1908 S/S Snow 1 cent

[GarryN]

Chuck, should I send you the new Snow 1 cent I recently purchased. Would you like to photograph it?

[Robert]

I'd like to see that!

[GarryN]

Robert, check the link to my MSN photo site in the member list, you can see Chuck's photo of my first example.

[coppercoins]

Garry - that would be perfectly fine, and much appreciated. I'll do up the full works on it. Just let me know when you send it.

[GarryN]

Maybe I will throw caution to the wind and send both so you can compare markers and all that good stuff. Its only the first copper RPM known to man. Maybe we should then do a Coin World article on it!

[Robert]

First? I'm not sure. Oldest, yes. Technically speaking.

[coppercoins]

I don't think he meant first discovered - he meant first manufactured, and he would be correct since the 1908S cent was the first copper coin from the US with a mintmark. The earliest RPMs, though, go back to the 1830s or 1840s in gold and silver.

[GarryN]

Correct, first in copper, I recall RPMs in trade dollars and 20 cent pieces in the 1870's. I cant think of anything earlier off the top of my head. There are also some RPMs in Morgan Dollars. The 1882 O/S is a famous one. And the 1900 O/CC is interesting because Mr. Bowers has said there are no known CC dollars with the reverse used in the 1900 O/CC varieties. Apparently unused dies in CC.

[coppercoins]

I believe RPMs go back to the gold of Charlotte, if I'm thinking correctly.

[GarryN]

Good point Chuck, but I cant recall any that Ive heard of.

[GarryN]

I again want to doff my hat to Chuck for taking good care of my indian cent RPM's and providing some great photos of the two coins for all of us to enjoy. Here are the links:


This first one was purchased at Harlan Berk's' shop in Chicago:
http://www.harlanjberk.com

http://www.coppercoins.com/images/20030019sm.jpg

The second was purchased from Rick Snow at
http://www.indiancent.com

http://www.coppercoins.com/images/20030018sm.jpg

I will defer to Chuck to explain, but suffice it to say that it is possible that there were only early die states of this RPM. The two coins are virtually identical die state wise.

Thanks again Chuck!

[jtwax]

Here's a nice gold early date RPM - 1848-D Coronet Half Eagle RPM (Photo courtesy of and discovered by Frank Zapushek)

http://home.bresnan.net/~jtaylor563/1848D5dollarsRPMMrZPhotoSm.jpg

[coppercoins]

Very nice RPM, JT. I wonder just what the earliest US RPM would be? Mintmarks go back to the late 1830s.

[GarryN]

Awesome photo JT. An RPM on a Dahlonega coin, how rare that must be!

[jstraw13]

Does anyone have any photo links to other 1908 S/S Indian Cents? I have what looks like a S/S to the east. Will need to post photos this evening. Thanks in advance.