1787 CT 1/2P Draped Bust Left, BN MS(PCGS#370)

Spring 2019 Baltimore U.S. Coins Auction

Auktionator

Stack's Bowers

Losnummer

8281

Erhaltungsgrad

VF25BN

Preis

5.760

Losbeschreibung

Extremely Rare Miller 33.29-s.1 1787 Connecticut Copper. Miller 33.29-s.1, W-3805. Rarity-7+. Draped Bust Left. VF-25 (PCGS). Another important offering of a lovely coin and a great Connecticut rarity. The obverse is even light olive brown. While slightly microporous, the general appearance is of a smooth, hard surface and just a couple of small marks are noted on this side. The reverse is slightly darker and rougher with a bit of mild granularity in the left field and a few small flecks of hard verdigris. Light planchet flaws at ET LIB and near the final cinquefoil. Well centered with good peripheral detail and all date digits clear. We have handled just three specimens of this great rarity, a die combination not discovered until 1993 when Mike Ringo first identified one. Each of the three pieces has made its sole auction appearance in our one of our sales, though this presentation will be the second offering of the present example. According to Randy Clark, there are three additional pieces known, which have yet to appear in major auction sales. The Discovery Specimen. Identified by Mike Ringo in 1993, sold that year into Collection SLT, where it resided until our offering of that extensive collection in our January 2012 New York Americana Sale. It sold for $11,500. First Auction Appearance. The discovery of this coin is unclear, but it first became widely known in our (Bowers and Merena) sale of November 2006, lot 29. This piece was considered one of two known at the time. It was called Fine-15 and sold for $43,125, a substantial sum, but certainly appropriate for the first time appearance of a relatively new variety. Though quite pleasing overall, without flaws and only minor marks, it is the lowest grade of three known. Second Auction Appearance, This Coin. Discovered by Andrew W. Pollock, III, unattributed in an auction consignment to our (Stack’s) sale of November 2008, lot 1038. It sold for $25,300, a substantial windfall for the consignor who knew only that it was a 1787 Draped Bust Left graded Very Fine. This is arguably the finest of the three we have handled, though it is very similar in grade to the Discovery Coin. Both are of nearly identical sharpness, though varying in evenness. This piece is stronger through the effigy’s face and head, while the other is stronger in the drapery. The obverse centering is virtually identical, quite good, with full legends and partial dentils. One small planchet void is seen in the head of other piece, while this obverse is free of such imperfections. Comparison of the reverses reveals a similar situation. Remarkably, small laminations near 3:00 are seen on both examples. The reverse surface of the Discovery Coin seems a little better, though there is a dig at Liberty’s head which perhaps balances the scale. There is little more to compare, so the opinions of those who will compete for this rarity will have the final say. In any case, this is apparently one of the nicest of very few survivors. The writer who last described this piece closed with this line: “The writer’s kudos in advance to the new owner—perhaps the writer will get a peek at what must surely be a spectacular Connecticut copper cabinet!” That opportunity has come in the Twin Leaf Collection. Provenance: From the Twin Leaf Collection of Connecticut & Massachusetts Coppers. Earlier ex Stack’s, February 2008:1038 (Discovered by Andrew W. Pollock, III, in a consignment to that sale). Click here for certification details from PCGS.