1670-A French Colonies 5 Sols. Paris Mint. Martin 4-E. Lecompte-186, W-11605, Breen-256. VF-25 (PCGS). A choice coin with a fine provenance. Even and sedate antique silver gray with some hints of gold. Well centered and well struck, free of adjustment marks or significant defects. Aside from a short old scratch between IC of DICENT, this piece is pristine. The only die crack seen is a subtle one from the rim to the top of the head, denoting this as the earliest state of Martin Obverse 4. This is the Martin plate coin for the early state of the obverse and a truly lovely example for this grade range. Though the other die marriage using Martins Obverse 4 is fairly common with six specimens traced, this is the only example of variety 4-E Syd found, perhaps indicating a rarity in this still underappreciated die variety series. PCGS# 905846. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Virgil Brand Collection; John J. Ford Jr. Collection; our (Stacks) sale of the John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part XIII, January 2006, lot 22; Jeff Rock, October 2007.
