| Description |
1788 COPPER Connecticut Copper, Draped Bust Left MS62 Brown NGC M. 16.4-L.2, W-4620, High R.5. 92.6 grains. The cataloger's first response upon seeing this coin was to shake his head in amazement. The obverse shows two complete profiles, side-by-side. The right portion of the reverse design appears to the left, and right of that is an elliptical indented area that retains traces of incuse letters representing a brockage image. Eric P. Newman explains: {blockquote} "Two blanks were in the coining press. The top one received the obverse and had a blank reverse. The bottom one conversely had a blank obverse and a struck reverse. The operator tried to remove both coins but got the lower one out and the upper one partly out from the die area. When the dies came together the top coin was partly restruck and the impression of the blank top of the lower coin was pressed into the upper coin."{/blockquote} Both sides exhibit lovely olive-brown surfaces with wispy blue overtones that accompany considerable original orange mint color. The two V-shaped areas on each side remain untouched by the dies, and clearly show the original planchet marks, illustrative of the planchet appearance before the Connecticut coppers were struck. Careful study of those areas will help the student to understand the difference between original planchet marks and later, or post-production imperfections. The present specimen, a remarkable double strike with a brockage indent, is also the finest survivor that we have seen from the 16.4-L.2 dies. It is finer than the granular AU 1975 Pine Tree-EAC coin. It is clearly better than the XF Perkins coin, and far finer than those in Taylor, Norweb, or Ford. We have no hesitation in stating that this is the finest existing 1788 Miller 16.4-L.2 copper. Ex: "Colonel" E.H.R. Green; Green Estate; Partnership of Eric P. Newman / B.G. Johnson d.b.a. St. Louis Stamp & Coin Co.; Eric P. Newman @ $7.50; Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.
Realized $25,850.00. Description courtesy of Heritage Auctions. |
