1787 Connecticut Copper. Miller 33.22-II, W-3705. Rarity-8+. Draped Bust Left. VG-8 (PCGS).

125.9 grains. An exciting offering of one of the most famous Connecticut copper rarities. This variety, featuring the only known use of both the obverse and reverse die, has been well known among specialists for over a century, yet is still represented by just a single specimen. Pale golden-brown in the centers, much deeper around the peripheries. Obverse surface quite rough and granular, the reverse a little less so. Virtually no obverse detail visible due to the remarkably late state of the die, the entire surface of the face sinking and obscuring most of the central detail but also creating a quite sharp periphery. The reverse failing in the left field as if Liberty were sitting under a spotlight. The obverse a little off center to the top; the reverse off to the bottom, bases of the date numerals run off the flan. Some rim ticks but these are hardly important. Described by Mr. Ford in 1993 as "F-15 or better - centers weak - total die failure - roughened - traces of pitting - some edge abuse. Unique." In his 1920 catalog, Miller wrote regarding this variety: "The only specimen known is in the collection of Mr. Hillyer Ryder." Miller listed it as his 33.22-II and in the concordance between his and Hall's numbers printed at the back of the catalog left a blank in the Hall number column, implying Hall had not known of the variety. However, we find in Hall's notebook (the copy in the Connecticut State Library) the notation "33.51 II Mr. Hillyer Ryder's specimen Oct'90 See printed book.", showing Hall did, indeed, know of the unique variety. This is just the third auction appearance ever of this coin, the first being in the May 2005 Ford auction where it was one of the most eagerly anticipated offerings in that star-studded sale of Connecticut coppers. It realized $92,000, among the higher prices realized for any Connecticut copper ever, surpassed in the Ford sale only by the unique 1787 Miller 37.4-RR which will be offered later in this sale as well. Syd was fortunately able to acquire the coin 15 years later in the Partrick sale at a fraction of the Ford price, yet still the highest price of any 1787 Connecticut in Partrick, beating out the 37.4-RR that time around. This is clearly one of the most coveted Connecticut coppers and will no doubt attract fierce bidding competition once again.

PCGS# 370. NGC ID: 2B2X.

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From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Hillyer Ryder; F.C.C. Boyd; our (Stack's) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part IX, May 2005, lot 394; Heritage's sale of the Donald G. Partrick Collection, November 2020, lot 44291. Plated in the Whitman Encylopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins, pp. 121, 139. Also plated in Randy Clark "The Identification and Classification of Connecticut Coppers 1785-1788," pp. 379, 461, 590, 612.