1787 Connecticut Copper. Miller 33.39-Z.20, W-3955. Rarity-6+. Draped Bust Left. EF-45 (PCGS).
137.8 grains. Lovely light brown surfaces that are smooth and slightly frosty. Obverse off-center to bottom right, rim to top of N, through NEC and drapery, no marks other than central ticks in the planchet when struck, reverse off-center to top, rim through top of Liberty's head and ET, rim cud at final punctuation, shallow arcing depression across icon's body, some natural roughness there, die crack from last date numeral moves clockwise and terminates above I. An elusive variety that was absent from Ford, Taylor, and many other significant collections. While the strike of this piece is slightly inferior to some other specimens, the wonderful surface quality and impressive grade seem to be enough to secure this piece finest known honors, or at least rank it very high in the Condition Census. The exceptional quality was not lost on bidders at the SLT sale, where it realized $23,000.
PCGS# 687352. NGC ID: 2B2X.
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From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Tom Rinaldo, February 2000; our sale of Collection SLT, January 2012 Americana Sale, lot 7340. Reverse plated in Randy Clark "The Identification and Classification of Connecticut Coppers 1785-1788," p. 526.
Price realized | 5'500 USD |
Starting price | 1 USD |
Estimate | 6'000 USD |