1788 Connecticut Copper. Miller 7-F.2, W-4485. Rarity-6-. Mailed Bust Left. AU-53 (PCGS).
114.8 grains. A fully AU example (if not Mint State), this coin appears to never have seen actual circulation. A few very minor flaws in the planchet, somewhat weakly struck, typical of the variety. Even the high points are free of discernible rub. The three grapevines on the shield are very sharp. Letter T in ET diagnostically misshapen and probably hand cut from an I that was mistakenly punched into the die. The letter R in AUCTORI is actually a P with a little unconnected tail added in the die. Reverse rotated 170 degrees from normal coin alignment, and not all that far from medallic alignment. Splendid light brown patina with a tinge of red, this is a lovely coin that has strong claim to the title of finest known for the variety. Finer than the Hall-Brand-Taylor:2701 coin, graded VF-30 in our (Bowers and Merena's) 1987 sale, and also superior to Norweb:2609 (Good-4/Fine-12), Perkins:502 (Fine/Very Fine), Ford:482 (Very Fine), and Collection SLT:7434 (VG-8). The 1975 EAC Sale coin we recently sold as part of the E Pluribus Unum Collection was similarly high grade, but had unnatural cleaned surfaces and a flawed planchet. As with so many Connecticut coppers, the coin offered here is a real challenge for the grader. The combination of actual wear (or lack of it), light striking, and an imperfectly prepared planchet make it difficult to know where to attribute a given weakness. The experts at PCGS did an admirable job assigning an AU-53 grade, although some may take a more liberal view and opt for Mint State. Either way, this is a superior and highly significant example of the variety that belongs in the finest Connecticut copper set.
PCGS# 687257.
From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Col. James W. Ellsworth Collection; John Work Garrett; The Johns Hopkins University, by gift, 1942; our (Bowers and Ruddy's) sale of the Garrett Collection for The Johns Hopkins University, Part III, October 1980, lot 1376; our sale of the Anderson-Gleckler Collection, November 2016 Baltimore Auction, lot 5365.

Estimate: $8500