Lot 129
1792 Pattern Half Disme. Silver, reeded edge. . Judd 7, Breen 1360. VF-20 but plugged. Light silvery gray with hints of yellowish steel toning in protected areas. No roughness, planchet defects, or significant contact marks. Lightly cleaned and delicately retoned following expert repair of a hole at the Y in INDUSTRY. The Y and adjacent L in LIB plus the opposing F in OF and first A in AMERICA were carefully reengraved to match the original letters, and the work was accomplished with great skill. As Walter Breen explained in his encyclopedia, "Many are holed and plugged." The obverse is nicely struck and well centered on the planchet, but the reverse is misaligned a bit to K-5 causing relative weakness on the lower right portion of that side. A few letters in the denomination are weak, but everything else is strong. The half disme has the distinction of being the first United States silver coin made for general circulation. The historical record indicates $100 in silver bullion was deposited with the newly authorized US Mint by General George Washington for the express purpose of striking these half disme coins. General Washington made reference to these half disme's in his fourth annual address as President on November 6, 1792, there indicating a quantity of pieces had been struck for release to the public. Here is your opportunity to own one of those pieces, arguably the most important type coin in American numismatic history. Weight 19.6 grains.
Estimated Value $35,000 - 45,000.
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