Lot 1449
1836 Pattern Two Cents. Billon, plain edge. PCGS graded Proof 63. Low Rarity 6. Housed in an Old Green Holder. Nice bold strike, attractive color and surfaces. Pop 4; 4 finer, 3 in 64, 1 in 65 (PCGS # 11194) .
This year is notable for the appearance of Patterns for two denominations which were not regularly issued until many years later, the two-cent piece and the gold dollar.
The two-cent piece had been proposed first in 1806 in a bill introduced into the U.S. Senate by a Mr. Tracey. The proposal was defeated probably because of the strong opposition of the Director of the Mint, Robert Patterson.
By a strange coincidence, on December 12, 1836, his son, Robert M. Patterson, who had been appointed Director of the Mint by President Andrew Jackson, May 26, 1835, proposed the coinage of a two-cent piece, as well as a gold dollar, when he appeared before a Congressional committee considering the bill which became the Act of Jan. 18, 1837.
In the early fall of 1836, Christian Gobrecht and Franklin Peale had collaborated in making Patterns for a two-cent piece. Originally pieces were struck in billon (10% silver and 90% copper) with a reeded edge and in copper with a plain edge.
Some of the billon pieces were dipped in acid or "pickled" to determine how this process would affect this alloy both immediately and after the coins had seen some wear. Pickling gave them the appearance of good silver for a few days, but after a little handling they became dull and gray.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 3,500.
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| Realized $4,255 |
