1783 CHALMERS 3PENCE MS63

Struck by John Chalmers, a silver smith from Annapolis, Maryland, these privately issued coins were an experimental US coinage attempt in 1783. Earlier that same year the world saw the end of the Revolutionary War via treaty, so the newly sovereign United States still utilized the English shilling, pence, and pound system. However, to distinguish ourselves after the 1783 treaty was signed, Gouverneur Morris proposed a more logical decimal system using units of 100. This proposed idea was warmly accepted and a new Mint was established in its honor, though this particular system was short lived and the English system lived on.

Meanwhile, Annapolis served as the new nation’s capital city where the Continental Congress met in the State House from November 26, 1783 to August 19, 1784. The State House in Annapolis also saw General George Washing resign as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army on December 23, 1783. Additionally Annapolis would see the supposed precursor convention for the Constitutional Convention a short three years later.