Lark Coin Collection: Group C, 1786/1787
- Scope and content:
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13 - early American New York coins. This group also contains 12 slides of coin obverses and reverses. The group contains several notable pieces including an example of an extremely rare origninal George Clinton cent. The face of the coin features George Clinton, Governor of New York at the time and a personal freind to Thomas Machin, owwner of the mint which produced the coins. Machin's Mills, the mint which produced the majority of these coins, also produced counterfeit British coins. At the time (roughly 1787-1788) the mint at Machin's Mills began producing "mules" copies of British coins with either very basic copies of the reverse; or another pattern in use at the time (usually Vermont, Connecticut, or New York reverses). To keep out the prying eyes of children workers at the mint are said to have worn frightening masks to scare them away. The counterfeiting operation must have been somewhat successful because Machin's Mill lasted longer than even the official Mint of New York. Gift of the Estate of Charles Lark Jr. Image available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/scrc/5446171752/. Located in T&E S6 SS2, Box 1. Mss 1984.042.C01-C07
Access and use
- Location of collection:
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Special Collections Research CenterEarl Gregg Swem LibraryCollege of William and Mary400 Landrum DrivePO 8795Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
- Contact for questions and access:
- Email: spcoll@wm.eduPhone: (757) 221-3090Fax: (757) 221-5440Web: swem.wm.edu/scrc
- Parent restrictions:
- Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
- Parent terms of access:
- Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.