The story behind the legendary Brasher doubloon and its creator, goldsmith Ephraim Brasher, was told in an article by Vernon L. Brown in the February 1965 issue of Coins magazine.
“The Brasher Doubloon of 1787,” of which there are seven known specimens, “is one of the most intriguing coins of early America,” Brown wrote. “For years, collectors have been trying to find out when, where, and why this coin was struck. However, like many of the colonial coins, there is very little factual information about its origin or purpose.
“This leads to many questions: Was the coin a pattern for a New York cent; was it struck for circulation, or as a souvenir coin; how many were made; was it minted in 1787; and was it made in Brasher’s shop or elsewhere?
“Regardless of the ambiguity of the Brasher Doubloon’s origin, it is highly prized by numismatists. It is one of
