1787 Connecticut Copper. Miller 33.3-W.1, W-3400. Rarity-4. Draped Bust Left. AU-50 (PCGS).134.4 grains. Rich chocolate brown, the reverse a bit more steely in its frosty mint luster. About as well struck as one is apt to find a Connecticut, but still exhibiting some of the subtle softness in the designs that is a combination of strike, die wear and circulation wear. Some minor planchet flecks are very superficial, blending into the designs and texture of the surface, which show very little wear, as the given grade suggests. The entirety of the legends and designs are on flan, though each side is a trifle off center. Considered “among finest known” by Robert, though all of the major collections seem to have included pieces of similar quality to this, give or take a little. Perhaps the most useful comparison is to the relatively recently sold Eric Newman example, which seems very close to this coin in terms of sharpness, though it exhibited more serious flaws than seen here.From the Robert M. Martin Collection. Bowers and Merena’s Sale of the Frederick B. Taylor Collection, March 26-28, 1987, lot 2505.
