1787 Massachusetts Half Cent. Ryder 6-A, W-5970. Rarity-5+. MS-64 BN (PCGS).
59.0 grains. An incredible specimen of this rare Massachusetts half cent die variety with the sort of fresh cartwheel luster and noticeable mint red that would be remarkable on even the most common varieties. This piece was one of the stars of the Henry P. Kendall Foundation Massachusetts coppers and realized $28,200 in our March 2015 Baltimore Auction. It was there described as follows: "Almost certainly the finest known example of this die variety. As recently as the Partrick I sale, it was noted that 'no true Mint State pieces are known.' Despite his intense interest in Massachusetts copper, Mr. Partrick had not obtained a suitable example of this variety by 2004, when he acquired the Ryder-Boyd-Ford specimen, an EF with some scratches. That piece, described as 'Possible Condition Census, but if so, low therein,' realized $3,737.50 in our (Stack's) 2004 Ford V sale and $4,465 in the Partrick sale earlier this year. The present piece would have been a world-class upgrade for Mr. Partrick's cabinet, or any other, with abundant faded mint color still prominent on highly lustrous surfaces. Strong cartwheel persists on both sides, rolling over frosty deep violet-brown surfaces that have naturally mellowed down from their original red state. The strike is extremely bold on the Indian's tunic and among the peripheral devices, a bit softer on the Indian's skirt and at the central reverse, where the natural granularity of the planchet has not been fully obliterated. No bad marks or lines are seen, and the eye appeal is superb. A small die break is noted from the rim to the upper left corner of E in WEALTH. A superlative piece, fit for the finest cabinet." This piece is tied with the Garrett-Roper-McGuigan coin for finest graded of the variety, but the present example is clearly superior in terms of luster and has a more exacting strike overall, if perhaps trivially weaker at the centers. We strongly feel that a side by side comparison of the two coins would reveal this piece to be the obvious favorite by virtually anyone's standards and solidify its place as finest known of the variety.
PCGS# 688345.
From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex G. Hearn, February 1966; our sale of the Henry P. Kendall Foundation Collection, March 2015 Baltimore Auction, lot 2504.