Lark Coin Collection: Group D, 1785/1788

Scope and content:

47 - examples of early Connecticut coins. This group contains many different examples of Connecticut coinage, from the official to the illegal. The company to which the State of Connecticut had initially offered its minting rights to was to produce around 1.4 Million Connecticut coppers from the copper that had been delivered by the State legislature. When the company was investigated, it was found that nearly 3 million coins had been produced underweight and were thus illegal. In addition to these now devalued coins, multiple counterfeits were also in circulation, mainly due to the efforts of James Atlee, a man who was tied to minting in Connecticut, New York, and Vermont. Many of the colorfully identified coins in this group, including so called, "Laughing Head" "African Head" and "Mutton Head" varieties are counterfeits of the legal version of Connecticut Coppers. The group also contains many example of legal Connecticut coinage including the "Hercules Head" variety. Gift of the Estate of Charles Lark Jr. Images are available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/scrc/5445572587/ and https://www.flickr.com/photos/scrc/5445572085/. Located in T&E S6 SS2, Box 1. Mss 1984.042.D01-D42

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
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.