Origin of Continental Currency?

The formative years of our nation are quite interesting to me. Consequently, coins of that era are of a particular interest to me as well. I own a few pieces from our nations formative years, but being a working man they are few and far between. The Continental Currency coin dated 1776 is a coin that I would absolutely love to own, but being a coin that typically auctions at six figures, I'll likely never own one.

Today I received an email from Heritage touting their upcoming auction. They highlighted a beautiful Continental Currency coin that is on the auction block. It is one of the finest I have ever seen. They offered a write up on the piece with a different spin on the origin than I had ever heard. According to their article, they cite that there is evidence to suggest these were struck in London in 1783 as medals, not circulating coinage. I wonder if this may dim some of the luster of these pieces and affect the future value if their origin is proven to be from London?

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Wishful thinking perhaps??

 

It has hurt the price at auction. Eric P. Newman was the guru on these, and the information of their token status came out after his death. He may have known they were English tokens, and hid that information to uphold the value of his holdings.

As they used to day, standby for more at 11:00.

 

@Randy Abercrombie do you have a link to that Heritage auction with the Continental Currency coin?

 

I would do better trying to solve a nuclear physics problem..... I think I was successful. See if this will get you there.

https://coins.ha.com/itm/colonials/...em-BrowseTabs-Auction-Open-ThisAuction-120115

 

Hey, it worked...you're a computer genius!!!

 

I think that the value has gone down on the Continental Dollars. People might want to believe what they want to believe, but given than these coins have sold for 5 and 6 figure prices, that eliminates most all of the casual buyers. Most of the people who buy these pieces have done some homework, and most all of them are aware of the new history.

There is big difference between a piece that was used during the American Revolutionary War, and a token that celebrated the end of that war. Given that choice, a Libertas Americanas Medal seems a lot more appealing to me, and it’s a lot cheaper, at least in bronze.

I had an interest in the coin at one time, but I don’t now, at least not at anything close to the previous prices. I won’t pay 5 figures for one.

 

I thought it looked similar to a fugio cent

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fugio_cent

 

Common sense says that the credible change in status from "America's first coin" to "real spiffy commemorative medal" will hurt their value in the long run. People like me who were brought up on the (erroneous) mystique of the "coins" will always want one, but future generations will think less of them than we do.

 

Thanks for a very informative thread! I was fascinated with the Heritage Auction information. I am also impressed that they would include such detailed information that undoubtedly diminishes the appeal and price of the item. I agree with GDJMSP that, for some, the long-held place the piece has had will keep its appeal, but CaptHenway is ultimately right. Long-term, it will drop to a much lower status as only an "historically interesting medal."

 

Heritage is pretty straight with their writeups. It pays off for them in the long run because people trust their auctions.

 

Can’t afford one of the Continental Dollars? Get one of these instead! This cost me a little under $120.

 

I have to say @TypeCoin971793 ...... I probably looked at this a dozen times since you posted and this old bill is really growing on me. I am not a bill guy. If I wanted to see if I could track one of these down what search parameters would I use? Continental paper money?

 

I use

1776 dollar (2/3, half, 1/3, 1/6, one sixth, 1/2, third)

on eBay. There’s one for $99.99 right now.

 

Bull pucky.

EPN was the consummate professional numismatist. If he knew it and could prove it or show reasonable doubt he would have published it.

 

I'd be happy with a Fugio cent and a paper piece like TypeCoin's.