1787 Massachusetts Cent. Ryder 4-J, W-6120. Rarity-7. Bowed Head, Arrows in Left Talon. Fine-12 (PCGS). An exciting offering for the specialist in Massachusetts copper varieties. Evenly toned in medium brown, the reverse also delivers bold outline definition to all major design elements. The obverse is more irregular in toning, and also more softly defined in the center and at the right border, its otherwise golden-brown surface exhibiting splashes of steely-olive color. Both sides are pleasingly smooth in hand with no sizeable marks, just microscopic ticks and other wispy abrasions that are commensurate with the assigned grade. A bit of ancient surface build up is associated with the deeper color noted for the obverse. As of January 2021 Mike Packard was aware of only eight examples of the 1787 Ryder 4-J die pairing. This is the fourth specimen that we have offered in recent decades. It is finer than the Twin Leaf coin on a flawed planchet that PCGS certified as VG-10, and also superior (in your catalogers opinion) to the Norweb-Partrick coin in NGC VF-25, which is also on a flawed planchet and is more extensively marked. The PCGS MS-64 RB in our (Stacks) July 2009 ANA Sale is the finest known, and also the only Ryder 4-J in Mint State. PCGS# 688950.
