1783 John Chalmers Sixpence. W-1770, Breen-1014. Rarity-6. Large Date. VF-35 (PCGS).26.6 grains. A lovely example, with choice deep gray color and subtle iridescent gold toning over smooth surfaces. The centering is pretty good on this one, unusual for the type, with an ideally centered reverse and a slightly misaligned obverse that puts MERS of CHALMERS against the rim and reveals the long handout border denticles opposite. Aside from an old scratch beneath IS of ANNAPOLIS on the obverse, this piece is essentially problem free. Notably, Thomas Sparrows signature T and S at the ends of the reverse cross are both perfectly visible here, a scarce characteristic on this type due to both heavy circulation and poor striking and centering. Aside from this denomination, the only 18th century circulating American coin with an artist signature that we can think of is the WM New Jersey copper, Maris 62 1/2-r. In the Ford cataloging, Michael Hodder noted "as denominations go, the sixpence is about twice as hard to find as a shilling and a threepence is about as rare as a sixpence." Your present cataloger (JK) would suggest that sixpence are perhaps 10 times rarer than shillings and about twice as rare as threepence. In grades above VF, that may go up by an order of magnitude, as there are plenty of nice grade threepence pieces (relative to the population) and a fair number of shillings, but most sixpence are well worn, damaged, or both. This is a pleasant exception.PCGS# 594.From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from our (Stacks) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part II, May 2004, lot 279; John Gervasoni; Lawrence R. Stack Collection, November 2006.
