1861 Parsons Five Dollar - Copper

Coin Details

Description

The 1861 John Parsons & Company Five Dollar in copper is an off-metal pattern struck from the Parsons half eagle dies. Copper strikings from the smaller territorial mints are particularly rare, as these operations had less incentive and fewer resources for producing numismatic specimens compared to larger firms like Clark Gruber. The copper striking reproduces the full design of the Parsons gold half eagle. In copper, the coin has a reddish-brown appearance that stands in sharp contrast to the gold original, making it immediately identifiable as a trial or pattern piece. The existence of copper off-metal patterns from Parsons indicates that even the smaller Colorado territorial coiners were aware of and participated in the numismatic culture of producing non-gold specimens for collectors or as die records.

Rarity Notes

Extremely rare. Copper off-metal Parsons coins may be unique or known in only 2-3 examples.