(post-1859) Robert Ready Electrotype British Museum 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar Replica

Coin Details

Description

Robert Ready was a craftsman at the British Museum who produced electrotype replicas of rare American and world coins during the mid-to-late nineteenth century, using a galvanic process that deposits metal onto a mold to create a precise shell copy of the original. His electrotypes are highly regarded as museum-quality study pieces and are collectible in their own right, clearly distinct from counterfeits since they were made openly for scholarly and institutional use. This example replicates the 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar, the first silver dollar struck by the United States Mint and one of the most coveted coins in American numismatics. Ready electrotypes of American rarities survive in small numbers and represent an important chapter in the history of numismatic preservation.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Exact production numbers undocumented; most Robert Ready electrotypes survive in single-digit quantities. Museum-deaccessioned examples occasionally appear at auction.

Cross References

British Museum electrotype; Robert Ready workshop; cf. 1794 Flowing Hair Dollar