1783 Chalmers Sixpence - Large Date

Coin Details

Description

Rarer than both the Chalmers threepence and shilling, this sixpence with large date digits represents one of the scarcest denominations in John Chalmers's 1783 Annapolis silver coinage. The obverse features clasped hands — a symbol of unity and commercial agreement — while the reverse displays six interlocking rings with the engraver's initials "TS" (Thomas Sparrow, a silversmith who likely cut the dies) visible within the design. Cataloged as Whitman 1390 and Breen 997, the large date variety is distinguished by the size of the numerals in the 1783 date, with the digits appearing noticeably larger than on other sixpence die varieties. Chalmers commissioned this coinage to address the severe shortage of small silver change in Annapolis and the surrounding Maryland region during the Confederation period, when the collapse of Continental currency and the absence of a national mint left merchants dependent on worn foreign coins and cut pieces for everyday transactions. The sixpence denomination — equivalent to half a shilling — served a practical commercial function for small retail purchases. This piece belongs to the Post-1776 Private and Regional Issues (1778-1820) series and represents a high point of private American silver coinage, where the combination of rarity, historical significance, and distinctive design makes the Chalmers sixpence one of the most sought-after colonial American coins.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Chalmers sixpence are rarer than threepence or shillings.

Cross References

Whitman 1390; Breen 997