1786 Connecticut Copper. Miller 5.2-I, W-2550. Rarity-4. Mailed Bust Left. EF-40 (PCGS)136.7 grains. Struck from the unbulged, early state of the obverse die. Light olive and ruddy golden-brown tones on both sides, with some softening of the central obverse detail due mostly to the rough, flawed planchet in that area; though the flaw does not continue to the reverse, the striking weakness does, perhaps indicating a thinness in the center of the flan. Reverse is essentially perfect, displaying trouble free wear though the planchet was not broad enough to accommodate the entirety of the legends. As discussed in the pages of the C4 Newsletter by Charles W. Smith and Robert Martin himself, the fractional style Painted Die Variety in the left field is the mark of early Connecticut enthusiast William Wallace Hays, whose “circle H” round card also accompanies this lot. Hays’ collection went to Ryder via Charles Steigerwalt’s October 1903 price list. Here is a high-quality Connecticut copper with one of the longest known continuous ownership chains.From the Robert M. Martin Collection. Ex William Wallace Hays Collection; Hillyer Ryder Collection, via Charles Steigerwalt’s October 1903 Fixed Price List; F.C.C. Boyd Collection; John J. Ford, Jr.; Stack’s sale of Part 9 of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, May 10, 2005, lot 254.
