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1714 GLOUCESTER TOKENS
Notes:
The 1714 Gloucester Token is a small brass piece that may have been
a pattern intended for a silver Shilling. Prior to 1981, only two
examples were known (the one illustrated above). Because the
legends were incomplete, experts speculated that the building on the
front of the coin was a warehouse or official government building
(possibly a courthouse). The date is barely legible on the back,
but enough detail remains to date it positively as 1714. The name
on the back was believed to have been Richard Dawson.
In 1981, a third(?) example turned up
with sufficient detail to solve the question of the legends.
Combining information from both coins, the obverse legend reads in full:
"GLOVCESTER • COVRTHOVSE • VIRGINIA". The legend on
the back of the coin reads: "RIGHAVLT DAWSON • ANNO • DOM •
1714".
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Images
courtesy of Stack's
Known examples (3):
1. Ex - Ten Eyck - Parmelee -
Seavey - Clay - Newcomer - John Work Garrett - Bowers & Ruddy
Galleries "The Garrett Collection Sales, Part 3", October
1-2, 1980, Lot 1318, illustrated, sold for $36,000.00 - Stack's
"The John L. Roper, 2nd" Public Auction, December 8-9, 1983,
Lot 147, illustrated, "Brass. 61.1 grains, Crosby plate IX,
no. 4...a crude Fine."
2. Mentioned by Crosby. This
has to be different from #2 above because Crosby stated that the
legends could not be deciphered by the two pieces of which he knew (#2
solved the riddle).
3. Discovered in 1981 - Anthony
Terranova
2. Mentioned by Crosby. This
has to be different from #2 above because Crosby stated that the
legends could not be deciphered by the two pieces of which he knew (#2
solved the riddle).
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