Undated (1863) William Pitt Medal. Betts-515, Kraljevich 3-C. Copper. MS-63 RB (PCGS).

41.5 mm. 470.5 grains. Nearly full mint red, an extraordinary shade for this variety, with only a bit of mellowing on the reverse. Bright and lustrous, looking nearly as it did when struck in New York during the Civil War. Slightly double struck, visible on both sides, some trivial hairlines and spotting, short lintmark in lower right obverse field.

The Betts listings have been the source of misinformation and confusion for years. All pieces categorized as Betts-515 were actually struck in New York in 1863. Among those cataloged as Betts-516, with the T. PINGO F. signature on the bust, some were struck in 1766 but others from a different die with a crude rendition of the signature were also made in New York in 1863. An article in the MCA Advisory issue of January/February 2016 by John Kraljevich lays out the die marriages of this small but intricate series. According to Edward Groh, writing in the American Journal of Numismatics in 1901, this piece was made “at No. 29 Rose Street on a large screw press, operated by a German, in the year 1863.”

Provenance: From the Richard August Collection.

$9,999

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