The E-Sylum:  Volume 10, Number 16, April 22, 2007, Article 20

EXCELSIOR COPPER, OTHER COLONIALS OFFERED IN STACK'S FORD XVIII SALE

While there are plenty of very interesting and important coins and
medals in the upcoming Stack's sale of the John J. Ford collection,
one of my favorites is the 1787 Excelsior copper, which the catalog
entry calls "One of the very finest known specimens of this rare
and evocative issue, finer than all but a few of the dozen or so known."

"There are few more evocative series than the New York Excelsior coppers,
struck in small numbers at the same time New York was considering a
contract copper coinage like other states in the region. No contract
was granted, but several different varieties exist, types that were
probably conceived as patterns but then struck in somewhat larger numbers
just to exact some profit. The New York Arms die is interesting, relating
these to the Brasher doubloons that were likely authored by the same
engraver. The Indian die, however, has received extensive comment over
the years, particularly since it is rare in every form and every marriage
known. The legend LIBER NATUS LIBERTATEM DEFENDO is translated as "born
free, I defend freedom," a slogan that befits its era even if the Indian
it depicts was nearly completely removed from the urban East by that point."

"From Thomas Elder's sale of the Peter Gschwend Collection (purchased
intact by William H. Woodin, then consigned to Elder), June 1908, Lot 87;
F.C.C. Boyd Collection; Boyd Estate to New Netherlands Coin Company on
April 25, 1958; John L. Roper Collection; our sale of the Roper
Collection, December 1983, Lot 275."

To view the complete lot listing, see: Full Story

[I asked Stack's cataloguer John Kraljevich about his favorites in
the sale.  He writes: "I have many favorites in this sale -- the two
Sommers Island pieces both have awesome pedigrees; the two pence is
Parsons-Norweb and I discovered that the shilling is ex. Murdoch,
which is an extremely rare U.S. pedigree. I also rather like the
UNIQUE and newly discovered Broad Axe Higley too!"  Below are links
to the lot descriptions. -Editor]

ca. 1616 Sommer Islands shilling - Large sails variety
1616 Sommer Islands shilling - Large sails variety

ca. 1616 Sommer Islands shilling - Small star variety
1616 Sommer Islands shilling - Small star variety

1739 Higley Copper - Broad Axe variety
1739 Higley Copper - Broad Axe variety

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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