1961 Bashlow Restrike, Red Fiber Cent

Coin Details

Auction Record

$528 PCGS Genuine 11-26-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

The 1961 Bashlow Restrike of the Confederate Cent in red fiber is the most unconventional piece in the entire centennial restrike series. This non-metallic striking uses a compressed fiber material with a distinctive red color, producing a Confederate cent that looks and feels unlike any traditional coin. The use of fiber as a striking medium pushes the boundaries of what constitutes a numismatic piece into the realm of exonumia and experimental material science. Red fiber — a compressed cellulose material similar to vulcanized fiberboard — was occasionally used for emergency coinage and tokens during periods of metal shortages, most notably in various European and Asian economies during wartime. Bashlow’s inclusion of red fiber in his Confederate cent series referenced this tradition while also demonstrating the versatility of his transfer dies and the broad range of materials that could receive a coin impression under sufficient pressure. The fiber medium captures design details in a muted, low-relief manner quite different from metal strikings. The classical Liberty head and agricultural wreath appear as softened impressions rather than sharp metallic relief, giving the piece an almost cameo-like quality. The vivid red color makes this one of the most visually distinctive pieces in the entire Confederate cent family, from Lovett’s 1861 originals through all subsequent restrikes and reproductions.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Red fiber restrikes are among the scarcer Bashlow varieties, as the non-metallic material was more experimental in nature. Surviving examples in good condition command premiums due to both rarity and the novelty of the medium.