Owner Comments:
1863 10C Ten Cents,
Judd-333, Pollock-405,
Rarity: Low R.7, PR65 BN
Ex: Simpson.
Struck in copper with a reeded edge.
Obverse/Reverse : Regular die trials striking of the dime, but believed to be restrikes.
Comment:
The USPatterns.com website provides interesting background information and solves the mystery of these pieces:
"Although described as regular dies trial pieces in the literature, this is actually a backdated fantasy piece made to complete off-metal sets of this year which included the quarter, half and dollar with the motto 'In God We Trust' used on regular coinage from 1866 to 1891. This coin was actually made sometime between 1869 and 1875.
This piece was made from the 1869 hub having broken 'S' in States and from an 1869 reverse hub with the die scratch angling upwards from the right wreath into the center."
Beautifully toned in rich shades of cobalt-blue, violet, and cherry-red. A darker smudge is seen in the left obverse field, extending outward from the space between UNITED and STATES, providing a convenient pedigree marker.
Provenance/Appearances:
From The Atherton Collection of U.S. Pattern Coins, Heritage May 2023 CSNS Signature® Auction / Lot #4936; Prior Ex: Important Selections from The Bob R. Simpson Collection, Part IV (Heritage, 2/2021), lot 3166.