1788 Connecticut Copper. Miller 3-B.2, W-4415. Rarity-6. Mailed Bust Right. Overstruck on Nova Constellatio Copper. EF-45 (PCGS).113.4 grains. Choice light to medium brown with mostly smooth surfaces. This piece is overstruck on a Nova Constellatio, like most or all specimens of this variety, with undertype visible on both sides. CON of CONSTELLATIO appears directly above CON of CONNEC, USTITIA is visible left of the date, and some of the central design of the host is seen on both sides. The upper and right periphery of the reverse is a bit darker and more granular than the rest of that side, but this does not terribly detract. The obverse is broken from 9:00 to beyond the portrait’s forehead, a late die state. No significant post striking defects are seen on either side. An exceptionally handsome example of this very challenging variety.<p><p><p>Unlike the 3-B.1, which is nearly as scarce but is found with some regularity in decent grade, most known specimens from this die marriage are downright scruffy: rough, damaged, and ugly. The VF Ford primary coin might be the nicest to have sold in recent years. Looking at the 2005 description of it, it’s easy to think it was underappreciated, but it brought $14,950 to a savvy collector. Nothing approaching that quality has been offered in recent memory until this month, when the Partrick holdings included two of these: the Perkins coin, graded VF-35 (NGC), and one from our September 1997 sale graded AU Details — Tooled (NGC). Though the AU Details coin is clearly sharper, this piece may get the edge based on its wholesomeness. The 1975 EAC Sale coin still appears to be the finest. The EF-45 (NGC) Newman coin was very attractive but flawed on the reverse. It was finer in our estimation than the Keller coin that had been assigned the same EF-45 graded by NGC. This piece appears to be in the top half of the Condition Census even if the exact order is up for debate.From the E Pluribus Unum Collection.