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For so many Americans, the year 1776 evokes patriotic sentiments surrounding the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. The American Revolution (or the "The American Rebellion" as the British called it) waged to secure it, and the Fourth of July barbecues and fireworks commemorate both. Throughout the nation, Americans also celebrate their landmark anniversaries as they did for the Centennial in 1876 and the Bicentennial in 1976. For numismatists and Revolutionary War history enthusiasts alike, there are a number of U.S. coin issues with each of these dates across different denominations and mints. In light of this year's Semiquincentennial celebration of the Declaration of Independence, we are featuring die varieties of the 1776 Continental Dollar, 1876-CC Liberty Seated Dime, and the 1976-D Washington Quarter.
The 1776 Continental Dollar is one of the most famous but historically controversial issues in all of American numismatics. Why controversial? For one thing, there is no known documentation authorizing its issue. Second, there are no known records of their use in financial transactions nor contemporary publications that mention them. What is known is that its design elements (the sundial, the chain, and the mottos "FUGIO" [meaning "I fly"] and "MIND YOUR BUSINESS") were used on the Continental Currency (or Fugio notes) issued by the Continental Congress in 1776. (The sundial and chain were later used for the 1787 Fugio coppers.) Also known are seven die pairings for the Continental Dollar across three metals: pewter (400-500 population), brass (15-20), and silver (four). And if this "1776" dollar wasn't mysterious enough, there are three different spellings of "CURRENCY" acrossv the five obverse dies ("CURRENCY," "CURENCY," AND "CURRENCEY"). Regardless of its controversial status as a genuine American Revolutionary-era coin or not, the 1776 Continental Dollar continues to be a curiously important and sought-after numismatic issue.
The year 1876 saw its own "revolutionary" events with Alexander Graham Bell receiving a patent for his telephone and the indecisive presidential election between Samuel J. Tilden and Rutherford B. Hayes. For numismatists seeking an eye-catching 1876 die-error variety, there is the 1876-CC Doubled Die Obverse (DDO) Liberty Seated Dime. Until 1996, working dies produced at the U.S. Mint were hubbed at least two times in order to get a strong impression of the image. Prior to a subsequent rehubbing, this 1876-CC Liberty Seated Dime obverse die pivoted slightly counterclockwise about a point near the rim by the word "UNITED." Known as Class Vor Pivoted Hub Doubling, the result is strong doubling on the opposite side of the coin (in this case, the letters "OF AMERICA") with subtle doubling on the lower folds of the gown and lower part of the rock. Additionally, this obverse die is paired with three different reverses, and each has a different mintmark placement. This doubled die obverse is considered a "Top 100 Liberty Seated Dime Variety" by enthusiasts of the series.
Events of the year 1976 included the incorporation of both the Apple and Microsoft computer companies, and the election of Jimmy Carter, who became the first candidate from the Deep South to win the presidency since the Civil War. Also commemorating the Bicentennial year was the issuing of a quarter, half dollar, and dollar, each with a revolution-themed reverse. Like the 1876-CC Doubled Die Obverse Liberty Seated Dime, there is a 1976-D Bicentennial Quarter obverse die that also during rehubbing pivoted slightly counterclockwise about a point near the rim - this time near the dates. The result is strong doubling of the letters in "LIBERTY" on the opposite side of the coin (with subtle doubling on the motto and date). If the pivot point had been near the center, all of the obverse numbers and lettering (except the mintmark, which was punched after the die was hubbed) would be doubled and near equally spaced. Although over 860 million 1976-D quarters were struck, PCGS has attributed only 81 of them with this doubled obverse.