1788 Connecticut Copper. Miller 5-B.2, W-4440. Rarity-5-. Mailed Bust Right. Overstruck on Nova Constellatio copper. AU-58+ (PCGS).114.4 grains. Yet another exceptional specimen, perhaps the very finest extant from these dies. Smooth and even light brown surfaces host good gloss and some traces of frosty luster. The sharpness of the Connecticut devices, created in the typical Machin’s Mills style, are nearly matched by the sharpness of the 1785 Script US Nova Constellatio undertype, whose all-seeing eye dominated the central reverse. Nearly the entire word CONSTELLATIO is visible at the lower reverse periphery. Denticles frame almost all of the obverse, except the span from 10:00 to 2:00, and the reverse is well centered with nearly full peripheral decorations as well. A bit of trivial encrustation clings to the devices, but this piece is problem free and perfectly choice in every way.<p><p><p>Like other varieties in this early 1788 Miller sequence, this die marriage is both scarce and encountered with relative frequency in better grades. The Ford piece was graded Uncirculated and acquired by Don Partrick for $12,650; it’s now graded AU-55 (NGC) and looks pretty comparable to this one, except that one has a painted die variety and this one doesn’t. The 1975 EAC Sale coin was sold in our November 2012 Jack Royse sale as an EF-45 (PCGS), bringing $9,775; it’s very nice, but maybe not quite as high grade as this one. Perkins’ was also very nice, probably EF by today’s standards. The Condition Census listing in the Perkins catalog listed one Uncirculated (the Ford coin, now graded NGC AU-55), two AUs (including this one), and a nice EF at the ANS. If this coin is nicer than Ford’s — a reasonable thing for a specialist to decide based upon their eye and their taste — this piece is finest known or tied for the honors.<p><p>From the E Pluribus Unum Collection. Earlier from Richard Picker to Frederick Taylor in 1955; our (Bowers and Merena’s) sale of the Frederick B. Taylor Collection, March 1987, Lot 2697.
