1785 CT 1/2P Bust Right, Miller 6.4-I, BN MS(PCGS#686816)

Winter 2022 U.S. Coins Auction

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

1310

Grade

AU53BN

Price

3,120

Lot Description

Miller Plate 1785 6.4-I 1785 Connecticut Copper. Miller 6.4-I, W-2420. Rarity-2. Bust Right. AU-53 (PCGS). 129.9 grains. Exemplary quality for the date and variety. Impressively well preserved and still lustrous surfaces are predominantly medium brown with woodgrain undertones of dark olive. Nicely centered showing a full border of dentils on the obverse and strong date on the reverse. Some softness of strike at the centers, very common for the variety, and there exists some slightly granular natural planchet texture in those areas. Neither side shows any contact marks, and there are no planchet flaws aside from a few minute laminations on the obverse. There is little if any actual wear. Syd graded this coin MS-60 and it certainly has the look of a Mint State Connecticut copper. The sort of frosty cartwheel luster that this coin possesses is seldom seen in the series and vanishes with just the slightest amount of circulation or handling. Regardless of the grade assigned, which always involves some degree of guesswork with Connecticut coppers, this is certainly one of the finest examples extant of the Miller 6.4-I variety. The only slightly better one we are aware of is the Ford-Partrick coin, a solid Uncirculated piece with frosty luster similar to this one but with a marginally better strike and traces of mint red. Aside from these, the variety is seldom seen in grades better than VF. Taylor and Perkins each had sharp EF to AU coins but both were flawed. This is an outstanding piece of rare quality not only for the variety, but for the 1785 date as well. Its illustrious provenance and status as the Miller Text and Miller Sale plate coin makes it all the more significant. Additional information pertaining to this lot: Connecticut Coppers Welcome to the first installment in our offering of the incomparable Sydney F. Martin Collection of Connecticut Coppers. Syd's love of this series was well known and his collecting feats in this area are the stuff of legend. Like many great numismatists of the past who had an interest in colonial coins or early American coppers - Sylvester Sage Crosby, Dr. Thomas Hall, William Wallace Hays, and Hillyer Ryder to name a few - Syd was drawn to the Connecticut coppers in a profound way and pursued this set with extraordinary focus and determination, perhaps more than any other series. The appeal of the Connecticut copper coinage is multifaceted and difficult to fully capture, but their rich numismatic tradition, the series' extensive body of research, and the enthusiasm of its specialists are undeniable. The breadth and complexity of the series if pursued by die variety, beguiling to some, was no doubt part of what attracted Syd. This, combined with the fascinating history of the coinage - the colorful cast of characters involved in their production, the various minting locations, and the distinctive styles of the various types - surely added to the appeal and made the series uniquely suited to Syd's collecting mentality. For those collecting the Connecticut coppers of 1785-1788 by die variety, obtaining 200 different Miller numbers is a major achievement and considered an advanced collection. Amassing 300 different die varieties is for many serious specialists the ultimate milestone and a mark that has been eclipsed by just a small number of collectors. The largest Connecticut copper collections sold at auction include the 1975 EAC Sale (a composite of multiple collections) with 312 different varieties, the Taylor Collection sold in 1987 with 305 varieties, the Perkins Collection sold in 2000 with 302 varieties, and the Twin Leaf Collection sold in 2019, also with 302 varieties. Syd's frontline collection contains an astonishing 349 different die varieties, which out of total of 356 varieties currently known represents over 98% completion! This is an absolutely incredible feat, especially considering the amount of extremely rare to unique varieties that are needed to reach that total. The Syd Martin Collection is far and away the most complete ever formed and it's highly doubtful that this record can, or ever will be broken. The present sale features the 1785 and 1786 portion of the collection, including an incredible complete set of all 31 varieties of 1785, and 40 of 41 varieties for 1786, missing only the extremely rare Miller 5.15-S. Also included is an extremely rare 1786 "Bungtown" Connecticut, Miller 123-T ex Newman. The quality throughout is superb, with many pieces that are the clear finest known examples of their varieties and a majority that would be considered Condition Census. Many coins herein came from the personal collection of noted colonial dealer and collector Anthony Terranova, which Syd acquired privately in 2012. The outstanding condition and quality of the Terranova coins upgraded many examples already in Syd's collection and they form the backbone of the present remarkable offering, which is, needless to say, the finest and most significant collection of 1785 and 1786 Connecticuts ever presented. Several die varieties are appearing at auction here for the first time ever, such as the unique 1785 6.6-A.3, the unique 1786 4.1-H.2, and the only 1786 5.13-I in private hands. This will also be the first auction appearance of a correctly identified example of the exceedingly rare 1785 7.3-D. Numerous other important specimens are appearing here for the first time ever, or for the first time in many decades. Significant provenances abound including Dr. Hall Ink on Edge coins and specimens from the 1904 sale of the John G. Mills Collection and the 1920 sale of the Henry Miller Collection. Many have appeared as plate coins in important publications and reference works.We are thrilled to present the initial offering of Syd Martin's frontline collection of Connecticut coppers and hope that it is a celebration of his legendary accomplishment. Best of luck to the bidders in acquiring a piece of this monumental collection. Provenance: From the Sydney F. Martin Collection. Earlier from Thomas L. Elder's sale of the Henry C. Miller Collection, May 1920, lot 1823; our (Bowers and Merena's) sale of the Chris Schenkel Collection, November 1990, lot 5650; Anthony Terranova Collection, January 2012. Plated in Henry C. Miller's 1920 reference "The State Coinage of Connecticut" Plate I. PCGS# 686816. Click here for certification details from PCGS. Image with the PCGS TrueView logo is obtained from and is subject to a license agreement with Collectors Universe, Inc. and its divisions PCGS and PSA.