| Description |
1694 TOKEN Carolina Elephant Halfpenny, PROPRIETORS XF45 NGC. Hodder 2-F, W-12120, R.6. 143.4 grains. Three basic versions of the Elephant halfpence are the London, Carolina, and New England varieties, all sharing a common obverse design. Each is important in the field of American colonial coinage, and all three are recorded in the Betts reference on historical American medals. Although some have questioned the American connection of the London pieces inscribed God Preserve London, there is no doubt of the connection between the Carolina pieces and the American colonies. It is believed that all dies for the Elephant coppers were engraved by the famous Rottier family who worked at the Royal Mint. The Carolina pieces are usually identified from two reverse dies, the first with the misspelling PROPRIETERS and the second with an O punched over the E to correct that spelling. Although described in most references as different dies, the placement and shape of all lettering is nearly identical, suggesting that a single reverse die was corrected after a small production of the misspelled pieces. The rarity of the PROPRIETERS pieces is due to the misspelling, while the rarity of the corrected die coins is likely the result of a die that soon shattered and broke apart. This remarkable example, a pleasing Choice XF Carolina Elephant token, has smooth, problem-free surfaces that display a lovely blend of tan and dark chocolate toning, with excellent centering and minimal marks. While there is no detailed census of this variety, the majority of pieces appearing in auctions over the last two decades fall in the VG to VF range. XF or finer examples, such as the Eric P. Newman coin, are extremely rare. Ex: B. Max Mehl (11/1954); Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.
Realized $47,000.00. Description courtesy of Heritage Auctions. |
