1774/3 Virginia Shilling - Silver Proof

Coin Details

Auction Record

$115,000 • PR58 • Stack's Bowers

Description

The 1774/3 Virginia Shilling - Silver Proof is a proof coin from the Pre-1776 States Coinage (1652-1774) series. This is an overdate variety — the 1774 date was punched over a die originally dated 1773. In the early U.S. Mint, dies were expensive to produce, so rather than discard a die engraved with the previous year's date, Mint workers would punch the new date digits over the old ones. The traces of the original date remain visible under magnification, creating a die variety prized by collectors and cataloged by die variety specialists. As a proof issue, this coin was struck multiple times on specially prepared polished planchets using polished dies, producing mirror-like fields and frosted design elements prized by collectors. Auction record: $115,000 • PR58 • Stack's Bowers. Struck in silver, weighing 5.62 grams, 25 mm in diameter, with a plain edge. Cataloged as PCGS #249.

Rarity Notes

R.7+. Only five known; two in permanent museum collections (Smithsonian, Colonial Williamsburg), leaving only three available to collectors.

Cross References

W-1695, Breen 182