A pewter MS66-graded 1776 continental $1 is valued at upwards of $160,000 in Heritage Auctions' US coins sale, taking place in New York on November 14-15.
America declared independence from Britain on July 2, 1776, with the Declaration signed into law on July 4.
 The 1776 continental dollar was the first coin issued in an independent America |
The founding fathers decided that the US also needed its own currency.
The issue is based on a design by Benjamin Franklin and displays several messages attesting to the revolutionary zeal of its origin (the front reads "Mind Your Business" while the reverse features the words "We Are One").
It was issued in gold, silver and pewter variants. The engraving of the coin is attributed to EG - a set of initials that remained a mystery until the renowned numismatist Eric P Newman found evidence attributing it to an Elisha Gallaudet.
Heritage comments: "Gallaudet was named in New York legislation dated 1770 as an engraver of colonial notes.
"Newman provided considerable additional documentation to support his identification of Elisha Gallaudet as the E.G. of the Continental dollars.
"He concluded with 12 detailed points of the identification that appear indisputable."
We have a strong selection of rare coins available.
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