 1776 Continental Dollar. CURRENCY obverse spelling. Newman 2-C. Hodder 2-A.3. Pewter. Dies oriented at about 20 degrees, generally approximating ''medal turn.'' Choice Very Fine. Light silver-gray, frosty areas hug the lettering on both sides, probably the remnants of the coin's original mint lustre. Obverse is wonderfully smooth and boasts a remarkably even, deep olive-gray hue. The reverse is a bit more flashy and is decidedly deeper gray in tone, with a band of slightly darker gray arcing across the upper reverse that is best perceived from a distance.
The strike is quite bold, with all design motifs and legends visible, although the sundial and MIND YOUR BUSINESS are a trifle weak, as is often the case on this variety. Surfaces are remarkably free of disfiguring marks and ''tinpest'', both of which often afflict this soft, reactive alloy. We assume the coin has the usual twin leaf edge device, but the plastic encapsulation prevents viewing of the edge. The Continental Dollars are clearly a product of the Continental Congress, yet the authorizing documentation has never been uncovered, if it still exists. Numismatists await the unraveling of the mystery of the metallic Continental Currency and collect these relics of Revolutionary American with great zeal. PCGS VF30.
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