1786 Connecticut Copper. Miller 5.6-M, W-2600. Rarity-5. Mailed Bust Left. MS-62 BN (PCGS).

125.5 grains. A fabulous Connecticut copper with some of the most pristine and lustrous surfaces one will find on a 1786, let alone this scarce variety. Beautiful light brown and steel with peeps of rather bright mint red clinging to some of the letters, date, and within the recesses of the mail and seated figure. Satiny luster fills the fields, and even crosses the devices, on both sides. A glass is required to find only trivial abrasions that have no import to the overall appearance. The planchet is hard, smooth, and just about perfect in quality. Softly struck at the effigy's forehead and corresponding area of the reverse at the seated figure's legs, as often seen on the variety. Otherwise very sharply struck and with satisfying centering on both sides. The high quality surfaces and amazing preservation make this coin a joy to study. All of the tiny cracks, die finishing lines, repunching, and other fine detail of the dies are fully appreciable and astonishingly crisp. This coin possesses probably the highest technical quality and boldest luster of any Connecticut in the present offering, and that's saying something. This is by far the finest known example of the Miller 5.6-M variety. Almost all other specimens, of which there are probably no more than 50 or so altogether, are either heavily flawed, heavily worn, or otherwise problematic. The Oechsner and Old New England Collection coins were both fairly attractive and reasonably problem-free, but only VFs. The Newman and Partrick coins had EF or better sharpness but were badly flawed and the latter scratched as well. A survey of all the other major Connecticut copper offerings over the years will show what a monster the offered coin is. One of the real gems of the present sale and a piece that has been off the market for over 40 years. Comes with a distinguished, century-old provenance as well, not surprising for such an extraordinary coin.

PCGS# 686355.

From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from S.H. and H. Chapman's sale of the John G. Mills, Esq. Collection, April 1904, lot 254; Henry Chapman's sale of the Hon. George M. Parsons Collection, June 1914, lot 162; Col. James Ellsworth Collection; our (Bowers and Ruddy's) sale of the Garrett Collection, Part III, October 1980, lot 1347; Anthony Terranova Collection, January 2012. Plated in Walter Breen's Complete Encyclopedia of U.S. and Colonial Coins p. 68. Also plated in Randy Clark's "The Identification and Classification of Connecticut Coppers 1785-1788," pp. 236, 251, 268, 276.