1787 Connecticut Copper. Miller 42-kk.2, W-4245. Rarity-5-. Draped Bust Left, AUCTOPI / ETIIB. EF-40 (PCGS).147.2 grains. Dies oriented at 270 degrees. A Clark Reverse Plate Coin. A superior and well-balanced example, the deep golden-brown fields are awash in original mint luster in the fields, with hints of lighter golden toning in the intricacies of the letters where the original mint color was last to fade. Obverse a bit off-center on a tight flan, bringing the bottom of the drapery in contact with the rim, while the reverse is perfectly centered, the depression created by a planchet cutter lip softening the bottoms of the date digits. Called “Condition Census” by Robert, this coin is sharper and nicer than both the very decent Fine to VF Pine Tree EAC and Taylor coins, less sharp but with better surfaces than the Roper coin (misattributed as 41-ii in the catalog), and comparable to the gorgeous piece in our June 1995 Stack’s auction. As with most all of his coins, Robert acquired this piece with the studied surgical precision of a scholar, a coin that is probably impossible to improve upon and would take a lot of waiting and effort to match.From the Robert M. Martin Collection. Purchased from Anthony Terranova, July 18, 1984.
