1787 Connecticut Copper. Miller 8-a.1, W-2845. Rarity-8. Mailed Bust Left. Fine-12 (PCGS).Offered is a legendary rarity in the Connecticut copper series, one of only three examples known for the 1787 Miller 8-a.1 die pairing. This is a handsome coin for the grade with overall medium brown patina to both sides. Blushes of deeper charcoal-russet at the left and right obverse border are associated with light surface scale, the same true of a streak of olive-charcoal color that bisects the seated figures head on the reverse. Both sides are well centered in strike, the lower border flush with the bottom of the bust on the obverse, the same on the reverse through the bottom of the date, although all four digits are readily appreciable. The right obverse border is flush to the top of the letters in CONNEC, again to no great detriment. Some of the central features are a tad soft, but the overall design on both sides is fully appreciable, and the diagnostics of the variety are clear. Light, shallow pitting in and around the centers is noted, as are some wispy pin scratches in the left obverse field that are easily overlooked in hand. Pleasing overall, and of the utmost significance for advanced Connecticut copper enthusiasts.<p>The 2009 <em>Whitman Encyclopedia of Colonial and Early American Coins</em> by Q. David Bowers lists this variety as unique, the discovery coin attributed to Edward R. Barnsby. That coin was misattributed in the March 1987 Frederick B. Taylor Collection sale and offered as part of a group lot (2412). It subsequently reappeared -- properly attributed -- as lot 974 in our (Stacks) September 1993 sale. The buyer out of the Taylor Collection sale was Mike Ringo, who sold the coin to the consignor to our September 1993 sale. The discovery coin is now in the Partrick Collection.<p>In his May 18, 2017 plate, Randy Clark identified two additional examples, bringing the census to three specimens for the 1787 Miller 8-a.1 variety. These are the present coin, identified by Clark simply as "Private / May 2017" and another coin identified as "Private / EBay Aug 2015." No other examples have come to light since. Here, then, is a rare and fleeting bidding opportunity for the advanced Connecticut copper collector to acquire a rare Miller number that was missing from virtually all of the great cabinets ever formed for this series. An aggressive bidding strategy is highly recommended.PCGS# 349. NGC ID: 2B2P.
