A Treasure Hunters Dream Come True

1787 BRASHER "DOUBLOON"

        

Images courtesy of the National Numismatic Collection of the Smithsonian Institution

Struck in 1787, the gold "doubloons" by Ephraim Brasher are among the rarest and most desirable of all United States coins - in fact, a long-standing record is the $725,000 realized by an example in 1979 (at the time, the highest price ever achieved at public auction by a United States coin). Brasher was also responsible for a unique Half Doubloon, he was involved with the New York "Excelsior" Coppers, the Nova Eboracs, and his hallmark appears on a number of foreign gold coins that circulated during his tenure in business. The following is a complete roster of the seven known "Doubloons" (click on any of the active links for complete pedigrees):      The following six coins all have the "EB" hallmark punched over the eagle's wing: 1.  National Numismatic Collection specimen (pictured above) 2.  Yale University specimen 3.  Walter Perschke specimen 4.  The Garrett Specimen 5.  American Numismatic Society specimen 6.  The Dupont specimen      The following coin has the "EB" hallmark punched over the shield on the eagle's breast: 7.  The Garrett Specimen The "Half Doubloon" of the same design type, but on a smaller planchet, is currently unique! 1.  National Numismatic Collection specimen I know a few of you out there are New England treasure hunters and may on occasion pop out coins that you have absolutely no idea what they are. I thought this might come in handy for everyone to use as a reference. I will keep posting these unusual colonial U.S. coins from time to time, let me know what you think. P.S.  If you have one of these .. you just hit the metal detector lotto!