From NewCoinReleases.com May 16, 2018
ANA Governor Brian Hendelson will provide historic multi-million dollar Philadelphia Mint coins and early United States Mint appointment documents for ANA Museum Showcase exhibit.
The finest known 1792 Half Disme, formerly owned by the first United States Mint Director David Rittenhouse, and the finer of the two known 1861 Philadelphia Mint Paquet Reverse Liberty Head Double Eagles, will be featured exhibits in the Museum Showcase at the American Numismatic Association’s 2018 Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money.
The two historic coins, along with George Washington and/or Thomas Jefferson-signed papers appointing Rittenhouse, Elias Boudinot and Robert Patterson as the first, third and fourth Mint Directors respectively, are being loaned for the exhibit from the personal collection of ANA Governor Brian Hendelson, President of Classic Coin Company of Bridgewater, New Jersey.
The two coins will be insured for a combined $10.5 million for their “homecoming” display, August 14-18.
“The Half Disme was the first denomination produced by the young United States for circulation, and this particular, superbly struck and preserved coin could be the first one made. I’m happy to share it and the Paquet Reverse Double Eagle at the 2018 ANA convention for everyone to enjoy and to learn about the hobby and history,” explained Hendelson.
The rainbow toned 1792 Half Disme (LM-1, Judd-7, Pollock-7) is graded PCGS MS-68 and the 1861 Paquet Reverse Double Eagle is graded PCGS MS-67.
In the narrative text for the upcoming exhibit, ANA Money Museum Curator Doug Mudd wrote, “On July 13, 1792, the first U.S. Mint coins were struck for distribution at the request of President George Washington in a basement close to the site for the new Mint. Legend has it they were struck from Martha Washington’s silverware, but recent research has shown that Thomas Jefferson provided the $75 of silver required to make 1,500 Half Dismes. The coins were distributed by Jefferson to foreign dignitaries, members of the government and others — a calling card for the establishment of the U.S. Mint and an announcement of the new American Republic.”
The Paquet Reverse Double Eagle is described in the upcoming exhibit as “A Coin Worthy of a King” as one of its previous owners was an Egyptian king.
In 1861, nearly three million $20 denomination gold coins were struck at the Philadelphia Mint, but today only two are known with a slightly modified design on the reverse made by Assistant Mint Engraver Anthony Paquet.
The Museum Showcase display at the ANA 2018 Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money will be the first time the Rittenhouse, Boudinot and Patterson appointment documents have ever been exhibited together.
The ANA 2018 Philadelphia World’s Fair of Money will be held in the Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St. in Philadelphia, Tuesday-Saturday, August 14-18.
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