1787 Connecticut Copper. Miller 32.2-X.1, W-3220. Rarity-2. Draped Bust Left. MS-64 RB (PCGS).
A stunning survivor with generous original mint red that immediately draws attention and sparks the imagination. Though this piece is not alone in this respect, coppers of this vintage with this much color are very rare and always remarkable. Probably about a third of the original color remains, richest in the protected areas of the fields. The reliefs have mellowed to light steel brown. Lustrous throughout and, it goes without saying, very attractive. Softly struck through the centers, with natural planchet texture showing, but the flan is free of the larger flaws that plague this series. Struck slightly off center on both sides, with the tops of CONNEC tight to the rim, while the bases of the date digits are just off the edge. A couple of others with partial mint red are mentioned in the literature, namely the Dr. Hall-Hessberg coin, called Mint State and described as "light brown" with "traces of mint red." A "partly red unc" was in the November 1983 Herbert I. Melnick sale and sold to Robert Martin, per his own notes, but that was not in the Martin Collection when we sold it in 2019 and we do not know where it is. Nothing seen in recent years comes close to the quality seen here. Even the finest holdings had far inferior coins for this variety. Ford's was "Extremely Fine, or so"; Partrick's was graded AU-53 by NGC; Robert Martin's collection had two, AU-50 and EF-45, both graded by PCGS; and Fine or Very Fine coins were found in the Taylor, Perkins, Newman and Twin Leaf collections. There is no indication of a finer piece in the Robert Martin notebook, and the finest ANS coin, ex Canfield, is also of far lesser quality than seen here. Undoubtedly the finest known, as noted on Syd's envelope, and a trophy coin for a variety specialist or a type collector seeking a truly superior quality example.
PCGS# 917723.
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From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex American Heritage Minting (William Paul) by sealed bid, March 2013.

Estimate: $25000