16144

1863 10C Ten Cents, Judd-325, Pollock-390, R.6, P

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:1.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
1863 10C Ten Cents, Judd-325, Pollock-390, R.6, P
<B>1863 10C Ten Cents, Judd-325, Pollock-390, R.6, PR63 PCGS.</B></I> An inverted laurel wreath suspended from a ring over an ornamental shield with a pair of crossed arrows in the background. Around the perimeter, the words EXCHANGED FOR U.S. NOTES follow the recommended inscriptions in the May 15, 1863 letter to Mint Director James Pollock. The reverse has 10 CENTS 1863 in the center, with * POSTAGE CURRENCY * ACT JULY 1862 around. Struck with a plain edge. <BR>Within two weeks of the May 15 letter, James B. Longacre designed this pattern. At that time, three weight variants were struck of the plain edge silver Postage Currency patterns. No silver pieces of this design are known to have a reeded edge. A combined total of 43 coins at 20 grains and the 22.5 grains were struck to demonstrate the physical properties of two versions of a very thin ten cent silver coin. One plain-edge, nearly pure silver fantasy piece was struck weighing 38.3 grains, similar to the authorized weight of a standard silver ten cent coin which was 38.4 grains. As explained in the May 15 letter, the reduced intrinsic value of the 20 grain coin offered here in 1863 was given by Mint Assayer William E. DuBois at 5.21 cents or 5 5/24ths cent, while the value of the 22.5 grain coin was given by at 5.73 cents or 5 35/48ths cent. The resulting planchets lead DuBois to forward comments to Salmon P. Chase that they could not be struck using the Mint's steam presses because the planchets were too thin and would jam the machine. These pieces were struck using a screw press. Two coins are known whose planchets were cracked while being struck, presumed to have been the victims of the steam press. This is only one of several drawbacks to the authorization of these token coins for the purpose of replacing various temporary monetary expedients, much less, the nation's subsidiary coinage. <BR>Deep, gun-metal gray color evenly tones both sides of this historically important pattern. The lightly frosted devices clearly separate themselves from the watery fields.