Spencer Collection of World and U.S. Historical Medals Including So-Called Dollars
MI-251/44 AR, Queene Anne's Bounty


Obverse
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Reverse
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Coin Details

  

Set Details
Coin Description: Cent 1837
Grade: PCGS VF 25
Grade Comment: Strong Strike, Better Than Grade Suggests
Owner: Spencer Collection
 
Set Category: Token & Medals
Set Name: Spencer Collection of World and U.S. Historical Medals Including So-Called Dollars
Slot Name: MI-251/44 AR, Queene Anne's Bounty
Research: Currently not available

Owner's Description

Medal, 1837, German Silver, FEUCHTWANGER So Called Cent, United States, PCGS VF25, Cert# 20001.25/18511115. The Feuchtwanger Cent was a "German Silver" private token coin circulated by Lewis Feuchtwanger during the 1830-40s in the U.S. The tokens were originally created as patterns to demonstrate a new type of metal for coinage, however when these proposals failed, they were temporarily used by the public during depressions to accommodate a small change shortage. The “cent” is really a token that almost became an official coin. The Mint considered but ultimately rejected its metallic composition of “German silver,” an alloy of copper, nickel, zinc and tin. German-silver coinage already was circulating in Europe when Dr. Lewis Feuchtwanger (1805 to 1876), a Bavarian-born chemist and New York pharmacist, proposed that his composition replace the large 100 percent copper Braided Hair cent. Obv. Eagle grappling with a snake on the obverse, dated 1837. Rv. appear feuchtwanger’s composition and one cent with a berried wreath beset by two small stars. The token is so well designed that it could pass for U.S. currency, just as the Liberty Dollar might have when introduced by the National Organization to Repeal the Federal Reserve Act — a Hard Times-sounding name.

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