1783 Chalmers sixpence. W-1765. Large punctuated date. Fine Detail, Bent (PCGS).28.3 grains. Beautiful deep antique gray, the design elements mostly a shade lighter. Smooth and appealing, well-centered, and featuring complete designs and legends on both sides. The T for Thomas that hides within the peripheral crescent left of SIX is plain, the S for Sparrow at the opposite crescent is a bit less clear. Thomas Sparrow, an Annapolis silversmith in his own right and a noted local engraver of mastheads and lead type, signed this die with boldness similar to his identifying cuts on the Gunpowder Notes printed in Annapolis in 1775. The eye appeal of this piece is excellent despite the grade assigned. This coin is not as much bent as thin enough that the impact at C of CHALMERS has distended the metal surrounding it and behind it, a commonplace phenomenon on this coinage. Very few Chalmers sixpences are immune from some minor flaw or other, and collectors seeking to acquire this type only in straight-grade holders may require an extra lifespan of patience. This piece is complete, attractive, and sharper than most.From the Archangel Collection. Earlier, from Stack’s 1976 American Numismatic Association sale, August 1976, lot 26; the William Sumner Appleton Collection, to the collection of the Massachusetts Historical Society by bequest in 1905.
