1776 Machins Mills Halfpenny. Vlack 9-76B, W-7800. Rarity-6+. CEORCIVS, Small Date. VF-25 (PCGS).143.8 grains. A gorgeous example of this significant rarity, easily among the most attractive extant among a small group of perhaps 15 to 20 known. Smooth, glossy surfaces are an ideal light chocolate-brown, the color perfectly even across both sides. The overall charming, original, and problem-free appearance displays no roughness or planchet flaws; there are just a few thin, toned over scratches in the way of marks. Most notable perhaps is the strength of the strike, no doubt allowed by the relatively thick and heavy planchet that provided plenty of metal to fill out the dies. The only small area of weakness is on Britannia above the shield, with otherwise bold, essentially full definition. This piece displays more overall detail, for instance, than the two technically high grade Newman coins which have very little wear but were struck on thin planchets with severe central design weakness as a result. The distinctive obverse bust is here in bold relief with full hair detail, complete outline to the laurel wreath, and much of the facial detail present as well. The first Newman example, graded NGC MS-62 Brown, realized $35,250 in 2014 and the second, NGC EF Details, brought $14,400 in 2017. The present coin is perhaps most similar to the pleasant example we (Stacks) sold in our May 2008 Minot Collection sale that was graded F-15 and realized $18,400. The Martin coin has similar choice surfaces and color, but is even sharper. Really an unbeatable example in many respects.<p>The remarkable and numismatically significant 9-76B variety was not discovered until the 1950s when an example turned up in the Stepney Hoard, a group of 200+ state coppers and counterfeit halfpence found in an 18th century iron kettle in Stepney, Connecticut. In a 1958 article for the ANS Centennial Publication, Eric Newman details the discovery coin and its importance in connecting the Machins Mills and Vermont coinages (primarily due to the similarity of the reverse seated figure on this coin and the Bust Right Vermonts) and Newmans suggestion that both the obverse and reverse devices on this newly discovered variety were prepared from the same hubs as nearly all of the Vermont Bust Right varieties. This connection was significant as it solved what Newman called the "Vermont Enigma," or why the Vermont coppers had on their shield the British emblem of the Union Jack instead of a state insignia like other state coppers. A new article by Jim Rosen and Bill Eckberg in the Winter 2022 <em>C4 Newsletter</em> uses modern photo overlay technology to show that Newmans theory was only partially correct, the reverse seated figure on 9-76B matches some, but not all, of the Bust Right Vermont reverses, while the obverse does not match any Vermont varieties. Nevertheless, the basic premise of Newmans assertion that the reason the Vermont coppers bear a Union Jack is because of their connection to the Machins Mills counterfeit halfpenny coiners still holds some weight. The CEORCIVS obverse die of 9-76B is also significant for another reason as its only other known use is on the famous and extremely rare "George III / Standing Indian" mule copper.PCGS# 882957.From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier ex Kevin Vinton; John Kraljevich, August 2015.
