1874 Proof Haseltine Restrike, Silver Cent

Coin Details

Auction Record

$114,000 PR63 11-26-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

The 1874 Haseltine Restrike of the Confederate Cent in silver was struck by Philadelphia dealer John W. Haseltine from the original dies engraved by Robert Lovett Jr. in 1861. The silver restrikes were produced in smaller quantities than the copper version, making them correspondingly scarcer and more desirable among collectors of Civil War numismatic material. Silver was a prestigious metal choice for these restrikes, lending the pieces a bright, lustrous appearance that showcases the fine detail of Lovett’s die work. The Liberty head obverse surrounded by 13 stars appears with particular clarity in silver, and the intricate wreath of Southern agricultural products on the reverse — cotton bolls, tobacco leaves, corn ears, and wheat sheaves — stands out with sharp definition against the reflective silver fields. Haseltine’s decision to strike restrikes in multiple metals followed established numismatic tradition, where collectors valued complete sets showing the same design in different compositions. The silver CSA cent restrike occupies the middle tier between the more common copper and the extremely rare gold restrikes, offering collectors a precious-metal example of this historically significant design at a somewhat more attainable level than the gold.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Approximately 12 silver restrikes produced by Haseltine in 1874, significantly fewer than the 55 copper specimens. Silver restrikes command premiums of roughly double the copper examples at auction.

Cross References

NGC #8007