| Description |
1787 COPPER New York, Nova Eborac, Large Head, Seated Figure Faces Left. XF40 NGC. Breen-985, W-5750, R.6. This is an example of the very rare Large Head, Seated Figure Facing Left style of Nova Eborac copper, one of the four types listed in the Guide Book and much rarer than the Normal Head or Medium Head (Breen-986, W-5755) Nova Eborac (New York) coppers. There are two quatrefoils preceding N(OVA), one distant behind the bust, the second close to the N; the single quatrefoil following (EBORA)C is fairly close. There is no quatrefoil after the N. Not only the large size of the portrait but also the prominent, aquiline nose distinguishes this variety. On the reverse, there is a quatrefoil close to the V(IRT) and one distant after (LI)B. The branch hand of the seated Liberty is close to the right side of the R in VIRT. The Newman Collection coin is far finer than most examples seen of this variety, which often appears with surface issues and/or in low grades. Most of the problem-free coins are no better than Fine to Very Fine. (The last example we offered, in our Long Beach Signature auction of September 2012, lot 3339, was graded XF Details but showed numerous types of surface damage.) There are, nonetheless, a handful of AU coins and one Mint State example known. This attractive, chocolate-brown example shows good eye appeal, with darker mahogany buildup around the device edges and peripheral legends. The bust shows a few tiny, unimportant pinpricks, and the planchet on the reverse shows a small flaw, as made, under the period between VIRT and ET. Much pleasing detail remains in the hair and laurel wreath on the obverse, as well as on the face, hair, and gown lines of Liberty on the reverse. This piece is in the typical die state seen, here missing portions of the O in NOVA and BOR and C in EBORAC. This piece appears to be the finest problem-free example of this variety we have offered since we began our Permanent Auction Archives in 1993. A VF30 PCGS example is second, a coin we offered in our Long Beach Signature (Heritage, 9/2005), lot 334, which brought $9,200. Ex: Eric P. Newman Numismatic Education Society.
Realized $17,625.00. Description courtesy of Heritage Auctions. |
