(1849) DT$10 Moran & Clark Copper Die Trial, BN (Regular Strike)
Series: (None)
PCGS AU53BN
PCGS XF45BN
PCGS VF35BN
- PCGS #:
- 10256
- Designer:
- N/A
- Edge:
- N/A
- Diameter:
- N/A
- Weight:
- N/A
- Mintage:
- N/A
- Mint:
- Philadelphia
- Metal:
- Copper
- Auction Record:
- $19,200 • AU53BN • 01-16-2022 • Heritage Auctions
Major Varieties
- (1849) DT$10 Moran & Clark Copper Die Trial, BN
Condition Census What Is This?
|
#1 AU55 estimated grade, off-center
Rossa and Tanenbaum, June 26, 1985 - John J. Ford, Jr. Collection - Stack’s/Bowers 9/2013:10099, $16,450 |
|
#1 AU55 estimated grade, gilt
Gilt Copper. Paul Koppenhaver, sold privately in 1976 - Clifford Collection - Bowers & Ruddy 3/1982:86 - John J. Ford, Jr. Collection - Stack’s/Bowers 9/2013:10098, $23,500 |
|
#3 XF45 PCGS grade
F.C.C. Boyd Collection - Abe Kosoff Estate - Bowers & Merena 11/1985:919, $1,430 |
|
#3 AU53 PCGS grade
F.C.C. Boyd, sold privately in 6/1921 - Virgil Brand Collection - Bowers & Merena 6/1984:1549, $2,640 - Rajj Collection - Stack's/Bowers 8/2011:7562, $10,350 |
| #4 XF40 PCGS grade |
| #5 VF35 PCGS grade |
| #5 VF25 PCGS grade |
| #6 VF20 PCGS grade |
This is a die trial for a $10 gold piece proposed for the firm of Moran & Clark in San Francisco, CA circa 1849. No gold coins were ever struck by this firm, thus these copper pieces are the only remnants of this scheme. The principals of Moran & Clark were Dan Moran and John C. Clark. Not only did their coinage plans fizzle, but their stay in California was short-lived; by 1850, Moran was already back in New York City.
Based on the legends on the coin, the proposed Moran $10 was to weigh 11 pennyweights, 8 grains and be of 20.5 carats purity. The reference to San Francisco could have been where the coins were made, or where Moran & Clark planned to make them.
Kagin noted that "Most are struck off-center" but, in our experience, that is not so. Of the six examples we've seen, only two were off-center to any significant degree. What we have noticed is that at least three of those six examples were heavily scratched. One example was gilt -- a process presumably done after striking either by Moran & Clark or a collector.