Incredibly Deceptive Alteration on Rare Colonial Caught by PCGS Graders

Mike Sherman

PCGS graders have identified a rare Colonial sporting a radically new appearance. The piece is an elusive 1792 Washington Eagle Cent – 13 star reverse, lettered edge; (Baker 21) from the Ted Craige collection, sold by Stacks Bowers on two occasions in 2013 (the Americana Sale 1/13 where it brought $3,055 and the ANA Sale 8/13 where it realized $9,988). The coin traces its pedigree back to Mayflower’s Stern’s Sale in December 1966. It was a pleasing light brown specimen with Fine sharpness, but was unfortunately holed at 12 o’clock on the obverse. There had also been a crude attempt to re-engrave the stripes on the shield on the reverse. Only about half a dozen examples are presently known, with at least half of these damaged in some way.