1787 Connecticut Copper. Miller 16.4-n, W-3020. Rarity-6+. Draped Bust Left. EF Details—Cleaned (PCGS).160.5 grains. Largely golden brown surfaces with light blue-green accents from an old somewhat aggressive cleaning that has left some surface abrasions which are visible under magnification. Porous throughout with some deeper pitting scattered around, mostly concentrated in the central reverse. Despite the generally rough condition, this remains one of the sharpest examples known of this rare variety. The Taylor coin was double struck and called Fine-12. This coin is sharper than the Q. David Bowers Collection piece in Pine Tree’s 1975 EAC sale, and nicer than Hessberg’s as well. Collection SLT included an example with a dramatic and heavily distorting countermark on the reverse, which still brought $920. In the Perkins catalog where we last handled this coin, Michael Hodder ranked it as the “finest known sharpness,” though the obviously nicer Canfield coin in the ANS collection is arguably just as sharp.pQuite rare, and considering the scarcity of other recent offerings, this is a very respectable example of the variety. We have only handled three in recent memory, all inferior coins, and the Heritage archives seem to reveal none at all.From the Twin Leaf Collection of Connecticut & Massachusetts Coppers. Earlier ex Coin Galleries, February 1986:1299; George C. Perkins, Stack’s, January 2000:285; Tom Rinaldo; Sixth Annual C4 Convention sale, November 2000:157.
