1694 Carolina Elephant Token. Hodder 2-F, W-12120. Rarity-6. PROPRIETORS

The Lauder-Emerald Coast Carolina Elephant Token A Classic Colonial Type 1694 Carolina Elephant Token. Hodder 2-F, W-12120. Rarity-6. PROPRIETORS, O/E. Fine-15 (PCGS). A solid representative of this classic early American rarity. Both sides are handsomely original in preservation and feature marbled autumn-orange brown and olive-copper patina. The obverse is nicely centered and well struck up, retaining suitably bold detail to the elephant in the presence of moderate wear. The reverse is struck off center to 9 o'clock with an uncommonly broad border at right, center softly impressed with little to no detail, although the date is full and the O/E is bold and plainly evident to confirm the attribution. A few trivial pits and minor roughness do not present us from describing this as good copper, especially in the context of the assigned grade. There is a thin hairline on the reverse slanting up to the left from the digit 9 in the date, as well as a few others on the elephant, but these trivial blemishes require magnification and intent to discern, and they are also insignificant for the grade. Little is known about this token or the circumstances of its production. It is linked, of course, to the London and New England Elephants, but they are even more obscure. It is perhaps making a political commentary in support of the Lords Proprietors, the original group of investors in Carolina, who were engaged in a push-pull relationship with the Crown, which eventually purchased most of their claims and made Carolina a Crown colony 1729. In any event, all Elephant tokens were probably struck at the Tower Mint in London and used as trade tokens in England. Perhaps two dozen or so Carolina Elephants survive, the bulk of which seem to grade in the Fine-VF range, as here. Regardless of their origin and intent, the Carolina Elephant token has always been an object of great desire and offerings tend to be very infrequent (consignments to Stack's catalogs over the years possibly being an exception!). Provenance: From the Emerald Coast Collection. Earlier from William Doyle Galleries' sale of the Loye L. Lauder Collection, December 1983, lot 161. PCGS# 73. NGC ID: 2ATW. Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA.

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