1787 Massachusetts Cent. Ryder 7-H, W-6150. Rarity-7-. Stout Indian. MS-63BN (NGC) (CAC).156.1 grains. A superb example of this very rare variety. Exceptional quality throughout, the surfaces are light uniform chocolate brown with no obvious handling marks. The fields are smooth, lustrous and clean save for a few tiny flecks of roughness from the original planchet and a trivial spot right of the eagle’s head. The light roughness is mostly found close to the rims. The centers are softly defined, as typical, with associated natural roughness in these areas, some of which might appear as nicks but we suspect most if not all are the former. Though soft at the centers, most of the tunic lines are separated. On the reverse, the upper central vertical shield stripes are flat, though CENT is almost completely defined. A small natural clip is noted just left of the Indians head, and at least one other example seen, that in the ANS collection, has a similar small edge clip. Somewhat irregular dentils on both sides, another feature shared by other examples. The obverse die is distinctive for its large breaks and failures. One bulging break in the field underlines MO of COMMON, while another extends from the rim left of the base of the bow upward to the leftmost pleat of the tunic. A third is seen just right of the arrow shaft. These anomalies, as well as stylistic differences between these dies and others in the series, have led to the conclusion that this variety might have been a contemporary counterfeit, attributed to Machin’s Mills. If so, it was a very good one. It is quite rare and very much desired by collectors of the series today.pThis coin was plated in the John G. Mills catalog in 1904, and then plated again in the George H. Earle collection catalog in 1912, the only 1787 Massachusetts cent so treated in the latter sale. We do not know who purchased it in the Earle sale, as the buyer’s identity written in the Chapman bid book is not legible. However, it next appeared in our own offering of the Richard Picker coins in 1984 where we commented, in part, that “this piece has everything going for it: rarity, beauty and superb condition. It will be one of the most sought after lots in the sale.” This was quite a statement considering the sale included NE and Willow Tree shillings, a “unique” Continental Dollar variant and other colonial-era delicacies. The most recent appearance was in the January 2015 offering of the Donald Partrick Collection, where this was called “tied for finest known” with the other Partrick specimen. Third party grading aside, this one appears to have been the nicer of the two. However, in our 2004 Ford sale, we described another high-quality example as “Gem Uncirculated. Prooflike” suggesting that might be the finest, technically, though it was weaker in the centers. Either way, the presently offered coin is certainly high in the Condition Census. The variety was missing from the Garrett, Norweb, Taylor and Newman collections. A beautiful and important piece with an outstanding provenance.From the Twin Leaf Collection of Connecticut & Massachusetts Coppers. Earlier ex John G. Mills, S.H. & H. Chapman, April 1904:198; George H. Earle, Henry Chapman, June 1912:2006; Richard Picker, Stack’s, October 1984:140; Donald G. Partrick, Heritage, January 2015:5708.
