Chalmers Threepence, Sixpence, and Shillings Issues
John Chalmers was a Gold and Silver smith in Annapolis, Maryland. He and most other merchants had a difficult time conducting business in that the local people were reluctant in accepting and using the then-prevalent underweight and frequently “cut” Spanish silver coins that were still circulating in the Northeast. The “cut” Spanish coins became that way out of necessity – there were so bit coins to use to make a change that when the change was needed a higher denomination coin was cut into as many pieces as necessary. But that also meant that the coins were cut unevenly and a little tiny bit of silver was shaved off from each coin and after years of doing that you created additional piles of silver shavings that could be used to create new coins.
Chalmers decided to do something about it by designing and creating his own coinage. Chalmers created a Threepence, two varieties of Sixpence coins, and three varieties of Shillings.
The Threepence coins struck for Chalmers were likely struck by Thomas Sparrow, a fellow silversmith from Annapolis. Sparrow’s initials appear on several of the designs and it is likely that he struck them. The Threepence design has two hands clasping as the central device with “J. CHALMERS. ANNAP *” around the periphery of the obverse.
The reverse depicts a tree branch encircled by a wreath. Around the periphery are “THREE PENCE * 1783.” Most of these silver coins are unevenly struck.
The Sixpence Chalmers Silver coin had two distinct varieties – a Small Date and a Large Date. The obverse depicts a Star (obliterated in the picture below) inside of a wreath. Around the periphery is “I (J.) CHALMERS – ANNAPOLIS.”
The reverse depicts hands clasped upon a cross with “I (J.). C. – SIX – PENCE – 1783” around the periphery.
There are three varieties of the John Chalmers Silver Shilling. There are Long Worm, Short Worm, and Rings varieties. The obverse of the Silver Shilling coin is the same as the Silver Threepence with two clasping hands. The lettering “I. CHALMERS – ANNAPOLIS” is around the periphery.
The reverse depicts two doves in the center of the coin, competing for a worm, underneath a hedge, while a snake lies in wait in the background. Around the periphery is inscribed, “ONE SHILLING * 1783.”
Chalmers served in Captain Washington’s Continental Army and was a member of the Common Council of Annapolis. The issuance of these silver coins with his name on them enhanced his reputation and his coins were traded freely.
In 1783, for their safety, the Continental Congress temporarily moved to Annapolis, Maryland. Chalmers minted a few pattern Shillings with which he tried to impress members of the Continental Congress.
The proposal to mint coinage for the Continental Congress was never brought forward so only a mere five examples are known to exist. On the pattern shilling, the obverse legend reads, “I. CHALMERS ANNAPOLIS 1783” then in the center, written in cursive letters is, “EQUAL TO ONE SHI.”
On the reverse, Chalmers replaced the two doves design with twelve linked rings and added a star in each link. This was similar to and likely based on the 1776 Continental Currency Dollars. In the center of the Pattern was the “all-seeing eye” and underneath was the thirteenth link joined to the ring. Arising from that link is a liberty pole with a liberty cap atop it and a star on either side.
| Date | Type | Mintage | VG Value | XF Value |
| 1783 | Threepence | 20 Known | $2,500 | $17,500 |
| 1783 | Sixpence, Small Date | 10 Known | $3,000 | $22,500 |
| 1783 | Sixpence, Large Date | Included Above | $3,000 | $20,000 |
| 1783 | Shilling, Long Worm | 111 Known | $1,500 | $10,000 |
| 1783 | Shilling, Short Worm | Included Above | $1,500 | $10,000 |
| 1783 | Shilling Pattern | 5 Known | $55,000 | $325,000 |
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