1786 Connecticut Copper. Miller 1-A, W-2460. Rarity-4+. Mailed Bust Right, Double Chin. ET LIB INDE. AU-58+ (PCGS).89.7 grains. Struck medal turn. A simply exquisite, show-stopping example of this die marriage and distinct type, featuring the uniquely styled, hand cut obverse bust and the reverse legend rendered as ET LIB INDE rather than the usual INDE ET LIB; this is one of only 3 Connecticut reverses with this legend variant, and is the only dated 1786. The quality here is simply superb for any Connecticut copper, and trebly so for this distinctive, Red Book type--original mint red color glows at the peripheries and in the intricacies of the design motifs, and the coin is an overall glossy, golden brown hue that is more akin to a choice, light brown 1787 Draped Bust Left Connecticut copper. A diagonal, razor thin planchet streak below ET on reverse and a small patch of ruddy-green patina along rim below date will forever serve to identify this coin. Well struck for the issue, with the usual soft strike in the center, caused by an inadequate amount of metal on this thin, underweight flan to fill the deepest recesses of the dies in the centers; the peripheries, by contrast, are so sharply struck and defined that one can count the hair strand’s in obverse effigy’s and seated Liberty’s hair! Obverse centered toward the left, with some weakening of the denticles along the left periphery, and though the reverse is also a bit off-center, all denticles are partially to fully visible, with a thin blank crescent flanking the 3 o’clock position that brings the die edge into view. The designs and legends are also subtly double struck, creating an unusual suctioned appearance to obverse effigy’s profile that we at first mistook for a late die state. The dies are indeed in a worn state, the obverse showing the usual die chip at chin that gives this die marriage its nickname, the crack and spalling below the bust and the cracks in the triangular denticles around 1 o’clock and around first N of CONNEC; the reverse displays a huge patch of spalling between (LI)B and Liberty’s face that is as sharp as the day the coin was struck. As the 1786 1-A is only a Rarity-4+, a goodly number of high quality, EF or better survivors exist. Better than Garrett, Norweb, the Turoff sale coin, Taylor, Perkins, Collection SLT and examples in most other significant Connecticut cabinets. The closest rivals to this present red-brown beauty are the 1975 Pine Tree EAC example, called AU with original mint red but that is less well struck than this one; Newman’s was called NGC AU58, but had some notable planchet striae. Here is the unique chance to own the single finest known example of the 1786 ET LIB INDE type.From the Robert M. Martin Collection. Ex Stack’s Sale of April 27-30, 1988, lot 19.
