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GEORGE CLINTON 1787
George earned his way into politics by serving in the French & Indian War & also as a member of the Continental Congress. In 1775, when the Revolution began, he accepted a post of Brigadier General in the Continental Army. He
was one of the most popular politicians in Early America. He had the nick-name “The Old Incumbent” because of his many years as New York’s Governor from 1777- 1795 & again in 1801-1804. Being a firm Republican, he was one of the main opponents to the ratification of The
Constitution. In the election of 1804, Thomas Jefferson chose George for his vice-presidential running mate. He served one term with Jefferson, & another as James Madison’s vice-president. He died in 1812, shortly before the expiration of his term.
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NEW YORK CASTORLAND MEDAL 1796
When the French Revolution broke out in 1792,
the Royalists left France to start up a New French-American Colony being formed in upper
Northwestern NY State, along the Beaver River
called Castorland (Castor means Beaver in French). Once the French were established in NY, they suffered many epidemics & severe winters in the first years of the colony so most of the original habitants either died or moved away. Soon nothing remained of the colony except for the original name. The land was eventually sold little by little to American colonists, who made the land prosper. This coin was struck in France & never reached beyond the experimental stage. Both varieties, in silver & copper, are extremely rare with a date of 1796.
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NEW YORK IMMUNIS COLUMBIA 1787
James F. Atlee designed & coined these for a contract of coinage for the Confederation.
Gen. Ogden who was bond-holder for Rahway
Mills Mint turned over the patterns to the Confederation Board of Treasury’s chief, Col.
Wm. Duer for approval. Unaware that Col. Duer had already given the job to James Jarvis, (who fled the country because he could not do the job & did not have the $10,000 to pay Col. Duer back) Ogden had Atlee strike up a large number of these coins. When they were finally accepted, they circulated at 14 to the shilling. “IMMUNIS COLUMBIA” (Free America) is on the obverse, & “E. Pluribus Unum” (one composed of many) with an Eagle is on the reverse.
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BRASHER’S GOLD
Ephraim Brasher, a New York City Goldsmith
& Jeweler designed this Gold Piece, which was
struck in 1787. The colonists had little need for coinage greater than copper & silver, but business transactions in larger cities did require Gold. This coin weighed 408 grams & was worth $16.00 at that time. The Brasher Half-Doubloon was struck from the same die, but on a smaller, thinner scale. AN EXACT REPLICA
NY-1 &2 |
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BRASHER’S GOLD Half Gold Doubloon
Ephraim Brasher, a New York City Goldsmith
& Jeweler designed this Gold Piece, which was
struck in 1787. The colonists had little need for coinage greater than copper & silver, but business transactions in larger cities did require Gold. This coin weighed 408 grams & was worth $16.00 at that time. The Brasher Half-Doubloon was struck from the same die, but on a smaller, thinner scale. AN EXACT REPLICA
NY-1 &2 |
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NEW YORK “INDIAN ARMS”
The New York Assembly passed the only Bill
pertaining to coinage in April 1787. The Bill regulated the value of copper coinage & established counterfeiting as a felony. The Obverse bears an Indian figure with the Latin Legend, “Born Free, I Defend Liberty”. On the reverse is the NY Seal of Liberty & Justice with Excelsior below the Shield.
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“BAR COPPER” CENT 1785
This coin is believed to belong to the same
Issue as the Nova Constellatio Coppers, which was probably made in Birmingham, England by Thomas Wyon for circulation in America. It was circulated in NYC during November 1785. On the obverse is a large Roman letter USA monogram. The reverse has 13 parallel & unconnected bars which stood for the 13 states that united into a single entity as symbolized
by the interlocking letters USA.
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