1787 Connecticut Copper. Miller 32.5-aa, W-3260. Rarity-4. Draped Bust Left, FNDE. EF-45 (PCGS).142.9 grains. A Clark Obverse and Reverse Plate Coin. Often known as the INDE over FUDE variety, in the probably mistaken notion that the die engraver was accidentally creating a Fugio copper die, as Fugios were struck by the same partnership that made many of the Connecticut coppers. Randy Clark points out that although the N of FNDE is clearly blundered, the letter below the N does not appear to be a U. Light golden brown and still rather lustrous in the fields, with lighter tones hugging the lettering where the original mint color was last to fade. Generally well struck for a DBL Connecticut, with some softness in hair and lower drapery on obverse as well as corresponding points of the reverse. Generally well-centered, though on a flan that was not large enough to accommodate the fullness of the date, and with a small planchet flaw at rim above fourth cinquefoil on reverse. Though only Rarity-4, high grade survivors seem to be few and far between, and Robert considered this coin “among the finest known.” Roper’s was called Fine, but seems almost EF in the photo, Taylor’s was VF-30 but softly struck, the Turoff sale coin was AU-55 technically but very weakly struck, while the Breen and Vlack Plate Coin may be roughly comparable to this one. Here is the chance to acquire one of the best known examples of an important Red Book listed type.From the Robert M. Martin Collection. Ex Heritage’s Long Beach Sale of February 2005, lot 5019; Heritage’s Sale of the San Jose Collection of Colonial Coinage, January 2009, lot 7041.
