1785 Connecticut Copper. Miller 5-F.5, W-2385. Rarity-4. Mailed Bust Right. EF-45 (PCGS).139.5 grains. A Clark Reverse Plate Coin. Called “Extremely Fine and choice, Probable High Condition Census” by Robert on his envelope. The surface quality is that of a choice, chocolate brown and glossy AU coin, with no flan flaws but for a minuscule streak on obverse at lower hair and epaulet, and no circulation flaws to speak of other than normal wear and some slight buildup around Liberty’s head and the legends ET LIB. The obverse die is in a state of utter failure, the neck, throat and chin intensely sunken with no clear delineation between neck, chin and field remaining; the lumpy, goatee shaped die failure connects chin to front of bust, while all that remains of the cuirass are its now fleck-like divisions. Despite this acute die failure, the devices on both sides are quite well-detailed, notably in the hair and laurel leaves on the obverse, and in Liberty’s hair and robes on the reverse, whose detail rivals that of the superb essentially Uncirculated Hessberg coin, and is superior to the beautiful AU 1975 EAC coin. The Collection SLT coin called only VF-25, ex Ford, is roughly comparable, but as with other early die state coins, does not have as much central reverse detail as this coin.From the Robert M. Martin Collection. Ex Stack’s sale of the Herbert Oechsner Collection, September 9, 1988, lot 1031.