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1943 1C--Struck on a Curacao Planchet, Damaged--ANACS. VF Details, Net Fine 12. This is perhaps the.

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money Start Price:NA Estimated At:900.00 - 1,200.00 USD
1943 1C--Struck on a Curacao Planchet, Damaged--ANACS. VF Details, Net Fine 12. This is perhaps the.
1943 1C--Struck on a Curacao Planchet, Damaged--ANACS. VF Details, Net Fine 12. This is perhaps the most interesting coin in the entire sale, and it is rarer than the coveted 1943 Copper Cent. This coin was born out of the turmoil of the Second World War. In the spring of 1940, Nazi Germany overran the Netherlands in a campaign that also saw the conquest of France and Belgium. The Dutch colonies of Surinam (in northern South America), Curacao (an island in the Caribbean Sea north of Surinam, and part of the Netherlands Antilles), and the Netherlands West Indies came under the protection of the Allied powers. Curacao was particularly important to the war effort, as its refineries delivered more than 60% of the oil used by the Allies. In addition to providing troops to protect Curacao's shores, the United States also produced coinage for the Dutch colony. In 1943, the Philadelphia Mint delivered 2.5 million 25 Cent coins (KM-38) for shipment to Curacao. These coins also circulated in Surinam. The United States Mint has produced coins for foreign governments at various times during its history, so the delivery of 25 Cent coins for Curacao in 1943 is certainly not a unique or noteworthy event in and of itself. The hectic wartime production schedule of the Philadelphia Mint, and the corresponding erosion of its quality control, however, resulted in planchets being fed into the wrong coinage press. As clients of our recent auctions know, the introduction of copper planchets from the 1942 production run created the popular 1943 Copper Cents. In the case of the present coin, it was a Curacao 25 Cent planchet that accidentally found its way into a Lincoln cent press. This is the first error of this type that we have ever seen, and we believe that it is unique. The original owner of this coin discovered it in circulation in 1965. Sometime prior to that date, the coin had been plated in mercury, and the discoverer immediately sent it to the Southern Analytical Laboratory, Inc., where it was heated to 360 degrees Centigrade in an electric muffle furnace. Five minutes of this treatment was sufficient to remove the mercury plating. In March, 1966, the original owner sent the coin to the Materials Testing Laboratories, where the planchet composition was determined to be a billon alloy of 70-80% silver and 20-30% copper. Both sides of this coin display a golden-tan appearance that is not unlike that of brass. Silver colored accents are also noted on the obverse. All major features are readily evident despite moderate wear. There is a scrape in the right obverse field, and scattered pinscratches are noted in the left obverse and lower reverse fields. The latter features are probably the result of someone's test to determine this coin's authenticity, and they were present on both sides when the original owner discovered it in 1965. ANACS has erroneously identified the planchet as being from Surinam, when, in actuality, the 25 Cent coins were initially intended for circulation in Curacao. A historically significant coin, and a rare error, this 1943 "Curacao" Cent is sure to draw considerable attention due to its close association with the 1943 Copper Cents.Ex: Central States Signature Sale (Heritage, 4/2001), lot 5942. Important notice: We expect to be auctioning lots at the rate of 200-250 per hour. On occasion eBay live bid software cannot keep up with the pace of the auctions where 4-5 lots per minute can hammer down, so we recommend that you place a realistic absentee bid now as insurance to avoid disappointment. Also please note that all Heritage/CAA lots purchased through eBay Live carry a 20% Buyer's Premium. Please make sure you read the Terms and Conditions.