1788 Connecticut Copper. Miller 16.2-O, W-4605. Rarity-5. Draped Bust Left, INDL. AU-55 (PCGS).135.7 grains. A Clark Obverse and Reverse Plate Coin. Reddish brown with a band of darker patina in left obverse field, this coin has surfaces that are uniformly microgranular with some minor planchet flaws through IN and Liberty’s head on reverse, wrapping around to the edge and rim at 6 o’clock on the obverse. Very well struck and effectively unworn, with nearly all the fine details in the central designs clearly visible, including the grape vines on the shield, while the centering is a bit off to the left, cutting off the tops if INDL ET. This is the only reverse die with the INDL misspelling for 1788, and the 16.2-O die marriage is the only obtainable one for the INDL type, the 17-O marriage known by only one specimen. This piece is among the finest known of the die marriage, called "High Condition Census” by Robert; it is the finest graded by PCGS for the type. It is finer than the very decent PCGS EF-45 Twin Leaf coin, and about equal to the Ford specimen, ex Miller Sale, that was called only “Extremely Fine” but that is much finer.From the Robert M. Martin Collection. Ex Stack’s Sale of January 31, 1969, lot 66; Stack’s Sale of the John L. Roper Collection, December 7, 1983, lot 264. It is interesting to note that this coin was called AU in 1969, but only VF in 1983!
