The 1792 Half Disme Donated by Steven Contursi, valued at $250,000, was on display at the ANA Money Show Atlanta
The 1792 Half Disme Donated by Steven Contursi, valued at $250,000, was on display at the ANA Money Show Atlanta. In December 2011, Steven Contursi donated the coin to the ANA museum as his way of giving back to an association that he has always believed in. The ANA’s collection originally featured a 1792 half disme, graded extremely fine, but the coin was stolen from the collection. Steve Contursi donated his 1792 half disme, graded AU58, which was featured at the Atlanta Money Show.
American Numismatic Association President Tom Hallenbeck said, the coin is a “fantastic, historically significant addition to the museum’s collection. I can’t thank Steve enough for his generosity.”
About 1,500 half disme silver coins were struck in the basement of a Philadelphia saw-maker’s shop in July 1792 because the U.S. Mint was not yet operational. The coins were the first authorized by President Washington under the Mint Act of 1792. Thomas Jefferson, who was Secretary of State at the time, personally received the coins on Washington’s behalf. Researchers estimate there are approximately 275 examples (in all conditions) of the 1792 half disme that survived today.
