The E-Sylum:  Volume 5, Number 9, February 24, 2002, Article 10

PERKINS BANK BILL TEST, 1809

  George Fuld sends these thoughts on the "Perkins Bank Bill
  Test" of 1809:

  "Certainly one of the highlights of my book collecting career
  was the acquisition of an original Perkins Bank Bill Test of
  1809.  Although I am not certain, I believe I obtained this
  from the late Aaron Feldman about 1957.  My cost was
  certainly under $50, as I rarely bought anything more
  expensive in the 50's.

  I realized early the rarity of this, and as I recall I located
  one at the NY Public library, and probably one at the Library
  of Congress.  I was unaware of the copy in the collection of
  Eric Newman.

  In the summer of 1960 I personally reprinted the booklet
  using the offset press at the family printing operation at
  Fuld Bros. Inc.  I shot offset negatives in a big vacuum
  frame, and then retouched, opacquing where necessary.
  Actually I only ran about 20 copies as I did not know who
  would be interested.  I assembled with a tan mottled cover
  stock, imprinting the cover as to what it was.  I gave away
  about ten copies, retaining the rest.   However, I have no
  idea what happened to the remainders and I do not own a
  copy for myself.

  In the summer of 1959, I realized that Perkins was from
  Newburyport, and thought his family might still reside there.
  To my amazement after several calls, I found his direct
  relations.  I made an appointment to see what numismatic
  items they might own.  The first was the Washington gold
  oval funeral in a fancy casement with Masonic designs.
  They agreed to sell me the medal itself for $150 (rather a
  bit less than what it sold for in 1999 at $19,000),  but they
  donated the case itself to the Newburyport Historical
  Society.  The other item was a copy of the original Hancock
  die of the Washington Born Virginia coin of 1792!!

  As to how an English die of 1792 came into Perkins'
  possession is problematic.   Perkins was in England about
  1805, and because of his engraving interest probably knew
  Obadiah Westwood and his mentee John Hancock.  They
  must have given him this obverse die as a souvenir.

  The family realized the importance of the die, and wanted
  $5,000 for it FIRM.  I contacted Mrs. Norweb to see if
  she would purchase it and donate it to the ANS.
  Unfortunately, this did not occur.  Later that year, Albert
  Collis of Boston purchased the die and had the uniface
  restrikes made in copper, with copies in silver, gold and
  lead which were made in a more limited issue.  The coinage
  in copper was at least 1,000 pieces.  Collis did donate the
  die after usage to the ANA Museum where it still resides.

  I thought this background re Perkins would be of interest."
  [See The E-Sylum, January 5, 2001 (Volume 4, Number 1)
  for another mention of the Hancock die.  -Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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