1787 Connecticut Copper. Miller 29.1-n, W-3150. Rarity-6-. Draped Bust Left. VF-35 (PCGS).147.9 grains. A Clark Reverse Plate Coin. Reddish brown obverse, more golden brown on the reverse, both sides glossy and smoothly worn, though the obverse has some minor planchet flecking in the centers. About as well struck as this die pairing is found, the devices are well-defined but a bit soft on the overall. This rare die marriage was missing from the Norweb, Oechsner and Ford cabinets, and most examples that have come to market are lower grade or more badly flawed than this coin. Robert considered this finest known, though one must consider the 1975 EAC Sale coin that was called “Some details Fine” but that looks more like a flawed VF-EF coin, and a very sharp coin in the Schenkel sale, called VF-20 but scratched. Here is a relatively modest-looking coin that may actually be the prettiest and most well-balanced survivor of the die pair.From the Robert M. Martin Collection. Ex Stack’s Sale of the Edward Hessberg Collection, June 20, 1991, lot 1410.
