A rare 1776 Continental dollar coin, discovered by chance in a toffee tin, is set to go up for auction next month and could fetch a hefty sum. CBS News reports.
The coin, believed to be designed by Benjamin Franklin and minted by Elisha Gallaudet, was found amongst a collection of 18th and 19th-century items brought to Wotton Auction Rooms by a client. Initially dismissed as “dull and boring,” the coin was only examined after the other items in the tin had been sorted.
While the auction house initially suspected it could be a copy, it was sent to the NGC numismatic guarantee company for authentication, which confirmed its authenticity.
The Continental dollar was the first pattern coin struck for the United States. The silver versions, of which only two are known to exist, are extremely rare. Pewter versions, of which about 20 are known in mint condition, are also highly sought after.
In 2008, a pewter Continental dollar sold for a record $264,500. A silver version fetched a record $1,527,500 in 2015.
The newly discovered coin, which will be auctioned on October 3, is expected to sell for £20,000 (about $26,360) to £30,000 (about $39,540).
