1786 Connecticut Copper. Miller 5.15-S, W-2675. Rarity-7+. Mailed Bust Left, Sword Hilt and Guard. Fine-15 (NGC).Uniform deep steel brown with subtle undertones of mahogany on the obverse. A few faint scratches are noted under magnification, but none is particularly noteworthy, merely light abrasions from circulation. A prominent planchet fissure follows the effigy’s face, while a smaller one is seen in the laurel wreath. A void at the rim did not allow for any sign of the CT of AUCTORI in the striking, while a small reverse void is noted at Liberty’s legs. Nicely centered with rather good clarity to the legends where the dies and strike would allow for it. A full date is an added bonus. Struck from a sinking obverse die that resulted in a prominent bulge at the effigy’s shoulder and softness behind Liberty’s head, though there are no obverse design features affected.pOne of the popular Sword and Hilt Guard varieties, of which there are three, all using this single uniquely styled die. While the feature itself is not visible on this coin due to the obverse die failure and resulting weakness in this area, this is the rarest of the three die pairings, one that was missing from Pine Tree’s 1975 EAC sale, as well as the Garrett, Taylor, Norweb, Perkins, Ford, Collection SLT, and Eric Newman holdings.pThe emWhitman Encyclopedia/em gives a few descriptive differences between the 5.14 and 5.15 obverse dies, but they can be difficult to discern due to varying planchet qualities and considerations of both strike and grade. We have identified a few more differences, given here:p—Examine the terminus of the shoulder strap of the mail, near the A of AUCTORI. On this die, the three lines end almost as a three-pronged fork, with plenty of space between the lines and points, whereas they seem more tapered on 5.14.p—The first of the three uppermost laurel leaves (at left) is curiously “s” shaped with two small dashes beneath it on this obverse. On 5.14, it is a small, thick crescent seemingly unattached.p—Finally, the hair seems better defined on this obverse, with the hairlines sweeping broadly up and to the right from the laurel wreath at the center of the head.pAnother prize from the Twin Leaf Collection, destined for an advanced Connecticut cabinet.From the Twin Leaf Collection of Connecticut & Massachusetts Coppers. Earlier ex Old New England Collection, Heritage, April 2014:3707, via Anthony Terranova.
