1783 MD 6P Chalmers, Small Date MS(PCGS#593)

November 2025 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

1150

Grade

F15

Price

7,800

Lot Description

Our offerings for this variety of Chalmers' sixpence in recent years have been universally in low grades, but this Choice Fine from the August Collection is more evenly struck and, hence, far more sharply defined overall. The obverse is softer at lower left than elsewhere, but while the letters POLIS can be indistinct at certain viewing angles, the entire legend is legible with patience. The area below SIX PENCE on the reverse is swollen, as almost always seen, with associated softness at the border above, but the reverse legends are all present, even the tiny T and S in the corner crescents, the signature of engraver Thomas Sparrow, who also engraved Maryland currency in this era (as well as the other unsigned Chalmers dies). The Sparrow signature is important and generally not present on a coin less well produced and/or of lower grade than this. The reverse is quite sharp overall, in fact, and the star at central obverse is discernible, if soft. With no significant marks to surfaces that are light silver gray overall.<p>The four "varieties" of Chalmers sixpence listed by Breen are actually die states - the difference between the six-pointed star and the eight-pointed star (as here) after SIX is actually a short die crack through the star on its horizontal axis. A decent proportion of the survivors of this issue are holed or holed and plugged (the Ted L. Craige specimen is one, and the Mickley-Bushnell-Jenks coin is another); apparently they were popular as charms in their era. The total surviving population of the denomination may be as few as 20 pieces. This one ranks in the top half, as a substantial proportion of survivors are close to being worn into oblivion. A very desirable coin.