1787 Connecticut Copper. Miller 33.43-hh.2, W-4010. Rarity-5. Draped Bust Left, ETLIR. AU-50 (PCGS).144.0 grains. Dies oriented 90 degrees. A Clark Reverse Plate Coin. Called “Extremely Fine, A Superior Specimen” in the Ford sale, entirely true statements given its glossy, lightly lustrous mahogany brown surfaces that show little actual wear, preserving the finest little die marks in the most protected areas of the fields. Weak at CT of AUCTORI and the corresponding part of the reverse (in this case Liberty’s head, given the 90-degree rotation), a weakness seen on other specimens of this die marriage. Otherwise well struck and relatively well centered, with just a small planchet intrusion near the first obverse cinquefoil that is worthy of note. 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 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.From the Robert M. Martin Collection. Ex William Wallace Hays Collection, acquired from Charles Steigerwalt in 1890; Hillyer Ryder Collection via Charles Steigerwalt’s 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 429. Hays’ circular ticket accompanies this lot , on which is written “Changed from 33-41 to 33-44/H2-2 in Dr. H Book.”
