1961 Bashlow Silver CSA Restrike Obverse Trial Hub Cent

Coin Details

Description

The 1961 Bashlow Confederate Cent Obverse Hub Trial in silver is a precious-metal version of the obverse die test impression, produced during Bashlow’s preparation of transfer dies for his Confederate cent restrike program. This single-sided piece shows only Lovett’s Liberty head obverse design, struck in silver to evaluate how the design would render in precious metal before proceeding with full two-sided production. Silver hub trials are rarer than their copper counterparts, as precious metal was typically reserved for the finished restrikes rather than expended on technical test pieces. The existence of a silver obverse hub trial indicates that Bashlow wanted to verify the design’s appearance specifically in silver before committing to the silver restrike production run. The bright, reflective silver surface showcases the classical Liberty portrait and 13-star border with particular brilliance. The silver obverse hub trial represents the intersection of production necessity and numismatic desirability. While created as a functional test piece, its combination of precious metal composition, single-sided format, and extreme rarity makes it one of the most sought-after pieces in the entire Bashlow Confederate cent series. Hub trials in any metal are scarce; silver hub trials are genuinely rare.

Rarity Notes

Very rare. Silver hub trials were produced in minimal quantities, fewer than any of the finished silver restrikes. They are among the scarcest pieces in the Bashlow series.

Cross References

NGC #886006