1787 Massachusetts Half Cent. Ryder 5-A, W-5960. Rarity-3. MS-63BN (PCGS).75.3 grains. An incredibly sharp specimen with deep olive brown surfaces. The obverse is flecked with tiny natural planchet voids identifying this coin unmistakably as that contained in the famed Garrett cabinet for nearly a century, a provenance that had been lost to time until we happily re-associated it with this lovely piece. At the time of our 1979 sale, this piece was described, in part, as follows: “Boldly struck and well defined. Light glossy brown surfaces on obverse and reverse. A myriad of tiny planchet flaws on the obverse appear to the unaided eye as toning specks. We have never seen a finer example.” The lot did not disappoint, selling for $1,800 at that time, just shy of four decades ago. Beautifully struck with nearly all of the shield lines visible, though there is a trace of roughness in this area as well as the through the Indians tunic, as typical. Certainly other nice examples have come to light since 1979, but even still, such great collections as Norweb and Partrick did not include this variety at all. While nice coins do exist (the three Uncirculated coins in the Ford and Newman holdings being prime cases), it will prove a challenge indeed to find a better example than this one in the marketplace. Even if one were to be located, it is most likely that the provenance would prove inferior to that offered here.From the Twin Leaf Collection of Connecticut & Massachusetts Coppers. Earlier ex Sylvester S. Crosby (possibly from his sale by Haseltine, June 1883:942); T. Harrison Garrett; Garrett Collection, Bowers and Ruddy, November 1979:579; Anthony Terranova, 2008.
