Popular 1863 Pattern Two-Cent Piece
1863 Pattern Two Cents. Musante GW-670, Baker-37, Judd-305. Rarity-4. Copper. PR-67 BN (PCGS).
22.8 mm., 92.2 grains. Deep steel and chocolate brown with boldly reflective fields that exhibit just a few scattered minor hairlines. A couple of small areas of lighter copper-nickel toning speak to an imperfect alloy in the planchet, which is not that surprising for an experimental piece such as this. Lovely pale blue iridescence and myriad flecks of lighter orange throughout. Sharply struck in Proof format, as typical. Though Baker included the fairly extensive series of federal patterns in his landmark study, this is the only one included in the collection. It is thus a unique entry in this extraordinary cabinet. Why Baker elected to own this sole piece is a mystery, but an intriguing one.
Provenance: Ex William Spohn Baker Collection, to the Historical Society of Pennsylvania by bequest, November 15, 1897.
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