Produced at a private mint, either in New York City or Rahway Mills, New Jersey.
In common with several other states (who enjoyed the power to coin or circulate money under the Articles of Confederation, then still in force) New York mulled over the idea of a contract coinage. One of the prominent players was James F. Atlee, who created this pattern for his friend Thomas Machin. The latter was in hot pursuit of a contract to strike copper coinage for the state of New York. Machin did not receive the contract. However, he and his friend Atlee soon established a clandestine coining operation near Newburgh, New York. A dozen or so patterns are all that remain from the original idea.
Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.
If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.