1786 Vermont Copper. Landscape. RR-7, Bressett 5-E, W-2025. Rarity-4. VERMONTENSIUM. AU-55 BN (NGC).；An extraordinary example of this conditionally challenging <em>Guide Book</em> variety, this coin is easily among the finest known survivors of the RR-7 die pairing. Lovely golden-brown patina blankets both sides, intermingled medium rose highlights a bit more extensive on the reverse. The strike is exceptionally sharp for the type and, indeed, it is virtually full save for where the often-seen obverse die swell has obscured the upper part of the plow. That side of the coin is tight to the left border, the impression slightly off center to 8 oclock, although none of the peripheral letters are affected. The reverse, on the other hand, is nicely centered within a fully denticulated border. There are no post-production blemishes of note, and only a few minor flan flaws on the obverse at the letters UB in PUBLICA and on the reverse to the lower right of the eye and in isolated areas along the left border. Otherwise smooth with a handsome satin texture, this coin would do justice to the finest collection of Vermont coppers.<p>RR-7 vies with RR-8 as the rarest of the VERMONTENSIUM die marriages, all of which are notoriously difficult to locate in high grades with strong eye appeal, as here. The finest known RR-7 is the Newman coin (Heritage, Newman IV, May 2014, lot 30026), certified MS-62 BN by NGC. Condition Census #2 belongs either to the present example or the Norweb specimen (Bowers and Merena, Norweb I, October 1987, lot 1271), the latter described as AU-50 in the catalog but since certified MS-62 BN by NGC. The primary Ford coin is Choice EF, while the Taylor specimen is only VF.；From the Antony Bettencourt Collection. Earlier ex Ted L. Craige; Q. David Bowers Collection; Jon Hanson, March 1988; Donald Groves Partrick; Heritages sale of the Partrick Collection, January 2015, lot 5747. Partrick envelope with attribution and provenance notes included.
