1785 George III / Immune Columbia Copper. Vlack 15-85 NY, W-1995. Rarity-6+. Fine Details--Planchet Flaw (PCGS). 120.4 grains. PCGS has mounted this coin with the reverse up in the holder, obviously to highlight the Immune Columbia side from which the type takes its primary name. That side retains bold outline detail to most of the major design elements, although the letters NE in IMMUNE and the top of the seated figure are soft. The right border is through the letters in COLUMBIA. All four digits in the date are full and clear. There is some roughness along the border in the date area and also at the upper obverse. For the obverse we note good outline detail to the portrait and most peripheral design elements, the letters G (first) and S in GEORGIVS soft, yet discernible. Dominant autumn-brown patina is seen on both sides, the reverse has crimson and russet scattered about that is associated with light surface scale. The central reverse is a bit rough, the obverse has numerous planchet flaws on the portrait that explain the PCGS qualifier. However, this is quite typical for the issue. There is no such thing as a flawless, sharply struck coin!This variety is one of the outstanding rarities in the Machins Mills circulating counterfeit halfpenny series, but also stands at the busy intersection of the Nova Constellatio, Vermont, and Immune Columbia series. Most advanced collectors lack one of these, due to the extreme rarity of the type and the supreme ugliness of typical examples. In fact, only three nice examples of this variety have been offered at auction in the last 15 to 20 years: the Ford coin, which was underappreciated at $29,900; the Laird Park example which resold in the 2002 Bowers and Merena sale of the Logan and Steinberg Collections, and the Newman specimen that realized $12,600 in Heritages September 2019 sale despite being certified VG-10 by NGC. This one will undoubtedly reside in a place of honor in a sophisticated cabinet. From the Q. David Bowers Collection. Earlier ex Tony Carlotto.
