1861 (1874) Confederate Cent. Haseltine Restrike. Breen-8007. Silver. Proof-62 (PCGS). A particularly impressive example of this rare and eagerly sought restrike of the classic Confederate cent. Rich toning in iridescent steel-blue and olive outlines the design elements, the field areas and devices themselves dressed in lighter silver-gray. The strike is razor sharp throughout and the surfaces, if a bit muted to explain the assigned grade, readily reveal semi-reflective qualities in the fields as the coin dips into a light. A few faint hairlines are also noted for accuracy, further evidence of light handling on the part of an early collector, but there are no sizeable marks, and the in hand appearance is pleasingly smooth.<p>Capt. John W. Haseltines 1874 restrikes are beset by almost as much confusion and contradiction as the original 1861 Confederate cents. Haseltine and J. Colvin Randall, who controlled the supply of original Confederate cents and dies, enlisted Philadelphia die sinker Peter L. Krider to restrike Confederate cents from Robert Lovett, Jr.s original dies. According to the sales pitch in their "Circular to Collectors" of April 2, 1874, seven restrikes in gold, 12 in silver, and 55 in copper were made before the dies broke. Haseltine misremembered in 1908 that only three gold and five silver restrikes were produced, but the number of extant specimens preclude these smaller numbers. In the November 1911 issue of <em>The Numismatist</em>, trusted numismatic scholar Edgar Adams also reported a mintage figure of seven pieces for the gold restrikes. Since Haseltine was not known for his loyalty to the truth, as we know from his various renditions of the story of the originals, it is no wonder that he also embellished the story behind the restrikes.<p>The number of auction appearances of the silver restrikes over the last several decades would support Haseltines initial 1874 claim of 12 silver strikings of the Confederate cent, rather than his 1908 recollection of five. In either case it is undeniably rare; inexplicably the major grading services have seen fewer of these silver restrikes than the gold restrikes despite the fact that the latter boast a lower reported mintage. This is one of the finer specimens seen by PCGS, and it is sure to catch the eye of advanced bidders.<p>A note should be made here about the restrike Confederate cents made by Robert Bashlow in the early 1960s, which should not be confused with the Haseltine restrikes of 1874. These were struck in generally large quantities in a variety of metals using copy dies made from the original, but by then harshly defaced dies, immediately setting them apart in visual appearance from the first restrikes made by Haseltine. PCGS# 340409. NGC ID: 2C4Y. PCGS Population: 2; 1 finer in all categories (Proof-64 Cameo).
