| Description |
1786 COPPER Connecticut Copper, Mailed Bust Right, Noble Head XF45+ NGC. M. 2.2-D.2, W-2475, R.6. 114.2 grains. Both dies appear on this important rarity and nowhere else in the 1786 Connecticut series. The obverse die carries the Broad Shouldered Head nickname, and has been called the Noble Head, a phrase that originated with Dr. Edward Maris when he discovered the variety in 1875. The Taylor sale contained the 1975 Pine Tree/ EAC specimen, that was called the finest known in 1975, and the "probable finest known" in 1987. The Taylor coin is plated in the Whitman Colonial Encyclopedia. The George Perkins Collection, one of the finest collections of Connecticut coppers offered in recent memory, lacked this variety. The Miller plate coin appeared in the Ford Collection where it was graded Very Good to Fine, and described as a "Superior" example of the variety. In the Ford catalog, Michael Hodder wrote: "The finest, however, is still Bobby Martin's Fine." It is surprising that no previous cataloger has thought to mention the Eric P. Newman Specimen, a coin that has been known since the earliest days of the 20th century, or perhaps even earlier. This is only the second example that we have offered following the December 2010 sale of the W. Philip Keller specimen that was ANACS certified Good 4, Corroded. We are confident that the Eric P. Newman Miller 2.2-D.2 copper is the finest known example of the variety. The surfaces are smooth light olive-brown with a few splashes of maroon patina on each side. The reverse has a faint wood-grain appearance. Minor obverse scratches at 4 o'clock are entirely toned and blended with the surrounding field. A few other inconsequential marks are noted. Q. David Bowers wrote in the Whitman Colonial Encyclopedia that this variety is "Struck on small diameter planchets; date usually not visible." However, that does not seem to be the case here. While we don't have the exact diameter of this piece, it appears to be visually equal to most of the other 1786 Connecticut coppers in this sale. Our own observation is that the reverse sometimes appears off-center with the date landing outside the confines of the planchet. The obverse of this example is slightly off-center at 9 o'clock, although the tops of the legends are complete. The reverse is slightly less than 10% off-center at 8 o'clock. The tops of 786 are still visible on this piece. Here is an extraordinary opportunity to acquire the finest 1786 Connecticut 2.2-D.2 copper, a noble coin that stands head-and-broad-shoulders above any other that might become available. Ex: Dr. Thomas Hall; Virgil Brand; Brand Estate (sold for $3.00 on May 17, 1935); B.G. Johnson (sold for $10.00); Eric P. Newman; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.
Realized $52,875.00. Description courtesy of Heritage Auctions. |
