1787 Connecticut Copper. Miller 43.1-Y, W-4250. Rarity-2. Draped Bust Left, CONNFC. MS-61 BN (PCGS).129.6 grains. A superior example of this die marriage boasting abundant original mint red in the fields and around the legends, mint frost in the fields, and an overall alluring golden brown hue on both sides. Strike is very sharp for a Draped Bust Left but still a bit soft in the centers, as might be expected. A few spots of darker patina may be seen along the obverse rims, while a very distinctive curved planchet clip adjacent to obverse effigy’s bust will be an easy identifier for this coin as the Newman-Martin specimen. As a Rarity-2, it would not be unexpected that at least a few high-grade survivors would exist, and that is the case here. The wonderful “Choice Uncirculated” Garrett example, the PCGS MS-62 BN New Netherlands 51<sup>st</sup>-Laird Park-Archangel specimen and this example are probably the few known. Here is a coin that rolls a superb provenance around a superb mint red Connecticut copper that is also among the finest known of the CONNFC Red Book type.<p>From the Robert M. Martin Collection. Ex Eric P. Newman; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society; Heritages sale of the Eric. P. Newman Collection, Part IV, May 2014, lot 30136.
