The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 1, January 4, 2004, Article 9

BECKER COUNTERFEIT PEDIGREE SOUGHT

Gene Anderson (genea at 1starnet.com) writes: "Lot 57 of the
Michael Arconti sale by Superior was a "Becker" counterfeit
which I purchased. I have been trying to trace the history of
this lot. Mick Arconti had no information nor did Bill Anton
who owned the item previously. When I received the lot,
there was a catalog description of this piece from an earlier
catalog.

The catalog description does not state what sale the description
is from. I would like to identify that catalog. The catalog in
question is not dated earlier than November 1999. Does
anyone recognize the catalog from the description quoted
below? It mentions EAC grading, but is not from an EAC
sale. If you identify the catalog, please contact me. Thanks.

"#41 A fascinating obverse and reverse die pair of Becker
electrotype for a 1804 Large Cent. VF-20. The obverse and
reverse of this 1804 early date die paring are both stamped
with a prepared punch BECKER. Both halves make the full
large cent.

Both pieces of this Becker electrotype grade VF-20 by
EAC standards on nice smooth olive brown surfaces. The
reverse piece shows the reverse of Sheldon 266 with an
advanced state exhibiting a large rim cud over MERIC of
AMERICA. A great addition to any U.S. Large Cent
collection. Fascinating to view.

George F. Hill has written a book about Becker the
Counterfeiter, which makes for fascinating reading. See the
recent George Frederick Kolbe sale of November 13,
1999 under lot 58 for more information about this famous
counterfeiter."

[A search turned up the following article about Becker on
the web site of Britain's Bexley Coin Club:
http://www.coinclubs.freeserve.co.uk/Bexley/article2.htm

Another search for information on George Hill turned up
this biography on the American Numismatic Society site:
http://www.amnumsoc.org/inc/hillbio.html

-Editor]

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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