1774/3 Virginia Shilling - Silver Proof

Coin Details

Auction Record

$115,000 • PR58 • Stack's Bowers

Description

The 1774/3 Virginia Shilling - Silver Proof is a proof coin from the Pre-1776 States Coinage (1652-1774) series. This is an overdate variety — the 1774 date was punched over a die originally dated 1773. In the early U.S. Mint, dies were expensive to produce, so rather than discard a die engraved with the previous year's date, Mint workers would punch the new date digits over the old ones. The traces of the original date remain visible under magnification, creating a die variety prized by collectors and cataloged by die variety specialists. As a proof issue, this coin was struck multiple times on specially prepared polished planchets using polished dies, producing mirror-like fields and frosted design elements prized by collectors. Auction record: $115,000 • PR58 • Stack's Bowers. Struck in silver, weighing 5.62 grams, 25 mm in diameter, with a plain edge. Cataloged as PCGS #249. An extremely rare silver proof pattern traditionally called a "shilling." The obverse die is identical to the George III gold guinea dies used from 1774 to 1786, while the reverse follows the Virginia halfpenny design with an overdate of 1774 over 1773.

Rarity Notes

R.7+. Only five known; two in permanent museum collections (Smithsonian, Colonial Williamsburg), leaving only three available to collectors.

Cross References

W-1695, Breen 182