Undated (1737) Higley Copper. Freidus 3.3-C, W-8280. Rarity-7. VALUE ME AS YOU PLEASE / J CUT MY WAY THROUGH, Broad Axe. Fine Details--Plugged (PCGS).；110.0 grains. A wholesome example for the assigned grade that offers considerable boldness of detail. The obverse is evenly toned in deep copper, splashes of the same color intermingled with lighter orange-brown patina on the reverse. Considerable pitting is noted for the obverse over and around the deer, a few similar pits on the reverse confined to the areas over and before the axe. Reverse scratches along the left reverse border and at the upper reverse before the word WAY. The most significant detraction, however, is an orange-colored plug just inside the 5 oclock position relative to the obverse border, the detail softest in that area and also at the upper left reverse border, where the plug is equally visible. Otherwise the surfaces are quite boldly defined for having seen considerable commercial use. Usual reverse die break from the border through the letter T in THROUGH.<p>Numismatic tradition identifies Dr. Samuel Higley of Granbury, Connecticut as the producer of these enigmatic copper tokens. A medical doctor with a degree from Yale College, Higley was also a blacksmith who performed many experiments in metallurgy. In 1728 he acquired some land in Simsbury (later known as Granbury), a site known for its copper mines. Higleys mining operation was apparently a successful one, much of the high quality copper extracted being exported to England. Sometime around 1737 Higley is thought to have produced a limited quantity of copper tokens valued at threepence, perhaps using metal from his own mine. The pieces seem to have circulated almost exclusively in and around Granbury, although not without resistance on the part of the local inhabitants. Since the tokens were similar in size to the contemporary English halfpence, valuing these pieces at threepence seemed inappropriate. Accordingly, most later issues included the inscription VALUE ME AS YOU PLEASE, although an indication of the threepence denomination was retained in the form of a Roman numeral III on the obverse below the standing deer.<p>Assigning these copper tokens to Dr. Higley has its problems, for he died at sea in May 1737 while en route to England with a shipment of copper from his own mine. Since the date 1737 would not have been used in Connecticut until March 25 of that year (New Years Day at the time), this left only a narrow window of time for Higley to produce 1737-dated tokens before setting out on what proved to be his final voyage. Then theres the case of the later Higley coppers dated 1739, which were almost certainly not produced by Higley. Once again numismatic tradition weighs in to tell us that Higleys son John continued his mining operations and, presumably, the associated coinage activity. If so, he may have issued the 1739-dated pieces in connection with Rev. Timothy Woodbridge and William Cradock.<p>Our multiple offerings in the present sale notwithstanding, Higley coppers of all varieties are elusive and seldom encountered in todays market. This is an appealing example of the Friedus 3.3-C variety despite the stated qualifier, the Picker provenance further enhancing its desirability among advanced early American coinage enthusiasts.；From the Dr. Gordon Shaw Collection. From our (Stacks) Selections from the Richard Picker Collection of Colonial and Early American Coins sale, October 1984, lot 99. Lot tag included.
