1783 Nova Constellatio Pattern Mark, or 1,000 Units. Robert Bashlow Cast Copy. Gold.307.8 grains. 29 mm. Even straw-gold patina throughout, the devices somewhat soft and surfaces microgranular owing to the cast nature of this piece. The texture is a bit glossy with wispy hairlines that point to a cleaning, few light scratches around the denomination 1000 and the date. A cast piece reportedly laid at the feet of Robert Bashlow of restrike Confederate cent fame. The design is that of Robert Morris Confederation pattern for a 1,000 units coinage. Page 114 of Breens 1988 <em>Encyclopedia</em> notes the following about this enigmatic coin: "The late Robert Bashlow (then 20 years old) made two (unholed) casts in gold, about a dozen in silver, and less than a dozen in copper, in the tradition of Joseph J. Mickley, as a permanent record of this mysterious piece." A small circular die marker is seen opposite each other on both sides that resembles a mark wherein to place a hole for suspension, which could have been Bashlows original intention. Rare.From McCawley & Grellmans Scott Barnes Sale, October 1996, lot 601. Lot tag included.
