1787 Connecticut Copper. Miller 12-Q, W-2885. Rarity-3. Mailed Bust Left. 1787 over 1887. EF-40 (PCGS).130.8 grains. One of the best examples around of this major Guide Book variety, struck on a notably unflawed planchet. Nice light brown with a golden tone, mostly glossy, with some contrasting surface encrustation around the reverse devices. Well centered and showing denticles around the entire circumference of both sides except the left extremity of the obverse. Softly struck behind the crown of the head on the obverse, also soft in the aligned area of the reverse right of the shield. The date and its overdate characteristic are crisp and easily seen. Swelling is present above NN of CONNEC, as usual, and a die break is seen on the reverse rim adjacent to the sprig, a later state than usual. This variety is typically struck on planchets that would have preferably been recycled, but this one is pretty wholesome: the striations on the obverse manifest as stripes, not trenches, and no major gaps or laminations are noted. Though not terribly rare, this is a difficult variety to find nice. Bobby Martin’s coin, graded AU-55 (PCGS), was among the best of the field; it netted $2,160 in our November 2019 sale. The SLT coin was also stellar, which is why it brought $4,743.75 back in 2012. The Taylor coin is now graded MS-61 BN (NGC) as part of the Partrick Collection, which also contains the 1975 EAC Sale coin, graded AU-58 (NGC). This piece may be a step below the Partrick, Martin, and SLT coins, but we prefer it to the slightly sharper Ford primary coin.From the E Pluribus Unum Collection.
