| Description |
1787 COPPER Connecticut Copper, Mailed Bust Right, INDE ET LIB VF30 NGC. M. 1.3-L, W-2735, R.6. 131.2 grains. The U in AUCTORI has a horseshoe shape, similar to the appearance of that letter on certain New Jersey coppers. Walter Breen attributed those New Jersey pieces to the Mint at Morristown, and by association, stated that this Connecticut variety was also coined in Morristown, New Jersey. Breen described a star at the base of the cuirass as a mintmark. That feature is boldly visible on this example. The obverse appears nowhere else in the series, while the reverse also appears with obverse 4, the famed Horned Bust variety. The current rarity ratings of R.6 (18-24) and URS-6 (17-32) suggest to us that there are probably about 20 examples of this variety currently known. Robert Martin reports 23 examples of this marriage. The Newman coin is finer than any others we have seen; it is sharper than the Mills-Ford coin, and clearly finer than the 1975 Pine Tree-EAC piece, or the Taylor-Perkins example. This piece has CONNEC tight against the right obverse border with full dentils to the left, outside of AUCTORI. The reverse shows dentil tips below the date, with the legends tight. The centering is typical of most observed examples of this variety. Dark chocolate surfaces have splashes of golden-tan on the high points, with traces of maroon patina. The surfaces are lightly granular, with a small planchet crack at 8 o'clock on the obverse. Ex: Dr. Thomas Hall; Virgil Brand; Brand Estate (sold for $2.00 on May 17, 1935); B.G. Johnson (sold for $3.50); Eric P. Newman; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.
Realized $9,987.50. Description courtesy of Heritage Auctions. |
