Auction Number 43 Closed (#11009)

597 - MILLER NY 265 Raw VF With some light planchet striations as struck. Francis Patent Screw & Fancy Boat Establishment New York struck in Brass with Plain edge. Joseph Francis (1801-1893) was a famous boat builder and holder of many patents. On April 23, 1833 he received his first patent for a portable screw boat. It was called that not because it used a screw propeller, but instead because it was made in sections to be portable and was literally screwed together when ready for use. This seemingly places this token solidly within the Hard Times period and even though Rulau himself dates this issue to (1832-33) he still assigns it to the Early American section of his standard catalog. Exceedingly rare, Steve Tanenbaum had noted on his holder that this was the only example he had seen in 35+ years. Unfortunately, fate intervened and he was not able to see Ford's specimen when it was sold a few years ago. These are the only two we have seen offered. This is the Rulau plate specimen from the Steve Tanenbaum and Robert Lindesmith collections, earlier from Bowers and Merena's March 2000 sale where it brought $1,840. (1500-2000)