1788 VT 1/2P Georgivs III Rex, RR-31, BN MS(PCGS#687737)

June 2026 Showcase Auction U.S. Coins

Auctioneer

Stack's Bowers

Lot Number

1199

Grade

AU53BN

Price

4,880

Lot Description

A staple inclusion in any collection of Vermont coppers, Ryder-31 is also known as Vlack 22-88VT. Vlack's Obverse 22, though married to no other reverses, is as much a counterfeit George III halfpenny die as any others with legends reading GEORGIVS III REX. This reverse has a multidisciplinary resume though, appearing on Ryder-25, Ryder-28, and Ryder-29 (with Vermont obverses) and Ryder-39/Miller 1-I (with a Connecticut obverse). The 2024 (second) edition of the Howes-Rosen-Trudgen reference <em>The History and Coinage of Machin's Mills</em> states that RR-39 was "most likely struck circa 1789-1790 at Machin's Mills from dies fabricated by James Atlee." The offered specimen is the finest certified that we can recall ever offering, and certainly among the finest known. Overall detail is impressive, the obverse with full, if slightly uneven border denticulation framing universally sharp motifs. The reverse is devoid of border denticulation, typical of the variety, impression off center to 4 o'clock with the border through the letters T LIB and the date digits. The seated figure is fairly bold, although obscured at center by original planchet texture. Some light surface scale presents as mottled charcoal overtones on a base of otherwise dominant rose-brown patina, obverse periphery with some original pinkish-red color still adhering to some of the letters and Roman numerals, also along the base of the bust. Minor planchet roughness within the effigy's head hardly detracts, and there are no troublesome marks. A gentle frosty texture is also praiseworthy, for such a feature is also seldom seen in examples of this RR number.<p>The nicest RR-31 that we have sold in recent memory is the Benson-Syd Martin coin that, as PCGS EF-40, brought $4,320 in our August 2023 sale of the latter collection. This one is far superior and will surely sell for a strong premium commensurate with its quality and significance. It really is a pretty coin in an RR-31 that should be seen to be fully appreciated.