1796 Castorland Medal, or Jeton. Original. Lecompte-185, W-9100. Rarity-6.

Rare Original Castorland Medal in Silver 1796 Castorland Medal, or Jeton. Original. Lecompte-185, W-9100. Rarity-6. Silver. Reeded Edge. AU-55 (PCGS). A handsome piece dressed in rich, original, steel-olive and mauve-gray. Direct lighting reveals more vivid iridescent undertones of champagne-gold and powder blue, as well as hints of reflectivity remaining in the fields. Boldly defined in the absence of all but light wear that finds greatest expression at the central high points. Further confirming that this is a lightly handled piece, close inspection with a loupe reveals myriad small and a few moderate size marks on both sides, mostly in the open field areas. None of these are worthy of individual attention, the in-hand appearance impressively smooth and inviting. There is no trace of the reverse die buckling at the letter S in PARENS. The Castorland medals or jetons (or as Breen called them "demi ecu") are as enigmatic as they are rare. The original strikes in silver, as here, were probably struck to circulate among the denizens of the 630,000 acre parcel of upstate New York which French settlers founded in 1793. The settlers built a mill, a forge, and a canal and settled two villages, Castorville (now Castorland), and Carthage. The name itself, Castorland, is from the French "castor" or beaver, an example of which figures prominently in the medal's design. Nearly always seen in well-circulated condition, original Castorland pieces - they have been restruck many times over the past two centuries - have long been popular with collectors in America. We see these only occasionally, rarely in or close to full Mint State, and when offered the bidding is substantial. Provenance: From the Emerald Coast Collection. Earlier from Heritage's Long Beach Signature Auction of June 2010, lot 32. PCGS# 653. NGC ID: 2B69. 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.

Stima:€0.89

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