US First Gold Coin Returns Home

America’s very first gold coin returns home after 25 years. The Famous Brasher Doubloon, insured for six million dollars will be returning to Baltimore. It will be exhibited for 2 days at the Baltimore Convention Centre on March 17th to 19th, 2006.

America's First Gold Coin Returns to Baltimore for $6 Million "Homecoming"
Insured for $6 million, the fabled Brasher Doubloon -- the United States' first gold coin -- returns to Baltimore for the first time in a quarter century for a public display, March 17 & 18, 2006.

The coin was first struck in 1787 by Silversmith Ephraim Brasher and is considered one of the most important coins in American history

"The denomination, 'doubloon,' may seem unusual today, but it was the coin-of-the-realm when the Brasher Doubloon was issued in 1787 as proposed coinage for the new republic. At the time, doubloons contained $14 worth of gold, but the Brasher Doubloons actually had $15 worth of gold when they were made," explained John W. Dannreuther, a co-founder of Professional Coin Grading Service of Newport Beach, California, the world's largest rare coin authentication company. "This is America's first $15 denomination coin."

"The coin was hand-struck in 1787 by George Washington's New York City neighbor, silversmith Ephraim Brasher," said Edward Kuszmar an official of the collector’s show. "It's one of the most important coins in American history."

The coin went through a number of auctions and sales after being kept in a vault for many years and in 1981 it was sold for 625,000 dollars

"Being the first gold coin struck for the United States makes it a national treasure with tremendous significance for American history. It underscores the beginnings of our economic system," said Contursi, the coin's current owner.

"Only seven Brasher Doubloons survive today, and the one coming back to Baltimore is unique. It is the only one with the designer’s initials, 'EB,' punched across the breast of an eagle depicted on the coin. The other surviving examples have the initials on the