1785 Nova Constellatio Copper. Crosby 3-B, W-1895. Rarity-2. CONSTELLATIO, Pointed Rays. MS-62 BN (PCGS).；An amazing example, equally significant for its striking quality, level of preservation and die state. Both sides are fully defined from an expertly centered impression, even the leaves in the reverse wreath separated and crisp. The texture is satiny and overall smooth, especially on the obverse, the reverse revealing just two specks of verdigris at the letter R in LIBERTAS and between the letters IA in JUSTITIA. Although Crosby 3-B is a plentiful die variety by Nova Constellatio copper standards, the present example is remarkable as an early die state -- indeed, the earliest that we have ever seen. Virtually all known examples display a reverse die break within the leaves inside the letter L in LIBERTAS and the digits 17 in the date. Even the earliest die state offered in our (Stacks) October 2004 sale of the Ford Collection, Part V, lot 47, was described as "Very early state of the reverse break." On the coin offered here, however, the reverse die state is essentially perfect with perhaps just one or two minor suggestions of the break discernible with the aid of a loupe. The obverse die state is also perfect with none of the heavy rusting within the rays from 5:30 to 10 oclock so often associated with the Crosby 3-B attribution. In the 2009 reference<em> Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins</em>, Q. David Bowers states, "Theoretically [Crosby 3-B] may exist without the reverse break, but none has been seen." When offered in our (Stacks) 1989 sale of the Steinberg Collection, the cataloger recognized the significance of this coins die state:<p><em>"No trace at all of the regular break connecting 4 to 6 leaves below US. The first we have seen in this earliest die state."</em><p>Given the early die state this coin was obviously one of the first examples produced from the Crosby 3-B dies, and the exceptional level of preservation suggests that it was set aside immediately and subsequently handled with great care by generations of collectors. A beautiful Nova Constellatio irrespective of die variety or state, and an important find for either the high quality type collector or specialist in this series.；From the Antony Bettencourt Collection. Earlier ex our (Stacks) sale of the Gilbert Steinberg Collection, October 1989, lot 67.
