Baker-2, Breen-1189 variety. An original striking, and as such a dramatically underrated issue in the Washington series.

Copper restrikes of this type are common in high grade, while originals are all but unheard of in mint state.

And don’t let the pop reports fool you – the overwhelming majority of pieces slabbed as originals in high grade are actually restrikes. But it’s really not hard to tell them apart:

Original strikings can be identified by the drapery pointing down toward the 7 in the date, while restrikes show the drapery running horizontally above the date.

We have traced a grand total of 2 mint state originals: The broadstruck piece in the Ford collection (which serves as the Redbook plate coin and now resides in a good client’s collection), and the piece offered here.

Ex McCawley-Grellman’s January, 1995 sale of the Ludwig T. Smith Collection, lot #188; earlier Breen Encyclopedia plate #1189.

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