguese coinage from a ...
  • The Collection of Mallaca Coinage Book
    The finding of Mallaca tin money picture recently make me wonder if they is any book regarding tin coin in Melaka. I search using internet...
  • 16th Asian Games Commemorative coins
    The 16th Asian Games will be held in Guangzhou China in 466 Days.The Guangzhou Asian Games will feature a total number of 473 sport discipl...
  • Melaka coinage-Malacca Sultanate Tin Coinage
    The Malacca Sultanate was from 1400-1511. There were eight sultans before the Portuguese came in 1511. During the 111 years of Malacca Sulta...
  • Selamat Hari Merdeka; Anniversary of independence coin
    I want to wish Selamat Hari Merdeka for all my Malaysian blog reader. We will be celebrating 52 years of independence anniversary on 31st Au...
  • Nigerian Black Money Scam
    I received dozen of black money scam email a day. This scam usually begins with a letter or e-mail purportedly sent to a selected recipient...
  • Antique Shop-Syarikat Tai fat heng-Jln Tun H. S Lee
    Some people may not realize that there is one antique shop that sell banknote and coin along jalan Tun H.S Lee. Syarikat Tai Fat Heng has b...

Categories

  • America
  • Ancient
  • Asia
  • Auction
  • Banknote
  • Blog
  • Collecting tips
  • Commemorative
  • Counterfeit
  • Dealer
  • Europe
  • Famous people
  • Flea Market
  • Free
  • Gold
  • History
  • Hunting trip
  • Malaysia ringgit
  • Ocenia
  • Price n Value
  • Rare
  • sale page
  • Scam
  • Silver
  • treasure hunting
  • Video
  • World News
  • World Record

Blog Archive

  • ►  2010 (11)
    • ►  January (11)
  • ▼  2009 (149)
    • ►  December (15)
    • ►  November (16)
    • ►  October (8)
    • ►  September (23)
    • ▼  August (27)
      • Brasher Doubloon owner at the center of lawsuit
      • Kelantan Kijang Gold Kupang
      • £1million Viking treasure hoard goes on display
      • Kids project: Bi-metallic coins
      • Selamat Hari Merdeka; Anniversary of independence ...
      • Kids Project: Animal coins
      • How to check genuine money?
      • 1938 Modern Jewellery Token
      • World's First Antarctic Coin
      • World's First Quad Metal Coin
      • 2009 Heritage Orchids of Singapore Coin
      • Free Universal Currency Converter
      • Worlds first pyramid shape coin-Isle of Man 2009
      • 50th Anniversary of Barbie™ 1oz Silver Proof Coin
      • Brasher Doubloon-first gold coin made in the Unite...
      • Emperor Akihito's 20th anniversary enthronement coin
      • Edward I Silver Penny coin found
      • Micheal Jackson Commemorative coin?
      • London 2012 Games Free Prize Draws
      • Corazon "Cory" Aquino on 500 Pesos?
      • Corazon "Cory" Aquino memorabilia coin
      • Coin Museum-by India Uttar Pradesh numismatist
      • London 2012 coin-Celebration of Britain Silver Col...
      • 16th Asian Games Commemorative coins
      • Singapore 44 Years of Independence day Commemorative
      • Double Eagles case- Judges Legrome Davis issued ne...
      • Brunei Story-Hell Banknote Raises Eyebrows
    • ►  July (18)
    • ►  June (4)
    • ►  May (1)
    • ►  April (4)
    • ►  March (15)
    • ►  February (7)
    • ►  January (11)
  • ►  2008 (5)
    • ►  December (3)
    • ►  October (2)
Powered by Blogger.

About Me

Unknown
View my complete profile