1787 Brasher Doubloon & Early American Gold Specie Lab
Investigate the most celebrated treasure in American numismatics. Toggle Ephraim Brasher's oval 'EB' hallmark punch between the eagle's wing and the unique $9.36M breast position, analyze 26.4g gold metallurgy, and inspect Spanish 8 Escudos parity.
Punch Location & Variety
EB on Wing (6 Known)Spanish 8 Escudos Parity Physics
Prior to the opening of the Philadelphia Mint in 1792, colonial trade operated on the Spanish bimetallic ratio:
Brasher calibrated his doubloons to 408 grains of 21.4-karat gold so merchants could exchange them with complete confidence. His neighbor George Washington reportedly conducted personal transactions utilizing Brasher's certified specie.
The Seven Known Surviving Specimens
- The Stickney Specimen (EB on Breast): Purchased in 1848, auctioned in 2021 for $9,360,000. Graded NGC MS65 Star, the finest known.
- Smithsonian National Numismatic Collection: Holds two pristine specimens donated by early American collectors.
- New-York Historical Society: Houses an authentic EB on Wing specimen permanently preserved in Manhattan.
Historic Brasher Doubloon Auction Case Studies
The Unique Breast Punch
The single finest specimen known of the ultimate American rarity. Pristine satiny mint luster with the EB hallmark razor-sharp on the breast shield.
Choice About Uncirculated
One of six known with the wing punch. Radiant golden-olive tone with full details in the rising sun and mountain peaks.
Pillars & Cross Pattern
One of only two known examples struck by Brasher copying the Spanish colonial Lima mint 8 Escudos design with his EB punch.
Frequently Asked Questions: Brasher Doubloons
1. Who was Ephraim Brasher and why did he strike gold doubloons in 1787?
Ephraim Brasher was an esteemed goldsmith, silversmith, and assaying official in New York City who lived at 1 Cherry Street, next door to President George Washington. In 1787, after the New York State legislature rejected his petition to strike state copper coins, Brasher privately struck majestic gold doubloons modeled after the Spanish 8 Escudos to facilitate high-value colonial merchant commerce.
2. What is the critical distinction between the "EB on Wing" and "EB on Breast" Brasher Doubloons?
Only seven 1787 New York-style Brasher Doubloons are known to survive. On six specimens, Brasher punched his oval "EB" hallmark into the eagle's left wing. On exactly one unique specimen, the "EB" punch is stamped directly on the eagle's breast shield. The unique "EB on Breast" specimen sold at public auction in January 2021 for an astounding $9,360,000, making it one of the most valuable coins in human history.
3. What are the exact weight, diameter, and gold fineness of the Brasher Doubloon?
A genuine 1787 Brasher Doubloon weighs approximately 26.41 to 26.66 grams (408 to 411 grains), has a diameter of 29.8 mm, and possesses a gold fineness of approximately 89.1% gold, 5.4% silver, and 5.5% copper. Its gold content was deliberately calibrated to equal the commercial bullion value of 16 Spanish silver milled dollars.
4. What does the Latin inscription "NOVA EBORACA COLUMBIA EXCELSIOR" mean?
The obverse displays a rising sun with human features behind a mountain peak overlooking the sea, framed by the Latin legend "NOVA EBORACA" (New York), "COLUMBIA" (America), and "EXCELSIOR" (Ever Upward—the state motto of New York).
5. What is the "Lima Style" Brasher Doubloon?
Before creating his celebrated New York arms design, Brasher produced two known pattern coins mimicking the Spanish colonial Lima mint 8 Escudos design (Pillars of Hercules and Jerusalem Cross), dated 1742 but secretly struck in New York in 1786 or 1787 with his "EB" counterstamp. These are among the rarest early American gold patterns.
6. Why did foreign gold coins circulate in early America before the US Mint opened?
The United States did not establish a federal mint until the Coinage Act of 1792. Throughout the Revolutionary and Confederation eras, early Americans relied upon a chaotic mix of foreign gold specie—primarily Spanish-American doubloons, Portuguese johannes (half-joes), and British sovereigns. Respected assayers like Ephraim Brasher stamped their personal hallmark on foreign gold to certify weight and purity.
7. How can you detect electrotype or replica copies of the Brasher Doubloon?
Because only seven specimens exist, all genuine Brasher Doubloons are meticulously documented in the numismatic condition census. Replicas and 19th-century electrotypes produced by collectors like Wyatt or Robinson show distinct seam lines along the rim, lack the correct 26.4g gold density (electrotypes have lead-filled solder cores), and display mushy "EB" punch contours.