1787 Connecticut Copper. Miller 33.31-gg.2, W-3825. Rarity-5+. Draped Bust Left, ETLIR. EF-45 (PCGS).133.3 grains. Light olive brown and quite glossy and smooth, with some microscopic granularity, chiefly on the reverse. Top of head and CO are weakly struck, as are the corresponding areas of the reverse, as is the other 33.31-gg.2 in this sale, perhaps pointing to an axial misalignment of the dies. Legends, date, and devices are otherwise fully defined. <p>As discussed in the pages of the <em>C4 Newsletter</em> by Charles W. Smith and Robert Martin himself, the fractional style Painted Die Variety on the obverse effigy’s head 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. Below the lower right part of the bust is the rarity rating “3” in white ink, while on the reverse is a red lacquer “52” just below center. Given all its numismatic tattoos, this coin deserves to be on the cover of <em>Inked</em< magazine.From the Robert M. Martin Collection. Ex William Wallace Hays Collection; Hillyer Ryder Collection; 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 410. Hays’ “circle H” round ticket accompanies this lot , where the pedigree is written as “H-90, ” perhaps indicative of a purchase from Dr. Thomas Hall in 1890?
