1788 Massachusetts Cent. Ryder 17-I, W-6420. Rarity-7. Fine Details—Damage (PCGS).Pale steely brown on the obverse with some ruddy patina toward the left side. Light natural striations and a bit of roughness through COMMON. A large unidentified single character countermark is seen at the center of the obverse. The reverse is oxidized and rough with some pits and green deposits. Still, nearly all the design is visible and certainly enough to easily attribute this rare variety which was not known to Ryder. It was discovered by Phil Greco and published in October 1960, in the first edition of the Colonial Newsletter. We have only handled three examples of this variety in recent memory. We had one in our March 2003 sale, called “G-5.” This one came next, in October 2014, and most recently the Michael Demling specimen in March 2018. Frederick Taylor had an example called “G-4 obverse, F-12 reverse” that was porous and apparently streaked with light flaws. In fact, of the seven known, five are considered Good or below, and one is holed. One is in the Massachusetts Historical Society and one is in the ANS, leaving precious few for collectors.From the Twin Leaf Collection of Connecticut & Massachusetts Coppers. Earlier ex Stack’s Bowers, October-November 2014:6108.
