1776 $1 Continental 'Curency' Silver (Regular Strike)

P. Scott Rubin: The 1776 Silver Continental CURENCY Dollar is an extremely rare issue with only two specimens currently known to exist. The 1776 Continental Currency coinage is a mysterious issue, as there is no documentation known authorizing its issue. The one “R” in Currency variety is known for its incorrect spelling of the word currency on the obverse die. Eric Newman’s described three different die combinations for this variety, all using the same Obverse and Reverse dies. The Newman varieties exist because the reverse die was modified twice during its usage. The Silver specimens are only known from the third usage of the reverse die, known as N-1-C, along with a number of Pewter coins, none are known from this Newman combination struck in Brass.

The CURENCY (with one R) coins represent three Newman variety numbers N-1-A, N-1-B and N-1-C. The A reverse has the chains around the colonies names created by small dots. The B reverse is the same die as A only the die has been re-engraved, adding solid lines through the dots for a more solid chain. The die was lapped and the dots virtually removed and new, thicker sold lines were used to create the chains on the Newman C reverse.

In the entire Continental Currency issue only four specimens are known struck in Silver. Two are of this variety with one “R” in Currency using dies known as the Newman N-1-C and two known struck from dies using the N-3-D designated dies indentified by the with EG FECIT on the obverse die.

The finest of the two 1776 Silver Continental Curency specimens is graded is graded EF-40 by NGC and the lower grade specimen is graded VF-30 by NGC. Both specimens where at one time owned by noted coin dealer and collector John J. Ford, Jr. and until recently both were owned by Colonial Collector Donald G. Partrick.

In the January, 2015 Heritage auction of the Donald G. Partrick Collection, the finest known 1776 Silver Continental Curency N-1-C sold for $1,527,500 as lot 5838.