1785 Connecticut Copper. Miller 6.1-A.1, W-2390. Rarity-5. Mailed Bust Right. EF-40 (PCGS).139.2 grains. A Clark Obverse and Reverse Plate Coin. Struck from the late state of both obverse and reverse dies, the die face now severely sunken in areas, giving the surfaces of the struck coin a soft, undulating appearance; a clashing of the dies transferred letter forms to the opposing dies and must have wreaked further havoc on the weakening die steel. Dark chocolate brown and glossy, with just a hint of graininess in the right field (but what Connecticut copper isn’t a bit grainy somewhere?) and an old, long since toned over jogging mark down the line of obverse effigy’s face and neck. Well struck and ideally centered on a broad-looking flan, this coin boasts a bold date and the superb color and surfaces that Robert hunted for in dealer stocks and auctions. Some superior specimens exist of this variety, like Taylor’s, Oechsner’s and Ford’s, and this coin would probably follow in quality with a few other comparable ones in a Connecticut copper whist match.From the Robert M. Martin Collection. Ex Stack’s sale of the Richard Picker Collection, October 24, 1984, lot 147.
