1861 (1874) Confederate Cent. Haseltine Restrike. Breen-8007. Silver. Proof-58 Details--Rim Bumps, P

1861 (1874) Confederate Cent. Haseltine Restrike. Breen-8007. Silver. Proof-58 Details--Rim Bumps, Polished (ANACS).，This is a relatively appealing coin for the assigned grade whose fame and rarity are sure to result in strong competition among advanced collectors. Fully defined and suggestive of a Proof-60 Details grade, both sides also retain appreciable reflectivity in the fields. Untoned apart from subtle pale gold overtones, the surfaces exhibit wispy hairlines and a somewhat glossy texture to explain the ANACS qualifier.<p>Capt. John W. Haseltines 1874 restrikes are beset by almost as much confusion and contradiction as the original 1861 Confederate cents. Haseltine and J. Colvin Randall, who controlled the supply of original Confederate cents and dies, enlisted Philadelphia die sinker Peter L. Krider to restrike Confederate cents from Robert Lovett, Jr.s original dies. According to the sales pitch in their "Circular to Collectors" of April 2, 1874, seven restrikes in gold, 12 in silver, and 55 in copper were made before the dies broke. Haseltine misremembered in 1908 that only three gold and five silver restrikes were produced, but the number of extant specimens preclude these smaller numbers. In the November 1911 issue of <em>The Numismatist</em>, trusted numismatic scholar Edgar Adams also reported a mintage figure of seven pieces for the gold restrikes. Since Haseltine was not known for his loyalty to the truth, as we know from his various renditions of the story of the originals, it is no wonder that he also embellished the story behind the restrikes.<p>The number of auction appearances of the silver restrikes over the last several decades would support Haseltines initial 1874 claim of 12 silver strikings of the Confederate cent, rather than his 1908 recollection of five. In either case it is undeniably rare; inexplicably the major grading services have seen fewer of these silver restrikes than the gold restrikes despite the fact that the latter boast a lower reported mintage. The last piece to sell at auction was the Henry P. Kendall Foundation Collection specimen certified Proof-64 Cameo by PCGS (and verified by CAC) that realized 55,812.50 in our March 2015 Baltimore Sale. This is a more affordable example, significant nonetheless, that is sure to catch the eye of astute bidders.<p>A note should be made here about the restrike Confederate cents made by Robert Bashlow in the early 1960s, which should not be confused with the Haseltine restrikes of 1874. These were struck in generally large quantities in a variety of metals using copy dies made from the original, but by then harshly defaced dies, immediately setting them apart in visual appearance from the first restrikes made by Haseltine.，From Heritages Long Beach Signature Auction of February 2013, lot 3814.，