Stack's Bowers Galleries

Spring 2023 Auction  –  20 - 25 March 2023

Stack's Bowers Galleries, Spring 2023 Auction

Live Sessions: U.S. Coins and Currency

Part 1: Mo, 20.03.2023, from 6:00 PM CET
Part 2: Tu, 21.03.2023, from 4:00 PM CET
Part 3: Tu, 21.03.2023, from 11:00 PM CET
Part 4: We, 22.03.2023, from 4:00 PM CET
Part 5: We, 22.03.2023, from 9:00 PM CET
Part 6: Th, 23.03.2023, from 5:00 PM CET
Part 7: Th, 23.03.2023, from 7:00 PM CET
Part 8: Fr, 24.03.2023, from 5:00 PM CET
Part 9: Fr, 24.03.2023, from 10:00 PM CET
The auction is closed.

Description

1788 Connecticut Copper. Miller 17-O, W-4635. Rarity-8. Draped Bust Left, CONNLC, INDL. Good Details--Damage (PCGS).
98.9 grains. An incredible recent discovery, a second known example of this legendary variety that has been recognized for over a century, but only ever by a single specimen. The discovery coin, which Breen credits to William Wallace Hays, resides in the collection of the American Numismatic Society, leaving generations of collectors without a hope of obtaining this Miller number, considering it, like the unique 4.1-B.2 also in the ANS, to be non-collectible. Thus it was a fortuitous and no doubt thrilling circumstance for Syd to acquire as one of his very last Connecticut copper purchases, a second known example turned up by Chris Young. Thus Syd expanded his set of 1788 varieties that he thought was already as complete as possible, and matched the ANS for the most extensive set of 1788 Connecticut copper varieties ever assembled. This piece has glossy medium-brown surfaces that are free of any notable roughness or planchet flaws. A couple marks are noted at the central obverse as well as some old scratches at the central reverse, but this rather pleasing coin is mostly just well-worn. The other (ANS) example is sharper and overall higher grade, but interestingly also has scratches at the central reverse. Worthy of consideration is the fact that this is not simply an extremely rare marriage of two nondescript dies, it is instead a combination of two significant, blundered die major varieties, the CONNLC obverse and INDL reverse. This sort of variety should be given its own Red Book listing and a major variety designation at the grading services, but occasionally a variety is just so rare that it gets overlooked. Despite the wear, the legends and especially the important misspellings are quite clear, and a portion of the date is visible as well. This is one of the more significant variety offerings of Syd's entire Connecticut copper collection and will afford one lucky collector an irreplaceable piece.
PCGS# 914468.
From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Christopher B. Young, 2020. Reverse plated in Randy Clark's "The Identification and Classification of Connecticut Coppers 1785-1788," p. 665.

Estimate: $17500

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Bidding

Price realized 9'500 USD
Starting price 1 USD
Estimate 17'500 USD
The auction is closed.
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