1737 Higley copper. VALUE ME AS YOU PLEASE / J CUT MY WAY THROUGH. Broad ax. Freidus 3.1-C, W-8245. VF Detail, Environmental Damage (PCGS).131.0 grains. Dark brown with a few ruddy deposits, mostly in front of the deer and around the ax handle. Very well centered and extremely sharp, with full legends on both sides and especially bold central devices. The usual die crack is seen at T of THROUGH on the reverse, but the central reverse does not suffer from significant swelling. No marks worth describing are noted, and the light old scale is harmless and inactive. With its wealth of detail and good visual appeal, this is a superb example of this rare and desirable variety. Freidus recorded five specimens of this die marriage, including the British Museum example and the lost-and-found Connecticut Historical Society specimen. In 1995, Freidus noted an additional specimen had been located, but still leaving just four in private hands including this one, the unusual Lauder coin with a pinhole in the middle, and the 1983 ANA specimen that was quite granular but fairly complete. This may be the best of these in private hands, and stands as a superb Broad Ax among all known varieties.From the Archangel Collection. Earlier, from Stack’s sale of the Laird U. Park Collection, May 1976, lot 136. Acquired from Richard Picker in 1969.
