Courtesy of Byers Numismatic Corp

An example of Pollock #2082, the Martha Washington Quarter, has been discovered and was purchased by Michael Byers of Byers Numismatic Corp. (byersnc.com). So far, this is the only known example in private hands. There is one set of a Dime, Quarter and Half struck by the Martha Washington dies that are permanently housed in the Smithsonian Institute, embedded in blocks of lucite. 

Michael Byers also purchased an example of Pollock #4100, a copper-zinc Cent struck by the Mint's Martha Washington  Dies. This Martha Washington Test Piece might have been used to test the new copper-zinc planchets for the U.S. Mint.  Starting in 1982 the composition and weight of the Cent planchet changed. Instead of weighing 3.11 grams and having a    composition of 95% copper and 5% zinc, the weight is 2.5 grams with a composition of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper. 

According to United States Pattern and Related Issues, by Andrew W. Pollock III, "the only trial pieces purported to have
survived metallurgical testing in 1965 were the Dime, Quarter Dollar, and Half Dollar equivalent strikes in copper-nickel clad over copper."

The only Martha Washington Dime Trial Piece in private hands is being offered for $100,000 by another coin dealer. NGC authenticated and encapsulated this Martha Washington Dime in April of 2000.

In August of 2000, Michael Byers purchased a Martha Washington Test Piece on a copper-zinc Cent planchet. This piece was struck by the Martha Washington Dime Dies. This piece was struck 10% off-center with a uniface reverse. This     discovery was a front page Coin World article on August 7th, 2000. In a response to the discovery of this Martha Washington Test Piece that Michael Byers discovered, the Mint announced that "the dies are available to the Mint's metal and blank vendors for testing." This piece was originally offered for $39,500 and has been sold.

The U.S. Mint conducted metallurgical tests in 1999 on the golden colored manganese-clad planchets which would later be used for the Sacagawea Dollar.

For the first time, the U.S. Mint included representatives from Industry because the new Sacagawea Dollar would have to be completely interchangable with the existing SBA Dollar. The electromagnetic fingerprint had to be identical. All of the metals combined changed the alloy's electromagnetic properties. Many tests were conducted including those at IDX Inc., Olin Brass and PMX Industries.

In another Coin World article on July 16th, 2001, James Halsey, President of IDX Inc. was interviewed. IDX Inc. is one of    the firms contracted by the U.S. Mint to test prototypes. Mr. Halsey said "numerous samples in different alloys bearing the Martha Washington obverse and Mt. Vernon reverse dies - special designs used for experimental coinage - were shipped to IDX Inc. for testing. Some of the packages were insured for as high as $250,000, with the recipients required to return any and all pieces supplied by the Mint for tests."

Two other firms under contract by the U.S. Mint include Olin Brass and PMX Industries. Both of these companies supply   the U.S. Mint with the manganese-clad strips from which the Sacagawea Dollars are struck. Olin Brass is a leading U.S.
copper alloy producer and is located in East Alton, Illinois. PMX Industries is located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

These two recently aquired Martha Washington Test Pieces using the Mint's Martha Washington Dies are now in private   hands. The evolving story about the Martha Washington Dies, test strikes and the discovery of these pieces is among the most interesting Numismatic stories in decades.

Recent Sales Price: $75,000