1785 Nova Constellatio Copper. Crosby 5-E, W-1915. Rarity-4+. CONSTELLATIO, Pointed Rays. MS-62 BN (PCGS).
120.9 grains. A frosty delight, with choice medium brown surfaces and strong glossy luster for the grade. The obverse (the NOVA CONSTELLATIO side) is aligned to 3 o'clock, but the reverse centering is just about ideal, with a wealth of denticles showing around the circumference. The strike is crisp, though the reverse die is a bit deteriorated. Some darker toning surrounds CO and TI of CONSTELLATIO. Syd's notes mention "tiniest imaginable clip at 2:30" on the obverse, a characteristic that is now pretty much entirely hidden in the holder. The visual appeal and detail are both superb. High grade examples of this elusive variety show up rarely. Ford had a couple; his duplicate is the best one we've had in the era of commonplace certified grading, sold as a PCGS MS-62 BN in our November 2020 sale for $6,600. Ford's primary specimen, which brought $8,625 back in 2006, was offered again in the March 2021 Partrick sale, graded just AU-58 (NGC) and selling for $4,320. This one ranks with the very finest survivors from these dies.
PCGS# 45407.
From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex the Lawrence R. Stack Collection, November 2006.

Estimate: $3000