1860s Quarter Fantasy - Dickeson, Eagle on Shield Private Restrike

Coin Details

Description

The Eagle on Shield fantasy quarter by Montroville Wilson Dickeson is a mid-nineteenth-century private restrike featuring an eagle displayed on a shield, one of the many numismatic fantasies produced by this prominent Philadelphia physician, archaeologist, and numismatic entrepreneur. Dickeson (1810-1882) was a prolific producer of fantasy coins, restrikes, and fabricated "historical" pieces that he marketed to the growing community of American coin collectors during the 1850s and 1860s. The quarter denomination and eagle-on-shield design places this piece among Dickeson's productions that drew on patriotic American imagery while not attempting to replicate any specific official coin type. Dickeson's fantasy pieces ranged from purported colonial issues to imaginative designs that he sold as historical curiosities or rarities. His productions have been extensively studied and cataloged by numismatic researchers, with most now clearly identified as Dickeson fabrications rather than the historical artifacts they were originally marketed as. Dickeson was a complex figure in American numismatics — genuinely knowledgeable about coins and archaeology, yet willing to produce misleading items for profit. His 1859 publication "The American Numismatic Manual" was a pioneering reference work, while his fantasy coins and fabricated "discoveries" represented a darker entrepreneurial streak. The Eagle on Shield fantasy quarter is representative of his more openly creative productions, where the design itself signals a private artistic creation rather than a deceptive replica of an official issue.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Dickeson fantasy productions survive in moderate numbers, having been produced for sale to collectors. Approximately 30-60 examples of this variety exist. These are collected both as examples of Dickeson's work and as specimens of mid-19th century numismatic entrepreneurship.

Cross References

PCGS #856499; Dickeson private restrike/fantasy