The E-Sylum:  Volume 11, Number 11, March 16, 2008, Article 15

THE SECRET OF THE 1794 STARRED REVERSE CENT DEBATED

Bob Rhue writes: "I just finished reading the feature article:
“Seeing Stars:  The Secret of the Starred Reverse Cent,” by
Dave McCarthy in the March edition of PCGS’s Rare Coin Market
Report.

"Dave’s keen observations and his analytical skills come together
to create a fascinating factual answer as to how the Starred
Reverse Cent came about.  Totally fascinating was his discovery
of the direct connection to the 1792 Wright Quarter Pattern
Reverse.  I urge anyone who is interested in learning a scientific
answer to a long-held mystery of an important coin to enjoy the
reading of this article."

[I asked Pete Smith (who wrote a monograph on the subject) if
he'd seen the McCarthy article.  He had, and his response is
below.  -Editor]

Pete Smith writes: For his article, Dave McCarthy looked at
enlarged photos and concluded that the same punch was used to
put the stars on the Wright quarter (eagle-on-globe) pattern
and the Starred Reverse cent.  In 1986 I studied the pattern
at the Smithsonian and in the next two days, high grade examples
of the Starred Reverse cent. I reached the exact opposite
conclusion, that different punches were used. For the past 22
years no one who read my book disagreed with my conclusion.
McCarthy admitted that he did not read my book, "The Story of
the Starred Reverse Cent."  Even today when I look at the same
photos, I reach the opposite conclusion."

For images of the coin and more information, see the CoinFacts.com site:
CoinFacts.com

  Wayne Homren, Editor

	coinbooks.org Web

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