1670-A French Colonies 5 Sols. Paris Mint. Martin 2-G. Lecompte-186, W-11605, Breen-256. VF-25 (PCGS). Another example from this die marriage, from a further failed state of the reverse die. Attractive blue-green toning with some rosy highlights on the devices. Glossy and attractive for the grade with trivial marks, including two old pinscratches on the shoulder of the portrait. The reverse shows some hairlines but is most notable for the substantial weakness from die failure seen in a broad band from the center of the left reverse field across the shield. The buckling at right looks similar to that seen on the previous lot, but the die crack across the letters at the base of the reverse is significantly heavier. These sorts of die state progressions fascinated Syd in every series he pursued. While collecting die varieties and then die states isnt all too unusual for specialists in a series like New Jersey coppers, Syd was truly a pioneer on this and other French colonial series! PCGS# 905845. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Northeast Numismatics, March 2009.
