1787 New York Excelsior copper. Standing Indian, New York Arms. Breen-990, W-5795. AU-53 (PCGS).174.7 grains. One of the most exciting types among all Confederation-era coppers, depicting a standing Indian warrior surrounded by the goose bump-raising inscription LIBER NATUS LIBERTATEM DEFENDO or “Born free, I defend freedom.” One of the finest known specimens of this rarity, exceeded to our knowledge by just the choice Mint State Eliasberg wonder coin. Glossy light brown over the upper obverse and entire reverse, with a contrasting glossy mahogany shade neatly covering the lower half of the obverse. Very sharp, with good face definition on the Indian and the intricacies of the reverse devices. Ideally centered on the reverse, aligned to 6:00 on the obverse with the full extent of the topmost denticles apparent. Some trivial surface verdigris or granularity is seen on the upper obverse, a single little green speck low in the skirts of Liberty on the reverse above the letter R, two tiny rim nicks above NDO of DEFENDO. A really exemplary specimen, far surpassing the sharp but cleaned Newman coin and choice lower grade examples like the Mills-Jenks-Grove coin we offered in our March 2015 Kendall sale. <p>The Ford II census of known specimens was primary assembled by John J. Ford, Jr. in 1955, when this coin was hidden from view in the collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society. When that census was updated for the Newman sale, this example was likewise omitted, as its only known auction appearance (in the 1976 ANA Sale) was overlooked. This coin would have been acquired by Appleton before the early 1870s and since has been publicly offered just once prior to this sale. It served as the <em>Guide Book</em> plate coin in the 1970s and was likely the exact specimen that many of the current generations of enthusiasts grew up coveting, your cataloger included. <p>PCGS Population: 1, none finer.From the Archangel Collection. Earlier, from Stack’s 1976 American Numismatic Association sale, August 1976, lot 72; the William Sumner Appleton Collection, to the collection of the Massachusetts Historical Society by bequest in 1905.
