In the upcoming Heritage Long Beach Signature Auction is a popular Conder token highly desired by collectors of American colonial coins. The New York Theater Penny Token, graded Proof 64 Brown by PCGS, is a 35mm token often referred to as a penny because of both its size and the lettering on its edge.

The late Walter Breen estimated 10-12 pieces known, but in February 1993 Don Scarinci presented a census of 13 pieces in the Colonial Newsletter. The legendary John J. Ford Collection had two of the 13 known examples of this early and extremely rare penny token.

In 1794, John Kleeberg demonstrated that this token was one of the so-called Conder series popular in Britain in the 1790’s. Made for collectors, this token is generally found in high grades, and most known pieces are proofs.

Peter Skidmore struck The Theatre at New York penny tokens in London from dies engraved by Benjamin Jacob, who issued several tokens including one for himself in 1798 where he was identified as an “AUCTIONEER, IRONMONGER & c” at Welsh Cross in Birmingham. That token and the New York Theatre token were made with hand-cut letters rather than punches. Jacob also did an entire series of halfpenny tokens depicting London churches and gates based on copperplate engravings. The use of the final S on the New York Theatre token may signify the possessive Jacob’s. (more…)

By Gary B. Marks for Numismatic News

Charles Vanderwater reports in his letter (April 15) that he read that David Rice Atchison had served as President of the United States for one day due to a glitch in American law at the time. Based on this information, Vanderwater wondered if this one-day president is entitled to a dollar coin as part of the Presidential $1 Coin Program.

The claim that Atchison was president for a day is one that has drifted through American history for over 150 years. In fact, Atchison was not president du jour and he is certainly not entitled to a presidential coin.

The legend is as follows. President James Polk’s term expired midday on Sunday, March 4, 1849. Being a devout Christian, President-elect Zachary Taylor refused to be sworn into office on a Sunday because it was the Sabbath. Instead, Taylor was sworn in on the next day, Monday. Taylor’s vice president, Millard Fillmore, was also sworn in on Monday.

Since Polk’s term had ended midday on Sunday and Taylor did not take office until mid-day on Monday the legend claims that Atchison – who was the President pro tempore of the Senate – became President during the 24-hour gap in accordance with the terms of the Presidential Succession Act of 1792.

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