Obverse die for the 1785 Immune Columbia obverse die by C. Wyllys Betts. Copper. 32.9 mm. Choice Very Fine.，IMMUNE COLUMBIA and 1795 around seated figure of Columbia with scales and pole, seated left. All hand-engraved, with heavy denticles around. This die was clearly used, as evidenced by the distorted surface and spread out, flattened design. The design was not sharply engraved to begin with, and the soft dies did not fare well so the design faded quickly. This one shows just slightly more than a ghostly vestige of the central device, with the legend rather sharp. This unique die was used to make the Immune Columbia fantasy that appeared in our August 2013 sale of the Ted Craige Collection, lot 1327. That struck piece brought an impressive $1645.From our Stacks sale of March 1993, lot 2068.
