1787 Nova Eborac Copper. W-5760, Breen-987. Rarity-3. Medium Bust, Figure Seated Right. AU-53 (PCGS).
114.9 grains. The scarcer of the two varieties that share this obverse. Glossy medium brown with hard surfaces and a bit of surviving mint frost on the reverse. A lovely piece, one of the very best certified by PCGS (whose census is topped by a single Mint State example). The obverse appears very slightly (and harmlessly) microgranular under a glass, as struck, while the reverse is more glossy and lustrous. The centering is good, with complete legends and a full date, and the strike is bold on both sides. The substantial die break at the lower right reverse periphery has created a bit of softness at the tops of EBO opposite it. This was Boyd's second best piece, exceeded only by the Bushnell-Mills specimen. The primary Boyd-Ford piece was last seen graded PCGS MS-63 BN in the January 2006 Heritage sale, but it no longer appears on the PCGS Population Report. If it is still in that holder, it would rank as finest certified and likely finest known. This is among the best examples of this variety we've sold. We sold the finest certified (ex Partrick, PCGS MS-62 BN) in March 2017. Aside from that, we've offered just a few AU examples, and this one seems preferable to most or all of them.
PCGS# 475.
PCGS Population: 5; 6 finer (MS-62 BN finest).
From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex "Mr. B.C.G" to F.C.C. Boyd, March 1915; F.C.C. Boyd estate to John J. Ford, Jr.; our (Stack's) sale of the Ford Collection, Part II, May 2004, lot 302; Lawrence R. Stack Collection, November 2006.

Estimate: $2000