| Description |
Six Counterfeit Coin Detectors of Various Designs. Very Good to Fine. The first item is an ingenious circular coin gauge by John W. Sutton, small enough to carry as a pocket piece. Several slots are cut into the device for different coin denominations. Working on a fulcrum provided by the owner, a coin that balances in the appropriate slot is valid. Patented in 1877. The second item is a small case inscribed Clark's Coin Tester, U.S. Standard, PAT MAR.6.83. The device includes four slots for checking the thickness and diameter of quarters, half dollars, silver dollars, and half eagles. The third item is another Clark's coin tester, without the inscriptions on the case, and slots for checking quarter eagles, half eagles, eagles, and double eagles. The fourth item is a brass beam with four slots and four brackets, inscribed J.A. THOMPSON'S INSTANTANEOUS COUNTERFEIT DETECTOR PAT. APl. 3, 77. The slots were for checking the thickness and diameter of U.S. silver coins in all denominations from dime to half dollar (including the 20 cent piece). The brackets were designed to hold the coins at the appropriate distance from the fulcrum so that a genuine coin would balance. The fifth item is an unlabeled rocker scale with a red rectangular base. The final item is inscribed DAVEGA'S/COIN/TESTER/ PAT. APPLd FOR, with a copper base and nickel rocker beam with two unlabeled pans. A note from Eric P. Newman indicates it was acquired in 1989 from Gorlick. Dimensions of these items vary. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.
Heritage Auctions 11/2018 (Newman XI), lot15691 (realized $24000).
Heritage link: http://www.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=1283&lotIdNo=11673 |
