1961 Bashlow Restrike, Silver Cent

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,440 MS69 08-22-2021 Heritage Auctions

Description

The 1961 Bashlow Restrike of the Confederate Cent in silver was produced by Robert Bashlow as one of the premium metal offerings in his centennial restrike series. Silver restrikes commanded higher prices than base metal versions and were produced in correspondingly smaller quantities, making them among the more desirable Bashlow varieties. The silver composition gives these pieces a bright, lustrous white appearance that beautifully showcases the Confederate cent design. Lovett’s Liberty head obverse, with its 13 stars representing the Confederate states, stands out with particular clarity against the reflective silver fields. The agricultural wreath reverse, symbolizing the Southern economy’s dependence on cotton, tobacco, corn, and wheat, appears with crisp definition that highlights the intricate botanical detail of the original engraving. As a precious metal restrike, the silver Bashlow cent occupies a middle position in the hierarchy of Confederate cent collectibles — more prestigious and scarcer than the base metal versions (brass, bronze, copper, aluminum) but more obtainable than Lovett’s original silver strikings or Haseltine’s nineteenth-century silver restrikes. For collectors seeking a silver Confederate cent without the five-figure price tag of earlier issues, the Bashlow silver restrike offers an attractive alternative with genuine numismatic significance.

Rarity Notes

Scarce to rare. Bashlow silver restrikes were produced in smaller quantities than the base metal versions. They command premiums over brass and bronze examples at auction.

Cross References

NGC #886025