1788 Massachusetts Cent. Ryder 12-K, W-6340. Rarity-5+. Period After MASSACHUSETTS. AU-58 (PCGS). 153.5 grains. The clear finest known example of this rare variety and a beautiful coin with choice surfaces and ideal light golden-brown color. Graded Mint State in the Partrick Sale (NGC MS-61 Brown), this piece does indeed display slight traces of its original mint surface in the fields, and has just the lightest trace of wear on the high points of the devices. Boldly struck throughout, such that any imperfect planchet texture that was there to begin with was just about totally smoothed out upon strike. There are no contact marks that catch the eye and a glass reveals only a couple of barely perceptible scratches in the fields on each side. This piece offers astounding grade and quality for a variety that is a challenge to locate in any grade above Fine. A highly desirable coin that has been well known for over a century and resided in several preeminent collections during that time. It will no doubt move on to another world-class set of Massachusetts cents. PCGS# 688354. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from Henry Chapmans sale of the George H. Earle Collection, June 1912, lot 2019; Hillyer Ryder; F.C.C. Boyd; John J. Ford, Jr.; our (Stacks) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection Part V, October 2004, lot 145; Heritages sale of the Donald G. Partrick Collection, January 2015, lot 5731.