The E-Sylum:  Volume 9, Number 46, November 12, 2006, Article 20

BASHLOW's CONFEDERATE CENT RESTRIKES

Tom DeLorey writes: "On numismatic reproductions, let me present
the following letter sent to me by Robert Bashlow back in 1976 to
illustrate how the making of reproductions can get out of hand. He
had visited the Coin World offices that Summer, and we had discussed
the Confederate Cent restrikes. I just found this while looking
for something else.

Dear Tom:

I can offer the following Confederate cent restrike items:

1. Large, heavy copper ingot into which the obv. & rev. dies were
stamped. Out of the original issue of 100 numbered ingot (reverse
stamped with the Aug. C. Frank name and emblem) I have 2 left --
nos. 34 and 99. They have minor spotting and no. 34 has some green
corrosion on the side, which doesn't affect the obverse. Price
is $85 each.

2. Set of trialpieces in original plastic holders. Only 50 pieces
of each were struck. Red fibre, tin, zinc, lead, nickel-silver and
aluminum. One set of 6 pcs.:  $240.

3. Experimental piece struck in 90-10 alloy. (The common "bronze"
pieces were 95-5 and the "goldine" 85-15.) I believe that no more
than 2 or 3 were ever made. This is the only one I have. Price: $75.

4. Experimental piece in single thickness, 90-10. I first intended
to strike the regular production run at standard 1 cent thickness
(approximately 50 thousandths of an inch). Due to fear that the
Secret Service would seize the restrikes under the statutes
forbidding "likenesses" of US coins to be passed, I decided to
strike the production run on planchets 100/1000 inch thick. I have
5 pcs. in single thickness in 90-10 alloy, priced at $75 each. I
have one piece in single thickness in silver (I think only 2 or
3 were struck), priced at $150.00.

5. Hub trialpieces, uniface. 50 obverses and 50 reverses were
struck in bronze, and 50 and 50 in goldine, making a total of
200 pcs. I have a set of 4 diff. for $160.00.  (= $40 per coin.)

Let me know if any of the above are interesting.

Yours sincerely,

(signature)

Robert Bashlow"

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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