1786 Connecticut Copper. Miller 5.3-N, W-2575. Rarity-2. Mailed Bust Left, Hercules Head. VF-35 (PCGS).137.9 grains. Light olive brown surfaces show moderate granularity throughout the fields, while the high points are rather smooth and hard. The obverse has roughly parallel planchet fissures through the face and TOR of AUCTORI, while some of the recesses close to various design elements show traces of glistening mellow orange from an old cleaning. The reverse is more uniform olive and has just a tiny flaw at the center of the shield. A later die state than seen on the previous lot, with obvious buckling in the fields left of Liberty and bold clash marks from 7:00 to 1:00, featuring prominent incuse letters and a distinct outline of the bust. The strike is slightly off center to the right, with some loss of the rightmost legends on both sides. Quite sharp overall, and called Condition Census when it was offered in the Taylor sale. This assessment may be a bit aggressive today, though in terms of overall sharpness it is finer than the Perkins, Ford, Collection SLT and Newman coins.From the Twin Leaf Collection of Connecticut & Massachusetts Coppers. Earlier ex Frederick B. Taylor, Bowers and Merena, March 1987:2358; Bowers and Merena, May 1992:156; Anthony Terranova, 2001.
