1788 Connecticut Copper. Miller 16.4-A.2, W-4615. Rarity-7-. Draped Bust Left. VF-20 (PCGS).
118.6 grains. An elusive and challenging variety. No more than 10 examples are known and the present coin is among the best few condition-wise. A crude production, virtually all known specimens exhibit some sort of mint error -- many are off center, a few are clipped, and one is double struck. This one is struck about 15% off center towards 3 o'clock, the usual orientation of the off center examples. The surfaces and detail are more than respectable for the variety. Slightly glossy deep copper-brown and just microporous throughout with no serious marks or flaws, a few reverse striations and somewhat irregular edge notwithstanding. Sharpness solidly in the Very Fine range and the detail that made it onto the planchet is well impressed with no areas of notable weakness. This piece is finer than two other examples we have handled recently, a granular Fine in our November 2021 sale of the Norm Peters Collection that brought $2,640 and a similar grade piece in our November 2022 Baltimore Auction that realized $4,080.
PCGS# 914467.
From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Christopher B. Young, July 2003. Obverse plated in Randy Clark's "The Identification and Classification of Connecticut Coppers 1785-1788," p. 637.
Estimate: $4250
Price realized | 4'000 USD |
Starting price | 1 USD |
Estimate | 4'250 USD |