© PCGS
© PCGS
500 Units - Nova Constellatio Pattern
1783 year| Silver | 8.68 g | 27 mm |
| Issuer | United States (pre-federal and private/territorial) |
|---|---|
| Period | Confederation Period (1781-1789) |
| Type | Pattern |
| Year | 1783 |
| Value | 500 Units = 50 Cents (0.5) |
| Currency | Dollar |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 8.68 g |
| Diameter | 27 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-10-09 |
| Numista | N#197486 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 97% |
Reverse
Pointed rays emanating from the Eye of Providence (all-seeing eye of God) surrounded by a circle (constellation) of thirteen stars representing the original 13 colonies. Three petal rosette below.
Script: Latin
Lettering: NOVA • CONSTELLATIO
Comment
There are two 500 unit silver quint coins, but each is a different variety. They share the same reverse die but have different obverse dies. The variety commonly known as type 1 weighs 134.6 grains according to the Garrett catalog and 133.98 according to Breen with a diameter of 27 mm and has the standard design. It has the same provenance as the mark and is also in the Garrett Auction Catalog as item 620. This variety has a thee petal rosette located in the space midway between the start of NOVA and the end of CONSTELLATIO. Also there is a stop between the A in NOVA and the C in CONSTELLATIO. On the reverse there is a stop on either side of the date. The other variety, known as type 2 is lighter at 109.6 grains according to the Garrett catalog and 109.72 grains according to Breen and has a somewhat smaller diameter of 24 mm. The obverse die has a different rendering of the central design and has no legend. Also, it has a solid ring border with an outer beaded border, while all other varieties have only a beaded border. On the reverse this variety seems to use the same die as type 1, but at the stop before the date there is what appears to be a die break, giving the appearance of a colon rather than a stop with another small break at the tip of the nearest leaf. This example was owned by Parmelee, Ellsworth, Garrett and is now in the collection of Walter Perschke. Earlier provenance information is unknown, although it is thought Sylvester Crosby may have owned the coin at one time; it is illustrated as item 621 in the Garrett sale.(source: Louis Jordan, coins.nd.edu)Interesting fact
One interesting fact about the Pattern 500 Units - Nova Constellatio (Pattern) 1783 from United States (pre-federal and private/territorial) made of Silver weighing 8.68 g is that it was designed by Benjamin Franklin, who was a prominent figure in American history and a leading scientist and statesman of his time. The coin features an image of a celestial globe with 13 stars, representing the original 13 colonies, and the Latin phrase "Nova Constellatio" meaning "New Constellation." This coin was minted in 1783 as a proposed design for a national currency, but it was ultimately not adopted. Despite this, it remains a rare and highly sought-after collector's item among numismatists and historians.
Price
| Date | Mintage | VG | F | VF | XF | AU | UNC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1783 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Values in the table are based on evaluations by sales realized on Internet platforms. They serve as an indication only for 500 Units - Nova Constellatio (Pattern) 1783 coin.
