1785 Connecticut Copper. Miller 3.1-F.3, W-2320. Rarity-6+. Bust Right. EF Details--Environmental Damage (PCGS). 146.1 grains. An elusive variety that wasnt discovered until the mid-1950s by Richard Picker. Considered R-7 for decades, now just barely into the Rarity-6 range with 14 known examples. The majority of the population are either heavily flawed or very low grade while the present coin, with its sharp detail and reasonably attractive appearance, ranks among the finest known. The surfaces are nicely glossy and predominantly an appealing light chocolate-brown in color. There is some maroon and dark olive scale on the obverse and some natural planchet voids appearing as pits on the reverse and a portion of the rim. There is not a whole lot in the way of environmental damage and the coin has a rather smooth, pleasing character overall. The only mark to note is a thin old scratch on the reverse from the rim across the seated figures legs. <p>There is no clear cut finest known example of this variety, nor is there a single specimen that could easily be called "problem-free." Every one of the 14 known examples of 1785 Miller 3.1-F.3 displays some degree of planchet flaws, and several have additional damage or roughness as well. This piece is among the three sharpest and/or least flawed specimens that sit atop the Condition Census, the other two being the Perkins-Partrick coin that is similar in terms of its sharpness, color, and modest planchet flaws, and another privately held example that is slightly sharper and similarly glossy but has more severe flaws. Recent auction appearances have seen the SLT coin, graded VF-20 sharpness but rough, flawed, and weak, bring $5,462.50 in our January 2012 Americana Sale. The well detailed but dark and rough Twin Leaf coin realized $5,520 in our March 2019 Baltimore Auction. The Perkins-Partrick example brought $14,950 in our January 2000 Americana Sale and then snuck through at a bargain $3,600 in the recent Partrick sale. This piece, appearing at auction for the first time, is certainly one of the most desirable examples of the variety out there, a coin that combines virtually unimprovable condition with illustrious provenance. PCGS# 685152. From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Anthony Terranova Collection, January 2012.
