1786 Vermont Copper. RR-11, Bressett 9-H, W-2050. Rarity-4. Bust Left. VF-35 (PCGS).
A Newman duplicate coin offered a few years after the main sale of Newman's Vermonts but nicer than the piece in the primary sale. It is in fact nicer than most examples of RR-11 we have seen, its light golden surfaces quite choice and showing trouble free light circulation wear. Some minor planchet flecking on obverse, and a couple of small planchet voids at reverse center, the overall planchet quality is superior for any RR-11. The strike is about as bold and complete as may be found for the variety, and the centering is decent but the planchet is too small to accommodate the designs, with the tops of ETLIB falling over the edge. Finer than either of the non-error Ford coins called About Very Fine, finer than Taylor's "Fine-15 to VF-20" and about on par with the Hinkley-Bowers coin we sold in June 2020 graded VF-30 (but with fewer surface marks and lesser planchet flaws). The $8,400 price for this coin in its last auction appearance is not all surprising, given the dismal quality of most RR-11s. In the Ford sale, Hodder mentions "a couple of AU's known and a few EF's." If this coin is not condition census, it has to be close, given its better than average surface quality and very positive visual appeal. RR-11 is technically fascinating for two reasons. Its reverse is actually a doubled die, the seated figure showing bold doubling at branch, pole arm, and head. It is also struck in two phases-after an initial run, its obverse was paired with a 1787 reverse to create the very rare RR-15, after which it was remarried to its original reverse to create a second run of RR-11s, represented by this example.
PCGS# 800850.
To view supplemental information and all items from the Sydney F. Martin Collection, click here.
From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society; Heritage's sale of the Eric P. Newman Collection, Part IX, November 2017, lot 15051.

Estimate: $11000