Existing comment:
This case holds an extraordinary piece of American numismatic history -- the only gold coin ever made in this pattern.
Before Congress established a national mint in April 1792, many private firms tried to win government contracts by sending samples (called pattern coins) to federal officials. This example by Jacob Perkins of Newburyport, Massachusetts, is one of more than 20 surviving pattern coins featuring the first president's portrait. There was one problem: George Washington did not want his image on currency, and so this pattern was never put into production.
This coin's history has long intrigued scholars and collectors. It may have been sent to George Washington by a friend of Jacob Perkins in February 1792. Former owners of the coin believed that Washington carried it as a "pocket piece." Did Washington ever have this item in his possession? That question remains unresolved. |