1785 Immune Columbia / Nova Constellatio. W-1990, Breen-1122. Rarity-8. Copper. Blunt Rays, CONSTELATIO. EF-40 (PCGS).109.3 grains. 160 degree die rotation. An exceptionally rare variety in this elusive and important series. Only two of these are known, both with ancient provenances. This one, from Parmelee and Brand, is the finer of the two. The other, ex Maris and Garrett, was last sold as an NGC VF-25 in the April 2021 Partrick sale.<p><p>Aside from its higher grade, this is the better struck and centered of the two. Its surfaces are glossy, smooth, and attractive, with light brown toning that merges into a darker chocolate shade around some obverse design elements. Both sides show denticles on either side of 6 oclock but lack them at the top of the design. The obverse die edge is visible from 3 oclock to below the date. Only trivial marks are seen, including one on the denticle below 7 of the date and two that are roughly perpendicular at the top and right of the reverses all-seeing eye. With its fine color, smooth surface, and strong strike, the eye appeal is superb. Even if this wasnt the finest known example of a major rarity, it would be a lovely coin.<p><p>In its first auction appearance in 1890, this was described as "not mentioned by Crosby; we know of no duplicate." Catalogers sometimes miss things, of course, and one of the partners in the firm that cataloged Parmelee in 1890 had cataloged Dr. Edward Maris example just four years earlier: "this combination is not in Crosby, and, as far as I know, exists in only one other collection. This other piece brought $100 in a sale."<p><p>In neither circumstance, nor in any catalog description since, did the catalogers recall that this piece was actually offered in the 1884 Hon. Heman Ely sale, where it was plated as lot 1010. "It will be noticed that the design is wholly unlike the preceding," Woodward wrote. After decades in the business, it may have been the first one he had seen.<p><p>When the Maris piece was acquired by T. Harrison Garrett, it spent a century off the market, and then was in strong hands for four decades thereafter. This example was in private hands for a century between the Parmelee and Norweb sales, then spent almost 30 years in the Partrick Collection. Crosby lived and died without ever seeing one. Innumerable other collectors never had a shot at one either. Those who did own an example of this uber-rarity are among the greatest names in our hobby: Parmelee, Smith, Brand, Maris, Garrett, Norweb, Roper, Partrick, and Martin. Add yours.<p>PCGS# 831.From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from W. Elliot Woodwards sale of the Hon. Heman Ely Collection, January 1884, lot 1010; New York Coin and Stamp Companys sale of the Lorin G. Parmelee Collection, June 1890, lot 593; Dewitt Smith Collection; Virgil Brand Collection, 1908; Brand Estate to B. Max Mehl; Norweb Collection, January 1937; our (Bowers and Merenas) sale of the Norweb Collection, Part II, March 1988, lot 2622; Donald G. Partrick Collection, via Ken Goldman; Heritages sale of the Partrick Collection, January 2015, lot 5647.
