Hamilton letter to be sold by Rago
A 1793 letter by Alexander Hamilton requesting money to pay for copper coinage, as well as some early large cents, will highlight a June 9 auction to be conducted by…
A 1793 letter by Alexander Hamilton requesting money to pay for copper coinage, as well as some early large cents, will highlight a June 9 auction to be conducted by Rago Auctions.
It is written to the President of the Bank of the United States by the Secretary of the Treasury.
“For the purpose of obtaining a final settlement at the Treasury of the bills drawn on Amsterdam, I have this day issued a warrant on you in favor of the Treasurer of the United States for ten thousand dollars, being the amount of the bills furnished by you to the Director of the Mint. I have therefore to request that until an appropriation be made for the purpose (a circumstance which will shortly take place) you will be pleased to consider the said 10,000 dollars as an advance on account of the Mint. I have [illegible] a warrant to cover all your advances heretofore to that establishment [illegible] of two June for the purchase of copper which must also want an appropriation.”
The Mint struck the first official coinage on March 3, 1793, Rago notes.
Estimate on the letter is $7,000-$9,000.
The large cents in the sale include a 1793 Chain Cent graded Professional Coin Grading Service Fine-12. It has an estimate of $15,000-$20,000.
A 1793 Chain Cent graded PCGS Fine-15 has an identical estimate.
A 1793 Liberty Cap Cent graded Very Good is estimated at $3,000-$5,000.
View a complete online catalog with color images at www.ragoarts.com and www.bidsquare.com, online May 21.
This article was originally printed in Numismatic News Express. >> Subscribe today
More Collecting Resources
• More than 600 issuing locations are represented in the Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1701-1800 .
• The Standard Catalog of World Coins, 1601-1700 is your guide to images, prices and information on coins from so long ago.
