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Lot 1317
1804 Mint-Made Electrotype. COPY of the Class Two 1804 Dollar with an impressive pedigree. From the Heritage Auction listed in the Provenance and described as follows:
1804 Class Two, Mind-Made Electrotype COPY Proof 60 Uncertified. Struck in copper and then plated, traces of the former metal are visible over a few of the highpoints. This is the semi-official restrike of the Class Two 1804 Dollar. This electrotype was produced in the Philadelphia Mint circa 1860 using the then-current electrotyping process that many official institutions, such as the Britishs Museum, used to produce reproductions of significant rarities. The word COPY is stamped in the revere field after the word AMERICA.
The "model" for this electrotype is the unique Class Two 1804 Dollar which is now part of the National Collection in the Smithsonian. At the time this electrotype was created, that coin was part of the U.S. Mint Collection. The original Class Two 1804 Dollar was overstruck on an 1857 Swiss Shooting Thaler, and evidence of the undertype is visible on this electrotype around the peripheries. This electrotype was produced by William E. DuBois, Assistant Assayer of the Philadelphoa Mint in 1860 and keeper of the U.S. Mint Collection. DuBois was married to the sister of Chief Assayer Jacob Eckfeldt, whom he eventually succeeded. Some numismatists believed that Eckfeldt produced several plain edge Class Two 1804 Dollars in 1858, all but the overstruck example being converted to Class Three examples when their edges were lettered.
This piece is listed incorrectly by Adams-Wooden (No. 26) in their 1913 monograph as a copper die trial piece of the 1804 Dollar. It is also listed (correctly) as No. 5 in the 18th edition of Wayte Raymond's "Standard Catalogue of U.S. Coins", and in Don Taxay's "Scott's Comprehensive Catalogue and Encyclopedia of U.S. Coins" as a semi-official replica. The importance of this electrotype stems from an impressive pedigree that originates with Assistant Assayer William E. DuBois.
Both sides of the piece retain nearly complete silver plating with some charcol patina in the more protected areas. All features are sharply defined, and there are scattered handling marks on both sides. The most important pedigree marker is a reverse scratch in the field below the eagle's left (facing) claw and tail that penetrates the U in UNITED.
Estimated Value $10,000 - 13,000.
Ex: Assistant Assayer of the Philadelphia Mint and keeper of the U.S. Mint Collection William E. DuBois; Dr. Spiers (1860); Society of California Pioneers; Waldo Newcomer (circa 1906), who later passed it to his son; Philip G. Straus; 53rd Public Auction (New Netherlands, 6/59, lot 1750; Heritage April 26, 2002, lot 6715.
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| Realized $14,375 |
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