1783 John Chalmers Shilling. W-1785. Rarity-4+. Birds, Short Worm. EF Details--Repaired (PCGS).A delightful example of this prized type with steel blue patina and deeper coloration around the devices. Nicely centered on both sides with denticles fully tracing the circumference. Faint traces of smoothing are noted around the date under scrutiny, though the eye appeal remains strong and appealing. An old mark at the inner circle above the snake serves as a convenient pedigree marker for this sharp example.<p><p><p>Coins of this type are attributed to John Chalmers, a goldsmith and silversmith in Annapolis, Maryland. Chalmers issued these coins to prevent some of the abusive practices associated with fractional parts of the Spanish dollar, those being the most widely used coins in the early United States. While it was customary at the time to cut Spanish dollars into halves, quarters and eighths, unscrupulous persons would attempt to make a profit by cutting five "quarters" or nine or ten "eighths" out of one coin. Chalmers solution to this problem was to redeem various fractional parts in exchange for his own coins, charging a commission for this service. <p>Examples were produced in threepence, sixpence and shilling denominations, the dies engraved by Thomas Sparrow, if not by Chalmers himself, and the coins struck at a building at the corner of Fleet and Cornhill streets in Annapolis. Given that several hundred Chalmers pieces are known today, and that most display significant wear from extensive commercial use, the issue appears to have been well received by the contemporary public and widely used in commerce. In an absolute sense, of course, all Chalmers coins are rare irrespective of denomination or variety. Those most often seen are shillings of the bird type, the short worn variant a bit more plentiful than its long worn counterpart, though examples of either variant are rarely encountered as sharp as the present specimen.<p>
